Beyonce was among the performers at the Christmas In Rockeller Center show in New York City last night. The 27 year old superstar performed ‘Ave Maria’ from her top selling ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’ album. As ever she delivered a top notch performance.
In other Bouncy news, her smash ‘Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)’ has hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, following a surge in digital downloads.This serves as her 5th solo #1 – one more than she achieved with Destiny’s Child. Congratulations! {Source}
Also, reports are mounting that Beyonce has been lined up for the X Factor final next week – with a major performance with hot favourite and ‘diva in the making’ Alexandra. Should be interesting… {Source}
R&B star Usher served as the sole performer at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which aired live from Miami Beach last night. The multi-Platinum selling singer gave a rousing live medley of current single ‘Whats Your Name’ and 2004 smash ‘Yeah’. Good stuff.
Diva Mariah Carey took to the stage at last night’s Grammy Awards Nominations Concert Special in Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater to perform ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ as a homage to the nomination of her record breaking ‘Merry Christmas’ holiday album all those years ago. Check out her performance below:
I have to give it to Mariah, she really delivered on this one. Yes, it wasn’t perfect or comparable to her earlier hey-day, but she sounded the best she has in a long while. For the first time in what seems like forever, she showcased specs of ‘The Voice’ – a voice many, myself included, argue was on the way out.
It’s worth pointing out that one of the reasons I’m hard on Mariah (and will continue to be) is that knowing what she is capable of – even still today – and then seeing the garbage she has been doing on stage for most of this year for example is frustrating. It may not be a her fault per se, but as an artist who knows herself and her talent, you’d think she’d know when it’s time to do something about her problem (be it rest her voice, surgery or whatever), because she’s playing herself thinking those promo performances this year were doing anything other than (pardon my language) sh*tting on her legacy. It’s one thing when the Sam’s of That Grape Juice and internet folk are getting on her for sub-par performances, after all we are going to talk regardless, however going on a show like The X Factor, which has a huge audience, and doing the equivalent of standing in the middle of the party and peeing on yourself with that horrid showing, only exposes her to ridicule by the masses. And ridicule they did – the media had a field day.
It’s worth pointing out that by no means is Mariah not still a great singer, it’s more a case of judging her by what we’ve come to expect. I mean, I’m baffled as to why there is so much noise about Britney lip-synching for instance…don’t think I’ve ever seen her sing live…she’s always lip-synched…she’s more a ‘performer’…what’s new? IMO it’s about judging artists by their own standards. That said, there are a few exemplary cases, who have never established any standard other than being crap…a certain Ms. Fenty comes to mind, but no need going into that LOL.
In a nutshell, I’d be more content with ‘this’ Mariah, whatever it takes for her to maintain such a level – be it taking a lengthy break, not releasing another full fledged album requiring gruelling performing promo or whatever. She shouldn’t do herself or her fans a disservice by giving us the Diet Coke Mariah and messing with what is a glittering career.
Despite the tanking of his most recent LP ‘Brass Knuckles’, Nelly continues to churn out videos from the set -the latest being for the Polow Da Don produced ‘One & Only’. Put simply, both the song and video (though slightly better) are ‘just there’ aka ‘blah’. Unlike some though, I still feel as if Nelly can make his mark again – just not with the crappy songs from this album. “Dust yourself off and try again…”
The nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were unveiled during a CBS prime-time concert special last night.
Leading the field with a whopping 8 nominations is rapper Lil’ Wayne, followed by Coldplay (7 nominations), and Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, and Kanye West – who all racked up 6 nominations a piece.
Brits Leona Lewis, Adele and Estelle also scored major nominations.
Please Read The Letter – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends – Coldplay
Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
Year Of The Gentleman – Ne-Yo
Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows – Radiohead
SONG OF THE YEAR
American Boy – William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle Featuring Kanye West, artist)
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz, artist)
Love Song – Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles, artist)
Viva La Vida – Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay, artist)
BEST NEW ARTIST
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Detours – Sheryl Crow
Rockferry – Duffy
Long Road Out Of Eden – Eagles
Spirit – Leona Lewis
Covers – James Taylor
BEST R&B ALBUM
Love & Life – Eric Benet
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA – Boyz II Men
Lay It Down – Al Green
Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson
The Way I See It – Raphael Saadiq
BEST RAP ALBUM
American Gangster – Jay-Z
Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
The Cool – Lupe Fiasco
Nas – Nas
Paper Trail – T.I.
Congratulations to all the nominees – most especially the Brits. I’m particularly proud of Estelle and Leona. The Grammy’s are undeniably the most prestigious body an artist, of any nationality, could wish to be recognised by. So it really is a big deal seeing some of home-grown talent flying the flag.
The hotly anticipated video for Britney Spears’ new single ‘Circus’ hit the net today. Getting straight to the point, the big budget clip definitely provides a level of spectacle and ‘wow’ (See: Lions scene) which is a good look for the undeniable ‘Britney’s Back’ slant that is being put on her chart return.
However, it’s hard to overlook the fact that this slickly produced clip doesn’t provide the answer most still want to know (especially in lieu of those so-so performances she’s been giving as of late): Does Britney Still Have ‘It’? Spears seems to fall into the background during the vid’s big dance scene – which itself is barely watchable after being spliced up so much.
