Amidst the chaos that has erupted within their group, new music from Day26 has conveniently surfaced on the web. The track, entitled ‘Like This’, is produced by Jermaine Dupri, who is also featured on the record. There is no word as to whether the song will be featured on an upcoming project or was created during previous studio sessions.

Certainly nothing to go “wow” about, the track is framed around simple beats, a fluttering melody in the backdrop and uninspired vocals. The group remains in familiar territory by boasting about their “swagger” and  their sexual appetites. If this is the kind of material that they hope to turn into a hit on the charts then they better think again. Maybe it would be a better idea for them to squash their quarrels and focus on improving their craft because this song is not reflective of a group destined for top 10 success.

Hit or Miss?

She was once the most powerful force in Pop music; the heir apparent to the Pop dynasty. It seemed that at the turn of the century, there was no bigger star than Britney Spears. From show-stopping performances to worldwide #1 successes, she exploded onto the charts, toppling the long held reign of more established artists. However, the ‘fire’ that once made Spears the most sought after entertainer of her time appears to have been lost.

After a string of well-publicised personal turmoils, the world was made privy to Spears’ now notorious meltdown. Yet, the singer managed to rebound from those upsets and regain public favour with multiple chart-topping hits and platinum albums. Nonetheless, Spears seems different; the ‘spark’ in her eye is gone; and her live performances depict an entertainer who is but a shell of her former self.

Her energetic choreography has been replaced with awkward stage presence, and lip-syncing has become the norm of her entire productions (although many would argue that she rarely sang live in her earlier career as well). Regardless of the position that her music is now arguably at its best, the energy that Spears exudes in the studio no longer translates on stage. In fact, some critics assert that it is this decline in potency that allowed Beyonce to rise to the helm of the Pop charts.

This begs the question: has Spears permanently lost the ‘glint’ in her eye? Or does she stand a chance of returning to fine form? In any case, with mounting competition from her younger contemporaries including Lady GaGa and Rihanna, many contend that unless she is able to recapture that ‘magic’, her days as the Princess of Pop are surely numbered.

Do you think that Spears has permanently lost her

edge?

Singer/songwriter John Legend celebrated his birthday recently at SL nightclub in New York City recently. A host of celebrities as well as his girlfriend Christina Teigen (seen above) came out to help Legend commemorate the event. Check out more images below:

UK songstress Estelle smile for the cameras in this blue number.

Grammy Award-wining rapper Ludacris was there as well.

Finally,  singer/producer Ryan Leslie posed with John for the photographers.

What do you think of the pics?

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Pop sensation Lady GaGa was recently interviewed by MTV News and took the opportunity to elaborate on her next studio album. The LP will serve as the follow-up to her widely successful ‘The Fame Monster’, which spawned the worldwide smash hit ‘Bad Romance’. Peep an excerpt from the interview below:

“Well, I’m going to write new music … that’s the beauty of writing your own music — you don’t have to rely on songwriters and producers to write hit songs for you,” she told MTV News. “So I’m going to write a new album and I’m going to have new ideas.”

“I find ‘The Fame Monster’ to be completely different than ‘The Fame’,” she added. “I’ve evolved, but artists should evolve. In the ’70s and the ’60s, artists evolved all the time — from album to album the music was changing, the feeling was changing, the artists seemed almost entirely different than who they were five or six years before.”

“Most certainly I have no f—ing clue what they’re going to be yet, because I’m just starting this tour, and I wrote ‘The Fame Monster’ during the last tour, so … I assume that it will inspire some kind of new sonic energy and lyrical style,” she explained. {Source}

Having witnessed many Pop acts experience incredible surges of success early in their careers and fade into obscurity with similar rapidity, I am sure many share my curiousity as to whether or not GaGa will enjoy a lengthy career. As observed over the last decade, popular music is generally characterised by nonsensical fads and trends. However, unlike many of her contemporaries who have already begun their descent from the top of the charts, GaGa is indeed a rare talent. In fact, some may go as far as to compare her rise to fame to Madonna’s massive success in the 1980’s. It seems that only time will tell if she has what it takes to survive the next decade.

Thoughts?

Mariah Carey unleashed the full force of her diva yesterday at the ’14th Annual Capri Hollywood International Film Festival‘ in Capri, Italy. With husband Nick Cannon at her side, Carey accepted the ‘Capri Award ’09 – Supporting Actress of the Year‘ for her role in ‘Precious’. Check out more shots of the icon below:

What do you think of their looks?

Fans of cult hit ‘The Boondocks’ will be pleased to hear that the critically acclaimed show is set to return in 2010, according to creator Aaron McGruder. Currently in production, the new season is slated to return as early as February.

