Flash mobs have been popping up all over world this year. Dancing along to the hits from Michael Jackson,  the Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and Janet Jackson, the collectives pay tribute to many of music’s biggest stars. Keeping this trend alive, over 300 people stunned unsuspecting shoppers recently at the Carousel Center in Syracuse, New York to honor Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’.

This looked like so much fun! Groups like these seem to come out of no where and even though they barely rehearse, they always put on a good show. Furthermore, I can’t think of a better song that this collective to have performed. ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, which was written and produced by Mariah and Walter Afanaseiff, is undeniably the only Christmas song of the last 25 years to gain such popularity, becoming a classic in every sense of the word.

Thoughts?

Lady GaGa recently spoke to MTV News about her revamped ‘Monster Ball Tour’ for 2010. The fierce one divulged into details about the Tour’s focus around bringing “showbiz” back to the stage. Check out an excerpt from the interview below:

“…for the next version of the Monster Ball, which is going to be in February when I begin in the U.K. with my arena tour, I’m throwing out the stage. My team thinks I’m completely psychotic. But I don’t f—ing care what they think.”

Gaga wouldn’t divulge too many secrets of the new Monster Ball, but she did say that Danish pop act Alphabeat will serve as the opening act. And she also hinted that her fans will be in for a very big show, in just about every conceivable way.

“Well, just to give you an idea, the stage is about four times the size of the one we’re on now and conceptually, it’s completely different,” Gaga said. “One thing that has been lost over the past 10-15 years, in pop music, is the idea of showbiz. And this is definitely going to bring that back.”

Always the performer, I am sure that GaGa fans will be leaving the arenas aptly satisfied. GaGa is one of the few acts to emerge in recent history who have managed to leave audiences utterly shell-shocked both by her music and her stage shows. In less than two years, she has positioned herself at the forefront of Pop music’s elite and if she manages to maintain this momentum, 2010 will be the ‘year of GaGa’ once again.

Thoughts?

Our good friends over at Rap-Up.com caught up with JoJo recently to talk about her return to the music scene. The 19 year old singing sensation opens up about the label drama which almost saw her quit the industry, her back-up plan, as well as the artist who have inspired her.

A great watch, I must say. Unashamedly a big supporter of JoJo, I’m ecstatic to see things back on track for her. Definitely anticipating her ‘All I Want Is Everything’ LP, which is pencilled in for an early 2010 release.

Your thoughts?

According to reports, Mariah Carey is supposedly planning a US tour in support of her ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ LP at the top of 2010. Said to be titled ‘The Angels Cry Tour’, the 39 year old diva’s first stop on the trek will apparently be her upcoming New Years Eve  concert at New York’s Madison Squared Garden. {Source}

Hmm. Sounds like someone in Mimi’s camp (or elsewhere) is likely a) blowing hot air or b) not quite understanding the magnitude to which she belly-flopped with this ‘Memoirs’ project. From a business stand-point (my new favourite line lol), major tours are usually launched off the back of a moderate-well performing album. Setting off on any kind of trek in support of ‘Memoirs’ would potentially yield even more embarrassment for Mimi than the album’s actual sales (the lowest of her career). I mean, put simply, if folk weren’t checking for your album, why in the blue hell would they buy a ticket to see you live?! It’s like her staging a tour after ‘Glitter’ sold triple copper. It just doesn’t make any sense.

If anything, I’d imagine her team will do spot dates in select States ‘for the fans’. Billing it as any kind of full-fledged tour, at this point, doesn’t make any sense IMO (hence making me strongly doubt its validity) – that is unless Mimi and her team don’t mind her playing to half-empty arenas. I say, she goes back to the drawing board and tours with her next project whenever that drops – provided it’s a bigger success than this  (which won’t be hard).

Tidbit: Strangely enough, ‘Memoirs’ is starting to grow on me now. Yet, it’s safe to say that with it not being accessible enough for the causal listener (something even quality music still can be!), it’s understandable why it failed to resonate with the masses. Yes, the promo sucked, but the actual record wasn’t anywhere near Mimi’s best, let’s be honest…

Your thoughts?

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards show will take place on January 31st 2010, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. You can check out the full list of nominations which were announced a few moments ago in a special telecast on CBS.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift lead the pack with Ms. Knowles-Carter receiving 10 nominations and Swift 8. Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, and Maxwell earned 6 nods, while Lady GaGa, David Guetta and Jay-Z scored 5 noms a piece.  Whitney Houston, who was a strong favourite, received NO nominations (WTF!!!)

Update: My girl Kelly Rowland received a nomination! Go Kelly.

