News posted by: Jazz [12.30.04]
After five weeks since it's release, The Deep End has just passed the 1 million mark in sales. The album has sold a total of 1,087,192 copies in the US to date, according to SoundScan. The following list represents the positions for The Deep End on the album chart, and the positions for "Striptease" on each of the singles charts this week. Apparently, The Deep End was a nice Christmas stocking stuffer, resulting in the album selling 214,550 copies this past week.
The Deep End album has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of 2 million copies in the US. Congratulations, Melissa!
WENN reports Melissa Williams and Ryan Gosling's relationship has gained so much strength, the pair have now taken to lifting weights together. Pop beauty Williams, 22, and 24-year-old 'The Notebook' hunk Gosling, who have been dating for seven months, recently worked out together at the Walden gym in Southampton, New York, where they alternated between lifting weights with a trainer and using the treadmill. An onlooker says, "When she was running, she would look at him across the gym and make funny faces. They were so adorable. They couldn't take their eyes off each other."
The New York Post reports Melissa Williams will be hosting a New Year's Eve party with Lindsay Lohan and Eva Longoria at Opium Garden in Miami. Other celebrity guests include Leonardo DiCaprio, *NSYNC star JC Chasez, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Scarlett Johansen, Mekhi Phifer, Ryan Gosling, Gabrielle Union and Derek Jeter.
Melissa landed at #10 on Entertainment Tonight's year-end "Hot List," which is comprised entirely of those celebrities who scored the most airtime on the entertainment newsmagazine show in 2004. Check out the entire top 20 list here.
Extra TV caught up with Melissa Williams to ask what her highlights were for 2004. "My personal highlight was returning to my music career," Williams said. "Just the whole process of making the record and then finally having it come out was a great thing. Another highlight was getting to meet Johnny Depp and Jude Law. They're just as gorgeous in person as they are onscreen!"
The Daily Star reports that Melissa Williams is looking to ditch her pop image to be a more serious performer like Dido. "Melissa's had enough of doing the same old videos and shows where she's flaunting her curves and acting like a teenager," an insider revealed. "She's told her people she wants her career to take a new, more adult direction. As far as she's concerned, that means a total image overhaul to kick it off. She's using Dido as an example of what she's going for. She's only 22, but she wants to appeal to a different audience with her next album."
The Deep End rose from #43 to #37 on the UK Top 75 Albums Chart this week.
TRL UK will premiere the "Striptease" video on January 6, 2005.
Melissa spoke with Entertainment Tonight about filming "The Upside Of Anger" movie. Melissa talked about her character, working with Kevin Costner and Joan Allen, and feeling inspired to choose more challenging movie roles. Watch the segment here.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MEL FANS!
EXCLUSIVE NEWS >> According to our sources, there are no plans to release the "Striptease (Cool Down Remix)" video to major video network outlets. Instead, the song and clips from the video will be used in an upcoming commercial for Melissa's top-selling perfume "Meliscent." The commercial will be the third for the fragrance, and is set to begin airing just in time for Valentines Day in late-January 2005. At this point, it is unknown whether the "Striptease (Cool Down Remix)" video will be released in its entirety in the future, but we'll keep you updated if any new news comes through.
Access Hollywood has named its "Top 10 Stars of 2004," with Melissa Williams securing the No. 4 spot. The rankings are based on the number of stories the syndicated entertainment television show aired on each star. Williams — who hooked up with actor Ryan Gosling, starred in multiple feature films and released a new CD — got plenty of air time with 85 stories. "We want to thank these stars for helping to make 2004 the best in Access Hollywood history," executive producer Rob Silverstein said in a statement Tuesday (December 21). "Here's to more 'can't miss' moments in 2005."
Contact Music reports that Melissa Williams is planning a pricey Christmas gift to close female friends and family - a pair of $28,500 stockings from her new clothing line coming out in 2005. "Melissa is bringing out a range of hosiery called 'Daring Beauty' next year," a source said. "As part of this range she's designed some diamante-encrusted, old-fashioned stockings, but for her closest pals she had some made up with real diamonds."
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris) has been chosen as one of Blender magazine's "20 Songs You Must Download" in their January/February issue. The magazine also gave Melissa's new album, The Deep End, three out of five stars.
The following list represents the positions for The Deep End on the album chart, and the positions for "Striptease" on each of the singles charts this week. The Deep End got a nice holiday sales boost, selling 178,756 copies this past week, bringing its four week total to 872,642, according to SoundScan.
Melissa spoke with People magazine about her plans for the holidays. "My entire family is going to stay in Southampton for Christmas," she revealed. "I'm so excited about seeing all my aunts, uncles and cousins again – it's been years." The pop diva is also making room for boyfriend Ryan Gosling's family. "I'm looking forward to seeing some of [Ryan's] relatives, too. We're all going to bond together and just enjoy the holidays," Williams said.
MTV News caught up with Ludacris to discuss his collaboration with Melissa Williams on 'Striptease'. "If it's one thing I like to do, it's being able to reach every demographic I can," the rapper said. "Working with Melissa was me reaching out to the pop crowd and saying, 'embrace me, feel me'. On the other hand, I think it was a good thing for her, too. She's really good at what she does and she works hard, so I respect her."
Melissa will be appearing on MTV Canada's Select on Thursday, January 6. The show will air at 3:30PM ET.
