Shakira, Thalia, Mana, Sanz, Fonsi all set for Latin Grammy Awards

Booty-shaking Colombian diva Shakira and dishy Spaniard Alejandro Sanz will perform at the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday, November 2 (Univision, 8pm).  Shakira, well supported by Latin gay boys and drag queens, goes into the ceremony with five nominations following the huge success of her international smash Fijacion Oral Vol. 1.  Sanz, a handsome, clean-cut singer with multiple Grammy wins from previous years, shares his lone nod this year with Shakira for Song of the Year (“La Tortura”).  Soap star turned pop artist Thalia will also perform on the telecast, at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, as will Dominican Republic’s Juan Luis Guerra, Mexican rockers Mana, and Puerto Rican cutie pie Luis Fonsi.  Rumored gay entertainer (or did he finally come out?) Ricky Martin is being honored as the 2006 Latin Recording Academy’s “Person of the Year”.  He’ll troll the gay bars in Manhattan afterwards (ha!).
I’m a huge fan of Mana and I adore Shakira, so I’m cheering for them both.  And each time Alejandro Sanz appears on a TV screen, as he did with Destiny’s Child several years back on a Grammy ceremony, I just wanna lick it from side to side.  I’m dirty that way.  In the Album of the Year category, Shakira goes up against Chayanne (another Puerto Rican cutie pie), Julieta Venegas, Gustavo Cerati, and Leon Geico.  Best New Artist nominees are Ceu, Ines Gaviria, Lena, Pamela and the heavily favored Calle 13, also slated to perform on the broadcast. 

Stefani’s second solo effort due in December

There’s no doubt about it.  She’s making another solo record.  In fact, she’s already made it and is putting the finishing touches on it before it lands in record stores two months from now.  Gay-loved pop princess Gwen Stefani releases The Sweet Escape on December 5, which features the first single “Wind It Up”.   Acclaimed studio wizards The Neptunes produced the song, and the music video is directed by Sophie Muller (Bjork, Sarah McLachlan, Sade).  Collaborators on The Sweet Escape include Keane keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley, hip-hop artist Akon, and No Doubt band mate Tony Kanal.  Stefani said in a recent press statement that the new album is more modern and less retro.  I guess that means we shouldn’t expect a part two of “Hollaback Girl”.  As for a tour, it’s in the works.  Stefani is hitting the road in April.  If you can’t wait, grab a copy of the blonde babe’s DVD Harajaku Lovers Live, coming out on the same day as the new CD. 

Amos gives fans five-CD collection in a piano-shaped box set

If you have a long holiday gift list, like mine, get started early.  For Tori Amos diehards on your list, the perfect gift is easy.  A Piano: The Collection is a musical paradise for loyal fans of the alt pop-rock darling.  Wrapped in a rectangular box that resembles an actual piano, the package includes five CDs spanning her entire career.  From “Silent All These Years” and “Cornflake Girl” to “A Sorta Fairytale” and “Sweet the Sting”, and from “God” and “Baker Baker” to “Amber Waves” and “The Beekeeper”, this 75 song-plus collection is one of the best boxed sets I’ve ever seen, not only because every great Amos song is inside, but because many alternate versions of known favorites and several never-before-released tracks are also included.  I particularly like the demo entries for “A Sorta Fairytale” and the remixed cut of “Bliss”.  A Piano: The Collection retails for $74.98 at record stores nationwide or online at www.rhino.com, but try eBay or another online auction house for a cheaper price.  Gay boys adore Tori Amos, as they should. 

Arctic Monkeys climax big year with new EP

Keeping track of the hottest acts of 2006?  One of them is the Arctic Monkeys, winners of this year’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize and soon-to-be recipients of year-end critics’ praise (they’re already on my top ten list).  The Monkeys, who could earn a well-deserved Best New Artist Grammy nod (if voters aren’t caught snoring again), are putting a cherry on an already delicious sundae – a year of astonishing success – by releasing a three-song EP entitled Leave Before the Lights Come On.  The title track is listed as a brand new song, and two covers, Van McCoy’s “Baby, I’m Yours” and The Little Flame’s “Put Your Dukes Up, John”, complete the mini-CD, which you can buy for under $6.  Consider it a stocking stuffer from The Monkeys, who skyrocketed to fame in a matter of months when they were discovered on the Internet a little over a year ago.  And yes, lead singer Alex Turner snubbed me in downtown Seattle.  But, I probably shouldn’t have been staring at his ass.  So we’re even.