Sunday, November 15th 2009

From The Vault: Dreamgirls Medley At Oscars 2007

This week’s classic From The Vault video is the Dreamgirls (movie adaptation) cast’s electrifying performance at the 2007 Academy Awards (Oscars). Capping off a hugely successful run for the movie, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson lit up the stage with a rousing medley from the film, which included ‘Love You I Do’, ‘Listen’ and ‘Patience’. Check out their performance above.
Watching this back really reminded me why I had this on replay at the time. They blew the roof off that arena! Particularly great to swatch was the inter-weaving of each of their songs, more specifically seeing Beyonce take on ‘Love You I Do’ and Jennifer deliver ‘Listen’. Anika and Keith did the damn thing on ‘Patience’ too, with Anika really (and finally) getting her shine with her vocal-runs at the end. Great performance!

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Sunday, November 8th 2009

From The Vault: Deborah Cox – ‘Who Do You Love’

This week’s classic From The Vault clip comes courtesy of Deborah Cox’s 1995 smash ‘Who Do You Love’. Lifted from Deborah’s self-titled LP, which dropped the same year, the song launched the Canadian singer into worldwide conciousness, after many years of trying to break onto the music scene.

I vividly remember being 7 years old and jamming to this song back in the day (yes, I knew my music way back then!!! LOL). It’s a shame Deborah doesn’t get the kudos she deserves, yet one can remain thankful for the gems she has blessed us with – this being one of her best IMO.

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Sunday, November 1st 2009

From The Vault: Ciara – ‘Promise’

This week sees the return of our weekly throwback feature, From The Vault. Journeying back to 2006, Ciara’s ‘Promise’ video serves as this week’s top pick. Lifted from her Platinum selling sophomore LP ‘Ciara: The Evolution’, the cut and its accompanying video saw the self-styled ‘tomboy’, expand her resume to include ’sexy siren’.

Impressed already by the fact the song’s producer Polow Da Don managed to bring out the best in the singer on a ’slow jam’ (considering her vocals were never her strongest feat), I was wholly sold on Ms. Harris when the Diane Martel directed video premiered. Put simply, one of, if not the best, modern examples of a video capturing the core essence of a song; this was sexy, sultry, mature and above all the best visual depiction possible of Ciara taking it to that next level. I mean a fully (and awesomely) choreographed video for a ballad…who else does that?! I remember being in awe of this video for the longest; so much so that it was a little difficult to swallow the fact that the album it resided on wasn’t that good (aside from ‘So Hard’, ‘Like A Boy’ and a few others). Here’s hoping she serves up the goodies (no pun intended) on her upcoming 4th album…

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Sunday, September 6th 2009

From The Vault: Gabrielle – ‘Dreams’

This week’s From The Vault pick, Gabrielle’s 1993 smash ‘Dreams’, will no doubt resonate with our UK visitors that bit more. The British songstress delivered a classic with this one if there ever was one. I was 5 when this came out and to think it still goes hard today. Love it. Check it:



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Sunday, August 23rd 2009

New Song: Jay-Z – ‘Off That (ft. Drake)’


Lifted from the ‘Blueprint 3′ LP (due September 11th)

Hit or Miss?

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Sunday, August 23rd 2009

From The Vault: Kandi – ‘Don’t Think I’m Not’

This week’s From The Vault journey’s back to the year 2000, when former Xscape member Kandi released her first solo single ‘Don’t Think I’m Not’. Lifted from her criminally underrated LP ‘Hey Kandi’, this saw the writer of female anthems such as ‘No Scrubs’ drop her own declaration of independence. A great track, which still goes hard today – some 9 years later (damn, times goes fast!):

Some of you may be wondering why the hell Kandi is standing still for most of the video. Well, it turns out she sprained her ankle just before the video was set to shoot. Having learned all the choreography and whatnot, the accident meant she had to appear in the vid in a reduced role. Still a great vid all the same. You learn something new everyday lol…
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Sunday, August 16th 2009

From The Vault: Mary J. Blige – ‘Be Without You’

This week’s classic From The Vault video is Mary J. Blige’s 2005 international smash ‘Be Without’. A return to form for the future Hall-of-Famer, the song serves as one of those that sound as fresh today as it did when it was first released – IMO one her all-time best. It’s not often singers who have been in the industry for so long manage to add to their list of career-defining hits so late into their career, something I feel really is a testament to just how great both this song and Mary J are. Enjoy:


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Monday, August 10th 2009

Beyonce & Solange Hit Tokyo

Beyonce & Solange Hit Tokyo

Beyonce and sister Solange made an appearance at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel in Chiba, Japan today to promote the ‘Samantha Thavasa & Disney Handbag Collection’, which they jointly endorse.
Though initially kinda sceptical about Solange’s new short ‘do, it’s kinda hard to deny she looks stunning here.

