Yahoo! Music Weekly Music News Recap

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1. Sixties Legend Arthur Lee Dies – The seminal psychedelic rocker was 61.
2. You’ve Got Hatemail! – Marie Claire’s letter-writing readers have no L.O.V.E. for Ashlee Simpson.
3. Shakira Sweeps VMA Nominations – But David Hasselhoff is the frontrunner in our own alternate V.A.N.I.T.Y. Awards!
4. LAPD Back On B.I.G. Beat – A new task force has been assigned to L.A.’s most Notorious murder case.
5. Korn Fan Killed – A concert ends in tragedy for 30-year-old Andy Richardson.
6. Truth Is…Not In Fantasia’s New Movie – Idol execs claim Fanny’s upcoming Lifetime biopic is full of fibs.
7. European Music Charts Get A Kick Out Of Zidane – The World Cup parody song “Head Butt” hits #1 in France.
8. Pink Floyd May Shine On Once More – A rumored Syd Barrett tribute show is in the works.
9. Unsafe At Any Speed? – A baseball team hosts a “Britney Baby Safety Night” to create awareness.
10. Boy George Joins Garbage – Unfortunately for him, we’re not referring to Shirley Manson’s band.

Well, this week the Ashlee backlash (or “Backlashlee,” as it will henceforth be known) continues apace. Sure, A.Simp seems to have her acid reflux under control now, and as far as we know she hasn’t terrorized any innocent McDonald’s employees lately, but her recent controversial cover story for Marie Claire magazine has once again made her the Simpson sister everyone loves to hate. See, in her MC interview, Ash extolled the virtues of self-acceptance, saying, “Everyone is made differently, and that’s what makes us beautiful and unique. I want girls to look in the mirror and feel confident.” She then engaged in a perfectly PC photo-opp (painting some sort of vaguely girl-powered mural with a bunch of “real” female teens) in an attempt to “get women to appreciate their diverse shapes and sizes.” However, by the time the issue hit newsstands, it was apparent that Ashlee hadn’t exactly appreciated the diverse shape and size of her own nose–and possibly her chin–as she was suddenly looking mighty different. (Guess when she sang “Pieces Of Me,” she was referring to whatever was left over after her plastic surgeons allegedly had their way with her.) Readers subsequently went positively postal, writing so many letters protesting Ashlee’s hypocrisy that MC’s editor has actually decided to expand the mag’s September reader-mail column. But you know, if Ashlee would just get that talent-transplant operation she so desperately needs, we’re sure all would be forgiven…

By the way, the 2006 Video Music Awards nominations were announced this week, and much to the delight of Marie Claire subscribers everywhere, poor Ashlee was completely overlooked except in the Best Cinematography category. (And let’s face it, it probably took a lot of effort to make Ashlee not look like a post-op freak, so whoever was behind the camera during that video shoot truly deserves to win.) However, that’s not the most shocking shutout of this year’s VMAs. That dubious honor would go to Pink’s “Stupid Girls,” which–despite being the most talked-about video of ‘06 (Oprah practically dedicated an entire episode to it)–only received one measly nomination, for Best Pop Video, while being passed over in all other categories, including Video Of The Year. What possible explanation could there be for this snub? Did Paris Hilton or Ashlee’s elder sister Jessica place a couple threatening phone calls to VMA judging committee or something? Whatever the reason, we think Pink should retaliate by recording a song called “Stupid Judges”…

OK, it’s time to go, but do come back next Friday for more amusing, bemusing, and downright excitment-oozing news. Until then, goodnight, and good music.

Lyndsey Parker
Yahoo! Music