Heavy Cross

"Heavy Cross" is a song by American band Gossip. It was released on April 28, 2009 as the first single from the band's fourth album Music for Men. The song was the first international hit for Gossip, reaching the top ten across Europe, in Australia and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart from mid- to late 2009. It peaked just outside the top 10 in New Zealand, and made the top 40 in Ireland and the UK; Gossip had already achieved two top 40 singles in the latter region, with "Standing in the Way of Control" and "Listen Up!" in 2006.

The single was especially successful in Germany, where it was certified triple gold, for selling over 450,000 copies and is, as of September 2010, the "most successful internationally produced single of all time". As of April 2011, the single has been on the German Singles Chart for 97 weeks without ever reaching No. 1, making it the second-longest running single ever there. It spent also 27 weeks in that chart's top ten, making it the ninth-longest run there. In 2013, it was included in a J'Adore advert from Dior, making it rise to fame again.

Gossip (band)

Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999 in Olympia, Washington. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control (2006). A follow-up, Music for Men, was released in 2009. The band plays a mix of post-punk revival, indie rock, and dance-rock. Their latest album, A Joyful Noise, was released in May 2012.

History

Formation and early history

Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia, Washington, with vocalist Beth Ditto, guitarist Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell and drummer Kathy Mendonça. All three were originally from Searcy, Arkansas; Mendonça moved to Olympia to attend Evergreen State College and Howdeshell and Ditto followed. Howdeshell and Mendonça had been in bands together in Arkansas. The band coalesced when the three members were roommates in Olympia.

In 1999 the independent record label K Records released Gossip's first recording, their eponymous debut EP, The Gossip to coincide with the band's tour with Sleater-Kinney. The band played at the first Ladyfest in Olympia in August 2000 and was included in Time Magazine's article on the festival.

Gossip

Gossip is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act of is also known as dishing or tattling.

Gossip has been researched in terms of its evolutionary psychology origins. This has found gossip to be an important means by which people can monitor cooperative reputations and so maintain widespread indirect reciprocity. Indirect reciprocity is defined here as "I help you and somebody else helps me." Gossip has also been identified by Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary biologist, as aiding social bonding in large groups.

With the advent of the internet, gossip is now widespread on an instant basis, from one place in the world to another. What used to take a long time to filter through is now instant.

The term is sometimes used to specifically refer to the spreading of dirt and misinformation, as (for example) through excited discussion of scandals. Some newspapers carry "gossip columns" which detail the social and personal lives of celebrities or of élite members of certain communities.

Diane Birch

Diane Birch (born January 24, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter.

Early life

Birch was born in Michigan. At the age of seven Birch began studying piano using the Suzuki method. While growing up she listened to opera, classical and church music. As a child Birch lived with her family in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sydney, Australia, as her father was a Seventh-day Adventist preacher whose work took him to several countries. When she was ten, her family returned to the United States of America, and settled in Portland, Oregon. Birch attended Portland Adventist Elementary School and later, Portland Adventist Academy.

Career

Early in her career Birch moved to Los Angeles and set out to compose music for films but instead played piano at the Beverly Hills Hotel and L'Orangerie. During this period Prince heard her perform at the Polo Lounge in 2006 and invited her to join him at his home for a music session with his band. Later, Birch moved to London, where she signed a publishing contract and wrote most of the songs that appeared on her debut album.

Heavy

Heavy may refer to:

Music

Film and television

Other