Trueba Collects Two Goya Awards for the Spanish Film “Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados”

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Trueba is no longer a Goya Awards bridesmaid…

The 44-year-old Spanish novelist, film director and screenwriter, previously nominated for eight Goya Awards, picked up multiple awards at the 28th edition of Spain’s equivalent to the Academy Awards.

Trueba earned Best Director and Best Original Screenplay honors for writing and helming his hit Spanish film Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (Living is Easy With Eyes Closed).

The film also landed the Spanish Film Academy’s top prize for Best Film.

Trueba’s film, based on the true story of an English teacher who motivated his students using Beatles music, beat out Gracias Querejeta’s 15 Years and a Day, Manuel Martin Cuenca’s Cannibal, Daniel Sanchez Arevalo’s Family United and Fernando Franco’s Wounded.

Meanwhile, Alex de la Iglesia’s fantastical Witching & Bitching swept up eight categories, including most of the technical awards, while Living took six awards — among them original score and lead actor.

Editor Fernando Franco won the best new director award for his directorial debut Wounded, while Marian Alvarez won the best actress statue, snagging it in a symbolically young group of actresses with the youngest average age ever for the category.

Miguel Ferrari’s Azul y no Tan Rosa won Venezuela’s first Goya ever for the Best Ibero-American film.

Here’s a complete list of this year’s Goya Award winner:

Film  Living is Easy with Eyes Closed  Fernando Trueba P.C., S.A.

Director  David Trueba for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed

New Director  Fernando Franco for Wounded

Original Screenplay  David Trueba for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed

Adapted Screenplay  Mariano Barroso and Alejandro Hernandez for Todas las Mujeres

Lead Actor  Javier Camara for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed

Lead Actress  Marian Alvarez for Wounded

Supporting Actor  Roberto Alamo for Family United

Supporting Actress  Terele Pavez for Witching & Bitching

New Actor  Javier Pereira for Stockholm

New Actress  Natalia de Molina for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed

Artistic Director  Arturo Garcia Biaffra, Jose Luis Arrizabalaga for Witching & Bitching

Production Design  Carlos Bernases for Witching & Bitching

Original Score Pat Metheny for Living is Easy with Eyes Closed

Original Song Do You Really Want to Be in Love? By Josh Rouse for Family United

Photography Pau Esteve Birba for Cannibal

Editing  Pablo Blanco for Witching & Bitching

Wardrobe  Francisco Delgado Lopez for Witching & Bitching

Hair and makeup  Maria Dolores Gomez Castro, Javier Hernandez Valentin, Pedro Rodriguez and Francisco J. Rodriguez Frias for Witching & Bitching

Sound  Charly Schmukler and Nicolas de Poulpiquet for Witching & Bitching

Special Effect  Juan Ramon Molina and Ferran Piquer for Witching & Bitching

Animated Feature  Foosball, Jempsa, S.Al, Plural Jempsa and Antena 3

Documentary Feature  Las Maestras de la Republica, directed by Pilar Perez Solano

IberoAmerican Film  Azul y no Tan Rosa, directed by Miguel Ferrari (Venezuela)

European Film  Amour directed by Michael Haneke (Austria)

Fiction Short  Abstenerse Agenciasby Gaizka Urresti

Documentary Short  Minerita by Raul de la Fuente

Animated Short  Cuerdas directed by Pedro Solis Garcia

Honorary Goya  Jaime de Arminan

Jenner Featured in New Trailer for the “Glee” Beatles-Themed Episode

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner is experiencing a case of Beatlemania…

The 21-year-old half-Cuban American actor/singer and his fellow Glee cast mates appear in the latest trailer for Fox’s hit musical dramedy, as they prepare to celebrate the music of the Beatles.

In the trailer, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) tells the New Directions members at McKinley High that they’ll be embarking on a two-week assignment tackling the music of the Fab Four.

Glee‘s Season 5 premiere is slated for September 26 at 9:00 pm ET on Fox.

Lovato to Star in a Multi-Episode Arc on Fox’s “Glee”

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato will be pulling double-duty on Fox this summer…

The 21-year-old part-Mexican American actress and The X Factor judge has signed on for a major season-five role on the network’s musical dramedy Glee.

