Pink - Who Knew

Although she was initially viewed as yet another face in the late-'90s crowd of teen pop acts, Pink quickly showed signs of becoming one of the rare artists to transcend and outgrow the label. Born Alecia Moore on September 8, 1979, in Doylestown, PA (near Philadelphia), Pink received her nickname as a child (it had nothing to do with her later shade of hair dye). She grew up in a musical family and by age 13 was a regular on the Philadelphia club scene, first as a dancer, then as a backing vocalist for the local hip-hop group Schools of Thought. At 14, she began writing her own songs; the same year, a local DJ at Club Fever began allowing her on-stage to sing a song every Friday.

Pink was spotted one night by an executive for MCA, who asked her to audition for an R&B group called Basic Instinct; although she got the gig, the group imploded not long after. She was quickly recruited for a female R&B trio called Choice, which signed to L.A. Reid and Babyface's LaFace label on the strength of their demo; however, they too disbanded due to differences over musical direction. During Choice's brief studio time, producer Daryl Simmons asked Pink to write a bridge section for the song "Just to Be Loving You"; impressed with the results, Pink rediscovered her songwriting muse and an equally impressed L.A. Reid soon gave her a solo deal with LaFace.

Pink recorded her solo debut, Can't Take Me Home, with a variety of songwriting partners and dance-pop and R&B producers. Released in 2000, the album was a double-platinum hit; it spun off three Top Ten singles in "There U Go," "Most Girls," and "You Make Me Sick." She toured that summer as the opening act for *N Sync, but soon found herself tired of being pigeonholed as strictly a teen act despite her sassy, forthright persona. As she set about working on her follow-up album, Pink took part in the remake of Patti LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade" featured on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which also featured powerhouse divas Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Lil' Kim. The song was a massive hit, topping the charts in both the U.S. and U.K.

Toward the end of the year, Pink released her next single, "Get the Party Started"; it became her biggest, most inescapable hit to date, climbing into the Top Five. Her accompanying sophomore album, M!ssundaztood, quickly went double platinum; it boasted a more personal voice and a more eclectic sound, plus heavy contributions from ex-4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry, who helped bring some more rock muscle to Pink's sound (as did guest appearances by Steven Tyler and Richie Sambora). M!ssundaztood attracted positive critical notices as well, and its second single, "Don't Let Me Get Me," became another fast-rising Top Ten hit.

Pink next issued Try This in November 2003. The album was a bit more rock-oriented, due in part to the songwriting collaboration of Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong on eight of the album's tracks. Try This' lead single, "Trouble," cracked into the upper regions of Billboard's Top 40, and earned Pink a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. On the home front, Pink wed motocross racer Carey Hart -- whom she had initially met at 2001's X-Games -- on January 7, 2006, in Costa Rica. Her next album, I'm Not Dead, appeared that April; its first single, "Stupid Girls," quickly became a hit, and the album reached the Top Ten.

Linkin Park - What I've done

Transformers - The Movie

Plot summary,
A long time ago, far away on the planet of Cybertron, a war was being waged between the noble Autobots (led by the wise Optimus Prime) and the devious Decepticons (commanded by the dreaded Megatron) for control over the Allspark, a mystical talisman that would grant unlimited power to whoever possessed it. The Autobots managed to smuggle the Allspark off the planet, but Megatron blasted off in search of it. He eventually tracked it to the planet of Earth (circa 1850), but his reckless desire for power sent him right into the Arctic Ocean, and the sheer cold forced him into a paralyzed state. His body was later found by Captain Archibald Witwicky, and before going into a comatose state Megatron used the last of his energy to engrave a map, showing the location of the Allspark, into the Captain's glasses, and send a transmission to Cybertron. He is then carted away by the Captain's ship. A century later, Sam Witwicky, nicknamed Spike by his friends, buys his first car. To his shock, he discovers it to be Bumblebee, an Autobot in disguise who is to protect Spike, as he bears the Captain's glasses and the map carved on them. But Bumblebee is not the only Transformer to have arrived on Earth - in the desert of Qatar, the Decepticons Blackout and Scorponok attack a U.S. military base, causing the Pentagon to send their special Sector Seven agents to capture all "specimens of this alien race," and Spike and his girlfriend Mikaela find themselves in the middle of a grand battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, stretching from Hoover Dam all the way to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, within the depths of the Pentagon, the cryogenically stored form of Megatron awakens...

Linkin Park

Old-school hip-hop, traditional classic rock, and spooling electronic vibes were the initial factors behind the building of the alternative metal quintet Linkin Park. The band's Southern Californian musical roots were also an underlying basis, for drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, and MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda formed a tight friendship while still in high school. Shortly after graduation, art student and DJ Joseph Hahn hooked up with bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Shinoda for the band Xero. Hybrid Theory came later, but the band opted on the name Linkin Park when singer Chester Bennington was the last piece added to the band in 1999. Soon the band became a noticeable face at the Whisky as well as favorites in and around Los Angeles. Zomba Music's Jeff Blue was one of the few who didn't turn the band down for a contract at the turn of the millennium -- Linkin Park signed to Warner Bros. after being turned down three times in late 1999 and got to work on their debut album. Taking a piece from their past, they named the album Hybrid Theory. It was released in fall 2000 and it showcased their likes for fellow alternative acts such as the Deftones, the Roots, Aphex Twin, and Nine Inch Nails. The Dust Brothers also collaborated on the record, as well as producer Don Gilmore (Pearl Jam, Eve 6, Tracy Bonham). Singles such as "Crawling" and "One Step Closer" were massive radio hits and video favorites among the TRL crowd on MTV. Joint tours with Family Values and the Project: Revolution Tour with Cypress Hill led the band to play 324 shows in 2001. Linkin Park was in demand. Come January 2002, Hybrid Theory received three Grammy nominations, for Best Rock Album and Best New Artist. A month later, Linkin Park walked away with an award for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Crawling." They spent the remainder of the year holed up in the studio, again working with Gilmore, recording a follow-up to their eight-times-platinum debut Hybrid Theory.

