Pop star Christina Aguilera is currently doing the promotional rounds for new single ‘Not Myself Tonight’, which is lifted from her forthcoming  LP ‘Bionic’. Speaking to KISS radio recently about what what fans can expect from the album, the 29 year old likened the set (which hits stores on June 8th), to her Grammy award winning ‘Stripped’ LP. Check out what she said below…

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Pop royalty Janet Jackson features in the latest issue of Wonderland magazine. The reclusive performer, 43, opened up about many a topic, including the direction of her new album (due later this year on Interscope Records), switching up her style, coping with the loss of her brother Michael, starring in Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married Too’, Rihanna, Lady GaGa, and a whole lot more. A lengthy, yet ultimately great read. Check it in its entirety after the jump…

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That Grape Juice were fortunate enough to catch up with Grammy-nominated R&B star Fantasia Barrino recently.  The 25 year old, whose new VH1 reality series ‘Fantasia For Real’ has been a hit with viewers, spoke candidly with That Grape Juice in a 40 minute long conversation about many a topic. Areas discussed include how ‘real’ the show actually is, her new album, the rumours which threatened to destroy her career, her romantic life (yes, we asked about Antwaun Cook!), industry politics and so much more. As ever, we asked the questions you really want answers to…and answer them Fantasia did. A lengthy, yet great read; this is Fantasia for real….Enjoy!

{Transcription by Bisi Kadejoh}

Fantasia Shouts Out That Grape Juice

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After a brief rest on the bench, our Best You Never Heard feature returns this week with little known gems by Ashanti, Fantasia, Mario and Alexandra Burke.

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Ashanti – You’re Gonna Miss

Ashanti‘s criminally underrated LP ‘The Declaration’ (2008) housed many a hit, with one of its best offerings being ‘You’re Gonna Miss’. Produced by LT Hutton, the 80’s inspired Synth-Pop meets R&B cut had ‘winner’ written all over it; which makes the lacklustre performance of the album (due to industry politics etc) all the more unfortunate. Still, regardless of the record’s eventual fate, we’ve still been gifted gems like this. Awesome track.

Listen:

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Fantasia – Til My Baby Comes Home

The incomparable Fantasia served up the hotness on her remake of Luther Vandross’ ‘Til My Baby Comes Home’ from 2005. Lifted from ‘So Amazing…An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross’ compilation, the American Idol alum took the song to church and beyond! Passionately sung and really capturing the essence of the track’s lyrical narrative, Ms. Barrino’s version, IMO, gives the original an undeniable run for its money. Some 5 years later, I cannot get enough of ‘Tasia’s vocal runs and riffs on this one. The business.

Listen:

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Alexandra Burke – Nothing But The Girl

It’s a given that X-Factor sensation Alexandra Burke has a level of talent which positions her as world-class. However the material on her otherwise successful debut ‘Overcome’ didn’t really provide her the firmest of foundations to showcase that (though she ‘s making the best of what’s she’s been given and nailing each and every live performance). The album does indeed boast a few gems though, one of the biggest stand-outs being ‘Nothing But The Girl’. Penned by Ne-Yo, the song is a delicious slice of Electro-Pop, with a side helping of R&B. If there’s any justice in the world (or her label lol) this has to be a single at some point in the albums shelf-life.

Listen:

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Mario – Music For Love

R&B crooner Mario delivered his strongest offering yet with 2007’s ‘Music For Love’. Featured on the 24 yea old’s equally as great  ‘Go!’ LP, the track is a metaphorical nod to the art of making love. Though such a topic is much-treaded on territory in R&B, the song separates itself from the masses with ridiculously clever wordplay, which makes for it to sound sensual as opposed to sleazy. Some may call it a stretch, but this is a modern day R&B classic, which most certainly should have received the single treatment. Interestingly, a video was in the pipeline, yet was axed for unknown reasons.

Listen:

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Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

Beyonce has triggered a media frenzy after her New Year’s Eve performance in St. Barts. The fierce one was reported to have performed for Moutassim Bilal “Hannibal” Gaddafi, a member of the notorious Gaddafi family, a group widely known for violence against women and dictatorship. However, Beyonce’s camp released the following statement denying the claims:

The party in St. Bart’s on New Year’s Eve, with Beyoncé in performance, was hosted by Muatsim-Billah Gaddafi, not his brother Moutassim Bilal “Hannibal” Gaddafi, as reported in the press.

Her agents and management firm made the decision to confirm the private performance. The annual party had a long history of booking internationally known artists both American and foreign for events around the world, including Cannes.

Past performers in St. Bart’s have included Timbaland, Enrique Iglesias and Mariah Carey. Guests at this year’s party included singer Usher, former BET CEO Bob Johnson, actress Lindsay Lohan and music industry vets, Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles and L.A. Reid. {Source}

It seems that this is just another case of the media trying to twist events in an effort encourage readership. Interestingly, when Mariah Carey performed at the same event at last year for $1 million, the media had no qualms about it. Either way, by performing for the Gaddafi clan, Beyonce is in no way showing support for their motives. Does a defense attorney support rape if he represents a rapist in court? Hardly.

Thoughts?

Pop icon Janet Jackson took to the stage a few moments ago on the X-Factor, performing her 00’s classic ‘All For You’ as well as new single ‘Make Me’, which you can watch above!

