2Pac

Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) -- born Lesane Crooks in the Bronx, NY -- was an accomplished rapper, hip-hop artist and actor, whose work has remained extraordinarily popular, even after his death. As a youngster, Tupac (also known as 2Pac) grew up in an environment of poverty, desperation and crime. His mother, a politically active Black Panther, surrounded the young boy with radicals, creating a striking contrast to the drug dealers and gangsters who infested the surrounding neighborhood.

Tupac's work demonstrates enormous talent and ambition, showing a highly sensitive poet who could, when moved, write highly evocative lyrics that could capture the moods and feelings of his culture better than anyone of his time. For example, his early hit "Brenda's Got A Baby" (from his first solo album "2Pacalypse Now") tells the tragic story of 12-year old girl who becomes pregnant. Just reading the lyrics is enough to make almost anyone want to cry. As touching as his lyrics could be, however, Tupac was frequently criticized for glorifying drugs, sexist attitudes, violence, and the overall gangsta rap lifestyle that had done so much to ruin so many young lives.

In spite of his success, Tupac was never able to rise above the ghetto/gangster mentality. He made one bad decision after another, refusing to shed the friends, attitudes, drugs and violence that had hurt so many of his fellows. For years, Tupac was in and out of trouble, including fights, shootings, multiple arrests and prison. In September 1996, he died in the same spirit as much of his work, murdered in Las Vegas in a drive-by shooting.

In spite of his shortcomings, Tupac was a hard worker who produced a large body of work. After his death, there were still two movies to be released, as well as countless songs that had been recorded but never published. This body of unreleased work, along with his larger-than-life bad-boy persona, has combined to make Tupac Shakur, a.k.a., 2Pac, as popular in death as he was in life.


Web:

http://www.2paclegacy.com/
http://www.2paczone.com/
http://www.tupacfans.com/


Aguilera, Christina

Christina Aguilera (1980-) began performing as a 6-year-old at school talent shows. At 8 years old, she appeared on the "Star Search" TV show, and at age 12 joined the cast of "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (along with Britney Spears, J.C. and Justin of 'N Sync, and Keri Russell of "Felicity"). Aguilera's first #1 hit was "Genie in a Bottle". Her other hits include "What a Girl Wants", "I Turn To You", "Come On Over" and "Lady Marmalade". According to popular legend, Aguilera was influenced by Julie Andrews after watching "The Sound Of Music". Isn't that just too cute for words?


Web:

http://connection.christina-aguilera.net/
http://www.christina-a.com/
http://www.christina-aguilera.co.uk/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.christina-aguilera


Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys -- AJ, Brian, Howie, Kevin and Nick -- are an internationally popular group from Orlando, Florida (although Brian is actually from Kentucky). Their first big hit, "I'll Never Break Your Heart", came out in 1996. Since then, BSB have sold millions of records and inspired millions of young teenage girls to revise their what-I-want-for-Christmas lists. (Important note: I read that AJ used to have a blankie he carried with him everywhere, until a maid accidentally threw it out. I'm not sure if this important factoid is true, but I thought I'd pass it on just in case.)


Web:

http://www.bsbcyberfans.net/
http://www.bsbdigest.com/
http://www.maturefanclub.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.backstreet.boys


Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies consists of Jim Creeggan, Tyler Stewart, Steven Page, Ed Robertson and Kevin Hearn (one of the few accordion players in a popular band). BNL was formed in 1988 in Toronto, creating a style that mixes alternative rock with folk and country. Their first big single, "Be My Yoko Ono" (1991) was a hit in Canada, as was their 1992 album "Gordon". In 1996, they finally became popular in the United States with their song "The Old Apartment". "I think we're all growing naturally," says Ed, "as writers and musicians," showing that, like all important music stars, BNL can be as philosophical as necessary.


Web:

http://www.barenaked.net/
http://www.barenakedbliss.com/
http://www.mysd.org/news.shtml
http://www.nakedhead.org/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.music.barenaked-ladies


Blink 182

Blink 182 consists of three San Diego musicians, Travis Barker (drums), Tom Delonge (guitar, vocals) and Mark Hoppus (bass, vocals), who qualify as the first new punk-inspired band of the 21st century. In 1992, Blink 182 started to make a name for themselves in San Diego. Since then, they have toured widely and established a firm base of fans around the world. In 1995, they released their first album, "Cheshire Cat". One of my favorites songs is "Carousel" ("Just you wait and see / As school life is a / It is a woken dream / Aren't you feeling alone?").


