Music News LIVE: Geri's baby tribute to George

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Let's get some reaction to the Oscar Nominations now eh?

In the best original song section there's a lot of love out there for Hollywood musical La La Land, which has two numbers on the list: Audition (Fools Who Dream) and City of Stars as sang by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (see below for Mark's full breakdown).

Others are rooting for Justin Timberlake instead, who finds himself on the shortlist as a singing troll on Can't Stop The Feeling.

Some of you however are not too impressed with the lack of Pharrell Williams name on that list...and one or two others.

Oh well, if we were all singing off the same sheet, life would be boring.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Former Fleet Fox Father John Misty is never short of an opinion or three and he's laid a fair few of them bare on his new piano ballad Pure Comedy.

In his latest sermon, the Father aka Josh Tillman, ponders "the comedy of man" and rails against religious and political hypocrisy on planet earth.

Do we even need to tell you that new US President Donald Trump makes an appearance in the video?  Thought not.

"Just wait until the part where they start to believe they're at the centre of everything and some all-powerful being endowed this horror show with meaning" croons Misty.

"I hate to say it, but each other's all we've got."

Food for thought there...

Read more.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Housewives favourite Neil Diamond is marking his 50 years in the music industry with a new European tour.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will kick off his tour in Zurich, Switzerland on 13 September before coming to the UK in October for six dates.

The shows will be held in Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Belfast, Birmingham and London.

Also, it's his birthday today!  We really hope he's dug out that brown jacket/boots combo for the occasion.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Looks like Tinie Tempah is taking a leaf out of the Ed Sheeran music rulebook by sharing two new tracks, well teasers anyway.

First up is the emoji-packed promo for Text from Your Ex and is about a boyfriend's girlfriend being warned by her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend that she is back on the scene and so now the girlfriend is looking for a new boyfriend... or something.

Warning: Third party content, may contains ads.

He's also shared a teaser for a track called Chasing Flies but we're not going to try and explain this one.

Tinie's third album Youth is due to be released in March.

So it's good news for Justin Timberlake and bad news for Pharrell in the 2017 Oscar nominations.

Both had been expected to feature in the "original song" category - but Pharrell seems to have been edged out by La La Land, which greedily hoovered up two nominations.

Of those, City Of Stars is the favourite to win. Sung by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, it's a recurring motif in the film, whose major/minor cadences mirror the ups-and-downs of the lead characters.

While City Of Stars has already walked away with a Golden Globe, many voters (particularly those with a musical background) are said to favour Audition, which is a solo number for Stone.

The last song written for the movie, it finds Stone - an aspiring actress - vowing never to give up on her dreams. Simultaneously optimistic and melancholy, it is the emotional centrepiece of the film. 

You can hear composer Justin Hurwitz describe the genesis of the song in an episode of the Song Exploder podcast, below.

La La Land's main competition comes from the Disney animation Moana, in particular the song How Far I'll Go.

It's a classic Disney exposition song, with the heroine expressing her internal struggle: She wants to travel the world and explore, while her parents expect to stay and become leader of their tribe.

It was written by Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, who locked himself in his childhood bedroom to write the song.  "I wanted to get to my angstiest possible place," he said, "so I went Method on that."

If Miranda wins the Oscar, he'll become an EGOT - recipient of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

Justin Timberlake - who's made no secret of his acting ambitions - gets his first Oscar nomination for Can't Stop The Feeling.

A throwaway disco throwback, the song comes from the animated hit Trolls, which Timberlake also starred in.

Although it's unlikely to win an Academy Award, the performance could be a highlight of this year's ceremony.

The biggest surprise in the nominations, however, was J Ralph and Sting's song The Empty Chair... A track which has racked up a meagre 3,131 plays on YouTube at the time of writing.

The song is taken from Jim: The James Foley Story, an intimate documentary of the photojournalist James Foley, who was abducted in Syria and beheaded by Islamic State.

Sting was initially reluctant to write the song - feeling he wasn't up to the task. "It's just too emotional, too intense," he told the filmmakers.

But sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner, he began to think how he would honour a lost relative - and came up with the imagery that inspired the song.

The winners will be named at a ceremony on 26 February in Los Angeles.

All you have to do now is select your favourite...just for fun, mind.

With the new Trainspotting movie out on Friday, many people's attention tuns to the films soundtrack.

The original film, released in 1996, breathed new life into tracks by Iggy Pop and Lou Reed.

But the track which most springs to mind is Born Slippy by Underworld.

The track was co-written by Rick Smith who went on to work with Trainspotting's director Danny Boyle on the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

He's been speaking to the Today programme about how his music was used.

And, in case you've forgotten it (how could you?), here it is in all its lager, lager, lager glory...

Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

Liverpool has a fine tradition of producing singer-songwiters, Lighting Seeds' Ian Broudie, Cast's John Power, two blokes called Paul and John from some long forgotten skiffle band.

Now add Louis Berry to that list - he was named Mistajam's Hottest Record on Monday night with the vintage rockabilly-influenced She Wants Me.

"I just love the sound of it," the 25-year-old said. "The energy, especially when you watch rock and roll performers doing it live, the old Elvis stuff, it's almost like a party on stage." 

Hear it below.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

OK it's dinner time (or lunch to some of you) on a Tuesday...the trickiest of all the days.  So about time for a seven minute psychadelic wig out we reckon.  Who's with us?

Less than three months after the release of their last album, San Franciscan psych rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre are back with a woozy new single featuring the aforementioned Charlatan Mr T.Burgess (scroll down for his thoughts on Independent Venues Week).

