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Many students find it quite difficult to fully concentrate while studying. Being able to concentrate effectively while studying is essential to doing well in class and on tests.

Here are 10 ways for improving your study concentration:

1. Make a schedule that shows what tasks you need to accomplish and check them off when you accomplish each task. This will provide you with the structure you need for effective studying.
2. Study at the same time each day. Some people study best earlier in the morning and others late at night. Know what works best for you.
3. Study in a quiet place that is free from distractions and interruptions – no TV or music. Try to create a space designed just for studying.
4. Make sure you are not overly tired or hungry when you study. You need energy to concentrate.
5. Break larger tasks into a group of smaller tasks that you can complete one at a time. You may feel overwhelmed if you try to complete a large task all at once and won't be able to maintain your concentration.
6. It's much harder to concentrate when you're tense. Find a way to get relaxed. Meditation is helpful to many students.
7. Don't do more than one task at the same time otherwise you won't be able to concentrate on either one very well. Focus on one thing and exclude everything else.
8. Clear your mind of negative thoughts. You can get distracted by your own worrisome thoughts. Monitor your thoughts and stop yourself from following any that take you off track. Bring yourself back from daydreaming.
9. Find an interest in the subject you are studying. Try to relate to what you are studying and make it as meaningful as possible. This can motivate you to concentrate.
10. It's okay to take a break whenever you feel tired. Refresh and come back to your studying after a well deserved break.

HOLY OMFG. A new Jonas Brothers song has leaked, and I AM SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY! I've been dreaming about the day when my favorite bro'd-out trio would reunite, and while "Dance Until Tomorrow" is only a leak (aka they're not actually getting back together… yet) it still completes my life in ways I would never publicly admit I could never imagine.

"Dance Until Tomorrow" is an upbeat, high-energy, super poppy tune that reminds me a little bit of the JoBro's masterpiece (and Pop Up Video) "Burnin Up." Swarming synths and sparse electric guitars leave ample room for listeners to appreciate the Jonas' slick pop vocals: "Calling you out/Calling you out/So you can see what's going on/Breaking it down/Breaking it down/'Cause I can see that something wrong…/It's like you're losing yourself." I'm constantly surprised by how tight the Jonas' harmonies are, but then I remember they were birthed from the same womb, so obviously they're in sync.

The hook speaks of a girl who has made a terrible life call — she angered the Jonas Brothers: "No, I never thought we'd come this far (Oh, oh!)/Got enough for me to break my heart (Oh, oh)/When the music stops/Promise me that you won't let it go/Keep dancing 'til tomorrow." Not that I'll ever understand the crazy chicks who piss off hot celebs, but at least they inspire fun pop songs. (No, but seriously, breaking the heart of a Jonas? MAKES NO SENSE!)

+ Listen to Jonas Brothers' "Dance Until Tomorrow."

New Song: Jonas Brothers, 'Dance Until Tomorrow'

If you are one of those people who avoid, like I do, movies that lure you in with the promise of pure mindless entertainment but end up preaching an underlying environmental message, then here is a little heads up: Happy Feet 2 is something that falls squarely in that category. Call me old fashioned, but I really like it when the people who create the animated movies don't try to insert their deeply held convictions into the storyline. Seriously, I just came to see some penguins dance.

THE GOOD: I need to be honest with you and admit that I am probably one of the few American parents who has NOT seen the first installment of Happy Feet. It's possible that, because I went to the sequel without seeing the one that started it all, I might have missed something that would have changed my overall opinion of the movie, but I'm going to go with my gut instincts here and say I doubt it. What we have here is the story of a colony of penguins (or flock, or herd.I'm not sure the terminology is all that pertinent) living in the frozen wasteland of the Antarctica and the struggles they face because of — you guessed it — man made global warming and earthquakes. To be fair, I will say that the animation was breathtaking, the music was upbeat, the dancing was fun, and there is just about nothing cuter than hearing a cuddly cartoon penguin speak with the voice of a small British child. Robin Williams, who can sometimes be a little overbearing for some people in his human form (I've been informed of this by my husband who is not his biggest fan), is actually spectacular as a cartoon character's voice, and I applaud his ability to make me laugh in a movie that had far too few laughable moments. I also would like to note that I appreciated the underlying message that parents need to help their children believe in themselves and their own abilities to solve problems. That being said, what I REALLY would have enjoyed was an hour of that pure mindless entertainment I mentioned earlier.