Beyonce & Solange Hit TokyoBeyonce & Solange Hit Tokyo

What do you think of the pics?

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Sunday, August 9th 2009

From The Vault: Mariah Carey Performs ‘We Belong Together & Fly Like A Bird’ At Grammy’s 2006

Our classic From The Vault feature this week revisits Mariah Carey’s rousing performance of ‘We Belong Together & Fly Like A Bird’ at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Though a fan of Mariah’s earlier work, it’s these two songs in particular that stand as her all-time best IMO. After the record-breaking success of ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’, the album which these were lifted from, this performance was everything it needed to be – rousing, emotive and vocally stunning. Check it out:

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Some of you question why I go in on Mariah at times; well, one only has to compare performances like this that actually ‘move’ you to the lazy, ‘going-through-the-motions’ type performances we see from ol’ Mimi these days. Yes, some parts of this were lipsynched (the latter belting), yet it almost didn’t matter because she sounded great on the live parts. I mean she was singing with such conviction that the live and lipsynched parts blended seamlessly.
Many of the 2009 Mariah defenders will tout the idea that she doesn’t need to go-all out performance-wise or that her vocals are still ahead of the rest or that her sales entitle her to perform however she wants. I can’t say I agree; I feel Mariah has become too complacent, but that’s a whole other post!
For now, though, I’ll enjoy awesome performances like this and hope there’s more to come along these lines from Mariah…
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Monday, August 3rd 2009

The Best You Never Heard: Sugababes, Michelle Williams, Monica & Amerie

The Best You Never Heard: Sugababes, Michelle Williams, Monica & Amerie

After almost a year-long hiatus, The Best You Never Heard returns this week featuring lesser known cuts by the Sugababes, Michelle Williams, Monica and Amerie. Do you have any suggestions for future instalments? Drop me an email at sam@thatgrapejuice.net
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Sugababes – My Love Is Pink

While everyone and their mum seems to have hopped aboard the Electro-Pop/R&B bandwagon recently, the Sugababes were ahead of the pack – as evidenced by their 2007 LP ‘Change’. Filled with dance-floor destined hits, the album also served up the Brian Higgins produced ‘My Love Is Pink’. This one can be best described as Electro-Pop with a slice of R&B and a dash of funk. Great track

Listen: My Love Is Pink


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Michelle Williams – Thank You

Lifted from Michelle Williams’ ‘Unexpected’ album from 2008, ‘Thank You’ continues to stand as one of my all-time favourites from the Destiny’s Child star. Though the bulk of the album had a vested interest in the Dance genre, it was this smooth, melodic, cleverly written R&B mid-tempo which struck a cord with me most (a sign, perhaps?). Michelle’s voice compliments the production beautifully and the song’s unique take on oft-engaged topic of ‘thank you for making me who I am’ was refreshing. Songs in the vein of this are what I’d personally love to hear from Michelle. You?


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Monica – Hell No

Monica released her ‘Makings of Me’ album back in 2006, only for it to sell triple copper (you get the point) after the tanking of first single ‘Everytime The Beat Drops’. Unfortunately, this meant gems such as ‘Hell No’ went largely unnoticed. Produced by Brian-Michael Cox and featuring Twista, the song goes hard. In classic B.Cox fashion, the cut is a mid-tempo with that ‘knock’. What’s more, Monica, as with most of her offerings, sings the so much conviction that you FEEL what she’s singing – something oh-so-missing in many of today’s hits.


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Amerie – Crazy Wonderful

The seemingly ever-underrated Amerie delivered IMO one the best and most consistent R&B efforts with her non-US released 3rd LP ‘Because I Love It’. Of the many stand-out tracks featured on the set, ‘Crazy Wonderful’ rears it’s single-worthy head that much higher than the rest. A whimsical slice of 80’s New-Wave greatness.

Listen: Crazy Wonderful

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Your thoughts: Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

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Sunday, August 2nd 2009

From The Vault: Notorious B.I.G. (ft. Puff Daddy & Mase) – ‘Mo’ Money, Mo Problems’

This week’s classic From The Vault video is Notiorious B.I.G’s 1997 posthumous smash ‘Mo’ Money, Mo Problems’ featuring Puff Daddy, Mase and Kelly Price. Check it out:

Ahh…great song, great video. These were the days when Bad Boy really were on top; og how the times have changed, though.

Tidbit: Diddy’s dancing forever cracks me up LOL.
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Monday, July 27th 2009

Mary J ‘Stronger’ On New LP

Mary J 'Stronger' On New LP

The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul Mary J Blige is set to release her 9th studio album, the title of which has been unveiled as ‘Stronger’, on November 24th via Geffen Records.
Preceding the record is buzz single ‘The One’, which currently features in the latest AT&T commercial (click here to watch). While the next single to be lifted from the set is the title track, the unmastered version of which you can hear by clicking here. ‘Stronger’ will also feature on the soundtrack to ‘More Than A Game’, a basketball documentary about NBA star LeBron James, which arrives in theatres in the US on September 22nd.

Speaking on the album, Mary said:

“The album represents who and what I am right now. I’m a stronger human being after all the growing pains. It’s about life, love, change, strength—mostly really knowing who you are and being confident in that.”

I know I may catch some flack for this, but I’m gonna need Ms. Blige to start humming a new tune when it comes to what her albums are about. Lord knows that quote could and has been used to describe her last album ‘Growing Pains’, the one before that ‘The Breakthrough’, and others before that. While every artist has their ‘lane’, it just looks a little creatively-starved on Mary’s part, you know…as if she’s just going through the motions. Couldn’t she hit us with a concept record or something fresh? What’s more, the new material seems kinda ‘just there’.
Little rant aside, I hope what Mary serves up this go round appeases the doubt I currently have in my mind, because she really is an asset to the industry and it would be a shame if she made the mistake so many continue to make – getting too ‘comfortable’.
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Sunday, July 26th 2009

From The Vault: Patra – ‘Scent of Attraction (ft. Aaron Hall)’

This week’s classic From The Vault video is Patra and Aaron Hall’s sensual 1995 duet ‘Scent of Attraction’. The song serves as the Jamaican star’s biggest crossover US hits. Check it out:

This brings back memories! I vividly remember being about 7 years in the school playground singing Aaron’s part at the top of my lungs, being totally unaware that the lyrics were very…’adult’ LOL LOL. Being a music lover for as long as I can remember (largely thanks to my older sister who listened to this and so much more), this really takes me back to a great period in my life and more generally a great period in music (the 90’s). Good stuff.
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Monday, July 13th 2009

That Grape Juice On Twitter // Facebook

Follow That Grape Juice On Twitter!As some of you may know, we announced a few months back that you can now follow That Grape Juice on Twitter! Adding to the ever-expanding ways to be apart of the That Grape Juice community, our Twitter page allows you to receive up-to-the-minute updates about the latest posts on the site as well as what’s happening in the Urban Pop Culture world more generally.
What’s more, you, as well as the thousands who have already joined, will be able to keep up with me, ‘Sam’, while I’m on-the-go. I’ll be making use of Twitter’s cool SMS feature which allows me to let you guys know what I’m up to via my mobile/cell. That means everything from checking in with you guys while on location at an artist interview to complete randomness from the wackiness that is ‘my world’. So what are you waiting for…

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facebook logo That Grape Juice On Twitter // FacebookThe That Grape Juice Facebook Group launched last year, as I’m sure many of you will know. Work, school, college, home, wherever; I’m sure many of you – like myself – spend a ridiculous amount of time on Facebook. Yes, it’s ‘that’ addictive.
Why not, then, combine your daily Urban Pop Culture fix with social networking and come be a part of the rapidly growing That Grape Juice Facebook community. Along with the thousands who have already joined (thank you all!), you will be the first to get word on upcoming interviews, competitions, view exclusive pictures and much much more. The discussion board/wall will also give you the chance to interact with other ‘Grape Juice readers moreso now than ever before.
It’s an open group, so anyone can join – invite all your friends too!

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