Download of the Day 4/30: Madonna's Devil Wouldn't Recognize You

I am going to be honest: Madonna's album is pretty disappointing.

I'll go more into that in the future, but now, I want to highlight one of the best tracks off the album you HAVE to download if nothing else.

"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" is very similar to songs like "Bedtime Story", "Power of Goodbye" or "Frozen". The song takes Madonna back to electronica and Middle Eastern sounds she experimented with in the late 90's. It's because of this that "Devil" is the most distinctive song on Hard Candy. There are many songs on the record I could see others singing, better. This song, like all of Madonna's best, are completely tailor-made for her and anyone else doing these songs would just be sub-par.

Madonna is known for her innovation and her ability to change her style while maintaining her essence. I was afraid that Hard Candy would mark a change in that pattern, but this song definitely puts those concerns to rest.

Rating: 9/10

Mariah's ENGAGED!!

Congrats to Mariah Carey and Wild'n'Out star Nick Cannon on their impending nuptials!

Access Hollywood revealed today that Mariah and Nick are definitely getting married, and that ring she has been wearing lately IS an engagement ring!

Mariah was last married to Sony head Tommy Mottola.

Congrats again!!

Madonna's Surprisingly Low Album Sales!

According to the Nielsen Soundscan Building Sales, Madonna's much-anticipated new album Hard Candy will debut at #1 next week, but with rather paltry numbers. Her record is project a debut of 275-300k, less than her last album Confessions on a Dance Floor, which started off with 350,000. Mariah's album E=MC2, which was released last week, debuted at #1 with 463,000 copies. It remains at #1 this week.

Things can always change, but so far, it looks like Mariah has outdone Madonna on both the singles and album charts!

Whitney's DISASTROUS Performance!

Just a few days after I posted one of Whitney's best performances of all time on the blog, I just happen to stumble upon a video of Whitney performing Sunday in at the Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago, in what critics call a disappointing performance.

Well, they were being too kind.

Her voice was shot to hell. It was almost unrecognizable to the video I posted before. Hopefully she is just REALLY REALLY sick and that this is not a permanent thing.

Look at the performance below:

American Idol Top 5 Recap: "Diamonds" in the Rough

Honestly, tonight bored me to tears, so I will make my recap short and sweet:

Jason Castro - Send him home. Both of his performances were like Nyquil. Maybe he figured he should just stop trying, since chances are, he was going home regardless. Let's put him out of his misery, huh?

David Cook - As usual, both performances were great. I preferred the last one, though. I liked how he changed around the arrangement to show off the vocals. Solid, solid, solid.

David Archuleta - So Little David put the ballads away, huh? Smart move, since he was beginning to box himself in one genre. Once again, solid vocals and smart song choices (Living in America = votes from Middle America)

Brooke White - Overall, better than last week. We began to see a little of the Brooke from the beginning, but I fear its a little too late for her now.

Syesha Mercado - Her second song continued the sassy, fun personality she cultivated last week. It was my favorite of the whole night, proving she deserves a top 3 slot.

Who's Going Home? - Jason Castro

Download of the Day 4/29: "Forgive Me" by Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis has the distinction of being the second artist in the two month history of this blog to have the most "Download of the Day" posts (Mariah leads with four, including a classic). Why? Because she is awesome!

Her third DOTD focuses on her song "Forgive Me". The song was produced by Akon as a track for the U.S. version of Spirit. Many will recognize the style as the same used for Gwen Stefani's worldwide smash "The Sweet Escape", which was a smart choice. The song is very flirty and fun, perfect for summer. In fact, I can envision the video now (Leona sitting at a club with a couple girlfriends, having fun after a fight with a boyfriend). You can tell Leona had fun making this track; some of her runs and vocal flourishes are rich in personality, something her critics claim she lacks. She has this "Oops, sorry, oh well" attitude while she sings, and its enjoyable to listen to. Honestly, I figured if anyone could bring Leona out of her shell, it would be someone like Akon.

If (and it should be) chosen for the third single (Better in Time will be released in a few weeks), I think people will see a different side of Leona when she performs this one. With "Forgive Me", she can have fun, and its really what she needs to do right now. Why be on the top of the world if you can't even enjoy it, right?

Rating: 7.8/10

Leona Lewis In Sydney!

She is just conquering the world now, isn't she?

Pop princess Leona Lewis accepted an award for her success on the Australian music charts in Sydney this week. "Bleeding Love" and the album Spirit both went to #1 in Australia, just like it did here in the United States.

Check out her Sydney appearance below:

The Hills: A Serious Examination of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure (4/28)

Well, I did it. At 10:00pm, I sat on my bed and turned to channel 20, MTV. What was on? The Hills. For purely journalistic reasons, I decided to sit down and watch an episode, to see what about this show is so important that two of the cast members would be attendees at a White House dinner.

Here are some of my notes:

The conversations on this show are so vapid, it makes me realize why I love scripted television. Whether it was Lauren and Lo or Lauren and Stephen Colletti (Chase from One Tree Hill), their discussions were completely hollow. No wonder the show is accused of faking stuff; they have to make this show the least bit interesting.

Heidi is a petulant child. When she and Spencer's sister Stephanie talked about Lauren, Heidi basically attacked Stephanie for being friends with her. She even asked, "where is your loyalty?". I didn't realize that people were supposed to have mutual friends only! I also didn't realize that they were still in high school. Newsflash, genius: people are allowed to have other friends that YOU may not approve of. If you can't handle it, find other friends who will kiss your ass (same applies to Lauren Re: Audrina and Justin).

Brody Jenner has been on so many reality shows, its ridiculous. Is it a coincidence that he was also on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Princes of Malibu? I think not.

The only member of The Hills that doesn't annoy me is Whitney Port. For one, she's prettier than both Lauren and Heidi. Second, she's smarter than them, making me wonder why she even bothers hanging out with them. She is the only one who could actually hold a conversation without boring someone to tears, and she has a pretty good head on her shoulders. Confidence and class wins over cheap skanky beach music videos any day for me.

Audrina, Audrina, Audrina. Easily the hottest girl, but yet, dense as a ton of bricks. Why is she such an empty vessel? She seems so easy to manipulate and control. Lauren has done it. Justin has apparently done it as well. Why doesn't she tell everyone to suck it and move on with her life? She may not be very bright (did she even graduate high school? Or have a job?), but she can't be stupid enough to think that these people surrounding her are beneficial in the long run.

Disney Channel to Vanity Fair: You Manipulated Miley!

Disney Channel has finally spoken about the brewing Miley Cyrus nude photo scandal in Vanity Fair, and they are blaming the magazine!

In a statement released, Disney said, "Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines."

The teen queen apologized for the shocking photos, claiming that after seeing them, she is embarrassed to have ever taken them.

Disney seems to be standing by their little breadwinner; the New York Post reported that by the time she is 18 years old (when taking the picture would've been appropriate, by the way), she would be worth $1 billion. Imagine how much Disney is getting?

Its quite admirable to stand by Miley during a really embarrassing time, but it seems like Disney Channel is acting like a petulant teenager by putting the blame solely on the magazine. If anything, they should acknowledge the role both Miley and her parents played in the photo shoot.

A Letter to Fortune Magazine: Why the HELL Would You Invite Spencer and Heidi to a White House Dinner???

Dear Fortune Magazine,

I am assuming that the White House Correspondents Dinner is very important event. An important event usually suggests that important people should be there. There are tons, TONS of people FAR more relevant to the entertainment industry than Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag from MTV's The Hills.

