Monica has revealed the cover art for her long-awaited fifth studio album Still Standing (March 23rd). I could complain about a little thing or two, but I have waited too long for this project & am anticipating it too much to focus on the negative. I like it!A sneak peek at the video for Rihanna's third single "Rude Boy" off Rated R has surfaced. All I'm saying is the whole thing better not be black & white. Guess we'll find out on Thursday...
Beyonce was featured in VIZIO's Super Bowl commercial, but to be honest, it's quite underwhelming. And I don't mean on Beyonce's part... I just think they should've used her more! But speaking of underwhelming, I caught some (not all) of the Super Bowl commercials & they weren't too great. (And don't even get me started on that horrendous mess they've been calling a halftime show for the past several years...) Did you see any good commercials?
See Leona Lewis & hear Mariah Carey among the several artists who participated in the UK Haiti charity single "Everybody Hurts." Mariah was supposed to have shot her portion of the video some days ago, so I dunno what happened there.
Karina is at it again, recording another future smash entitled "Choose Me" in this new studio footage. This sound is so much more sophisticated for her (those layered vocals!) & I'm really starting to have trouble waiting for that second album, which is tentatively due in the second quarter.
Leona Lewis performed the new single "I Got You" off her sophomore album Echo on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance. (They have the same host & stage as the US version of SYTYCD? What??) Please, oh please, somebody call the radio & request this one. For me?!
Usher has revised the cover art for his upcoming album Raymond Vs. Raymond (March 30th). I'm torn about this one (no pun intended...). The concept? Yes. For example: It takes you a second to realize that the ring is in fact NOT on his left hand. The execution? No. See: Instead of using an actual mirror image, they chopped a picture of him in half & placed the left side of the photo on the right side of the cover, vice versa, & photoshop took care of the rest. Ah well. I'm trying to be optimistic, at least, that the music is all that's going to matter.Karina has decided to join forces with Sammie to cover Brandy's hit song "Brokenhearted" with Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men from her self-titled debut album. Alright, loyal readers: This one's for you. You KNOW I love me some Brandy, but for the longest time I didn't own her debut, & when I finally bought & listened to it, I actually didn't looove it. I bring this up because I had to YouTube the original to remember how it goes--& lemme tell you, I'll be pulling that CD back out with the quickness because the original is amazing! Now, obviously Karina has some mad pipes, so you know she's blowing on this song, which is good... I just hope she doesn't over-do it because she is capable of doing some Brandy-like vocals & that's what this song requires to REALLY shine. As for Sammie, I was totally a fan of him the first time around (if you know what I mean)! Although I haven't been into him since, hearing his voice again reminds me of why I was a fan in the first place. Anyway, to sum up, I think this has the potential to be really good!
While the stars gathered this weekend for the Super Bowl in Miami, Rihanna performed a whole set & JoJo joined Timbaland on stage for their Shock Value 2 collaboration at the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam. I don't recall ever having the opportunity to post a JoJo performance on my blog before, making it just about a 3-year absense from the stage for her--of the televised sort anyway, so this is cool! As for RiRi, it was pretty much the regular schtick from her... I just wish they hadn't cut off the "Rude Boy" performance. Check out her setlist below:
Pt. 1:
Mad House
Wait Your Turn
Live Your Life
Disturbia
Pt. 2:
Russian Roulette
Hard (ft. Young Jeezy)
Rude Boy
Sneak Peek
Extended Interviews
Entertainment Tonight went behind-the-scenes of Christina Aguilera's upcoming film debut "Burlesque" & visited with the cast, which also includes (my favorite actress) Kristen Bell, Julianne Hough, Stanley Tucci, &, of course, Cher. This is our first look, folks! Let's see... Christina Aguilera singing on screen with Kristen Bell--I'm sooo there!! Keep an eye out for "Burlesque," opening November 24th.
Brandy, her brother Ray J, & their parents Willie & Sonja Norwood are coming together for the new reality show Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, premiering Sunday, April 11th, @ 9/8c on VH1. The show will feature the Norwoods as they run their family business Rn'B Productions, which Sonja currently runs & Willie is the vocal coach for, as well as "Brandy [stepping] back into the music scene & [teaming] up with famous producer Timbaland for a new album all the while raising her seven year-old daughter Sy'rai." You KNOW I'm ALREADY there!!
