Girls Aloud Talk Cheryl’s Arrest, Victoria Beckham’s Insecurity

I’m sure journalists love chatting with Girls Aloud: they are certain to get some really great quotes. Their very in-depth interview with Observer Music Monthly doesn’t disappoint. As usual, Cheryl Cole – the gobby cow, God love her – gets the best lines:

On Amy Winehouse‘s shambolic performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in Europe:

You know what it’s like? When a pub singer’s pissed and they go “shoobedoo waah…” You can’t take away from her the talent. But even during her performance she was like, [sings] “and I go to back to black…” And Ashley watched it and he went, she’s just amazing isn’t she? I went, what?

On her feud with Lily Allen:

All these things I let go, because I thought: she’s a child. And I don’t play with little girls.

On her 2003 arrest for a “racially motivated” assault on a nightclub attendant:

I’ll never live that down. I had a phobia – if I saw a black friend of mine I was paranoid that they would think I said those things. I wouldn’t look them in the eye. It was the worst experience ever. ‘Cause it couldn’t have possibly been further from what I was. And some of the things being written about me at the time… and I was only 19. I was disturbed for a long time.

On Victoria Beckham:

I’ll tell you what people get wrong about Victoria: everything. People don’t realize that actually she’s quite insecure. One night we went out for dinner and I was trying to make her laugh in front of the paparazzi just because they always say she’s miserable. I was like, “go on Victoria, just crack one smile!” And she was laughing but she was covering her mouth with her bag! And to me that’s insecurity!

Also in the interview: Nicola Roberts comes out as a Tory, and Nadine Coyle reveals the strain Jesse Metcalfe‘s stint in rehab had on their relationship. The piece is very much worth reading in its entirety for a few hearty chuckles.

In chart news: Leona Lewis‘ “Bleeding Love” is now the year’s biggest-selling single in the UK, outdoing even Rihanna‘s “Umbrella.” She spends a third week atop the UK singles chart. Craig David is looking poised for a comeback, with his new single entering the top ten, and Alicia Keys‘s “No One” looks set to repeat its American chart success.

1. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
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2. Take That – Rule the World
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3. Timbaland ft. New Republic -Apologize
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4. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse -Valerie
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5. Westlife – Home
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6. Sugababes – About You Now
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7. Craig David – Hot Stuff (Let’sDance)
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8. Britney Spears – Gimme More
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9. Alicia Keys – No One
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10. Freemasons ft. Bailey Tsuke -Uninvited
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In other news:

• Amy Winehouse “fell asleep three times” during an interview with US Magazine last year. Her manager blamed her meds.(Gigwise)
• Due to last week’s developments, Blake Fielder-Civil‘s trial has been delayed.(BBC)
• Fielder-Civil has been transferred to a the prison’s hospital wing. The Sun reasons that Fielder-Civil has been “a self harmer in the past.”
• Stereogum live-blogged Radiohead‘s live webcast last week – and they have compiled YouTube clips of the highlights, including their remakes of New Order’s “Ceremony” and The Smiths’ “The Headmaster Ritual.”
• Radiohead’s new album will be physically released in North America on January 2nd.(Pitchfork)
• Geri Haliwell has the best knockers of all The Spice Girls, a new poll says. Victoria Beckham is 4th.(The Sun)
• The boyz from Boyzone say that they had the reunion idea long before Take That and The Spice Girls did. Sure, they did.(The Sun)
• Duran Duran‘s tour dates at New York’s Ethel Barrymore Theater have been moved to a new venue due to the stagehands’ strike on Broadway.(BBC)
• Pete Townshend is penning new material for the next Who album, Roger Daltrey says.(NME)
• If you liked Control, The Guardian‘s Dave Simpson recommends the new Joy Division documentary.
• Ordinary Boys frontman Preston is reportedly back with Camille Aznar, the woman he dumped for Chantelle.(Sunday Mirror)