Whoever said that reality TV stars and alums can’t make it big in the real world should really start eating their words now. But in the case of American Idol alums Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry, was there ever really any doubt?
The two singers won big at the 2007 American Music Awards by picking up three awards each. Carrie won for Favorite Female Country Artist, Favorite Country Album for ‘Some Hearts’ and the Audience Text-in Award for Favorite Artist just days after winning big at the Country Music Association Awards. Chris Daughtry and his band took home Breakthrough Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Contemporary Artist.
Leona Lewis’ debut record ‘Spirit’ officially took the #1 spot in the UK albums’ chart this week and it broke records on the way there. Her album because the UK’s fastest-selling debut of all time selling an amazing 375,872 copies!
Leona was up against the Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin and Celine Dion. She actually beat the #2 Spice Girls by over 300,000 copies. Wow! Leona’s current single ‘Bleeding Love’ is #1 on the singles’ chart for the fourth consecutive week, seeling a total of 563,702 copies.
Leona’s album ‘Spirit’ is now scheduled for release in the US on March 18th.
There is another military man attempting to reach heights in the world of music, and he is Beautiful. Jay Picton is a physical trainer in the Navy, sporting rugged good looks and a promising music career. His single, Unexplainable Reason, has already topped an independent online chart, and he has hopes it will breakthrough to the regular pop charts in the not too distant future.
He claims to have hit the music business by accident. After a knee injury put him on sick leave he began to learn the guitar and write his own songs. Meeting his girlfriend then gave him the opportunity he needed; introducing him to Clyde Ward of Worldwide Productions. Clyde has worked with many great acts including Lionel Richie; whom our budding star has now recorded 3 songs with.
Yes girls, he does have a girlfriend (sigh); but just look at that picture. Isn’t he gorge? Keep those ears peeled for Jay Picton on your radio; if his voice matches his looks he is definitely on for a winner.
Pop wreck Britney Spears has become so unreliable that her video shoot for ‘Piece of Me’ has been canceled. The video production team had already prepared for a no-show by Britney and hired a stand in during rehearsals–and possibly for the actual shoot itself. yeah I don’t believe her camp neither…especially since they gave 100 excuses why she failed the drug test and none of them could be the closest to the truth. We all know that Britney is not working these days all she is involved in is her custody case and that’s on top of her agenda right now. Whether she manages to win the custody or part custody or visiting rights does not matter at all. She has been reported to driving with the kids time and again and breaking rules at will. SO if she cancels a video shoot is not at all a surprise to me. When she will be able to come out this wreck situation is not one that we all can sit and predict. Her album is doing well but she not.
Did someone forget to pay the electric bill or did R&B singer Brandy actually do her best impression of Ashlee Simpson on Sunday?
The singer was a performer at the annual Sensationell Hair Idol competition in Washington DC. Her performance quickly turned chaotic when both music and lyrics got abruptly cut off in the middle of her performance of ‘Who is He to You?’ Her rep came to her defense though saying that she “absolutely wasn’t lip-syncing” and “she was singing live.”
After inviting her daughter and her brother Ray J on stage, Brandy sand an a cappella version of ‘Almost Doesn’t Count’ and ‘Full Moon’.
Kelly Clarkson arrived at the 9th annual Motorola anniversary party in Los Angeles on Thursday. The American Idol alum was there not as a simple guest but a performer. She performed a 12-song set which included some of her more loveable hits, namely ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Since U Been Gone’.Her performance also included some of her newer songs, which by the way, cannot be classified as hits. But honestly, I’d rather not talk about it. It honestly pains me.
But for those that still choose to believe in her, look out for her on Monday night when she performs at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
The opening chords made their entrance and struck a chord with me. Like a sexy stranger in a hot fiery club he entered, opening to a spectacular of lights and sexual freedom. I don’t know what it is exactly that strikes you, is it the accent, the hype…for me no. The man oozes sex, that’s it. In a very free and honest way, you can feel what his energy is trying to give. For me, that is the kind of honesty I like in an artist. It felt like Enrique the man was on stage without the preconceptions of old.