THE BAD: Where do I begin? Obviously, I take issue with the fact that this was more of a public service ad for the plight of our friends the penguins than it was a feel good family film. In fact, there was very little feeling good going on, and some parts of the movie were frightening and slightly disturbing — watching an elephant seal plummet down a towering glacier in front of his small babies, penguins becoming so desperate to escape their own impending doom that they attempt to fly, only to fall from the sky like giant bowling pins. These are not scenes likely to keep your 7 year old amused or entertained. Obviously even animated films need some source of conflict in the story, otherwise it's just, you know, Shrek 3. But these kind of conflicts cross the line when you are marketing a film that's supposed be a family feature. When I take my kids to these type of movies, it's mainly because I am hoping to find something to entertain them, make them laugh, and just enjoy being a kid. I'm not looking to educate or indoctrinate them on world issues that give ADULTS nightmares. Movies about cute fluffy penguins should leave EVERYONE feeling upbeat and in a generally good mood. Instead, you get kids walking out of this thing with horrified faces and the new-found sobering reality that the life of a penguin kind of sucks — thanks to the adults in their lives, as an added piece of good news.

Also, I am probably one of many, many women who believe that Brad Pitt can make just about anything better simply by showing up.but not this time. And it's not that he didn't do an outstanding job of playing the voice of a piece of krill, as did Matt Damon (Will and Bill the Krill, respectively). But these characters in the movie were about as pointless as a white crayon. The only purpose they seemed to serve was to, once again, push the environmental agenda. I hope all the kids in the theater walked out of there feeling a little more enlightened about the serious plight of our world. No sense wasting a matinee with pure fun when you could have the added benefit of a lesson in climate apocalypse.

THE UGLY: I mentioned it before but it bears repeating — as weird and grotesque as elephant seals are, it was even worse watching one fall off a cliff. He kind of grew on you with his Australian accent (funny, because we are in the Antarctic here, and yet we seemed to have a plethora of different accents coming from every direction — no doubt another commentary about how even penguins have their own melting pot and they have learned to coexist) and the fact that his babies sat and watched it happen seemed a little too intense for a movie with the words Happy in the title.

As a disclaimer I'd like to point out that I am not against ANY movie having teaching moments, and delivering messages that actually attempt to make us better people and provide a better world. I don't limit myself to movies that allow me the luxury brain down time — but there's a time and a place for sharing your agenda with people. That time is not with small children, and the place shouldn't be in a movie about dancing flightless fowl.

The Trophy Wife gives this 2 trophies.

Happy Feet 2 has a running time of 100 minutes and is rated PG for some rude humor and mild peril.

The steps I am about to tell you might sound very easy to say and not easy to do. However, I would like to ask you to try to introduce them into your life for just a week and you will see the results for yourself. Do it for yourself. Enjoy being a mommy.

Ask for help and accept the help of others, especially during the first few weeks. Ask friends or relatives to come stay with you for as long as they can, or just come over and help you out during the day. If you don't have family around, ask for your friends that are single and have no kids to come and help. If possible, have your partner take some time off of work. When people do come over, let them help you with the baby or things that need to be done around the house. This is not time to worry about hosting etiquette.

Try not to let a messy house bother you. Put some music on. Music helps the baby to soothe and will help you with mood swing. Caring for a child is exhausting, and it's more important for you to get your rest than for the dishes to be done. Do not try to do things when your baby is asking for your attention. That will only makes you more frustrated. Don't try to do more than one thing at a time.

Remember that feeling moody, overwhelmed and sad is normal during the first weeks postpartum. When these feelings come up, call a friend or loved one and talk through them. You can also find a coach that can help you to go through it. If you aren't feeling better after 2 weeks, or if you become concerned about your health or the health of your baby, contact your doctor. The baby blues and postpartum depression can be overcome.

If you become overwhelmed while caring for your baby–especially one who is crying or upset–briefly remove yourself from the situation. Put the baby in the stroller and go for a walk or put the baby in her crib and spend a few minutes alone to gather your thoughts and calm your nerves. A Breathing exercise can help you to change your state. Deep breath in for 5 and breath out for 10. Do it 5 times.

Get out of the house. Go walk around the mall, hang out with a friend or take a stroll around the block. If you don't feel up to actually going somewhere, just spend some time outside your home. The fresh air can help clear your mind and brighten your day. Your baby will like that as well.

