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Pick at the pops: 18 February 2008

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

“Just watch your mouth, babe” is one of a number of pithy lines rapped by George Michael in Wham!’s searing social satire ‘Young Guns (Go For It)’ – but how many of us take heed in a world where a misquote can land you in all sorts of hot water? Well, who knows, but Beyoncé didn’t appear to engage her brain before anointing Tina Turner “Queen of Soul” at the Grammys last week. On the surface, it was just the usual back-slapping puffery, but in the presence of Aretha Franklin – soul music’s customary monarch – it sounded like a slight. Aretha thought so, saying later “I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on… between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé.” It’d be easy to find out – see who’s got a bandaged foot.

Glastonbury Festival’s heir apparent, Emily Eavis, also rushed in without brakes when remarking in an interview on this very site that the organisers liked to treat each festival as if it were the last. What seemed like admirable but inconsequential sentiment at the time very soon became “THIS YEAR’S GLASTONBURY TO BE THE VERY LAST AS EAVIS CALLOUSLY KILLS IT OFF – WITH A SMILE” (or something) when the newshounds got their paws on it. Dad Michael is now clearing up his daughter's unseemly mess - volunteers can stay behind to help.

Said newshounds have had great sport with the Spice Girls’ limp demise (again), but it seems they, and we, were wrong all along! Contrary to reports, Mel B and Geri Halliwell have not fallen out again in a flurry of eye-scratching and torso-baring – no, according to Mel, they have “a real bond”. Hmmm. Is it cash?

That’s if there’s enough cash to go round after The Police have hoovered their share. Sting and his two biggest fans have just announced 30 more North American dates to tack onto the end of their globe-fleecing comeback tour – and when it’s all over it’s estimated they will have bagged $340m. Makes you feel all warm inside, right?

Matthew Horton

Picture: PA Photos

• 11/02/2008: We mourn the Spice Girls - again >>
• 04/02/2008: Winehouse and Spears - will the madness end? >>
• 28/01/2008: Oh no! Simply Red and UB40 have split up! >>
• 21/01/2008: Annie Lennox and The Verve won't pave streets >>
• 14/01/2008: Robbie and Coldplay turn on EMI >>
• 07/01/2008: Out with the old, in with the new >>
• 2007 archive >>
• 2006 archive >>