They are "reality TV" stars. They are certainly not movers and shakers in the television industry. Spencer is a prick and Heidi is a talentless hack who has no business making ANY kind of record at all. The world, or at least MTV, would be much better place without them. Yet, there they are, darkening an already bleak TV channel that used to be a tastemaker of pop culture. Now, they are attending an important White House dinner? What the hell?

From what I've heard, MSNBC wanted to invite them, but Spencer, thinking that he and Heidi are important celebrities, demanded both airfare AND hotel fees. They refused, and they pulled out. Does that mean, Fortune Magazine, you paid their way there? Why on earth would you waste your money? Why must you perpetuate this horrible stain on the face of pop culture? The Hills is one of the most mind-numbing programs out there, and to help promote it in the world of politics is borderline criminal.

Fortune Magazine, please, the next time the White House Correspondents Dinner comes around, please consider who you are inviting. Think about their impact on pop culture. Think about their relevance in the future, not just the fickle present. Finally, unless Tiffany "New York" Pollard becomes a senator, NEVER invite a reality show star to an important event again!

A Classic Whitney Performance

Here is Whitney Houston singing "Home" at her Concert for a New South Africa in 1994 (also known as the Bodyguard Era). Its one of her best, most emotional performances ever!

Hopefully, she can get back to this level; we need her!

Estelle Works It Out On David Letterman!

UK R&B singer Estelle appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, delivering an awesome performance of her single "American Boy" with Kanye West (as you may or may not remember, I chose the song as a DOTD). The song is already a smash in the UK, where it was #1 for FOUR WEEKS! Now, its beginning t stir up interest in the States.

Check it out below:

Sunday Feature: Is "Chart Rigging" An Unfair Industry Practice?

Mariah Carey, who currently holds the most #1s for a solo artist, has been accused of it.

The crime she (or more fittingly, her record company) allegedly committed is withholding the releases of her singles to "force" a #1 when it normally wouldn't. Its being called "chart rigging".

The question is, is it actually wrong?

Take for example, Mariah's latest #1 single "Touch My Body". The song was officially sent to radio on February 19th, with some receiving the song on the 12th. The video was released a few weeks later, to much fanfare. Despite the demand, there was no digital release. Many release dates were sent around the internet, but yet, there was no sign of it on iTunes or Amazon.com. Then, on March 24th, a month after it was first released, iTunes put the song on the front page as a new release. Withon an hour, the song shot up to #1 on the iTunes, knocking Leona Lewis off the top and keeping fellow diva Madonna at #2 with her song "4 Minutes". A week later, when the Billboard chart was released, "Touch My Body" easily shot up from #15 to the summit. Some charge that Mariah's 18th chart-topper was easier to attain because of the high-surge downloads caused by a high-surge of downloads. There seems to credibility to the argument; after two weeks at the top, TMB fell to #5. The song saw a significant decline in iTunes sales a week earlier. Apparently, both of her record companies (Sony BMG and Island Def Jam) have used the practice of suppressing a single's release before. Despite low airplay chartings, singles like "Heartbreaker" and "My All" hit #1 based on high sales.

If it is a real practice, then Mariah certainly isn't the only one. Rihanna's single "Take a Bow" was sent to radio in mid-March; its now late April and there is no download available. The single is currently rising on the Mediabase radio chart, and chances are, when the single is available to download, Rihanna will get to #1 again.

From what I've learned and observed, I wouldn't call "chart rigging" necessarily unfair. It makes good business sense; letting a song build in radio and video popularity before releasing the single would most likely yield a #1 chart position. However, another question is then asked. Why would the record companies use this type of practice if they had faith in the music they're putting out? Mariah is one of IDJ's most successful artists (her last album sold 10 million worldwide). Why would they hold back a single release to gather the most sales instead of just release it outright. Logic and history dictate that it would've gone to #1 either way. Then again, Mariah's single "Bye Bye" has apparently flopped on the iTunes chart.

I think "chart rigging" is a form of insurance to guarantee a successful single. It may seem unfair to artists who do a regular release, but at the end of the day, the song is still being bought. In fact, I think that the practice gives other releases a bit of an edge. A delay-released song is one that people have hear for weeks and weeks. In the fickle music industry, its terribly easy to get tired of a song. A fresh release to both radio and internet would more likely inspire higher interest and higher downloads because of it. True, had Mariah not delayed TMB's release, Madonna would've scored her 12th #1 single. That still didn't stop the success of "4 Minutes"; it was Madoona's highest charting single in 8 years.

"Chart rigging" definitely exists, but I don't believe it is as unfair as people are making it.

For more on the issue, visit Payola, Chart Rigging Or Both? You Be The Judge!

Download of the Day 4/27: "My Interpretation" by Mika

Last week, I wrote about my discovery of the Lebanon-born UK singer/songwriter Mika. I also talked about how much of his music annoyed me because of the hyper-positiveness of songs like "Grace Kelly" and "Love Today". Well, I finally found a song I REALLY like of his.

"My Interpretation" is a simple guitar and piano pop song. It is miles away from his busier songs (which I am getting used to, BTW), and for me, that is a good thing. Sometimes, simplicity works out for the best. The seamless mix of a strumming guitar and the tickling of the piano allow the vocals to really shine through. That said, Mika has a really great voice. The enthusiasm with which he sings is reminiscent of Freddie Mercury, which is a very welcome addition to the music scene. Back to the song; the melody is very catchy. I found myself humming it out of nowhere, and not getting annoyed by it. That's a hard thing to do.

I think that Mika is one of those great international talents that has yet to break through in America for some unexplained reason. Hopefully, that will change really soon.

Rating: 8/10

Listen below:

DESPICABLE! NYPD TAUNTS Sean Bell's Fiancee!

According to the New York Post, the Internal Affairs bureau of the New York Police Department is currently investigating a cruel prank call made on Friday, the day that the 3 accused officers were acquitted of all charges in the shooting death of Sean Bell. The call allegedly came from the offices of a well-respected police uniom

At 1:15pm, a call was made to the home of Les Paultre, the father of Nicole Bell, Sean Bell's fiancee. On the line, someone said "ha, ha, ha", and hung up. On the caller ID, the Sargeants Benevolent Association number appeared.

Nicole Bell said in a statement later, "It was horrible to get that call coming back from the cemetery".

I hope the person/s who made the call are caught and severely punished for doing something both stupid and heinous. To rub a young man's death and the failure of justice for him in the faces of the family is absolutely disgusting.

SPOILERS: Which Gossip Girl Character is Gay?

NOTE: If you are a fan of the CW's Gossip Girl and you don't want to be spoiled, then just scroll down to the next post!

Many fans have been trying to figure out which character on CW's Gossip Girl is gay. Many assume it's Chuck, but they are wrong!

So, who is it?

 

 

 

According to E! Online's Kristen, the gay character is.....

Eric Van Der Woodsen!

That's right! Serena's baby brother with the penchant for self-mutilation is gay! According to spoilers, he will be outed when he is caught making out with Jenny's future rich boyfriend (good for her, I like Blair better anyway)!

Talk about a shock. I definitely wasn't expecting that one!

 

THIS...is what a divorce from Bobby Brown will do for you!

  ""The Voice" Whitney Houston is all smiles at a boxing match last Monday. Her date for the evening was R&B singer Ray-J (don't get me started on that!) and she looks very happy and relaxed, despite a tell-all being released by ex-husband Bobby Brown. Show him what you're made of, Whitney!

First Listen: "A Little Bit Longer" by the Jonas Brothers

It didn't take long, huh?

It turns out the Jonas Brothers have already performed "A Little Bit Longer" on their huge "When You Look Me In The Eyes" tour. The song will appear on their next album with the same name, and will probably be the next single, following "Burning Up".