Pamper yourself on a regular basis. When the baby is asleep, do something that makes you feel good. That could mean taking a long bath or a yoga class, or just reading a good book. Have a full body massage. After your body has had time to heal and your doctor says it's OK, begin an exercise program. Do not try to do all the house work while your baby is sleeping. If you feel very tired, nap when your baby naps.

If you are married or have a significant other, make time for your relationship. Find a trusted babysitter and spend time alone as a couple. Whether or not you have a significant other, make time for old friends. Though you are now a mom, you are still a woman with an independent identity. Make sure you are still not in your pajamas when your husband gets home.

Find and join a community of new mothers. This could mean reconnecting with women who were in your prenatal class or joining a support group. Many hospitals and churches offer groups that provide new mothers with interaction and encouragement. Some websites, such as Meetup, offers lots of activities you could do to meet with other moms. Moms can post questions and stories and discuss important topics. There are fitness groups for new moms where you take your baby and work out with other new moms.

The new X Factor live show aired last night, and one of L.A. Reid's hopefuls that he is mentoring, Chris Rene performed a song from the film, Dangerous Minds. From the moment that Chris Rene auditioned for the judges, he was an instant fan favorite. It was only a matter of time before his audition became a success on YouTube, with millions of views.

Chris Rene took to the stage last night and performed "Gangster's Paradise" from Dangerous Minds which starred Michelle Pfeiffer. The singer is very talented, and the judges gave the hopeful some fantastic feedback, and Chris Rene is certain to be successful as he stars his career in music at some point. Many fans believe that he has the potential to be the winner of the recording contract.

It is certain that whoever wins the competition, will be someone that has the potential to become a huge star, not just in the United States, but abroad as well. The hopefuls are very talented, and they have garnered many fans.

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What do you think of the Chris Rene performance on the show last night? Are you looking forward to seeing the continued progress of the hopefuls on the show? Are you excited about the song choices this week?

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'X Factor:' Chris Rene sings 'Gangster's Paradise,' from 'Dangerous Minds'

Clutter can cause stress not only for you but for everyone who sees this eye-sore. You may be overwhelmed at what you see and have resolved to do something about it. But where do you start and how will you start? If you have a home with many rooms and space then this could be quite a predicament. Here are some declutter ideas proven to work by others:

1. Start with one area or room then move on to the next. Completing what you started will give you a sense of accomplishment and will encourage you to move on with your decluttering.

2. Resolve to have an incentive for yourself and for your assistants as well after each accomplishment. You can probably order pizza or eat ice cream after the task.

3. Set a timeline while you do an area or room. Write or mark this down on the calendar for everyone to see.

4. One good declutter idea is to schedule declutter time. You do not need to work a full 8 hours to organize the area or space. You can devote a few hours to do the task. Family members can also have their own schedule.

5. Follow the schedule you set or else it will be a futile exercise. Play some music as you do the task to lighten the mood.

6. Turn on the alarm clock to let you know that declutter time is over then reward yourself with cool lemonade or a cup of ice cream.

7. Sort items according to where they will go. You need a box for which to place those that need to be given away and those that can be thrown away. Place these boxes on one side to avoid adding to the clutter.

8. You must be persistent with the task and continue till you hear the alarm. Don't overextend unless the mess is really unbearable.

9. Organize your things after you have already classified them. Return those items to shelves, cabinets, etc. Be sure to clean those areas too to maximize the time that you took out those items. Clean the undersides as well as the area where they were placed.

10. Repeat all steps in the next room or area.

There are books and online sources that you can read and give you more declutter ideas. The task is not really cumbersome if your intention is strong. A clean and organized room has good vibrations conducive to whatever purpose it was built. If it is the bedroom then an uncluttered room may help you to sleep better. The kitchen is one part of the home that needs constant cleaning and maintenance. There are articles devoted to declutter ideas for kitchens exclusively.

As you do decluttering in your home, you will develop your own method and techniques as well as declutter ideas that you can share with others. Some people like to try new ways to do things and you can participate in a decluttering group in your community or even volunteer as a declutter buddy to someone needing help.

