Though we don’t consider ourselves the gambling type, TGJ is willing to bet that the last name on the list above will find himself becoming just as renown as the first two…both home and away.
Last night, weeks before his debut album sees him take the first step in turning the above into his reality, James made his way to ITV’s ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’ to perform his new single ‘You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You’.
Why he’s about to make life very difficult for a number of his Brit Pop contemporaries?
He’s the Pop sensation on course to take this year’s ‘X Factor UK’ by force and by storm.
However, in a new interview given by Sam Callahan, he has revealed that he wasn’t always as celebrated as he is today, detailing a number of violent attacks he suffered at the hands of bullies during his formative years.
Singing sensation Ariana Grande has undoubtedly been a breath of fresh air for 2013’s pop music lovers. A welcomed departure from EDM and the dearth of talent plaguing the day’s charts and radio alike, the pop princess has taken the genre by storm with a #1 album and top-selling singles to her credit.
Immediately drawing comparisons to an early 90s Mariah Carey, the up-and-comer has polarized Carey’s fans (affectionately called Lambs) for what some of them feel is a blatant duplication of the diva’s singing style.
Those fans’ anger grew to new heights today when Grande took to Billboard.com to list in grand style an homage to her top 5 favorite female vocalists. Praising the likes of Whitney Houston and Brandy, there’s one name that, to the surprise of some, didn’t quite make the cut…
Grammy winning gospel diva Yolanda Adams is back to blazing charts with ‘Best For Last’ – the Donald Lawrence helmed number acting as the title track to his latest #1 album.
Most recently sharing the tune coast-to-coast with enthusiastic crowds on Verizon’s ‘How Sweet The Sound’ tour, the songstress took time backstage during an Atlanta stop to answer fan questions and weigh in on pressing pop culture topics.
Imparting her opinion on serial twerker Miley Cyrus, a potential Brandy duet, and her own new offerings with legendary producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, tuck in below to hear the ‘Victory’ songstress share some words of wisdom and more.
The Grammy winner and American Idol graduate has spent much of 2013 promoting her critically-acclaimed album ‘Side Effects Of You’ – which yielded singles ‘Lose To Win’ and ‘Without Me (ft. Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliott)’. Having embarked on a series of live dates in support of the LP, the 29-year-old has confirmed the project’s title track is its third single.
Set to impact Urban radio on October 28th, the track’s accompanying visual will begin production imminently according to the star’s manager. Once unwrapped, the clip will mark the first time a “third” video has been commissioned during any of Fantasia’s album campaigns. A feat which, in this trying time for R&B, should definitely be commended.
Interestingly, the songbird is releasing a stripped back version of the Emeli Sande penned / Naughty Boy produced cut to radio. Take a listen after the jump…
The Best You Never Heard is back! After a lengthy rest on the bench, each week will once again see That Grape Juice spotlight an array of little known gems. Featuring picks from the TGJ editorial team, we want to know…who chose the best song! Let us know below…
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Toni Braxton – ‘Hands Tied’
Toni Braxton may once again be riding high on the R&B charts with Babyface, yet the climate was altogether different for the veteran diva back in 2010.
For, despite serving up a solid LP in the form of ‘Pulse’, the songstress saw industry politics once again marr another of her post-90’s projects. A shame, as like ‘Libra’ before it, ‘Pulse’ re-affirmed that musically Ms. Braxton was very much alive – and if backed properly could still be quite the Urban chart force.
Still, one of the positive facets to emerge from the episode was the Oak-produced ‘Hands Tied’.
A titillating concoction of classy and sensual, the baby-making number placed Braxton’s creamy contralto centre-stage. The definition of “feel music”, the cut’s lyrics are sure to resonate with anyone who’s loved and loved hard.
Despite receiving the video treatment, the song – which was rolled out as the album’s third single – could only manage a #29 peak on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Unfortunate, yet a fact that does not dilute the brilliance that is this song! {SAM}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”FrzGNKGhipM”]
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Destiny’s Child – I Know
2003 proved to be the beginning of America’s decade long love affair with ‘Crazy In Love’ singer Beyonce. But, as the singer’s musical flight was just taking off, she still aimed to build her acting resume – a resume which already included the likes of ‘Carmen: A Hip Hopera’ and ‘Austin Powers 3’.
Then, taking her chops to gospel-inspired numbers, Bey took to the Cuba Gooding Jr.-led ‘Fighting Temptations’ to lend fan favorites ‘Time To Come Home’ and a scorching remake of classic hit ‘Fever’. Despite an album full of gems, it appeared to be the inspirational Destiny’s Child cut ‘I Know’ that is oft-overlooked. In line with the inspirational work of both Kelly’s (‘Stole’) and Michelle’s (‘Heart To Yours’), the song showcased each beauty’s talent while delivering a heartwarming message.