I have heard two versions; there is the concert version with the ridiculous screaming girls (seriously, how are they able to speak after that?) and the Stripped version. Because the concert version is basically inaudible, I chose to base this review on the other version.

Lyrically, the song is pretty amazing. I was surprised at how bluntly he referenced diabetes, the disease he has. Some of the lines were quite heartbreaking and struck a chord with me, as a fellow diabetic, like:

So I'll wait 'til kingdom come.
All the highs and lows are gone.
A little bit longer and I'll be fine.

Its even more surprising considering Nick is only a year younger than me, yet he is able to write something so poignant and powerful. There is something to be said for that kind of talent.

However, there is still one problem that is really keeping me from fully enjoying this song and others from the band, and that is the vocals. I will grant Nick the acknowledgement that he sings the song with a lot of emotional depth. However, there is something still very annoying about his voice. He's not a bad singer, but when he hits his higher register, it doesn't work and makes it hard to listen to. Maybe the completion of puberty will rectify the issue, I don't know. Musically, its a simple piano ballad in the beginning, then halfway through, Joe and Kevin come in with the guitars and the song morphs into a pop-rock ballad. The song goes back to the sole piano when the above lyrics are sung.

Objectively, its one of the best songs I have heard come out of the new Disney pop era, and hasn't even been officially released yet. It's because it isn't about something saccharine or juvenile; its a serious topic discussed frankly and honestly by a guy wiser than his years imply.

I will make my final decision about the song when I hear the final version recorded, but from what I hear, this could be the song that helps break them from the terrible Disney stigma.

Rating: 7.5/10

The Jonas Brothers Tackle Diabetes In New Album

Girls, proceed to scream, squeal, and tear up.

The Jonas Brothers, arguably the biggest boy band on the planet right now, have revealed the name of the upcoming album that the "Burning Up" tour will support.

A Little Bit Longer, the band's third album, will be released on August 12th. The album title comes from the song "A Little Bit Longer", which Nick Jonas wrote about his struggle with diabetes.

The youngest brother of the band revealed he was a Type 1 diabetic in March 2007 during a benefit to support the illness. In order to help him manage the insulin-dependent disease, he uses the OmniPod insulin delivery system.

As a diabetic myself, I am very interested in how Nick will detail his experience in song. I am expecting a heartfelt ballad; a boisterous, teenybopper jam would seem a bit inappropriate (unless that's inspirational too). It takes a lot of maturity, courage, and strength to tackle something like that head on, and for that, he has my respect. When I found out he had the disease, it was shocking, considering the schedule he is able to maintain. Touring, recording, and promoting takes a lot of time and energy, and the fact that Nick is able to properly handle diabetes is truly astounding. If he and his seemingly responsible brothers are supposed to be role models for kids, then I definitely support it. Considering who the role models used to be (coughBritneycough), it is definitely a nice change of pace.

I'll probably never really like their music (I may give their album a chance), but they do have my respect.

For those who LOVE them, remember the Burning Up tour kicks off in Toronto, Canada on July 4th. The tour swings by NYC on August 10th at Madison Square Garden. Considering the response, the tour is probably sold out.

 

Picture comes from JustJared website

Video Premiere: Rihanna's "Take a Bow"!

The music video for Rihanna's "Take a Bow" has just been released!

Although I could live without the boy haircut, she looks hot in this video. Her second best yet (Umbrella owns all!)

Check it out below:

Soap Sud of the Week: ATWT's Brad and Katie Learning the In and Outs of Marriage

Last week, after a year of Brad Snyder begging and Katie Peretti being a stupid, selfish bitch, the two finally got married in one of the best weddings in recent soap memory. Now that they are, they are REALLY learning about each other.

Hilarity then commences.

On Monday, Brad and Katie had their first big fight as a married duo. Katie was furious that Brad apparently didn't want to have children, so she ran off to Margo to complain. Brad refused to deal with Katie's petulant crap and, in caveman style, threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of the Oakdale Police Department. The crazy antics gave way to an honest and mature discussion of what they both wanted from this marriage. They decided they wanted the same things; a family, stability, fun and excitement, but they wanted to enjoy marriage before getting into all of that. Of course, Brad (the mature one) had to goad Katie's feelings out of her. One reason why I enjoy this couple: Brad doesn't take Katie's s**t, but loves her anyway.

Unfortunately, things will hit a snag once again when its revealed that Brad has a daughter, but I'm sure Oakdale's best couple will work it out in the end.

Mariah's GMA Disaster!

UPDATE (5:00 pm): I realized I may have been a bit harsh, so I reviewed the performance I changed the post around.

Remember the Ashlee Simpson/SNL incident?

Well the same thing happened to Mariah Carey this morning!

While performing her #1 single "Touch My Body" on Good Morning America, Mariah's pre-recorded track screwed up a lot, beginning before she was ready and repeating over and over.

Did Mariah choke, like the aformentioned?

Nope!

Like Mariah only can, she was able to brush it off with ease, and even made fun of the incident. After it happened again, Mariah sang, "Stop singing my part now, baby". She also said, at the end, she was trying to bring something different.

She certainly did!

The problem was rectified for her next two songs, "I'm That Chick" and "Bye Bye". The latter performance was her strongest of the song yet, much better than on American Idol last night.

However, a problem still seems to exist. Granted, with age, a voice isn't as strong as it used to be, but still. Mariah really needs to take a break and restore her voice to the tip-top shape it has been in the past.

Check it out for yourself below:

New Blog Features!

As I get more acquainted with blogging (I'm doing pretty good for a high schooler, huh?), I'll be adding a lot more features to the site.

The latest in my "Music of the Moment", where people can stream my current favorite songs. Unless I go nuts, it will always be at the top of the page.

For the first run, I chose "I Stay In Love" off of Mariah's latest album and "Run", a Snow Patrol cover done by Leona for Radio One Live Lounge!

Enjoy

(Any comments, questions should be directed to brandonsbestworst@blogspot.com!)

You HAVE To Be Kidding Me!: Tom Cruise Returns to The Couch!

It was THE television event of 2005.

It was also the moment people knew for sure Tom Cruise officially lost his goddamn mind!

He's BACK!

Three years after the infamous couch-jumping incident, crazy ass Scientologist actor Tom Cruise will be appearing on Oprah next month to celebrate his 25 year anniversary in films. The episode will air on May 5th, and will reportedly be taped at Tom Cruise's compound home in Colorado next Friday. Considering May is a sweeps month, this will surely provide a ratings boost. Who knows? Maybe Tom will swing from the chandeliers and throw Baby Suri (who has been seen publicly in months, BTW) up in the air!

I actually am (kinda) a fan of Tom Cruise, but I seriously think he has some problems. Regardless, it will definitely be some must-see TV!

Single Battle: Chris Brown's Forever v.s. Ne-Yo's Closer

It's very funny how closely linked these two are.

Both Chris Brown and Ne-Yo came out around the same time. Both had #1 singles that were virtually inescapable. Both had successful albums released. They even toured together.

Now, they both have dance-pop singles out, released THE EXACT SAME DAY!

Coincidence? You decide.

Anyway, both seem to be capitalizing on the surprising success of Rihanna's "Don't Stop The Music" with their new singles. Chris Brown's song "Forever" was released in support of the Deluxe Edition of his platinum-selling album Exclusive. Ne-Yo's single "Closer" is the lead of his new album, The Year of the Gentleman. So, which single is worth the 99 cents?