The Grateful Dead Dancing Bears are a beloved icon by deadheads and others the world over. Their origins and history are as confusing and unclear as the time in which they were created. The Bears were first officially scene on the back of the album Bears Choice named for the albums producer Owsley Bear Stanley. The Bear as he was known was heavily involved in the early years of the Grateful Dead. He was responsible for the wall of sound and contributed to the artwork by Bob Thomas including the Steal Your Face or Stealie another favorite and well know Grateful Dead icon. Officially the creation of the Bears is contributed to Bob. Thomas is said to have drawn his inspiration for the bears from the standardized figure of a printer's font of type. This image shows a single bear that looks like he is walking or marching depending on how you look at it.

Now the confusion sets in Owsley is credited with stating in fact the Dancing Bears are high stepping bears and not dancing bears. Adding to the confusion Owsley was heavily involved in the production of LSD or Acid as it is known and is said to have used a single bear on the LSD sheets he produced further obscuring their actual origins. This use is allegedly before Bob Thomas ever came up with his Dancing Bear design. Unfortunately there may never be a definitive answer to the beloved bears origins as both Bob and The Bear have both past on.

From a marketing standpoint and the fact the Grateful Dead were a musical act the Dancing Bears are a far more memorable and suited than the High Stepping Bears.

The Dead were way ahead of their time in how they marketed themselves and their music perhaps this played some role in the final name. One thing to keep in mind is if you cut out all 5 Dancing Bears and flip thru the images quickly you can plainly see they are in fact high stepping or marching.

No matter what they are called and who created them they have become a part of the main stream culture. You can find them on Dancing Bear T-Shirts, bags, belts and key chains to name a few. The Grateful Dead had a huge influence on their generation and their music and artwork still has a firm hold on popular culture today.

If you're looking for information on how to fix mp3 iTunes tags, you're about to find out in this short article. Lots of people have had problems importing their iTunes tags and can cause duplicates, confusion, and a mess of other problems for you.

The most common reason that this happens is when people import music from CD's or other media sources. iTunes will label and tag things on what it thinks is accurate, and, as you know machines, this isn't always accurate.

So how do you fix the tags and make them accurate?

There are 2 main methods that you can use to fix them.

1. You can manually go through, right-click the songs, and set the tags yourself. This would mean setting the artist, titles, genre, etc. It can be pretty tedious, but the main point here is that you can get it done quickly. If you have tons of songs it can be somewhat of a mission, though.

2. The second method to fix mp3 iTunes tags is to use an application that can do it for you. You basically will go through and set parameters that will automatically set the tags to whatever you chose. The songs will then be updated based on what you inputted.

These are the two main methods to fix mp3 iTunes tags.

More specifically, you right-click the songs:

Then, a menu should come up.

On this menu you should be able to fix everything and input whatever you want. That's it

Another key problem that we can deal with is duplicate songs. If you have a set of songs that are already in your iTunes library, you can find that iTunes will make duplicates since it doesn't know that the songs already exist. This is primarily because the tags don't match and iTunes thinks that it's an entire new song.

Using a tag application can help with this too, as it will automatically fix the things for you. However, sometimes you need to be a bit more careful when using something like that, as deleting the wrong songs can leave you without any

All in all iTunes is a great application, but there are some of the drawbacks like we've mentioned here.

Some reasons why this happens:

iTunes saves songs in a different format than normal. They save it in a very unique way, especially taking into account all the information that is stored in the songs (Such as Artist, Song, Genre, etc.) So as it comes from an MP3 or any other kind of file, it brings it in, edits it, and saves it in its own iTunes method. While this process is taking place a lot of the valid information is lost.

There

First and foremost, Kurt Angle gets cheered and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin does not. Yes, I realize it's Pittsburgh, the Olympian's hometown, but it's difficult to hear Angle's walkout music without the "YOU SUCK" chants.

It actually feels incomplete!

It should also be noted that Austin goes over clean, as he should (in his heel gimmick), via ankle lock, to cough up the strap. And Kurt has hair!

Part two of this epic main event, which took place on this date in WWF history, after the jump.

Two of the best of all time Cagesiders, how do you rate this pay-per-view headliner?

Kurt Angle vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at Unforgiven 2001 gets __ out of 5 stars.

On this date in WWF history: Kurt Angle submits Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the title

Pixie Lott was "overwhelmed" when she got to record with Stevie Wonder and John Legend for her new album.

Pixie Lott felt "overwhelmed" when she recorded a song with Stevie Wonder.

The British singer is still astonished that she got to collaborate with the iconic singer and 'Ordinary People' hitmaker John Legend on her forthcoming new album because she is such a fan of their music.