Linkin Park's sophomore effort, Meteora, was released in March 2003; the first single, "Somewhere I Belong," was an instant hit. The second annual Projekt Revolution tour got underway in spring 2003 with Linkin Park joining Mudvayne, Xzibit, and Blindside; Summer Sanitarium dates with Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, and the Deftones followed in July and August. Results of the latter appeared by the end of the year on Live in Texas. In late 2004, Linkin Park embarked on their most ambitious project yet: Collision Course, a collaboration with king-of-the-mountain rapper Jay-Z, which introduced the commercial world to the concept of mash-ups (remixes that sample heavily from at least two popular songs). Jay-Z also encouraged co-founder Mike Shinoda to explore the possibilities of a solo hip-hop project. He did, dubbed the project Fort Minor, and released the album The Rising Tied in 2005 with Jay-Z as executive producer. The group came back together in 2006 and began work on their next album. With Shinoda and Rick Rubin (Run-D.M.C., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash) sharing the production credit, Minutes to Midnight arrived in 2007.

My Chemical Romance - Welcome To My Black Parade

Based in New Jersey, My Chemical Romance is an alternative pop/rock and punk-pop band that has been compared to Thursday and, to a lesser degree, Cursive. Their name was inspired by author Irvine Welsh (of Trainspotting fame), and while many of their songs are loud, fast, hyper, and aggressive, My Chemical Romance's work also tends to be melodic and pop-minded. My Chemical Romance got started in the early 2000s, when lead singer Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier decided to try writing some songs together. The first tune that Way and Pelissier -- who had been friends since high school -- came up with was called "Skylines and Turnstiles" (a post-9/11 song written after Way witnessed the Twin Towers fall while working at his animation job in New York City). Way and Pelissier both felt good about the song, and Way asked guitarist Ray Toro if he would be interested in working with them. My Chemical Romance's five-man lineup was complete when Way, Pelissier, and Toro joined forces with bassist Mikey Way (Gerard's little brother) and guitarist Frank Iero. With that lineup in place, the band started playing all around the Northeast Corridor and made plans to begin working on their first album.

In 2002, Eyeball Records (the New York-based indie for which Thursday had recorded) released My Chemical Romance's debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. The album was often compared to Thursday -- a comparison that, for various reasons, was inevitable and unavoidable. Both bands were from New Jersey, both had recorded for Eyeball, and both combined punk-pop's musical aggression with introspective, confessional lyrics. Plus, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was produced by Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly. But Thursday isn't their only influence; reviewers have cited the Smiths, Morrissey, the Cure, and the Misfits as influences, while the older Way has even cited British heavy metal icons Iron Maiden.

Lyrically, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love is as dark as it is introspective and cathartic; Way has been quoted as saying that the band's lyrics were a great way for him to deal with the problems he had been going through (which included severe depression, drug/alcohol abuse, and a serious illness in his family). The 2002 release included Way and Pelissier's first song, "Skylines and Turnstiles," and many of the album's other song titles were equally intriguing, including "Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough for the Two of Us" and "Vampires Will Never Hurt You." In 2003, My Chemical Romance signed with Reprise/Warner Bros. and released the aggressively slick Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge one year later. Proving to be hugely popular, the album boasted several successful singles on commercial radio and MTV, including "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," "Helena," and "The Ghost of You," as the album climbed the Billboard charts.

Amid their growing popularity, Pelissier departed from the band in mid-2004, and he was soon replaced on drums by Bob Bryar; they'd previously met while touring with the Used, as Bryar was doing sound for the Utah act. Relentless touring continued to increase their fanatical fan following; the band headlined dates with Alkaline Trio, scored an opening slot for Green Day, and shared bills with Story of the Year, Taking Back Sunday, and the Used, among many others. As My Chemical Romance prepared to enter the studio for their third album, they issued Life on the Murder Scene in March 2006. The CD and double-DVD package extensively documented practically everything MCR, including demos, music videos, live footage, interviews, and more; it sufficiently tied fans over until My Chemical Romance (now boasting a sober and bleach-haired Gerard Way) issued the darkly conceptual and highly ambitious The Black Parade that October. Anticipation for the album could barely be contained at the release of its grandiose first single, "Welcome to the Black Parade," whose elaborate accompanying video looked and sounded like the result of Tim Burton directing Queen. The record went platinum by early 2007.

Nina - Someday

Born November 1, 1980, in Pasay City, Marifil Niña Girado, was raised in Quezon City with three other siblings. Growing up, Nina, much like any aspiring singer, admired Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Gary V., Ella Mae Saison, and Regine Velasquez on the home front.

Nina stands barely over five feet but her vocal prowess can stand up to a tidal wave. As far as she can remember, Nina has always been in the solemn presence of music. Her dad, Filbert, is a member of the Bayanihan Boy’s Choir and her mom, Maria Daulet, plays the piano. She was five, singing in a corner when her dad gave her special notice. Intensive vocal training was the next chapter -- belting with her body submerged in a drum of water (hence, the tidal wave) and exercising those vocal chords early in the morning.

Indeed, hard work and dedication pay off — eventually. She was a 7-week champion at the most successful singing competition in the country, Tanghalan ng Kampeon—the undisputed springboard for fresh talent. Before casting glorious light on the bleak music scene, pop and R&B find, Nina, found satisfaction soothing tired souls at the local clubs. Songs of love and loss, songs of firsts and lasts all delivered with intense passion and fiery emotion. Whatever the message, the effect is lasting, overwhelming. She can wail with the power of a crashing tidal wave or whine with the softness of a trickling rainfall. Waxing poetic describing vocal range can only mean one thing—when she sings, expect to be moved in ways you never imagined.

Her claim to fame isn’t only her voice but the story behind her discovery. The demo tape she submitted to Warner Music Philippines sampled her rendition of Foolish Heart. It was at that moment when hearing the tape, Warner Music executives immediately realized her potential and signed her without even actually seeing the woman behind the voice. The rest was, as we know it, history.

Darren Hayes - I Miss You

San Francisco-based pop/rock singer/songwriter Darren Hayes (born Darren Stanley Hayes) used to organize performances at home at a very young age supported by his mother, who became his first fan. After getting involved in school plays, the young and promising artist had the opportunity to join Daniel Jones in an outfit originally called Crush. They formed Savage Garden in 1997 in their native Brisbane, Australia.

Darren Hayes ended his marriage and decided to settle in the U.S. while Daniel Jones stayed in Australia before releasing their second and last album called Affirmation. Savage Garden split up in 2001, leaving behind three successful years including the honor of becoming a leading number in the annual Most Broadcast Artists List issued by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) for two years.

Darren Hayes debuted as a solo artist with the release of Spin, recorded in San Francisco, CA, and co-produced with Grammy Award-winning Walter Afanasieff. The 12-track record featured the hit single "Insatiable," a chart-topping song in Australia and one of the most added tracks on the American Top 40 radio stations soon after its release.