Lovato will portray Dani, a New York-based struggling artist who befriends Rachel (portrayed by Lea Michele) and Santana (Naya Rivera).

Lovato will also have frequent interactions with American Idol alum Adam Lambert‘s under wraps character.

Lambert and the former Disney Channel star will have several musical numbers together in Lovato’s six-episode stint.

The Glee role marks Lovato’s first acting project since her Disney Channel series Sonny With a Chance ended in January 2011.

Glee will work around Lovato’s The X Factor schedule

Glee returns on Thursday, September 26, at 9:ooam p.m., with the first part of its Beatles tribute. The show’s Cory Monteith tribute episode airs on October 10, after which the series will take a short hiatus.

Carey Continues Her Billboard Chart Dominance with “#Beautiful”

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a #Beautiful day for Mariah Carey…

The 43-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer and American Idol judge’s latest single, “#Beautiful,” has helped her continue her Billboard chart dominance.

Carey’s duet with Miguel, the lead single from her 13th studio album, marks her 45th Billboard Hot 100 hit, making her one of the chart’s most accomplished visitors dating to its Aug. 4, 1958, launch.

Here’s an updated look at the women with the most appearances on the chart:

73, Aretha Franklin
58, Taylor Swift
56, Madonna
56, Dionne Warwick
53, Connie Francis
48, Brenda Lee
46, Nicki Minaj
45, Mariah Carey
41, Rihanna
41, Barbra Streisand
40, Mary J. Blige
40, Diana Ross
39, Whitney Houston
39, Janet Jackson

Notably, Carey has sported lead billing on 43 of her entries, while fellow Idol judge Minaj, as rappers regularly chart in featured roles, has served as lead on 17 of hers).

With “#Beautiful” debut, Carey also claims her 35th top 40 Hot 100 hit, tying Island Def Jam labelmate Rihanna‘s total.

Here’s a look at the solo females to make the most visits to the chart’s top 40:

49, Madonna
43, Aretha Franklin
41, Taylor Swift
35, Mariah Carey
35, Rihanna
33, Connie Francis
32, Janet Jackson
31, Dionne Warwick
29, Whitney Houston
29, Brenda Lee

Carey continues to boast one of the most vaunted of all Hot 100 records: her 18 No. 1s are the most among solo acts (and second overall only to the Beatles‘ 20). With 54 million albums sold, Carey is also the best-selling female album artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking U.S. sales in 1991. She trails only overall leader Garth Brooks (68.6 million) and runners-up the Beatles (64.4 million).

Miguel, meanwhile, easily makes his best Hot 100 start with “#Beautiful.” Of his prior seven charted titles, he’d debuted as high as No. 82 with his eventual No. 17-peaking “Adorn,” still his highest-charted hit.

Buika to Perform “Besame Mucho” at the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Buika will be helping honor one of the most recognizable Spanish-language ballads of all time…

The 40-year-old Afro-Spanish singer, who earned rave reviews after performing two songs in Pedro Almódovar’s 2011 film The Skin I Live In, will perform “Besame Mucho” at the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame’s first induction gala.

Buika and an orchestra of top musicians will perform the song – which was written by the Mexican composer Consuelo Velasquez in 1940 and performed by artists including the Beatles and Frank Sinatra, in addition to a number of Latin stars – before it receives the Hall of Fame’s La Musa award.

In addition, the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame will induct Manuel Alejandro, Jose Angel “Ferrusquilla” Espinosa, Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, Armando Manzanero and Concha Valdez Miranda as the first-ever songwriters to be added to the recently created hall of fame.

Additionally, Olga Guillot, Draco Rosa, Nat King Cole, Desi Arnaz, Ralph S. Peer and emerging Spanish singer/songwriter Natalia Jimenez will receive recognition for their contribution to the music industry.

Rubén Blades, Cristian Castro, Natalie Cole and Rosa are among the artists set to perform at the black tie event, celebrating the rich past and current popularity of Latin song.

The event will take place on April 23rd at the New World Center in Miami Beach during the Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Jauregui, Cabello & Hernandez’s Fifth Harmony Comes in Third on “X Factor”

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The luck has run out for Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke Hernandez and the rest of Fifth Harmony on The X Factor…

During Thursday night’s season two finale, Simon Cowell’s all-girl group was the first of the three finalists eliminated.

