Coldplay names new album Viva la Vida

In keeping with the much-publicized Latin tinges to the forthcoming Coldplay album, the band has named it Viva la Vida, according to Rolling Stone. The album, the band's fourth studio release, will hit stores June 17.

Singer Chris Martin told the mag that he chose the phrase, which means "long live life," after seeing it on a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who endured polio, a broken spine, and chronic pain for decades. "She went through a lot of s***, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said Viva la Vida," Martin said. "I just loved the boldness of it."

Looking to preempt potential Ricky Martin--"Livin' La Vida Loca" jokes surely to come his way--Martin said, "Everyone thinks it comes from Ricky Martin, which is fine. I have absolute respect. I've been through this before, naming something or someone and everyone saying that 'That's a terrible name.' But then saying, 'Well, f*** you, that's what it's called, and I'll be proved to be right eventually.' So when Viva la Vida came along, I was kind of annoyed because I'm going to have to try and convince everybody of this, but it just felt right."

Madonna to go mobile for Hard Candy

Madonna is making sure that European fans can easily take a bite out of her Hard Candy. The newly inducted rock and roll hall of famer and soon-to-be-former label Warner have inked a deal with mobile phone giant Vodafone to release seven songs from her new album at a rate of one song a day the week before the album is available.

Beginning on April 21, according to the Daily Telegraph, each track will remain live and exclusive to Vodafone customers for 24 hours for download before being replaced by the next one. Customers in some markets, including Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium, will be given access to the newly released single "4 Minutes to Save the World," a collaboration with Justin Timberlake about fighting poverty and disease.

"This is an innovative way to reach millions of Madonna fans around the world, building anticipation and excitement around this landmark release and helping to create a real event for Vodafone customers," John Reid, vice chairman of Warner Music, said in a statement.

Gnarls Barkley up album release

The Odd Couple will not wait. Gnarls Barkley has moved up the release date for its aptly titled forthcoming album from April 8 to, well, now. The band and its label Downtown/Atlantic said today that the album is currently available in digital and some physical stores and will be in all brick-and-mortar stores next Tuesday, March 25.

"They felt the timing was right to just go for it," a press release claimed. "With the shifting seasons, furtive romantic entanglements, and fierce college basketball rivalries, the latter half of March can be confusing. People need to be soothed and inspired now."

The Game faces civil lawsuit

He may managed to serve only eight days of his original 60-day sentence for allegedly assaulting and threatening a man during a February 2007 basketball game, but The Game might get a bit harder in the wallet for the incident.

Shannon Rodrick, who claims the rapper sucker punched him after asserting that his basketball "team is garbage," filed a civil lawsuit against The Game late last week seeking unspecified damages. The complaint, first obtained by TMZ.com, contends that the Game then retrieved a pistol from his SUV and threatened to shoot the man.

After agreeing to a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed additional charges of making criminal threats and exhibiting a firearm in the presence of a peace officer. The Game was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 150 hours of community service but was released last weekend after serving only eight days in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in LA.

ABBA drummer's death ruled an accident

A former drummer for the Swedish pop group ABBA fatally injured himself when he hit his head against a glass door at his home on the island of Mallorca. An autopsy ruled the death of 62-year-old Ola Brunkert an accident, according to the Associated Press.

A Civil Guard spokesman confirmed to the AP that Brunkert hit his head against a glass door in his dining room, shattering the glass and fatally cutting him in the neck. While he managed to wrap a towel around the wound, he collapsed in his garden when going to seek help.

"It is tragic," ABBA band member Benny Anderson told Swedish daily Expressen. "He was a very creative musician who contributed a lot when we toured together and worked in the studio."

Brunkert played with ABBA on their first single, "People Need Love," and toured with them in 1977, 1979 and 1980.