By Clarence Yu

No, you did not read the title wrong. It is Kevin Costner, actor-director, with his band Modern West and their debut CD, “Untold Truths.”

At the age of 53, Costner decides to go into his first album of all original songs, with long time band Modern West. Most might be surprised (like me) but after a little checking, Costner has not been a stranger to playing music, as he and his band have been playing live gigs for the past couple of years.

The sound is all country/roots-rock with Costner on vocals. Surprisingly, for a shameless country music fan like me, I’m not that disappointed, nor am I elated.

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By Clarence Yu
Contributor

OCTOBER 27, 1975: Bruce Springsteen, 25, appears simultaneously on the covers of Time and Newsweek and is heralded as “The future of Rock and Roll.” Around this time, a young man named Barack “Barry” Obama, 14, is attending High School in Hawaii’s Punahou School, destined to be the future President of the United States.

October to November, 2008: Bruce Springsteen, 59, now known as “The Boss” worldwide, critically acclaimed and one of the biggest rock stars on the planet, speaks and plays at several rallies for Senator Barack Obama, 47, who is now the President-elect of the United States.

I used to believe in what Keith Richards used to say about rock n’ roll and politics not being a good mix, that rock n’ roll should not be used as a tool to further anyone’s political agenda. After all, rock n’ roll has always been about good times.

However, as an ardent Springsteen fan for many years now, I believe that the Boss is an exceptional exception to this rule, or at least Richard’s rules.

So when comments over the Internet started to insinuate that Springsteen was “cashing in” on Obama’s celebrity, I got furious.

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By Erika Tapalla
INQUIRER.net

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Thousands of Filipino fans spent their Sunday evening swinging their arms around and swaying to the live beats of American pop and R&B artists Chris Brown and Rihanna.

With critically acclaimed music that has reigned in global music charts, Rihanna and Brown held a joint concert to screaming fans at the Global City open field at The Fort.

The concert opened with dramatic lightshow and a countdown with Brown taking over the stage with an intense hip-hop dance and showmanship.

Making a dramatic entrance, Brown was suspended upside down in midair and was slowly lowered down to the stage, head first. Masked and dressed in black gear, Brown’s dancers immediately started dancing as a flash of light signaled the start of his set.

Here are fans raving about Rihanna and Brown’s concert.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Pop sensations Rihanna and Chris Brown arrived in Manila Saturday afternoon to prepare for a back-to-back concert at the Bonifacio Global City open field on Sunday.

Arriving on two separate flights, Rihanna and Brown were met by journalists gathered at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and later by screaming fans.

Wearing black and carrying a black handbag and a video camera, Rihanna did not come with a large entourage. But screaming Filipino fans including airport personnel gave her a warm welcome.

Rihanna, 20, is one of the biggest pop stars in the music industry. Among her biggest hits are “Don’t Stop the Music,” “Take a bow” and “Umbrella.”

Meanwhile, Chris Brown who arrived with some friends flanking him is a year younger than Rihanna and has already won awards for his R&B songs, which includes “Kiss, Kiss” and “With You.”

The two pop stars had a seven-city concert tour in Australia and New Zealand. Based on the reception at the airport, both artists are already generating a lot of excitement among fans in the Philippines.

Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – There is now an ongoing trademark dispute over the name of the popular Filipino band Rivermaya, its manager Lizza Nakpil and lawyer of the band members told INQUIRER.net in separate interviews.

Representing the Riverymaya band members, lawyer Patricia Alvarez confirmed that she filed an opposition to Nakpil’s application for the “Riverymaya” trademark with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Nakpil applied for the Rivermaya trademark with the IPO last July 7, online records of the government agency showed.

Rivermaya drummer Mark Edward Escueta, however, also has a pending application for the same trademark, which he filed on October 10.

“Lizza Nakpil has attempted to register the name. What she has is an application,” Alvarez said in a telephone interview.

IPO rules allow any opposition to trademarks filed with the agency, Alvarez said.

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