The Deep End has been certified Platinum in Canada for shipments of 100,000 copies! The album, currently positioned at #13 on the Canadian Top 100 Albums Chart, is Melissa's fifth album to be certified Platinum or more in the Canada. Congratulations, Melissa!
Live@LAUNCH features an exclusive interview and performance of "Striptease" from Melissa. Check out the interview and performance here.
The New York Daily News reports Melissa Williams was spotted dining at Lucy Latin Kitchen with boyfriend Ryan Gosling and his friends.
Melissa co-hosted MTV's TRL with VJ's LaLa and Damien on Monday (December 20). Before the show, Melissa was given the opportunity to mix up the top 10 countdown in her own personal order, as well as choose three special bonus picks. The following top 10 videos represent yesterday's TRL countdown, according to Melissa:
The "Overflow" single has been certified Platinum by the ARIA for shipments of 70,000 copies in Australia. The single is proving to a lasting hit in the country, as it sits comfortably at #7 on the official Australian Top 50 Singles Chart. Meanwhile, on the Australian Top 50 Albums Chart, The Deep End holds at #24 for the second consecutive week. The album is currently certified Gold (35,000 copies shipped/sold), but it looks like Platinum is going to happen very soon!
The "Striptease" single will be commercially released in the UK on February 7, 2005, according to the Jive Records UK website. The song will be officially released to UK radio stations on December 29th.
The Glasgow Daily Record reports Melissa Williams had a tough week in Germany last week during some promo stops to support her new album. The singer performed on German comedy show "TV Total" where she took an embarrassing tumble on stage. The following day, a photoshoot for YAM! magazine found the pop princess in a nasty mood, demanding a closed set and forcing the crew to wait outside during each shot.
MAIL FROM MEL!
MTV.com reports Melissa Williams has just completed a video shoot for her 'Cool Down Remix' version of "Striptease" in Berlin, Germany with director David LaChapelle. The music video was mostly shot inside the beautiful Ritz Carlton Hotel and features a provocatively-dressed Williams giving new meaning to love in an elevator.
The New York Post reports that Melissa Williams dined at Nobu restaurant on December 9th with boyfriend Ryan Gosling and pals Mandy Moore and Zach Braff. A spy said that Gosling "looked really bored and didn't seem to be interacting with Melissa or anyone." Things apparently got a little tense midway through dinner after "Ryan got up from their booth and stormed out of the restaurant. Melissa just looked straight ahead." Williams ended up leaving with Moore and Braff, with Gosling nowhere in sight.
The "Overflow" video ranked #38 on MTV's 'Happy Ending: End of Year Countdown' special.
Melissa spoke with Australia's 8 Days magazine in their January issue about female pop pioneers Madonna and Janet Jackson. "Madonna has the whole package -- amazing beauty, incredible talent, and a strong stage presence. It's very rare that you find all that in one person. But then Janet came along with the same thing! I thought she was unbelievable and loved her, too. It's funny to think of now, but I remember in the sixth grade I had myself a little boyfriend who was always saying, "I have a crush on Janet." And I would tell him, "I'm going to be Janet someday. I'm going to be Madonna, too!" Back then he must have thought I was crazy -- but recently he told me, "Well, you're just about there, Melissa."
The Deep End falls from #32 to #43 on the UK Top 75 Albums Chart this week.
WENN reports actress Shannon Elizabeth has yet again slammed Melissa Williams for letting fame go to her head. The 'American Pie' beauty is disgusted at the pop superstar's highly publicized diva demands and her reported refusal to mix with co-stars and extras on the set of her Hollywood films. Elizabeth says, "I respect ordinary people who don't pretend to be different from the rest of us. Unlike people like Melissa Williams who think that they are superior to the rest of us."
Globe magazine reports that though Melissa Williams is very much in love with Ryan Gosling, she worries her romance with the actor won't last. "Melissa says she sees the writing on the wall," a friend revealed. "She feels Ryan will never be able to love her like she loves him, and that he's just going along for the ride. She might like to end the relationship, but she can't - her feelings are so strong."
"Overflow" is the #25 video of the year on MTV Europe's "Top 100 Videos Of 2004."
In the "FOXlight," Britney Spears, Melissa Williams, Paris Hilton, and Jessica Simpson go head-to-head in a scent showdown. Check out a report on the perfumes at FoxNews.com.
TV REMINDER >> Today is "Melissa Williams Day" on MTV Europe! Be sure to tune in all day to catch loads of classic Melissa programs, as well as the very exclusive premiere of Melissa's new video "Striptease" featuring Ludacris. This will be the first and only time fans in Europe get the chance to see the "Striptease" video in its entirety until MTV Europe adds it to its regular rotation beginning the week of December 27th.
Melissa is coming to Japan again! According to Japanese newspaper Japan Today, she'll arrive at Tokyo International airport on January 18th and will promote The Deep End for about a week. The schedule isn't finalized yet, but according to the newspaper, she will appear on some TV shows and have an in-store event!
Melissa recently completed an interview and cover shoot for Rolling Stone magazine! The pictures were taken by Martin Schoeller in New York City on December 7th. Look for the issue to hit newsstands sometime next month!
We've obtained some up to date SoundScan numbers for all of Melissa's studio albums, thanks to our friend Jesse. These numbers reflect US sales from each album's first week of release to this past week. They are as follows:
"Overflow" has climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart, according to Billboard.com. This marks the 8th time Melissa has hit #1 on this particular chart. Congratulations, Melissa!
Melissa's colorful, beach-set "Overflow" video ranked #31 on VH1's "Top 40 Videos of 2004" list.