Web:

http://www.blink-182.org/
http://www.blink-182.tk/
http://www.blink182.com/
http://www.truepunk.com/blink182/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.music.blink-182


Carey, Mariah

For over ten years, Mariah Carey (1970-) has been one of the most popular female singer/songwriters in the world. She sold over 120 million albums, becoming the only musician to have a #1 hit every year in the 1990s. Carey has an unusually large multi-octave vocal range, which allows her to be a versatile and entertaining performer. Carey has had many, many popular songs, almost too many to mention, so let me mention three of them: "Heartbreaker", "One Sweet Day" and "Someday". (Okay, I'll also mention "Emotions" and "All I Want for Christmas is You".)


Web:

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/mariah-carey-faq/
http://www.mariahcarey.com/
http://www.mariahland.com/news.html
http://www.mariahmania.com/frames.html
http://www.mcarchives.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.music.mariah.carey
Google Newsreader rec.music.artists.mariah-carey


Dave Matthews Band

The Dave Matthews Band has five members: Dave Matthews (who started the band in 1991, in Charlottesville, Virginia), LeRoi Moore, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard and Boyd Tinsley. Dave is the main songwriter. He describes the band's music as "clear and simple -- pop music with a pretty positive message." Fans, of which there are many, consider it to be an accessible mixture of folk, jazz, rock and reggae.


Web:

http://www.dmband.com/
http://www.dmblinks.com/links/
http://www.nancies.org/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.music.dave-matthews


Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child consists of three singers: Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. (Beyonce and Kelly founded the group, which became famous in 1997. Michelle joined in February 2000.) Their most popular songs have been "No, No, No", "Jumpin, Jumpin", "Say My Name", "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Independent Women Part I", "Survivor" and "Bootylicious". So why is Destiny's Child so popular? Well, they're nice looking, they sing well, and they've captured the spirit of hip-hop.


Web:

http://www.amazingdc.com/
http://www.thedcdimension.com/


Jackson, Janet

By the time Janet Jackson (1966-) was 7 years old, her older brothers were already famous as the Jackson Five. By the time she was 7, Jackson was performing with them on stage and, when she was 16 years old, she released her first album ("Janet Jackson"). Since then, the peripatetic energy girl has dabbled in various aspects of show business, becoming most successful as an entertainer and entrepreneur specializing in complex, highly stylized musical performances. As a singer or dancer or choreographer, Jackson is not important. However, as a singer/dancer/choreographer, she is very important, being the prime innovator of the complex, highly stylized musical performances that are mandatory for the young, modern, exquisitely packaged entertainers who want to appeal to the young techno-pop audience.


Web:

http://www.janet-love.com/index2.html
http://www.janet-xone.com/index2.html
http://www.velvet-dreams.de/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.janet-jackson

Majordomo Mailing List:

List Name: janet
Subscribe To: majordomo@xs4all.nl


Jewel

What is it about Jewel that inspires such devotion in her fans? Well, she has a good voice and is an excellent performer, but there must be more. The only way to find out is to immerse yourself in Jewel-ness. Start with the Net. Maybe if you hang around long enough, you will become an EDA (Everyday Angel). Little known fact: In the second verse of her poem "Me", Jewel Kilcher says: "I'm from Alaska / but hate the cold", and, indeed, many people believe she was born in Homer, Alaska. Actually, although she grew up in Alaska, Jewel was born in Payson, Utah (on May 23, 1974).


Web:

http://www.foolishgames.com/
http://www.jeweljk.com/
http://www.quackquack.net/jewel/
http://www.tanweb.com/jewel/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.jewel

Majordomo Mailing List:

List Name: jewel
Subscribe To: majordomo@smoe.org


Kravitz, Lenny

New York-born Lenny Kravitz (1964-), the son of an actress and a TV producer, grew up around famous singers, which had a great influence on him as he developed his natural talent. Over the years, Kravitz has become an accomplished guitarist, singer and composer, creating many popular songs (including his biggest single "Fly Away"), earning him legions of fans around the world. If you are one of Kravitz's fans, make sure you know the significance of September 1998. (It was when he cut off his dreadlocks.)