Nickelback - If Everyone Cared

Canada's Nickelback started life as a cover band in Hanna, 215 kilometers northeast of Calgary. Eventually, they tired of playing other people's songs, and singer/guitarist.

Chad Kroeger put together a collection of original songs, borrowed money from his stepfather, and went to Vancouver to record the band in a friend's studio. Based on the results, Kroeger's guitarist brother, Mike, and pal bassist Ryan Vikedal all relocated to Vancouver in 1996; that same year, they recorded and released the EP Hesher and full-length Curb independently, then embarked on a series of cross-country tours.

In late 1998, the bandmembers started managing themselves, with Chad handling all the radio tracking, brother Mike Kroeger the distribution, and Ryan Vikedal all the bookings. A second LP, The State, was released independently in January 2000 during a period when Canadian content requirements were increased and local rock radio began desperately seeking out homegrown product. What they found was Nickelback's single "Leader of Men." The band toured ceaselessly for The State and 200 shows later, Nickelback had gone from virtual unknowns to playing in front of over a million people alongside the likes of Creed, 3 Doors Down, Fuel, and more. The band's post-grunge commercial appeal wasn't lost on the record industry, and The State was snapped up by Roadrunner in the U.S. and EMI in Canada. It eventually sold an impressive 500,000 copies.

Many of the songs that comprised the third album, Silver Side Up, were written even before The State was released in America and road-tested in front of eager audiences on cross-country treks. The other significant change was Chad Kroeger's conscious decision to write his lyrics in a more direct manner, rather than the metaphorical lyrics of previous releases. "Too Bad" pertained to the father who was never around when Chad and his brother were growing up; "Never Again" was a song inspired by broken homes; and "How You Remind Me," the first single from the album, was written at rehearsals shortly before the band went into the studio.

To record the album, Nickelback worked with producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog) at the same studio they used for The State, Vancouver's Green House. The combination of the band's growing popularity and the quality of the songs sent Silver Side Up into the sales charts around the world, spearheaded by the hit single "How You Remind Me." (It was only the second time in history since the Guess Who's "American Woman" that a Canadian band had been number one on both the Canadian and U.S. rock charts at the same time.) After Nickelback's initial mainstream exposure, Kroeger produced Vancouver natives Default and collaborated with Saliva singer Josey Scott for the Spiderman soundtrack.

The more polished The Long Road arrived in 2003. The single "Someday" shot to number seven on the Billboard charts, and the album sold five million copies worldwide and was supported by another successful international tour. In February of 2005 it was announced that Ryan Vikedal had left the band, but Vikedal claimed in an interview he was pushed out for not being "the type of drummer" the band required. A month later it was announced that former 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair was his replacement, and that Nickelback was jamming at Kroeger's studio in Vancouver in preparation for their next album. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and the late Dimebag Darrell from Pantera were guests on the chart-topping All the Right Reasons, which saw release in October of 2005.

Will Young - Who Am I

"I don't want people to not know who I am. I don't want to be pigeonholed as the new George Michael, or the guy that won the reality TV show, or Mick Hucknall for the Noughties, or whatever nonsense gets said. It's just me and it's about having a bit of self-belief and turning up the volume a bit" – Will Young, in a café by the Thames, November 2005

Hold onto your trilby... In fact, take off your trilby and jump all over it... Will Young is back more confident and at ease with himself and his music. In less than four years he's won two Brits, had four Number One singles, two Number One albums, and sold out his last tour in 30 minutes. His first single was the fastest selling chart debut by a male artist. Aged 26, the boy from Berkshire is sharper, funnier, more confident, and all growed up. He's got a bit of perspective and he knows how TV, celebrity culture and the pop sausage factory work. But all of that is necessarily two-dimensional. Will Young isn't.

He understands how and why people might have fixed opinions about his tastes. "Here's a perfect example", he laughs. "I went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And this fan came up to me and said, all shocked: 'Will Young! What are you doing at a Chili's concert?' I'm like, I've been listening to the Chilis for fucking ages!' It was very telling, people thought I shouldn't be into stuff like that."

Of late, Will's been having a bit of a fight. With himself, with the voices whispering "stick to the ballads", and with his music. His new single is called Switch It On. It's a party come tumbling out of your speakers. There are mad drums and dirty funk and raw, throaty vocals. It is, in a very good way, all over the place, - and it's definitely louder.

"That track took us a year and half to write!" he exclaims. That doesn't mean Young and his collaborators fussed and tinkered over it all that time, they just kept having ideas to make Switch It On madder, and bolder, and more brilliant (where 'brilliant' means something that 'shines hard'). They threw these ideas into the mix and wrestled them into line.

Switch It On is Will's defiant response to "feeling really shit about myself", and to the image that he felt was being portrayed of him. "It felt like I wasn't being true to myself. There's the line, 'I'm in a three-piece suit and shoes that don't fit me'. Which is basically saying that people shove you in all these categories. It's like, fuck off! And I looked around London and saw all these fake people just obsessed with how other people are viewing them. And I was obsessed with how people were viewing me. I felt like I'd lost the core of me. I felt that I'd gone back to being 17 again, and a lot of it was because of the job..."

But now, things have moved on "I've 'evolved', ha ha," he says laughing and sticking the quote marks round the word 'cause he knows how poncey it sounds. But still, it's true. "So obviously I wanted to come back with something that demonstrated that."

The new album is called Keep On, and one of the key songs on it is the title track that recalls the lascivious groove of George Michael's 'I Want Your Sex'. Keep On and Switch It On come from a similar place. We might call that place "an explosion in a carnival factory". They're songs that sound like they might collapse into a sweaty heap on the dancefloor any second. But they don't; they veer off, surefooted, in thrilling new directions.

"We didn't think about it, that was the key. That's why those songs are so good. You know," Young reflects, "maybe people are fed up a bit with songs. A well-crafted song is great. But there seem to be so many about where you can almost hear the writer thinking, 'right, now we're gonna hit them with the chorus at 40 seconds 'cause that'll get played on radio'... Well, that doesn't have any soul in it. I'd just got to the stage where I thought, I can't do that".

Will Young, of course, knows The Well-Crafted Song. He's made a bit of a career out of it. Leave Right Now, the lead single from Friday's Child, was spellbinding, glorious and exquisite. For those in any doubt, it emphatically revealed Young as an extravagantly gifted and soulful singer. It helped Friday's Child on its way to sales of over 1.5 million copies in the UK, and in 2004 Leave Right Now won its writer, Eg White, the Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically And Lyrically.

