Katy Perry has filmed a video tribute for Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday today (05.09.11). The 'Firework' hitmaker - who has previously called the deceased Queen frontman her "biggest influence" - sang 'Happy Birthday' to the star and thanked him for helping her to become a "killer queen".
She said: "Happy 65th birthday Freddie, we love you so much. Even though you're gone, you're not really gone - you've inspired us all and you inspired me especially.
"Without you I wouldn't be making music or doing what I do because you're lyrics inspired me as a 15 year old girl. I heard 'Killer Queen' and I wanted to be a killer queen!
"Thank you so much for all of your amazing music, for Queen the band, for your whole persona, for your character and personality, which was larger than life. We love you and we'll never forget you." Freddie died of bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS on November 24 in 1991.
Katy - who is married to British comedian Russell Brand - has previously praised Freddie's "I don't give a f**k attitude" and admitted she almost got a giant tattoo of his face on her back as a tribute to him. She said: "Freddie Mercury was - and remains - my biggest influence.
"The combination of his sarcastic approach to writing lyrics and his 'I don't give a f**k' attitude really inspired my music.
"I nearly got a huge tattoo of Freddie Mercury's face on my back a few years ago. It's probably for the best that I didn't get it done, but I still want to do it." Source
Katy Perry has become the first female artist to achieve five Hot 100 number ones from a single album.
The singer has managed to top the Hot 100 chart this week with her latest single 'Last Friday Night', after releasing a remix featuring Missy Elliot last week, reports Billboard.
The remix accounted for 25% of the song's overall digital sales, while the original track remains atop the US radio songs listings.
Perry has now matched a record set by Michael Jackson in 1987-88, when the late King of Pop produced five chart-toppers from his multi-million-selling album Bad.
Perry and Jackson are the only two artists to have reached the landmark in the Billboard Hot 100's 53-year-long history
The five singles - 'California Gurls', 'Teenage Dream', 'Firework', 'E.T.' and 'Last Friday Night' - have all been lifted from Perry's second studio album Teenage Dream.
The album topped both the US Billboard 200 and the UK album chart upon its release last August and has more than 2.2 million combined sales in the territories.
Katy Perry has claimed that she was always bullied at school because she had big breasts from a young age.
Perry said that she was often called names because of her figure, and pointed out the irony of now being thought of as a sex symbol.
"In middle school they called me 'over the shoulder boulder holder'," Perry tweeted. "Now they call me hot."
Despite the fact that she was teased, Perry previously admitted that she had often prayed to have big breasts.
"I remember really vividly kneeling by my bed as a 9-year-old, saying my prayers, and asking God to give me boobs that were so big that if I laid on my back I wouldn't be able to see my feet," Perry said. "Eventually that request was granted."
Earlier this month, Perry became the first artist to remain in the US Billboard Hot 100 top ten for 52 consecutive weeks.
Katy Perry has been named the 'Sexiest Woman for 2011'.
The 'I Kissed A Girl' singer, who is currently touring around Australia, beat Jennifer Hawkins and Miranda Kerr to top the Aussie version of FHM's annual list.
Perry told Perth Now: "That's amazing. I won? Really? Wow I can't believe it. I don't know what the criteria is for this award, but I endorse it wholeheartedly."
Others celebrities who made the list included Ruby Rose, Delta Goodrem, Rachael Finch, Megan Gale, Jesinta Campbell and Erin McNaught.
The Royal Family's latest addition - the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton - came in at 98. Today presenter Lisa Wilkinson was given the number 99 spot, while Helen Mirren made her debut in 96th place.
Mirren said: "It's flattering of course and I will accept that. But I hate the pressure that women put on other women constantly. I don't like the pressure men put on women even worse, but it really makes me angry when women put pressure on other women. You know, stop! Stop it!"
Perry recently came second in the 'Sexiest Woman In The World' list for the UK version of the men's magazine. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was awarded first place.
NEW YORK: Katy Perry's "E.T.," featuring Kanye West, spent a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on Thursday, bolstered by the premiere of its effects-heavy video a week ago.
Rihanna's "S&M" was also unchanged, at No. 2, while the Black Eyed Peas' "Just Can't Get Enough" rose two to No. 3. Cee Lo Green's "F**k You (Forget You)" at No. 4 and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" at No. 5 each slipped one place.
Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, rose one to No. 6; Jeremih's "Down on Me," featuring 50 Cent, jumped two to No. 7; Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor," featuring Pitbull, was also up two, to No. 8; and Pink's "F**kin' Perfect" dropped one to No. 9.
British singer/songwriter Adele claimed her first top-10 hit in the United States as "Rolling in the Deep" soared seven places. The track comes from her hit album "21," which recently ruled the Billboard 200 chart for three weeks, and is expected to reclaim its crown when data are released next Wednesday. (Reuters)
Katy Perry has unveiled the music video for her latest single 'E.T'.
The singer teased fans via her Twitter page ahead of its premiere by asking: "Are you ready for abduction?" before posting the clip on YouTube.
The promo sees the star hurtling through space towards a destroyed planet Earth and turning a robot into a human.
Kanye West, who also features in the clip and the radio edit of the track, tweeted at the star: "Congrats friend, we did it! #sweet."
Discussing the song, Perry said in a press release: "The main gist of the song is that it is a metaphor about finding someone who is just obviously not from this world because how could they love me like this?
"Even though it is a metaphor, I'm very interested in all things futuristic. I mean, I complain every day that the hoverport has not been invented. I think it's absolutely ridiculous."
'E.T' marks Perry's fourth consecutive number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and currently sits at 18 on the UK chart.
British comedian Russell Brand, set to marry singer Katy Perry in India this month, says his marriage will not be a lavish affair.
"We just love each other and we want to get married in front of our friends and family and keep it very normal," usmagazine.com quoted Brand as saying. "It ain't about selling the pictures, it ain't about doing no pre-nup, it's just a normal thing," he added.
Insiders have revealed that the marriage will culminate in a traditional Indian ceremony in Rajasthan Oct 23. Guests will be flown out via private jets and they will sleep in "pimped out" tents.
Brand is mum on details. "I'm trying to preserve it, to keep it a beautiful thing. I think people get the wrong idea on how we want the wedding to play out. Love between two people is the most spectacular yet ordinary thing in the world," he said.
While the date of the wedding is not known, the event is expected to take place at the Rambagh Palace -- where Brand proposed to Perry over New Year.
If reports are to be believed, Brand will ride a decorated horse and get an escort of camels and elephants when he marries Perry.
Russell Brand and Katy Perry have been warned to take their planned Hindu wedding ceremony seriously.
The couple are reportedly preparing to return to Jaipur, India - where they became engaged - for a seven-day wedding at the Taj Rambagh Palace resort commencing on October 23.
According to WENN, Hindu leaders have insisted that the stars fully observe the proper rights and rituals of the ceremony and remain respectful of the faith.
Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, explained: "In Hinduism, vivah (marriage) is the most important samskar (sacrament). The married couple is looked at as a complete module for worship and participation in cultural and social acts.
"Traditional Hindu marriage is a sacred rite and involves various religious steps...I'm sure if the couple needed any help, Hindu scholars would gladly guide them through the process."
Zed also expressed his hope that the star power of the couple would help enlighten others about Hinduism and dispel certain stereotypes surrounding the faith.
"Hindus are always battling stars and film studios when it comes to the way our faith is portrayed outside of Hinduism - here is a really good opportunity for Russell Brand, who has shown great interest in the religion, to show the world just how sacred and beautiful the Hindu marriage ceremony is. We wish them great blessings."