The Mirror reports pop princess Melissa Williams threw a massive fit during the filming of German television show 'TV Total' after tripping on stage. Melissa was backstage screaming at production assistants, placing the blame for her fall on a slippery stage. Williams, who foolishly wore high heel stilletto boots during a heavily choreographed performance, demanded her performance be cut out of the show for the initial broadcast, but didn't get her way. "Anyone would have thought the program revolved around Melissa," a source at 'TV Total' complained. "She was just the musical guest - not the focus of the show at all. But she threw a massive fit when we told her that the performance would be aired as is. To be honest, we had better things to worry about."
What's on Melissa Williams' iPod? "I'm currently obsessed with my iPod - I have everything from Joss Stone, Green Day and Stevie Wonder to Anthony Hamilton, Jet and Janet Jackson on it," Williams tells Us Weekly. "It's definitely one of the best inventions ever, as far as I'm concerned. I can't go anywhere without it."
MTV Networks and the American Red Cross have partnered to provide aid and disaster relief to people of the islands of the Caribbean, where recent hurricanes left thousands homeless and devastated millions. As part of the effort, MTV Networks and the Universal Music Group will host an on-line auction at MTV.com from December 13th to December 20th. Among the items that will be up for auction were autographed VMA posters of Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez, leather pants worn by Melissa Williams in her 'Striptease' video and an autographed Britney Spears poster from 'The Onyx Hotel' tour. Check out the auction here.
Extra TV caught up with Melissa Williams at the German premiere of Sarah Michelle Gellar's horror movie, "The Grudge," in Berlin. The pop diva, who recently made headlines for tripping on-stage during a performance on the German television show 'TV Total', poked fun at the incident, joking, "I'm just trying to make it down this blue carpet without falling flat on my face." Check out a video clip here.
Star magazine listed 'The Most Annoying People of 2004', with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears tied atop the list. At #4 was Ashlee Simpson and at #10 was Melissa Williams.
Melissa attended the premiere of "The Grudge" at Potsdamer Platz Square in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday (December 15). Check out pictures from the event in the Exclusives section.
The Deep End falls seven spots to land at the #15 position on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart this week, according to Billboard.com. The album racked up a solid 144,239 copies during the past week, which brings its three-week total to 693,886 copies sold in the US by retailers using SoundScan.
The following list represents the positions for "Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris) on each of Billboard's singles charts this week:
NEW YORK (AP) — Could this be the start of a "deep end" for Melissa Williams? Her new album, The Deep End, has only sold approximately 693,000 copies in its first three weeks of release. In comparison, her last album, 2002's Fame, debuted at No. 1 on the charts with more than 566,000 copies sold in just one week. That album eventually went on to sell over 3 million units in the US. Williams, 22, released The Deep End on November 23, about one month after her infamous Blender magazine cover issue hit the newsstands. The accompanying article caught Williams at her most diva-ish, which turned off some fans and ignitied scathing response articles from critics. Read More...
The "midget couple" skit that was part of Melissa's April 2003 appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" will be featured on a new DVD collection entitled "Saturday Night Live - The Best of Jimmy Fallon." This DVD will be released in the US on January 25th and will retail for $19.98. You can pre-order your copy online at Amazon.com.
The Sun reports that a twisted ankle was nothing to the embarrassment Melissa Williams suffered in a swing through German TV shows to promote her new album. The American pop princess was in agony after wrenching her ankle during filming for a German television show on Monday (December 13). Williams was performing 'Overflow' when she slipped over. "It was a nasty fall," an onlooker said. "She slipped on her boot heels and tumbled. But she was more worried about exposing herself because her top was very flimsy." Despite the unfortunate fall, a spokesperson for the 22-year-old pop diva has insisted there was no serious injury and that she would continue her promotional tour, but plans on scaling down the dancing for upcoming performances.
Melissa made an appearance on MTV Germany's TRL on Tuesday (December 14) where she commented on that embarrassing tumble she took on stage during a performance on 'TV Total'. "Things like that can happen when you're performing live," Melissa said. "It sucks, but you get up and keep on going. You can't let one little thing like that mess up your flow." A very special moment happened during the show when a fan read Melissa a touching poem that almost brought her to tears. The poem, which was written by the fan, revealed how Melissa's music was able to help her through her father's passing. Melissa responded by hugging the fan, saying, "I'm so speechless, you're such an inspiration to me."
Both Extra TV and Access Hollywood will be airing footage from Melissa's soon-to-be infamous "Overflow" performance on the German TV show "TV Total," which saw her take an unexpected fall while going through the song's breakdown choreography on stage. The footage will be broadcast on each program tomorrow (December 16). Check your local listings for exact air time and channel in your area.
According to our sources, the "Striptease (Cool Down Remix)" video will be filmed on December 16th in Berlin, Germany. The video is set to be directed by famed photographer David LaChapelle, who previously directed videos for Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears. This will be LaChapelle's first time directing one of Melissa's videos.
The New York Daily News reports Melissa Williams made a quick pit-stop at "the Harry Winston shop to get away from [paparazzi] and started trying on pink diamonds," according to a source. While there, Williams had her bling-bling wristwatch fixed because it had already broken. "Harry Winston employees had their watchmaker fix it and when she left, surrounded her with oversize umbrellas and walked her to her car," the source added. In return, Williams agreed to wear the jewelers baubles to the Jingle Ball Friday night (December 10).