There's another Well-Crafted Song on Keep On. It's called All Time Love. It's an elegant ballad, and may well join Leave Right Now as a modern standard. Young nailed the lyric in one take – he knows how to sing songs like that.

Going brazenly off-message, he admits that there was a body of opinion around him that wanted All Time Love to be his comeback single. He says he said "no way", and he dug his heels in. "I just felt I had to move on and do something that was punchier, and was saying more. I just feel very different from two years ago, I've got different things to say and I think Switch It On really shows it. It was a slight uphill battle to get it as the first single but I don't mind that – if you're forced to justify what you're doing, it makes you see if you really believe in it. And," he says, letting loose that Joker-like smile, "I've definitely been forced to see if I believed in that song".

Around the same time he began filming his first acting role, in Stephen Frears' Mrs Henderson Presents. It's the story of a pre-War dancing girls show in London. He plays a choreographer and performer, alongside Bob Hoskins and Dame Judi Dench. He gets to sing All The Things You Are, the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein number that Frank Sinatra made his own.

The whole experience boosted his confidence (he'd always thought he'd like to act but hadn't done anything beyond am-dram while at Exeter University). It introduced him to a new creative world outside music, and opened his ears to new ideas for his new album. Recruiting some fresh writers along with noted string arranger Anne Dudley, and regrouping with the songwriting team he'd built for Friday's Child – Lipson, White, Karen Poole (formerly of Alisha's Attic), Blair Mackichan – he worked on songs that were a bit more... lively.

Think About It is one of his favourites. "It's quite sultry, then the chorus just rips out." With Dan Carey (Kylie's Slow) he wrote All I Want, "a great psychedelic Sixties song, it's really rough." With Mackichan (with whom he'd done Your Game, the soulful, gospel single from 'Friday's Child') he did Ain't Such a Bad Place To Be, "another rough one. I'm not Mr Tough or anything," he laughs, "but I did need to be tougher". He also wanted songs that had more emotional teeth. "I went through quite a tough stage last year," he concludes, "but in that period I wrote some really good tunes that have stuck around. I don't know, maybe you have to be a bit more angsty to produce believable, true, honest work. He hooked up with Nitin Sawhney, and together they came up with Home, a song born out of personal experiences. "It's wonderful, the lyrics are beautiful... It's all about resolution, about something being the way it has to be but that doesn't make it necessarily a good thing."

"You know," he shrugs, "I've predominantly sung songs about love before and, if I'm honest, I didn't understand them. And just because I've lived a bit more, seen a bit more of life, it was like taking off sunglasses and just going, 'ah, this is what goes on...' I just saw so much more in films and painting and plays and music. I had a revelational moment. 'Now I fucking get it!' And it's just a real shame that in life to have those moments you have to be really badly hurt". So it's time for people to get used to the real Will Young. He won't eat liver. He gets a bit claustrophobic. He overheats easily. And he knows who he is now.

Hilary Duff - With Love

Arguably the only teen pop star with the potential to rival or surpass the popularity of Britney Spears "albeit with a very different approach" Hilary Duff made a name for herself on the enormously successful Disney Channel/ABC Kids show Lizzie McGuire, which she parlayed into careers as a pop singer and film actress. Like most overnight successes, Duff paid her dues for a few years before her big break. Appearances in the 1997 women's Western True Women, 1998's Casper (as the Friendly Ghost's human friend Wendy), and 1999's The Soul Collector paved the way for her best-known role. Lizzie McGuire, which chronicled the ups and downs of junior high schooler Lizzie's life with live-action and animated clips, debuted in 2001 and very quickly became a huge hit with the preteen set. Aside from the show's unique format, one of the main reasons for its success was Duff herself. As Lizzie, she was pretty, funny, and smart, but not intimidatingly so; she had two best friends, Gordo and Miranda, so she wasn't super-popular or an outcast; and she was confident enough to do her own thing, but still vulnerable enough to have crushes on unattainable boys.

At the same time Lizzie was taking off, Duff also appeared in the indie film Human Nature, reflecting her continuing big-screen aspirations. Lizzie McGuire mania continued through 2002, and Duff began her first steps toward her singing career with the song "Santa Claus Lane," which appeared on the soundtrack to The Santa Clause 2, as well as her own Christmas album, also named Santa Claus Lane. That year, production ended on Lizzie McGuire, freeing up Duff to pursue other opportunities. Episodes of the show continued to run into 2003, but by that time Duff had begun to move on, appearing in the teen spy movie Agent Cody Banks and playing Lizzie one last time in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, where funnily enough, she goes to Italy and is mistaken for a teen pop star. The soundtrack to the movie also featured several songs by Duff, including the singles "Why Not" and "I Can't Wait," which were both successes in their own right; the soundtrack went platinum in summer 2003.

Around that time, Metamorphosis, Duff's bona fide debut as a singer, was released. The album had a hipper and more eclectic sound than any of the material she had been given previously, and helped establish her as a personality outside of her Lizzie McGuire fame. The album charted number two on the Billboard 200 on the week of its release, and its single "So Yesterday" topped the pop singles chart earlier that summer. Duff's omnipresence in 2003 continued with appearances at that year's MTV Video Music Awards and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, where she accepted Lizzie McGuire's trophy for Favorite TV Show. She also appeared in that year's film Cheaper by the Dozen and embarked on a tour that fall.

2004 was just as busy for Duff. She appeared in movies like A Cinderella Story, Agent Cody Banks, and Raise Your Voice, and also released her self-titled second album, which exchanged the neutral fluffiness of Metamorphosis for an anthemic rock-pop style consistent with efforts from Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne. The record continued to shape Duff's public persona, which was a continually evolving dynamo of branding, image, and teenage ambition. Released on September 28th (her 17th birthday), Hilary Duff eventually peaked at number two on both the Billboard 200 and the Top Internet Albums charts, and helped Hilary net "Most Searched by Kids and Teens on AOL" honors and more Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Publicity for the album continued into 2005. That June, The Perfect Man debuted; in a bit of genius casting, it featured Heather Locklear as Duff's unlucky-in-love mother.