First off is Chris Brown. It makes sense that the R&B prince would take a different approach after his extremely successful ballad "With You". Instead of going for the typical R&B/Hip-Hop uptempo song with an appearance from either T-Pain or someone else, he goes it alone on this dance song. It starts off with a synth melody, then quickly breaks with the beat. The beat in infectious, almost forcing you to dance. Honestly, Chris's voice is rather inconsequential; its all about the music. If you actually paid attention to the lyrics and his singing, its still good. Its very pop, without jumping that annoying line into bubblegum. Since its already #3 on iTunes, it seems to be another hit for Brown. Rating: 8/10

Onto Ne-Yo. This song is extremely experimental, and its a better song for it. It begins with this guitar riff, leading into a beat where Ne-Yo whispers "Closer". Then, a softer guitar comes in. Then a beat and a slightly annoying squeak mixes in. Then comes the claps. Everything melts into one sound when the song hits the chorus. You would think that all of those sounds would be distracting, but they're not. In fact, it makes the song cool, both as a club smash and an iPod-buster. Ne-Yo said he wanted to try new things with the song, and he certainly did not disappoint. Rating: 9/10

Now comes the question, which is better: Ne-Yo's or Chris's?

If you simply want a song to dance to, then go with Forever. It is a great club song that will easily blow up, but those looking for something fresh and new won't really find much.

Those looking for a fresh sound she go with Closer. It's not only a great dance song, but it is also experimental and cool. For this song alone, I would check out his new album come June.

Overall, I say Ne-Yo wins this single battle.

Both songs are available on iTunes. "Forever" will be on the front page, but you'll have to look for "Closer" in Ne-Yo's artist page.

Download of the Day 4/23: India.Arie's The Heart of the Matter

OK, I'm not going to lie. I heard this song on the Sex and the City movie trailer. I had no clue who sang it, but it was an amazing song that fit the trailer and the movie very well. It was only when I read the comments under the video did I realize it was India.Arie.

I am certainly not her biggest fan, but I am aware of her music. I liked the song she put out in the beginning of her career, "Video". Other than that, I really didn't care for her songs too much.

"The Heart of the Matter" is probably the best song she has put out, at least for me anyway. The song is perfect for a trip home from school or work after a very stressful day (boy, have I had those). Her voice match perfectly with the words she's singing; you believe in her assertion that the best way to continue with life is simply to forgive, both yourself and others. I think its a song that everyone should give a listen to.

For the reasons stated above, I can see why it was chosen for the Sex and the City film. I hope that the song, through the inevitable success of TV spinoff, receives the attention and adoration is deserves so much.

RATING: 9/10

The Brit Females Are Taking Over!

 

Hot on the heels of Leona Lewis' unprecedented success is Duffy, whose hit European smash "Mercy" is also making its move on the charts. The song, which was a iTunes Single of the Week, is currently at #70 on iTunes Top 100 Songs!

The Welsh singer is expected to make appearances on Jay Leno and the Coachella Festival to promote the single and the album Rockferry, which will be released May 13th. If you haven't yet, definitely download a copy of "Mercy"; its fantastic!

On the Leona front, her monster single "Bleeding Love" has moved back to #1 after a stunning Idol performance. The appearance has also facilitated an increase in album sales. Spirit, which fell out of the Top 10 yesterday, shot back up to #6. The regular version sits at #13. On Amazon, her album sits at #3, only behind the pre-orders of Madonna and R.E.M.'s album Accelerate. Yes, that means she is ahead of Mariah! Also, "Better in Time" has been chosen as the next single, after an astonishing debut last week at #62!

Go Leona and Duffy!

The American Idol Effect: April 24th

Leona Lewis is currently basking in the American Idol light right now, receiving a major boost from the appearance.

"Bleeding Love" moved up to #1 on iTunes.

Spirit moves up to #6 on iTunes and #2 on Amazon!

Go Leona!

Leona Shuts It Down on American Idol!!

Take note Syesha and Brooke. THIS is how you perform in front of 30 million people!

Leona proves why she had the #1 album and #1 single with this stunning rendition of "Bleeding Love"!

Me to Brooke and Jason: You're On Borrowed Time!

Tonight, American Idol's strongest female voice Carly Smithson was sent packing, in the most senseless bottom two of the season.

Both Syesha and Carly did great last night, much, much better than a boring Jason Castro and a tragic Brooke White. That would've been a better bottom two, but nope, they skated right through. Brooke received the pity vote and Jason's fans pushed him through.

Which left a vibrant Syesha and a powerful Carly vulnerable to the dreaded stools. With that bottom two, I decided it would be Syesha, since it would be unlikely for her to gain a legion of fans with one performance. Then, Ryan said Carly's name.

I'm not worried about Smithson though. She already had a record deal, and with all of the exposure, she can surely get another one. I'll be looking out for it.

As for Brooke and Jason, they should be VERY worried. They better pull out all the stops next week; no stop and starts, no boring-as-hell performances. They need to prove that they belonged on the couch, because right now, I think a major error has been made.

Good Luck Carly!

Pre-Official Hot 100 News: Lil' Wayne's Lollipop Tops Chart

Although the chart will officially be released tomorrow, sources reveal that Lil' Wayne's "Lollipop" has overtaken Leona Lewis for the #1 spot, his first ever #1 as either a solo or featured artist. "Bleeding Love", Leona's million-selling debut, slips one place to #2. The rest of the Top 5 remain the same as last week. Madonna, thanks to ever-increasing airplay and consistently high sales, moves up to #6. Miley Cyrus fans can also rejoice; "See You Again" has finally cracked the Top 10.

Is Mariah Trashing Leona?

Just hours after it was revealed that diva Mariah Carey has knocked Leona Lewis off the top of the Billboard album charts, news is coming in that Mariah is none too impressed with the girl oft compared to her.

Mariah needs to be careful here. I love both Mariah and Leona, but right now, Mariah is coming off as a hater. Leona has had nothing but nice things to say about her, its only fair that Mariah (the older, wiser) show the same courtesy. 

Here's the quote:

Honestly, there has been so many, 'This is the new her,' and I'm like, 'OK, show me the new her. Can she come and work for me and be my double?'And I'm not particular talking about this girl Leona, because I only heard her once and I didn't really hear a true similarity, particularly in the style of music.

It is what it is and critics have compared me to so many people who are not really singers, and they're certainly not writers.

Why The Name "David Cook" Will Be Known For Years To Come

I said in my "Idol" recap; he is the most versatile performer since Carrie Underwood. He is also the most versatile male performer in American Idol history.

I'm not crazy, and I am not overselling him. I was worried for David tonight. Rock and "Lloyd Webber" don't really mix, and I am sure Sir Webber would've been deeply offended had David "Cook" up any of his masterful compositions. That meant he had to sing a Broadway standard, the way it was.

And boy, did he sing it!

David Cook's version of "The Music of the Night", the most notable song from The Phantom of the Opera, was beyond amazing. What's even more amazing than the performance is the realization that came from hearing it; his voice is beautiful.

Here's the truth; there are many great Idol contestants, both past and present. Most of them, though, lack the versatility to maintain a career in the never-stagnant music business. Only a special few have shown the ability to remain relevant for many years after their last bow on the big stage. Two that come to mind are Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Both of them showed in their signature performances (Like That There and Alone, respectively) that they could sing anything they desire; that when the genre focus changes, they can easily maintain their relevance. It is a rare ability that not many other contestants possess.

David Cook has it.

He proved with this signature performance that he could virtually sing anything, beautifully. The rich tone, the shocking range, and the edgy grit makes nearly every genre attainable to him. Coupled with his creativity and his knack for altering songs to fit his musical taste, David can easily hold on to success as the years go by.

When the phrase "American Idol" officially entered the pop culture lexicon, I took it to mean an artist who the majority of the public, regardless of what genres they enjoy, could enjoy and adore.

I don't think anyone fits the bill right now as much as David Cook.