The "Striptease" single was commercially released on 12" vinyl format in the US today. Order your copy online at TowerRecords.com.
EXCLUSIVE NEWS >> Melissa's upcoming movie, "Beware Of Girl," has been picked up by Fox Searchlight Pictures and is slated to open nationwide on April 15, 2005! However, the film will still have its limited release in New York and Los Angeles on April 1, 2005. "Beware Of Girl" was written, co-produced and directed by Lisa Kudrow and co-stars Scott Foley, James Franco, Adrian Grenier, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Andy Garcia.
Melissa is on the cover of the January issue of Italian Vogue magazine, which hits newsstands on Friday (December 17). In this special edition issue, Melissa talks about how fashion inspires her concerts, her favorite designers and the creative process behind her new album The Deep End.
Melissa revealed to Access Hollywood backstage at the Z100 'Jingle Ball' on Friday (December 10) that she plans to spend the Holidays with family and friends. "I'm heading off to Germany to promote the album for a few days and then I'm going to spend Christmas and New Year's with my loved ones," Melissa said. "It's going to be nice because I haven't seen them in forever. When you have a hectic schedule like I do, you really have to try your best to make time for the ones you love on occasions like these." Asked if boyfriend Ryan Gosling is planning anything special for the Holidays, Williams responded, "Yes, but it's private."
There was a big announcement today revealing that Melissa will be co-hosting MTV's TRL on Monday, December 20th! Mark your calendars, Mel fans!
The Insider's Pat O'Brien spoke with Melissa Williams ahead of her album release last month and a complete archive of the interview is posted on the show's official site. Melissa talks about her influences, her outlandishly negative critics, personal songs on her new album, and how she maintains her privacy in such an intrusive industry. Check it out here.
EXCLUSIVE NEWS >> Melissa will be shooting a video for the "Striptease (Cool Down Remix)" next week during her promotional tour to support The Deep End in Germany! There has been no word yet on who will be directing the video or when exactly the video shoot will take place, but we'll keep you updated as soon as we get more information!
Corey Moss of MTV News reviewed the Z100 'Jingle Ball' concert the other night, praising Vanessa Carlton while sneering at the performance of one of the show's headliners, Melissa Williams. Moss writes, "Williams' three-song closing set was a complete disaster -- contrived, predictable and perfunctory. And although she wore a headset mic, it didn't even appear as if she was singing most of the time, her pre-recorded vocals bolstered by multitracks in the background as she ran through the same old synchro-choreography and Sodom & Gomorrah writhing from past years with her coed troupe of dancers." As for Carlton, he remarked, "It's no surprise that the most artistry would come from Vanessa Carlton. An artist, almost too talented for this kind of shin-dig, turned in piano-driven set accompanied by just two guitar players and a percussionist, her vocals reined for some much-needed subtlety."
The Deep End takes an unfortunate nosedive from #14 to #32 on the UK Top 75 Albums Chart this week.
Melissa is scheduled to perform on the popular German TV show "Wetten Dass," to be broadcast live from Munich on December 17th.
WENN reports pop superstar Melissa Williams is unlikely to become the latest celebrity Kabbalah follower or a Buddhist - she hates 'show business religions'. The singer-actress insists she'll never become one of "those people" who seek spiritual enlightenment from a trendy religion, and mocks the likes of Demi Moore and Madonna who do. She says, "I'm not one of these people really into the latest fetishes like the Kabbalah. I can't imagine anything worse than wearing a trendy red bracelet around my arm and running around saying, 'I'm at peace with myself.'"
Melissa hosted an After-Party for Z100's 2004 "Jingle Ball" at Show in New York City on Friday (December 10). Check out pictures from the event in the Exclusives section.
Cindy Adams of the New York Post spoke with a freshly brunette Melissa Williams at the Z100 'Jingle Ball' on Friday (December 10). Asked about her new year's resolutions, Williams responded, "I honestly don't have any resolutions yet. I'm still thinking about it, but I'll let you know when I find out." Also there was Williams' boyfriend Ryan Gosling.
Melissa is on the guest list to attend the German premiere of "The Grudge" at the Potsdamer Platz Square in Berlin on December 15th. This appearance is convenient for Melissa, as she will be in Germany next week promoting The Deep End.
On December 22nd, MTV NL will be airing a one-hour interview with Melissa that was taped while she was in London. We are not sure if this interview was held just for the Dutch MTV or if it will also be shown in other parts of Europe. Special thanks to Sheena for this info.
Sandro Monetti of Sky News quotes Melissa Williams on rumors of her not-so-pleasant demeanor. "I've met some real divas and I'm not one of them," the pop princess said. "I won't mention names - but there are some really over the top people out there. What do I have to gain by being some kind of high-handed, spoiled and ungrateful diva? I have so much going for me."
Christopher Nelson of the Baltimore Sun weighed in on some of the worst music from 2004, including offerings from *NSYNC star JC Chasez, Christina Milian, Melissa Williams, Ashlee Simpson, and JoJo. On Williams' The Deep End, he remarked, "The result isn't awful, but the project is too ambitious for Williams, who is in no way an artist, and has about as much depth as a plastic paper plate." As for JoJo's self-titled debut, he says, "She's not a bad singer, by the way. Her material just goes nowhere."
Screencaps from Melissa's "Striptease" video have been added to the Exclusives section.
