The fourth week of X Factor 2009 audition stage aired last night here in the UK. Check out my 2 Pence 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, as well as Alexandra Burke}
I’m still awaiting that ‘WOW’ moment with this year’s auditions, yet can’t help but feel that it may not actually be coming. That said, from last night’s episode, Lononder Shanna Goodhead really stood out. When watching shows like this I tend to look at whose prospects are best in terms of a viable music career, and thus far Shanna joins a small amount of auditions on that list. Her voice wasn’t outstanding, but, as Cheryl said, she has a raw talent. Check it out:
Shanna

Your thoughts?
New Alexandra Burke Promo Shots id=
Check out these promotional shots for Alexandra Burke’s new single ‘Bad Boys’. The weave does looks a little Bargain Bucket, but she looks great all-in-all.
New Alexandra Burke Promo Shots id=

What do you think of the pics?
Diva Mariah Carey gave a special intimate concert in Las Vegas last night. During her set, the 39 year old performed new song ‘Up Out My Face’ from forthcoming LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’. Though so heavily backed by the backing track that her live vocals often got lost in the mix, Ms. Carey-Cannon did a great job. I am loving this song and feel it definitely needs to be a single. Good stuff. You can listen to the audio of the performance below (no vids available yet) {Thanks Trent!}:

What do you think of the performance?
ina Knowles Throws Up The 'Roc'
Random, quite funny, shot from last night’s Jay-Z show. Mama Tina better throw up her Roc sign. Love it!
Your thoughts?

With Michael Jackson’s eagerly anticipated ‘This Is it’ movie trailer set to air during tomorrow night’s MTV Video Music Awards, a brief snippet of what to expect was aired during the network’s News piece last night. Check it out above!
This is does seem like it’ll silence those who said he (physically) wasn’t up to the task of doing the shows at the time of his death. I’m seeing it more as a case of his own inner-problems as well as the idiots who facilitated it as being the reason why he’s not here today. Anyway, without drifting off-topic, only MJ could have folks this hyped over a preview of a trailer lol. Long live the King…
Your thoughts?

Beyonce was among the many artists in the house last night at husband Jay-Z’s ‘Answer The Call’ 9/11 charity concert in New York. The 28 year old superstar surprised viewers with a performance of ‘Diva’. Put simply, Ms. Knowles-Carter did the damn thing; she actually killed it. Watching this kinda had me a little irritated at the fact she hasn’t performed this live anywhere other than on tour. As not the biggest fan of the song, Bouncy, as usual in such cases, manages to sell it like her life depended on it, with her stellar live performances. Hate it or love it, she really is the ‘baddest chick in the game’…
What do you think of the performance?
Jay-Z’s much-hyped ‘Answer The Call’ 9/11 charity concert took place in New York’s Madison Square Garden last night (and aired on FUSE). A host of fellow artists joined the rapper, whose Blueprint 3 LP aptly dropped this week, including Rihanna, Kanye West, Kid Kudi and John Mayer. Check out the performances below:
Run This Town / Can’t Tell Me Nothing (w/ Rihanna & Kanye)

Already Home, Heart of the City, D.O.A (w/ Kid Kudi & John Mayer)

Young Forever & Medley (/ Memphis Bleek + Diddy Shows Up)

Can’t Knock The Hustle (w/ Mary J. Blige)

Empire State of Mind

I really enjoyed all the performances, though I must say Ms. Fenty did remind me why she doesn’t get my support with her live performing (no stage presence+annoying yoodling+no believe’ablity=not hot).
What do you think of the performances?
Toni Braxton - ''Yesterday
The lead single from Toni Braxton’s Atlantic Records debut (‘Pulse’), premiered today. Produced by DJ Frank E, ‘Yesterday’ is an epic ballad, which effectively manages to stay true to Toni’s appeal (i.e. a vocalist rather than one trying to compete with the R&B chicks of today), while also encapsulating enough contemporary R&B/Pop elements to make this chartable in this day and age. I can’t say this is rocking my world, but a solid effort nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Braxton serves up with the rest of her new album, which is set to hit stores February 2010.
Hit or Miss?

