Greatest Scenes from the VMAs: Mariah vs. Whitney in 1998

Remember when the VMAs were actually cool?

In honor of this year's VMAs, I am doing a special "Greatest Scenes" series from VMA's glorious past!

Back in 1998, Mariah and Whitney played with their rumored feud when they presented the Best Male Video award. They came out in matching brown dresses, and then proceeded to outdo each other in the "pulling parts off" contest. What you unfortunately don't see in the video is when that happens. The best part was when Mariah pulled off the fabric to reveal her world-famous legs with the instantly quotable line "Try it on me"! Sorry, Whit, but Mariah got you beat on this one!

Download of the Day 7/31: "Single" by New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo

After the surprising success of the New Kids On The Block reunion, its time for their new single.

The pop quintet succeed the top 40 hit "Summertime" by teaming with R&B sensation Ne-Yo on "Single", their latest single.

Yea, its really named "Single".

The song is produced by the same guy who produced Usher's #1 "Love In This Club". Polow Da Don. It's obvious, because its sounds A LOT like that song. I'm guessing he's the new Stargate in that way. Anyway, the fact that its produced by him means that it actually sounds really good. It's the lyrics that kinda blow. The verses are decent, but the chorus is a real eye-roller. "Pretty mama, if you're single...so while the DJ plays this single....". Get it? Playing on the two meanings of single? Cheesy, huh? I thought so too.

I was surprised by how good everyone sounds on the record. Of course, Ne-Yo is the best vocally, but Joey can definitely hold his own. I didn't really recognize the other voices, but they were okay; the harmonies were also pretty smooth.

This song is definitely better than "Summertime", but that may be because of the production. If you can get past some of the really corny lyrics, you have yourself a sure crossover smash. Since they can't do the bubblegum pop anymore (a la "The Right Stuff"), maybe they can do the blue-eyed soul thing. If this is any indication, they could actually pull it off.

Rating: 6/10

NOTE: The "single" will be released August 12th

New Leona Picture!

If this doesn't look like a future diva/goddess in the making, I don't know shit about anything.

Song Review: Jonas Brothers' "Tonight"

Three down, one more to go!

Actually, its just three down, because I almost know for certain I will love "A Little Bit Longer".

So, we've had "Burnin' Up" (a double platinum success on the BWU Hot 40) and "Pushin' Me Away" (a colossal flop with me and fans apparently, since the song plummeted to 89 on the Hot 100 this week) so far. Now, its time for the third of the A Little Bit Longer album preview, "Tonight".

I figured this song would have to be better than the last, since I believe that was rock bottom in terms of music. I was right. Unlike their last release, "Tonight" embraces the slicker pop sound of "Burnin' Up" while maintaining the "rock" edge with the Kevin-driven guitar. The hook isn't the best, so don't expect to have this stuck in your head, but its still a decent enough song to hold some presence in your memory.

Vocally, its not excruciating because, like a smart musician would, they don't highlight their deficiencies as singers by trying to stretch their ranges to unlistenable heights. Joe sounds 100 times better on this track than he did on "Pushin' Me Away". 1000 times better where Nick is concerned. My advice is that they should just write and sing what they know they can. Trying for more will only hurt them in the long (or short, depending on your opinion of them) run.

Another plus from last song; the lyrics. The guys take a stab at a topic many can relate to, arguing with a significant other. Basically, they're saying that a fight isn't gonna be solved "tonight", so they decide to walk from it and deal with it in the morning. Sounds like good advice? Either way, the topics of their music continue to mature, although its at a slow pace.

So, I consider "Tonight" another good song from the brothers. Next week's release is Nick Jonas' song about his diabetes, "A Little Bit Longer". The album of the same title comes out that next week.

Rating: 6/10

Me To Miley Cyrus: Quit The Attitude!

OK, Miley Cyrus, we get it. Your role on Hannah Montana is huge. Your album Breakout just sold 377,000 copies in one week. You have the adoration of millions. That doesn't mean you get to act like a bitch.

Especially when that person, a) gave you her song to record and b) was just making a joke

Katy Perry said that she would like to recreate the now legendary VMA kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears with Miley at Teen Choice Awards, to go with her 6-week #1 single "I Kissed a Girl".

Miley, in response, said this t0 E!'s Marc Malkin: ""No thanks. She sang on my record. So I think she's kind of getting back at me, because she was doing harmonies and backgrounds."

Let me get this straight: Miley thinks Katy made a JOKE because she was jealous?

Get over yourself!

Katy, from what I've seen and read, is a very nice, down-to-earth person. She was making a joke. I don't see why she has to take a little joke to that level of cattiness.

Katy, oh so awesome, responded like so to Perez Hilton: "6 weeks in a row at number one."

This isn't the first time Miley has ruffled some feathers. Last week, she put up a video on YouTube making fun of fellow tween queens Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Miley later apologized, sort of.

Miley, here's some advice. When half-naked photos of you are being leaked every other week, you REALLY shouldn't bitch out to anyone else. Its as unbecoming as seeing you with your "boyfriend"'s hand halfway down your pants in ANOTHER leaked picture!

Show some class!

BWU Hot 40: Whitney Breaks Record

Although the song may or may not be the first single from her upcoming album, it has made chart history.

On this week's BWU Hot 40, Whitney edged out Rihanna to become the first artist in the history of the chart to debut at #1 with "Like I Never Left". The song topped the interest chart, but came in second on the Song Play chart, which Rihanna topped. The boost came from the release of the video for "Disturbia".

Other singles that debuted on the chart were Danity Kane's "Bad Girl", which outpeaked their biggest single "Damaged", Miley Cyrus' "Fly On The Wall", Ashanti's "Good Good" and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours".

To see the full Hot 40 chart, visit http://www.freewebs.com/brandonbestworst

BWU Hot 40 Chart News: Whitney's Big Debut!

Although the chart isn't completed, Whitney's new single "Like I Never Left" will make a HUGE debut, even though it hasn't been confirmed as a single (it was on her official MySpace, that's enough to make it official).

Whitney is currently duking it out with Rihanna and Leona for the #1 spot. If she ends up getting it, she will have the record for the highest debut and she'll be the first artist to debut at #1 with a single, guaranteeing an automatic Gold certification!

