Stars get it wrong in Paul McCartney video

SIR Paul McCartney should consult Mr Tumble before directing his next video writes Gordon Smart for The Sun (18/04/12)

Deaf music fans are claiming that Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman are using the wrong signs to illustrate certain words in the promo for My Valentine


Black Swan star Natalie made the first embarrassing gaffe, signing the word tampon instead of appear. Johnny wasn’t far behind. He signed enemy while attempting Valentine.

That would change the tack on a Valentine’s card.

Mr Tumble, played by Justin Fletcher on hit CBeebies show Something Special, would have been more than happy to help out the former Beatle.

He uses easily-understood Makaton sign language for kids.

It would have saved the grief Macca’s getting from the sign language community. Comments highlighting the errors have been posted alongside the video on YouTube.

The British Deaf Association are still applauding their efforts, though.

A spokesman for them said: “It’s great that famous people such as Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman are highlighting the use of sign language. Their use of it is more a poetic expression.

“The sign for tampon does seem to come up from both Johnny and Natalie, which causes some confusion, especially as American and British sign languages are different.

“It would have been nice if genuine deaf people had been used. But it’s still great.”

Macca premiered the video in LA last week and invited Hollywood’s finest.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Dave Grohl, Gwen Stefani and Reese Witherspoon were among those to see the promo first, which was Macca’s daughter Stella’s idea.

What happens in the vid isn’t that embarrassing considering the title of his album is Kisses On The Bottom.

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Deaf rapper gives flash mob performance

A Finnish deaf rapper has performed a flash mob performance in New York reports the BBC News (18/04/12).

Singmark, who was the first rapper to sign a record deal with Warner Music, uses hip-hop artist Brandon's vocals in his songs.

The 34-year-old musician told the New York crowd that he wasn't taken seriously when he first showed an interest in music.

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Access to music venues for deaf and disabled people

Matthew Hancock MP calls on the government to do all it can to break down the barriers that make live music inaccessible to all writes Matthew Hancock for Politics Home (17/01/12).

For most people, watching live music is a thrill, a joy, and a great way to escape from the day to day. For some it’s a passion. For many disabled people, live music can be all the more important. But it's also that much harder to access.

In the recent past, a new generation of music venues have shown that creative, thoughtful disabled access to venues not only helps the lives of those with disabilities, but is good business too. Research shows that disabled attendance is rising sharply - this is a growth market.

But not all venues are up to scratch. I know well, from personal experience of taking a disabled friend to the theatre and gigs, what a difference is made by putting some thought into access.

It's not just about wheelchair access, but loos and hearing aid loops.

I am the patron of Attitude is Everything - a charity that exists to improve access for disabled music-lovers to see the bands they love. At the end of last year, they released the first comprehensive report into the state of access to Britain's live venues.

The report used the findings of 100 deaf and disabled ‘mystery shoppers’ who visited venues across the country and rated them on their accessibility. Their findings form the basis of their proposals:

First to improve enforcement of existing rules that say that reasonable steps should be taken to improve access, by making access a condition of license.

But perhaps more important, to promote best practice, and sign venues up to the Attitude is Everything Charter that is used by some of the top venues and festivals like Glastonbury and Latitude in Suffolk.

Most of us can enjoy live music just by turning up. We must do what we can to break down the barriers that make live music inaccessible to all.

Matthew Hancock had been Conservative MP for West Suffolk since 2010.