Album of the Year
Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Lady Gaga – The Fame
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Taylor Swift – Fearless

Record of the Year
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Song of the Year
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Bon Jovi – “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
The Fray – “Never Say Never”
Daryl Hall & John Oates – “Sara Smile”
MGMT – “Kids”

Best Rap Solo Performance
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Eminem – “Beautiful”
Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
Mos Def – “Casa Bey”

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Black Ice
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Live From Madison Square Garden
Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
U2 – No Line on the Horizon

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele – “Hometown Glory”
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Katy Perry – “Hot N Cold”
Pink – “Sober”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
John Legend – “This Time”
Maxwell – “Love You”
Jason Mraz – “Make It Mine”
Seal – “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”
Stevie Wonder – “All About the Love Again”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen – “Sea of Heartbreak”
Ciara & Justin Timberlake – “Love Sex Magic”
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – “Lucky”
Willie Nelson & Norah Jones – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat – “Breathe”

Best Pop Vocal Album
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough
Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
The Fray – The Fray
Pink – Funhouse

Best Dance Recording
Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – “When Love Takes Over”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Madonna – “Celebration”
Britney Spears – “Womanizer”

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”
Lalah Hathaway – “That Was Then”
Ledisi – “Goin’ Thru Changes”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Anthony Hamilton – “The Point of It All”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Musiq Soulchild – “Sobeautiful”
Pleasure P – “Under”
Charlie Wilson – “There Goes My Baby”

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
India.Arie & Musiq Soulchild – “Chocolate High”
Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige – “Ifuleave”
Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters – “Higher Ground”
Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby – “Love Has Finally Come at Last”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “At Last”
Anthony Hamilton – “Soul Music”
Boney James & Quinn – “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”
Ann Nesby – “Sow Love”
Calvin Richardson – “Woman Gotta Have It”

Best R&B Song
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Pleasure P – “Under”

Best R&B Album
Anthony Hamilton – The Point of It All
India.Arie – Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Ledisi – Turn Me Loose
Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night
Charlie Wilson – Uncle Charlie

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
Jamie Foxx – Intuition
Pleasure P – The Introduction of Marcus Cooper
Trey Songz – Ready
T-Pain – Thr33 Ringz

Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group
Beastie Boys & Nas – “Too Many Rappers”
Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent – “Crack a Bottle”
Fabolous & Jay-Z – “Money Goes, Honey Stay”
Kid Cudi, Kanye West & Common – “Make Her Say”
Kanye West & Young Jeezy – “Amazing”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Beyoncé & Kanye West – “Ego”
Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock You Down”
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West – “Run This Town”
The Lonely Island & T-Pain – “I’m On a Boat”
T.I. & Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”

Best Rap Song
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
T.I. & Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”
Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)”
Jay-Z, Rihanna, & Kanye West – “Run This Town”

Best Rap Album
Common – Universal Mind Control
Eminem – Relapse
Flo Rida – R.O.O.T.S.
Mos Def – The Ecstatic
Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media
Miley Cyrus – “The Climb” (From Hannah Montana: The Movie)
Paramore – “Decode” (From Twilight)
A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash – “Jai Ho” (From Slumdog Millionaire)
Beyoncé – “Once in a Lifetime” (From Cadillac Records)
Bruce Springsteen – “The Wrestler” (From The Wrestler)

Click here to read the full list

What do you think of the nominees?

Despite rigorous promotional efforts and a price cut to 99 cents, Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ has debuted with less than impressive numbers. As confirmed by HitsDailyDouble, the album only managed to ship 180, 198 units, placing it at #5 behind Susan Boyle, Andrea Bocelli, Adam Lambert, and Lady GaGa. Although the figure represents a personal best for the fashionista, it certainly is a far cry from the 669,843 copies that Boyle managed to sell with notably less promotion. Not only has the album failed to capture public attention in the US but the record also underwhelmed audiences in the UK where it debuted at #16, selling 32, 000 units.

Regardless of my personal opinions about Rihanna’s material, this outcome was definitely not foreseen. As one of music’s ‘it’ acts, many were expecting ‘Rated R’ to be one of the most successful releases of the year, especially given the additional attention she received from ‘the incident’ involving ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. The upset is only compounded by the fact that 3 singles were released to support the album.

It is quite interesting that the Island Def Jam’s biggest selling acts of 2008 – Mariah Carey and Rihanna – both had very disappointing releases this year. The real question here is: what went wrong? Is it that there is some form of underlying issue involving her label? Or is there some other reason for her low debut on the charts?

What do you think went wrong?