Check out the site tomorrow to see who tops the chart!

New X-Files Movie Is Colossal Flop

I guess people are over Mulder and Scully.

The two famous detectives of cult TV smash The X-Files returned for another movie based off the series, X-Files: I Want To Believe. Despite its popularity, the terrible lack of promotion and the ominous presence of movie phenomenon The Dark Knight has KILLED the film.

The movie brought in a disastrous $10 million, coming in at #4 this week. Who beat them? Mamma Mia with $17 million at #3 and Step Brothers with $30 million at #2.

The Dark Knight Own Box Office Weekend Again!

Despite the Christian Bale controversy that exploded earlier this week, people still want to see him fly through the skies and kick some bad guy ass.

The Dark Knight, which shattered every important box office record last weekend, made an estimated $75 million in its second weekend. That's an amount a regular movie would dream about making! The gross helps the Batman movie break two new records. The movie overtook Shrek 2's record for second weekend grosses of $72 million. TDK also broke the record for the 10-day openings, originally set by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead man's Chest. Since it's opening, TDK made over $314 million, easily beating Pirate's 10 day take of $258 million.

At this rate, The Dark Knight could become a serious contender for the biggest all-time grosses. The movie with the highest gross is 1997's Titanic, with $600.7 million made. Titanic was also a HUGE winner at the Academy Awards in 1998, winning 11.

Could history repeat itself?

Blog Carnival Post: "iPhone: Day Two" by Wilbert Smith

This is my 500TH POST!

And its about someone else.

Anyway, the Blog Carnival started by my best friend Ryan Mason began this week. The Blog Carnival was meant to share other bloggers' opinion and help promote each other's work.

The first "event" of the Blog Carnival is starting with me, I guess. Wilbert Smith of troubledgenius47.wordpress.com has written about his new iPhone (lucky bastard). He also provides some serious advice to help those with iPhones. Check it out below:


Link to iPhone: day one: http://troubledgenius47.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/iphone-day-one/

My second day of iPhone ownership has been even better than the first. I really can’t go into depth about the wi-fi too much, as it really sucks in this area. The only thing I don’t like too much is that you can’t use another app while video is running, or else it will pause. I used this morning to clean up my contacts list, as it was an absolute mess (which is my fault, I didn’t organize a damned thing), which left it looking fantastic and easily navigated. Since I use a Mac, the iPhone seemed extra eager to sync everything with it.

I have two primary email accounts, and all I had to do was tweak the push settings to my satisfaction. My calendar is easily understood, and the map application is surprisingly accurate, with the GPS updating with each of my steps. With business handled, it’s time to discuss fun. Since I’d like to hold onto what little money I have left, I was elated to see that iTunes had a mélange of free apps that I could use for my entertainment, the most frequently used being Facebook and AIM. Of course, EDGE isn’t really that fast, but I don’t find it frustratingly slow, and it’s quite speedy with 3G turned on, though it will eat into your battery life. Though fun and lengthy battery life don’t quite go hand in hand, if you do have an iPhone, here are a few suggestions to increase your battery life:

1. Turn the brightness down. I tend to keep mine pretty low, anyway, so it isn’t a problem for me.
2. If you’re using EDGE (or your carrier’s internet), turn wi-fi off.
3. Turn 3G off if you’re using wi-fi, or even if you’re not. The Internet will still work, relax.
4. Turn Location Services off. GPS following your every step is fun, but really bad for your battery.

More to come!

Are you interested in blogging in the Blog Carnival? Email Ryan Mason at ryan.psyker@gmail.com for details!

The BWU Awards Process Begins!

I have always wanted to create my own awards, and now with my own blog and website, I finally can!

The BWU Awards honor the Best, the Worst, and the UNbelievable (get it, lol) of music, movies, and other aspects of pop culture.

Although the awards won't take place until later this year, I have begun putting together the categories and even the shortlist for the music awards. The website now includes a page dedicate to the BWU Awards!

The first major aspect is the music. By the end of the year, I should have a ton of songs that have charted on the Hot 40, and many of those songs (plus songs from earlier in the year when the list didn't exist) will be up for many of the awards, including the big one, Single of the Year.

You can check out the list by going to the website and checking out the awards page, click here. If you have potential nominees for any of the awards, just email me at brandonbwu@gmail.com!

New Music Alert: "Like I Never Left" by Whitney Houston featuring Akon

A new song by Whitney Houston and Akon has been leaked, "Like I Never Left".



First off, I am getting sick of Akon being on EVERYBODY's comeback record. First, Michael, now Whitney? Second, I am geting sick of Akon being on everybody's comeback record and that record isn't worth the shit they accidentally step in.

This song does nothing for Whitney at all. If this is the first single, then I am worried for her comeback, because I don't see anyone buying this mediocre stuff.

NEXT!

UNBelievable! Miley Cyrus Sells 205,000 In Three Days!

Miley Cyrus may be looking at Coldplay-style debut this week.

In the race for #1 this week, Miley is kicking Sugarland's ass. In only three days, nine of the biggest merchants in the industry have her at 205,000 copies sold.

Holy crap.

I guess everyone has underestimated the tween demographic's buying power.

What makes this all the more surprising is all of the controversy surrounding her, including the racy photos and the Vanity Fair cover.

If Miley is selling this much, than the Jonas Brothers are a lock for #1 in two weeks.

Video Premiere: Danity Kane's "Bad Girl"

On FNMTV, Danity Kane (minus Aubrey) premiered their new video, "Bad Girl".

I am surprised to say this, but it's actually kinda good. Scratch this, its a great video. The song has this Sin City/comic book look to it, which works because the song sounds like a superhero theme (if they ever do a Batgirl movie, this is the perfect song).

Check it out:



NOTE: Thank you Bad Boy Records for not blocking video embedding, like the other record labels (I swear to God, I am HATING Island Def Jam so hard for that right now)

Seal of Approval Inductee: Kid Rock's "All Summer Long"

I have finally picked the second inductee into the Brandon Lewis Seal of Approval group.

Following the Jonas Brothers and their BWU Top 5 single "Burnin' Up" is Kid Rock and his new song "All Summer Long".