In July, Duff started preparing for the August release of Most Wanted. The collection included three new songs -- including the single "Wake Up," written by Benji and Joel Madden from Good Charlotte -- as well as remixed versions of past Hilary hits like "So Yesterday" and "Come Clean." There was also the Most Wanted tour, which stretched into September, ending just in time for her 18th birthday. By this point, the Hilary Duff promotion machine was in overdrive: her website offered a pay-as-you-go mobile phone branded with her name and bundled with Hilary-themed ringtones and wallpapers. During 2006, Duff worked on the films War Inc. and Material Girls, and also found time to work on her fourth album, Dignity, which was inspired in part by her breakup with Joel Madden. Dignity was released in spring 2007.

Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend

Wild child Avril Lavigne hit big in summer 2002 with her spiky-fun debut song, "Complicated," shifting pop music into a different direction.

Lavigne, who was 17 at the time, didn't seem concerned with the glamour of the TRL-dominated pop world and such confidence allowed her star power to soar. The middle of three children in small-town Napanee, Ontario, Lavigne's rock ambitions were noticeable around age two.

By her early teens, she was already writing songs and playing guitar. The church choir, local festivals, and county fairs also allowed Lavigne to get her voice heard, and luckily, Arista Records main man Antonio "L.A." Reid was listening. He offered her a deal, and at 16, Lavigne's musical dreams became reality. With Reid's assistance and a new Manhattan apartment, Lavigne found herself surrounded by prime songwriters and producers, but it wasn't impressive enough for her to continue.

She had always relied on her own ideas to create a musical spark, and things weren't going as planned. Lavigne wasn't disillusioned, though. She headed for Los Angeles and Nettwerk grabbed her. Producer/songwriter Clif Magness (Celine Dion, Wilson Phillips, Sheena Easton) tweaked Lavigne's melodic, edgy sound and her debut, Let Go, was the polished product.

Singles such as "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi" hit the Top Ten while "I'm with You" and "Losing Grip" did moderately well at radio. Butch Walker of the Marvelous 3, Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida, and Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte) signed on to produce Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin, which appeared in May 2004. The album topped the Billboard charts and produced the number one hit "My Happy Ending. Other singles like "Nobody's Home" and "Fall to Pieces" did respectably well also.

Settling down a bit from her punk rock wild child persona, Lavigne married her boyfriend of two years, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, in July 2006.

Snow Patrol - Signal Fire

Featuring a dynamic fusion of several alternative stylistic touchstones, Snow Patrol's compositions combine songwriting aptitude with guitar rock's sharpest strains. Originally from Northern Ireland, Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar) and Mark McClelland (bass, keyboards) first got together in Dundee, Scotland, where they were studying, prior to the addition of Jonny Quinn (drums), who completed the lineup.

Signed to the U.K.'s Jeepster label in 1998, they released their debut album, Songs for Polar Bears, in August of that same year. The record was a large success across the U.K., where they also gained a large fan base for their live show. The British trio graduated soon after, and decided to move from Dundee to Glasgow in late 2000.

Their second full-length, When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up, was released in April 2001. Quickly thereafter, guitarist Nathan Connolly was added to the group, and Snow Patrol found themselves a deal with Polydor. Producer Chris Lord-Alge signed on for the release of Final Straw, which appeared stateside in April 2004. With the success of singles such as "Chocolate," "Run," and "Spitting Games," Final Straw sold two million copies in their native U.K.

It also became the 26th most popular British album of that year. In March 2005, founding member Mark McClelland left the band to pursue other avenues, leaving Snow Patrol a trio with Lightbody, Quinn, and Connolly. Shortly thereafter, former Terra Diablo bass player Paul Wilson and touring keyboardist Tom Simpson were permanantly added to the band. An opening slot on U2's Vertigo Tour of Europe followed in summer 2005. Snow Patrol's fourth album, the epic Eyes Open arrived in May 2006. That fall, with a successful run through North America under their belt and the mainstream appeal of "Chasing Cars," Eyes Open was certified gold.

Snow Patrol also became the first U.K. rock act in 13 years to break the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

Music & Lyrics - Way Back Into Love

Alex Fletcher is a washed-up '80s pop star who's been reduced to working the nostalgia circuit at county fairs and amusement parks. The charismatic and talented musician gets a chance at a comeback when reigning diva Cora Corman invites him to write and record a duet with her, but there's a problem - Alex hasn't written a song in years, he's never written lyrics, and he has to come up with a hit in a matter of days.

Enter Sophie Fisher, Alex's beguilingly quirky plant lady, whose flair for words strikes a chord with the struggling songwriter. On the rebound from a bad relationship, Sophie is reluctant to collaborate with anyone, especially commitment-phobe Alex. As their chemistry heats up at the piano and under it, Alex and Sophie will have to face their fears--and the music--if they want to find the love and success they both deserve.

Logline
The collaboration between a lyrics writer and a music writer-performer takes a romantic turn.

Genres
Comedy and Musical/Performing Arts

Running Time
1 hr. 46 min.

Release Date
February 14th, 2007 (wide)

MPAA Rating
PG-13 for some sexual content

Distributors
Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Production Co.
Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, Reserve Room Productions

Studios
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

U.S. Box Office
$50,324,841

Filming Locations
New York, New York, USA

Produced in
United States

Nickelback - Savin' Me

Canada's Nickelback started life as a cover band in Hanna, 215 kilometers northeast of Calgary. Eventually, they tired of playing other people's songs, and singer/guitarist.

Chad Kroeger put together a collection of original songs, borrowed money from his stepfather, and went to Vancouver to record the band in a friend's studio. Based on the results, Kroeger's guitarist brother, Mike, and pal bassist Ryan Vikedal all relocated to Vancouver in 1996; that same year, they recorded and released the EP Hesher and full-length Curb independently, then embarked on a series of cross-country tours.

In late 1998, the bandmembers started managing themselves, with Chad handling all the radio tracking, brother Mike Kroeger the distribution, and Ryan Vikedal all the bookings. A second LP, The State, was released independently in January 2000 during a period when Canadian content requirements were increased and local rock radio began desperately seeking out homegrown product. What they found was Nickelback's single "Leader of Men." The band toured ceaselessly for The State and 200 shows later, Nickelback had gone from virtual unknowns to playing in front of over a million people alongside the likes of Creed, 3 Doors Down, Fuel, and more. The band's post-grunge commercial appeal wasn't lost on the record industry, and The State was snapped up by Roadrunner in the U.S. and EMI in Canada. It eventually sold an impressive 500,000 copies.

