Comeback queen Whitney Houston continues her promotional tour of Europe, just a few minutes ago performing new single ‘Million Dollar Bill’ on popular French show Le Grand Journal. Peep the performance above.

While not Whitney’s best live vocal outing (by a long shot), I really enjoyed this performance; the band were jamming, the back-up singers were on fire and Whitney held her own (at certain times moreso than others). Baby steps, I guess.

That said, word has it Ms. Houston was spotted lighting up a cigarette during her French visit. While it’s no secret that she has been smoking cigarettes in the past, when you’re dubbed ‘The Voice’, it makes little to no sense to be compromising her main instrument. Aside from that, she’s been churning out rather consistent performances since her comeback (Good Morning America aside), so the future looks bright – she was having a great time up on the stage.

Tidbit: Be sure to watch the interview after the performance, there’s a great acapella of ‘I Look To You’. Off-topic, she’s so diva…(“I’ve gone beyond the queen of R&B”) LOL. Got to love the self-confidence.

What do you think of the performance?

Despite the fact her new album ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ looks set to debut with the lowest first week sales of her career, Mariah Carey is wasting no time in prepping the record’s next single – as well as remix version of ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.

According to the uber reliable Mariah Daily, the diva is lining up fan favourite ‘H.A.T.E U’ as the record’s 3rd single. What’s more she is also set to release a more up-tempo revision of ‘Memoirs’, as per our good friends over Rap-Up.com:

Fans who picked up Mariah Carey’s latest Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel most likely noticed the absence of features, but the singer is about to make up for it. Tricky Stewart and Trey Songz spill details exclusively to Rap-Up.com on Carey’s top-secret remix album.

Details are slowly emerging about the project, which will include remixes to every song on Memoirs. “There’s gonna be remixes to everything,” says Tricky. “I’m actually doing some remixing myself currently ’cause some of these records were so much fun to make. It’s easy to go in and do a remix.”

The mega-producer already has something in mind for the diva’s Foreigner cover. “I’m gonna do a remix to ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ myself. I’mma raise the tempo up. I’mma try to make it into something else.”

He may even add a guest to it. “Once I get the beat and if it calls for the right person, I can get anybody on the phone I want to right now, so I will be using my Rolodex for that.”

One of the featured artists on the new project will be Trey Songz, who exclusively discloses to Rap-Up.com that he recorded a remix to one of Memoirs‘ cuts last month. “Mariah Carey, I believe she’s doing a remix album and I’m on a record entitled ‘Inseparable,'” he shares.

Trey put everything aside once he got the call. “I actually only had a day to do it. I did it on my day off. [They were] very professional, very adamant on wanting to get it done. They made sure we had all we needed. I just went in and got it done.” {Source}

Yawn. With the album now trailing behind even further and looking at a #3 debut, it’s doubtful the decent-yet-not-radio-friendly ‘H.A.T.E U’ will be album to salvage the album in its current form. That said, I am eager to see what she serves up with the remix LP.

Your thoughts?

R&B singer Mya continues to razzle and dazzle on the current season of Dancing With The Stars, this week taking on the Rumba. More power to her!

Your thoughts?

Billboard named Beyonce its Woman of the Year at a lavish luncheon this past Friday (October 2nd) at New York’s Pierre Hotel. The baddest chick in the game sat down with Oprah’s pal Gayle King for an interview, in which she discussed her career, her unconditional love for her family, and the run-away success of ‘Single Ladies’. Ms. Knowles-Carter also addressed the now-infamous Kanye West outburst during the MTV Video Music Awards last month.

Perhaps, focussing on the least important part of whole clip, I do find it genuinely quite hilarious how Beyonce can come across so wholesome and sweet and then turn on ‘Sasha’ at the drop of a coin! As much as it pains some to swallow, Bouncy really is the business; an artist whose talent justifies the hype.

Your thoughts?

Check out the official album cover for Leona Lewis’ sophomore effort ‘Echo’ (due November 17th).

Absolutely stunning; she truly looks model-esque. A classic cover for sure, however whether or not the music will serve as a worthy parallel remains to be seen.

While the record’s lead single ‘Happy’ isn’t rocking my world, the album’s list of hit-making contributors is. Ms. Lewis has clocked up studio time and churned out songs with the likes of Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Tedder, Max Martin, Claude Kelly, Xenomania, and Toby Gad for the record. Here’s hoping they serve up the hotness.

What do you think of the  cover?

Usher’s eagerly awaited new single ‘Papers’ premiered literally moments ago…literally. If you were thinking the Sean Garrett penned cut was going to detail the drama his relationship with ex Tameka Foster, then boy were you right. The piano driven track is largely engaging due to its lyrical content; with a chorus which sings ‘Damn near lost my mother, done been through so much drama, turned into the man I never thought I’d be, I’m ready to sign them papers’.

While I’m sure the song, which is pretty decent, will get tongues wagging because of its lyrical content, I’m a little on the fence as to my take on Usher airing out private life on record. On the one hand, it’s an open door into what was apparently his reality over the last year or so…a very, very vivid account. However, having gone the same route and pimping out his relationship with TLC’s Chilli during his ‘Confessions’ project, I’m wondering whether it’s been done in good taste. Who am I fooling, though, this really does make for an interesting listen and sure does make Usher that much more noteworthy this go round!

‘Papers’ is lifted from Usher’s forthcoming LP ‘Raymond vs Raymond’ (formerly ‘Monster’), which hits stores in December.

Hit or Miss?

You know the deal; That Grape Juice, once again, wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself LOL. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:

1) About A Girl – ‘Sugababes’ (ft. Keisha)
2) Wordshaker – The Saturdays
3) Up Out My Face – Mariah Carey
4) T.O.N.Y – Solange

5) Tik Tok – Ke$ha

What are your ‘Top 5 Songs Of The Moment’?

MTV have released their annual Hottest MCs In The Game list, which takes a number of factors into consideration. Check out who made the list and who charted where below:

01 – Jay-Z
02 – Lil Wayne
03 – Drake
04 – Kanye West
05 – Rick Ross
06 – Gucci Mane
07 – Young Jeezy
08 – Fabolous
09 – 50 Cent
10 – Raekwon

Your thoughts?

It chick of the moment Lady GaGa took over Saturday Night Live last night, performing her smashes ‘Paparazzi’, ‘Love Game’ and ‘Poker Face’, as well as the lead single from the re-release of her debut ‘The Fame: The Monster’, ‘Bad Romance’. Peep the performances above, as well as a supposed-to-be-funny-but-not skit she did with Madonna (yes, you read right!) below:

Despite the crappiness of the Madge skit, you know Ms. GaGa is here to stay, when she has an informal endorsement from The Queen of Pop!

Your thoughts?

The legendary Whintey Houston is over here in Europe to promote her comeback LP ‘I Look To You’, this evening stopping by German TV show Wetten Dass to perform the album’s title track – which you can watch above.

Yes, Nippy! I was on the edge of my seat the whole performance, hoping and praying that Oprah wasn’t a fluke; and Whitney proved herself yet again. Great performance. By no means a perfect performance, yet one that really does reinforce the fact that the ‘voice’ is still there – legitimately. She sounded the best she has in years. Awesome. {Thanks Tamone, Trent and everyone else who sent this in!}

Tidbit: Let’s ignore the awkward interview at the end LMAO!

What do you think of the performance?

Shakira continues to promote her smash ‘She Wolf’ in Europe, recently stopping by popular French show Le Grand Journal to perform it.

While her previous live offerings of the song have been decent, they’ve dually been kinda ‘just there’; however, the Columbian beauty nailed this particular performance. Spurred on, I’m sure, by the uber receptive crowd, this IMO stands as her best live showing of the song to date. Fierce, sassy, and oozing sex appeal, she nailed it. It was also great to see her actually attempt to sing the verses as opposed to lip-synch as she had done so previously (there’s no need to deny she sucks live vocally, but browny points for trying…plus she is one hell of a ‘performer’). Good stuff.

What do you think of the performance?

The youngest of the Knowles clan, Solange, features in the latest issue of Honey Magazine. You can read the 23 year old’s interview with the magazine by clicking here. In the meanwhile, check out an extract from the feature, as well as the rest of her eye-catching shoot:

With this record I am experimenting more with a really interesting mix of music. My describing it probably sounds crazy but I’m kind of working with tribal, Native American drums and mashing them with weird ’80s and blues. I have been exposed to so many different great forms of music. It’s definitely going to be an experimental album.

I’m still establishing the sound, but what I’m really focusing on is doing everything independently. I’ve been A&R-ing the project and staying on top of the budgets. I’ve been producing myself, and learning the backside of making the record financially because I didn’t do as much of that the last record. I really want to be in a place where I feel no pressure with my record sales.

————

It was never my intention to have this huge commercial success because otherwise, I would have made other kinds of records. I know how to write pop [and radio] records. I’ve written them for other people. But that isn’t the music that inspires me. It isn’t the music that I feel good about performing or that makes me want to get up and push every morning and be in 10,000 cities in one month promoting.

Your thoughts?