Just to clarify, this is not a Download of the Day, but I don't dissuade you from checking it out.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I never thought much of Kid Rock. I always thought he was the patron saint of white trash, to speak frankly. I also have never been a fan of his music, and I have been avoiding "All Summer Long", his single from Rock N Roll Jesus, like the plague.

However, I finally heard the full version on Z100 on a bus ride home. I've gotta admit, its interesting. It samples Lynyrd Skynyrd's hit "Sweet Home Alabama" and Kid Rock sings about summer in Michigan, including "drinking whiskey from the bottle" and "making love by the lake". It's one of those songs where you can instantly relate by plugging in your own memories. I admit it, even I couldn't help turning the clock back while listening to the song.

I am not sure whether or not it'll be on my iPod, or whether it will be on the BWU chart, but it is definitely good enough for a BLSA induction.

To see all the inductees so far, visit the Brandon Lewis Seal of Approval page on the BWU website.

Leona Lewis VMA Snub!

OK, we have a problem.

SO, Pete Wentz and Pink announced this year's VMA nominess for Best Female Video.

The nominees are: "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears, "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry, "No Air" by Jordin Sparks, "Take a Bow" by Rihanna, and "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey.

See someone missing?

How about Leona Lewis for "Bleeding Love"?

It was only one of the biggest songs of the year!

How the HELL did Britney get a VMA nod over Leona?

This is a travesty!

She still has a chance at Best Pop Video, so don't forget to vote for Leona!

Introducing the BWU Classix Chart!

Now, I love my new music, but I get the biggest kick out of the music from the past. In fact, I think I play more old songs (past the current year) than any other.

So, to show that, I have put together the BWU Classix Chart.

The Classix chart measures the most popular songs from past the current music year (which is 2008). It can be any year, although my music library starts in the 1960s. The chart will be updated every weekend.

The current number one song is "Something Kinda Oooh" by Girls Aloud.

The points system still counts for Classix songs, and a song will be certified, as well as their artist.

For more information, visit the website, at http://www.freewebs.com/brandonbestworst

Here's An Idea....Whitney's Comeback Concert

It's like trying to see a UFO if you live in the US.

For months we've been hearing (and seeing, thanks to godsend YouTube) about Whitney Houston's comeback performances across the globe. She was in Malaysia for the Live and Loud concert. She appeared in Tobago to terrible reviews. She then went to London to perform at the Cauldwell Children's Ball, where many proclaimed her voice was back. A few months earlier, she appeared at the Swarovski Rocks concert/fashion show there as well. There was Morocco, and the latest being in Kazahkstan a few weeks ago.

So, when is she coming to the US? Are these performances warm-ups, or test audiences? When will she be ready to launch a solid comeback?

My suggestion/wish?

Whitney Houston signs a deal with HBO/Showtime/MTV/VH1 (pick one) to air a special 2-hour concert special live from Madison Square Garden. The last time she did that was in 1997 with HBO for her Classic Whitney concert from Washington DC. I choose MSG because it's easy for me to get there and plus, its one of the greatest arenas in the world.

Of course, the concert would coincide with the release of her new album in November, preferably on November 7th (my b-day, lol). Her voice must also be in tip-top shape (UK tabloids reported Whitney's voice was so shot after years of drug use, she had to get voice lessons). Knowing how Whitney is when she's determined, I definitely think she can do it.

The press would be massive, the tickets would be an easy sell-out (seeing a major diva return after a tragic, yet slightly entertaining fall from grace? Easy), and plus, it would drum up interest in the new record, which she desperately needs (her last album Just Whitney peaked at #9).

Knowing the genius that is Clive Davis, I am seriously hoping he is planning something like this. Whitney needs something like this, plus, after finally dumping that drugged up sack of garbage she called a husband, she deserves it.

The Jonas Brothers On The Cover of Rolling Stone

With the sales of their album A Little Bit Longer expected to explode in three weeks, the Jonas Brothers continue to solidify their stance as a serious band with a cover and feature article in Rolling Stone magazine.

The title of the article? The Clean Teen Machine (they stole that from One Tree Hill!)

Of course, what everybody cares about is the cover:

What's funny is that I had just read an article talking about the Gossip Girl being risque. Doesn't this cover look like its gonna send their teen fans into a frenzy?

I guess congrats are in order for the three brothers. It seems like they may just escape the teen pop stigma and actually continue. A Rolling Stone cover means credibility in the industry, right? (if you ignore the dreadful The Hills cover, then definitely).

Also in JB news, their new single "Pushin' Me Away" debuted at #16 this week on the Hot 100, the "Hot Shot Debut". The song was a number one on iTunes for a day, and is currently plummeting down the chart (because it sucks ass).

Their previous single, "Burnin' Up" (the better single) went up to #11, thanks to ever-increasing airplay and still strong downloads.

For those who are interested, the album is released on Tuesday, August 12th. Their next single "Tonight" will be released next Tuesday, and their final single "A Little Bit Longer" (the one I'm interested in because of the diabetes connection) will be released the week after.

Expect JB mania to reach a fevered pitch in the next few weeks.

So, what do you think of the cover? Is Rolling Stone selling out? Are they recognizing burgeoning talent? Is the cover too risque? Weird? Why is Kevin pulling Joe's shirt?

Photo courtesy of justjared.net

UNbelievable: Backstreet Boys To Record Another Album

Don't they know when to quit?

Yes, "I Want It That Way" is one of the best pop songs on the 90's. Yes, they have three Diamond-certified records, consecutively. Yes, they are arguably the most talented boy band ever.

Instead of letting that speak for itself and finally disband (until they reunite for a Greatest Hits and a world tour, a la the Spice Girls and New Kids on the Block), they are recording another album.

In an interview with Billboard magazine, the boys revealed plans to record a new album, due for 2009. They stated that they have recorded some material while on tour in Europe, but they will officially be in the studio by the end of the year, with plans for release in the spring of next year. There is also plans to work with Max Martin, who delivered some of their biggest hits, including the aforementioned "I Want It That Way".

Did they forget that their last album, was a complete, disastrous flop?

Download of the Day 7/22: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

A few years ago, if I had created a blog and had the BWU Hot 40, Jason Mraz's "The Remedy" would probably have been #1 for a month.