Melissa will be performing "Overflow," "Striptease" and "Fame" at the Z100 "Jingle Ball" tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In Japan, The Deep End drops to #3 after holding onto the #1 position for two weeks. The album sold 96,522 copies in its third week of sales in Japan.
The following image is the official movie poster for Melissa's upcoming animated film, "Racing Stripes," which has her voicing the role of a bird named Mayla:
The "Striptease" music video will be added to rotation on MTV Europe beginning the week of December 27th, according to the Jive Records UK website.
Us Weekly reports Melissa Williams has renovated her luxurious chauffeur-driven Maybach 62 so she can enjoy passionate drives with Ryan Gosling. The pop princess spent over $75,000 customizing the vehicle to turn it into a love nest on wheels. An insider revealed, "Melissa worked on the customizations for about two months, but she was most concerned about the privacy features, like the partition between front and back and curtains on the windows." Williams and Gosling started dating in May and now share a home together in Southampton, New York.
The Glasgow Daily Record reports that after Melissa Williams and boyfriend Ryan Gosling dined at the Nobu restaurant in New York recently, the couple hopped into their car and were about to roar off to avoid photographers when the valet reminded Gosling of the parking fee. "You do know who we are, don't you," Gosling asked the valet, who didn't seem to care and insisted on payment. Gosling had to cough up the cash but wasn't happy about it.
Canadian DJ Nick Fiorucci revealed during an interview with About.com that he recently completed a new remix for Melissa. Fiorucci, who launched Hi Bias Records in 1990 and has worked with artists such as TLC, Michelle Branch, and Britney Spears, did not reveal what song he remixed for Melissa, nor did he reveal what exactly the remix is for.
Melissa stopped by "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on Wednesday (December 8) to chat about her new album, The Deep End, but spent most of her time defending that much-talked-about Blender magazine article, which had her declaring war on her ferocious critics. "I meant everything I said, plus more," Melissa proudly affirmed. "I'm not whining, I'm just responding to a lot of the negativity thrown my way for no valid reason. Why can't I respond? It's my right, just like it's their right to say what they want about me. I'm turning the tables and now there's a problem - go figure." When Conan asked Melissa if she ever got mad at one of his jokes directed toward her, she playfully responded, "How can I get mad at things that aren't even funny?" Oh, and in case you guys didn't notice, Melissa is no longer a blonde! She premiered her annual return to brunette on the show. But knowing the unpredictable Melissa, she could be blonde again tomorrow for all we know!
The Deep End falls four spots to #8 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, according to Billboard.com. The album sold 189,511 copies during its second week of sales in the US.
The following list represents the positions for "Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris) and "Overflow" on each of Billboard's singles charts this week:
Thanks to all your votes, "Striptease" made an earth-shattering debut at #1 on MTV's TRL yesterday! This is the first time in three years that a female artist has had a video debut at #1 on the daily top 10 countdown show! The video was also #1 again today! But remember, just because we have this victory doesn't mean we can slack off. You can continue to vote online here or call in your requests at 1-800-DIAL-MTV between the following times:
On Friday, January 7th, Melissa will be appearing on the Canadian talk show, "Dini Petty," to perform songs from her new album The Deep End, according to a press release. The show will air at 3PM ET on the CFTO-TV network.
Melissa spoke to Elle magazine in their January issue about her experience working on her upcoming movie, 'The Upside Of Anger', which has her tackling her first serious dramatic role. "I couldn't have been more nervous on the first day of shooting," Melissa said. "It was a huge priveledge, but also a really intense pressure to have to act alongside legends like Joan Allen and Kevin Costner. I think it was a unique learning experience for me and it helped me grow as an actor. I feel really blessed to be a part of such an incredibly talented cast."
The single information page for "Striptease" has been added to the Singles section.
Melissa has been nominated for two awards at the first ever MTV Australia Video Music Awards, which will take place on March 3, 2005, live from Luna Park in Sydney, Australia. Head over to the AVMA website to vote for Melissa in the following categories:
The following image is the confirmed cover art for the "Striptease" single:
After premiering Melissa's new video for 'Striptease' on MTV's TRL on Tuesday (December 7), VJ Quddus commented, "That has got to be one of the sexiest videos I've ever seen. Melissa, you're keeping a lot of guys really happy right now!" VJ Damien Fahey added, "Oh, Melissa, just one date... one date!" Before the video played, guest Omarion joked about the 'Overflow' video, "You know, I was supposed to be in that video but my schedule was.. uh.. it was tight and, well, I called up that guy from 'The OC' to take my place," adding, "But originally, I would've been the one rolling around in the sand with Melissa."
A fresh new remix of "Striptease," produced by Dallas Austin, has surfaced. The track has been dubbed the "Cool Down Remix," and features new vocals and lyrics by Melissa! It's hot and it's definitely a different take on the song, so be sure to give it a listen in the Multimedia section! For the lyrics, go to the Other Songs part of the Lyrics section.
A new live performance of "Overflow" is now being exclusively featured on Launch.com. The performance was filmed recently in the UK at the Channel 4 studios.
The New York Post reports Melissa Williams was spotted leaving Canal Room with boyfriend Ryan Gosling as two fans got into a fight over a photo of the pop star and got themselves arrested.
Melissa is on the cover of the January issue of GQ magazine, which hits newsstands on Friday (December 10). Check out the article in the Articles section.
MTV Europe will be dedicating a whole day to Melissa on Saturday, December 18th. Among the shows they're going to air are, "Top 10 @ 10," "Making The Video," "Diary," "Live And Uncensored," "Making The Album," "Becoming Wannabes," "Wannabes," "Non Stop Hits," a classic Melissa-hosted episode of "TRL UK" and the premiere of her new video, "Striptease" featuring Ludacris.
