A Star Is Born filming pushed back after Beyoncé announces pregnancy

Filming on Beyoncé's new movie A Star Is Born has had to be pushed back after the singer revealed she is expecting her first child.
Clint Eastwood's musical remake had been due to start shooting in February 2012, but insiders on the film told Deadline Hollywood that Warner Bros 'could push' the start date on the film.
It is also claimed the delay to the start of shooting will give them longer to find a suitable leading man after Eastwood failed to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to sign on.

Delay: Filming of A Star Is Born could be pushed back after Beyoncé announced she is expecting her first child with husband Jay-Z

Single Ladies hitmaker Beyoncé will take on the role previously held by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland in the 1976 and 1954 adaptations, and Janet Gaynor in the 1937 original.
She will play up and coming starlet Esther Blodgett, later Vicki Lester, who falls for a has-been rockstar.
Beyoncé proved her acting chops in Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls in 2006, as well as portraying Etta James in Cadillac Records.
The 29-year-old singer announced at last night's MTV VMA Awards that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child together.

Congratulations: Kelly Rowland, who was in Destiny's Child with Beyonce and Michelle Williams, came forward to publicly offer her friend congratulations

And today her former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland came forward to publicly congratulate her friend.
She told America's People magazine: 'I have known for quite a while, and she's happy, and Jay is happy, and that's all that counts.

'I think she'll be an incredible mother, because she's always been motherly. I think that she takes after so many traits from her mother. And I just think it's going to be so natural for her. Its natural for her now!'
Last night Beyoncé debuted her baby bump in an orange Lanvin gown and told the assembled press: 'I have a surprise!'
And the singer didn't let her pregnancy prevent her from bringing the house down with an energetic performance.
She cheered on Jay-Z, who performed new single Otis with Kanye West, before taking to the stage herself.
Arriving onstage in a purple glittery blazer and black trousers by Dolce & Gabbana, the mother-to-be said: 'I want you to feel the love that's growing inside of me.'

Content: The singer glowed with happiness as she clutched her baby bump

aternity chic: The 29-year-old chose a bright draped gown by Lanvin for her debut maternity dress

After a fabulous performance of Love On Top that attracted a standing ovation from the audience, Beyoncé ripped open her jacket and proudly rubbed her baby bump.
The cameras panned to the audience where Jay-Z was beaming, as his friend Kanye jumped up and down, smacking the father-to-be on the back and shaking him.
Beyoncé performed at the Roseland Ballroom in New York on August 14, and covered up her stomach with a sheath of fabric that draped lightly across her protruding bump.

Proud mama: After her performance Beyoncé ripped open her blazer and rubbed her baby bump

The announcement comes after a stellar summer for the Grammy-winner in which she headlined Glastonbury and released another hit album, 4.
Beyoncé, who has won 16 Grammy awards, said in a recent  interview that she feels she has achieved enough in her career to settle down and make family a priority.
'When you're young - 18 or 19 - you have the energy and drive. That's the time to work as hard as you can,' she told the September issue of In Style.

Congratulations! Jay-Z beamed from the audience while Kanye West thumped his friend on the back

'Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage.

'I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children.'
Beyoncé married rapper Jay-Z on September 4, 2008 in New York.

Cover up: Beyoncé covered her stomach with a sheath of material during a performance at the Roseland Ballroom on August 14

Speaking to Piers Morgan in June, she hinted: 'I always said I was going to have a baby at 30. I'm 29 now.
'But I also said I was going to retire at 30. So I don't know,' she said, adding: 'I am not retiring, I tell you.'
Pressed by Morgan she said: 'Only God knows, only God knows.'

Parents-to-be: Beyoncé and Jay-Z married in an intimate ceremony in New York on September 4, 2008

1st of July (But No Fireworks)

It's the 1st of July, half way through the year (a frightening thought), so I thought I'd take a look at the music that have defined my first six months of the year. Did you notice the Kelis reference in the title there? I am so smart. S-M-A-T.

