As Madonna gears up for the release of her latest greatest hits collection ‘Celebration’, the video for the title track of the set premiered today.
After watching this, the words embarrassing, atrocious and hot mess immediately come to mind. Having never really been one to holler about ol’ Madge being past it, this video is proof if ever it was needed. The cringe worthy choreography and insistence on trying to sell her sex appeal, which long expired, made this whole affair seem desperate and actually quite sad. Blunt as it sounds too, the song is trash.
Tidbit: Did anyone else notice Madge’s daughter Lourdes getting her dance on at the end?
What do you think of the video?
Preview: Amerie In YRB Magazine
Check out this preview of R&B singer Amerie’s new photoshoot with YRB magazine. A stunner if I have ever seen one. Truly stunning!
Tidbit: Amerie shot the video for hot new single ‘Heard Em’ All’ this past weekend. The clip was directed by the acclaimed Anthony Mandler.
Randomness: Does anyone else feel Amerie’s ‘underrated’ status stems from the fact she has no ‘drama’ known to the masses nor does she have that big media story to push her sales. A shame really, as surely the most important factor with an arist should be their talent, right?
Any thoughts?
Whitney Covers Ebony /  Talks New LP
Peep a radiant looking Whitney Houston on the cover of the October issue of Ebony magazine (on newsstands September 8th). In the feature, the diva discusses shedding the drama from her life, her time away from the limelight, her relationship with daughter Bobbi-Kristina. Check out some extracts from the interview:
On shedding the drama:
“I shed a lot of stuff, a lot of unnecessary weight in the last three or four years. I left a lot of old luggage behind, and when I did, the blessings just started pouring on me, and the light in my spirit started to lift again,” she tells the magazine. “I’m really humbled, and I thank God that people love me, but I [really] thank God that God loves me. I thank Him for chastening my heart, for never letting go. What I did sometimes … I went off and did my thing, but He
never let me go.”

On her time out of the limelight:

“I was just ready to lay back and raise my daughter and just watch her grow and nurture her. And my mother’s getting older. I wanted to spend more time with my mom [because during] most of my 20s and 30s, [I] was dealing with making records and traveling the world and being this thing — icon, you know — whatever this has turned into.”

On her relationship with Bobbi Kristina:

“She and I are not only mother and daughter, but we’re good friends. I want her to trust me, to be able to trust in me, to know that I’m not going nowhere. If she knows that I’m there for her, she can depend on me. I’m the dependable one; she can depend on her mommy.”

Definitely looking forward to catching the full interview.
In the meanwhile, check out a new video interview with the 46 year old superstar, in which she discusses the process of creating the album, as well as specific tracks. (Note this was shot about 2 months ago):

With Whitney’s album already, as at writing, sitting at the top of the iTunes album chart after officially being released in the US today, it seems fair to say this album may just be the big comeback her fans and the general public are hoping for.
Your thoughts?


Embattled singer Chris Brown sat down with respected talk show host Larry King this past week for his first (and apparently only) interview about the Rihanna drama dating back to February. Set to air on September 2nd, the above snippet is a preview from the interview. Check it out.
This looks like it’ll be real interesting…
Your thoughts?
Mariah Carey - 'Up Out My Face' (The Dream Demo)
A demo of ‘Up Out My Face’, a cut confirmed to be on Mariah Carey’s new LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ performed by the song’s writer The-Dream, surfaced today.
While I anticipate hearing Mariah’s version, I’m kinda liking this one. Putting aside the fact that the song lyrically really isn’t the type of cut Mimi should be singing at this stage of her career (IMO), it has that mid-tempo crunk ballad feel which I have a weak spot for and is undeniably catchy.
Hit or Miss?
Review: Whitney Houston - 'I Look To You'
After a 7 year hiatus, Whitney Houston is back with ‘I Look To You’ – an album billed by mentor Clive Davis as ‘the greatest comeback’. Yet with Houston’s personal hardships – which included stints in drug rehab, a messy divorce and dwindling album sales – being played out so publically, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘does Whitney still have ‘it’?’

If this new record is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.

(more…)

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson!
Today marks what would have been the 51st birthday of the greatest entertainer that ever lived, the forever reigning King of Pop Michael Jackson.
Although he left this world way too soon, his music and his legacy will resonate for countless generations to come. With tomorrow being the day I was supposed to attend Michael’s ‘This Is It’ extravaganza here in London, this all is still very surreal for me. However, this day shouldn’t be one for mourning, rather it should be day in which the world celebrates the life and contributions of the the one and only Michael Jackson. Long live the King!
Michael Jackson: 1958 – Forever!

Tidbit: Visit the Google homepage today and tell us what you see. Awesome!


Danity Kane alumni Aubrey O’Day sat down with MTV R recently to discuss what she’s been up to as of late.
Without pre-empting the interview, Ms. O’Day came across really really good here, appearing legitimately intelligent and ‘real’ (as she likes to say). Great interview.
Your thoughts?