Many of the songs that comprised the third album, Silver Side Up, were written even before The State was released in America and road-tested in front of eager audiences on cross-country treks. The other significant change was Chad Kroeger's conscious decision to write his lyrics in a more direct manner, rather than the metaphorical lyrics of previous releases. "Too Bad" pertained to the father who was never around when Chad and his brother were growing up; "Never Again" was a song inspired by broken homes; and "How You Remind Me," the first single from the album, was written at rehearsals shortly before the band went into the studio.

To record the album, Nickelback worked with producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog) at the same studio they used for The State, Vancouver's Green House. The combination of the band's growing popularity and the quality of the songs sent Silver Side Up into the sales charts around the world, spearheaded by the hit single "How You Remind Me." (It was only the second time in history since the Guess Who's "American Woman" that a Canadian band had been number one on both the Canadian and U.S. rock charts at the same time.) After Nickelback's initial mainstream exposure, Kroeger produced Vancouver natives Default and collaborated with Saliva singer Josey Scott for the Spiderman soundtrack.

The more polished The Long Road arrived in 2003. The single "Someday" shot to number seven on the Billboard charts, and the album sold five million copies worldwide and was supported by another successful international tour. In February of 2005 it was announced that Ryan Vikedal had left the band, but Vikedal claimed in an interview he was pushed out for not being "the type of drummer" the band required. A month later it was announced that former 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair was his replacement, and that Nickelback was jamming at Kroeger's studio in Vancouver in preparation for their next album. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and the late Dimebag Darrell from Pantera were guests on the chart-topping All the Right Reasons, which saw release in October of 2005.

Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland - Promiscuous

Singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado heavily credits her ethnic background and childhood for spawning her creativity as a female and as an inspiring musician. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Furtado's working-class parents, who are of Portuguese descent, instilled a hardcore work ethic during her upbringing. She spent eight summers working as a chambermaid with her housekeeping mother, quickly realizing what it meant to work for a living.

She turned to music for enjoyment, learning to play the guitar and the ukulele, and listened to mainstream R&B like Mariah Carey, TLC, Jodeci, Salt-N-Pepa, and Bell Biv DeVoe. Later, she delved into her older brother's collection of Radiohead, Pulp, Oasis, Portishead, the Verve, and U2, pushing Furtado to fully embrace different musical genres, specifically Brazilian music and material by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Amalia Rodrigues. Hip-hop was also a big catalyst in shaping Furtado's musical appreciation. After high school, she headed to Toronto where she worked at an alarm company by day and experienced the music scene by night. She joined a hip-hop duo, Nelstar, and this opportunity led Furtado back to her hip-hop influences of De La Soul and Digable Planets. This allowed her to get comfortable with writing her own melodies and freestyle rhymes.

When Furtado started cutting loose at a local Toronto club during the week, her musical aspirations began to swirl. Brian West and Gerald Eaton, of Canadian funk-pop group the Philosopher Kings, were instantly impressed by her strong sense of performing and asked to produce her demo. During those sessions, Furtado created some of the moving work that landed on her debut for Dreamworks, Whoa, Nelly!, released in fall 2000. A headlining tour of the U.S. in spring 2001 sparked more interest from fans and critics, and a spot on Moby's Area:One summer tour allowed singles "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light" to receive bigger praise. Furtado's greatest achievement followed a year later when she earned four Grammy nods, including Song of the Year for "I'm Like a Bird."

Folklore appeared in November 2003, nearly two months after Furtado gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Nevis. The record was a general disappointment, failing to capitalize on the success of her previous work. She didn't return to limelight until summer 2006, with her third record, Loose. Produced almost entirely by Timbaland and boasting a much more appealing and timely style, the album earned significant attention, putting Furtado's career back on the fast track. Lead track "Promiscuous" became an instant hit, earning her a number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Loose also topped the Billboard Top 200 album chart during its first week of release in later June 2006, becoming Furtado's first-ever number one album.

Nelly Furtado - Say It Right

Singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado heavily credits her ethnic background and childhood for spawning her creativity as a female and as an inspiring musician. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Furtado's working-class parents, who are of Portuguese descent, instilled a hardcore work ethic during her upbringing. She spent eight summers working as a chambermaid with her housekeeping mother, quickly realizing what it meant to work for a living.

She turned to music for enjoyment, learning to play the guitar and the ukulele, and listened to mainstream R&B like Mariah Carey, TLC, Jodeci, Salt-N-Pepa, and Bell Biv DeVoe. Later, she delved into her older brother's collection of Radiohead, Pulp, Oasis, Portishead, the Verve, and U2, pushing Furtado to fully embrace different musical genres, specifically Brazilian music and material by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Amalia Rodrigues. Hip-hop was also a big catalyst in shaping Furtado's musical appreciation. After high school, she headed to Toronto where she worked at an alarm company by day and experienced the music scene by night. She joined a hip-hop duo, Nelstar, and this opportunity led Furtado back to her hip-hop influences of De La Soul and Digable Planets. This allowed her to get comfortable with writing her own melodies and freestyle rhymes.

When Furtado started cutting loose at a local Toronto club during the week, her musical aspirations began to swirl. Brian West and Gerald Eaton, of Canadian funk-pop group the Philosopher Kings, were instantly impressed by her strong sense of performing and asked to produce her demo. During those sessions, Furtado created some of the moving work that landed on her debut for Dreamworks, Whoa, Nelly!, released in fall 2000. A headlining tour of the U.S. in spring 2001 sparked more interest from fans and critics, and a spot on Moby's Area:One summer tour allowed singles "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light" to receive bigger praise. Furtado's greatest achievement followed a year later when she earned four Grammy nods, including Song of the Year for "I'm Like a Bird."

Folklore appeared in November 2003, nearly two months after Furtado gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Nevis. The record was a general disappointment, failing to capitalize on the success of her previous work. She didn't return to limelight until summer 2006, with her third record, Loose. Produced almost entirely by Timbaland and boasting a much more appealing and timely style, the album earned significant attention, putting Furtado's career back on the fast track. Lead track "Promiscuous" became an instant hit, earning her a number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Loose also topped the Billboard Top 200 album chart during its first week of release in later June 2006, becoming Furtado's first-ever number one album.

Vibekingz ft. Maliq - Like The Wind

Kings are not made but are born. If need be they bear themselves in their idealism, then at least the VIBEKINGz did it - a royal family of exactly the talents, whom it needs, around the local Charts somewhat more soul einzuhauchen. We may call it also Soul… from Germany to call.

