Kelly Rowland and David Guetta took to the stage at Europe’s biggest music festival The Dome in Cologne, Germany yesterday to perform their smash ‘When Love Takes Over’. Hands-down this was Kelly best live rendition of the song. Killer vocals (for the most part) and an awesome stage presence, Ms. Kelly did the damn thing. Was literally saying ‘Kelendria Trene Rowland, you better walk!!!’ at 1.34 onwards lol. Great performance.
What do you think of the performance?


‘Happy’, the lead single from singing sensation Leona Lewis’ sophomore effort ‘Echo’ (due November), officially premiered today. Produced by Ryan Tedder, the power ballad plays to the star’s biggest asset – her undeniably remarkable voice, with Lewis turning in a stellar vocal performance. That said, I can’t say this one is exciting me much at all. I’m still hopeful the album serves up the good good, but this seems like at best ‘a grower’. Still, with the major promotional machine her success-to-date grants her, I’m sure this one will be a hit. Whether it genuinely deserves to be is definitely up for debate.
Hit or Miss?
This week’s From The Vault pick, Gabrielle’s 1993 smash ‘Dreams’, will no doubt resonate with our UK visitors that bit more. The British songstress delivered a classic with this one if there ever was one. I was 5 when this came out and to think it still goes hard today. Love it. Check it:



Your thoughts?

Mariah's 'Memoirs' Tracklisting
Apologies about the slow-go over the last 24 hours. Have been working quite rigorously on That Grape Juice’s move over to WordPress and getting the new design in place, which I’m sure you’ll love.
Anyway, according to reputable Mariah Carey fansite Mariah Daily, the following is the official tracklist from the diva’s ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ LP (due September 25th):

1. “Betcha Gon’ Know (the prologue)”
2. “Obsessed”
3. “H.A.T.E.U.”
4. “Candy Bling”
5. “Ribbon”
6. “Inseparable”
7. “Standing O”
8. “It’s a Wrap”
9. “Up Out My Face”
10. “Up Out My Face (the reprise)”
11. “More Than Just Friends”
12. “The Impossible”
13. “The Impossible (the reprise)”
14. “Angel (the prelude)”
15. “Angels Cry”
16. “Languishing (the interlude)”
17. “I Want to Know What Love Is”

Despite my criticism of ol’ Mimi, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anticipating this one. Not for the same reason as the lambs (who I have a soft spot for LOL), who essentially eat up anything she serves up. Rather, I’m keen to see whether she can redeem herself creatively after the last dud of an album. Though I still shudder at the thought of ‘Obsessed’, which for some strange reason consistently manages to remind me of the equally atrocious ‘Touch My Body’, ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ is growing on me daily. Definitely not what it’s supposed to be as a ‘Mariah Ballad’, but is still kinda solid. Saying that, I’m a little bit more optimistic about the LP, especially after hearing the demo of ‘Up Out My Face’ – fast food music, yet pretty good sounding fast food music.
Tidbit: The album is almost entirely the work of Mariah, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. Yes, after a largely successful run together, it appears Mariah has ditched Jermaine Dupri. Ouch.
Are you checking for Mariah’s ‘Memoirs’?

R&B crooner R. Kelly stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live this week to perform current single ‘Number One’ along with Keri Hilson. An enjoyable performance, yet something about it was just a tad off – though I can’t put my finger on what it was (a little help people)?
What do you think of the performance?

Shakira - 'She Wolf' Album CoverPeep the offical cover for Shakira’s new LP ‘She Wolf’ (due October 13th).

What do you think of the cover?

Michael Jackson’s formal funeral service was held in private last night at the Forest Lawn Cemetary in California. Check out the video report above, write-up below, as well as pics from the event below:
Seventy days after the death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop was finally laid to rest last night, September 3rd, with a private ceremony Glendale, California’s Forest Lawn Cemetery. About 200 close friends and family members attended the evening funeral, which concluded with Jackson being entombed in Forest Lawn’s Great Mausoleum, the final resting place of Walt Disney, Clark Gable and other legendary talents.
Elizabeth Taylor, Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley and Macaulay Culkin attended the ceremony, along with Mila Kunis, This Is It director Kenny Ortega, Teddy Riley, Chris Tucker, Corey Feldman and Miko Brando. According to a statement from the Jackson family, Michael’s five brothers Tito, Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie all served as pallbearers.
Look back at Michael Jackson’s life, in photos.
Michael’s three children Prince Michael, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II placed a crown atop Jackson’s casket to signify his status as the King of Pop. The Jackson family had provided a live video feed to media prior to the ceremony when guests began arriving at the cemetery, however the feed ceased transmission the moment the Jackson brothers went to take Michael’s gold-plated casket out of the hearse.
Photos from Jackson’s star-studded L.A. memorial.
After Pastor Lucius Smith read the opening prayer and a portion of Ecclesiastes 3:7, Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Songwriter Clifton Davis next sang the Jackson 5 tune he wrote for the group, “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Speakers then began to take the podium to pay tribute to the singer, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, Michael’s father Joe Jackson and other close friends and family members.
According to the New York Times, the media that congregated outside Forest Lawn outnumbered the number of fans, though one group of fans held a large white banner that read “Gone too soon.” Following the ceremony, according to the ceremony’s nine-page engraved invitation, family and friends of Jackson were encouraged to drive to an Italian restaurant in Pasadena, California, for “a time of celebration.”
The first page of the invitation also featured a quote from Michael’s 1992 book of essays and poems Dancing the Dream, “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.” {Source}
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private FuneralMichael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private FuneralMichael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private FuneralMichael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral
Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In Private Funeral