Confirmed: Christina Milian & The Dream Are Married & Expecting 1st Child
The rumours are apparently true; according to US Magazine, Christina Milian and The-Dream are OFFICIALLY married – and expecting their first child:
Christina Milian is pregnant with her first child, Usmagazine.com has confirmed.
The singer, 27, wed music producer The-Dream, 27, on Sept. 4 at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Us first reported their engagement two months ago.
“The pregnancy was a surprise, but they were getting married regardless,” a source tells Us.
Milian has already been talking about children.
“Of course, I would love to have kids,” she told Us earlier this summer at the premiere of Bring It On: Fight to the Finish in NYC. “I think that’s some of the reasons why I do movies like this.”
Even The-Dream (real name: Terius Hagert Youngdell Nash) — who proposed to Milian with a six-carat sparkler from Ivanka Trump’s jewelry line — has been talking about a family.
“I love kids, and [Christina] loves kids probably more than I do,” he told Us in July. “She’ll make that time [to have a baby]. In the next couple of years, there’ll be something around.”

Wow. Not sure what to think of this. Errr….congratulations?

Randomness: The-Dream already has 3 kids with R&B singer Nivea – his ex-wife.

Your thoughts?
Official: BET Picks Up 'The Game' id=
After being dropped off the CW schedule earlier this year, despite a petition signed by a million, popular US comedy-drama The Game has been picked up by BET, as confirmed by one of the show’s producers Matthew Cherry on Twitter:
@Director_Cherry CBS Paramount and BET have reached a deal with the canceled CW Series The Game.
less than a minute ago from web
@Director_Cherry The first hurdle has been crossed for new epsiodes of the show to be produced for BET. Now actor and producer contracts must be worked out.
half a minute ago from web
# There are still a lot of particulars that need to be worked out but CBS Paramount has agreed to license the show to BET.
# If everything continues to work out then new episodes of The Game will likely air in the fall of 2010 on BET.6 minutes ago from web {Source}
Believe it or not, I have never seen an episode of this show, despite its worldwide popularity – thanks to Youtube. It’s quite rare a cancelled show is recommisioned for new epsiodes on another network, so it’s definitely a great development for the fans of the show.
Your thoughts?
Exclusive: Kelly Rowland Hits Studio With Dupri
As Kelly Rowland continues to work hard away at her 3rd solo LP, we can exclusively reveal that hitmaker Jermaine Dupri can be added to list of producers working on the as-yet-untitled project. Dupri joins Jim Jonsin (‘Sweet Dreams’), Adonis (‘My Boo’, ‘I Stay In Love’, ‘Too Grown For That’), David Guetta, Brian Kennedy (‘Disturbia’) and The Stereotypes (‘Damaged’) as a fellow contributor on the record. Late 2009, early 2010 is the reported release window for the album. You know where to get your Kelly fix!
Kelly really is spreading her wings and I’m loving it! JD is quite versatile as a producer, so I’m eager to see what he serves up for Kelly. With her desire for this record to be a Dance-meets-R&B uptempo affair, I’m hoping we get something in the vein of Janet’s ‘So Excited’ or more plausibly ‘Rock With U’ from the pair’s creative union. Exciting stuff.
Your thoughts?
That Grape Juice VMA Coverage
As with last year’s show, That Grape Juice will be providing live on-the-minute coverage of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards which take place this Sunday (September 13th) live from the Radio City Music Hall in New York. News, commentary and of course performances, That Grape Juice will be the spot for them all!
Things have been, somewhat, streamlined from previous years and will consist of two main post areas:
* ‘Your Shout!’: Here you’ll be able to express your thoughts on everything VMA related i.e. pre-show ish, rumours, spoliers and of course the actual show as it’s taking place. Anything and everything goes; randomness, observations, views etc. I’ll be dipping in and out of this one myself, as I too will be watching live (UK and non-US folks will have to hit up That Grape Juice on the day for the online link lol)

* Performances: All the show’s performances minutes (it’s hoped lol) after they’ve aired. Visitors around the time of last year’s show will know what I mean 🙂

So for ‘net’s most thorough live coverage of one of music’s biggest dates on the calender, do be sure to keep it locked on ThatGrapeJuice.net!

Your thoughts / suggestions?
**