His amazing performance is below:

A Special Friend Post (#2)....

Something funny from a friend....

American Idol Top 6: The Show Must Go On!

A very odd choice of theme, but it will be interesting to see how they handle it!

Syesha Mercado - Well, if that wasn't an amazing performance, then I don't what it is. It was fun, sexy, and chock full of personality. Now, if only she could figure out a way to inject that kind of energy into the rest of her performances, she could quite possibly put a dent in the David-David finale train.

Jason Castro - I was bored. Seriously, I was just bored. If he was either of the Davids, he could've turned into a dramatic, bombastic power ballad, full of runs and high notes. Instead, it was a meek, uninspiring, sleepy version of a really nice song.

Brooke White - I have to give her props for her courage to stop and start again (screw Paula). She could've mumbled or warbled her way through dead air, turning her performance into an utter trainwreck, which it ultimately wasn't. I'm glad she just restarted, although it was a bit easy to see her confidence was shaken. I thought it was an emotional, vulnerable performance. That said, she was CRAZY to choose THAT song (famously sung by MADONNA).

David Archuleta - I would not have known it was Broadway song if this wasn't Andrew Lloyd Webber night. It had this really nice AC vibe, which I think is where Little David is going, whether he wins or not. It was another great vocal from him.

Carly Smithson - The dress was hideous. I just had to say it. The performance was fine, I just didn't feel anything while I was listening, so I was just bored watching it.

David Cook - The most versatile performer since Carrie Underwood. Vocally, it was absolutely stunning, and those notes he hit; get out of here with that! It just goes to show, behind the gritty rock angst, he has a really beautiful voice, something that really can't be said about many rockers these days. Seriously, whether he wins or not (which he probably will), he can go in ANY direction and succeed. He could very well save American Idol sagging influence on the music charts.

Bottom Three This Week: Brooke, Carly, Jason

Don't forget to watch tomorrow to see LEONA LEWIS perform LIVE!!

US Album Sales Update: Mariah Heads and Shoulders Over Rest!

According to Hits Daily Double, Mariah Carey's album E=MC2 has around 283,000 copies sold, with only 58.93% of retailers reporting in. She was predicted to sell at least 500,000 copies this week, guaranteeing her a #1 debut.

Last week's #1 album, Leona Lewis' Spirit slides to #2, with approximately 60,000 copies sold. Following at a rather distant third is The Hannah Montana Concert Tour album, sell nearly 30,000 this week.

Updates will be added as frequently as possible.

UPDATE (4:43 pm): FINAL
Mariah Carey - 475,607 copies
Leona Lewis - 90,485 copies
Lady Antebellum - 47,018 copies
Hannah Montana - 45,383 copies

Madonna's "Give It 2 Me" on Youtube!

If you haven't found the song, its been put on YouTube!

Listen before its taken down (it will be)!

New Madonna! "Give It 2 Me" Leaked Onto Internet!

Just like her "rival" Mariah Carey, parts of Madonna's album Hard Candy have been leaked, a week before the release. One of the songs was "Give It 2 Me", her supposed 2nd single.

For those who are desperate to hear it, email me for the link. Or, simply search on Google. Whichever is easier. From what I've heard, it seems like it may be worth buying.

I'll put up a review later....

Mariah Being Funny with MTV...

Whoever came up with this concept is a genius!

Snoop Dogg (he's playing the dog) and Mariah are hilarious! I love these MTV commercials!

Enjoy!

SUNDAY FEATURE: How Will The Clive Davis Ouster Change the Music Industry?

First of all, let's call Clive Davis' demotion from CEO of the RCA Music Group what it really is; a firing.

Let's also call his firing what it means for the music industry; scary.

Sure, he was alive when Lincoln was shot, but he was a pro at finding talent; that kind of talent that we are still talking about to this day. Without Clive, there would be no Bruce Springsteen, no Chicago, no Alicia Keys, no Whitney Houston. His knack for catching powerful artists has made him a legend. There really is no one like him.

Therein lies the industry's problem.

Thanks to the internet, which has brought along with it file-sharing, torrenting, and LimeWire, music sales have been lower than ever before. Only 8 years ago, 'NSYNC was making history for selling a back-breaking 2 million copies in their first week. Nowadays, most artists would be lucky to sell 10% of that to top the charts. These drastic numbers have sent the record companies into a frenzy. They are so desperate that they have begun to slap together acts with questionable talent, producer the bejesus out of them, and then send them out to score a #1 single, before fading into obscurity a year later. This phenomenon is more obvious in the R&B/Hip-Hop market, which has been oversaturated with short-term acts. Examples: Soulja Boy, MIMS, D4L (with their song Laffy Taffy).

Now comes news that Barry Weiss, who has helped everyone from Britney to T-Pain hit the top of the charts, is the new head of RCA. The argument for his succession? He's younger (49) and has an understanding of the new market. This may be undoubtedly true, but have his artists maintained longevity? The Backstreet Boys are over, Britney has collapsed under the weight of her celebrity, and its too soon to tell for T-Pain and Chris Brown.

What worries me, as a music fan, is how will he handle the next surge of pop music. Will he diligently search for the next big thing, and then help them develop their own image, style, and music that will make them megastars? Or, will he pull out the next generic pop star, rush-release a single, watch it go to #1 for a week, and then after the album flops, throw them away like spoilt milk?

Most record companies these days tend not to look for genuine talent, but the next quick buck. What set Clive apart was his ability to find that special singer or band or whatever and bring them to worldwide success. Hopefully, I'm wrong. Maybe, Barry Weiss will follow in Clive's footsteps and search for that special talent that will sell millions and attain that decade long popularity, a la Mariah or Whitney or Usher. Maybe others will follow suit. That, would save the floundering music industry.

However, I have a bad feeling that my ideal set-up won't come to fruition. If that's the case, Adios Whitney and Michael, and Hello "What's her name" and "Where did they go".

Note to Barry Weiss: if you mess with Leona Lewis' career and don't let Clive work with her, I will NEVER buy anything from Sony BMG again!

 

 

Comments, questions, and feelings are very welcome.

Video Of The Week

I'm not sure I have any words to describe this...

CNN Broadcaster Caught In Drugs and Sex Scandal!

CNN'S Quest a Very "Knotty" Boy!

You Gotta Love the New York Post! lol!

Popular British CNN International broadcaster Richard Quest has been caught in a very odd compromising position!

On Friday morning at approximately 3:40 am, Quest was arrested for loitering and possession of a controlled substance when he was caught in Central Park during their closed hours with a bag of meth in his pocket.

Sounds normal, right?

According to reports, Quest had a rope tied around his neck, that was connected to his genitals. He wasn't arrested for indecent exposure, meaning he wasn't "exposed". He also had a sex toy hidden in his shoe (no explanation of the type).

In Manhattan Criminal Court, the broadcaster agreed to six months of drug counseling in exchange for a possible dismissal of the case. His lawyer expects an acquittal, and in defense of his client, claimed Quest wasn't aware that Central Park was closed and he was just trying to get home with his friends.

Richard Quest is known for his crazy antics as a broadcaster, including recording a pop song, cha-cha dancing for the first time, and sprinting 100 meters. He currently hosts Business International from London. On CNN's website, they call him one of their most recognizable faces.

Trust me, he is definitely recognizable now, for all the wrong reasons!

Fun tidbit: Richard Quest was asked to be a host for the English version of Al Jazeera, but he turned it down, claiming his homosexuality and Jewish religion made it a blatant conflict of interest.

Vocal Condition Sidelines Jordin Sparks

Last year's American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, whose music career is currently in an upswing, has been dealt a crippling blow: a serious voice issue.

