Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

Princes William and Harry want Sir Paul McCartney, Beyoncé Knowles and Justin Timberlake to join the line-up for their Diana tribute concert. The princes are desperate to convince the world’s biggest music stars to take part in the event to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death. They are keen for The Beatles’ legend to lead a supergroup who would perform the Fab Four’s greatest hits. A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper, “The princes know they need to get artistes who are loved around the world, but particularly in America, to ensure it’s a truly worldwide event no one will forget. They would love it to be the biggest since Live 8 or Live Aid. They really want Justin and Beyoncé to ensure there’s massive coverage in the US. Paul would be the icing on the cake, he met Diana many times and is a living legend. He has been approached and is in talks. He could do something special, like lead a supergroup, just as he did with Bono to kick off Live 8.” The princes have a...

Beyonce new hit Irreplaceable is the kind of song that stays lodged in your brain, says KELEFA SANNEH If you go down to your local record shop today and buy a copy of the recent Beyoncé album, B’Day, you might notice a sticker on the cover, advertising the contents. “Includes Deja Vu featuring JayZ,” it says. Also: “Ring the Alarm And: Bonus Track: Listen.” There is no indication that the album includes one of the year’s best (and maybe biggest) pop songs. No warning that, after listening to track nine, you may find a silly little catchphrase — “To the left, to the left” — lodged in your brain. In other words, there is no mention of a fast-rising hit called Irreplaceable, which might just be the greatest... Well, let’s not get carried away. But let’s acknowledge that this is precisely the kind of song that makes it easy to get carried away. The outdated sticker is proof that a lot has changed since September, when Beyoncé’s second album was released, a day after her 25th birthday. It w...