She said: "It's crazy how it happened. It wasn't forced – we have mutual friends and the sessions just got set up.

"I was overwhelmed because Stevie is one of my favourite artists of all time. I've listened to him from as early as I can remember.

"And then there's John. He's hugely talented too. So I was really happy.

"If someone had told me before I started I'd get to work with John Legend and Stevie Wonder I wouldn't have believed them. I'm a massive fan."

The 'All About Tonight' hitmaker is preparing to launch her career in America and is hoping to do well Stateside.

She told more! magazine: "I haven't released anything yet, but my first album is about to debut in America.

"I think it'll be a mix of the best from the first and second albums. I hope it goes according to plan – it's such a big market."

Pixie Lott – Pixie Lott Shocked About Stevie Wonder Duet

Hallelujah is a song written by Leonard Cohen which has become well known. The song has been played in Shrek and was released on the first single album of the x-factor winner Alexandra Burke. In next lines I'll explain how to play a very simple version of this song which still sounds fabulous.

The chords you will need to play with your left hand are C major, A minor, F major, G major and E minor. One of the ways to make it sound nice is simply to individually play the tones of the chord. For example you should play C major like C, E, G, C (an octave higher), G, E and back to C. At the beginning the lyrics go like I heard there was a secret chord, if you sing along you should press C at the moment you start saying the word heard at the word there you already play G and for was C (an octave higher). But instead of returning back to C return to A and begin playing A minor. You can play it as A, C, E, A but playing it A, E, A, C will sound much better. A minor goes with lyrics a secret chord and then you go back to C chord for that David played and it pleased the lord and again A minor for the following: and it pleased the lord.

After this comes a bit different sequence but you don't really where you should play F (F, A, C, F) and care for music where G (G, B, D, G) should be played. You should be back to C chord when you play do you you continue playing it when singing it goes like this. And now before the hallelujah part you go down to F but only play it as F, A, C (the forth), when you sing the fifth you already play G (G, B, D), up to A minor (which you play as usual) for the minor fall and the, down to F for major lift, the and up to G for the baffled king com-, and now for the first time down to E (E, G, B, E, B, G, E) minor -posing, and up to A-minor for hallelujah. Now comes a little pause before the main part and then the chords you play throughout the whole refrain are F, A minor, F, C, G and back to C.

With your right hand you play the melody. You start on G (I) and continue pressing the keys octave higher on G (Heard there was a) and A for secret wish. Same goes for that David played and it pleased the Lord and then you stay on A playing but you don't really go back to G for for mu- and to F-sic and up again do you. There are many different ways to continue so I'll show you just the way I play, but try to play it by ear you will learn it a lot faster. G(octave lower), G G G A A B B G C C C C C C D D C D D D D D E E D C. And for the refrain you go back down to E(ha), G(le), A A(lu-jah). And repeat it.

Remember that this is just my suggestion on how to play Hallelujah the important thing is that you know the chords for your left hand which you can play the way I described it or in any other way, once you master your left hand you can add the melody playing by ear.

Justin Timberlake has been on a music hiatus for years! But Justin hasn’t been sitting on his butt – He’s been very busy showing off some of his other talents like acting. The last two nights though Justin went back to his roots performing two free shows in New York City! Over the course of about an hour, Timberlake ran through his hits, including “What Goes Around,” “Dead and Gone,” and “Cry Me a River,” which he performed solo with a guitar. So was Justin just teasing his fans with these performances or is something up?

Per People:

After playing a shortened version of "Like I Love You," from his first solo album, the 30-year-old quipped: "I'm getting too old for this."

Justin at one point in the night joked that he’s “not trying to be a serious actor”. So does that mean he’s going to finally get back into the studio? Only time will tell. I think it’s a good sign that he got back on stage and performed. The world definitely need more Justin Timberlake music and NOW!

News also broke earlier this week that Justin is off the market again. It seems he and ex-gf Jessica Biel have decided to work things out. I’m still hoping for a Justin and Britney Spears reunion!

[Keep Clicking Thumbnails for a Larger Image]

Justin Timberlake Returning to Music ?!

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The T.O. Show – Episode 1 – Old Hickory

If you have every seen High School Musical then you most certainly know the name Ashley Tisdale. Ashley Tisdale plays the popular character Sharpay Evans who is one girl who always seems to want what she can't have. Born on July 2, 1985, she grew up knowing that she wanted to be an actress and a singer. Her first big break was when Ashley Tisdale was only three years old. Discovered by Bill Perlman, she started doing commercials which led her to star on Broadway in Les Miserables and later in the international tour of Annie.