Get to know ‘I Know’ below:
Press play and fall in love {RASHAD}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”e6Rghyb4yfM”]
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SWV – Use Your Heart
Well before the new millennium saw him craft hits for Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Jay Z, Pharrell Williams wooed the ears of many an R&B loyalist…via the vocalists that are SWV.
Responsible for the group’s signature jam ‘Right Here’, my ‘Best You’ve Never Heard’ pick invites you to the year 1996 to meet ‘Use Your Heart’, the second single to be lifted from the trio’s ‘New Beginning’.
Peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, ‘Heart’ saw the ladies storm R&B shores with a peak position of #6 and push US sales of its supporting album to 1 million units, earning the LP a Platinum certification despite the song itself itself failing to reach the Gold milestone achieved by its preceding single ‘You’re The One’.
Boasting a finesse and crossover appeal many of today’s R&B hopefuls could pull from, I hope you love ‘Use Your Heart’ as much as I do, and make it the ‘Best You Never Heard’ too! {DAVID}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”CDfgawEll1Y”]
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Michael Jackson – Someone Put Your Hand Out
From the Jackson 5 days to ‘This Is It’, the King Of Pop had been able to show the universe the full extent of his genius. Yes, Michael Jackson blessed us with many a “classic” moment, but today let’s focus on a track only die-hard fans are aware of.
Courtesy of the 1991 ‘Dangerous’ sessions and included on a Pepsi promotional boxset , ‘Someone Put Your Hand Out’ is yet another gem created by the fantastic team of Jackson and Teddy Riley. A melancholic, surrendering love song, it’s safe to say it is ranked quite high on the extensive list of “could-have-been-hits” from the Pop visionary. Armed with a crystal clear falsetto, a Latin flavored groove, lush vocal arrangements and simple – in the best way possible – melodies, Mike demonstrates here that – with the right dosage – less is definitely more. Indeed, what makes this song such a winner is its subtlety.
Jackson’s ability to seamlessly switch his sound from high-energy, industrial and aggressive to ethereal and vulnerable remains one of his biggest qualities and this very song sums up amazingly what the softer side of his music is all about: love, passion, emotion and honesty
“With so much of Thursday’s attention fixed on three brand-new comedies, the spotlight may have been stolen by ABC‘s Scandal. The drama returned to the 10 p.m. hour with series highs, averaging a 3.6 rating with adults 18-49 — a 71 percent jump year-over-year — and 10.5 million viewers.”
The news came as a surprise to Washington, who spent most of the night tweeting the show’s faithful followers.
“It really is amazing! I’m so happy that so many people caught up with the show on Netflix and with the DVD during our hiatus,” she said. “It feels like we were able to have a lot of new Gladiator converts.”
Ever keen on keeping the masses abreast of fresh and/or often underrated talent, That Grape Juice presents ‘The Spill’ – a renewed look at not-so-new, yet active, acts.
Much like its ‘Freshly Squeezed’sister segment, this revived assay aims to put the magnifying glass on talents who may not appeal to the buying public on a broad scale yet are still serving material that could easily spin side-by-side with some of today’s top hits.
Covering a kaleidoscope of genres, ‘The Spill’ is set to feature some names you probably know and love as well as some you’ll (soon) be glad to know. Click below to find out the spill on crooners Mario, Jaheim, and much more…
WeTV has finally unveiled the first look at the upcoming 4th season of their hit reality series “Braxton Family Values”.
Featuring more insight on the latest of the Braxton five – including Toni working on her new duets album ‘Love, Marriage & Divorce‘ with Babyface to Tamar’s banging R&B career and all the sisters’ happenings in between.
Press play on the video above to find out what you can expect to see of the ladies’ on their fourth go round.
WeTV has finally unveiled the first look at the upcoming 4th season of their hit reality series “Braxton Family Values”.
Featuring more insight on the latest of the Braxton five – including Toni working on her new duets album ‘Love, Marriage & Divorce‘ with Babyface to Tamar’s banging R&B career and all the sisters’ happenings in between.
Press play on the video above to find out what you can expect to see of the ladies’ on their fourth go round.
Perhaps that’s the lesson some Chris Brown fans hope he learns this week, following the unveiling of comments he made regarding his sexuality during an interview with ‘The Guardian‘.
Comments, that saw him reveal that he lost his virginity aged eight.
