The lads travelled to Azerbaijan last Saturday but before flying off they were greeted at Dublin airport by hundreds of screaming fans who came out to send them off in style! As usual they spend loads of time mingling with their devoted followers which had to be controlled by several Gardaí. Here’s some footage of the craziness outside the terminal building.

They are calling their Azerbaijan journey “EDzerbaiJohn” and have been working nonstop since they arrived in Baku. The lads want to make sure their routine goes perfectly! After last year’s amazing performance of “Lipstick” and the hype that surrounded Jedward across Europe they have built up a huge international fan base. These die-hard fans have made fliers to promote the boys. It’s a bizarre situation when people support another countries act more than their own… We’re not complaining! Here are some of those fliers.

If you don’t believe me about Jedward’s Europe-wide domination, here’s a video of Estonian fans in Tallin performing a brilliant “Waterline” flashmob.

On Monday we got a sneak peak of the boys doing their first dress rehearsal with backing singers and props. They’re dressed in glittering blue suits with blue high-tops. I know the song is called “Waterline” but I was hoping to see green plastered all over the place, not blue!
They perform around a fountain that leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a shame that it isn’t a little bigger or more impressive. In the rehearsal they sound fantastic and only make a couple of minor mistakes that will hopefully be tightened up before the semi finals.

Speaking of semi-finals the boys are scheduled to perform in the first round which is on Tuesday 22nd of May. They will be the last act to hit the stage which has to be a good thing, right?! The Grand final will be held on Saturday 26th of May (Can’t wait!).
Get ready to go “Awwwwwww”. The twins are taking this Eurovision thing so seriously that they have adopted two baby rabbits and are keeping them in their Baku hotel room. Jedward cleverly named the furry little cuties “Euro” and “Vision”.. The question is, who gave these pets to John and Edward and how will they bring them back to Ireland? They’ve given the rabbits a couple of cameo appearances in their video diaries

If you haven’t seen the official video for “Waterline”, here it is. We get to see the pair with their increasingly popular “hair-down” look which we love! Not only did they perform in the video but apparently they edited it too.. Multi talented or what!

Singles

The Saturdays – 30 Days

This is the 13th single and the lead of their upcoming 4th album. Una recently had her baby and they’re now filming a pilot for reality show about attempting to break the US market. It’s like their previous efforts in how it incorporates a sleek, dance tinged sound. It’s not quite as attention grabbing as you would hope and is a bit of a let down compared to Notorious or All Fired Up

Demi Lovato – Give Your Heart A Break

Catchy mid-tempo pop – rock tune from the Disney starlet turned X Factor judge. This continues the more grown up sound she’s cultivated on current album Unbroken and moves away from her teen pop beginnings. While it’s not as impressive as her tune Skyscraper it has an anthemic feel to it and showcases her impressive voice.

Albums

Gossip – A Joyful Noise

This is the 5TH album from US alt-rock outfit that burst to prominence after Standing in the Way of Control in 2006. Their last album maintained their mainstream cult following with a big hit single. This effort sees them teaming up with Xenomania, the pop production outfit who’ve worked with Kylie, Sugababes and Girls Aloud amongst others and it gives the album a sheen and a sense of pop shine they’ve never done before and is a good change of pace for Beth Ditto’s considerable vocal talents. It’s a bright and engaging collection but it never quite sails into orbit the way it should. It’s a grower but may struggle to wow a wider audience.

This Club – Highlife

The Debut album from Irish band formerly known as Hoarsebox has landed. Recorded over the last year the band have already had success with singles Add It Up and I Won’t Worry and their album is produced by Dennis Herring who has worked with Elivs Costello and Modest Mouse amongst others. The band will also be playing festivals such as Sea Sessions and Indiependence this summer alongside headline shows. This debut is laced with sharp, bouncy pop choruses and quirky synthlines alongside plenty of thrilling guitar work. It’s got charm and humour in spades and plenty of infectious radio-ready songs that will win over both festival audiences and radio listeners throughout 2012

Hoodie Allen – All American

Debut album release from the rapper who’s already released several successful mix tapes via his Facebook page and clocked up millions of hits on youtube. This is a mix of the rap/pop swagger of Drake with the cheeky crooner side of Mike Posner thrown in for good measure with a hint of Asher Roth. He’s currently undertaking his first world tour that sees him arrive to Dublin on the 11th of June (tickets are 22e from Ticketmaster). His music has plenty of pop appeal with enough dry wit to make a unique voice, this EP promises big things and is an excellent introduction to all things Hoodie Allen.