Amidst all the new and upcoming CD releases, The Deep End is #10 on the Amazon.com sales rank list.
Melissa will appear on several Canadian television and radio shows during the first week of January. On Tuesday, January 4, Melissa will co-host the morning show with Roger, Rick & Marilyn on CHUM-FM in Toronto. Later that evening, she will be interviewed and perform live on MuchMusic's "Much On Demand" at 5PM. Then, later that night, Melissa will be interviewed and perform on an hour-long special episode of "MuchMoreMusic Live." The episode airs on MuchMoreMusic at 9PM. During the following day, Wednesday, January 5, Melissa will be interviewed on an episode of CTV's "Canada AM." All three shows film in Toronto.
WENN reports veteran actor Ian McKellen has launched a scathing attack on pop beauty Melissa Williams. The pair clashed while working on Bryan Singer's X2: X-Men United. McKellen says of Williams, "She is the only person I've worked with that I have actively disliked. The reason is simple. We were all sitting around - myself, Famke Janssen and Anna Paquin - in a canvas tent. Melissa comes over and deliberately moves her chair to the other side of the set. We all said, 'that is terribly rude. Why not at least say hello?' I told her, 'Excuse me. I have been doing this for 50 years, I am not a whippersnapper and just to say hello would at least be polite'. But she was not in a polite mood. At least, not that day. That offended me and that is the only time I have ever been offended by someone in a working enviorment."
Melissa Williams has revealed to Britain's Rolling Stone magazine in their January issue that she carries out a string of mystical witch rituals every day for good luck, and says she should have been cast to star in the big screen version of 'Bewitched' instead of Nicole Kidman. "I should be in 'Bewitched' instead of Nicole because that's what my life is like," she said. "I start each day by turning the teapot three times clockwise and once anti-clockwise. It brings me good luck."
Lisa Marsh of the New York Post spoke with Coty, Inc. about the runaway success of their 'Meliscent' by Melissa Williams perfume line. Since 'Meliscent' hit stores in January, it has racked up a reported $80 million in sales of the fragrance, body lotion and shower gel. "For 'Meliscent', we had a goal," Coty CEO Bernd Beetz said. "We strived to make this fragrance appeal to all women, not just the demographic that listen to Melissa's music and see her films. This goal has been achieved, because according to statistics, 'Meliscent' definitely bridged those generation gaps."
The Deep End drops three spots to #14 on the UK Top 75 Albums Chart. The album has been certified Gold in the UK by the BPI for shipments of 100,000 copies. Congratulations, Melissa!
According to the Tower Records website, "Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris) will be released as a 12" vinyl single in the US on December 14th.
Pagesix.com reports that after Melissa Williams and Ryan Gosling spent Thanksgiving together in Southampton at their newly-purchased $8 million pad, the singer splashed $100,000 on matching diamond-embedded pinky rings.
Melissa will be appearing on MTV Germany's TRL on December 14th!
Teen Hollywood reports Melissa Williams gave comedian Jay Leno the ultimate thrill last night when she shared a passionate kiss with him. The pop beauty appeared on Leno's chat show to perform music from her latest album The Deep End, and joined fellow guest Clive Owen for a short interview with the host. Leno quickly asked Williams about how she enjoyed kissing her boyfriend Ryan Gosling compared to actors. Williams said, "It's obviously more enjoyable to kiss my boyfriend. I've kissed a few guys onscreen before. It's too awkward to actually be considered enjoyable; it's really just acting." Leno then asked, "Would it be enjoyable if it were... me?," to which Williams laughingly responded, "Maybe." Leno then took the golden opportunity to land his lips on the sexy singer by suggesting, "We should try it!" The pair shared a brief lip-lock - much to the delight of the audience - which prompted a lipstick-marked Leno to note, "That was great! You're very good at that!"
EXCLUSIVE NEWS >> Melissa is not sitting still these days. Once promotion for The Deep End wraps up in the States, Melissa will be traveling to Germany (mid-December), Canada (January), Japan (mid-January) and close off the promo tour in Europe (January/February). After the promo tour, Melissa will start preparations for a new concert world tour. At this moment, there is not much information about the tour, but it looks like the kick off will happen in the US in May. Once we have more information regarding the tour, you'll be the first to know!
Melissa is on the cover of the January issue of Britain's Rhythm magazine, which hits newsstands on Monday (December 6).
Wanna be the first to watch Melissa's hot new clip with Ludacris? If so, then head over to AOL this Saturday, December 4. That's where and when she'll premiere her new video, "Striptease" featuring rapper Ludacris. AOL subscribers can use the keyword "First View." For non-AOL subscribers, go to http://music.channel.aol.com/franchise/firstview.adp. "Striptease" is the second single from Melissa's new album, The Deep End.
Melissa will be a guest on "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch" on December 7th. The show airs at 8PM ET/PT on CNBC.
Melissa spoke with In Touch magazine about her new album The Deep End. "I could never choose one of my projects over the other, but I can honestly say that this record makes me feel like I couldn't have done it any better," the pop diva says in this week's issue. "I'm proud of the result and I'm proud of the struggle I went through making it. It's never easy facing up to issues that you've purposely ignored, or opening up your life to the world. It takes a brave soul to do that."