Noted for its no-holds-barred approach (see: BET drama), The Boondocks aired for two seasons on Adult Swim, Comedy Central’s late-night sister-network. Yet, despite initial promises of a new season after the culmination of the last, the show has been off the air for almost 2 years. {Source}

As at writing, it’s unknown if the show’s forthcoming season will air on Adult Swim or on a different station. What is certain, however, is that The Boondocks is back! I cannot wait!

Your thoughts?

Popular news outlet Digital Spy is reporting that Rihanna has been given strict guidelines regarding her upcoming New Year’s Eve performance in Abu Dhabi later this week. The model, who is being paid a substantial $500, 000 to perform at Emirates Palace to ring in the new year, has been warned to wear conservative ensembles to avoid offending the Islamic community. Earlier this year, Beyonce canceled the Malaysian leg of her ‘I Am…Yours’ tour as a ramification of such restrictions.

If this is true, then it is quite interesting indeed. The central part of Rihanna’s success throughout her career has been her sex appeal and fashion sense. Certainly, the number of people who actually appreciate her material for her ‘vocal ability’ represents a staggering minority. In fact, she herself must be aware of this as she is said to be quite upset by this news and “is tearing her hair out over what to do…a huge part of her show is her sexy stage gear.” It looks like Rihanna will not be able to hide behind studded bras and leather panties for this performance. Rather the audience will be ‘treated’ to her voice in all its glory. Let us pray for the people of Abu Dhabi.

Thoughts?

Songbird Mariah Carey made an appearance in Capri, Italy today. The singer attended the ’14th Annual Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival’ where she was awarded the ‘Capri Award ’09 – Supporting Actress of the Year’ for her role in the critically acclaimed film ‘Precious’. Observe more images of the diva below:

What do you think of the pics?

In news which comes very much as a surprise, supermodel-turned talk-show host Tyra Banks has pulled the plug daytime Emmy award-winning ‘The Tyra Banks Show’ after just five seasons.

Banks, 36, made the announcement exclusively to People.com, confirming that the show, most memorable for its ‘weave-exposing, cellulite-revealing and tear-jerking moments’, will cease production at the end of its current season in Spring 2010.

According to People, Banks will focus on the launch of Bankable Studios, a New York-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Sticking to her mission, Banks aims to bring “positive images of women to the big screen”.

“My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are,” Banks says.

People.com cites an insider as saying: “Tyra is sad because she’ll be missing so much of the daily connection to her viewers, but excited at the same time to be taking on a new challenge.” With encouragement from filmmaker Tyler Perry and longtime mentor Oprah Winfrey, Banks is “redefining beauty for women in film,” adds the source. “With Oprah’s big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her longtime dream of film producing.”

Those worried about the future of  America’s Next Top Model need not worry, however. The  show slated to return for its 15th season in February.

“There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart,” Banks writes in an open letter on her Web site. “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.”

It’s great to see Tyra making strides and further etching her name in the history books. However, I must say I would have much preferred if she pulled the plug on America’s Next Top Model, which has long run its course. Just saying…

Your thoughts?

Aspiring singer Rihanna was spotted in Barbados on Saturday. The model spent the Christmas weekend with her family in an effort to escape the cold. Rihanna will be performing in Abu Dhabi on New Year’s Eve for a reported $500, 000. Peep more pictures of the Covergirl representative below:

What do you think of the pics?

Vivacious vixen Shakira took the stage on the BBC’s ‘Top of the Pops’ recently. The singer performed her worldwide hit ‘She Wolf’ for the hyped crowd at the station’s annual Christmas special. ‘She Wolf’ peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.

Although Shakira sang live (a dissimilarity from the show’s tradition of lip-syncing), it’s great to see Shakira do what she does best – dance. While I enjoy her music and her voice, she certainly delivers her strongest performances when  she unleashes her inner ‘she wolf’. Good stuff.

Thoughts?

According to Hits Daily Double, Mary J. Blige‘s latest LP ‘Stronger With Each Tear’ is set to debut on the Billboard 200 with estimated sales of 300,000-320,000. Though not enough to dethrone the force that is Susan Boyle from the top spot (Boyle is set to sell ANOTHER 625,000!), Blige’s numbers are unarguably very impressive. {Source}

It will be interesting to see how the album fares after the Christmas sales surge ends, considering the album has yet to deliver a bonafide chart hit. That said, it’s for this very reason that congrats are in order for Mary. After this long in the game and without majorly successful lead singles, she still manages to pull in such numbers. More power to her!

Your thoughts?