This performance was everything….breakfast, lunch and dinner! Ms Jackson’s pre-recorded vocals are second to none in the industry (definitely a great crack at creating the illusion of sounding live! LOL). What’s more, she definitely served up a better performance of ‘Make Me’ than her American Music Awards showing last month. The ‘All For You’ dance-break was great to see again too. Great to have Ms. Jackson back!

What do you think of the performance?

Jennifer Lopez visited ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ today. The music mogul performed her new song ‘Louboutins’ which marks the first time that Lopez has performed the track live since  the American Music Awards where she notoriously fell during her choreography. The song will be featured on her upcoming studio album ‘Love’? which is slated for release in the first quarter of 2010.

Minus the blatant lip-syncing throughout the entire set, this was a very good performance. The dancing was tight (minus her uninspired dance solo) and I was completely engrossed (although partially because I was wondering if she was going to fall again). I must admit that this song is growing on me but not enough to get me excited for the album. Hopefully her next single will be far more impressive. Peep the hilarious interview where she makes fun of her AMA mishap below:

Thoughts?

VH1 today announced official details of R&B Fantasia‘s new reality show, which will air on the network next month (January 11th 2010 at 10pm). Titled ‘Fantasia For Real’, the docu-series will comprise 8 episodes. Check out the synopsis below:

Six years ago, Fantasia was a young single mother from High Point, North Carolina singing in her church choir and struggling to raise her daughter, Zion. On a whim, she tried out for the third season of “American Idol,” and seemingly overnight the world discovered Fantasia’s tremendous voice. Five years and 8 Grammy® Award nominations later, life couldn’t look more different for Fantasia. Her first album, Free Yourself, was a platinum-selling, chart-topping success, bringing her wealth, fame, and recognition as an accomplished artist. Fantasia has worked with many music industry legends, including Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Missy Elliot. In 2007 Fantasia was chosen to star as “Celie” in the acclaimed Broadway musical “The Color Purple.” Her book “Life is Not a Fairy Tale” made the New York Times bestseller list, and she also starred in a made-for-television movie based on her life.

As Fantasia’s fame has grown, her personal life has increasingly become more complicated. The sole breadwinner for her large family, Fantasia struggles to balance career, family, being  single mother and the demanding life of a highly successful performing artist. Fantasia’s VH1 series delves into how she has dealt with the seismic aftershocks of fame, all while managing the daily demands of life on the road and writing and recording new music that will connect with her fans.

“Fantasia has engaged millions of fans not only through her music and her amazing talent but also by her incredible fairytale life story,” said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Production, VH1. “Our audience helped Fantasia become an American Idol and now, with this series, they get a backstage pass into her real life as she confronts obstacles to realize her true potential as an artist, a mother, a daughter and a sister.”

I love me some Fantasia, so I will most definitely be checking for the show come January! Here’s hoping it ties-in with a new album, as it’s hard to believe it’s been almost 4 years since she dropped her last record, the incredible ‘Fantasia’.

Will you be watching ‘Fantasia For Real’?

Pop phenom Lady GaGa took the stage on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ recently. The singer performed the track ‘Speechless’ from her second studio album ‘The Fame Monster’. The track, which was produced by GaGa herself, was first performed at this year’s American Music Awards in a medley with ‘Bad Romance’ (now at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100). ‘The Fame Monster’ was released earlier this week on November 23rd.

Once again, GaGa delivered a solid performance. All the gimmicks aside, this girl really has a lot of talent and continues to prove why she is a real ‘monster’ on the charts. With showings like this, I sense that 2010 will be another great year for her career.

Sidebar: She has great shoulder pads and she can sing! That is such a rare combination in today’s music industry…

Thoughts?

Jennifer Lopez‘s blink-or-you-miss-it fall at Sunday’s American Music Awards had many a folk talking, with there being what I deem the unfair assertion that she’s ‘past it’. Explaining what happened the next day on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio show, the mother of 2 said:

“Did I? Did I? Did I trip a little bit? I don’t even remember,” Lopez said with a chuckle. “Yeah, I meant to do that. You should know me better than that. That was part of the choreography.”

Knowing she had to be having a laugh about it being ‘part of the choreography’ (LMAO), she seemingly admitted it wasn’t in the same interview (confused.com):

Seacrest gave her props for what he termed “the greatest recovery ever” and Lopez explained that, “The measure of things is not what happens when you fall, it’s how you recover when you fall … It was fun, it was really fun,” she said. “It was nice to be back on stage and doing my thing.”

{Source}

I’ve said it already in my AMA review, but kudos to Jennifer for recovering like a pro. Had it not been for the Internet culture of nothing going unseen, the fall being part of the choreography would be very plausible.

Tidbit: The West Coast (L.A etc) airing of the AMA’s edited out the fall.

Your thoughts?

Thoughts?

With the eagerly anticipated American Music Awards 2009 about to get underway live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, That Grape Juice’s ‘American Music Awards 2009: Your Shout!’ area goes live right now! Tonight’s show boasts performances from Janet Jackson, Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Eminem, and Whitney Houston. Something tells me this AMA’s will be one for the most talked about show of the year!

Watch the American Music Awards LIVE here!

UPDATED: Click here or here if link above doesn’t work

This is Your Shout!