This is a little something different for the site, but I really thought it deserved some attention. "Breathe" is the third single off Angels & Airwaves' second album I-Empire, which is beyond incredible. This is a band that I have fallen in love with--which is saying something, considering I don't like basically any other rock music. I recommend them to anyone with an appreciation for music & an open mind.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
HUGE New Music Tuesday
Top Right: Lil' Mama "VYP: Voice Of The Young People" BUY
Bottom Left: Sarah McLachlan "Rarities, B-Sides, & Other Stuff: Volume 2" BUY
Bottom Right: Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is - Season 2 BUY
If I had to pick one CD, it would have to be Estelle's Shine because that is one hot album! I really want the second season of Keyshia's reality show too though, as I am a huge fan of Ms. Cole.
Also, check out these awesome new releases from last week:
Tiffany Evans "Tiffany Evans" BUY
Ashlee Simpson "Bittersweet World" BUY
Beyonce And Ellen DeGeneres' American Express Ad
Here is the premiere of the new American Express commercial featuring Beyonce & Ellen DeGeneres on the latter's talk show. It's a really cool one & Ellen is hilarious in it.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Fergie "The Dutchess: Deluxe" Details
Check out a small photo of the cover for The Dutchess: Deluxe, the re-release of Fergie's debut album, due May 27th. The new version will include 4 additional songs: "Labels & Love," the theme song for the upcoming film version of Sex & The City, "Party People" with Nelly, "Clumsy (Soulja Boy Remix)," & "Barracuda," a Heart cover (as performed at Idol Gives Back) originally featured on the "Shrek The Third" soundtrack, among other goodies. I actually never picked up Fergie's album (I know I'm probably the only one) because she was on the radio all the time, but this I will definitely get. Despite overexposure, I have grown to quite like Fergie as a solo artist. I do have a little complaint, however: as the rumors suggested, why didn't they include Fergie's newly-recorded international bonus track "Pick It Up," which features will.i.am, &, for that matter, the Sean Kingston-featured remix of "Big Girls Don't Cry?" Perhaps a DVD with all her fabulous music videos, including "Fergalicious" & "Clumsy?" The set could've been better & more worth our money, but I'll take what I can get.[Source]
*UPDATED* Rihanna And Maroon 5 "If I Never See Your Face Again" Video: Behind-The-Scenes
Behind-the-scenes of the "If I Never See Your Face Again" video, which is an upcoming single lifted from Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad re-release (due June 17th), the original version of which comes from Maroon 5's sophomore album It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Now this should be one hot collabo! So excited it's getting the video treatment.
UPDATE: Turns out that, though the song will be featured on Rihanna's upcoming re-release, it will actually be the first single off Maroon 5's late June re-release of their album It Won't Be Soon Before Long. (Confirmed by Billboard)
Idol Review: Top 6
Above is David Archuleta's performance from this past week, which was, as always, the best of the bunch. Syesha & Carly weren't too far behind, however. Also, how THIS can get you kicked off American Idol is beyond me. Jason wasn't horrible, but wasn't particularly great either. Brooke ... wow. Awful. David Cook should not be singing that song (or screaming it, as he did). Hate him. What was good, though, was Leona Lewis' performance of "Bleeding Love" on the results show:
She made it exciting! Finally! Well, sorry for the delay on this--I think I've finally caught up though. Enjoy the Top 6 Ford Music Video below:
BONUS: Check out Carly Smithson on American Idol Extra & Live With Regis And Kelly (Interview/Performance)!
Billboard Update
It may be a few days late & a few dollars short, but never fear--it's here! With not only her personal best, but the year's best first week sales, Mariah Carey debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with her latest effort E=MC². The set sold 463,000 copies right out of the gate. Congrats, Mariah! In depressing news, Lil' Wayne tops the Hot 100 chart this week with his single "Lollipop." And with that, the vocoder is officially on the way out. That song is a disgrace. However, Mariah did land the week's Hot Shot Debut title with her new single "Bye Bye" debuting at #23. Here's to the 19th #1! *crosses fingers* To view the complete charts, click HERE.[Source]
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Weekend Flashback Performance: Jennifer Lopez At 2007 Fashion Rocks
Granted it may not be flashing that far back, but here we go. Back when Jennifer Lopez was still hiding her pregnancy from the world & dropping her new album Brave instead, she performed a medley of her current single "Do It Well" & past hit "Waiting For Tonight" at Fashion Rocks. And whether or not she prefers to be called it anymore, J.Lo proved she's still got it. Brave was, imo, arguably her best effort to date overall & I believe it was criminally overlooked by the public. At least there will always be this blazing performance.
The Caffeine Patch: WALL-E Magnet Vignette
Check out this hilarious new ad for Disney/Pixar's new film "WALL-E," which hits theaters on June 27th. It features WALL-E's encounter with a magnet. Priceless!
Mariah Carey "Tennessee" Sneak Peek
Check out this Access Hollywood story on Mariah Carey's new movie "Tennessee," which just premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. The video features some clips from the film. I am quite excited to see it. You can see Mariah arriving at the movie premiere HERE looking flawless in a collared shirt, which I think fits the mood perfectly. Also, visit the film's all-new official site HERE.
Solange "I Decided" Video: Behind-The-Scenes
Behind-the-scenes of the "I Decided" video, which is the first single off Solange's forthcoming album SoL-AngeL And The Hadley Street Dreams, due August 26th. This is going to be one hot video!
Michelle Williams "We Break The Dawn" Video: Behind-The-Scenes
Behind-the-scenes of the "We Break The Dawn" video, which is the first single off Michelle Williams' forthcoming album Unexpected, due August 12th. Michelle's lookin' good! I'm lovin' this song, too.
Mariah Carey Lights Up The Empire State Building
Check out this clip of Mariah lighting up The Empire State Building in "pink, yet lavender" in honor of her new album E=MC². Sooo wish I could see it!
Estelle Performs "American Boy" On Letterman
Take note: this is how to make your network television debut. Estelle performed her second single "American Boy" from her upcoming album Shine, due April 29th, with excellence on the Late Show With David Letterman. This girl is so freaking awesome.
Chilli "Rolling Out" Magazine Cover
Here's Chilli lookin' fly on the cover of Rolling Out magazine. This is a nice shot of her & I'm liking her new single "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb," so I hope she is bringing it with her upcoming solo record.[Source]
Mariah Carey On Regis And Kelly
Following her performances on Good Morning America, Mariah dropped by Live With Regis & Kelly for an interview. It's an interesting watch where MC discusses what she's up to. Has she--or anyone--ever looked better?
Rihanna "Take A Bow" Video Premiere
"Take A Bow" is the first single taken from Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad re-release, due June 17th. And so my love/hate relationship with Rihanna continues--this one leaning more towards hate. I don't like the song & I have a feeling radio will probably pick it up like they did "Unfaithful" & make me really hate Rihanna for a minute. I must give her credit though: she is working that boy haircut! She looks good, but the video is boring.
Mariah Carey On Good Morning America
"Bye Bye"
"I'm That Chick" + Interview
"Touch My Body"
Mariah Carey took over Times Square in New York City on Friday with her GMA appearance where she performed 3 songs for the kickoff of their Summer Concert Series. It looked like a really fun show. Mariah had some technical difficulties during "Touch My Body," but she handled them like a pro. “Stop singing my part now, baby.” Love it!
New Solange Promo Shoot
The poster says it all. Solange looks great, even if the photos aren't groundbreaking. I am really feeling her musical direction & new single "I Decided," though, so go 'head, girl!
Rihanna To Team Up With Maroon 5
Girlicious Performs "Like Me" On The KTLA Morning News
Here's what I was expecting: Pussycat Doll look-a-likes that can sing about as well as the originals--with the exception of Nicole Scherzinger. It could just be the performance, but this definitely makes them come off as studio singers. I will give them one thing: they can dance. I must say, though, that other girl groups out there (*cough* Danity Kane *cough*) are much more talented vocally, which is what counts in my book. Anyway, Girlicious' self-titled debut album hits stores on July 1st.
[Source]
New Chilli Promo Shoot
So, Chilli has done a new promotional shoot in preparation of her solo career launch. I don't know what label she is or isn't on, but whoever paid for this didn't pay much. Nevertheless, she looks pretty good. I'm not completely sold on her ability as a solo artist yet, but I am looking forward to hearing what she has to offer. 
[Source]
OneRepublic "Say (All I Need)" Video Premiere
"Say (All I Need)" is the third single off OneRepublic's debut album Dreaming Out Loud. If you've never given them a chance, now would be the time. After buying & listening to their album, this is by far the best track. I absolutely love this song & the video is cool, too.
Mariah Carey "Bye Bye" Video Preview
Check out this short clip of Mariah's new video "Bye Bye," the second single off her #1 album E=MC². It looks nice & it's cool to see her going the casual route (or at least as far as MC will go) in order to allow the song to do the talking. Can't wait to see the whole thing, which is set to premiere Monday, April 28th on TRL as well as 106 & Park, where Mariah will hand deliver the video.
Ashlee Simpson On Ellen
Interview
"Little Miss Obsessive" Performance
Ashlee Simpson made a stop at The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently on her promo tour for her just-released third album Bittersweet World. As you probably know by now, I'm a big fan of Ellen, so her interviews are always great. Ash performed her second single once again as well. Does anyone else remember that the song does actually feature another artist? Oh well. It's not exactly my favorite new song from her anyway...
Jennifer Lopez To Star In Reality Show
Jennifer Lopez is all set to executive produce & star in a new reality show for cable network TLC. The series will document her life as an actress, singer, new mother of twins, & entrepreneur. Personally, I'm excited to see this because I want the world to stop forgetting about her & fall in love with Jennifer all over again![Source, Source]
Mariah Performs Acoustic Version Of "Love Story"
Many of you will probably recognize this from Mariah's Artist Of The Week shorts she shot for MTV the week of her album release. Here is the full acoustic version of her "Love Story" performance, which is pretty incredible. Mariah sounds great & you can really see the emotional attachment she has with the song. Awesome!
New Usher Promo Pic
Check out this new promotional shot of Usher for his upcoming album Here I Stand, which drops May 27th. At least it's kinda interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to his new music.[Source]
Will.I.Am And Cheryl Cole Perform "Heartbreaker" On The Graham Norton Show
Here's a performance by will.i.am featuring Cheryl Cole of his second single "Heartbreaker" from his album Songs About Girls on The Graham Norton Show in the UK. They did a decent job.
Friday, April 25, 2008
While I Was Away... (Part 3)
- Mariah Carey "Us Weekly" Magazine Cover [Looking fab!]
- Alicia Keys "Teenage Love Affair" Video Premiere [The third single from As I Am. Tight.]
- Lil' Mama "VYP: Voice Of The Young People" Tracklisting [Her debut album drops Tuesday!]
- Mario Dances The Rumba On DWTS: Week 6 [Awesome. Congrats on the success! *knock on wood*]
- Katharine McPhee In New Movie "The House Bunny" (Interview, Trailer) [Cool. Looks funny.]
- Ashlee Simpson Performs "Boys" On Dancing With The Stars [One of my favorite new songs from her. Bittersweet World is in stores now!]
- Estelle "Bleu" Magazine Cover [Nice.]
- Girlicious "Like Me" & "Stupid S***" Video Premieres [The first one--their first single--surprised me with how good it was; the title fits the second one.]
- Janet Jackson Begins Tour Sept. 11th [Can't wait!]
- Ashlee Simpson Performs "Little Miss Obsessive" On Leno [Fine.]
- Solange "SoL-AngeL" Update [The other Knowles is doin' her thang this time around! Her album drops August 26th.]
- Teyana Taylor "From A Planet Called Harlem" Update [This newcomer is bringing it too; her debut CD comes out June 17th.]
- Amerie & Columbia Records Part Ways [Maybe now--if/when she gets signed again--we can actually hear from her again.]
- Cherish "Amnesia" Video: Behind-The-Scenes [I like the song, but the video looks like it'll be boring.]
- Alicia Keys "Teenage Love Affair" Video: Behind-The-Scenes [Kinda interesting.]
- Alicia Keys On Today (Interview, "Teenage Love Affair," "No One") [She did a nice job.]
While I Was Away... (Part 2)
- Jordin Sparks' Vocal Problems Force Her To Miss Tour Start [Hope you get better, Jordin!]
- Natasha Bedingfield Performs "Pocketful Of Sunshine" + Interview On Today [Good performance.]
- Mary J. Blige "Upscale" Magazine Cover [Lookin' good.]
- Mariah Carey "The Observer Music Monthly" Magazine Cover [Supafly!]
- New Mariah Carey Promo Pics (HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE) [HOT!]
- Craig David "Officially Yours" Video Premiere [The third single from his fourth album Trust Me. Cheap & boring.]
- Kelly Clarkson Performs "Ave Maria" For The Pope [Great.]
- New Usher Promo Pics (HERE, HERE, & HERE) [Lookin' good.]
- Ashanti Performs "TWTILY" At Hot 107.9's Runway Fashion Show [Pretty good.]
- Ryan Cabrera "Say" Video Premiere [The lead single off his upcoming third album The Moon Under Water, which drops May 13th. Not bad, but cheap.]
- Mariah Carey "Tennessee" Movie Sneak Peeks (HERE & HERE) [Can't wait!]
- Leona Lewis On The Tyra Banks Show (Interview, "Bleeding Love") [I love Tyra's interviews.]
- Ashlee Simpson Performs "Little Miss Obsessive" + Interview On Today [Fine.]
- Usher "Here I Stand" Cover [Cool. Release Date: May 27th]
- Ashanti "The Declaration" Cover [Diva! Release Date: June 3rd]
- Mary J. Blige "Stay Down" Video Premiere [(FINALLY) Her second single from Growing Pains. Unfortunately, it's also cheap & boring.]
Thursday, April 24, 2008
While I Was Away... (Part 1)
Idol Review: Top 7
Best of the week? Tie: Syesha with "Vanishing" & David Archuleta with "When You Believe." Carly did well with "Without You" & Jason was enjoyable with his unique version of "I Don't Wanna Cry." Otherwise, there was alot of murdering going on: Brooke with "Hero," Kristy with "Forever," & especially David Cook with "Always Be My Baby." I guess Kristy finally ran out of time. HERE is the Top 7 Ford Music Video.
Also...
- Billboard Update: Leona Lewis Tops Billboard 200 & Hot 100 Charts [She just keeps breaking those records with both Spirit & "Bleeding Love." Good for her!]
- New Solange Promo Pic [AH! Scary.]
- Mariah Carey Performs "Bye Bye" On American Idol [Nice.]
- Watch Mariah Carey's "MC²: The Relativity Of Mariah" BET Special [Includes "Migrate," "Touch My Body," "Love Story," "Shake If Off," & "We Belong Together."]
- Keyshia Cole Performs "Heaven Sent" On Regis & Kelly [OK, but not my favorite.]
- Danity Kane, Day26 To Tour Together [...duh.]
- Nicole Scherzinger Caress Commercial [Awesome!]
- Ashlee Simpson Performs "Little Miss Obsessive" On TRL [Alright.]
- Elliott Yamin Performs "Free" On American Idol [Someone's coming into their own... RIP Elliott's mom.]
- Mario Dances The Samba on DWTS: Week 5 [Awesome.]
- Toni Braxton Falls Ill, Temporarily Cancels Vegas Show [Hope you get better, Toni!]
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
New Music Tuesday: Mariah Carey's "E=MC²"
*** ^Click To Purchase^ ***
The day has come! Mariah Carey's AMAZING new album E=MC² is finally out!!! For those who've been living under a rock, the set features Mariah's 18th #1 single "Touch My Body." So exciting. In honor of the album's release, I've collected a few sneak peeks for everyone:
Hear 4 tracks from E=MC² HERE
Listen to bonus track "4Real4Real (ft. Da Brat)" HERE
Listen to bonus track "Heat" HERE
Listen to bonus track "4Real4Real (ft. Da Brat)" HERE
Listen to bonus track "Heat" HERE
Also, don't forget to check out Mariah week on American Idol! Go David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, & Carly Smithson!
Natasha Bedingfield "Pocketful Of Sunshine" Video Premiere
"Pocketful Of Sunshine" is the second single off Natasha Bedingfield's sophomore US release of the same name. The CD came out back in January & I reviewed it. There's nothing too out of the ordinary here for Natasha, or at least the one we see here in America. There are some cool looks in the video, but it's nothing special.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Mariah Carey's MTV Artist Of The Week Promos
Mariah recently shot numerous promos for MTV, as she is their Artist Of The Week this week. Here is a compilation of them, which includes both Mariah singing her new music & Mariah interacting with her dog Jack Jr. (as voiced by Snoop Dogg). They are pretty entertaining & funny. Here's a tracklisting, persay, of the featured videos:
- I'm That Chick
- I'm That Chick (2)
- Migrate
- Migrate (2)
- Love Story
- Touch My Body
- Mariah Hits High Notes (with JJ)
- I'm That Chick (with JJ)
- I'm That Chick (with JJ) (2)
- Mariah Works Out With JJ
- JJ's Reality Show
- JJ & The Paparazzi
Mariah is hilarious in the studio with JJ & I particularly love #10. Also, she sounds great! Good stuff.
Mary J. Blige And Jay-Z "You're Welcome" Video Premiere
Currently on the Heart Of The City tour together, Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z are featured here on the song "You're Welcome" that they recorded especially for this tour. The video consists of behind-the-scenes footage of the tour as well as a bit from the stage. It's a pretty cool watch, even if Jay-Z almost gets top billing over MJB, which is crazy, considering she is way outselling him at the moment ... even without that long-awaited second single.
Mariah Carey Performs "Bye Bye" On Oprah
Mariah had (almost) an entire episode of Oprah dedicated to her today that was all about her diet, workout, &, of course, new album E=MC², which hits stores TOMORROW!!! It was a really interesting watch & at the end, she performed ... for the first time (ish) ... her second single "Bye Bye," which is now available to download on iTunes! It was an alright performance, but here's what I wanna say about it: Mariah, we know you can (still) sing your booty off; all you need to do is warm up a little before you perform! Then, you'll be ready to blow us away. It's not like you have to try to look good ... because, omg people, is she not amazingly hot? Just had to throw that one out there.
Cassie "Official Girl" Song Premiere
Check out Cassie & Diddy, head of her label, Bad Boy Records, premiering her first single "Official Girl" taken from her as-yet-untitled sophomore album, which is due in September. The song is produced by Danja & was written by Keri Hilson's team The Clutch, which is cool. However, Cassie may be trying to gain a 'most improved' title this time around, but unfortunately, I'm just not buying it. For me, the song makes it all-the-more obvious how little vocal range she has (especially with that Karina Pasian demo making the rounds...). I guess I can't hate her for trying, though. BTW, Diddy pimps Cassie for a while in the beginning in his usual manner, so you can skip that to get to the song.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Estelle Performs "American Boy" On The Friday Night Project
Estelle performed her #1 UK hit "American Boy" on the UK show The Friday Night Project recently. The band changed the music up a bit to create a really unique & interesting performance of the song. Estelle is set to release her album Shine in America on April 29th.
Monica Album Update + Alter Ego Shot
Check out Monica's awesome alter-ego shot above from Derek Blanks' upcoming book that will also include photos of Ciara & Amerie (as previously featured), among others. Monica, who became a mom for the second time back in January, is planning on releasing her fifth album Lessons Learned in August. A single that has yet to be determined is set to drop in July. On the new material, Monica has worked with Bryan-Michael Cox, is about to work with Babyface, & hopes to work soon with Polow Da Don, R. Kelly, & Ne-Yo, all as producers. She hopes to include 12-14 tracks on the new album, which she is looking forward to touring with. I am really looking forward myself to new Monica music, & I'm sure her fans are glad to see a longer album this time around, as opposed to her last set, the 10-track The Makings Of Me. I didn't love her last album, but I still believe Monica can bring it.[Source, Source]
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Ryan Cabrera "The Moon Under Water" Cover
Ryan Cabrera is set to release his third (& first independent) album The Moon Under Water on May 13th. The album will feature first single "Say." Above is the cover for the project which, despite being creative, doesn't feature his face, which could cause a problem sales-wise, as few people probably know him by just his name. Still, I'm really looking forward to the CD because he is an awesome singer & it is sounding promising.[Source]
Ashlee Simpson "Bittersweet World" Tracklisting
The newly engaged Ashlee Simpson's third album Bittersweet World is due out April 22nd. Here's the set's tracklisting:1. Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
2. Boys
3. Rule Breaker
4. No Time For Tears
5. Little Miss Obsessive (ft. Tom Higgenson)
6. Ragdoll
7. Bittersweet World
8. What I've Become
9. Hot Stuff
10. Murder (ft. Izza Kizza)
11. Never Dream Alone
You can listen to 30-second clips of the entire album HERE. After doing so myself, I am feeling very optimistic about the project. I love Ashlee's first two albums & I've been very supportive of her. I wanted to like her new stuff, & I did for the most part, but I was never completely sure about the whole picture. Hearing these snippets encouraged me though & I'll definitely be picking up the project when it drops on the 22nd.
Not sure what Ashlee's been up to? Check out her Yahoo! Webisode series Being: Ashlee Simpson HERE.
[Source, Source]
Weekend Flashback Performance: Mariah Carey At The 2006 Grammys
In anticipation of the release of Mariah's new album E=MC², I thought it only right to share a shining moment from her Mimi era. To cap off having the best-selling record of 2005, Mariah was nominated for a leading 8 Grammy awards. The night of the ceremony, Mariah Carey showed why she deserved each & every one of them. She performed a medley of her songs "We Belong Together" & "Fly Like A Bird," while taking us all to church on the latter & displaying her amazing talent once again. You have to admit: we all love us some MC.
Leona Lewis On Jimmy Kimmel
Interview
"Bleeding Love"/"Better In Time" Performances
Leona continued her promotion Friday with an appearance & performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! It's funny how everyone is asking her about the $5 million house rumor. I enjoyed the interview & the performances were cool. Leona's debut album Spirit is out now.
Jennifer Hudson, Fergie Contribute To "Sex And The City" Soundtrack
Jennifer Hudson, who actually has a part in the film, & Fergie will be featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming movie version of Sex & The City. Jennifer will lend her vocals to a song called "All Dressed Up In Love," while Fergie's track is titled "Labels & Love." The latter will be the film's opening number & will incorporate the Sex & The City TV show's theme song. I'm very excited to hear new music from the both of them, but especially Jennifer. I really hope this is only the beginning of new material from her this year.[Source, Source]
*UPDATED* Mariah's Soundcheck Interview + Reminder
Wal-Mart's Soundcheck recently interviewed Mariah Carey on her upcoming album E=MC², which drops Tuesday. Mariah gives some details about a few tracks specifically, among other things. Another good watch.
Reminder: In case you've forgotten, here's Mariah's promo schedule for the upcoming week:
- Monday, April 14th - Oprah (Syndicated)
- Tuesday, April 15th - American Idol (FOX)
- Wednesday, April 16th - MC²: The Relativity of Mariah (BET)
- Wednesday, April 16th - American Idol (FOX)
UPDATE: Here's some more! Props to Mariah Daily Journal:
- Friday, April 25th - Good Morning America (ABC)
- Friday, April 25th - Live With Regis And Kelly (Syndicated)
- Friday-Sunday, April 25th-27th - Empire State Building Lights Up For E=MC²
- Saturday, April 26th - VSPOT Top 20 Video Countdown (VH1)
Alicia Keys "Blender" Magazine Cover
Alicia Keys is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Blender. She looks great! The "No One" singer's interview for the article is apparently pretty controversial, so you can read about that & see a few more shots from the inside HERE.
Leona Lewis On Ellen
Interview
"Bleeding Love" Performance
Love Ellen. The interview is pretty entertaining & the performance is as good as always. Leona's debut album Spirit is out now.
Mariah Discusses "E=MC²" Track-By-Track
Mariah Carey recently sat down & gave a track-by-track analysis of her new album E=MC², which comes out (in 3 days!) on April 15th. It's a really interesting video to watch to really see how Mariah created her new CD. I was sad that she left out "Migrate" & "I Stay In Love" (especially), but MC gives some cool commentary on the rest of the album's tracks.
Friday, April 11, 2008
JoJo Album Update
To follow up her hot sophomore album The High Road, JoJo will release her third album entitled All I Want Is Everything towards the end of the year. In a recent interview, JoJo confirmed that she is working with some big names such as Polow Da Don, Toomp, Timbaland, & Tank. Wow! It appears that her wonderful talent for R&B didn't go unnoticed by many within the industry like it did with the general public on her last go-'round. To those who don't know, Toomp produced Mariah's new track "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time," which is one of the many reasons to pick up E=MC². I can't wait to hear JoJo's new & most likely more mature material.[Source, Source]
Billboard Update
Mariah Carey makes herself comfortable atop the Billboard Hot 100 this week, as her single "Touch My Body" continues its reign for a second week. Also, Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" makes somewhat of a comeback this week, rising from #4 to #2. Mariah's E=MC² album is out next week, while Leona's Spirit album is out now. While George Strait tops the Billboard 200 album chart, Trina debuts at #6 with her latest project Still Da Baddest, her highest position on the chart to date. Congrats to all! To view the complete charts, click HERE.[Source]
Mariah Carey "Jet" Magazine Cover
Check out Mariah with her fly self on the cover of Jet magazine's latest issue. "Breaks Records While Staying True To Her Music" is right! Mariah's new album E=MC² is in stores on April 15th (only 4 days!!).[Source]
Idol Review: Top 8
On this week's results show, Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown sang her current hit single "No Air" together. It was a nice performance & it's cool to see "No Air" live, as I really like the song. They (Jordin especially) were getting into it ... but you could tell Chris was worried about getting in trouble with his RiRi. Hey Jordan, you don't need him ... I know of someone else ... Anyway, on to Idol: Michael kicked off the show, ultimately unfortunately for him, with a forgettable performance. Syesha gave yet another sorely underrated performance this week; sure they are going to compare her to Fantasia, but they are way too different to compare. Jason sang incredibly & Kristy did well (for her) ... David C. Blah. Carly wasn't at her best, but you can't deny the girl's got skillz! Brooke was rather pitiful. Anyway, check out David Archuleta's performance (the best of the week, naturally) below:
My Idol theory--As time goes by, the way the public is voting is getting stranger & stranger. Here's how it goes: 1) First? Sucks for you. Last? You're safe. If you go first, you'd better be amazing; last, it couldn't matter less. 2) America interprets the judges one of two ways: the contestant did good or bad. I'll come back to this in a minute... 3) Whatever Simon says, America goes with.
Now, sure, Simon (&, most of the time, the judges in general) knows what he's talking about. BUT. What he/they say(s) isn't always one way or the other. My point: All the judges said Syesha sang "I Believe" very well, but that it was hard for them not to compare her to Fantasia. Did they not like her? No. The judges told Kristy she sang the best ... for her. Now, does that mean that her best is anywhere near Syesha's worst? Not by a long shot. The judges are more critical of Syesha because she is so perfect vocally.
Here's my point: I realize that the order is going to affect voting, as is what Simon says (no pun intended). However, America should take the judges' comments into consideration while deciding for themselves how well each contestant did & voting by that criteria. We should vote for the contestants relative to their competitors, not relative to their own personal bests/worsts because they are all talented & all have ups & downs. This doesn't only apply for this week -- I mean, I'm happy with the result of the voting, but I know that Michael only went home because no one thought to vote for him because he'd never been in trouble before (basically). This way, the talent will prevail. As will the popular people ... but that's a rant for another day. Here's the Top 8 Ford Music Video:
Brandy Signs With Epic
After much speculation for several months now, it is now confirmed that Brandy has signed a new record deal with Epic Records. She left her previous label, Atlantic Records, nearly four years ago, following the release of her highly underrated album Afrodisiac. Brandy is expected to (finally) have a new album ready by the year's end. Now this is some of the most exciting news I've been able to post. I L.O.V.E. Brandy. So much. Her music is beyond incredible imo. Simply beautiful. In other words, I can't wait to hear her new material![Source, Source]
Leona Lewis Appearance Update
Check out Leona Lewis performing "Bleeding Love" earlier this week on Live With Regis & Kelly above. The UK diva is all set to debut at #1 on the charts next week with her debut album Spirit here in the US with sales nearing 200,000 copies (based on first-day sales). Incredible! This, of course, follows in the footsteps of her first single [above], which hit #1 on the Hot 100 a couple weeks ago, leading to a rumor that Simon Cowell bought Leona a $5 million dollar home here in America; she says the rumor is false, however, in the video above. Also, it has been announced that Leona will, in fact, perform on American Idol on April 23rd, as well as Dancing With The Stars on May 13th. This is one label that is serious about their new artist, as they should be. Leona's success has been amazing thus far.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Ciara Album Update
Ciara recently played several tracks off her upcoming third album, now entitled Fantasy Ride, for the press. One of them was the album's first single "High Price," which features her "Oh" collaborator Ludacris. It sounds like Ciara is going for her signature musical style again this time around, which is fine with me as long as it sounds similar to (or even better than) her Evolution sound. The CD is set to drop sometime in the third quarter.[Source, Source]
Mya On Secret Talents Of The Stars
Earlier this week, CBS premiered a new show called Secret Talents Of The Stars. On it, Mya strutted her stuff as a tap dancer, a passion she's had since childhood. She did a great job & it was interesting to see. Regardless of how the vote went, however, the show was cancelled after a sole airing due to uber-crappy ratings. At least we have YouTube!
[Source]
Gwen Stefani To Collaborate With Husband
As her husband Gavin Rossdale prepares for his solo debut album Wanderlust (due June 3rd), Gwen Stefani is set to appear on the CD. Gwen will lend her vocals to the track "Some Days." No news on whether or not the song will be a single yet. I've never really listened to Gavin, as he has been a frontman for bands before now, but he sure can pick the ladies. It'll be cool to hear Gwen solo again on a track that will probably have a different sound for her.[Source, Source]
The Caffeine Patch: Massive Pixar Update!
Pixar recently announced their release schedule through the year 2012, which will include some previously unannounced projects. Also, starting in 2009, with May 29th's "Up," Pixar will release all of their films in Disney Digital 3D. The previously unannounced films include "Newt," which is set for release in the summer of 2011, followed by "The Bear & The Bow," which is due out Christmas 2011, & "Cars 2" (Pixar's first non-"Toy Story" sequel), Pixar's summer 2012 release. Hey, this may be a long time away, but it's not like you didn't wanna know. Here's Pixar's full release schedule from 2008 through 2012:- June 27th, 2008 -- WALL-E
- May 29th, 2009 -- Up
- October 2nd, 2009 -- Toy Story in 3-D
- February 12th, 2010 -- Toy Story 2 in 3-D
- June 18th, 2010 -- Toy Story 3
- Summer 2011 -- Newt
- Christmas 2011 -- The Bear & The Bow
- Summer 2012 -- Cars 2
Too. Frikkin'. Cool. & as if that wasn't enough, check out their logos below:
[Source]
Mario On Dancing With The Stars: Week 4
Mario did a bit better than last week with the Paso Doble dance on Dancing With The Stars this week.
Idol Gives Back Performances
Mariah Carey - Fly Like A Bird
Fergie - Finally
Fergie & Heart - Barracuda
Idol Gives Back was a pretty good show this year. Mariah was on-point singing "Fly Like A Bird" from her Mimi album. She will mentor next week on Idol. Fergie's segment was good as well -- she impressed me with her vocals on "Finally" (on which John Legend played the piano for her), while she flowed well on "Barracuda" (a song she remade herself for "Shrek The Third") with Heart.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
New Music Tuesday: Leona Lewis "Spirit" CD
^Click To Purchase^Nelly ft. Fergie "Party People" Video Premiere
"Party People," featuring Fergie, is Nelly's first official single, following an attempt late last year to revamp his music career that tanked. I am feeling the song more & more each time I hear it, & the video definitely helps that; it has just the right feel to it for the song. Fergie seems like gold for anyone who puts her on their track, which is awesome (sure do wish another group-member-gone-solo could have the same success ... Nicole Scherzinger). Look out for cameos by Polow Da Don & Keri Hilson (towards the end).
Ashanti "Sister 2 Sister" Magazine Cover
Check out Ashanti on the cover of Sister 2 Sister magazine with her mother & sister. It's a nice shot & probably an interesting story, considering what the cover says. Ashanti's new album The Declaration drops June 3rd.New Beyonce "House Of Dereon" Ad
Check out this new ad for Beyonce's mother Tina's clothing line "House Of Dereon." I love the shot; it's really hot & Bee's showing off her attitude!
Usher "Here I Stand" Update
While visiting TRL yesterday to premiere his "Love In This Club" video, Usher gave an interesting little tidbit of information regarding his upcoming album Here I Stand, due out May 27th. Apparently, the disc will feature both Mr. & Mrs. Carter, better known as Jay-Z & Beyonce. As some may recall, Usher & Beyonce have been doing each other favors here & there for a while, with him appearing in her "Naughty Girl" video & her showing up to his "Truth Tour" DVD recording during the song "Bad Girl." So, the two of them on one track will definitely be fire. Ush is bringin' it![Source, Source]
Monday, April 7, 2008
Kelly Rowland "Comeback" Video Premiere
Finally, the full video has premiered for Kelly Rowland's song "Comeback" off her Ms. Kelly album. Good timing too, as it just might increase interest in Kelly's recent digital release. I have no clue if this signifies a single release for the track, however the video is beyond hot. Kelly looks *fierce* in every look & the vid has a really cool/edgy feel to it.
Usher ft. Young Jeezy "Love In This Club" Video Premiere
"Love In This Club," featuring Young Jeezy, is the first single taken from Usher's upcoming 5th studio album Here I Stand, which is due May 27th. The video, which features Keri Hilson as Ush's love interest, is terrific. It proved to be much more than the second coming of "Yeah!" with its very intriguing concept. I felt like there was a perfect blend of Usher's signature moves with the rest of the video, as the song isn't particularly one to dance to. Keri looked fly & Usher definitely has another hit on his hands with the already #1 track. It is due to this fact that the album was, in fact, pushed up from a June release, which is a move I completely support -- especially because that means new Usher music sooner!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Tiffany Evans' Self-Titled Debut Album Cover
Tiffany Evans, the amazing young singer & past winner of Star Search (who has gotten media coverage recently, as her then-competitor David Archuleta is now on American Idol), will finally release her self-titled debut album on April 22nd. The album features singles "Promise Ring," featuring Ciara, & "I'm Grown," featuring Bow Wow. The material this girl has been putting out is fire, so I can't wait for her album to drop. The cover is a nice shot, too. [Source]
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Weekend Flashback Performance: Beyonce At The 2006 BET Awards
In preparation for the release of her sophomore solo effort B'Day, Beyonce opened The 2006 BET Awards with an unforgettable performance of her lead single "Deja Vu," which features now-husband Jay-Z. Not only one of my personal favorite Bee performances, I just love the setup of the whole thing. This was actually the night Beyonce debuted her all-girl band for the world to see. B'Day, imo, is an amazing & wonderfully innovative album, & this was a great way to start getting the world pumped up & ready for it to drop. Also, congratulations to the newlyweds!
The Caffeine Patch: The Ice Age 3 Teaser Trailer
Here it is! Scrat in all his glory. For the third time, the furry, squirrel-like creature that we can't resist from the Ice Age movies stars in the official teaser trailer for "Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs." At first only available attached to "Horton," the trailer has made its way to the web. This one, I must say, is particularly hilarious. The film is set to hit theaters (in 3D!) on July 1st, 2009.
Mariah Carey Hosts The Friday Night Project
Mariah Carey guest hosted The Friday Night Project in London, which is their SNL from what I pick up, except for the Saturday part & with a bit more explicit-ness. The show is in 5 parts, 1 & 5 being posted here (2-4 are just a click away!), & 5 including a performance of "Touch My Body." The show is funny & definitely worth a watch, though do be warned about a possible British humor overload! Notably, part 3 is ... kinda cruel, but still pretty hilarious.
Mary J. Blige And Jay-Z Perform "Can't Knock The Hustle" On Letterman
Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z, currently touring together on their Heart Of The City tour, stopped by the Late Show With David Letterman & performed a duet of "Can't Knock The Hustle." The episode, which aired last night, was obviously taped earlier this week, as Jay-Z was a little busy last night getting married. While I'm not sure of the origin of the song (it may be an older record of probably Jay-Z's, if I'm not mistaken), the performance was good. What I wanna know is where Mary's 2nd single is. She was supposed to put out "Hurt Again" three months ago now, I believe. Growing Pains is a great album & has been performing, if I remember correctly, fairly consistently, but she really needs to get another record off the album out for anyone to continue to care.
C-Side ft. Keyshia Cole "Boyfriend/Girlfriend" Video Premiere
Here's the video for "Boyfriend/Girlfriend," the new single from C-Side that features Keyshia Cole. Of course I watched this because of Keyshia. I hadn't actually heard the song before (kept putting it off ... for no reason), so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the hook. The best part is later in the video when Keyshia gets her own verse, at which point the song basically becomes hers. Keyshia sounded really good, & is looking better & better each time I see her.
Leona Lewis Performs "Bleeding Love" And "Better In Time" On GMA
"Bleeding Love"
"Better In Time" + Short Interview
Leona Lewis appeared & performed on Good Morning America (take that, UK! I kid.) on Friday. Leona sang her #1 hit single, now in the US, "Bleeding Love," followed by a short interview & a performance of her 2nd UK single "Better In Time." She did a wonderful job, but I just wonder why she never sings all of "Bleeding Love." I'm also curious as to why she performed "Better In Time." The selection will probably confuse some new American fans if/when Leona doesn't release it as her 2nd single here; it would have been nice to hear sing one of the new songs. At the same time, I can see how she may not have been ready to perform either of those yet, so it is cool that we did get the two songs.
Mariah Performs "Bye Bye," More On 4Music
"Bye Bye"
"I'm That Chick"
"Touch My Body"
Mariah's promotion for E=MC² in the UK continued when she appeared on T4's 4Music show. She was the featured artist of the episode, so she had a lot of performance offerings for us. We were able to hear all of "Bye Bye," Mariah's 2nd single, for the first time; what an amazing song. Mariah also performed "I'm That Chick" again, which is one of the tracks I'm feeling the most so far. And of course, another performance of Mariah's current #1 single "Touch My Body" was included. There have been better promotions in the last couple of days in the UK from Mariah than in the states, but, with Oprah & Idol coming up (just to name a few), I'm sure we will get our fair share as the release date creeps closer -- only 10 days! In related news, Mariah has reportedly shot the video for "Bye Bye" with Nick Cannon, but it is not finished yet. Umm... ok.
[Source]
Beyonce And Jay-Z Are Married
Following week-long speculation, Beyonce and Jay-Z have gotten married. It all started when the longtime couple got a marriage license Tuesday. Then, on Friday, April 4th (4/4), the two exchanged vows atop a Tribeca building in New York City in which Jay-Z owns a penthouse apartment. Guests of the intimate ceremony included Beyonce's mom & dad Tina & Mathew, her sister Solange, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, & the couple's friend Gwyneth Paltrow. Beyonce & Jay-Z have been dating since 2002. I'm glad they finally took that step. Good for them. (Hopefully Jay-Z was happier last night than he appears to be in this photo.)[Source]
Ciara And Kelly Rowland Perform For Choice FM's 18th Birthday
Ciara performed "Goodies" & "Like A Boy" for the UK radio station Choice FM's 18th Birthday Celebration. There's no doubt that the girl can perform, but I just wish she would sing more.
Also, Kelly Rowland performed her top 10 UK hits "Like This" & "Work (Freemasons Remix)." (Their takeover of the R&B industry continues...) Kelly did a great job & sang really well. I forgot how much I love "Like This" -- that song is my jam! The "Work" performance cuts off before its over, so I'm sorry about that. Just a sidenote on the song: I never really felt that the remixed version of it quite fit, but I am more convinced each time I hear it.
Friday, April 4, 2008
*UPDATED* Mariah Carey Performs "Touch My Body" On The Paul O'Grady Show + Interview
Mariah is busy promoting in the UK at the moment & she recently performed her 18th #1 single "Touch My Body" on The Paul O'Grady Show there. What a day it's been for them! This is probably her best performance of the song so far (at least vocally). I did notice, however, a little case of Leona Lewis back-ups. Her "stone groove smash hit wonder" of a new album, E=MC², will be released on April 15th -- only 11 days!
UPDATE: Mariah also did an interview on the show! MC always has some of the most interesting interviews. Check it out below:
Kelly Rowland "Ms. Kelly Deluxe" (UK) Cover
I just had to post the cover of the UK version of Kelly Rowland's re-release of her sophomore album entitled Ms. Kelly Deluxe. The Freemasons remix of her song "Work" has really taken off over there, so they are getting a full-length, physical re-release. The cover is sooo hot & definitely better than what the US got. I'm jealous. The CD drops Monday, May 12th in the UK.[Source]
Avril Lavigne "The Best Damn Thing" Video Premiere
"The Best Damn Thing" is Avril Lavigne's fourth single off her 2007 album of the same name. I quite enjoyed the video. Avril has really brought it this time around visually imo. The song isn't my favorite on the album [see: "Runaway"], but hopefully it will catch on (literally) enough with people to rekindle, to some extent, interest in her album. Heck, it made me pull it back out!
Kelly Clarkson Comments On Leaked Demos
Recently, four unfinished tracks from Kelly Clarkson hit the net & she isn't exactly pleased about the situation. The tracks are "Close Your Eyes," "Ready," "One Day," & "With A Little Bit Of Luck." Clarkson said:"I write all the time -- lots of stuff not meant to ever be released, just working on ideas. The fact that people have heard music that's not ready yet sucks, but I hope they like it."
The new demos show that she may be headed in a new musical direction. With her "folksy arrangements," Clarkson could be continuing her dabbling in country music with her new project. As far as the folk influence goes, I'm all for it; it sounds really good. I think the final versions of some of the songs she is working on are going to be the perfect medium of what shined on her Breakaway album & the direction she sees for herself [see: My December]. I do wish, however, that she would stay away from country music because we have enough country-influenced Idol alumni & plenty of crossover artists right now.
[Source, Source]
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