Kelly Clarkson is making a much welcome return to the Dublin stage in October. Touring current album Stronger (arguably her best yet) Kelly will surely belt out the hits with gusto. To celebrate Kelly C’s impending visit to our shores I’ve compiled my personal top five favourite Kelly Clarkson tracks.

5: Don’t Waste Your Time

Kelly’s 3rd album My December fared poorly on the charts with a downbeat style and a much publicized fight with her label boss Clive Davis creating much bad press. It’s in fact a rather good album, with plenty of impressive moments if not the usual pop sheen we’d expect. This single is a highlight. It was released in Europe in 2007 and while it wasn’t a huge smash hit, it’s something of a hidden gem. The chorus has a lovely sense of yearning mixed with typical Kelly angry. The video is also a lush, gothic treat, like the album’s own artwork brought to life.

4: I Want You

On “All I Ever Wanted” Clarkson’s 4th album, she returned to the glossy pop-rock sheen that made her so successful. There are plenty of straight-up pop hits on the album but my personal favourite has always been this quirky number. Clarkson sounds sweet and knowing and the chorus has 60’s feel that’s hard to resist. A low-key number and all the better for it.

3: Miss Independent

Kelly’s first single release outside of the US was co-written by Christina Aguilera and brimming with plenty of attitude. A slinky, grumbling mid-tempo number Miss Independent is a fine set-up for the charm of all things Kelly: big chorus, on-point vocals and lots and lots of energy.

2: (What Doesn’t Kill You) Stronger

The title track of Kelly’s current album has been a massive smash, even garnering her a 3rd number 1 on the US charts. The pitch-perfect “I don’t need you anymore” kiss off (well, after our number one choice below) Stronger is both a brilliant radio-ready pop song AND a neat showcase for Kelly herself.

1: Since U Been Gone

Was it really going to be anything else? The song that really put Kelly Clarkson in the pop leagues, this is an undeniable pop classic that would influence a wave of pop rock types for years after. It also put Max Martin back on the pop-songwriting map and was the breakthrough hit for Dr. Luke who has since gone on to shape the sound of most of pop over the last few years. All that aside, Since U Been Gone is a breathless piece of angry pop that never loses it’s urgency even years after it’s initial release.

Kelly’s Stronger tour arrives in Dublin on the 10TH of October and tickets are on sale Friday the 24TH of May.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

***

Mel Gibson plays a wrong sort, never named career criminal who ends up in a Mexican prison after he’s caught trying to jump the boarder in a car with a couple of million dollars and dying accomplice. Swiftly thrown in a ramshackle prison that’s more like a derelict holiday camp, he’s quickly privy to the criminal hierarchy and corruptness of the warden. A wily sort, soon he’s figured things out, but complications arise in the form of a young boy who’s intrinsically linked to the gangland boss lavishly housed in the joint.

We all know about Gibson’s personal problems, and it seems that the man is constantly in the press for said issues. But ignoring all of what goes on off camera, he has charisma in buketloads and is aging with character. Playing a career criminal in this stupidly thriller, his grizzled, now firmly lived-in looks are perfect for the character. His narration plays like that of a Shane Black flick, and it’s all quite smart and edgy. When the plot has to pulled together towards the end it falls apart a little bit; but it’s generally good fun before then.

Uneven but fun. Gibson is great and it’s generally an enjoyable enough farce.

