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Pick at the pops: 6 November 2006

Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

The nights are drawing in and the winter clothes are out. It’s the time of year when thoughts inevitably turn to… Glastonbury? Festival heir Emily Eavis took time out from writing her letter to Father Christmas this week to announce that Bruce Springsteen would not be a headliner next year. That’s it. I’m not going to buy the ticket that I wouldn’t be able to get hold of anyway what with that Internet booking system that breaks down after four seconds.

Glasto’s knight in shining hotpants looks likely to be Kylie Minogue, who is rumoured to be making up for her understandable no-show in 2005. One improbable note of protest comes from Scissor Sisters, who’d love to play but fear that a festival featuring both them and La Minogue would be deemed “too gay”. Chuck in Springsteen and it’s Mardi Gras.

Madonna “I can’t understand why the press keep following me around” Ritchie has been courting the press again, this time on Newsnight, where you could barely see her and Kirsty Wark through the soft focus lenses. What’s she trying to hide? She can’t have another one under there.

Another golden oldie using a youngster to get into the papers is Anni-Frid Lyngstad, formerly of ABBA. Apparently, she’s had talks with Robbie Williams about recording a new version of Dancing Queen. Well, they had a chat, and she’s still waiting to hear back…

In other non-news, at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Justin Timberlake scooped a couple and hosted it too. He might have made it all up, in fact. It would explain Depeche Mode winning Best Group.


Matthew Horton

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• 16/10/2006: Girls Aloud v All Saints in war of words >>
• 09/10/2006: Razorlight ready for world domination >>
• 02/10/2006: Madonna's record breaking millions >>
• 25/09/2006: When pop stars reunite >>
• 18/09/2006: Robbie's new footballing chum >>
• 11/09/2006: Monkeys' Mercury delight >>
• 04/09/2006: Foo Fighters save miners >>
• 28/08/2006: Britney gets banned in Asia >>
• 21/08/2006: Radiohead's grumpy greatest hits >>
• 14/08/2006: Natasha Bedingfield's Rocky return >>
• 07/08/2006: The heavyweight return of Meat Loaf >>