British pop-singer Leona Lewis has recorded the theme song for director James Cameron’s long-awaited sci-fi epic Avatar. The song, titled “I See You,” will play over the film’s end credits. Lewis just released Echo, her sophomore album and follow-up to 2007’s international smash Spirit. [Independent.co.uk.]

Ian Brown is apparently urging British educators to show the films “8 Mile” and “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” to pupils. The former Stone Roses frontman feels that these biographical films (which center on rappers Eminem and 50 Cent) will help inspire young children to achieve great things. [NME.com]

Beck has released a song about experimental composer Harry Partch. The song, fittingly titled “Harry Partch,” arrives shortly after the Fiery Furnaces’ Matthew Freidberger’s criticism of Radiohead’s own “Harry Patch (In Memory of),” which was dedicated to Britain’s last surviving WWI soldier. Some people accused Freidberger of confusing his Partchs during the online tirade. [Pitchfork.com]

Oscar-winner and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson has purportedly signed on to play Winnie Mandela in an upcoming biopic. The film, which will center around the controversial ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, is set to start shooting in May. [People.com]

Lou Reed and the rest of the Velvet Underground are set to appear together at the New York Public Library’s “Live From the NYPL” book discussion series. Moderated by longtime Rolling Stone columnist David Fricke, the discussion will center around the publication of the new coffee table book The Velvet Underground: New York Art. [Pitchfork.com]