According to Billboard, Rihanna’s much hyped ‘comeback’ album ‘Rated R’ is  on course to sell just 162,000 copies in its first week on sale. The news comes in the midst of her label okaying the LP being sold for $3.99, and eventually $0.99 in its opening week.

While I’ve given my own take on this many a time, I will say that it’s hardly surprising that the album is underperforming. After all, the label couldn’t have been acting in such a desperate manner if it was selling to begin with.

I doubt this signals the end of her career, as I’m sure many are hoping (which they shouldn’t…that’s bad karma lol). It just means we’ll probably be subject to 300 singles and 25 re-releases (including the Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Ultra Premium Deluxe, Spanish, Hebrew and Japanese versions…and of course the Super-Super Uber Ultra Premium Deluxe edition which comes with a DVD).

Oh well, in the words of Jay-Z himself:

“Men and women lie, but numbers don’t!”

Your thoughts?

Part-time model Rihanna visited the Ed Sullivan Theater last evening where she performed on the ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’. The fashionista sang her hit song ‘Russian Roulette’ from her new album, ‘Rated R’. Rihanna’s LP is projected to debut with a dismal 162k on next week’s Billboard 200 chart tally.

I rather enjoyed this performance. She handled the song well, by her standards, with the exception of a few shaky notes. Furthermore, as per usual, she looked amazing. Why can’t she sound this good all the time?

Thoughts?

In a move that was no doubt actioned to ensure a #1 debut, Rihanna‘s new LP ‘Rated R’ is now selling for a paltry $3.99 on Amazon MP3. Yet, despite Ms. Fenty’s team pulling all the stops for a #1 charting on the Billboard 200 next week, Interscope’s Lady GaGa‘s sophomore effort ‘The Fame Monster’ is currently sitting comfortably at #1 on iTunes – which serves as one of the biggest music retailers overall. {Source 1} {Source 2}

Oh RiRi! After all the publicity, big budget videos and all that jazz, stunts like this still need to be pulled to garner decent sales. From a business standpoint, I can’t hate on her label’s game. Yet, from an artistic standpoint – which is where the bulk of my critique of Ms. Fenty stems from – it really says a lot about her label’s belief in how many folks will part with their cash to buy her album. I mean, correct me if wrong, but you don’t see the Alicia’s, Beyonce’s, Whitney’s and co selling their album a fraction of the cost to save face. I mean how embarrassing would it be after all the hype, 20/20 interview etc for her not to pull in some seriously decent/great numbers first week?

Randomness: While my review of the AMA’s will be up later today; if Rihanna’s performance wasn’t the night’s worst, I really don’t know what was. A mess.

Your thoughts?

This week’s classic From The Vault video is Kelis‘ year 2000 clip for ‘Get Along With You’, which was lifted from her debut ‘Kaleidoscope’. Directed by Paul Hunter, this video really ushered the emergence of the alternate, left-field Kelis that we grew to know and love. While the former Ms Nas’ industry contemporaries were churning out the same ol’, same ol’, she hit us with this this deep, multi-layered take on the song’s underlying message – how someone’s love and the need to “get along with them” is more substantial than material possessions and even the world itself. Awesome video! I need me some new Kelis ASAP.

Tidbit: Did this remind anyone else of ‘A Nightmare Before Christmas’?

Your thoughts?

Check out ‘Hole In The Head’, the Justin Timberlake assisted bonus track from Rihanna’s new ‘Rated R’ LP.

Judging by Ms. Fenty’s uberly nasally vocals here and the track’s overall sub-par aura, there’s no surprises as to why this was left on the cutting room floor. Though, I must say I’m feeling her swagger-heavy delivery. No, the song is not awful, rather distinctly average – at best.

Hit or Miss?

Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez has been hard at work preparing for her upcoming performance on the American Music Awards this Sunday, where she will be performing her new song ‘Louboutins’. In the mean time, however, the singer has decided to release the video her her ‘buzz’ single ‘Fresh Out The Oven’. The clip was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and features Pitbull. Lopez’s new album, ‘Love?’, hits stores on January 26th 2010.

As the video was made to support a promotional single, I can understand why the budget was not very expansive. However, given the fact that Lady Lo has not been present on the broadcast airwaves for such a long time, I assumed that she would have tried a bit harder to ensure that she made a bigger splash. Certainly the the lackluster response of radio to the track should have compelled her to produce something of greater substance. Either way, I eagerly await her performance this weekend; that is if Janet doesn’t give me a heart attack first.

Sidebar: Is anyone seeing all the similarities between Jennifer and Beyonce lately? The alter ego was one thing but that leopard print cat suit and heavy eye makeup looks awfully familiar…

Thoughts?