Francesca Steele
Win tickets to the ATP finals
True to form, Tina Brown’s new website, The Daily Beast, has been soliciting the help (or perhaps the other way around) of another biographer of Diana, Princess of Wales. On Brown’s news and comment website, Andrew Morton, who has also written a biography of Madonna and is a regular blogger on the site, has posted exclusive tapes of some very early recordings made by the singer, which you can hear.
The tapes were recorded by Dan Gilroy, Madonna’s boyfriend at the time, in the basement flat they shared in Queens, New York, and Morton has mixed them with Madonna’s acceptance speech when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. “It is sweet and raw. It signifies to me how far she has come, a reminder of the explosion of talent”, says Morton.
The formal nature of her speech, juxtaposed with rather intimate conversations in bed with Dan and her amateur drum playing and singing, do work surprisingly well together. But one does wonder where Morton got hold of them. The tapes will surely get pulled soon, with the soon-to-be-ex Mrs Ritchie’s PR team working overtime at the moment, but enjoy an interesting little insight in to the early years while it lasts.
Bebo seems to have taken it upon itself to become the MTV of the internet. Back in August, Web Watcher introduced you to The Secret World of Sam King, a faux reality show charting the daily trials of a runner at a music production company — a slick, if admittedly saccharine offering.
Since then they have produced a range of “youth television”, the latest of which is Chelsey OMG. Chelsey is a young, big-bosomed American who has just moved to London, a bit like The Hills or Brooke Knows Best — but worse. This would probably look more appropriate posted as a video blog on “Chelsey’s” Bebo page, than on internet TV.
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Get ready for the winter sports season, with our resort guides and snow reports
We are backing British business, what is the confidence of the nation and what businesses are succeeding?
Growing demand for energy, oil that is harder to reach and the rise of carbon dioxide emissions. We examine the energy challenge
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
36-month car lease
on contract hire for
£359.99 plus VAT pm
12 months for the price of 11 and a 5% discount.
Offer ends 31/11/09
The UK's leading alternative to showroom finance.
Finance packages tailored to your needs.
Minimum loan of £15,000
Car Insurance
£12,578 per annum
The Independent Housing Ombudsman
London
Competitive
Barclaycard
Not Specified
The Sheppard Trust
London
£80-95,000
Clay McGuire Executive Selection
Moments from Battersea Park.
For sale with Winkworth.
See your free Experian credit report beforehand
Book now & save over £100pp.
11 cool resorts, lowest prices... Early Booking offers 15 Nov.
20% off selected Azores holidays taken in October with Sunvil Discovery
Get covered on your travels with a superb range of policies at great prices. Visit InsureandGo.com
World Class Golf, Spa and preferential Beach Club. Private estate overlooking West Coast
Villas from £275 per night inclusive of Golf
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.