The pop princess was forced to cancel a performance today at the Bryce Jordan Center in Pennsylvania because an acute vocal chord hemorrhage condition. The illness, according to a press release by the Center, could lead to permanent vocal damage if left untreated. This also affects her place in the Alicia Keys tour, which began yesterday.

Jordin, after disappointing early record sales, has saw her career bounce back, thanks to her new single "No Air" with Chris Brown. It is currently sitting at #3 on the pop charts, and is the second most played pop song in the country.

Get better Jordin!!

UK Chart Update: Madonna Hits #1!

While she hasn't been able to beat Mariah on the US charts, Madonna claims victory across the pond, scoring another #1 with her worldwide smash "4 Minutes" with Justin Timberlake.

Madonna, who also the #1 song in the world, scores her first chart-topper in the UK since 2005's "Sorry". This comes a day before the single's physical release, guaranteeing Madonna another week on top leading to the release of her new album "Hard Candy". Last week's #1, Estelle, moves down to #2.

On the album charts, Duffy's album "Rockferry" tumbles down to #4, being outsold by Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, and the Kooks, who reached #1 with their first week. Leona's album Spirit, which is currently #1 in the US, moves up to #4. Mariah's album E=MC2 charts at #3.

Rob Lowe's Nanny Has A Boyfriend....Who Needs $1 Million!

Talk about a coincidence!

Nanny-turned-victim Jessica Gibson has a boyfriend who needs $1 million to start up an eco-friendly pest control product. And guess who just filed lawsuit against their rich celebrity employer for that same amount (plus change)?

TMZ uncovered internet documents where Jason Lesh, the nanny's BF, has been asking around for a cool million to bankroll bug-killing company last summer, while the nanny was still working with the Lowes.

According to friends, Jessica claimed that Lowe owed her $30-50,000 in back wages. Now, she's asking for $1.5 million.

Isn't it a bit odd that Jessica, who originally only wanted the 50G she was owed, is now suing for a fortune?

The waters are becoming more and more cloudy, Jessica....

American Idol's Kristy Lee Cook: The Anti-Sanjaya!

There is one thing that Chikezie, Ramiele, Michael, Amanda, and David H have in common; they fell before could-be country princess Kristy Lee Cook.

I was actually expecting Syesha to join that list on Wednesday night, but alas, Kristy was sent home to try and get her horse back.

Although I thought a blank wall was more interesting than she was in the beginning, I grew to not hate her anymore. If anything, I learned to tolerate the personality challenged contestant. One reason was her progress during the show. Although she was no Carrie Underwood (calling her Kellie Pickler would even be a stretch), she got better as the weeks went by. After her disastrous "Eight Days A Week" performance the first week of the Top 12, she performed better. Her best to date was "Anyway" by Martina McBride, followed by "Forever" by Mariah Carey. Her singing, if not increased in quality, was a bit more interesting and memorable than her during her wallpaper-like Top 24 showings. She attempted to instill some kind a personality in her songs and although it always fell short, her effort should be noted.

Kristy Lee Cook was also the smartest contestant, behind the other "Cook" David. She realized after her infamous Beatles week performance that the AI country fans were voting for her. It's safe to say that all of Middle America Idol watchers had her back. So, what's a girl to do? Appease her audience. She chose songs that would make her fans support her. Evidence? The genius-although-transparent choice of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" during the "songs when you were born" week.It was that performance that pulled her out of the Bottom Three for the first time.

Finally, Kristy gained sympathy (although no votes) from me with her self-deprecating humor. She was smart enough to know when she underperformed, and if we didn't, she sure as hell pointed it out for us. A week or two back, she even had a "Kristy's Seat" post-it meant for the dreaded stool. Her ability to laugh at herself is very endearing, moreso than another certain contestant who will remain nameless.

Why I titled this post the anti-Sanjaya is because Kristy Lee Cook, despite her way too-long stay, is nothing like that atrocity that damaged Idol's reputation. Although they both stayed the exact same time, that's the only similarity. Where Sanjaya was cocky, Kristy was boring, then endearing. When Sanjaya got worse, she grew as a contestant. As he embarrassed the hell out of the show, she didn't.

She may have been the worst, but she's nowhere near Sanjaya. In fact, I actually wanted her to stay one more week to see if she would continue her progression. Anyway, she definitely does have a career in music.

Me To Rob Lowe's Nanny: I Don't Buy It!

Normally, I am one who jumps to the defense off the accuser in situations like these, but something here smells very fishy.

Sorry Gloria, I think your client is a fraud.

Jessica Gibson, a former nanny for Brothers and Sisters actor Rob Lowe, is accusing him of sexual harassment and sexual assault. His response? He and his wife filed a lawsuit against the woman, claiming she attempted to blackmail them for 1.5 million dollars! If they didn't pay up, she would go to the press.

Well, it seems like she went good on her word.

She even got herself a top-notch vulture of a lawyer, the infamous Gloria Allred. The two went on the Today Show to share their side of the story this past week.

Technically, Gloria shared their side of the story; the nanny was basically mute. That didn't mean she didn't say anything. She may have only said a word or two, but her face spoke volumes for her.

During the majority of the interview, Jessica had this odd smirk on her face, almost as if she was saying "I got you, Rob Lowe." She didn't look like a woman who, for years, was sexually humiliated by a celebrity. She also didn't look like a courageous woman fighting against a pervert actor. Instead, she looked like a woman who was expecting the public to be on her side, someone who was very satisfied with how the interview was going.

She can thank Gloria Allred for that, because if her lawyer wasn't there, she would've completely collapsed.

Whenever Meredith asked the nanny a question that pertained to her alleged sexual abuse or the text messages she sent the family, she always hesitated to answer before Allred stepped in and weaved her magic wand of legal jargon to cover a potential mistake. I was given the impression that if she was allowed to answer, she would continue to hesitate, think about the answer, then deliver a response she would later forget or change. The interview was more about Gloria Allred than a woman finding justice.

I'm sorry, but if she can't even properly defend herself in the court of public opinion, than how the hell is she going to handle Lowe's (and ABC's, they are supporting him) high-powered lawyers in a trial?

Again, Gloria's there, all ready to fight in both courts.

Seriously, I don't buy these accusations for a second. I think both Gloria and the nanny are full of it; money-hungry, publicity-seeking women who are attacking a man known for his questionable sexual exploits. I believe it's a case of extortion, plain and simple.

Jessica should quit this before she loses any kind of respect people have for her. Leave Rob Lowe and his family alone!

Keeping An Open Mind.....Mika

I like a lot of music, and I am open to trying different things. When I don't get a song or artist that everyone else seems to adore, I try my damndest to understand.

That's the case with Lebanese singer Mika.

When I first "Grace Kelly", I hated it. I thought there was too much going on, and Mika's shockingly high falsetto nearly put me in a coma.

Then I realized his album Life in Cartoon Motion has sold 5 million copies worldwide (300,000 in the US). So, I listened to it again. I didn't hate it, but I still couldn't see it on my iPod.

I tried a few other of his songs, "Love Today" and "Relax, Take It Easy". I had a similar reaction. His songs were so happy, so positive, and incredibly annoying. I'm a positive person, but Mika is like "Santa Claus on Prozac" (Phoebe from Friends). I figured that if this is what his album is going to be, I couldn't enjoy it.

The next song I tried was "Happy Ending". The title was really misleading because I was expecting some happy pop record. In fact, I got a sad, soft, great ballad. After listening to the whole track, I realized the song was amazing, and so was Mika. When he stripped off the craziness, it exposed a deep talent, one that is definitely not done expressing himself.

I still have to get used to the usual hyper-pop Mika, but I do realize now that he is one of the most innovative artists in music today.

 

Have an artist you think I should "Keep An Open Mind"? Email me at brandonsbestworst@gmail.com!

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Usher's Album Cover...Revealed!

Honestly?

Just OK. Nothing really special. Kinda boring.

What do you think?

Download of the Day 4/18: Kelly Clarkson's "Sober"

Don't ever piss off Clive Davis.

That is the only reason why this song did not top the charts. Its the only reason why sure bet "My December" flopped on the charts (it lost the top spot to Miley Cyrus for god's sake). Messing with the arguable leader of music does NOT benefit the artist, and in this case, it cost the first (and still best) American Idol winner her credibility as a bankable pop goddess.

If you look past her tragic album sales and disappointing Hot 100 single positions, she still deserves the title. Why? "Sober" is why. This song is easily the best song of her career. It's an amazing song that should've been promoted more. From the lyrics (they really helped me through a very hellish week) to the powerful climax, its a perfect pop-rock anthem for the exiled queen of the genre. Anyone who discredits Idol as a talent show that doesn't produce any obviously needs to listen to this song. It should change their mind.

Hopefully, Kelly and Clive can work out their differences (it may not matter, since he was fired) and make an album that satisfies her desire for musical freedom and his desire for a profitable record. They can meet halfway, sure, as long as he allows her to write songs as fantastic as this one. If they can do that, then Kelly can easily regain her crown and solidify the belief that Idol really does work.

Oh, and if it wasn't clear, BUY THIS SONG!!!!!!!

RATING: 9/10

Download of the Day 4/18: Fergie's "Finally"

So her first single was "London Bridge"?

I can forgive that misstep in musical taste for this surprising gem of a song. Although many won't admit it, Fergie is a genuinely good singer; better than many artists out there today. However, most of her songs tend to mask that truth. Save for "Big Girls Don't Cry", her singles are either really pop-ish or drenched in enough hip-hop beats to distract anyone from her voice. Those tactics are for the aformentioned artists. She doesn't need it.

Working with John Legend, the piano-driven ballad is definitely a welcome change from her usual style of music. In fact, its refreshing to hear music with a melody present (or at least recognizable). For that, Fergie should be lauded.

Then, there is her voice.

She is really a good singer. When she sings the soft parts of the song (like she did with Big Girls Don't Cry), its absolutely gorgeous. She does try to Mariah the song out toward the end, and although its nice, its unnecessary. As much as I love divas who can vocally jump through hoops, it would better suit her voice if she simply stuck to the melody. It would have been more affecting. That doesn't mean she doesn't have the chops. She just used them with the wrong song.

All in all, its a beautiful song that should be her 6th top 5 single from her 2006 album The Dutchess. Just typing it made me realize, if her album is still relevant 2 years after its release, then she really does have something.

RATING: 7.5/10

He's Out! Legendary Music Mogul Clive Davis Fired.....Again!

 

Clive Davis, the legendary music producer who helped bring names like Whitney, Alicia, and now Leona into the forefront has been demoted from his job as CEO of the BMG Label Group.

Davis, who is 74, is now the chief creative officer (I know, sounds like BS, right) of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. According to execs at Sony BMG, he will continue to work with top artists, presumably Whitney, Leona, and the American Idol finalists, but is no longer in control of the company's direction. That job now belongs to Barry Weiss. Weiss is responsible for many teen sensations, including Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

The news will definitely shake up the music industry, which has been in a rather steep decline since the beginning of the decade. This wouldn't be the first time Clive and Sony BMG had issues. To much shock and anger, Sony BMG fired Clive from his CEO position at Arista Records, a record label he founded. After forming the successful J Records, Sony BMG brought him back into their fold, giving him control of their major labels.

The news is even more of a shock considering his latest signing, international superstar Leona Lewis, just topped both the US singles and albums charts this week. Her single, "Bleeding Love" and her album Spirit, both sold over 200,000 copies this week, a large number for a new artist. It is unknown how his ouster will affect her career and the countless others who he helped.

The Soul Train Awards Are Canceled!

The longest-running black music awards show, The Soul Train Awards, have been officially canceled after 22 years, according to Mediatakeout.com.

Although a reason wasn't given for the cancellation, it is believed that many no longer find the award ceremony relevant when compared to the higher-profile Grammy and American Music Award ceremonies. Many of last year's nominees and winners failed to attend, including Beyonce and Mary J. Blige.

The award ceremony was the brainchild of Don Cornelius, the creator of the Soul Train music program that aired on Saturday mornings in syndicated markets for decades. The legendary program was canceled 2 years ago.

A very sad day for African-American music.

AI Download of the Day: David Cook's "Always Be My Baby"

It's even better in the studio.

The Mariah Carey smash that David Cook turned into a rock ballad is by far the best studio version by an American Idol contestant this season. His voice is sounds so much better than two nights ago; in fact, the whole production of the song is nearly immaculate.

Randy hit the nail on the head; David Cook is READY to record!

When his album is released, whether he wins or loses, I hope he puts this song on there.

RATING: 8.5/10

Mariah Sells 154,000...in ONE DAY!

Can her detractors shut up now??

The current premier diva, Mariah Carey, has blasted the competition away by selling 154,000 copies of her new album chart-topper, in only one day!

The album is expected to sell around 600,000 copies in its first week, 200,000 copies more than her last album The Emancipation of Mimi. The 2005 record sold 401,000 copies in its first week to give her the top spot.

Unless the shipments of her album go missing for some reason, she WILL go to #1 next week!

Congrats Mariah!

Leona Pulls A Double!

Leona Lewis continues to break US chart records!

Three weeks after becoming the first British female solo artist in 21 years to top the Hot 100, her debut album charts at #1 with over 204,000 copies sold in its first week of release. Along with her #1 album, Leona tops the Hot 100 again with "Bleeding Love", giving her a second week at #1.

This makes Leona the first British female in HISTORY to have a #1 single and album at the same time. She is also the first British artist since 1990 to do so.

Leona also celebrates her first platinum single in the US, as "Bleeding Love" surpasses the million mark!

The official Chart Update will be up tomorrow.

CONGRATS LEONA!!

Classic DOTD: Mariah Carey's "Forever"

In honor of Mariah Carey week on my blog, I have chosen her song "Forever" as my first Classic Download of the Day.

Pulled from 1995's sensational Daydream album, "Forever" is one of her best songs that should've been released as a single (her record label didn't think the song was strong enough). That was probably because she didn't use her trademark whistle register in the song. Nope, Mariah kept it simple with the ballad, only indulging in a few runs throughout. Of course, she pulled out the stops for the finale, but she restrains her voice the most part, highlighting the beauty of the track.

I believe keeping the track out of the public eye was a disservice to Carey. This song really shuts the critics who accuse her of oversinging down. This song, along with many from the heavily-recommended Daydream, shows what magic Mariah can make when she pulls it back and keeps it simple.

Rating: 9/10

American Idol Top 7: Who Can "Carey" A Tune?

Well, I've got to say, this was NOT the disaster I thought it was going to be. In fact, I wouldn't mind another taste of MC songs. They have a ton to choose from.

Here is the rundown:

 

 

 

David Archuleta - A very predictable choice (it was either going to be that or "Hero"). It was a very good vocal, but I wished he had mixed the song up a bit. Of course, the alternative was to sing something less inspirational and more fun.

Carly Smithson - Doing "Without You" is a large order. Kelly Clarkson did it the first season and wowed the judges. Now, Carly does it. I was, honestly, terribly underwhelmed. I was expecting a real show-stopping performance. Instead, I was almost waiting for it to be over.

