..::That Grape Juice.net::..

MTV R Talks TO Aubrey O’Day

28th Aug

Danity Kane alumni Aubrey O’Day sat down with MTV R recently to discuss what she’s been up to as of late.

Without pre-empting the interview, Ms. O’Day came across really really good here, appearing legitimately intelligent and ‘real’ (as she likes to say). Great interview.

Your thoughts?

Jade Ewen Performs ‘My Man’ On GMTV

28th Aug

Eurovision break-out star Jade Ewen appeared on GMTV this morning to perform the lead single from her debut album ‘My Man’.

Before attempting to roast the talented Londoner, it’s important to point out that 99% of artists lip synch on GMTV, as ths show doesn’t have the sound facilities to assist live performances.

Anyway, about the performance, I really enjoyed it. Having seen the video a few weeks back, I was wondering where the proper choreography was at. Evidently that side of things has been tended to for the live performances; she worked it. Good stuff.

Tidbit: Turns out Ms. Ewen loves the taste of That Grape Juice 🙂 You’ll be seeing a lot more of Ms. Ewen around these sides very very soon (hint, hint lol).

What do you think of the performance?

New Song: Mariah Carey – ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ (Full Version)

27th Aug

Barely an hour has passed since we posted a 10 second snippet of Mariah Carey’s new single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and the full version of the track has surfaced.

The million dollar question is ‘after all the hype, does the track actually live up to it?’ Unfortunately for Ms. Carey-Cannon’s fans and lambs, it doesn’t. Important to highlight, firstly, is the fact (IMO) that Mariah’s take on the Foreigners classic is by no means a bad effort.

My main gripe with this is the vocal arrangement, for Mimi sounds ‘ok/just there/unremarkable’ until the big key change where she really hits a home run. Yet the vocal acrobatics are so short-lived and abruptly ended that you feel kinda cheated by the end. Generally though, this just isn’t striking me as the undeniable hit her camp and media friends have been hyping it to be. A shame as she really had to nail it with this one to restore the mass interest in her serially delayed LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’, something I’m doubtful she has/will achieve with this.

I’m not one to pit artists against one another, but IMO Whitney has this won hands-down.

Tidbit: I can’t wait to see Mariah nail this live, as usual 😉

Hit or Miss?

New Song: Mariah Carey – ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ (Full Version)

27th Aug

Barely an hour has passed since we posted a 10 second snippet of Mariah Carey’s new single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and the full version of the track has surfaced.

I’m not one to pit artists against one another, but IMO Whitney has this won hands-down.

Tidbit: I can’t wait to see Mariah nail this live, as usual 😉

Hit or Miss?

27th Aug

Mario – ‘D.N.A’ Cover

Peep the official cover for Mario’s 4th studio album ‘D.N.A’ (due October 13th). I’m liking the this one…

What do you think of the cover?

Beyonce’s New L’Oreal Campaign

27th Aug

Check out Beyonce’s new Holiday 2009 campaign for L’Oreal Paris. Say what you want about her, but Bouncy looks damn near flawless. Work.

What do you think of the pics?

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New Song: LeToya – ‘Good To Me’

27th Aug

Regular readers will know that I felt LeToya Luckett’s sophomore effort ‘Lady Love’ was a little too-ballad heavy (a view, for the most part, I still hold). However having given the album a few more spins, it definitely has A LOT of grower potential and is steadily winning me over – no track moreso than ‘Good To Me’.

The bouncy mid-tempo is best summed up as fire on a track! While listening to this one I was literally saying: “LeToya Nicole Luckett, you better SANG!”. Definitely one of the tracks which showcase Ms. Luckett’s greatly improved vocals. Awesome track, one that should surely be considered as a single.

Hit or Miss?

1 Comment

New Song: Mariah Carey – ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ (10 Second Clip)

27th Aug

A 10 second snippet of Mariah Carey’s ‘first’ single from ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’, ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ surfaced today.

While I’ll hold my full judgement until hearing the song in its entirety, it seems Ms. Carey-Cannon has gone back to that whisper ish. Ugh.

Yes, it’s early days, but what are thinking about this folks…it sounding like a…

Hit or Miss?

The-Dream Named New Def Jam Executive Vice President

27th Aug

Singer-songwriter The-Dream can add another title to his ever-growing list of achievements – Vice President. The R&B star has announced that he is the new Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam:

The Dream announced his new position as Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam Records Wednesday through his Twitter page. The 27-year old singer, songwriter, and producer sent out a series of Tweets late that evening saying:
“I wanna Thank everyone at Island Records/DefJam for their faith in me and making me Executive Vice President of Island Records. Thank you to my team..my manager Mark Stewart & my attorney Aaron Rosenberg for getting this 1st step of a goal accomplished. Thanks to Judy. Thank you to my partner Tricky Stewart and the RadioKilla & RedZone Staff. LA Reid, Karen Kwak, Steve Bartels, Joe Barino. Steve Gotlieb and Thank you, Universal Chairman, Doug Morris. I look forward to the challenge of rebuilding music for not only Island Records, But for Universal Records as a whole. Today I’m humbled and blessed. Terius “The-Dream”
RadioKilla is taking over the position previously held by Chris Hicks, who took over the position after the untimely death of Def Jam executive, Shakir Stewart. Now L.A. Reid and the Def Jam family are passing the reigns to one of their own by giving the position to The Dream. The Dream also made sure to give a special shoutout to his fiancé, singer Christina Milian and her family for their support.
“Oh yeah thank you Christina for your wonderful belief in me i love you! also i want to thank the entire Nash family and Milian family for the Super Support you Give! this doesnt mean i have extra money it means i have extra bills LOL.”
His third album, which he says will be his last, is entitled Love King and due for release later this year. {Source}

I’m still a little baffled at the idea of artists/producers taking up such high positions at labels, as most evidence points to things turning out to be a disaster (see: 50 Cent & G-Unit, Jermaine Dupri etc). That said, congratulations to The-Dream…

Your thoughts?

New Song: Wynter & David Guetta – ‘Toyfriend’

27th Aug

French DJ David Guetta is riding high after the success of his worldwide smash ‘When Love Takes Over’ and the follow-up ‘Sexy B*tch (ft. Akon)’ – a hit in waiting.

Upon listening to his album ‘One Love’, which was released this week, I found that the aforementioned songs are not flukes at all, with the LP being packed full of box-fresh hits, inclusive being ‘Toyfriend’ performed by Atlantic Records singer Wynter Gordon (see: Flo’ Rida’s ‘Sugar’ and her own ‘Surveillance’).

This hypnotic club banger is the perfect mesh of the Urban and Dance genres, not leaning too far in either direction. Great track.

Hit or Miss?

New Song: Monica – ‘Betcha She Don’t Love You’

27th Aug

The full version of new Monica cut ‘Betcha She Don’t Love You’ has surfaced. Produced by Missy Elliott (who still insists on screaming and hollering on a track), the song is an 80’s New Wave / Funk inspired slice of music deliciousness. Loving this one!

No word yet on if it’s the lead single from new album ‘Still Standing’; I sure would hope so.

Hit or Miss?

LISTEN: Betcha She Don’t Love You