Since that pop gem set my radio on fire years ago, there hasn't been a song of his that truly caught my attention. Then, he releases "I'm Yours". The song, from his latest album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, is much different than anything he has released and different than anything that's on the radio now. The song is a laid back groove, complete with Caribbean influences. He even tries for an accent during some of the verses (it's better than Mariah's accent on Cruise Control, though that's not saying much).

Now, I love passion and intensity in my music, but there are times when I seriously don't mind a smooth song on my way home. The song is absolutely perfect for that.

Once again, Jason Mraz proves that he is one of pop music's more versatile and eclectic artists. I definitely think that this song, like "Remedy" will remind people of that fact.

Rating: 7.5/10

Christian Bale Assault Over $200K

Christian Bale's family is after money.

The alleged altercation between Christian Bale and his mother and sister was over an estimated $200,000. Sharon, the sister, asked Christian for the large amount to help support her children. When Christian refused, his mother then made rude remarks about his wife, Sandra (nicknamed Sibi), who he has been having trouble with.

New reports from both the UK's Daily Mail and The Sun have claimed that Christian did indeed shove his sister in the Dorchester hotel on Sunday.

Both Sharon and Jenny Bale have been mum on details about the incident, while Christian has denied the allegations. While in Spain for another premiere for The Dark Knight, he said the incident was a deeply personal matter.

Which begs the question: why would Jenny and Sharon call the police over a family squabble? Even if he yelled at them and it is considered verbal assault, I don't really see the need to involve the authorities. I think when you consider what the argument was about now ($200K is a lot of money these days), something very wrong is going on.

Billboard 200 Update: Nas Controversy Gives Him #1 Album

As proven time and time again, controversy sells.

Nas' album Untitled debuts at #1 this week on the Billboard album chart, selling 187,000 copies. Nas shocked many people when he revealed the true title of his album, N****r. Opinions of the title were mixed; former enemy Jay-Z praised him, while Jesse Jackson (ironically in his own n-word controversy) criticized it. The album knocked Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III from the top spot. The album, which has had the biggest opening week in 3 years, is nearing 2 million sold.

The Mamma Mia soundtrack skyrocketed to third place after buzz for the movie grew. The soundtrack sold over 91,000 copies this week. Three new albums debuted this week, from John Mellencamp, David Banner, and Taylor Swift.

Estelle Scores First iTunes Top 10!

The UK music invasion continues with R&B singer Estelle reaching a new peak on iTunes!

"American Boy", which is getting a lot of radio play now, is now at #8 on iTunes. She is the third straight British artist to go to the top 10 on iTunes. Two months ago, Duffy's hit "Mercy" peaked in the bottom half of the top 10. Leona Lewis spent months on the top of iTunes, returning to the top many times before finally being dethroned by Rihanna's "Take a Bow".

At the rate its going, she may just get a top 10 hit with this song, if not #1!

Congrats Estelle!

Food For Thought: BET and Black Culture

Do you agree with this statement?

"BET is the cancer of black manhood in the world"
- Chuck D (of Public Enemy) in "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" (2006)

Here's the accompanying video in which he said that:



Feel free to comment on how BET represents black culture to the masses. Is it a help or a hindrance.

An Interesting Movie....HOLLYHOOD TV: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

If you haven't seen this documentary yet, I heavily recommend it. I just saw parts of it in my Sociology of Media class today. Your opinion of hip-hop will likely be forever changed.

Among the topics discussed: misogyny, a decline in lyrical content, homophobia, the homosexual undercurrent of hip-hop, role of white people in hip-hop, and the lack of emotional complexity.

Here is the whole series (in six parts, courtesy of HOLLYHOOD):
Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:


Part 4:


Part 5:


Part 6:

Prince William Uses Knight of the Garter Crest To Honor Princess Diana

The Spencer family logo was a scallop, which can be seen on the white collar on the lion

The second-in-line to the British throne showed his love for his mother, the late Princess Diana, by incorporating part of her family logo in his crest of the Knight of the Garter.

Revealed this week, Prince William of Wales had the Spencer family logo of a scallop added to the gold lion of the crest, as a tribute to his mother. The crest will be placed above his seat at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, one of the British Royal Family's most beloved residences, alongside Balmoral Castle and, of course, Buckingham Palace.

The simple tribute is another way to maintain Diana's memory within the family, which was criticized before and after her death for mistreating her. In fact, this gesture will likely fuel speculation on whether or not William will restore Diana's HRH title when he takes the throne.

It was reported in 1996 that William promised Princess Diana he would return her "Her Royal Highness" and status in the royal family after it was stripped from her when she divorced Prince Charles. Now, more than a decade after her death, many probably wonder whether he will or not. Considering his other efforts to maintain his mother's memory, including holding a world broadcast memorial concert and a memorial service last year, he likely will.

Prince William is second-in-line to the British throne, behind his father Prince Charles. His brother Prince Harry is third.

Could Christian Bale Be Heading Down The Same Path as Heath Ledger?

Christian Bale Taking Same Steps as Tragic Friend

As more information comes in about the Christian Bale assault charges, details about the toll co-star Heath Ledger's death and the filming of The Dark Knight had on the star are revealing themselves.

A friend of Bale's told UK's The Daily Mail about the impact Ledger's death had on Bale: "Christian pretends he's calm and collected but you really started to see the cracks in his façade in January, right after Heath Ledger had died....Christian was in the middle of a very brief break from work when he heard the news, and it was massive blow to him....They had become very close during the making of The Dark Knight and Christian went into virtual hiding for the six weeks after Heath was found dead."


Heath Ledger and Christian Bale at a wrap party in 2007

Heath and Christian had many things in common. Both showed a serious intensity in their acting techniques. Heath locked himself away in a hotel room to cultivate his role as the Joker in the $158 million blockbuster that would be his last film. Christian lost an astonishing 60 pounds to play the role in The Machinist. He reportedly wanted to lose more, but the filmmakers refused for his safety. The drastic change made preparing for his career-making role in Batman Begins in 2004 all the more difficult.

Heath and Christian reportedly became very good friends during the filming of Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. According to the friend, Heath was Christian's confidante when problems with his family were rough. "Without Ledger around, he's found it more and more difficult to communicate with those around him, especially his family."

