Doing It for the Children

Know what never fails to bring together a bevy of stars?

Kids. You know, the proverbial children.

Which is why when the BBC called for a star-studded cover of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” Pharrell, Elton John, and Lorde heeded the call.

As did Chris Martin.

And Florence Welch.

And Kylie Minogue.

And Stevie Wonder, and One Direction, and Chrissie Hynde, and Dave Grohl, and Smith Smith, among others. Watch:

And they did it all for the BBC’s Children in Need charity, so think about purchasing the single now and showing the children you support ’em, too.

Lorde of the Mockingjay

Ah, isn’t this nice: Lorde and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1? They’re on each other’s team.

See, the Kiwi Grammy winner has been tapped to curate the soundtrack for the entry in the franchise that is opening come Thanksgiving time.

Needless to say, Lorde also will lord over the album’s lead single.

Which means she, like Taylor Swift and Coldplay before her, probably will be attending the next Golden Globes as a nominee. If not, maybe, the Oscars? (Neither Swift nor Chris Martin’s band managed that particular feat, though.)

Photo: HawtCelebs.com.

High Up Lo-Fang!

Have you heard of Lo-Fang yet?

No, he is not the latest cellist sensation to come out of the East (although he does play the instrument) – he is the L.A. singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist total cutie o.k.a. Matthew Hemerlein.

And he is something to look up and play on high, kids.

Do give his debut album Blue Film – which is out now – a spin (or, at least, listen to his “Look Away”), and catch him on the road if you can: He is out on tour with Lorde right now.

Photo: ClashMusic.com.

M Does Weddings Now...

So the Grammys were handed out last night….

Lorde had a great evening, as did Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

And, as promised, Beyoncé and Jay Z performed together, and Madonna came out to join Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (and Mary Lambert) to sing a special “Same Love” with a dash of “Open Your Heart.”

It was all part of a special mass wedding event thing at the end of show, a quick ceremony presided by Queen Latifah (!) that made for one of the most memorably pop moments of the night.

Heck, it was one of the memorably pop moments of any recent Grammy ceremonies. Of course M would be there.

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

Update: Oh, let’s just go ahead and watch the whole thing again (and get jelly that 33 couples got to have “Open Your Heart” as their wedding kiss moment):

Lorde Wants to Rule the World

Well this is one sure way to avoid a sophomore slump if you’re a recording artist nowadays: go the cover way.

That’s how Lorde is following up her massive summer hit “Royals,” by contributing a new version of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” to the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, which also features Coldplay and Christina Aguilera.

Check out this oh-so-short-yet-good preview of the Kiwi sensation’s version, yo:

Moody stuff, huh.

Good Lorde

I’m going home to Miami for a hot sec next week, so I figured I should check in on what’s playing on the radio over there these days.

So who is this Lorde chick, anyway? I kinda dig her “Royals.”

Check out this remix from the Wild Boyz! of the song that is currently No. 1 2 on the ITunes Singles chart: