With UK trio the Sugababes latest LP ‘Catfights & Spotlights’ hitting stores tomorrow, it has been confirmed that ‘No Can Do’ will serve as the second single from the record. The Motown/Old Skool inspired track is, put simply, Pop brilliance. Top notch offering from the ladies – which is more than can be said for its predecessor ‘Girls’.

Check out the Keisha, Heidi and Amelle performance of the song on T4 earlier today:

What do you think of the song / performance?

The second week of X Factor 2008 live shows aired last night here in the UK. Check out my 2 Pence on the Michael Jackson themed week below:

{For those unfamiliar with the show; The X Factor is the UK’s version of American Idol – with a twist in that groups and over 25’s are eligible to enter. The show also birthed the career of a certain Leona Lewis}

Despite this week featuring songs from the great Michael Jackson, I felt it wasn’t as good as last week’s ‘live show’ debut; the song selections, collectively, were too ballad-heavy. That said, judge Cheryl Cole’s category (the girls) offered the best showings last night IMO. Check out performances by out Alexandra, Laura White and Diana Vickers below:

Alexandra Burke – I’ll Be There

Laura White – You Are Not Alone

Diana Vickers – Man In The Mirror

Though Diana really caught my attention this week and Laura continues to perform well, I’m still rooting for Alexandra. My current mindset (forewarning…this may sound a little OTT) is that Leona is the British-honed ‘new’ Mariah while Alexandra is similar to Whitney (in that guise).

Your thoughts?

R&B star Chris Brown made an appearance on French TV show ‘Star Academy’ this week. The 19 year old performed his hit ‘Kiss Kiss’ with a contestant on the show (who I must say had me rolling with his attempts at being ‘cool’). All in all, a pretty entertaining performance.

What do you think of the performance?

Yes, this is not your typical TGJ post, but I really couldn’t resist. This hilarious clip has been making the rounds on the net for a week or so. I am still in hysterics over this one – I won’t spoil it. Drop your views in the comments section!

Your thoughts?

One third of the remaining members of Danity Kane, Dawn Richard, spoke with Essence Magazine about the drama surrounding the group following the sacking of Aubrey O’ Day and D. Woods, as well as speaking on the the group’s future. A long, yet interesting read:

ESSENCE.COM: Last night’s finale of “Making The Band 4” was sort of subdued drama with a pretty ambiguous ending. Diddy has left the ladies of Danity Kane to decide what the group’s future will be. What is your hope for the group?

DAWN RICHARD: We talked about it and there’s a fear we have of losing our fan base. But at the end of the day, Diddy made his choice to let us decide and we would like to continue with the name and the group. This is our lives and you can’t just say no to your dreams. I love working with the group. However, it’s so hard to say what will happen. I would prefer that the original group members remain. It’s hard enough for fans to follow as is.

ESSENCE.COM: Diddy is a beast when it comes to whipping his groups into shape and his truth hurts. He already let Aubrey go and then D. Woods was a no-show last night. Have you spoken or plan to speak to any of the ladies?

RICHARD: No, I haven’t. Honestly, we really don’t talk that much, but I wish them the best of luck. I showed up, and as one person, I can only do so much. If they want to get in touch with me, they will because I totally support them and always will. All of this stuff affects us because these are our lives. Diddy tells us to try to save our group and some of us don’t show up? We’re making a serious statement to him about the future of this group by doing so.

ESSENCE.COM: There’s been much hearsay about Diddy’s intentions of making you the lead of Danity Kane as well as offering you a solo record deal. Is that true?

RICHARD: It’s so interesting how the media chooses to interpret or report things. I have never said that I was pursuing a solo deal. I told someone that I have waited so long for my dream, and singing is my dream and has been for so long. I have done nothing on the side as far as solo projects; I’m not sidestepping. I have totally been supportive of the group—that’s my priority. We had shows where Aubrey didn’t show up and we had her back and no one wrote about it or said anything. Some of the other girls have pursued their interests and I have sat back and supported them in their individual pursuits. It truly hurts my feelings because I work so hard and I’ve been so honest from the beginning. I can’t control it if someone says, `I respect your artistry and I’d like to work with you.’ What’s wrong with that? Instead of getting support there is nothing but negativity. Again, my priority has always been Danity Kane. I’ve never missed a show or meeting so it’s just interesting how people perceive things. I can only put it in God’s hands.

