After much media speculation, it has been confirmed that comeback queen Britney Spears will be appearing on the X Factor next week – both to mentor and perform:

Britney Spears will appear on The X Factor on November 15, Simon Cowell has confirmed.

The popstar will perform new single ‘Womanizer’ on the ITV talent search on her first visit to the UK since 2004.

Cowell told the News Of The World: “I’m really excited about it, because she has got her act together and the new record is terrific.

“She has come back from a very dark place and is a terrific artist.”

Mariah Carey will perform new single ‘I Stay In Love’ on the programme this Saturday. {Source}

Granted she continues to keep a low profile between now and next week, this is set to be the first performance of Britney’s since that disatrous 2007 MTV VMA showing – and the first of smash ‘Womanizer’. Finger’s crossed she delivers the goods.

Your thoughts?

You can now preview Beyonce’s hotly anticipated new album ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’ album in it’s entirety over at 7 Digital, the link for which you can find below:

Wow! Granted the ‘Beyonce’ side of the record sounds pretty impressive, the ‘Sasha Fierce’ side sounds like it’ll be the real winner. I joke not when I say every single track from the Sasha CD sounds like the hotness. From the Darkchild produced ‘Scared of Lonely’ to the swagger-fied ‘Diva’ (which sounds like a female ‘A Milli’), ‘Video Phone’, next single ‘Ego’ and ‘Radio’ all sound great. Hell, the whole thing has me anticipating the record that much more. November 18th, well 17th for us UK folk couldn’t come any sooner.

Randomness: The previously heard ‘Beautiful Nightmare’ has been renamed ‘Sweet Dreams’ and will be featured on the Sasha Fierce CD

What do you think of the preview?

You can now preview Beyonce’s hotly anticipated new album ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’ album in it’s entirety over at 7 Digital, the link for which you can find below:

Wow! Granted the ‘Beyonce’ side of the record sounds pretty impressive, the ‘Sasha Fierce’ side sounds like it’ll be the real winner. I joke not when I say every single track from the Sasha CD sounds like the hotness. From the Darkchild produced ‘Scared of Lonely’ to the swagger-fied ‘Diva’ (which sounds like a female ‘A Milli’), ‘Video Phone’, next single ‘Ego’ and ‘Radio’ all sound great. Hell, the whole thing has me anticipating the record that much more. November 18th, well 17th for us UK folk couldn’t come any sooner.

Randomness: The previously heard ‘Beautiful Nightmare’ has been renamed ‘Sweet Dreams’ and will be featured on the Sasha Fierce CD

What do you think of the preview?

Most Girls

The fourth week of X Factor 2008 live shows aired tonight here in the UK. Check out my 2 Pence on the Disco themed week 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}

The standard of this year’s show continues to impress, although I’m completely and utterly baffled as to why the terrible Daniel is still there (sob story anyone?). That said, my girl Alexandra rocked it again, as did Laura and JLS as well. Check out their performances below:

Alexandra Burke – On The Radio

Laura White – Somebody Else’s Guy

JLS – Working My Way Back To You

Whatever happens, I feel as though both Alexandra and Laura have great careers ahead of them. JLS possibly – this, I say, mainly because of their major following so early in the competition. I just hope the viewing public don’t vote for crappy people like they did tonight (I mean honestly, Daniel and the little boy…no, just no).

Roll on next week, though. The theme has been confirmed as Mariah Carey songs. What’s more the diva herself will be there. Granted we’ll no doubt hear renditions of some of her classics, wouldn’t it be great if we could hear some of her newer material performed by contestants, namely ‘We Belong Together’, ‘Don’t Forget About Us’ and maybe even the so-rubbish-it’s good ‘Touch My Body’?

Your thoughts?

The Beyonce promo machine (best believe that’s what it is) is in full effect; the woman is everywhere at the moment. Check out her high fashion shoot featured in the latest issue of Gotham Magazine. Hot.

Ever note-perfect, never looking a mess and seemingly ‘errrrrwhere’, many look at Ms. Knowles as some kind of robot/machine (an idea I believe she plays on with that Sasha Fierce glove). Bey speaks about being having to slow her roll for the first time in the magazine too:

“Years ago, I was definitely headed for a breakdown,” she continues. “Just way too much work—my life was my career and I had no other life. It started when I was 15 and I hadn’t learned the importance of balance, making sure I took a day off. I didn’t know what ‘no’ was, what boundaries were. At this point, I know that after a certain amount of time I have to go home. I know what I like now. It just takes life experience to get a good balance. When you’re young, you don’t know what relaxes you.”

I’m really liking the fact Ms. Knowles is shedding her wooden ‘media-trained’ personality this go round in favour of what seems to be really her. More power to her.

Your thoughts?

The official album cover and track-listing for Britney Spear’s forthcoming album ‘Circus’ were unveiled on the Pop star’s official website today. Airbrushed to the nines, but still a great shot all the same. Check out the track-listing for the set, which hits stores on December 2nd, below:

Track-listing

1. Womanizer
2. Circus
3. Out From Under
4. Kill The Lights
5. Shattered Glass
6. If U Seek Amy
7. Unusual You
8. Blur
9. Mmm Papi
10. Mannequin
11. Lace and Leather
12. My Baby

Bonus Track:
13. Radar

We are all rooting for her. Here’s hoping the album delivers.

Your thoughts?

As reported, Beyonce is currently in Japan promoting a range of projects, most especially her new single ‘If I Were A Boy’. The 27 year old stopped by the country’s Music Station show today to perform the track. As ever, she nailed it! That said, I’m sure we’ll get more of a stage show with the ‘Single Ladies’ performances. All in all, a great showing.

Randomness: I see her killer band from her ‘B’Day’ era are back, which is a good look.

What do you think of the performance?

Talented Knowles sisters Beyonce and Solange have embarked on a whirlwind promotional trip in Tokyo, Japan. The pair are plugging a number of projects, including their music releases. They are photographed above and below promoting their range of handbags for designer Samantha Thavasa at the upmarket Eight Million fashion store in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

Good on them…

What do you think of the pics?

Some of you may be wondering just where Girlicious have been since the initial impact of their debut ‘Like Me’? Well, their album has yet to be released anywhere other than in Canada where they have been a surprise success. Their latest release over there is ‘Baby Doll’, which I must say isn’t bad. Microwavable, throw-away Pop/R&B at it’s best. The video, even with its ‘limited’ budget, still manages to be mildly engaging too.

Randomness: Isn’t it ironic that these girls were discovered on ‘The Pussycat Dolls Present Girlicious’, yet their singles thus far have trumped everything but ‘When I Grow Up’ from PCD?

What do you think of the video?