The Dictator

****

The always controversial Sacha Baron Cohen plays General Aladeen of the fictitious African nation of Waadeya. Ruling with a sometimes limo, sometimes iron fist, he is developing weapons of mass destruction and is subsequently summoned to New York to address the UN. When he’s screwed over by his right hand man Tamir (an underused Kingsely) and replaced with a clueless lookalike while in Manhattan, he must figure out a way of returning to his illustrious role before he speaks to the world via the UN. Along the way he meets the liberal Zoey, played by Anna Faris (looking scarily like Elijah Wood), and the duo begin an unlikely relationship.

After arriving on the global cinematic scene in a massive way after Borat, Cohen continued the mockumentary style format of filmmaking with another of his outrageous creations, Bruno. His commitment to a gag has not wavered, and he’s still pushing the boundaries with his latest, more conventionally made effort. The Dictator is very silly, but is ironically probably Cohen’s most accessible film to date. As offensive as it is, the laughs are almost slapstick, so go down that bit easier. Also, it happens that it’s genuinely very funny and generally a blast.

Will play extremely well with audiences. Cohen has lost none of his bite, and seems to be really enjoying himself here.

OUTFIT 1

KHAKI SHIRT £34 stg Topshop.com (€43)

LEOPARD SKIN WEDGES : £70.00 OFFICE (€80)

SADDLE BAG £11.99 NEW LOOK (€15)

SUNGLASSES £3.00 PENNEYS (€3.70)

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OUTFIT 2

SHORTS : ‘AZAELIA’ £49.00 SILVER FACTORY (€61.50)

TURBAN : RIVER ISLAND £8 (€10)

T-Shirt £5.95 H&M (€7.50)

SANDALS : £38.00 Topshop (€47.50)

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OUTFIT 3

TRIBAL BAG : £22.99 NEW LOOK (€28.90)

DRESS £49.95 ZARA (€62.70)

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Romeo’s relationship may not be going so well for him on ‘Home And Away’ at the moment but it’s a different story for Luke Mitchell, the man who plays him on.

On screen, Romeo and Indy are all but over. Ruby is happy about this as he is now focusing his attention on her. However that doesn’t last long. When Romeo realises he just wants to be her friend Ruby is devastated.

Off screen though Luke Mitchell wants to be more than just friends with Rebecca Breeds (who plays Ruby). He announced on twitter (@LukeMitchell_) this week “OK, so in response to Beyonce … I liked it, so I put a ring on it!”

Luke, 27, proposed to Rebecca, 24, back in April, while they were on holiday on the idyllic Hayman Island.

Luke told Australia’s New Idea magazine, “Honestly, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. I had the element of surprise – I didn’t tell anyone what I was planning, not a soul, not even my parents, But pretending there was nothing special on my mind for three months before I actually asked her to marry me — that was the best acting I’ve ever done!”

Rebecca is just as excited as Luke about the engagement. She tweeted (@BecEBreeds) “Thanks@HaymanGBR for The most idyllic place to get engaged and thank you @LukeMitchell__ for ‘liking it’ and hence,’putting a ring on it’!!”

While Rebecca and Luke are celebrating, Rebecca’s fans may soon be devastated as there are rumours that she will soon be leaving the Bay. Nothing has been confirmed as yet. Luke has commented on these rumours, “I can’t confirm or deny [if she's left]. She has been on the show for a while but there are a few of us that have been. That’s not to say she’s left…”

A departure that has been confirmed is that of Lyn Collingwood. Lyn has been playing Summer Bay’s resident nosey parker, Colleen Smart, for the past 13 years. Her departure storyline has not been released yet but in true Colleen Smart style, there is sure to be just as many laughs as there will be tears!

I wonder if Lyn will follow in Ian Smith’s (Harold Bishop, Neighbours) footsteps when she leaves the Bay?

Have you been wondering what Ian has been up to since he left Ramsay Street? Well this week he has been telling the world he doesn’t want to be a Popstar by releasing a single, “I Don’t Wanna Be A Popstar, Too”. The accompanying video is hilarious. In it he channels Michael Jackson, Priscilla Queen of The Desert, Elton John, and Elvis Presley, to name but a few. Check out the video for yourself: