Idol Review: Top 9

Above is David Archuleta's performance (the week's best ... as if you needed to be told) during Dolly Parton's week as mentor. The other contestants: Brooke continued her downward slide for me, as I didn't like this either. David C. = crap. Ramiele ... had it coming (finally). Jason was better this week; I hadn't given up hope yet & he gained a few points in my book with that. Carly was brilliant & should be the next Kelly Clarkson. (Should be.) Kristy was middle-of-the-road. ... Then, the last two. Syesha & Michael. Who did the judges prefer? No brainer -- the latter. But what I can't understand is how his painful vocals are just so daggum amazing. Pure + Beautiful x Flawless = Syesha. How they don't get that I will never get. At least America got it right this week! Anyway, check out the Top 9 Ford Music Video below:

Mario On Dancing With The Stars: Week 3

Check out Mario's tango from week three of Dancing With The Stars. Though I'm no expert on dancing, I didn't see all the problems, but I did see where they might have been. Anyway, the judges didn't love him, but he's still in! I hope he is able to do well & then for his music career to rebound so we can see more (musically) from him. If you catch DWTS, be sure to take a second & vote for Mario!

Preview Mariah's "E=MC²"

Amazon.com has posted 30-second clips of all 14 tracks on Mariah Carey's new album E=MC², which is set to be released (just in case you didn't already know...) April 15th. This is our first listen to most of the new material & it's HQ, studio, everything! If the snippets are any indication, E=MC² just might be too hot for its own good. If I had to choose some of the hottest tracks, I would have to go with "I'm That Chick," "Love Story," & "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time." (What can I say ... the middle is a hot section!) To listen (you know you wanna), click HERE. The best part of the new album, imo, has to be what seems to be the perfect combination of the best of old Mariah mixed with new Mariah, which is the freshest music I've heard ... ya. I love me some MC if you couldn't tell...

Ciara And Amerie Alter-Ego Shots

Famous photographer Derek Blanks will be publishing a book featuring photos of stars & their alter-egos. Here are a couple of the shots, those of Ciara & Amerie. The pictures are really cool & look great.

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Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake And Timbaland "4 Minutes" Video Premiere

"4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland, is the first single off Madonna's upcoming album Hard Candy, out April 29th. I have liked probably one or two songs by her ever, so this joins quite an elite group. Here's the catch: the reason I like the song has nothing to do with her. I have to give props to Toya, one of my affiliates, because she got it right on the money the way I feel about this song: even though I more or less despise Justin Timberlake, he is the only reason, next to Timbo's beat, that I like this song. Who knows why it works out that way, but needless to say I have a love/hate relationship with this song. As far as the video is concerned, it's really weird. Madonna looks 10-times more airbrushed than any Mariah pic throughout the whole thing also. The Madge/JT thing is just creepy. Though I definitely feel it is overrated, I don't hate it. At least she was slightly more original with the video than she was with the song. Note: I love the similarities to Britney's "Piece Of Me" video. Ha.

Ashanti "The Declaration" Update

As the release date for Ashanti's forthcoming album The Declaration, her fourth, draws nearer, details have emerged regarding its contents. Ashanti has announced some of the producers she has worked with, which include Pharrell Williams, Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, & Robin Thicke. She says of the album:

"[The Declaration] touches on those low points in life that determine whether you're strong enough to go on. It reminds women that they can't let things get the best of them."

Confirmed song titles that are expected to be included on the project are "Mother" & "Click," which is "a relationship record done from a female point of view," says Ashanti. (I couldn't have imagined.) On any note, I can't judge until I hear the new music, but I am anticipating the album. The Declaration is set to drop on June 3rd.

It should be noted that Ashanti is working on a lifestyle book for teens entitled "Ashanti Style," but there is no release date as of yet.

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Billboard Update: Mariah's Record-Breaking 18th #1!

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart

This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

This week's album news is exciting for Bad Boy's new group Day26, who overtake their fellow Making The Band-ers Danity Kane at #1 with their self-titled debut album, selling 190,000 copies in the first week. I, for one, am happy for them (I contributed to the above number!), as they are great singers & a wonderful new edition (no pun intended...) to the R&B genre. Day26 broke their own share of records as the first male group to debut at #1 in seven years & the highest bow for a group's debut album since ... you guessed it, Danity Kane, back in 2006. However, this week's single news is the headline-maker & the news that us Mariah fans have been dying to hear: Mariah Carey has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 18th time with the lead single, "Touch My Body," from her upcoming album E=MC² (due April 15th -- only 12 days!) in its seventh week on the chart, allowing her to pass Elvis Presley & become the (sole) artist with the second-most #1 singles of the rock era. Though she is still shy of The Beatles by two #1s, Mariah has the most #1s by a solo artist. She also set a new record for first-week digital single sales, with 286,000 for "Touch My Body," besting the 277,000 for Rihanna's "Umbrella" last year. This week's top 5 singles on the Hot 100 chart are pretty incredible, so check out a list of them below, as well as a few more Mariah tidbits:

1 - Mariah Carey "Touch My Body"

2 - Usher ft. Young Jeezy "Love In This Club"

3 - Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland "4 Minutes"

4 - Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love"

5 - Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown "No Air" (its peak!)

Additional Mariah Facts:

• Mariah, with 78 cumulative weeks atop the Hot 100, is only two weeks shy of Elvis Presley for the all-time record!
• Mariah (with 18) is only behind Paul McCartney (with 32) & John Lennon (with 26) for most #1 hits by a songwriter!
• "Touch My Body" bests Mariah's previous first-week single sales record (for "Heartbreaker") by 15,000 copies!
• Mariah has become the first woman & only the third artist of the Soundscan era to reach 50 million in record sales!

[Source, Source, Source, Source]

New Mariah Promo Pics + Thanks!

Here are four of the hottest promotional photos I think I've ever seen. Mariah can do no wrong this time around. End of sentence. Also, just had to say thanks for all the support! I've never had a blog like this before, & to get so much support in such a short time is so awesome, so thanks, everybody!

Michelle Williams "Unexpected" Update

Michelle Williams' third album Unexpected is now due August 12th. Her first try at going mainstream solo has gone over well with most following the premiere earlier this week of her first single "We Break The Dawn." Check out the album's tracklisting below:

1. Unexpected Intro

2. Hello Heartbreak

3. We Break The Dawn

4. Lucky Girl

5. The Greatest

6. Til’ The End

7. Private Party

8. Hungover

9. Stop This Car

10. Unexpected

11. Thank You

12. Too Young For Love

Sure, so they need to see how the song will do at radio & they still have to shoot the video, but why is Michelle all over the internet with news left & right when the album doesn't drop for over four months yet? Do they think buzz is gonna continually build up leading up to & throughout the summer months for the album's release? They tried a similar tactic between the premiere of "Like This" & the release of Ms. Kelly with Kelly Rowland, & we all know how that one turned out. I don't wanna wait so long for the album, but hopefully it will be worth the wait.

[Source, Source]

New Ashanti Promo Pics

Check out these two steaming hot promotional pictures of Ashanti for her upcoming fourth album The Declaration, due June 3rd. She grew a lot of hair fast ... & then lost it! I kid. She does look amazing, though.

[Source]

Usher "Love In This Club" Video Preview

video.vh1.com

Here is a 30-second preview of Usher's new video "Love In This Club," which features Young Jeezy. The video, as can be seen, features Keri Hilson as the leading lady as well as cameos by Diddy & Kanye West. "Club" is the first single off Usher's upcoming album Here I Stand, now due May 27th. This video definitely looks like it will have that "Yeah" vibe, but I do believe it will increase my interest in the song exponentially. Go 'head, Miss Keri! Look out for the full-length video, premiering Monday, April 7th.

[Source]

Blaque Reality Show Preview

Blaque, the R&B girl trio founded by the late Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, have reunited for a new reality show to be called "Blaque In The House." Here is a preview of the show that will feature what they are up to as well as the recording of their new album. I really liked them when they hit &, although most of their material past their debut self-titled album was never released, they were turning into a really solid group, but they never seemed to really catch on. Hopefully, with new mentor T-Boz, they can show the world what they are made of.

Mariah Carey ft. T-Pain "Migrate" Song Premiere

Chicago's B96 radio station premiered Mariah Carey's highly anticipated new joint with T-Pain entitled "Migrate" earlier today. It was ripped & posted on YouTube for the rest of us to hear! The song is bangin'! I love how Mariah uses the vocoder--as if to simply add to her flawless vocals that obviously don't need it. "Migrate" shows a whole new experimental side of Mariah that definitely works.

PS--I don't do April Fools' Day. Sorry, folks ... but not really because that just means that my site is that much more trustworthy & reliable!

*UPDATED* The Caffeine Patch: New Movie Tuesday

^Click to purchase^

Fresh off its win for Favorite Movie at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards this past weekend, "Alvin & The Chipmunks" drops today, April 1st (April Fools' Day), on DVD ... no joke! Pictured above is Wal-Mart's exclusive 2-pack of the movie & a sampler of its soundtrack. The songs in the film are awesome, so I would definitely recommend the set to anyone who doesn't already own the soundtrack album! I just had to feature the cute picture, though, of the three chipmunks that are taking over the world! The movie is great fun, so go pick it up! Also, check out this music video for the group's hit song "Witch Doctor":

UPDATE: "Alvin & The Chipmunks" is the #1 DVD (& Blu-ray, for that matter) in the country!

Mariah Carey Records "Bye Bye" And "Migrate"

"Bye Bye"

"Migrate"

Too exciting! Here are our first listens to both Mariah's second single "Bye Bye" & her new song "Migrate" in the studio. The videos, while not wonderful quality, are similar to that of the previously posted "Love Story." Everything I've heard now from the studio that will be featured on E=MC² (April 15th!) is FIRE. I can't wait for Mariah to release "Bye Bye" to radio. I really feel like Mimi is doing her thing this time around & being true to herself, which always brings out her best music. Only 15 days!