Put simply, it feels like a case of just too much going on. Perhaps this is to cover up the fact that well…maybe..her best days are (far) behind her? Just a thought…
That said, like most, I’m rooting for her. Here’s hoping she finds her mojo again – as this is a step in the right direction.
Calls from fans and critics alike for Kelly Rowland to switch management are almost as old as time. However, my girl Natasha over at The YBF is reporting that the ‘Like This’ singer is on the verge of jumping ship. Check out the report below:
A source who works very closely with SONY/BMG tells us that Destiny’s Step-Child singer Kelly Rowland is set to change lanes when it comes to her her manager and career. Yeah we’ve heard this rumor before, but this time it seems quite legit. She was recently spotted meeting with 19 Entertainment’s Simon Fuller, who she is expected to announce as her new manager at the top of the year. We predict her current manager Mathew Knowles ain’t gonna like this.
Simon is the current manager of international acts like The Spice Girls, Annie Lennox, Carrie Underwood and David and Victoria Beckham. And Kelly may not be the superstar that her group member Beyonce is in the United States, but the singer is a mega-star in Europe where she has been playing arena-size venues with the biggest international pop acts.
Apparently 27-year-old Kelly is tired of playing the backseat to Beyonce who is also managed by Papa Knowles and intends to ax B’s daddy in the coming weeks.
The album Ms. Kelly was released in the U.S. in 2007 after being pushed back numerous times for Beyonce’s B’day CD. After Ms. Kelly came out, the CD sold underwhelming numbers.
In the U.K., the CD had an impressive debut and bolted up the charts after the song “Work” hit radio. The CD was re-released in the Europe and in Japan as, Ms. Kelly Deluxe, and was a chart-topper. The re-release was only available for digital download in the U.S.
Unfortunately, Kelly’s U.S. success doesn’t match her international career and before she ends up like U.S. singer Anastacia, who is an international superstar but doesn’t sell records in America, Kelly is ready for a management overhaul to get things together. ‘Bout damn time Kelly.
I guess time will tell if this turns out to be true. Regardless, my hope is that she is afforded the chance to become the world class solo star she is more than capable of becoming.
Kelly’s as yet untitled third studio album is set to hit stores at some point during 2009 via Columbia Records.
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) Long Distance – Brandy
2) Us Against The World – Christina Milian
3) Conceited – Remy Ma
4) Just Dance – Lady GaGa
As the release of Keyshia Cole’s 3rd LP ‘A Different Me’ draws nearer (December 16th), a new cut from the set has surfaced in the form of ‘You Complete Me’. The drum-driven ballad is head and shoulders above the overly mediocre ‘Playa Cardz Right’ – which till now still baffles me as to why it was chosen as the project’s lead single. Listening to this has kinda reignited my interest in the album. Here’s hoping Keyshia delivers the goods with the LP more generally.
Boy has this been one slow a** news day. Anyway lol, the UK’s top girl group Sugababes performed their current single ‘No Can Do’ on the Paul O’ Grady Show recently. I must say, I’m really feeling the track, as well as this live showing. Good stuff.
Following her whirlwind promotional trip to Europe this past week, Pop superstar Britney Spears celebrated her birthday today (as well as the release of ‘comeback’ LP ‘Circus)’ on Good Morning America with two special performances. She also announced that she she will be touring on home soil with the Pussycat Dolls as special guests. Check out Britney’s performances of ‘Circus’ and ‘Womanizer’ below:
Circus
Womanizer
Interview
Good stuff, if only for the energetic atmosphere and stage spectacle. Though she’s just about doing enough to make this album and project more generally be her ‘Mariah Emancipation Comeback’ I’m gonna need ol’ Britney to give me some umph in future showings. Is it me or could she move a lot better before? I’m talking Janet-esque moves with some serious stage swagger? Time will tell if the so-so’ness of her recent showings is nothing more than ‘rust’ or a case of us having to make do with the Diet Coke Britney…kinda like how we’re making do with the almost expired Mariah Carey. Things that make you go hmmm…
A month after the killings of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew, prime suspect William Balfour – the estranged ex of Jennifer’s sister Julia – has been arrested and will be charged with their murders:
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The estranged brother-in-law of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson was arrested and will be charged with the October slayings of three of her relatives, police said on Monday.
“We have obtained an arrest warrant for William Balfour. He was released to Chicago detectives,” Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond said, adding that Balfour would be charged with three counts of murder.
Balfour, 27, who had been married to Hudson’s sister Julia, was questioned after the slayings but not charged. He was imprisoned for violating his parole on a previous attempted murder conviction, and was scheduled to have a hearing on Wednesday.
Bond would not give details about what evidence led police to charge Balfour for the shooting deaths of Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.
Donerson and Jason Hudson were found shot to death on October 24 in Donerson’s South Side home. Four days later, King’s body was found in a stolen sport utility vehicle parked on the city’s West Side. A handgun used in the slayings was found nearby.
The Chicago Tribune reported investigators had evidence that Balfour had a gun matching the weapon. {Source}
Here’s hoping some good comes out of this terrible situation.