Playing Batman has taken a serious toll on Christian, much like the Joker did on Heath Ledger. He had told an interviewer recently that he was suffering bouts of depression and insomnia. Heath Ledger also suffered insomnia, reportedly sleeping only two hours a night and taking two Ambien pills to help alleviate the issue. The autopsy after his death showed that some of the medications he overdosed on were used to treat insomnia, along with pain and depression.

I appreciate the brilliant performances Christian Bale delivers (his Batman is the most interesting and complex to date, quite frankly), but I hope he can get a handle on any issues with depression and insomnia before its too late. I also hope that whatever family problems he has can be resolved.

First and third photo courtesy of Daily Mail Online.

Christian Bale and Bat-Crazy Family

If you are livng in New York (or anywhere else, depending on how celebrity based your paper is), chances are you picked up one of our fine newspapers (the Post being the best of course, lol) and learned that Christian Bale has allegedly assaulted his 61-year old mother and his sister last Sunday, the day before the UK premiere of the biggest movie of the year, The Dark Knight.

Well, it seems like there is more to the story than a simplistic tale of man beating up his mom and sis. As a fan of Christian Bale, I had a hard time believing the story that broke yesterday (sorry tabloids, you're late on this one), I did some research of my own.

According the UK's Daily Mail, in an exclusive report, Christian Bale reportedly "flew off the handle" when his mum made disparaging remarks about his wife, Sibi. The alleged altercation occurred at the Dorchester hotel, where Bale put his family up for the premiere. According to the paper, Bale didn't physically assault his mother and sister, as the paper here in the States implied. Instead, he heavily cussed his family out, which is akin to verbal assault. In the UK, verbal assault is apparently a crime and is counted as much as physical assault is.

To make things all the more wacky, the same people who filed the complaint against Bale, have a little trouble with their stories. His mother Jenny originally denied knowledge of the situation, but when contacted again, she made this statement: "Yes I was there and yes there was a family situation but the police are handling it and I cannot say any more at the moment. We didn't call the police to the scene. I can't say any more but we didn't call the police." The statement is rather odd, considering reports show that she and Bale's sis Sharon called a Hampshire police station to make the statement. Sharon was more vague, admitting that there was an "incident" after denying any knowledge as well.

Apparently Bale, who just helped The Dark Knight gross an unbelievable $158 million at the box office this past weekend, has been under a lot of stress. Marriage problems as well as the stress lingering from the film probably led the intense actor to snap.

With all of the confusing details surrounding both the incident and the life of Bale, it's pretty hard what to believe. Hopefully its nothing more than a spat between relatives. Until more details are revealed, I'm on Team Bale.

Photo courtesy of WENN and the Daily Mail Online

Classic Download of the Day 7/22: "That's The Way It Is" by Celine Dion

In 1999, Celine Dion was riding high on the success of "My Heart Will Go On". She also made the shocking decision to retire from music while her husband Rene Angelil recovered from cancer. How was she going to put her career on hiatus?

With a bang, of course.

Celine also decided to kill two birds with one stone by enlisting super-producer Max Martin to help her on her record. Celine suffered from the "uncool" stigma because of her schmaltzy songs, and Max Martin was known for producing songs by Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. Just as he did for them, Max weaved his magic on Celine, crafting a great pop song that was also the perfect pseudo swan song.

"That's The Way It Is" sounds just like music from the late 90's, yet Celine doesn't sound desperate singing it. The song was something Celine would realistically perform. The lyrics are inspirational, yet carefree, showing off a more fun-loving side of the Canadian songbird than the balladeer singing about sinking ships. Wisely, she restrained her powerful voice throughout the verses and the chorus, allowing us to enjoy her wonderful tone, the words, and the awesome production by the Swedish team.

To date, this song tells us many things. One, that the Swedish can make a damn good record. Two, that the era of the diva is still viable (see Leona). Finally, this song shows that, with the right team, Celine Dion can be relevant to pop music. If she could do it during the teen pop era (she out charted the Backstreet Boys and Britney with this song), why can't she do it again?

Rating: 9/10

Whitney in Kazakhstan?

Everywhere but the States?

My favorite recovering drug addict megadiva has been playing a game of Where In The World Is Whitney Houston?, going to London, Morocco, Malaysia, and Tobago. Now, she's in Kazakhstan?

Apparently, Whitney performed there a few weeks ago, to show that she still has it.

When is she coming to the US? We miss her!

Do YOU think she's got it? Check her out below:

BWU Hot 40: Leona Lands 4th Week On Top

Leona Lewis continues to extend her reign on the top of the BWU Hot 40, spending her fourth week at #1 with "Better In Time". The song was certified double platinum this week, with over 180 points gained. "Bleeding Love" jumps up 4 spots to #6, her highest position since Week One. That song also went 2x platinum with 177 points. Leona currently has the longest stay at the top spot.

Rihanna's single "Disturbia" suffers a major drop after weeks of steady climb. The song fell from #3 to #10, 7 places in the lowest drop inside the Top 10. However, with the video's release, the song should bounce back, if not challenge Leona's chart dominance. Despite it's drop, the song still became the first song (alongside "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry) to get 200 chart points. It's on its way to triple platinum status. Her song with Maroon 5 "If I Never See Your Face Again" plummets from its peak position of #9 to #28, the biggest chart drop in the history of the chart. Her only song to gain is "Take a Bow", which rose one spot to #4. With the platinum certification of "If I Never", Rihanna is the first and only artist to have 3 platinum songs. As an artist, Rihanna is quintuple platinum, with over 400 chart points.

September's "Cry For You" leaps from #20 to #2 this week, helped by a #1 placing on the Song Play chart. "Shut Up and Let Me Go" by the Ting Tings also makes a big leap from #32 to #13. "Spotlight" by Jennifer Hudson is this week's Rebound, after it climbed up 24 spots to #12. Its her highest chart position in 6 weeks.

For more chart information, including who made the biggest drops, don't forget to visit: BWU HOT 4O

Me To Michael Savage: Shut Up!

I get it. Shock jocks are meant to shock people with seemingly outrageous comments, but how far can they go before they push the wrong button?

Michael Savage, who hosts a nationally syndicated talk show, made some stunning, offensive comments about autistic children. He effectively said that autism is not an epidemic and that they really are "brats who haven't been told to cut it out".