The new track is called Fact 67 and will it will be track eight on new record Get Lost.

So turn on, tune in and drop out for this one.

*But then back to what you were doing once it's done please.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

We've been treated to the first look at Natasha Bassett playing Britney Spears in a new biopic on the Lifetime channel.

It looks like its focusing on her turbulent private life and even features the infamous shaved head era and her stay in a rehab clinic.

The script is as in depth as you might imagine "I wanna be strong... (dramatic pause) for my fans. (Affects breathy tone) They're what keeps me going."

It's scheduled to premiere on 18 February because we know you're all dying to watch.

Head to Stereogum for the trailer.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Some giggity giggity news for you all now.

The gypsy kings of modern rock 'n' roll Kings of Leon have added two new dates to their UK tour.

They will now also play the arenas in Manchester on 9 June and Sheffield on 10 June.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Meanwhile Britpop's highest-flying space cadet Richard Ashcroft has followed suit adding a couple more gigs to his own tour.

He will now also play the Academies in Newcastle on 17 April and London on 1 July.

'Mad Richard' confirmed a few weeks ago that he will perform alongside old pal Liam Gallagher later this year.  So it's only at a festival in Norway that they both appear on the same bill.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

In other gig news theatrical Baltimore synth-pop crooners Future Islands will head over to these shores to play six shows in April and May, before heading over to Dublin in July as part of their European tour.

Tickets for the UK dates in Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Brighton, Nottingham and Bristol go on sale tomorrow.

So take your pick from that lot. Who will be your +1 though?

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Rapper Soulja Boy has gone to extreme lengths to get out of some roadwork training ahead of his boxing match with fellow music 'hardman' Chris Brown.

The 26-year-old musician is to appear in court next month after pleading not guilty to illegally possessing firearms. 

The rapper, aka DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested at his home in Los Angeles on 15 December after he was allegedly caught with the guns, one of which was reported stolen from a police vehicle. 

Soulja is due at Los Angeles County Superior Court on 28 February and could face more than four years in prison if he's convicted.

He's due to throw down with Chris Brown in Dubai in March. Wonder if they can trade blows over Skype?

A 28-year-old Australian actor has been named as the man who was shot on the set of a music video for hip hop group Bliss N Eso.

Johann Ofner was fatally wounded when a prop gun was fired during the final scene of the video, the hip-hop group’s management has said.

Ofner had been hired by a professional stunt company.

"The exact cause of Johann's fatal injury is still to be confirmed, but as the gun was loaded with blanks, not live ammunition, the cause was not a bullet or live round," a statement read.

"Only professional stunt people were used in the scene that involved prop guns."

Bliss N Eso’s management added "all of the appropriate permits were in place for the filming".

Police are investigating the death.

The band, who were not on set at the time. said they were "devastated". 

Read more

PACopyright: PA

It appears former Spice Girl Geri Horner (aka Halliwell) has paid tribute to her late friend George Michael after confirming the name of her newborn son as Montague George Hector Horner on Instagram.

therealgerihalliwell posted the above picture on Instagram alongside the caption "Montague George Hector Horner arrived this morning, a beautiful little brother for Bluebell and Olivia #amazing-day #grateful #monty"

Geri was good friends with the singer who died on Christmas Day and at the time she described him as "the kindest, most generous & talented person".

So George may now be gone but his name lives on.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

New Edition, the US boyband which laid the seeds for Bobby Brown's solo career have been honoured with a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The new star honours members Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Johnny Gill, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown and Ricky Bell, pictured above.

The lads, who had a massive hit with the song Candy Girl were formed in Boston in 1978 and laid the template for future boybands like New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men. 

EPACopyright: EPA

Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

Johnny Gill and the members of Bell Biv Devoe also enjoyed success outside of the band.

Ricky Bell "Our friendships, our relationships go so far back before New Edition.

"We came together because we had a passion and a desire to do something.  It was simple, it was just to sing, just to dance, just to make some girls scream."

Steve Lamacq and his team were in Leeds yesterday for the first of a week's worth of shows on 6 Music celebrating Independent Venue Week.

He spoke to Amy Lamé, London's first ever Night Czar, and she told him that "Tiny, baby green shoots are coming through" as London's music scene begins to "bounce back".

Lamé talksed to Lamo about London bucking a nationwide trend for music venues closing and how she hopes to see other cities following suit...and perhaps even appointing their own Night Czars.

We're thinking Serge Pizzorno could look after Leicester's night-life.  Perrie Edwards from Little Mix could run the Newcastle scene.  And maybe Shaun Ryder could fill that role for the people of Salford? 

Or maybe Indie Venue Week ambassador Tim Burgess of The Charlatans fancies it?

He spoke to Steve about The Charlatans’ early gigs in small independent venues across the country and discussed their importance to aspiring artists and the UK music scene.

It's next stop Birmingham for Steve and the team and you can tune in from 16:00 GMT today.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

That's right, it's time knuckle down again at the office of life for another day.  Well it is for us anyway.

If you do a good job though you might receive some recognition from on high, like singer Sam Smith did at last year's Oscars.

Whatever you're doing today keep checking in with us and we'll bring news of this year's Oscar nominations for best original song and score, plus new music from father John Misty, Ray Davies and Hot Chip and a trailer for a new TV movie about Britney "I wanna be strong...for my fans" Spears.

For now read yesterday's MNL as Madonna, Alicia Keys and Sleater-Kinney march on Washington armed only with microphones and guitars, plus find out why The Killers are already preparing for British Summertime.