Ashley has known nothing but acting and singing and even sang at the white house when she was only 12 years old. It was that year that she started to make her way onto television where she had small parts on some popular television shows. It was in 2005 that Ashley Tisdale got her big break when she signed onto to the show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody which is a hugely popular Disney show. Disney knew they had someone special on their hands and immediately went about casting her for High School Musical. Of course the movie was a huge success and catapulted ashley, along with the rest of the cast, into instant stardom.

Acting wasn't enough for Ashley Tisdale though, and she decided that after her songs from High School Musical did so well on the charts that she was going to put out her own debut album. On February of 2007, Headstrong her first album debuted.

Currently she is involved in the making of high school musical 3 ringtones but has many more plans for the future after High School Musical 3 is completed. Ashley Tisdale wants to concentrate on her music as well and hopes to come out with a second album sometime in the near future.

American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina will premiere her debut video, "Like My Mother Does," on Monday, Aug. 8, while Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery's "I Love You This Big" will debut Tuesday, Aug. 9 on both CMT and CMT Pure.

CMT will air the new videos and an extended 15-minute special, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot.

“We found this park that had a little country feel to it and it all worked out,” McCreery said of his video, which was shot in Los Angeles.

The hit “Like My Mother Does,” was filmed in a Southern-style house featuring pictures of the Alaina with her family while she was growing up.

“I love that it shows who I am and how I became who I am," she said. "It shows my family and all about what I’ve done all through the years, and I love that."

GAC (Great American Country) will also premiere their videos on the same dates as their CMT premieres. The duo will also be featured in two new GAC specials, titled Introducing: Scotty McCreery and Introducing: Lauren Alaina, which are set to premiere this fall.

Fans can register at their official websites, Official Scotty McCreery and Official Lauren Alaina, to receive an exclusive album pre-order package that includes their full-length debut album, an 8×10 photo, a personalized poster and an instant download of their single “I Love You This Big,” and “Like My Mother Does.” Fans can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to go to CMA Awards, which will include a meet-and-greet with both artists.

“For this first album, we are definitely going to let the fans know first about all of the details coming out,” said McCreery.

Added Alaina, “We want them to know just what’s happening with the album and when it’s coming out because they’re the ones who are going to buy the music and they’re the ones who have been following me through this Idol journey."

Lauren and Scotty are currently in the American Idols Live tour that runs through September. They will also perform on ABC’s Good Morning America on Aug 12.

Both will perform at CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, airing Sunday, Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The show will also feature a day in the life of McCreery and Alaina as they experience their first CMA Music Festival.

'American Idol's' Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina to Premiere New Videos on CMT

US boy band singer Joe Jonas has announced that he will be performing in Europe with Britney Spears this autumn.

The 21-year-old will join the singer's Femme Fatale tour which includes four UK dates in October in London and Birmingham.

There will also be gigs in Ireland, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

Joe Jonas has told US celebrity magazine People that Britney Spears was his "childhood crush".

"It's a dream come true," he said.

"She was the first girl I ever had a poster on my wall of, and her album was the first CD I ever bought.

"It's so funny to think I had that on my wall and here I am about to perform with her."

The singer is in boy band The Jonas Brothers with his two brothers Kevin and Nick but has a solo album out at the same time as the tour, called Fastlife.

"I'll be playing more music than I have the past few times I've performed live so far," he adds.

"It's going to be really fun to perform some of my music from the album."

The Britney Spears UK tour dates featuring Joe Jonas are:

London, O2 Arena – 27 October

London, O2 Arena – 28

Birmingham, LG Arena – 30

London, Wembley Arena – 31

Joe Jonas joins Britney Spears on Femme Fatale tour

Anyone who sits down to hear Rory Block play at the Center for Arts in Natick on Friday will know right away that she's had the blues for decades. But don't worry. That's not a bad thing.

"I never have expectations," says Block by phone from her home in New York. "I just do what I do. And if somebody likes it, I'm happy."

It's been a few years since she last performed at TCAN, but longtime Block fans will feel right at home, and newcomers will likely fall under her spell right away. Alone onstage with just her own guitar accompaniment, Block sings hard and plays harder, keeping the sounds of traditional country blues alive, and making sure people remember the names of the people who created the music.