Gone in body, but not in spirit. R.I.P Michael Jackson. I

t’s somewhat comforting to know that he is now at peace, a peace he unfortunately was never able to enjoy while on this earth. Long live the King…
Your thoughts?
Your Top 5 Songs Of The Moment?You know the deal; That Grape Juice, once again, wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself LOL. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:

1) For The Lovers – Whitney Houston
2) Worth It – Whitney Houston
3) I Got You – Whitney Houston
4) Heard Em All – Amerie
5) Good To Me – LeToya

What are your ‘Top 5 Songs Of The Moment’?
Exclusive: Whitney's Music Video Premiere Dates
That Grape Juice can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that Whitney Houston will be premiering not one, but TWO new videos in the coming weeks.
The video for ‘I Look To You’ is set to debut September 10th. While the clip for ‘Million Dollar Bill’ will be unveiled on September 16th.
In other Whitney news, we have received confirmed word that she will be performing ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’ on The Oprah Winfrey Show – at the personal request of Oprah herself.
Also, a televised special is being considered by Whitney’s team for later this year.
Remember where you heard it first!!!
Your thoughts?

World Star Hip-Hop today posted this indescribably sad video of actress Maia Campbell, best known for her role as Tiffany in the LL Cool J sitcom ‘In The House’, going off on some guy in LA. There have been reports for years that the once promising actress had become mentally unstable following the death of her mother a few years ago and was potentially on drugs – something this video is strong evidence in support of. Judging by some of what Maia was saying, she is prostituting as well. So so sad.
In no way is this a case of kicking one while down (there are many a site for folk to go on for that kind of nonsense). Rather, I’m posting this to create awareness that Maia needs help. No, I’m not Saint Sam, but whatever I can do in my own little way, I will. Because this just isn’t the one. SMH…
Your thoughts?

It turns out ‘Angels’ is the ‘official’ lead single from Diddy’s much hyped ‘Last Train To Paris’ which pulls into station this November via Bad Boy. Peep the teaser clip for the video above. You can also listen to the full song below:
Hit or Miss?

Kelly Rowland Album Update
In a recent interview with Spanish magazine, MUST Mag, Kelly Rowland revealed a few interesting details about her as yet untitled 3rd solo album. Peep some of the main points (credit to lenor1 over at DC3 Forever!):
– Kelly has been working on her new album with Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne – Lollipop, Beyonce – Radio, Sweet Dreams, Pitbull) she says he has a very good understanding of dance music and understands where she wants to go with her music
– She has also worked with Rico Love (Michelle Williams – Unexpected, Beyoncé)
– She has also worked with Rob Allen (Rihanna – Disturbia) and Claude Kelly
– She definitely wants to tour with the next album and is making sure that is one of her priorities and that her next album will be a success!
– She says she is very happy with her new manager Jeff Rabhan and that he knows the music industry very well!
– She wants to do more movies and recently went to a few castings
– also currently producing a television program and is intending to launch a line of luggage!
– She is currently in the studio working on her next album
– she has NOT signed a new record label yet

Awesome snippets of info there, perhaps the most we’ve heard from Kelly regarding her music in some time now. Things definitely look to continue to be on the up for this talented star.

The fact that she, at the time of publication of the interview, had yet to sign a new deal, has me thinking she may be looking to finish the album and shop it to different labels. I say this as, with the massive success of ‘When Love Takes Over’, her previous solo hits, along with her Destiny’s Child alumni status, Kelly is one of the hottest ‘free agents’ in the industry at present. There’s no doubt labels have been approaching her with deals. I’m assuming she’s taking a different approach and looking to position herself as best as possible – in terms of creative control, label project budget (she’s likely paying for studio time and producers out of her own pocket) etc. The future looks as bright as the dress she’s wearing in the pic above lol. Onwards and upwards!
Tidbit: I’m still holding out for either a Kelly creative collabo with Darkchild (ala ‘Lose My Breath’) and/or her hook up with Danja for a killer uptempo. Still, I’m impressed with the current list of folk she’s been working with. Word has it she’s also clocked up studio time with The Stereotypes – the production team behind Danity Kane’s ‘Damaged’.
Are you checking for Kelly’s next solo album?
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