Despite three strong performances during Wednesday’s performance show, Fifth Harmony – the underdogs on Fox’s singing competition – just couldn’t muster enough votes from America to claim the big prize: a $5 million recording contract.

Instead country crooner Tate Stevens won the competition, with tween singing sensation Carly Rose Sonenclar coming in second place.

But the ladies didn’t leave without some stellar performances…

At the beginning of the show, Fifth Harmony, Sonenclar and Stevensmade their grand entrance, singing the Beatles‘ “All You Need Is Love” on the red carpet as they made their way past the season’s former contestants that they beat on the way to the finals.

Later the ladies returned to give a festive performance of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” which saw the group sing and dance around gifts, candy canes and other Christmas-related decorations.

No word yet on whether Fifth Harmony will get signed after the show, but Cowell did make a prediction after their elimination.

“I have a feeling that we’re going to be hearing and seeing a lot more of these girls in the future,” said Cowell.

Carey Earns Her 16th No. 1 Song on Billboard’s Dance Chart

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Sweet Sixteen for Mariah Carey…

The 42-year-old part-Venezuelan singer is celebrating her sixteenth No. 1 track on Billboard’s Dance Club/Play Songs chart, as her latest single “Triumphant (Get ‘Em)” climbs to the top of the summit.

The new American Idol judge, aided by remixes of the original track, leaps 2-1 on the survey to be released on Billboard.com next Thursday (October 18).

It’s her first leader in more than three years, since “Obsessed” topped the chart the week of October 3, 2009.

With 16 No. 1s, Carey ties Kristine W for fifth-place among artists with the most leaders in the list’s 36-year history. Madonna leads the pack with 43 No. 1s, followed by Janet Jackson (19) and Beyonce and Rihanna (18 each).

On the overall Billboard Hot 100, Carey has notched 18 No. 1s, the most among women and the second-most among all artists after the Beatles‘ 20.

Here is a recap of Carey’s sweet 16 Dance/Club Play Songs to reach No. 1.

Title, Chart Date Reached No. 1

“Someday,” March 16, 1991
“Emotions,” Nov. 30, 1991
“Dreamlover,” Oct. 16, 1993
“Anytime You Need a Friend,” Aug. 27, 1994
“Fantasy,” Oct. 21, 1995 (three weeks at No. 1)
“Honey,” Oct, 18, 1997
“I Still Believe,” April 10, 1999
“Through the Rain,” Feb. 8, 2003
“It’s Like That,” May 21, 2005
“We Belong Together,” Aug. 6, 2005
“Don’t Forget About Us,” Jan. 21, 2006
“Say Somethin’ “ (featuring Snoop Dogg), May 27, 2006
“Touch My Body,” May 10, 2008
“I Stay in Love,” Feb. 14, 2009
“Obsessed,” Oct. 3, 2009
“Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” Oct. 27 2012

Carey to Receive BMI Icon Award

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s scored more No. 1 singles than any other solo artist in history… And, now Mariah Carey will be recognized for her musical feats.

The 42-year-old part-Venezuelan American songstress, rumored to be a lead contender to replace Jennifer Lopez as a judge on American Idol, will be honored this fall as a BMI Icon at the BMI Urban Awards.

Carey will join a group that includes the Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Al Green, the Bee Gees, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton — selected because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.”

During her illustrious career, Carey has co-written most of her biggest hits, a lengthy list that includes 30 BMI Urban and Pop Award-winning songs like “Fantasy,” “Vision of Love,” “Emotions,” “Shake It Off,” “We Belong Together” and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which she re-released with Justin Bieber last year.

A whopping 17 of her songs have amassed more than 1 million performances each, including “Always Be My Baby,” “Dreamlover” and “Hero,” which have each earned more than 3 million performances.

Carey has scored more No. 1 singles than any other solo artist in history; and she’s second only to the Beatles on the all-time list. She also holds the record for the female songwriter with the most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles in the rock era, totaling 18.

Carey is currently in the studio, writing and recording her next album for Island Def Jam.

The BMI Urban Awards are scheduled for Friday, September 7 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

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