Eurovision break-out star Jade Ewen appeared on GMTV this morning to perform the lead single from her debut album ‘My Man’.
Before attempting to roast the talented Londoner, it’s important to point out that 99% of artists lip synch on GMTV, as ths show doesn’t have the sound facilities to assist live performances.
Anyway, about the performance, I really enjoyed it. Having seen the video a few weeks back, I was wondering where the proper choreography was at. Evidently that side of things has been tended to for the live performances; she worked it. Good stuff.
Tidbit: Turns out Ms. Ewen loves the taste of That Grape Juice 🙂 You’ll be seeing a lot more of Ms. Ewen around these sides very very soon (hint, hint lol).
What do you think of the performance?
Mariah Carey - 'I Want To Know What Love Is' (Full Version)
Barely an hour has passed since we posted a 10 second snippet of Mariah Carey’s new single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and the full version of the track has surfaced.
The million dollar question is ‘after all the hype, does the track actually live up to it?’ Unfortunately for Ms. Carey-Cannon’s fans and lambs, it doesn’t. Important to highlight, firstly, is the fact (IMO) that Mariah’s take on the Foreigners classic is by no means a bad effort.
My main gripe with this is the vocal arrangement, for Mimi sounds ‘ok/just there/unremarkable’ until the big key change where she really hits a home run. Yet the vocal acrobatics are so short-lived and abruptly ended that you feel kinda cheated by the end. Generally though, this just isn’t striking me as the undeniable hit her camp and media friends have been hyping it to be. A shame as she really had to nail it with this one to restore the mass interest in her serially delayed LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’, something I’m doubtful she has/will achieve with this.
I’m not one to pit artists against one another, but IMO Whitney has this won hands-down.
Tidbit: I can’t wait to see Mariah nail this live, as usual 😉
Hit or Miss?

Mariah Carey - 'I Want To Know What Love Is' (Full Version)
Barely an hour has passed since we posted a 10 second snippet of Mariah Carey’s new single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and the full version of the track has surfaced.
The million dollar question is ‘after all the hype, does the track actually live up to it?’ Unfortunately for Ms. Carey-Cannon’s fans and lambs, it doesn’t. Important to highlight, firstly, is the fact (IMO) that Mariah’s take on the Foreigners classic is by no means a bad effort.
My main gripe with this is the vocal arrangement, for Mimi sounds ‘ok/just there/unremarkable’ until the big key change where she really hits a home run. Yet the vocal acrobatics are so short-lived and abruptly ended that you feel kinda cheated by the end. Generally though, this just isn’t striking me as the undeniable hit her camp and media friends have been hyping it to be. A shame as she really had to nail it with this one to restore the mass interest in her serially delayed LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’, something I’m doubtful she has/will achieve with this.
I’m not one to pit artists against one another, but IMO Whitney has this won hands-down.
Tidbit: I can’t wait to see Mariah nail this live, as usual 😉
Hit or Miss?

Kelly Rowland Talks New Album / + New Pics
Kelly Rowland really is flying high these days; hit singles, a majorly anticipated new album and on the brink of signing a new recording deal, the only way for this Destiny’s Child alumni is seemingly up. Ms. Kelly recently sat down with USA Today to talk about her new project, her artistic direction and more. An interesting read. She also looks fab in these new pictures from the piece too:
Since going solo Kelly Rowland hasn’t seen much success in the US but has been having a better luck overseas. Kelly tells USA Today that she had decided to embrace the international market that loves her. She recently had a number one hit with When Love Takes Over one of the three songs she recorded with David Guetta.
“Here, sometimes it’s like my music didn’t quite work, but overseas it’s on top of everybody’s chart. I’ve had more international success than domestic success, and I think that opens my eyes up to music. I mean, I just got back from performing in Lebanon. Lebanon!” she says.
Kelly hopes to release a solo album by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
“I have a new boost of energy,” she says. “All the creative juices are flowing, and I’m having so much fun in the studio because I’m making dance records. And I’m working with producers who are just as curious about the sound internationally, too.”
She says her next release will be dance-heavy, but she won’t forget her R&B roots. While she still covets domestic success working toward that success won’t be her guiding light, she says.
“I don’t ever want to get in a box to where I’m thinking that this is the only place that can ever exist,” she says. “I love being overseas just as much as I love being home. Plus, I know all my eating spots over there now, so I’m good!”
“I feel empowered. Finally,” Rowland says with a laugh and a snap of her fingers. “When you don’t believe in yourself, you feel like you’re living in fear. You don’t give yourself the opportunity to believe that you can. And as much as you tell yourself you can’t do it, you end up not doing it. Me? I was complacent and comfortable where I was.” {Source}
It’s refreshing to see Kelly speakinJustify Fullg so frankly about her success to-date in the US, as well as her embracing of her International appeal. That said, I hope Kelly doesn’t serve up ‘When Love Takes Over’-esque cuts on a solo tip. While it was a great track which opened her up to new audiences, I know many of her R&B fans felt it a little too left-field. In a perfect world Kelly would mesh both the Urban and the Dance sound to come up with something in the vein of what Danity Kane did on their last LP (see: ‘Damaged’, ‘Sucka 4 Love’, ‘Pretty Boy’ etc) and what Whitney does on some of the tracks on her comeback (see: ‘For The Lovers’).
Kelly Rowland Talks New Album / + New Pics
Your thoughts?
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