Syesha Mercado - She chose one of my favorite Mariah songs, "Vanishing", from her first album. I believe she did a great job with the song, all things considered.

Brooke White - So, she chose "Hero". I really really liked this performance. I loved that she put her folksy spin on it, and I thought it was one of her most vocally challenging songs to date. Although she did lose focus towards the end (the song was sped up for some reason), you can tell she put her heart into the performance

Kristy Lee Cook - I have been down on Kristy Lee since the beginning, so imagine my surprise when she flourishes during Mariah week! It was arguably her best performance to date, and (shock) one of my favorite performances of the night.

David Cook - His creativity is mind-blowing. I was racking my brain of MC knowledge, trying to figure out what he would choose. Always Be My Baby NEVER crossed my mind. It was absolute genius. This NEEDS to be on his album, win or lose. Best of the Night. (BTW, expect it to be an AI Download of the Day).

Jason Castro - Another surprising choice. I thought it was pretty good. It wasn't very strong vocally, but I liked the mood that it set and it was a very daring choice.

The Bottom Three: Syesha, Brooke, Carly

The Top Three: Jason, David, David

Note: Tonight was proof that Mariah Carey is one of the best songwriters in pop history. The contestants showed how versatile her songs can be.

Leona WILL Top The Billboard 200!

Leona Lewis is the first British solo female artist in history to have a #1 album on the US album charts, Billboard will reveal tomorrow.

According to hitsdailydouble, Leona Lewis sold approximately 208,000 copies in her first week of release, slightly above the expected 195k. Chances are the sales will be slightly higher, since they tend to have a 5-7% error.

Leona is also expected to go to #1 this week with Bleeding Love, after including the sales of the album version, as well as her ever-increasing airplay.

Congrats to Leona!

Mariah and Oprah!

She looks FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Double Download of the Day 4/15: Mariah Carey's "Side Effects" and "Bye Bye"

If you aren't planning on buying the album (you REALLY should), then these are truly the standout songs:

Side Effects - I believe this is one of Mariah's best songs to date that will probably not become a single, on par with "Forever". The best thing about this record is the lyrics. For the first time in this decade, Mariah REALLY dug deep inside herself and pulled out these passionate and powerful words about a woman dealing with an abusive relationship. Many believe it is about her ex-husband Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola, and with the surprising conviction that she sings, its very plausible. Regardless of the intended target, this is Mariah's most personal song, and I giver her immense credit for pushing aside her usually saccharine lyrics for some with grit. Rating: 8.5/10

Bye Bye - Mariah hasn't really released a truly inspirational song that is universal since Hero is 1993. Well, the streak is over with Bye Bye. The song, presumably about her late father, is a powerful piece of music. It definitely has the potential to be a life-saving song, just like Hero. Except for the beat (I wish she would just make a melodic ballad with no semblance of hip-hop influences at all), its a near perfect Mariah song. Rating: 8.5/10

Mariah Carey Performs "Bye Bye" on Oprah!

Mariah appeared on Oprah to promote her new album E=MC2 coming out tomorrow, and she debuted her second single, "Bye Bye".

I'm really worried about her voice. This performance wasn't very good at all. It was strained, and it even sounded like she relied on the backing track a bit (if there was one, maybe I misheard).

I think, after this album, Mariah should take a REALLY long break and begin to repair that glorious voice of hers.

The performance is below:

Sunday Feature: Racism in Celebrity Tabloids?

The wedding of Jay-Z and Beyonce was probably the most talked-about event of the year so far. Everyone wanted to know, were they or weren't they?

Everyone except the celebrity magazines apparently.

Save for People Magazine and US Weekly, the celeb rags including OK! pushed the megastar wedding to the sidebar, deciding to report about other celebrities including Britney and Jennifer Aniston's relationship with Orlando Bloom.

You would think that the tabloids would go crazy about this, filling the magazine with every down-to-the-minute detail about the not-so-secret nuptials. I was expecting at least 4 covers about the wedding. Instead, most of the magazines would rather reheat old news or overanalyze a couple's friendship instead of write about Beyonce's big day.

It begs the question, why?

A tabloid editor speaking to the New York Daily News sums up the answer rather bluntly: "African-Americans don't sell covers." According to the New York newspaper, which heavily reported about the wedding, another reason why Beyonce and Jay-Z didn't receive top billing is because of the lack of photos of the event. Speaking to another insider, they report that "none of the magazines landed an exclusive on wedding pictures, which would have made the story bigger". Even still, another tabloid editor revealed that "Eva Longoria can get $1 million for wedding photos, but without the expectation of cover sales, Beyoncé might have gotten as little as $250,000 if she had sold hers".

It really is unsettling that racism could still exist in such a large form of media. Beyonce is easily one of the biggest pop stars on the globe, and if even she can't generate more than a cover, what does that say about the journalism media as a whole?

Another argument is that the Beyonce/Jay-Z nuptials were left alone on purpose; obviously they didn't want anyone to know, so the tabloids respected that wish.

Then again, this is the same media who developed the infamous "Wacko Jacko" moniker for embattled Michael Jackson and hired photographers that chased Princess Diana to her death.

The media has never been known for being nice or considerate to its famous subjects; apparently they aren't equal either. 

Note: Mediatakeout.com contributed to the creation of this post.

Here's A Crazy Idea...

A "Bleeding" Duet

Here's a CRAZY idea...

What about a Jesse McCartney/Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love" duet?

His version of Leona's #1 single (he did co-write the song with Ryan Tedder) is quickly becoming an internet sensation, so why not bank off of it?

Both of them have new albums out. Leona's is about to hit #1, while Jesse's is aiming for a May release. Wouldn't it be fantastic publicity if the two reworked the song as a duet? I love both versions (Leona's a bit more though, lol) and I think a duet would become a massive success. Plus, it will give them both a major boost in their careers; Jesse needs a big hit and Leona needs to solidify hers even more.

If Clive was smart, he would be on the phone with McCartney right now arranging a recording session with the two of them. The opportunity is too good to pass up!!

Soap Sud of the Week: Jason Breaks Down to Monica on GH!

It takes a lot to break the impenetrable shell that is Jason "Stone Cold" Morgan. It has to be something tragic, devastating, and guilt-ridden to tear Jason down. That is exactly what happened when his nephew/one-time surrogate son Michael Corinthos was wheeled into the ER. Jason's worst fears for his own child Jake were realized for the 12-year old when sniper Dr. Ian Devlin accidentally shot him instead of his father Sonny. Although appearing strong for Carly's sake, the revelation that Michael would likely not wake up struck the enforcer straight through his heart. Unable to cope on his own, he turned to his often-shunned mother, Monica Quartermaine. The cardiologist, currently sitting pretty in rehab, was a perfect choice for Jason to receive comfort. The two recently reconciled, and for the first time since the accident 13 years ago, Jason felt comfortable with his mom.

When Jason went to see Monica, it seemed like an information relay about Michael's condition. However, Jason quickly folded as he explained her estranged grandson's condition, needing his mom to hold him. After gaining some composure, Jason revealed how he blamed himself for Michael's accident. Monica quickly shot him down, explaining that the choices he made were not malicious. She also gave Jason the relief he needed by forgiving him for taking Michael away from the family, hoping that he would also forgive himself.

Ever since that accident in 1996 that turned Jason Quartermaine into Jason Morgan, he and his rich family were terribly disjointed. Although he came to somewhat tolerate his volatile relatives, it wasn't until they slowly started disappearing did he show a real longing for them. Now that he and Monica have officially buried the hatchet, it seems that the great divide is FINALLY beginning to close.

Here are the scenes (mixed with some others) from the last two days:

Its so nice to such a progression, considering where they were in November (see below):