What?

Autism may not be universally understood, but it is a serious condition that millions of children around the world are forced to deal with, since there is no cure. Autistic children have it hard enough, having to deal with various social situations that make them uncomfortable. Now, here is this guy pretty much calling them fakers who want attention? What makes Michael Savage the authority on autism, especially since has no clear understanding of the condition?

Then, after inciting a media maelstrom that even had a local news anchor here in New York with an autistic child personally speak out, the bastard doesn't even apologize or acknowledge that what he said could've been hurtful. He goes as far as claiming that his comments were taken "out of context". Doesn't seem that way to me.

As with most offensive commentators, people are now calling for his firing from radio. Will his affiliates bow to pressure like CBS did with Don Imus? I hope so. See, as far as I'm concerned (and I am black), Don Imus should not have been suspended at all. So, if he was, then its almost mandatory that this guy is taken off the air.

I'm usually against things like this, but for the first time really, someone really took things way too far.

Video Premiere: Rihanna's "Disturbia"

So, Rihanna has premiered her new video for her soon-to-be smash record "Disturbia". Just as I had suspected, the video is dark, crazy, and pretty much and acid trip. I love it. Plus, I was watching it without sound. Top director David LaChapelle made a awesome video, and this will surely bump Rihanna to the #1 spot on all the charts (including mine, hehe).

The Dark Knight: Oscar Contender?

With an $155 million opening weekend, The Dark Knight is easily the biggest movie of the year so far. It has seen universal critical acclaim, so much so that serious Oscar buzz is surrounding a superhero film for the first time. So, what are its chances at the big categories?

Best Picture
It's very possible that The Dark Knight could become the first real contender for the biggest Academy Award. The movie has everything going for it: a great cast, amazing cinematography, and a damn good script. However, the superhero stigma could possibly prevent Academy voters from embracing. Still, I definitely wouldn't count it as a possible nominee.

Best Actor
If Heath Ledger is not nominated in this category, than they lose all credibility with me. His performance is one of the best given in a superhero film, and it deserves to be rewarded. Other possible choices? There is Christian Bale (although I doubt it) and Aaron Eckhart (if he's not nominated for Supporting Actor). My money is definitely on Ledger for both the nod and the win.

Best Actress
This category is one of the only that is not an option, since there were no lead actresses.

Best Supporting Actor
If Aaron Eckhart is not considered for Best Actor, he should definitely get this category. His performance was surprisingly multi-layered and empathetic, and he was definitely one of the movie's surprises. For other choices, there is Michael Caine, who played Alfred, Morgan Freeman, who played CEO Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman, who was Detective Gordon. All four actors were very strong, but if one had to be chosen, Eckhart should get it.

Best Supporting Actress
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I seriously doubt this category as well. Although Maggie Gyllenhaal was okay, her performance (and role, for that matter) was too small to warrant any real attention. If she is nominated (I seriously doubt this), her chances of winning are almost non-existent.

Best Director
Another must nomination. Christopher Nolan's work was visionary. He put together a sensational project (with a relatively small budget as well) that changed the way people view the superhero film. He has to be rewarded, at least a nod.

Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
While I liked the story, I truly doubt that the film will be chosen for this award. I personally enjoyed the story, the actors and the cinematography probably paid a more crucial role in that. I know there will be better screenplays than this one.

Best Cinematography
Yes. Yes. Yes. No nomination = criminal. Enough said.

The Dark Knight Scores Biggest Opening Weekend Ever!

The most anticipated movie of the year lived up to the hype, both critically and commercially.

Over its first weekend of release, The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale as Batman and the fantastic Heath Ledger as the Joker, brought in astounding $155 million at the box office, breaking the record set by Spider-Man 3 to have the highest grossing weekend in movie history. The movie smashed all kinds of attendance records, including those for 12 am showings and opening day showings.

TDK is currently one of the best-reviewed films of the year, with a 94% Fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Check the post before to see my review of the film.

Since most people went to see TDK, attendance for other films were quite abysmal. The only other film ballsy enough to tackle Batman was Mamma Mia!, which grossed $27 million to debut at #2. At #3 is Hancock, which brought in $14 million.

The Dark Knight: Movie Review

It doesn't take very long for me to write movie reviews. When I sit home at the laptop, I can easily point out what I loved or hated about a film. Yet, somehow, it took me a day and a number of rewrites to finally decide what I thought of The Dark Knight.

Why?

Because  The Dark Knight is much more than a superhero film (which is what I have reviewed so far). It's more than a commentary on the strength of human will and the power of morality in society. The movie was an experience, one unparalleled to anything I have taken part of in my movie-going life. The sequel to the critically-acclaimed Batman Begins had the effect high-definition technology has been promising; engrossing, powerful, beautiful, as if you were actually there.

If there hadn't been light chatter and three rows of seats in my peripheral vision, I would've forgotten I was watching a fictional film. Director Christopher Nolan has proven himself a master filmmaker, using his skill and inspired vision to create a living, breathing city with three dimensional characters with complexity not often seen in his genre.

The story is very fast-paced, even with a running time past 2 1/2 hours. You don't realize it though; the movie never allows for the viewer to become bored. You will surely be entertained, and shocked when you find out that 2 hours have passed and the action is still in full force. However, the quick, take-no-prisoners movement slightly affected the smaller elements of the film. The movie makes it clear that there is a love triangle between Batman/Bruce Wayne, DA Harvey Dent, and Rachel Dawes, but it doesn't really go in depth into it. It may not seem important, but the lack of definition could confuse the viewer as the story makes one of its many twists and turns. Other than that, the story is quite awesome.

The cast is easily the strongest I have seen in a while. Christian Bale is great as both Batman and Bruce Wayne. My only gripe is Batman's voice. I get he is "The Dark Knight", but his voice doesn't have to sound like he eats gravel for lunch. I like Bale more as Bruce, and when he was technically both (you'll see what I mean). Aaron Eckhart impressed me as Harvey Dent, Gotham's "White Knight". He fit the moniker like a glove, portraying a man with an earnest desire to see justice served in Gotham. He does it with about lame or pathetic, and you sympathize with him when the burden of being the city's savior begins to wear on him. I don't want to spoil his story, but he is fantastic in both halves of the film (especially the second half). Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman made supporting roles far more important, and I enjoyed them all. Maggie Gyllenhaal, who played Rachel Dawes, was okay, but I didn't really care for her character at all.