The following songs have all had their moment in the sun on my iPod where I have listened to them on repeat. That is very literally the case with some of the songs on here, which have clocked up so many repetitive spins that I almost grew tired of them due to so many listens. Almost. The honour for "song the year" is definitely, at this stage, a fight between Groove Armada's "Paper Romance", Sophie Ellis-Bextor's "Bittersweet" and Scissor Sisters' "Invisible Light". Although there are several songs that could make a play for the title if I have a sudden change of heart.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Bittersweet [Freemason's Extended Mix]" - Play it loud! Just a pure, unadulterated dance floor orgasm.
Kylie Minogue, "Aphrodite Megamix" - If I had to choose my favourite track from Aphrodite it would be "Too Much", but this megamix featuring several songs from the album is just incredible and was the only thing I listened to for about four days straight.


Scissor Sisters, "Invisible Light" - One of the most euphoric tracks you're ever likely to hear, even ripping of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is a bonza movie. It is, however, that final minute and 33 seconds that I wish would go on for hours.
M.I.A., "XXXO" - It was this for "Meds & Feds" from M.I.A.'s new album /\/\/\Y/\ for best in show honours, but went with "XXXO" for it's lyric about Quentin Tarantino.


Groove Armada, "Paper Romance" - A total stormer, and an unexpected one at that.
Kelly Rowland, "Commander" - The sub-subgenre that I like to say "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life Dance Floor Anthems" found a new eternal classic in Kelly Rowland's "Commander". Play it long, play it loud.


Goldfrapp, "Rocket [Richard X One Zero Remix]" & Goldfrapp, "Rocket [Richard X Four Eight Remix]" - They are different, and yet both are amazing. Richard X is a God.


Gabriella Cilmi, "On a Mission" - The first song from 2010 to mustre up over 100 listens on my iTunes, fact. It helped that at the time I had limited access to new music, but it's nevertheless an incredible track.
Robyn, "Dancing on My Own" - Crying while dancing is a term used to describe dance songs that deal with themes of loss and woe. This is one of those songs and it is good. So good that one might actually find themselves breaking out a tear if you're really in the zone of the themes.


Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, "Dance the Way I Feel" - Those synths! THOSE BLOODY SYNTHS! Looking forward to the album in August. Have you actually watched the video? It's like Empire of the Sun directed by David Lynch on a break from INLAND EMPIRE. Fluorescent and a bit frightening.
Kelis, "Acapella" - I wanted to include "22nd Century" but apparently Kelis and her record company don't want any marketing for songs that haven't been released as singles and have deleted any knowledge of the song from YouTube. Oh well, "Acapella" is good, too, but "22nd Century" with its extended breakdown in the middle is just glorious and rivals "Invisible Light" as the single musical highlight of the year so far.


Fantasia, "Even Angels" - I adore Fantasia and "Even Angels" was a spectacular modern day R&B song that barely anybody noticed. At least Guy Lodge agrees with me.
Kele, "Rise" - The highlight of Kele's impressive solo album debut, The Boxer.


Christina Aguilera, "Little Dreamer" - Very much a case of an artist, shockingly, leaving perhaps the best song she's ever recorded off an album and making it a "bonus track". Just like Britney Spears' "Quicksand", actually. "Little Dreamer" is a bit classier than that song, which is something Xtina's Bionic could have used.
Paula Seling & Ovi, "Playing with Fire" - Romania's Eurovision entry, lest we forget. It's still great.


As for albums? Well, there are obvious contenders such as Scissor Sisters' Night Work, Groove Armada's Black Light, Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid, Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite, Kelis' Flesh Tone, Sleigh Bells' Treats, Gabriella Cilmi's Ten and John Adams' compilation on the I Am Love soundtrack that will be definite end of year fixtures.

But there have been some other fine albums from the year. How about M.I.A.'s /\/\/\Y/\, Kele's The Boxer, Marina and the Diamonds' The Family Jewels, the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, Robyn's Body Talk, Part I (looking forward to parts 2 and 3 throughout the year), Violent Soho's Violent Soho, Nobody's Daughter by Hole, Acolyte by Delphic and the weird David Byrne/Fatboy Slim concept album about Imelda Marcos, Here Lies Love. They will all be worth remembering and re-evaluating at the end of the year to see how they have held up amongst the other titles listed above.

Since writing this I have discovered the new Chemical Brothers album, Further, as well as Cossus Snufsigalonica by Fear of Tigers. The latter of which is particularly astonishing.

And if you're going to reply with suggestions, feel free, just beware that I will delete any that suggest mopey male singers who play the guitar. That is not accepted at this blog!