The first song was Ring My Bells from his second album Insomniac released in June. It is a bit of a move on for Enrique, it’s a stronger beat than he’s used to and pulled me into what he could be. It stopped my judgment immediately; he truly is a raw honest persona. We are then graced with the bracing salsa beat of Love to See You Cry, a favorite staple in the artist’s workbook. This turned into the winter warmer that is Bailamos…even I liked that one in my un-Enrique days, its classic Spanish good!
A very good night was had by all, the girlies, the couples and the boys. And me, I feel a little energised by the experience and feel like I just want to go and live a life of hot and sweaty freedom in South America for a couple years with the love of my life and just enjoy every second and surrounding I’m in. I vow never to judge too quickly and broadly again…well maybe that’s just the glitter talking.
The Country Music Association’s awards ceremony took place earlier this week. And apart from looking good throughout the whole night as well as bringing the house down with her performance of her hit single ‘So Small’, Carrie Underwood also took home several awards.
The American Idol alum picked up her first single of the year award for the song ‘Before He Cheats’. She also took home the female vocalist of the year award for the second year in a row.
She’s definitely on a roll. She garnered the top spot on the albums’ chart when her CD debuted and now she’s won two CMA awards. Congratulations Carrie!
Tori Amos recently had a concert in Chicago this week and everyone that left the concert could only talk about one thing: her performance of the song ‘Me and a Gun’. It’s the seminal song off her debut album that talks about rape.
Tori dressed up as her ‘Pip’ character and performed the usually acapella song with her full band. At the end of the song, she even brought out some props in the form of a gun and a knife. That’s some heavy stuff right there.
On a lighter note, the singer debuted the song ‘Raspberry Swirl’ for the first time on her current tour. It’s the first time she performed that song in years.
Singers need more than the spotlight though, and even ones who have sold over 200 million albums still want to feel like they have something to offer. So she’s left the lights of Vegas behind, stepped back into the real world and in fairness to her, brought along a clutch of songs that actually may change a few people’s opinion.
Amongst the list of luminaries who twiddle a knob, knock out a lyric or strum a guitar for her are the all-conquering Timbaland, king of R’n’B balladry R Kelly, ex-Evanescence axe wielder Ben Moody, Christina Aguilera and Pink co-writer Linda Perry… and the always entertaining Dave Stewart, whose influence stretches so far that there’s even a lyrical snip of The Eurythemics’ “Here Comes The Rain Again” woven into the title track.
The highlights are two very different songs. In the power ballad corner, she shows off her larynx with a belting take on Heart’s endless queen of soft rock, “Alone”. Up against it for the title is the more contemporary “Shadow Of Love”, a song with enough disco and fun for Kylie to sing it.
Taking Chances doesn’t quite do what the title suggests, but it does push Celine Dion to the edge of her comfort zone and show an artist who not only wants to remain relevant but is prepared to work hard to stay that way.
British pop singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield made a huge splash as a new artist in late 2005 and early 2006. Her first two singles, “These Words” and “Unwritten” crackled with energy and wit that seemed to signal a unique pop talent was emerging. However, following up such an auspicious beginning has been a difficult task for Bedingfield. “I Wanna Have Your Babies,” the first single from her second album N.B., peaked at a relatively disappointing #7 in the UK in the spring of 2007 causing Epic Records to delay release of a single in the US. 6 months later “Love Like This” is being promoted as the first American single from the album.
Where Natasha Bedingfield’s first hits inspired with their words of self-awareness and personal encouragement, “Love Like This” is a somewhat dull, breezy, simplistic dissertation on romance between long-term friends. It would be very easy for this single to get lost amid more unique or challenging pop songs. Natasha Bedingfield sounds like just another pop singer here. Uniqueness and the ability to stand out are lacking.
In a clear effort to give the song a pop boost, Sean Kingston is brought in for a brief featured part. This vocal serves no purpose other than providing an extra element for the single’s marketing campaign. Natasha Bedingfield needs to step up her game if she will avoid losing a significant part of her initial pop audience.
We’ve heard from the two Mels otherwise known as Sporty and Scary Spice, now it’s time to hear from Emma otherwise known as Baby Spice. Emma is the latest Spice Girl to blog on their official website.