WENN reports pop superstar Melissa Williams shocked a fan in a New York restaurant recently, when she refused to sign an autograph. The 'Overflow' singer was dining at Scalini's in Manhattan when the unidentified fan approached her table and asked her to sign her napkin. Williams bluntly told her, "I'm sorry, but I'm not a celebrity right now."
Melissa Williams hopes to work with Maroon 5 on her next album, a source tells Us Weekly. "I just love their style and craftsmanship - they embody the true spirit of rock and roll without going over the top with their act," Williams told the source.
Syndicated columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith have put out their reader obtained list for the 2004 'Tacky Taste Awards'. Topping the list was Britney Spears, followed by Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton, Melissa Williams and Ashlee Simpson. Check out the complete list at Netscape.com.
Gallery 59 has been added to the Gallery section. Enjoy!
The Deep End album has debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, selling 360,136 copies in its first week, according to Billboard.com. It is Melissa's first studio album not to debut at #1 since 2000's Melissa Williams.
This week on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, "Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris) debuted at #80, while "Overflow" plunged from #66 to #85. The following list represents the positions for both songs on each of Billboard's singles charts this week:
Screencaps from Melissa's "60 Minutes" interview have been added to the Exclusives section.
Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com is turning his nose up on news that Melissa Williams' latest album The Deep End sold "only" around 360,000 copies in its first seven days of release. Friedman suggested that many of Williams' fans were "turned off" by her diva antics, the string of bad movies, and her recent Blender magazine article. Read More...
The Deep End album has debuted at #6 in Canada, selling 26,532 copies in its first week. Meanwhile, in Japan, The Deep End holds its tight grip on #1 for the second consecutive week with sales of over 112,000 copies!
Melissa sums up her recent reticence in the January issue of JANE magazine. She says: "It's a really obvious thing to say, but the more people know too much about what you do out of the spotlight — and it's a fundamental thing — the more the personal life overshadows the artist and their work. I don't want it to get to a point where people are be more concerned about my latest trip to Starbucks, rather than what I'm actually famous for."
In addition to a December 13th appearance on "TV TOTAL," Melissa has been confirmed to appear on two other German TV shows this month. She'll sit down for an interview on "Anke Late Night" on December 14th and perform one song on the "MChart" show on December 15th. Both shows will be recorded in Cologne, Germany.
Melissa's rendition of the standard Christmas classic, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" is #26 on the overall iTunes chart. It's only one of two non-current songs after another seasonal track, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You," shows up at #5. In other iTunes news, "Fame" is featured on Tyra Banks' newly added celebrity playlist.
There is a wonderful tribute to our princess, Miss Melissa, in the January issue of Popstar magazine with a four-page article and lots of photos. They also gave the album, The Deep End, a wonderful review. The issue hits newsstands on Friday (December 3).
Ann Montini from Sky News reports that Melissa Williams hates the name of her perfume, 'Meliscent'. The pop diva admitted on a radio show in Los Angeles: "It sounded cool at the time to incorporate my name into the title, but now it's a little cheesy."
You can find a report from the set of Melissa's upcoming movie, "Beware Of Girl," on MTV.com. The channel's music video countdown show, Total Request Live, recently showed behind the scenes footage of the film and managed to snag brief interviews with Melissa and castmates Scott Foley, James Franco and Andy Garcia. The interviews were most likely filmed in April of this year, when production on the film took place.
The "Striptease" video, featuring Ludacris, will finally premiere in full on MTV's TRL on Tuesday, December 7th. The video will also be added to regular rotation on VH1, MuchMusic (Canada) and Fuse sometime during the same week.
Melissa Williams is ready for people to realize she's much more than a pretty face who sings and acts, although JANE magazine's Esther Haynes told Extra TV, "I don't think Melissa realizes how much of a compliment that is." Watch a video report here.
Melissa is on the cover of the January issue of JANE magazine, which hits newsstands today!
According to TV Guide Online, Melissa will be appearing on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on December 8th. However, she will not be performing on the talk show, as Ryan Cabrera is listed as the musical guest for that particular date.
Star magazine reports Melissa Williams will be making a special appearance on the hit series 'The O.C.'. It appears this happened when Ben McKenzie, who recently appeared in one of the singer's videos, approached her and asked if she'd be willing to make a cameo, to which Melissa gladly accepted."
Melissa is Yahoo! Launch's "Artist of the Month" for December! The Launch website is featuring an exclusive interview with Melissa.
The Daily Mail reports filming for Melissa Williams' "60 Minutes" interview was delayed after the diva showed up 35 minutes late. "She didn't even apologize when she arrived, she just walked in and started complaining about the lack of a warm welcome," a set insider explained. "It was an inconsiderate thing for her to do, but people were too afraid to say anything about it."
Melissa showed Ellen how to do the choreography for "Overflow" yesterday during the taping of the "Ellen DeGeneres" show. The episode will air today. Check your local listings for specific air time and channel in your area.
The Deep End
Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart: #16 to #17*
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris)
Hot 100 Singles Chart: #54 to #48*
Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart: #44 to #46
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: #56 to #48*
Top 40 Tracks Chart: #27 to #23*
Top 40 Mainstream Chart: #29 to #22*
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: #22 to #19*
* = Airplay and/or Sales Bullet.
News posted by: Jazz [12.28.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.27.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.25.04]
We want to wish you a safe, fun and fulfilled holiday season. Be sure to ring in the New Year with resolutions that will make 2005 a year to remember -- not only for yourself, but for others, too!