Then, there was the Joker. Everyone has been talking about Heath Ledger's performance, with good reason. The rest of the cast was amazing, yet Ledger outshined them all with one of the greatest performances I have seen in my entire life. He owned the film from the minute he pulled off the mask in the first five minutes and drove away with the cash in a school bus. Every scene he was in was mesmerizing. It was evident that he engrossed himself in this role. Miles away from the cartoonish versions of Batman's past, this villain was just that. Ledger's version was nothing short of brilliance, injecting a dose of unpredictable evil that was never present. Even in the humorous scenes, you still knew the guy was a nutjob. You never know what the Joker will do next, yet Ledger makes you realize how it all comes together. His performance was extremely exciting and terrifying, a potent combination. The Oscar buzz surrounding him is not unfounded; in fact, if he is not at least nominated for Best Actor, I will denounce the Academy Awards as a farce and never watch it again. It's just criminal for his performance to go unawarded.

The Dark Knight's crowning achievement (besides Ledger) was its discussion on the human psyche. Although Arkham Asylum was rarely mentioned, the movie was practically a sociological documentary. Every character in the film was forced to confront the line between good and evil. Everyone (except the Joker) had to confront those urges that everyone has; to get what we want, no matter the consequences for others. Some are able to handle the pressure, while others crumble beneath it. The movie also touches on the importance hope has on society. Harvey Dent was Gotham's hope for a better, brighter future. It's something Batman recognizes, and he does his best to keep it alive, all the way to end.

Visually, the movie is a masterpiece, without the IMAX. The colors are rich and the action is amazing. Batman's gadgets are also cool. The only problem I had was with the Batmobile. I, for one, missed the the sleek one from the past films. This new model looks like a mini monster truck. It definitely isn't attractive. The only good thing about this one was that the ejection mechanism pushed out Batman's kick-ass motorcycle.

The Dark Knight transcends the genre, expanding its relevance way past the fans of the comic book, action figures, and past films. It's a dark film that not only makes the characters question their values, it makes the viewer take a cold, hard look at themselves. Its realism is so great that you wonder how you would react if you were in the same situation.

When I left the film, I couldn't even begin to process what I just saw. The only solid thought that formed in my head was that The Dark Knight is the best superhero movie I have ever seen, and that it will go down as the gold standard of the entire genre.

Rating: A

Batman Kicks Spider-Man's Butt At Box Office

The Dark Knight has broken the opening day and single day box office record, grossing $66 million Friday. $18 million of that was from 12 am showings. The original record holder was the vastly inferior Spider-Man 3, which brought in $58 million when it was released.

It's expected to break Spidey's other record, highest opening weekend gross.

Check back for my review of The Dark Knight (yes, I finally saw it!) today.

"The Dark Knight" To Have Biggest Box Office Weekend Ever?

You have NO clue how freakin' pissed I was when "coolest movie of the year" The Dark Knight sold out all over the damn city!

What's even more shocking is that apparently, everyone saw it this morning at 12!

TDK shattered midnight attendance records; the movie brought in $18.49 million from 12 am showings, alone. The original record was $16.5 million by Revenge of the Sith.

Seriously.

This movie is SO huge that its expected to beat the opening day record set by Spider-Man 3.

The film is being shown on 4,366 theaters across the country, more than any film in history, and its still selling out like crap.

Considering I was forced to see WALL-E because the theater was sold out until 12:45 am, that movie better outsell the entire top 10. I mean $200 million in one weekend, if that's possible.

Video Premiere: Magic by Robin Thicke

Finally, Robin Thicke has released the new video for his single "Magic".

It's pretty cool, but it seems a bit busy to me; they definitely incorporated more elements than they should've. I did really like the space scenes.

"The Dark Knight" To Soar Over Competition Over Weekend

Fans of "The Dark Knight" are definitely not lazy, according to movie ticket seller Fandango.com.

The extremely-anticipated film (which is also one of the best reviewed, with 92% rating at Rotten Tomatoes) has reportedly sold out over 200 weekend shows in New York City alone. Advance tickets for the IMAX screening have been sold out for days (believe me, I've tried).

The New York Post reports that advance sales of "The Dark Knight" have surpassed all but "Revenge of the Sith", and it is expected to happen very soon.

I suggest you snap up your tickets soon, if you wanna see it this weekend at least!

BWU Hot 40: Leona Breaks Record, New Certification Rules

On this week's BWU Hot 40, Leona Lewis breaks the record for most weeks at #1 with her single "Better In Time". The song spends its third week at the top, breaking a three-way tie with Rihanna's "Disturbia" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl".

Speaking of "Disturbia", the the two-time chart-topper continues its climb up the chart, moving up one spot to #3. The song rebounded last week from an all-time of #8. With the new chart rules, "Disturbia" is currently 2x Platinum with 185 points. Rihanna is currently the dominator of the chart; she has three songs on the top 10. "Take a Bow" hits a new peak of #5 (making Rihanna the second artist to have two singles in the top 5) and "If I Never See Your Face Again" with Maroon 5 hits a new peak of #9.

"I Kissed a Girl" is also double platinum, with 179 points, but fell another spot down to #4. Katy Perry's other song, "Hot N Cold", falls from the top 10, to a new low of #11. Jonas Brothers hold steady at #7 with "Burnin' Up", while Lil' Wayne continues to climb with "A Milli", which peaks at #8. His top 3 single "Lollipop" falls 18 spots from #17 to #35, one of the largest drops in chart history.

Madonna, Mariah, and Girls Aloud all make big leaps into the top 20 this week. Madge's "Give It 2 Me" hits #13, "Can't Speak French" hits #15, and Mariah's "I'll Be Lovin U Long Time" jumps 14 places to #16.

The highest debut of the week goes to September's "Cry For You", which charts at #20.

In order to match the BWU Hot 40, new certification rules have been made. A song with 40 points is certified gold, a song with 80 points is certified platinum, and a song with 20 points is certified silver.