Which is designated in the absence of better terms still than “Black Music”, long to a music culture beyond all national writing up developed. The VIBEKINGz is the best example: As activists from the most diverse countries and cities they bridge both local and stylistic borders, in order to work together just in Germany on something larger one. And because genuine Dedication is always recompenced, its first publication “Like The wind” developed also promptly to the summer hit.

In the original a Schlüsselsong for Patrick Swayze in “Dirty Dancing”, the VIBEKINGz DJ Size (Berlin) and DJ transformed S.T.A.T.I.C. (Hamburg) the existenzialistische Schmonzette into an extremely airily fitting with springs piece of Urban Soul. Majority of the charm of this radical new interpretation is to be due naturally also to the concise voice of Maliq. Citizen of Berlin the exception talent is not a blank sheet, it works already since a half eternity with colleagues such as Illmatic, a J-luffing and Culcha candela and/or with producers such as Peter Ries (N `Sync), Beathoavenz (Sido) and Silly Walks (Gentleman) - with its live-appearances, e.g. in the legend club or on the party of Jette Joop, he inspired the public in lively regularity, whereby he as sensitive Performer particularly with his source of inspiration #1, which “Ladies” a lasting impression left… Although its TRACK became „Nasty “already in New Yorker clubs and in the radio “high and runtergedudelt”, the success of “Like The wind is” also for Maliq primarily the long due commercial acknowledgment of a lived passion.

With its debut album the VIBEKINGz & Maliq place impressively under proof that “Like The wind” was only a comparatively laues Lüftchen, the gentle harbinger of a much stronger lift. And that becomes it with its TRACKs, all the same whether self-'s building or Coverversion carries, far beyond our widths into the most remote angles. Producer DJ S.T.A.T.I.C brings the requirement and the range of its common album on a denominator, if he speaks by right of a music, which can be heard problem-free “on the whole world”. In this world without borders find maintained Hip Hop, RnB and Dancehall likewise their place like gentle Balladen and Nu Soul.

The VIBEKINGz does not only consist momentarily in the core of humans to do those directly with the music has - singers, RWSby, Deejays, producer, dancer - nevertheless understands itself it as a production collective. They promise: “One does not need to be DJ or a singer, in order to be with us. If you feel which we feel, then also you are a VIBEKING. The more VIBEKINGz exist, the more contacts, friendships, ingenious ideas and synergies it in the future will give.”

And that it will also actually give, but the quality this album will certainly ensure. The prospects could be hardly better thus. The VIBEKINGz expects a golden future… and also Maliq, which will publish its solo debut in the next year.

High School Musical - We're All In This Together

The Album
Recorded in five days, the soundtrack for the Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical, was released on January 10, 2006 and was the best selling album of 2006 with over 3.8 million copies sold. It debuted at #143 on the Billboard 200, selling 6,469 copies in its first week and climbed to #1 on the Billboard album chart in early March and again in late March of 2006. It has been certified 4x Platinum.

The album has also reached #1 on both the iTunes Best Selling Albums and on Amazon.com's Top Sellers for Music, as well as producing five songs on the iTunes Top 10 Best Selling Songs, and also producing five Top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The High School Musical soundtrack is also the first TV soundtrack to be No.1 in the Billboard since Miami Vice.

The Movie
High School Musical is an American made-for-television musical film, produced and distributed by Disney Channel, and was released on January 20, 2006.

The television film was one of the most successful Disney Channel Original Movies produced, with a sequel and a spin-off[2] confirmed and soundtrack that was the most commercially-successful album of 2006.

High School Musical is a story of two high school students: Troy Bolton, captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, a shy transfer student who excels in math and science. Together, they try out for the lead parts in their high school musical. Despite other students' attempts to thwart their dreams, Troy and Gabriella persist and inspire others along the way.

The Speaks - High

"You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese”
- Chris Rock

A young, talented, and charismatic five-piece band from the Washington DC area, The Speaks are completely redefining the global image of rock music - shattering stereotypes, making believers out of naysayers, destroying everything in their path, and acquiring legions of new fans every single step along the way. From winning every major music competition they’ve entered, to rocking crowds of 25,000+ people, to gaining major support from DC101 (one of the most influential radio stations in the country) -- The Speaks are easily shaping up to be one of the most exciting, talked about rock bands to hit the music scene in years.

If you had to try and characterize these “rockstars-in-training” take the explosive live stage show of Velvet Revolver, add the eternal rock/anthemic appeal of Pearl Jam, and throw in the raw & emotional lyrical intensity of the Foo Fighters for good measure. In a changing new world where music seems to be erasing any existing racial boundaries, The Speaks -- whose members are all American-born, but of Asian heritage“ are poised to further prove that music is, indeed, the one true universal language.

Much like Jimi Hendrix, Living Color, Sevendust and Hootie and the Blowfish (c’mon admit it, when you first heard their music, you thought Hootie was a white dude!) have all changed the face of rock -- and Eminem and The Beastie Boys have changed the face of rap -- The Speaks are opening people’s minds and broaden peoples’ horizons with their driving, emotion-filled music in a unique, unprecedented package. Find out why industry people and fans alike are saying they are the next stage in musical evolution!

The Speaks’ amazing live performances and infectious sound have created a loyal and dedicated following within the local, national, and international music scene with fans all across the globe, the numbers are growing fast in the tens of thousands. Over the past 6 years, they have outlasted numerous growing pains to hone their craft and establish their current line-up. This knack for hard work has paid off for the band in January 2005, The Speaks acquired an international distribution deal overseas with Warner Music (Asia), with re-release of their independently-produced album “Life’s a Joke” in April 2005. Constant radio airplay, supported by two popular musicvideos in regular rotation on MTV Asia and MYX Music Channel, have established the band as one of the breakthrough acts of this year and it’s only a matter of time before record labels, and the rest of the world, takes notice.

Nelly Furtado - All Good Things (Come To An End)

Singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado heavily credits her ethnic background and childhood for spawning her creativity as a female and as an inspiring musician. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Furtado's working-class parents, who are of Portuguese descent, instilled a hardcore work ethic during her upbringing. She spent eight summers working as a chambermaid with her housekeeping mother, quickly realizing what it meant to work for a living.