Web:

http://www.lennykravitz.com/
http://www.lennykravitz.net/


Lopez, Jennifer

Jennifer Lopez (1970-) is an emotionally confused, thirty-something singer, dancer and actress, who is best known for flaunting her body, being a diva, and contributing to the public weal by arranging for herself to be selected to a variety of "Sexiest Women in the World" lists. (Personally, I think that what makes a woman sexy is the ability to communicate, share her feelings, and commit to a long-term relationship, but then, I'm a guy, so what do you expect?) JLo -- as we call her around the house -- started as a Fly Girl (that is, a dancer) on the television show "In Living Color" in 1991. Her first significant burst into the public vernacular came with her 1997 film "Selena". Since then, she has managed to keep herself rooted firmly in our collective consciousness by a shrewd combination of hit songs, popular movies, spectacularly unsuccessful romances, and well-publicized callipygian splendor.


Web:

http://www.jenniferlopez.net/
http://www.you-know.net/jenniferlopez/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.jennifer-lopez


Morissette, Alanis

Alanis Morissette was not only born in Canada, but she plays the harmonica. And, if that weren't enough, her father was a high school principal in Ottawa. (Is that unique or what?) If you like Alanis's singing, you'll enjoy these Web sites with pictures, video clips, sound clips, a FAQ, news, tour dates, lyrics, discography and all that sort of thing. For discussion, see the Usenet groups.


Web:

http://www.alanis-morissette.com/
http://www.definitelyalanis.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.music.alanis
Google Newsreader alt.music.alanis.morissette


'N Sync

'N Sync will come out on stage and dance and sing, and dance and sing, and dance and sing some more; and you'll watch the high-tech, high-output, highly choreographed show; and everyone will go crazy; and you'll get caught up in the sound and sight and booming vibration; and you'll jump and scream and dance and lose yourself in the crowd; and then you'll go home, exhausted, and lay down in the quiet of your room, and start to wonder, did any of it mean anything? Of course not, but who cares? 'N Sync (JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass) is a monstrously popular quintet from Orlando, Florida. Their first album ("'N Sync" in 1998) sold over 10 million copies and had four number-one hits. Their most popular songs include: "Tearing Up My Heart", "I Want You Back", "Bye, Bye, Bye", "It's Gonna Be Me", "Just Got Paid" and "Pop".


Web:

http://www.allnsync.com/
http://www.nsyncstudio.com/new/
http://www.nsyncworld.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.nsync
Google Newsreader alt.music.nsync


Newly Popular Performers

At any time, there are a number of well-known musical performers whose popularity seems as if they will last forever. Popularity, however, is a fickle mistress (along with wealth, power, and the ability to have important people return your phone calls). So, today, we will honor a select group of newly popular performers: Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Eminem, Green Day, Linkin Park, Nelly, No Doubt, Pink and Shakira. Will they stay hot? Probably not, but here they are anyway. (Don't think I am being cynical. I still remember the Spice Girls, the Bay City Rollers, and Bob Dylan.)


Web:

http://www.aliciakeys.net/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A581122
http://www.eminem.com/
http://www.greenday.com/home.php3
http://www.linkinpark.com/
http://www.nelly.net/
http://www.nodoubt.com/
http://www.pinkspage.com/
http://www.shakira.com/english/mainframeset.html

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.no-doubt
Google Newsreader alt.music.eminem
Google Newsreader alt.music.green-day
Google Newsreader alt.music.no-doubt


Spears, Britney

Saying that singer/dancer Britney Spears (1981-) is popular, sexy and sassy is like saying that mayonnaise is white and creamy. Like Christina Aguilera, Spears got her start on "The New Mickey Mouse Club". Since then she has performed in off-Broadway shows, sold an obscene amount of albums, won many awards, and guarded her pure, innocent reputation with the fierceness of a junkyard dog. Along the way, Spears has become an object of worship to millions of fans around the world with such well-known hits as "Baby One More Time", "Oops!...I Did It Again", and "Lucky". (Note: If you are ever around true-blue Britney fans, ask if they believe the rumor that she has pierced her nipple.)


Web:

http://www.britneyspears.co.uk/
http://www.britneyspears.com/
http://www.extreme-britney.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.fan.britney-spears

IRC:

#britney (Undernet)

#digitalbritney (EFnet)