Gawker: defamer, alicia keys

Jack White/Alicia Keys '007' Theme May Leave You Shaken, Not Stirred

Kyle Buchanan — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:50:00 EDT

Though a brief, instrumental version of the new James Bond theme was released alongside a Coca-Cola commercial last week, it's only now that we can hear the full, yowling power of the Jack White/Alicia Keys duet entitled "Another Way to Die." Equal parts hair metal, Bondian bombast, and just plain weirdness (with a healthy helping of White's own "Seven Nation Army"), it's definitely... different. Does it fit into the 007 oeuvre, or will it start Quantum of Solace off on a dissonant note? Enjoy the song (and the additional eye candy) in the video above. Amy Winehouse, your move! [Stereogum]

Burned by Winehouse, '007' Producers Settle for Head-Scratching Jack White / Alicia Keys Duet

Kyle Buchanan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT

It seemed too good to be true, and indeed, it was: after rumors surfaced that Amy Winehouse had been tapped to sing the theme song for the upcoming James Bond film Quantum of Solace, the troubled songstress fell out of the project (having recorded nothing but confused shrieks of "Oi! Blaaaake" over a propulsive string quartet). Now, Bond producers have turned to an unlikely pair to record the series' first duet:

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the highly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace, announced today that multi-Grammy Award-winning and platinum selling recording artists Jack White of the rock band The White Stripes, and Alicia Keys, have recorded the theme song for the film, which will be released worldwide this November.

Their song, written and produced by Jack White, and titled "Another Way to Die," will be the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. In addition to writing the song, Jack White is also featured as the drummer on this track.

Already, we can feel Bond fans clutching Walther PPKs to their bosoms, moaning that the duo isn't fit to join the hallowed ranks of Bond interpreters like Sheena Easton, A-Ha, and Rita Coolidge. Will Keys be able to give White's rock and roll nursery rhymes some Bond-ian grandeur, or will the pair crash and burn, leaving 007 producers no other choice but to approach the film's one true muse: Miley Cyrus?

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

'Another Way To Die' [Bondmovies.com]

The Two Faces Of John Mayer: Altar Boy Or Same Old Womanizer?

Molly Friedman — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:20:42 EDT

Tabloid wars! When it comes to covering the stunt relationship between “bored” John Mayer and “clingy” Jennifer Aniston, two New York gossip columns have found themselves at odds over how well-behaved Mayer was over the weekend. The NY Post claims Mayer was dancing on tables at a local bar one night, while the NY Daily News covers his performance at a Foxwoods gig alongside Alicia Keys and Diddy the night afterwards. But one paper paints Mayer as an altar boy turning down “eager hot blonds” for the sake of monogamy, and the other makes Mayer sound like a vulgar womanizer. So which to believe?

As the NYP reports, "John 'The Player' Mayer was...'dancing on a table and chugging vodka straight from the bottle' at about 3 a.m. Saturday," all while The Cling drowned her sorrows over dinner with her bodyguards (and maybe a friend or two) in Philadelphia. But the NYDN chimes in today claiming "the notorious tomcat resisted two hot blonds who looked eager to get up to his suite...and turned in early" while playing at the casino the next evening. Before we decide which nickname to stick to when describing Mayer ('The Player' or 'Tomcat'...such a toughie!), we have to figure out if he even warrants that bad boy reputation anymore. Even if the guy was spotted drinking (!) and dancing (!), what is so horrific about that anyway? We're much more alarmed to hear that his gag routine on the casino's red carpet included rubbing his nose on reporters' mics and pretending to shave with them. Not being funny is far worse than being a cad.

JOHN MAYER REFUSES TO DOUBLE DOWN [NYDN]
SEPARATE CITIES [NYP]