* Manchester: Manchester Apollo – September 16th

* Birmingham: Alexandra Theatre – September 17th

* London: Brixton Academy – September 20th

To be in with a chance of winning tickets to the tour, answer the following question correctly:

Granted it’s good to see the song (definitely one of the so-so album’s best) get the single treatment, they really could have spared me alot of the nonsense they released in-between (i.e. ‘Shut Up & Drive’). What is this, single 7 or 8? I’m convinced had the right singles been released (and Ms. Fenty actually being up to the job of doing them justice live), the sales of her album would have been what one would expect at this stage (which currently stand barely past the 2million mark, despite 3 #1’s and a re-release).

Usher is going to be a father for the second time. The R&B star and his wife Tameka Foster are expecting their second child together, a source close to the singer confirms. Recently, Foster was spotted wearing a belly-disguising outfit during Usher’s Sept. 4 NFL kick-off concert in New York. The dress was “very deceiving,” the source says. “You couldn’t tell she was pregnant when she was sitting down.” {Source}

NEW YORK, Sept 09, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Music World Music/Columbia Records will release the third full-length studio album from the international superstar and cultural icon Beyonce on Tuesday, November 18.

One of 2008’s most hotly anticipated new album releases, Beyonce’s as-yet-untitled upcoming album marks the artist’s first new studio collection since the Grammy-winning multi-platinum-selling B’Day debuted at #1 on charts around the world shortly after its international release on September 4, 2006 (in celebration of Beyonce’s 25th birthday).

Beyonce’s fans will get their first glimpse of the artist’s new album with the simultaneous release of two of the album’s key tracks — “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies” — scheduled to impact radio on October 7.
With all songs co-written and co-produced by Beyonce, the artist’s third studio album is her most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to-date.

Lensed live at Radio City Music Hall on September 5, Beyonce’s spectacular performance at the “Fashion Rocks” fifth anniversary extravaganza, a star-studded concert honoring the relationship between music and fashion, will be broadcast on CBS on Tuesday, September 9 at 9pm (ET/PT). Please check your local listings. {Source}

The timing of her ‘return’ couldn’t have come sooner; with all the so-so material we’ve been subjected to from ‘singers’ who can’t/don’t sing (I won’t say no names), it’s great to see that the ‘queen of the pack’, so to speak, is coming back. No doubt this one will be an ‘event’ in itself…one I’m highly anticipating.

You know where to keep it locked… That Grape Juice!

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Shambolic showing of the night, no doubt, belongs to Ms. Rihanna. Her rendition of ‘Disturbia’ had all the elements of a great performance (truly amazing stage set-up, overly on-point dancers etc)… that is until she opened her mouth. Billy Goat Gruff at her worst. Terrible, just terrible. Though, I must say she redeemed herself ever so slightly with her performance of ‘Live Your Life’ with T.I. (the faux-hood chick thing wasn’t working, though. No). Rihanna aside, Clifford was on fire.

Christina Aguilera’s first post-pregnancy performance was notable, not least because we were given our first look at her new musical/image direction (seems Xtina has embraced the Electro-Pop sound – jumped on the bandwagon, maybe?), more so the fact that 95% of the performance was lip-synched. She gets a pass, somewhat, as she’s already proven herself to be one this generation’s greatest vocalists. That said, I’m still not entirely sold on ‘Keeps Gettin’ Better’ or this new direction of hers. I guess time will tell.

Is it bad that I haven’t (and don’t intend to) watch The Jonas Brothers or Kid Rock performances? LOL LOL…not enough time in the day…

I feel quite proud seeing Leona getting her shine over in the States, who would have ever envisioned a Lil’Wayne / Leona performance? As for Weezy’s showing with T-Pain, it was kinda ‘samey’ IMO.

Highlights of the night, no doubt, were Pink and Kanye West. Pink’s show-stopping performance of ‘So What’ really has me liking the song even more than before. While, Kanye’s debut of ‘sing song’ new single ‘Love Lockdown’ was great…a much needed spark of energy to close out an otherwise tired show.

One will, in future, be better off expecting exactly what is on the show’s ‘can’, as opposed to any surprises, seeing as the VMA’s ability to shock and awe seems like a distant memory. Having not turned in anything of substance since 2004, it seems the classic moments that made the VMA’s such a staple fixture on the music calendar have all but disappeared – the Michael/Nsync performance, Beyonce’s infamous ceiling entrance, Britney/Madonna/Christina….need I say more?