If the last month has proved anything, it is that Madonna has no problem airing out her feelings.

From poking fun at Janet Jackson‘s ‘Superbowl nip-slip‘ on ‘Leno’ and calling Lady GaGa reductive on ABC, the ‘Take A Bow’ belle’s opinions have proven to be just as controversial as her earlier music.

Now, days before she performs at the 2012 Superbowl, the icon has weighed in on Pop force Nicki Minaj, during an interview with Anderson Cooper.

Watch below…

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Christina Aguilera throws on her Louboutins for the fierce new cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

The feature, which we previewed yesterday, sees the singer pose it up with her fellow coaches from NBC hit ‘The  Voice’.

With season two of the show set for kick-off this Sunday (February 5th) following the Super Bowl, the cover crowns an all-out media assault by the network to ensure a huge audience.

Check out a behind the scenes look at the shoot below…

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The gargantuan success of Adele last year etched the UK deeper into the consciousness of today’s music-loving mass.

Indeed, prior to then, modern Britannia routinely churned out acts whose success was largely of the critical persuasion – with limited global presence.

And, yet while our charts naturally boast a heavy US presence, it’d be criminal to overlook the contained contributions which have made our industry one of the most revered in the world.

This week, Best You Never Heard, celebrates those contributions with a special Best of British Edition.

So without further adieu…

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Will Young – Your Game

Hailed as of the first “credible” talent show winners,  Will Young hit a homerun with his sophomore set ‘Friday’s Child’. Indeed, the 2004 album saw the Pop Idol winner ditch the cover-heavy material of his first LP in favour of flavoursome Pop; songs which really spotlighted the soulfulness of his voice.

And while the album as a body of work was stellar, no track stood out louder nor brighter than ‘Your Game’. Penned by Young and Taio Cruz, the cut is a delicious melody of Pop, Funk, and Soul.

Upon release, the track respectably charted at #3 on the Official UK Singles Chart. Although, it so clearly was worthy of nabbing the top spot. A stance the BRIT Awards seems to concur with; the song was honoured with the ‘Best Single’ gong at the 2005 ceremony.

LISTEN:   

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All Saints – Under The Bridge

The 90’s pervasiveness of Girl Power saw the Spice Girls overshadow many female groups – both home and away. However, for many, London collective All Saints provided the perfect antithesis to the cheese and camp Ginger, Sporty and co served up for mass consumption.

Gritty, edgy, and devoid of the bells and whistles which defined Pop acts of that era, the Saints were wholly compelling. For, not only were they able to fuse R&B and 90’s Pop, they did so while remaining markedly “British”.

Ironically, one of the best examples of this is their unique take on the Red Hot Chilli Peppers‘ rock hit ‘Under The Bridge’.

While lyrically and melodically identical to the original, the 1998 track evokes an air of “fresh” – recooking a well-known rock smash  into an Urban number which still goes hard today.

Listen: 

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Keisha White – The Weakness In Me

2006 saw R&B chanteuse  Keisha White deliver her best effort yet with ‘The Weakness In Me’.

A stirring cover of Joan Armatrading‘s song of the same name, White laced the track a new layer of authenticity, delivering the lyrics with ample conviction. With her vocal emotion set to production which built into a rousing climax, this had all the makings of  blockbuster ballad – a fact which makes its #17 charting still hard to swallow.

Nonetheless, as we’ve made common-practice here at That Grape Juice, it’s important to celebrate “good music” – irrespective of its charting. And this, right here, is timeless.

Listen: 

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Misteeq – Scandalous

1) Turn Up The Music – Chris Brown

2) Next To Me – Emeli Sande

3) I Need You Now – Smokey Norful

4) Countdown (Live On Kimmel) – Beyonce & The Roots

5) Elephant – Alexandra Burke

What are Your Top 5 Songs of The Moment?

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Peep vocal powerhouse Rihanna parading the streets of Hollywood last night.

An admitted stunner, your eyes were likely drawn to her face, right?

Well, that’s not where the classy model wants you to look – if her nipping-baring ensemble is anything to go by.

The self-professed role model sported a daring ring, which she clearly wanted folk to see, given the see-through nature of her top.

Baring breast for attention. Oh the lengths the talent-challenged will go to. Peep another pic after the jump…

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Though many have tried to, there is just no beating Brit belle Adele and her reign on the charts.

For, in what should come as little surprise to anyone, her LP ‘21′ is spending its 18th week atop the US charts, despite debuting more than a year ago.

Chart check below…

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Whether her fans admit it or not, it has become increasingly difficult to support Lil Kim.

For, much to the dismay of these fans, her long awaited ‘2012’ EP is still yet to surface, one month after it was scheduled for release.

This, following criticism she faced last month for allegedly putting ‘men before music’, once it emerged she had put her career on hold to support long time friend Floyd Mayweather through his stint in jail.

Now That Grape Juice asks the question we all want the answer to:

Will  Lil Kim ever release the EP’?

Weigh in below…

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R.Kelly is in the giving mood.

Yes, in ‘Share My Love’,  the first single to be lifted from his new album ‘Write Me Back’, the veteran declares his desire to ‘populate, let’s get together’ in a bid to ‘make the world better‘.

Get into the 70s inspire jam below…

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LeToya Luckett is back!

Indeed, following the #1 album that was her self titled debut effort and its 2009 follow up, Ms. Luckett is readying her third solo LP, documenting the experience by way of an online series.

Now peep episode 1 of her, ‘Live, Love & Music’, the first chapter of the star’s new story, below…

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Now that Paula and Nicole have bid adieu to X Factor USA, the hunt is on for two new acts to replace them.

With Mariah Carey said to be in talks with FOX for a possible role on the show, today welcomed news that will have Pop fans the world over buzzing with excitement.

For, ‘Muny’ maestra Nicki Minaj is reported to have been offered a spot on the judging panel.

Details below…

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The 54th Annual Grammys just got a whole lot bigger.

Because, it has just been announced that ‘Teenage Dreamer’ Katy Perry is to grace the event, joining the likes of Adele, Rihanna, Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Details below…

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Don Cornelius, the host of long running series Soul Train has died today, aged 75.

Said to have committed suicide, his death was caused by  a gun shot to head and was found in his home Californian home in the early hours of this morning.

Keep it locked on TGJ for upcoming details.

Your thoughts?