She turned to music for enjoyment, learning to play the guitar and the ukulele, and listened to mainstream R&B like Mariah Carey, TLC, Jodeci, Salt-N-Pepa, and Bell Biv DeVoe. Later, she delved into her older brother's collection of Radiohead, Pulp, Oasis, Portishead, the Verve, and U2, pushing Furtado to fully embrace different musical genres, specifically Brazilian music and material by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Amalia Rodrigues. Hip-hop was also a big catalyst in shaping Furtado's musical appreciation. After high school, she headed to Toronto where she worked at an alarm company by day and experienced the music scene by night. She joined a hip-hop duo, Nelstar, and this opportunity led Furtado back to her hip-hop influences of De La Soul and Digable Planets. This allowed her to get comfortable with writing her own melodies and freestyle rhymes.

When Furtado started cutting loose at a local Toronto club during the week, her musical aspirations began to swirl. Brian West and Gerald Eaton, of Canadian funk-pop group the Philosopher Kings, were instantly impressed by her strong sense of performing and asked to produce her demo. During those sessions, Furtado created some of the moving work that landed on her debut for Dreamworks, Whoa, Nelly!, released in fall 2000. A headlining tour of the U.S. in spring 2001 sparked more interest from fans and critics, and a spot on Moby's Area:One summer tour allowed singles "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light" to receive bigger praise. Furtado's greatest achievement followed a year later when she earned four Grammy nods, including Song of the Year for "I'm Like a Bird."

Folklore appeared in November 2003, nearly two months after Furtado gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Nevis. The record was a general disappointment, failing to capitalize on the success of her previous work. She didn't return to limelight until summer 2006, with her third record, Loose. Produced almost entirely by Timbaland and boasting a much more appealing and timely style, the album earned significant attention, putting Furtado's career back on the fast track. Lead track "Promiscuous" became an instant hit, earning her a number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Loose also topped the Billboard Top 200 album chart during its first week of release in later June 2006, becoming Furtado's first-ever number one album.

Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On

Wild child Avril Lavigne hit big in summer 2002 with her spiky-fun debut song, "Complicated," shifting pop music into a different direction.

Lavigne, who was 17 at the time, didn't seem concerned with the glamour of the TRL-dominated pop world and such confidence allowed her star power to soar. The middle of three children in small-town Napanee, Ontario, Lavigne's rock ambitions were noticeable around age two.

By her early teens, she was already writing songs and playing guitar. The church choir, local festivals, and county fairs also allowed Lavigne to get her voice heard, and luckily, Arista Records main man Antonio "L.A." Reid was listening. He offered her a deal, and at 16, Lavigne's musical dreams became reality. With Reid's assistance and a new Manhattan apartment, Lavigne found herself surrounded by prime songwriters and producers, but it wasn't impressive enough for her to continue.

She had always relied on her own ideas to create a musical spark, and things weren't going as planned. Lavigne wasn't disillusioned, though. She headed for Los Angeles and Nettwerk grabbed her. Producer/songwriter Clif Magness (Celine Dion, Wilson Phillips, Sheena Easton) tweaked Lavigne's melodic, edgy sound and her debut, Let Go, was the polished product.

Singles such as "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi" hit the Top Ten while "I'm with You" and "Losing Grip" did moderately well at radio. Butch Walker of the Marvelous 3, Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida, and Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte) signed on to produce Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin, which appeared in May 2004. The album topped the Billboard charts and produced the number one hit "My Happy Ending. Other singles like "Nobody's Home" and "Fall to Pieces" did respectably well also.

Settling down a bit from her punk rock wild child persona, Lavigne married her boyfriend of two years, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, in July 2006.

The Fray - How To Save A Life

From the sleepy sprawl of America's Mile-High City comes The Fray, a Denver-based foursome whose melodic pop-rock songs and soaring vocals resonate with sprawling tapestries and tales of hopefulness and heartache.

Formed in 2002 by Isaac Slade (vocals, piano) and Joe King (guitar, vocals), The Fray earned a loyal grassroots following through impressive area gigs and the support of local radio which led a listen-driven campaign to get the band a record contract. With strong word-of-mouth, the band won "Best New Band" honors from Denver's Westword Magazine and garnered substantial airplay on two of Denver's top rock stations - the demo version of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" became KTCL's top 30 most played song of 2004 in just 4 months. The band signed to Epic Records in 2004 and will release their debut album "How To Save A Life" this September.

"Three years ago, I thought I wanted to start a real estate company," laughs co-founder King. A serendipitous encounter with former schoolmate Slade at a local music store begat an impromptu jam session that begat an impromptu songwriting session that begat The Fray. It wasn't your usual rock n' roll lineup - vocals, guitar and piano - but it worked. The uplifting, melody-driven songs were catchy enough to attract two former bandmates of Slade's - drummer Ben Wysocki and guitarist Dave Welsh. "Ben and I were basically a package deal at the time," explains Welsh. "Ben joined first, but I think he felt lonely without me."

It didn't hurt that the boys were all consummate musicians. A pianist from an early age, King competed in the local recital circuit before dropping piano altogether and picking up the guitar in junior high. "The coolest guys in my eighth grade class all played guitar," confides King. "I wanted to fit in." Slade began singing when he was eight, but temporary voice problems led him to discover the piano at age 11. After regaining his vocal abilities a year later, he continued studying piano and learned guitar in high school. "I wrote my first song at 16," explains Slade, "which is when I first picked up the guitar." Wysocki began taking drum lessons in the sixth grade, but only after having endured piano lessons at his parents' request. Welsh grew up in a musical household, and struggled with piano and saxophone before settling on guitar at age 12.

The lineup secure, all the band needed was a name. Jokes about the boys' tendency to battle it out over song composition led to the suggestion of "The Fray," and the name stuck. So did The Fray's style - a sophisticated, emotional blend of tinkling pianos, acoustic and electric guitars, and gently insistent rhythms that serves as an ideal backdrop for Slade's pitch-perfect, achingly beautiful vocals. The band's first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)", echoes the poignant lyricism of Counting Crows and the melodic intensity of U2. The title track, "How To Save A Life", is a heartbreaking meditation on salvation inspired by Slade's experience as a mentor to a crack-addicted teen. Both songs employ an epic sweep, speeding up and slowing down so effortlessly that the listener can't help but become emotionally involved by the time the crescendo hits.

Considering the quality of songwriting involved, the band's rise to local prominence within the span of a year doesn't seem so implausible. In January of 2004 The Fray were no-namers trying to find gigs. By December, they were getting radio pick-up and playing sold-out shows at 500-capacity venues. With a series of U.S. tour dates supporting legendary geek rockers Weezer in July, The Fray will have the opportunity to make even more new fans by the time "How To Save A Life" drops in September 2005.