The National staff with agencies
One Direction fever is gripping the country in the run-up to the boy band's eagerly anticipated concert at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on April 4. The sell-out gig is the biggest the country has ever seen – and if you didn't manage to get a ticket you might regret it, as at least one of the band members has a big-name mentor waiting to lure him away from the five-piece and help him build a solo career. The rapper 50 Cent reckons Zayn Malik has potential as a hip-hop star and is ready and waiting to help the youngster strike out on his own. Fiddy told the Sun on Sunday newspaper: "If Zayn wants a rap career, just because of who he is, he is going to sell records. But if he wants to be credible he has to be with the right people. I'd happily sign him up to my label, mentor him and have him working with the biggest rappers on the planet." Malik has already reportedly been working on solo projects, so while there's no hint that he wants to leave 1D anytime soon, who knows how much longer he'll be happy to share the spotlight when he has a big name such as 50 Cent waiting to take him under his wing? – The National Staff
Sinead has had enough of Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinead O'Connor says that she will never again perform Nothing Compares 2 U, the 1990 tear-jerker that propelled her to global fame. The Irish singer said she had been trained never to sing a track with which she does not connect emotionally. The song was notable by its absence from her set list when she performed at The Irish Village in Dubai in January. "After 25 years of singing it, nine months or so ago I finally ran out of anything I could use in order to bring some emotion to it," she wrote on her Facebook page. "I don't want audiences to be disappointed coming along to a show and then not hearing it, so [I] am letting you know here that you won't."O'Connor said that she would be "lying" if she kept singing the hit, which was written by Prince. "I'm trained in honesty. I can't act. It just isn't in my training," she wrote. – AFP
Treat for fans of Lebanese singers
Don't miss the chance to see two Lebanese pop stars this month. Myriam Fares will perform at the Central Galleria in City Centre Mirdif on Saturday, while you can catch Yara at the Metro Link in City Centre Deira on March 28. Both events begin at 6pm. The singers will take part in an In Conversation session during which they will share their fashion secrets before performing their hits. For fans of Fares, it will be a chance perhaps to hear a few tunes from her latest album Aman, which was released in January. Regional fashionistas will be interested in Yara's advice, as the 31-year-old is a much-sought-after brand ambassador for a range of boutiques. – The National staff
Toto’s bass player Mike Porcaro dead at 59
Mike Porcaro, who carved out a long, successful career as the bass player for the Grammy-winning pop group Toto, has died at the age of 59. Porcaro died on Sunday. No cause was given, but he had suffered from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, for several years and left the group in 2007 because of his declining health. Toto were formed in the late 1970s by the keyboard player David Paich, Porcaro's brothers Steve and Jeff, and other prominent session musicians. Porcaro joined in the early 1980s when the original bassist David Hungate left to resume his session career. Toto's merging of jazz, power-pop, soul and other musical forms sold millions of records in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The album Toto IV won the album of the year Grammy in 1982, while the song Rosanna won record of the year. The group was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2009. Toto's first new studio album in 10 years, Toto XIV, is scheduled for release this month. – AP
Smollett’s mum a ‘super fan’ of Empire
Jussie Smollett, one of the stars of Fox's prime-time soap opera, Empire, says his mum as one of the super fans of the smash-hit series.
"She calls me every single Wednesday and I know that we have to stay on the phone at least for 30 minutes to an hour of just hearing her break down what [Taraji P Henson's character] Cookie did, what the brothers did, which song was her favourite, you know? So, yeah, it's fun. It's good fun," said the actor. On Empire, Smollett plays Jamal Lyon, the middle son to a music mogul, played by Terrence Howard, and his ex-wife, Cookie Lyon, who was recently released from prison after serving 17-years for dealing drugs. Jamal's an aspiring singer-songwriter and the moral compass of the series. The show has managed to climb in the ratings each week and will wrap up its 10-episode first season with a two-hour finale on Wednesday night. Smollett, 31, says he hasn't been able to wrap his mind around how much his life has changed in just a few months, and he hopes he never does. "In a way ... I kind of hope that I don't realise all that's happening. I hope that I still wake up every day the same man wanting to work hard and do something really, really awesome, you know? And just get paid to do what I love, which is awesome." He realised the show was a hit when he was bombarded at a grocery store by a group of elderly women who recognised him. They were all in Whole Foods and they said, `Jamal?' and they could not figure out how to use their camera phones and that was a moment where it was so funny to me and then I sat back and thought about it and I was like, 'Why do they even know who I am,' you know? So it's awesome though. It's awesome." – AP
Betty White honoured with Daytime Emmy
Show-biz sweetheart Betty White is being honoured by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The 93-year-old will receive this year's lifetime achievement award at the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards next month. In the 1960s, White was a frequent contestant on Password, where she met and subsequently wed its host, Allen Ludden. She also appeared on The Match Game and The $25,000 Pyramid. She was the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for outstanding game-show host for the show Just Men. She also had a recurring role on The Bold and the Beautiful from 2006 to 2009 and starred in the sitcom The Golden Girls during the 1980s and early 1990s and, most recently, had a role in the sitcom Hot in Cleveland. Previous honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters and Regis Philbin. The Daytime Emmys are broadcast on April 26 on the Pop network. – AP
Aykroyd and Belushi’s widow launch record label
The Blues Brothers have found a new mission. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's widow, Judy Belushi, have launched Blues Brothers Records. The new record label is dedicated to the development of blues artists. The label's music will be distributed by Capitol Music Group's Blue Note Records. Aykroyd and John Belushi originally performed as the sunglass-clad siblings Jake and Elwood on Saturday Night Live and later in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Aykroyd said that he's excited for the label to find the next generation of blues performers. Aykroyd previously cofounded the House of Blues, which will be partnering with the record label for promotional events at House of Blues venues. – AP