Phil Spector turned “Unchained Melody” into a 20th century classic with his Wall of Sound Righteous Brothers production. But on a Triple J radio session, Lykke Li takes all of that away on an intimated acoustic cover. The singer teased the audience about the song’s prominent placement in the movie “Ghost” before performing her version. All I have to say is – amazing! This rendition really impresses me. There’s so much soul in her voice and her vocal range really shines as the guitarist delicately strums along. This is true talent guys. You can’t simply take any classic and turn it into such a work of art and Lykke Li did it beautifully.
Porcelain Black has a new single out called “Naughty Naughty”. In a somewhat comedic way, the sassy up tempo track was actually leaked by producer RedOne via YouTube this past Sunday. If you’re wondering why, he took to his Twitter to announce that Porcelain’s new single would be officially released on iTunes and radio on November 15th, which drew a lot of heat from fans. RedOne understood the fans’ frustration and decided to leak the single. “Naughty Naughty” is a straight pop song. I guess with the chart disaster that was “This is What Rock N Roll Looks Like”, Porcelain and her team decided to come up with a new strategy.
Leona Lewis has recently unveiled the official artwork for her upcoming album “Glassheart”. The pop singer’s third studio effort will hit stores in the UK on November 28th. I guess she’s keeping “Glass Heart” written as one word. I’m not sure what to think of that. Anyway, the actual album cover features a pretty photo of Leona. There’s no denying that her face is simply stunning but with all the possibilities with the words, they could have done so much better with the cover. It’s very safe in my opinion. Where’s the creativity and originality? In other news, Leona recently had an interview with UK radio show “IN: DEMAND with Alex and Lucy” earlier this week where she confirmed that she will be performing on the US X Factor.
Skylar Grey played her first UK show ever this past Monday when the singer hit the stage at East London’s XOYO to present herself as the mastermind behind the amazing choruses in the hits “Coming Home”, “Words I Never Said”, “I Need a Doctor” and “Love the Way You Lie”. Immediately after doing that medley, Skylar did her solo efforts and sang her singles “Dance Without You” and “invisible”. I have a ton of respect to Skylar with her talents as a vocalist and songwriter. She was just born to do this. I feel a little worried though with “Invisible” being her first single. The song is beautiful but risky and maybe just a little unfriendly for radio.
Skylar Grey – Medley – Performance Video
Skylar Grey – Invisible – Performance Video
Skylar Grey – Dance Without You – Performance Video
If you feel like it’s been years since Taio Cruz released any new music, you’re in luck. After slaying the charts worldwide with the undying “Dynamite”, the British R&B singer is about to kick off a new era. His third studio album called “Troublemaker” will hit stores later this year. The record will be preceded by the first single, also called “Troublemaker”, which should hit radio and iTunes pretty soon. I’m thinking that it may be for early September. The music video for the song was reportedly shot earlier this summer so we may end up seeing a double release. Taio also recently revealed the official artwork for the single. Check it out.
Wiz Khalifa has recently premiered the music video for his song “No Sleep”. The track serves as the official fourth single from the rapper’s major label debut album “Rolling Papers”. Now I just want him to confirm a date for radio release in the US and kick off a TV promo. They should have given this the single treatment months ago when it went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released as a digital-only single. But whatever, we have it now. As for the recently premiered video, it sees Wiz waking up and reminiscing the crazy night he had, which was full of partying with his friend and girlfriend Amber Rose.
Wiz Khalifa – No Sleep – New Video
Round three of American Idol performance night saw the top 2 singers take on the songs that they’ll record if they win. Scotty McCreery got “I Love You This Big”. This was actually a good song, especially for the finale. I guess it pays to have Jimmy Iovine involved. It has a good hook and I think it would do well on the radio. Scotty owned it too. Lauren Alaina got “Like My Mother Does”. This was actually better than what Scotty got. After her performance, I think it was pretty much nailed down that she’s going to win. While she sang it very well, I think it will have little to do with that. Round three for me, as well as for the judges, goes to Lauren.
American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance Videos:
Scotty McCreery – Gone – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
Lauren Alaina – Flat On The Floor – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
Scotty McCreery – Check Yes Or No – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
Lauren Alaina – Maybe It Was Memphis – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
Scotty McCreery – I Love You This Big – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
Lauren Alaina – Like My Mother Does – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale Performance
David Cook – Don’t You Forget About Me – American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale
Taio Cruz – Positive – American Idol Performance Video
Metallica fans have a lot to be happy about. Not only is the heavy metal band about to start working on their 10th studio album, but producer Rick Rubin, who was behind their last album “Death Magnetic”, is returning to produce. Bassist Robert Trujillo expressed his excitement on getting back into the studio with Rick in a recent radio interview, saying “Yeah. I love working with Rick. Rick, to me, he’s sort of a Zen guru spirit that Metallica needs right now. Not to say that we need it, because we’re getting along incredibly well, we’re really excited to write some new music. There’s no shortage of riffage in Metallica world right now. And I think it’s only gonna get better.” Are you excited for some new Metallica music?
It looks like Nicki Minaj may have some competition when it comes to being a female rapper. During a visit to Nashville’s 107.5 radio last week, Taylor Swift showed off some rap skills when she rapped a few lyrics from Nicki’s “Super Bass”. The country singer was asked to choose any song she wanted and the radio show’s DJ would play it right away. In a surprising move, Taylor selected Nicki’s song and rapped a few of the lines for kicks. I know it’s impossible for Taylor to release an album outside the country and pop genre but if she wants to have a bit of fun, I wouldn’t rule out rapping.
Taylor Swift – Super Bass – Video
Avril Lavigne’s new single “What the Hell” has debuted at the number 13 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It’s a more than respectable debut considering that it’s only backed up mainly by its digital sales. I’m sure it will go higher on the chart once the music video comes out, radio airplay increases and when the Canadian pop rock singer starts promoting the song on TV. I’m not expecting Avril to reach number 1 though with Britney Spears’ “Hold it Against me” proving to be a monster single by debuting at number 1. I have a feeling that it’s going to stay there for a while. But even after that, Avril’s going to have to settle for a lower spot on the Top 5 since Lady Gaga would be back in February.
Jennifer Lopez recently gave Ryan Seacrest the go signal to premiere her new single “On the Floor”. As announced, this is the final version of the RedOne-produced track and I’m glad to say that it’s so much better than the leaked demo. There’s more of JLo in the intro and rapper Pitbull’s minute long verse was divided into two parts, one at the beginning and another to close the song. The beat is also neater along with some improvement on the pop singer’s vocals. Overall, this version sounds and feels hotter. Now that the song is on US radio, I wonder how long it will take for her to perform it on American Idol.
Jennifer Lopez – On the Floor – New Song
Jay Sean is back with a new single called “Hit the Lights” which features rapper Lil Wayne. The song is a definite club banger. The J-Remy and Bobbygass-produced track will officially be released in the UK on February 8th. Jay’s new studio album “Freeze Time” will hit stores two weeks later on February 22nd. I think this song is going to kill on the radio. The singer’s latest track needs to get to number one because I think it’s miles better than “2012”. But if he’s planning to release this in the US, he better ask for some help with Lil Wayne if he wants to score another number one on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Jay Sean feat. Lil’ Wayne – Hit the Lights – New Song:
Jennifer Lopez recently gave Ryan Seacrest the go signal to premiere her new single “On the Floor”. As announced, this is the final version of the RedOne-produced track and I’m glad to say that it’s so much better than the leaked demo. There’s more of JLo in the intro and rapper Pitbull’s minute long verse was divided into two parts, one at the beginning and another to close the song. The beat is also neater along with some improvement on the pop singer’s vocals. Overall, this version sounds and feels hotter. Now that the song is on US radio, I wonder how long it will take for her to perform it on American Idol.
Jennifer Lopez – On the Floor – New Song
After the debacle that his single Shake proved to be in the US, Jesse McCartney wants to now start from scratch with his track One Night. The song is the second single from the pop singers upcoming LP Have it All, which hits stores in early 2011. The track has an up tempo feel and features an electronic arrangement. Its quite good and is a safer choice if Jesse really wants to show his urban side by keeping up with the current trends of electro pop and dance music. The song is radio friendly and has a great chorus and vibe. All in all, its a good single choice.
Jesse McCartney One Night New Song
Rihanna recently revealed that she and friend Katy Perry are planning to collaborate on a song, either for the Barbadian R&B singers upcoming album Loud! or for the pop stars re-release of Teenage Dream. Rihanna explains We just clicked. We have similar personalities and a similar sense of humour and from there she just seemed like a really down to earth person. In this industry you don’t meet a lot of people that are genuine, but Katy is such a free spirit, she has no edit button! We want to get in the studio and hopefully make something for this album, who knows – or maybe for her re-release. We want to do something together for sure. This is interesting considering how Rihanna called Katy and a couple of others generic pop stars during a recent BBC Radio 1 interview.
In a recent interview with ShowStudio.com, Lady Gaga talked about her guilty pleasure of singing a country song when it comes on the radio. And just who is the singer singing along with? Taylor Swift! The princess of pop said I don’t want to hurt her feelings, because she’s lovely. That Taylor Swift song? You Belong with Me? Oh my God! When it comes on the radio, I sing it so loud and I’m so embarrassed! Because I so freely sing it so loud! You can’t help it! The song, it’s not a bad song. It’s a great song! I think it’s just because it’s very whimsical in a way that I’m not necessarily whimsical every day. When it comes on, I just get this I wanna sing it! Every woman feels that way. So I didn’t mean that in a bad way, Taylor. I think you’re lovely and beautiful, and I think you’re a great songwriter.
Chris Brown disappointed what little fans he had left by losing his cool with a radio DJ in Richmond this past weekend. The DJ played back the very short interview for fans, explain that before he could even ask the R&B singer a question, Chris started screaming about not getting enough airplay. The DJ said ?Chris Brown was going to come in today to do an interview to promote his concert? But before we could even get into the interview, homeboy starts yelling at me, wondering why we don’t play his records. And I said, Mr Chris Brown? you just don’t have any hits and that’s just the truth. You don’t have any hits right now.’ And? from there the whole interview just goes south.? Chris was heard screaming ?All I’m saying is that you don’t play my s**t. What number is it (my song) at? It don’t matter. Why am I even doing this interview? I ain’t doing this s**t.? It?s been said that the station was inundated with calls from Jive with each person apologizing for Chris? behavior.
Christina Aguilera will be going on tour around the world, starting with the US in July to promoter her newest album ?Bionic?, which will come out in June. While I would love to see her hit the stage again I have a bad feeling about this. I think she?s going to have some difficulties filling large venues. Her new song hasn?t exploded on the radio or the iTunes chart yet. And the tour comes very soon after the album?s release that I doubt how much into it people will be. But if she keeps ticket prices reasonable and delivers her hits along with new stuff, then I think the tour could do well.
Chris Brown is literally begging his fans to keep him and his music relevant as the convicted woman beater is using a recorded audio message to spread his desperate plea. The R&B singer?s message is available through SayNow.com, a website in which celebrities can record messages for their fans. In the message, Chris begs his fans to help ?bring me back? saying that ?a lot of radio stations aren’t playing my records. They are not being that supportive and I wouldn’t expect them to.? He goes on to say that he?s ?a better guy now? but says ?[My music] won’t be possible if I’m not relevant on the radio.? Guess what Chris? No one cares.
Justin Bieber fever has spread to Europe as the pint-sized pop star was in Paris for a scheduled meet and greet with fans. However, the crowd got so large and out of control that the cops had to shut it down. Justin recovered from the hysteria long enough to go on Twitter to talk about what happened. The singer said ?PARIS IS CRAZY!!! Had some interviews this morning with mags and radio. got to practice my french a little. But then the instore there were thousands of kids at the instore and the police were not expecting it. they reorganized the crowd and we got it going but after a little while the police stopped it and came in and said it was over and i had to leave. Sorry to any of the kids I didnt get to meet. I love all of you for your support. To start my trip in Paris like this already?the love and the energy is amazing?.thank you so much.?
Lady Gaga is the latest artist to weigh in on the whole Kanye West-Taylor Swift drama that went down at this year?s VMAs. While promoting their now defunct joint tour, the singer told a Las Vegas radio station that her first reaction to the rapper?s interruption was ?Oh gosh,? but that she thinks it?s ?unfair to judge somebody on one mistake they’ve made.? Lady Gaga said ?He feels so fucking bad. He really does. I think that everyone can get so caught up in gossip and stuff. I felt like that moment kind of like really portrayed him in a way that he really isn’t. It was just a random moment.?
Britney Spears recently gave a fan of hers something to be really happy about. The 27-year old singer met a lucky fan at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to give him a free ticket to her concert at the Staples Center. Where was I when this happened? In other Britney news, the pop star just announced that she will celebrate her 10 years in the music industry by releasing ?The Singles Collection? on November 24, as well as a new single called ?3? which went to radio just yesterday. If you?ve already heard it, what do you think?
Remember American Idol?s Danny Gokey? The singer placed third in the last season of the hit show. The Idol curse hasn?t run its course on him yet though as Danny has recently signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville. The label he got signed to isn?t that much of a surprise as he sang three country songs on the show. Danny?s album is expected to drop in March of next year but fans can expect a single to hit the radio airwaves in the late fall. While I don?t believe that Danny will have the same amount of success as Kris Allen or Adam Lambert, I?m glad to see that he hasn?t disappeared into obscurity like other Idol alums ? yet.
Mariah Carey?s mediocre single ?Obsessed? debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at a very disappointing number 11. The new charts came in recently and as it was predicted, the singer has suffered a steep decline. Mariah?s single has dropped to number 20 and it?s likely that it won?t even crack the top 10 at all. Radio hasn?t been that receptive to the song and Mariah had just announced that she is delaying the release of her new album. That sucks for her. She needs to come out with a new song and hope that it will do loads better than the song that?s out right now.
David Cook recently scored his third Top 10 Single on Adult Radio. The 26-year old American Idol champ?s introductory single ?Time of My Life? reached number 7, its follow up ?Light On? peaked at number 4 and his latest single ?Come Back to Me? moved into the number 10 spot last week. The singer has announced that he also has plans to extend his first ever solo tour, ?The Declaration Tour ? 2009? through October 2009. It?s good to see that his career is flourishing. More power to him and congratulations on scoring that third top 10. I wonder when he?ll score a number 1.
GREEN DAY’S 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN RELEASED WORLDWIDE
First Single “Know Your Enemy” Remains No. 1 at Alternative Radio
21st Century Breakdown, Green Day’s highly-anticipated eighth studio album, was released worldwide on Friday May 15th, by Reprise Records. The album is the follow-up to 2004′s two-time Grammy Award-winning punk-rock opera American Idiot, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, spawned five hit singles, and went on to sell more than 12 million copies worldwide.
The album’s first single, “Know Your Enemy” is already capturing the imagination of listeners across the country. It has been No. 1 at Alternative radio for three weeks and is the band’s ninth No. 1 single at the format, making them the artist with the second most No. 1′s of all-time at Alternative.
Green Day, which is singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool, are preparing to launch their first proper tour of the United States and Canada in more than three years. The tour begins July 3rd at Seattle’s Key Arena and will cross North America through the summer, including a July 27th stop at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, before finishing up with a show at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 25th. Please visit greenday.com for all cities, venues, and ticket on-sale dates.
Ashley Tisdale checked in with a new video blog from her radio promo tour. Watch her visit Y100 in Miami, play some new tracks for a group of fans and even stop by 7-11 in her PJs. Be sure to check back on AshleyTisdale.com for updates leading up to the release of her album Guilty Pleasure!
Ashley Tisdale Video:
The guitarist from Oasis has been offered his own radio show together with his pal Russell Brand. Noel Gallagher and Russell Brand seem to make out quite the duo of commentary, especially when it comes to sports? more specifically football. A source said this about the potential show the two might have: “Noel and Russell play off each other really well and they’re both really knowledgeable about sport, in particular football. We’re expecting their show this week to be a massive hit and as neither of them are ever lost for words, they’d have more than enough to say to fill a regular spot.” That sounds just grand: Noel Gallagher and Russell Brand hacking at each other over football in the true British tradition. It would be even better if at times they were on either sides of the teams doing battle. That?s why they?re actually being begged to do the show, not just getting an offer.