This time around, she's focusing on her new album "Shake 'em on Down," a tribute to the great bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell. It's her third tribute project, after tips of her hat to Robert Johnson and Son House.

"Here's how I do tribute albums," says Block, 61. "I ask my current label, Stony Plain, to send me CDs of everything they can come up with that was recorded by that artist. I'd always heard Fred McDowell's music, but I wanted everything back to back. My husband and I would listen to all of the songs, and we'd go, 'That's a good one, let's put that on the maybe list.' Then we'd whittle it down, and some songs would just jump out: 'That's a yes! We've gotta do that one!' I always wanted variety. Fred has certain themes that he repeats, and I wanted to pick as many divergent pieces as I could, not just his most famous blue songs."

Block also contributed a few originals on the album, sometimes borrowing certain instrumental licks from McDowell, then adding whatever lyrics came to her mind.

But Block knew more than McDowell's music. She also knew McDowell, who died in 1972. She offers some back story, dating to when her family was living in Greenwich Village in the early 1960s.

"I was 14, and had been playing classical guitar. Washington Square Park was this wonderful melting pot of astounding music," she recalls. "It was the acoustic music revival that included old-timey, country blues, old jazz styles, you name it, and it was all happening around the park. And one day there was this other sound of music coming out from the middle of a crowd. I made my way in and I heard ragtime guitar, and I thought it was astounding."

It was being played by then-18-year-old guitar wizard Stefan Grossman. When he stopped playing, they got to talking. He gave her an album titled "Really! The Country Blues," they became an item, went to see lots of live music in the city, and before long, they ran off together to the West Coast.

"By then I was 15 and he was 19," says Block. "We got to Berkeley, and we stayed at the house of Ed Denson, the founder of Takoma Records. We were hanging out there for a while, and one day Fred McDowell showed up. There he was: Mr. Mystique, Mr. Beautiful, Mr. Charisma. We all went down to play music at the Jabberwocky Cafe, and that's when someone jumped up while I was playing and said, 'She plays like a man!' That little adventure with Fred McDowell is what my song 'Mississippi Man' is all about."

With close to two dozen recordings released, Block seems to have been as busy in the studio as she is on the road, playing long stretches of concert dates all over the States and in Europe. In her early touring days, she was often held back by shyness. That was when recording studios became a sort of haven for her.

"Back in my terrible stage fright days, the studio was better for me than live performances," she says. "I did most of my vocals late at night with only one engineer present. I never sang vocals when there was a band in the room. They played without me, and I always saved my vocals for later. I've retained my love for the studio, but now I also absolutely love live performance. They're very different but both of them are spiritual experiences for me."

When she returns to TCAN, she'll likely have four guitars set up onstage for her to choose from. She has a reputation for not dealing with set lists. But, she's asked, can we assume you'll be playing most of the new album?

"No, you can't assume that," she says, laughing brightly. "But there'll definitely be some of it. I'm always slow to integrate material from my latest recordings into my sets. After you make an album, you have to re-learn everything for live. In the studio you put all your focus on one song, and when you're done with that, you put all your focus on another song, and you stay with that song until it's done. And then and I have to learn it in a way that's compatible with a live show.

"So you'll get a perspective from my whole career," she adds. "You'll get songs that were on an album 20 years ago mixed with stuff that I just recorded."

Rory Block's new autobiography, "When a Woman Gets the Blues," is available on www.roryblock.com. She plays the Center for Arts in Natick on July 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. For information, call 508-647-0097 or visit www.natickarts.org.

Rory Block pays tribute to Mississippi Fred McDowell

The Blondie singer has professed her love for modern acts like Muse and Arcade Fire. However, while she is a fan of Amy's music she thinks the British singer is slightly odd.

“Janelle Monáe is absolutely adorable and I like Amy Winehouse too – she’s such a strange entity and a wonderful talent,” she told Company magazine. “I also like MGMT and Muse. If I could choose anyone to play on stage with this year, it would be Arcade Fire or The Vaccines.”

Blondie will be performing at several festivals this summer, including England's Camp Bestival.

However, she will be on her guard after revealing a frightening past stage incident.

“I got whiplash once from a girl who ran on stage,” Debbie said. “She took me by surprise from the side and grabbed me round the neck. Turned out she was pretty strong and she did some damage. Security arrived a little late but I recovered OK.”

Debbie Harry: Winehouse is strange