In her entry, she talked about finally being in LA, how her son Beau was and the mad rush of paparazzi that greeted her when she arrived. She also talked about her excitement over the rehearsals and the tour itself. She even gushed about the merchandise they were going to put out which even includes some baby bits that she wants to get for Beau.
Everyone predicted that Carrie Underwood’s CD would sell a lot and would go to the top of the charts but it actually did even better than any prediction made. ‘Carnival Ride’ is currently the #1 album in the US and has sold over 527,000 copies during its debut week. This is the American Idol alum’s first #1 album and also bested her previous effort ‘Some Hearts’ which sold 315,000 units in its first week.
Her record sales is also the best sales week for a female country artist since Shania Twain’s ‘Greatest Hits’ release back in November 2004. Carrie’s debut is also double what Kelly Clarkson’s ‘My December’ CD sold in its first week.
Jive Records is officially giving up on trying to get Britney Spears to promote her new album. They’re not even planning a tour despite her single “Gimme More” topping the charts. The label realizes that Britney doesn’t care and is apparently becoming fed up with her antics. Her label should understand that she is basically in turmoil right now and she is clearly unfit to be on tour right now. What if she goes on a tour promoting the album and during an interview she starts crying because there is some bad news that coming from her custody trail. Then the media and her record would be at logger heads, her record label would have to defend her because she is in a way representing them when on tour and that paparazzi as usual needless to say would be out there in their full numbers trying to blow up the story by saying she is mentally ill. Best that she doesn’t tour right now.
Mary J. Blige has just released a new video for her new single called ‘Just Fine’. The video is awesome and the song is a great jam. Mary J’s new single is a bit of a departure for the R&B diva. It’s up-tempo and is a feel-good anthem. She most definitely left the gut-wrenching and tortured emotions outside of the recording booth.
Different as the sound may be for all you die-hard fans of Mary J, she’s still the same diva. Except, instead of wanting to wallow in your tears while listening to her sing all her anguish out, she’ll make you want to sing that today is going to be a better day, today is going to be just fine.
Public image is vital to pop stars, but few stars have been so inextricably tied to their image as Britney Spears. Think back to “…Baby One More Time” — it has an indelible hook. Every one of Britney’s hits had an accompanying image, as she relied on her carefully sculpted sexpot-next-door persona as much as she did on her records, but what happens when the image turns sour, as it certainly did for Britney in the years following the release of In the Zone?
Emotionally, this isn’t a progression from In the Zone, but it is a cannily contemporary dance album, sounding nearly as fresh as Rihanna and JT, even if it’s hardly as trend-setting as either. Those producers turn Blackout into a sleek, shiny collection of 12 guiltily addictive dance tracks where the only weak link is Britney herself.
Blackout is state-of-the-art dance-pop, a testament to the skills of the producers and perhaps even Britney being somehow cognizant enough to realize she should hire the best, even if she’s not at her best.
The Spice Girls’ newest single ‘Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) was played simultaneously by radio station across the UK yesterday morning. After the 30-second snippet that they used to tease fans a few days ago, it’s nice to hear the whole thing.
The song was written by Matt Rowe, Richard ‘Biff’ Stannard, Ginger and Baby. The pop girl group also made the video for the new single last Friday at Pinewood Studios. ‘Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) will be available digitally in the UK on November 5 and physically on November 19. It’s only a matter of time now and the world will once again be Spice World.
Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman were spotted grabbing a late lunch at Magnolia restaurant on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood last Saturday. It is being reported that the lunch date at one of Christina’s favorite restaurants came at the heels of the singer shooting the music video for ‘Oh Mother’ from her third studio album ‘Back to Basics’.
Speaking of mother, her chic maternity clothes are doing all the announcing for her when it comes to being a mother. If there is justice in the world, let’s all hope that they’re actually having a girl. Don’t tell me you can’t imagine Christina slapping on the bright red lipstick and fake lashes on a baby girl.
Robyn may not have had a hit in years but that doesn’t take away from her talent. And I’m glad to say that she finally got the recognition she deserves.
She released her latest album on her own label and on her own terms. Now, all her hard work has paid off because she recently scored a deal with Interscope Records to release her amazing new album. Let’s all hope that it wouldn’t just be released in the UK but in the international market as well.
Congrats to Robyn!
If you can’t wait for the release, head on over to MySpace and listen to her tracks on her page.
Shakira already knows how to put out a hit record – but now she’s tackling an even bigger subject: the history of western civilization. Isn’t this piece of news something so different from what we all have being listening, viewing, reading for so many days now. News of the MTV VMAs where singers just boozed, parties, broke relations, fought with each other, gave bad performances bla bla bla. With so much happening isn’t it so cool of Shakira to sit down and learn something that’s worthy of a mention. While everyone else has been at the beach, the MTV Awards and the Emmys, Shakira’s been studying History of Western Civilization all summer at UCLA. I think this is absolutely cool thing that she has enrolled herself into, instead of wasting time and energy of wasteful matter she’s decide that there is time for better things in life and she is utilizing that time for something good, babes you rock!
For all the good Lil’ Kim says it does, the “Magic Stick” can’t make a lawsuit disappear.
The raunchy rapper and guest-MC 50 Cent have been sued by a record producer who claims he never cashed in on the royalties he was due from his work on the hit single, which appeared on Kim’s 2003 album La Bella Mafia. Carlos Evans claims, he was paid a $7,500 advance and was promised a cut of the profits, Evans says, but he hasn’t been paid and his requests for a royalty audit have been ignored. Screwed up guy who ever he is, why didn’t he shout so loudly before when he has a lounge in his mouth? What did he think, like they going to come at his house and tell him, ‘hey Evans you did a fanstatic job in that 2003 album, I can’t remember the name of the album but I can remember you, your share of 50 cents as royalty share’. It’s a doggy dog business out there and none’s going to give you your share until you have the tenacity to get what’s yours.
It’s a good strategic move to leak out some songs especially when you’re trying to build up some hype but when the songs aren’t even on the mediocre level, you might want to think of a better strategy. Britney Spears’ record label has reportedly leaked four songs that won’t even make her album. Simultaneously.‘Everybody’ is the song that seems to be the ‘best’, mainly because is samples the Eurythmics classic ‘Sweet Dreams’. You can never go wrong with that song. The songs ‘Been a While’, ‘Your…’ and ‘Got Me High’ are songs that this world can definitely do better without. They should have been entitled ‘Blah 1’, ‘Blah 2’ and ‘Blah 3’.
Here is official tracklist of the upcoming English album of pop singer Jennifer Lopez entitled “Brave”.”BRAVE” TRACKLIST
01. Stay Together
02. Hold It, Don’t Drop It
03. Do It Well
04. Gotta Be There
05. Never Gonna Give Up
06. Mile In These Shoes
07. The Way It Is
08. Be Mine
09. I Need Love
10. Wrong When You’re Gone
11. Brave
Britney Spears arrived at the grand opening of the LAX Nightclub at the Luxor Resort & Casino early Saturday morning in Las Vegas, Nevada, albeit, she was two hours late for her appearance. She was reported paid $100K for the appearance and was scheduled to walk the red carpet at about 10PM. At 10:15, word came out that she hasn’t even boarded the plane to Vegas from Los Angeles.
At 12:10AM, Brit finally arrived with about a hundred press waiting for her for interviews and photos. She was about to blow everyone off but someone stopped her and had her pose for cameras. She was then quickly escorted inside where she delivered a measly 2-sentence speech and proceeded to dance to the tunes that DJ AM spun, including her single ‘Gimme More’.
Here’s the music video for the new Chris Brown single titled “Kiss Kiss” featuring T-Pain.
Chris’s new album entitled “Exclusive” will hit stores now on November 6th.
Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters has been spotted around San Francisco in the past two weeks as she takes some time off after the massive world tour for promotion of their last album.
Last Saturdsay, the buxom singer was seen at Cold Steel on Haight Street and got the inside of her lower lip tattooed with the word ‘Staunch’. First off, ouch. Second, what the hell is staunch?
Sources close to Miss Matronic say that ‘staunch’ is actually a reference to the cult classic documentary ‘Grey Gardens’. Obviously, it’s one of her favorite things.
