Friday, January 22nd 2010

Beyonce, Leona Lewis And Susan Boyle To Record Haiti Charity Single?

As celebrities prepare to perform on this evening’s ‘Hope for Haiti Now’ concert, reports have surfaced that Simon Cowell is planning a tribute of his own. Billboard.com confirms that the ‘American Idol’ judge is working on a charity single to benefit the Caribbean nation which will feature Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle and Cheryl Cole. The Sun goes further, noting that Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Robbie Williams and Wyclef Jean will also be involved. Here is what Cowell had to say about the project:

“I wanted to do something for Haiti so when I had calls from The Sun and the Prime Minister asking if I would get involved I agreed immediately. We are going to do a single. We only made the decision today. I have got to get it together in 48 hours.”

Cheryl Cole said: “I would be happy to lend my support.”

Last night Simon started work at the National Television Awards spreading word about our plans. And he will urge record labels to get top artists involved.

I knew it was only a matter of time before charity single came about. I always enjoy these types of projects because they allow celebrities the opportunity to lend their voices to something that benefits others. I am eager to see who else is added to the list!

Thoughts?

Posted By: Trent

30 Comments

Saturday, January 16th 2010

Alexandra Burke On ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

UK singer Alexandra Burke took the stage on ‘So You Think You Dance’ today. The ‘X Factor’ winner performed ‘Broken Heels’, the third release from her ‘Overcome’ LP. To date, ‘Broken Heels’ has peaked at #12 in the UK.

Other than the fact that she was singing over a very loud backtrack, Burke delivered a solid performance. She has a lot of stage presence and it was good to see her utilising the entire stage instead of remaining glued to one spot like her other British counterpart, Leona Lewis. Hopefully she uses her voice more in future performances because she seems to have a strong dependence backtracks.

Thoughts?

Posted By: Trent

49 Comments

Thursday, January 14th 2010

Leona Lewis Performs On ‘The Today Show’

UK singer Leona Lewis made a guest appearance on ‘The Today Show’ recently. She performed her Golden Globe-nominated song ‘I See You’ from the ‘Avatar’ soundtrack. ‘Avatar’ is now ranked as the second highest-grossing film of all time, second only to another James Cameron flick, ‘Titanic’.

Though she struggled through this performance a bit, she still displayed the kind of technique that proves why is in a completely different league from most of her contemporaries. ‘I See You’ is an amazing song and certainly deserves any accolade that it is awarded. Hopefully there are more vocal masterpieces like that in Lewis’ future instead of the underwhelming material she provided on ‘Echo’.

Thoughts?

Posted By: Trent

21 Comments

Monday, January 11th 2010

New Song: Nicole Scherzinger – ‘By My Side (Ft. Akon)’

Despite being the target of accusations by her former backup singers band members, a new track as emerged from Nicole Scherzinger. The Akon-assited song is entitled ‘By My Side’. There is no word on whether this will be included on her upcoming solo project, ‘Her Name Is Nicole’, which is set to hit stores this year.

Backed by such solid production and thumping beats, one would assume that Nicole has a hit on her hands. However, the hook is almost inaudible and very difficult to understand. Furthermore, her voice in the chorus sounds like she was trying very hard to imitate Leona Lewis. Add that to Akon’s surprisingly lazy and uninspired verse, and I can easily see why her solo album is yet to hit stores. Next.

Hit or Miss?

Posted By: Trent

27 Comments

Wednesday, January 6th 2010

Rihanna – A True Fashion Icon

There was once a time when the singers who dominated the Billboard charts were defined by a combination of talent, skill and versatility. An era where performers gained success as a result of either musical dynamism or electric showmanship. However, the days where such qualifications were considered the standard are long gone, allowing an individual to rise above her peers on the wings of clever marketing and trendy appeal. That individual is none other than Rihanna.

Blessed with beauty rather than actual talent, Rihanna has been mass-marketed as a fashion icon; gaining relevance via a string of highly publicised endorsement deals and being adept at fitting into the latest style trends. In fact, her fashion-forward appeal extends beyond her wardrobe and towards her music. Her label ensures that her albums feature the most successful songwriters and producers of the moment, guaranteeing that her sound remains current and fresh. Incredibly, as an implication of this brilliant scheme, Rihanna has enjoyed a successful career, disguised as the one thing that she is not: a gifted singer.

With five #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and millions of records sold, Rihanna is noted as one of the most successful acts of the last decade. She rests comfortably at the top of the charts while her vocally gifted counterparts, including Leona Lewis, struggle to have an impact. Interestingly, when the Bajan first emerged, she shared the spotlight with fellow Jay-Z apprentice Teairra Mari, who was unceremoniously released from contract despite both acts having similar first week sales of their debut albums and Mari being the undoubtedly more talented artist. Obviously, Rihanna’s exotic appeal is regarded as more valuable than the talent of her contemporaries.

Nevertheless, although several critics praise her music for tight productions and catchy hooks, ignoring her blatant lack of vocal prowess and stage presence, several questions have been raised. How long will her team be able to bamboozle audiences into purchasing her music? How long will she be able to depend on her looks as an instrument of relevancy? Whether or not she will enjoy a lengthy career remains to be determined. However, as long as her label continues to bolster her endeavours with such brilliant marketing strategies and she is able to attach herself to each passing fad, it seems that “this Rihanna reign just won’t let up.”

What do you think is the key to Rihanna’s success?

Also, how long do you think that Rihanna will

continue to dominate the charts?

Posted By: Trent

157 Comments

Wednesday, December 16th 2009

Leona Lewis Performs On ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

Vocalist Leona Lewis performed on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ moments ago. The singer did a rendition of her Golden Globe-nominated ‘I See You’ which was released in support of the ‘Avatar’ film. The soundtrack for the project was released on December 15th.

This was a magical performance. Leona’s voice soared through the scales and she sounded almost exactly like the recorded track. Her voice has such a unique quality to it that takes this song to a completely different place. For once, Leona gave me a thrill both sonically and emotionally. Excellent work.

Thoughts?

Posted By: Trent

16 Comments

Wednesday, December 16th 2009

Is The Era Of The Diva Over?

In the 1980′s and 1990′s, the charts were dominated by powerhouse vocalists and balladeers. Singers including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion held the top spots on the charts for longer periods than any of their contemporaries; shattering records and positioning themselves at the upper crests of Pop music’s elite list of superstars. However, in recent years, it seems that the famed era of the diva may be coming to an end.

Today, the most successful artists on the charts no longer rely on extensive vocal ability to stake their claim. Rather, they fuel their hits with auto-tuned melodies, catchy hooks and club-ready beats. From Rihanna to Cassie, the success of many of Pop music’s biggest acts has become based on their marketability, rather than actual talent. In fact, it has become a rare feat for a vocalist with extensive talent to capture a position in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Interestingly, many of the divas themselves have swapped their octave warbling techniques and adapted their sounds in an effort to remain relevant in the current industry. For instance, Mariah Carey has been criticised in recent years for restraining her 5 octave pipes so that her songs would be more radio friendly; replacing her high range belts and trills with breathy coos and swift lyrics.

This raises the question of whether or not the divas will be able to once again reclaim their place at the top of the Pop charts or fade into distant memory along with the 90′s high-top hair cut and the 80′s ‘fanny pack’. With immensely talented singers such as Leona Lewis struggling to find their place amongst the current crop of performers, I sense that the era of the diva may indeed be over.

Do you think that the era of the diva is over?

Posted By: Trent

91 Comments

Wednesday, December 16th 2009

Leona Lewis Performs On ‘Letterman’

UK singer Leona Lewis took the stage on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ last evening. The songbird performed ‘I Got You’, the second single from her new album, ‘Echo’. The LP has been a commercial disappointment in the US, selling just over 100, 000 copies.

As usual, Leona was vocally on point. She is an incredibly skilled vocalist, possibly one of the best to emerge this decade. Nonetheless, there is nothing interesting about her performances other than her voice. Hopefully as her career progresses, she will improve.

Thoughts?

Posted By: Trent

11 Comments

Sunday, December 13th 2009

Leona Lewis Performs On ‘The X Factor’

Pop vocalist Leona Lewis performed on today’s ‘The X Factor’ finale. The singer did a rendition of Oasis’s ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ which is featured on her ‘Echo‘ album. To date, the record has sold over 600, 000 units in the UK; a far cry from her sales in the US which have barely passed 100, 000 copies.

With the exception of a few off-key notes at the beginning, Leona certainly did her thing. Watching that performance reminded me of why Simon Cowell regards her as the best singer that he has discovered on any of his various talent show competitions. All she needs now is a bit more personality and she can very well be at the forefront of the next generation of divas.