ESSENCE.COM: But has Diddy ever approached you personally about a deal?

RICHARD: Everyone should ask Puff if that’s what he has in line for me. If he does, then I’m honored and I will work hard as I’ve always done. What I know for certain is that he would never break up Danity Kane. I’ve always been on that same train, too. At the end of the day, I’m going to rock with the first priority, which is Danity Kane. Who knows what can happen, because Puff changes his mind every five seconds. I’m going to work hard. I’m going to be the same person I was in the beginning. What’s honest and true is that I respect people. I respect and love the group. I wish it could still be five of us. I didn’t make Aubrey leave. I didn’t make D. Woods not show up. People choose their paths and you do what’s best for your situation. This is your job and you do the best you can do. All we’re trying to do is survive.

ESSENCE.COM: Because you’ve written songs for the group and named the group, do you think the other ladies might be envious of you?

RICHARD: I will never say anyone is jealous of me, because that’s not the type of person I am. I just never see it like that. You work hard, people respect you or you don’t. Growing up in my household, nothing was ever easy, especially as an African-American woman. You can be perceived as a b—-. When I work so hard, some people say all these mean things when you’re trying to be righteous and it’s so hurtful. I’m human, so in the beginning of my career when I read those things, they were the worst and meanest things. I couldn’t conceive why my own people wouldn’t be more positive and support me, so I couldn’t help but be hurt and think, Why don’t you have my back? I’m doing something positive? I’m not a hater. You don’t even have to like me. I’m going to respect everyone. Now I don’t let the negative talk affect me; I just do me, because no one is perfect and you can’t live for everyone else.

ESSENCE.COM: Dawn, you’re extremely positive and that is to be respected. Do you have any personal issues with the group?

RICHARD: I stated this once before when Diddy asked what the problems were. The reality is that some days we get along and other days we don’t, but it has never made me feel differently about the girls or the group. I always wanted to rock with those four girls. I’m about business and how do we keep the fans happy and how do we make our business work better. I’m pro-Danity Kane.

The drama continues…

Your thoughts?

Michelle Williams featured on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show last night, offering live renditions of current singles ‘Hello Heartbreak’ (above) and ‘The Greatest’ (below). Though not her best live showings, Michelle did well – especially on ‘The Greatest’. She looked stunning too.

What do you think of the performances?

As confirmed by Beyonce herself, the singer’s eagerly awaiting 3rd solo outing ‘I Am…Beyonce / Sasha Fierce’ will be a dual disc affair – coming in both a regular and deluxe edition.

You can check out the ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’ regular edition album cover above and the cover shot for the deluxe edition below along with the official track-listing for both the ‘I Am…Beyonce/ Sasha Fierce’ deluxe version. Confusing, yet exciting stuff:

The black and white concept seems to be her thing this go round – both with the videos and promo shots. Whatever the case, she looks great.

Tracklist (Deluxe Version)

Beyonce Disc
1. “If I Were a Boy” (Toby Gad and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Halo” (Ryan Tedder and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Disappear” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Broken-Hearted Girl” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Ave Maria” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Smash Into You” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Satellites” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “That’s Why You’re Beautiful” (Andrew Hey and Beyoncé Knowles)

Sasha Disc
1. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Radio” (Jim Jonsin, D-Town, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Diva” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Sweet Dreams” (Jim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Video Phone” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Hello” (REO and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Ego” (Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams, Harold Lilly, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “Scared of Lonely” (Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins)
9. “Why Don’t You Love Me?” (Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, and Bama Boyz

Looking at the production credits, it seems, though some of her old collaborators are present – namely Darkchild and Stargate, Beyonce drafted in fresh talent for the project. It’ll be interesting to see whether it paid off. Roll on November 18th!

Your thoughts?

As I’m sure those who you who caught the ‘live’ finale of Making The Band 4 on Tuesday night know, Diddy sensationally revealed that he has removed Aubrey O’Day AND D. Woods from Danity Kane:

Three years after he picked them to round out the all-girl pop group he’d been assembling, Diddy gave Aubrey O’Day and D. Woods the proverbial boot during Tuesday night’s live season-three finale of “Making the Band 4,” leaving only Aundrea Fimbres, Shannon Bex and Dawn Richard to carry on as Danity Kane. Diddy’s reason for the dismissals? Fame turned O’Day into someone he no longer recognized, he said via satellite, and D. Woods was merely guilty by association, caught up in the shrapnel of O’Day’s celebrity.

But according to Richard, it was O’Day’s image that gave Diddy pause.

“Puff did not like [O’Day’s] image … where her image was going for the group,” she told UsMagazine.com. “It wasn’t a personal thing,” she added, explaining that O’Day’s recent topless appearance on the cover of Complex magazine wasn’t sending the right message to the group’s fans.

“We had just did a signing with Dollhouse Teen, which is for 13-, 14-year-old young girls,” Richard continued. “So, we can’t do that one day and then the next day do an obnoxious cover. … [Diddy] wants the fans, and he says he can’t do that if we can continue to go in the direction that we were going.”

While Diddy said he would work with Woods in the future, O’Day’s time is over. But the group will continue, Richard said.

“Well, Puff told me specifically that Aubrey is no longer in Danity Kane, and Danity Kane will move forward without her,” she explained, adding that Diddy hasn’t mentioned anything about replacing the two singers. “He has not said anything per that. But I think in my heart that he is going to do another show.” {Source}

Peep Aubrey’s speech/clash with Diddy at the finale below (D. Woods did not attend the show):

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Now, as some of you may know, That Grape Juice was on-site ALL-DAY at the 2008 MOBO Awards here in London yesterday. Having not yet watched the finale of Making The Band 4, yet knowing it was aired live, imagine my surprise when I spotted a certain D.Woods sitting right in front of me with her publicist (a friend of That Grape Juice).

After exchanging pleasantries (she is very familiar with the site, dating back to our interview with her back in February) and watching her present an award , I spoke with her on the side about what exactly is going on with Danity Kane (bare in mind I knew nothing of what went down at the finale), she confirmed she’d reveal all in an inteview with That Grape Juice (which will hopefully be in the coming week(s)). Interestingly, however, when shouting out the site, she introduced herself in a way that will leave many scratching their heads, somewhat. Check it out:

Hmmmm…

Wait…there’s more. After the airing of the finale, a press release from MTV touting ‘bonus episodes’ of Making The Band to air in 2009. Check out an extract of what to expect:

With the future of Danity Kane still up in the air, Day26 pursuing their dreams and Donnie Klang working his way to the top, where do they go from here? MTV is extending the drama into 2009 with bonus episodes of the hit reality series “Making The Band.” The saga will continue with the remaining members of Danity Kane, their label mates Day26 and Donnie Klang as they all embark on the next phases of their Bad Boy careers.

The extended season will pick-up where the last one left off…Following all the drama and turmoil from the cliffhanger on the live finale. Fans will catch-up with Day26 as they go out on their own and experience what it’s like to be the opening act for more established recording artists. Can they stay focused and make it on their own without the support of their label mates? Donnie Klang will continue to strive and prove to Diddy that he has what it takes to be a solid solo artist and go on tour with more well known musical acts. Will the hectic pace of the music business put too much strain on Dawn and Que’s romance or will it make their love stronger? The Danity Kane story will continue to unfold after Diddy’s shocking decision to remove Aubrey and D. Woods from the group. Will the Band live on without them? Will Aubrey and D. Woods return to Danity Kane? The bonus episodes will follow MTV’s favorite “Making The Band” artists as they give it all they have while trying to remain true to themselves in the process.

I’m still pretty surprised at the whole thing. I’ll hold my tongue until I learn/hear more of what is going on.

Your thoughts?

 

A statement e-mailed to the Associated Press from spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg says the couple has agreed to divorce, and asks the media to respect their privacy.

The statement, co-signed by Ritchie’s representative, says the couple had not agreed to a settlement.

Madonna and Ritchie married in December 2000 at a Scottish castle. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.

Unfortunately, this is hardly surprising as there have been murmerings about a separation for a while now. It’s a shame, ‘industry’ relationships seem like an impossiblity.

Any thoughts?