News posted by: Jazz [12.23.04]
The Deep End
Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart: #15 to #16*
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris)
Hot 100 Singles Chart: #62 to #54*
Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart: Debuts at #44*
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: #58 to #56*
Top 40 Tracks Chart: #30 to #27*
Top 40 Mainstream Chart: #35 to #29*
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: #26 to #22*
* = Airplay and/or Sales Bullet.
News posted by: Jazz [12.21.04]
1. Striptease | Melissa Williams (Featuring Ludacris)
2. Like Toy Soldiers | Eminem
3. Lose My Breath | Destinys Child
4. Rich Girl | Gwen Stefani (Featuring Eve)
5. Let Me Love You | Mario
6. I Just Wanna Live | Good Charlotte
7. Since U Been Gone | Kelly Clarkson
8. 1,2 Step | Ciara (Featuring Missy Elliott)
9. Beautiful Soul | Jesse McCartney
10. LaLa | Ashlee Simpson
Melissa's Bonus Picks:
Get Back | Ludacris
Drop It Like It's Hot | Snoop Dogg (Featuring Pharrell)
Numb/Encore | Linkin Park & Jay-Z
News posted by: Jazz [12.20.04]
Hey guys! It feels so good to be able to catch up with you all again. These last couple of weeks have been so crazy and chaotic, but it's also been fun because I got the opportunity to see so many of your beautiful faces along the way. This new album is my pride and joy; my baby. I've never felt so naked before in my life, but it's like I'm baring everything I have inside of me without hesitation and it feels so good! I can only hope you guys are enjoying the album as much as I enjoyed making it.
There are lots of great things in store for the new year, like that tour I've been talking about. After I make stops in Canada, Japan and Europe to promote the album, I will be starting preparations for a World Tour. I want to go everywhere I can, so I can make another wide connection. You guys wouldn't believe some of the cool ideas I have in my head right now -- it's sure to be a spectacle that we'll all be talking about for years to come. I've also got some new movies coming out next year, too. I'm doing voiceover work in Racing Stripes, which is out in January, and then The Upside of Anger will be out in March, followed by Beware of Girl in April. Oh, and I have a cameo in Southland Tales, a musical sort of movie that will probably be out at the end of next year. When I think about all this, I realize how much of a blessing it is to have the chance to expand my career and really explore other passions. The doors keep opening and I'm just grateful to get inside.
I'm happy to see that Striptease is really blowing up on TRL! When I found out it debuted at #1, I did my happy dance; I was really excited! I want to thank each and every one of you who have been supporting my career since day one, as well as those of you who recently jumped on the MW Express. What you do for me is incredible and I appreciate it so much. You'll never know how much it means to me, to have you guys by my side, giving me the extra push I need to stay strong when I'm feeling a little weak. I'll never forget that I couldn't have made it this far without you guys! Have a Merry Christmas (Don't drink too much egg nog!) and a Happy New Year! I'll see you in concert in 2005! -- <3 Melissa
News posted by: Jazz [12.19.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.18.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.17.04]
Melissa Williams (2000) - 7,468,531
All I Am (2001) - 4,355,092
Exposed (2001) - 2,741,857
Fame (2002) - 3,288,518
The Deep End (2004) - 693,886+
News posted by: Jazz [12.16.04]
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris)
Hot 100 Singles Chart: Holds at #62*
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: #59 to #58*
Top 40 Tracks Chart: #33 to #30*
Top 40 Mainstream Chart: #37 to #35*
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: #31 to #26*
* = Airplay and/or Sales Bullet.
News posted by: Jazz [12.15.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.14.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.13.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.12.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.11.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.10.04]
"Racing Stripes" will hit theaters nationwide on January 14, 2005. Check out the trailer at the film's official website here.
News posted by: Jazz [12.9.04]
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris)
Hot 100 Singles Chart: #80 to #62*
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: #77 to #59*
Top 40 Tracks Chart: Debuts at #33*
Top 40 Mainstream Chart: Debuts at #37*
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: Debuts at #31*
"Overflow"
Hot 100 Singles Chart: Drops out
Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart: #3 to #4
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: #15 to #30
Dance/Club Play Chart: #6 to #2*
* = Airplay and/or Sales Bullet.
4:25 - 5PM (Eastern Time)
3:25 - 4PM (Central Time)
2:25 - 3PM (Mountain Time)
1:25 - 2PM (Pacific Time)
News posted by: Jazz [12.8.04]
Best Female:
- Delta Goodrem
- Missy Higgins
- Britney Spears
- Melissa Williams
Best Pop Video:
- "Out Of The Blue," Delta Goodrem
- "Out With My Baby," Guy Sebastian
- "What You Waiting For?," Gwen Stefani
- "Overflow," Melissa Williams
News posted by: Jazz [12.7.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.6.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.5.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.4.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.3.04]
News posted by: Jazz [12.2.04]
"Striptease" (Featuring Ludacris)
Hot 100 Singles Chart: Debuts at #80*
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: Debuts at #77*
"Overflow"
Hot 100 Singles Chart: #66 to #85
Hot 100 Airplay Chart: Drops out
Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart: Holds at #3
Top 40 Tracks Chart: Drops out
Top 40 Mainstream Chart: Drops out
Hot Digital Tracks Chart: #5 to #15
Dance/Club Play Chart: #14 to #6*
* = Airplay and/or Sales Bullet.
News posted by: Jazz [12.1.04]