For the full chart, plus song histories and more, visit http://freewebs.com/brandonbestworst

Sources: Katherine Heigl To Be Killed Off Grey's Anatomy

Katherine Heigl bit the hand that fed her, and now they're biting back.

Heigl, who plays Izzie Stevens on popular ABC drama Grey's Anatomy, publicly withdrew herself from the Emmy nominations because of what she calls a lack of decent material. The move has reportedly angered Sondra Rhimes, the creator of the show, and the other producers. In retaliation, sources claim that the writers are planning for Izzie to get a potentially fatal brain tumor.

An insider tells US Weekly “[Producer] Shonda [Rhimes] and the writers are pissed at her. It’s their way of screwing with her. She won’t know whether she’s going to live or die.”

Apparently to send Izzie off, the show is bringing back fan favorite Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who played heart patient and love interest Denny. He was killed off in the second season finale. It was suggested that those scenes are responsible for Heigl's Emmy win.

I think this is a simple case of big-head-itis (a.k.a., the David Caruso syndrome). Heigl thinks she's too good for the show. Well, it took Caruso a decade to recover from his career-killing decision to leave NYPD Blue. I suggest she be careful.

WORST: 106 and Park's Terrence J Humiliates Rocsi Live On Air!

Terrence J from BET's 106 and Park showed his ass live on television, causing his co-host Rocsi to walk off the set.

Terrence made fun of Rocsi when she accidentally messed up the email of the show's Freestyle Friday, going as far as saying she couldn't read. After the first incident, he then said that Rocsi needed a breath mint and asking if they could get one before the commercial break. He really shocked the audience when he asked Rocsi, "Why don't you have a body like Ciara's?"

Things finally peaked when, repeating info about Freestyle Frida, he interrupted her before she could say the email address. As he continued talking and introduced the #1 video (A Milli by Lil' Wayne), she walked off and didn't return. She was subsequently suspended, according to reports.

Well, Rocsi definitel shouldn't have been suspended. Terrence's behavior was simply terrible. Obviously, there are problems behind the scenes, but he should have behaved like a professional. It shows a lot about his character that he could attack her so classlessly.

He may work for BET, but it wouldn't hurt if Terrence turned the channel over to MTV's new show "From G's to Gents".

Here's the video below:

Song Review: Jonas Brothers' "Pushin' Me Away"

I'm kinda mad here.

Just as I was on the verge of deciding that Disney teen pop idols Jonas Brothers were musically acceptable, they release the next single from their upcoming record A Little Bit Longer.

The beginning starts off well, with an ominous sound. Then Joe sings the first verse. From there, the song quickly falls into musical hell. By the chorus, I'm slightly cringing, much like I was when I first heard "S.O.S" during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The truth is, that their breakout single, which I despised, is better than this song. For one, its catchier. Apart of you can't help but hum the tune whether you're walking to work or just sitting at home, if you've heard it recently. The hook is weak and forgettable, which leaves for a pretty unsatisfying listening experience. Then there is the first major problem I had with the trio in the first place. I'm sorry to say this, but vocally, the Jonas Brothers just aren't that good. In fact, I have heard and seen the terms "whiny", "underdeveloped" and "screechy" to describe their talents (specifically Joe). While most of their songs (save "When You Look Me In The Eyes") do a pretty good job of hiding what they lack in vocal quality (JB are nothing if not great musicians in that sense), this track takes a highlighter and clearly points out where their voices tap out. Joe sounds particularly bad during the verses. He tries for a rock star smolder, yet it sounds uncomfortable and unnatural. He sounded much better on "Burnin' Up". The chorus is just as bad. The high notes they aim for are cringeworthy. It's as if they trying to prove that they have ranges. If that's the case, they failed, miserably.

It's disappointing to see them follow up a song I generally liked with a song that's evidence to why I disliked them in the first place (so much for growth). So far, I'm pretty unimpressed.

In two weeks, they are releasing their next iTunes single "Shelf", followed by "A Little Bit Longer", which probably will be their first "Download of the Day", if the live versions are any indication. Considering how underwhelming their latest release is, I wouldn't hesitate to send out the next as soon as possible.

Rating: 5/10

Note: "Pushing Me Away" is currently #2 on iTunes as of 5:07 pm.

UNBELIEVABLE: Brangelina's Twins Could Fetch $20 MIL!

Over the weekend, Hollywood supercouple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie welcomed twins Vivienne and Knox into world at a hospital in Nice, France. As you could imagine, the world media went into a frenzy to secure the rights to first pictures. 

The kids' portraits are so sought after that sources are claiming it could be worth $20 MILLION!

$20 MILLION! To see pictures of babies we will eventually see at some point in the near future!

No wonder the magazine industry is in dangerous freefall.

It's also been reported that the proceeds from the pictures will go to charity.

More power to the Jolie-Pitt clan!

Genie Francis Returns to General Hospital!

Fans of soap opera General Hospital are definitely rejoicing with this news!

Emmy-winning actress Genie Francis, who has played the iconic Laura Spencer on and off for nearly 30 years is returning to the show that made her a star. She was last on the show in 2006, in much-hyped storyline that brought her an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress.

Genie Francis plays Laura Spencer, one half of the fabled Luke and Laura supercouple. Their relationship in the late 70s and early 80s was so popular that an astonishing 30 million people tuned in to watch their wedding in 1981.

Laura, who is currently in a catatonic state, will wake up to counsel Lulu through the murder of ex-boyfriend Logan. The return starts on August 26th and will reportedly be short-term.

Classic Download of the Day: Michael Jackson's "Blood On The Dance Floor"

Michael Jackson is many things, and has been called more, but if there is one thing about him that is true, it's this:

Michael Jackson is a pop genius.

It's unfortunate that scandal and eccentric behavior has overshadowed that fact. The truth is, no matter how many album his later albums didn't sell, he never stopped making great music.

Let's look at 1997. He's on the HIStory Tour, visiting everywhere but America. He releases a remix album, Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. The album primarily consists of remixes of the new material from his HIStory album from 1995. However, because of the tour, there is virtually no promotion and the album peaks at a paltry #24. The first single from the album was "Blood On The Dance Floor", and that was a flop too, not even breaking the Top 40 on the Pop charts. Why?

"Blood On The Dance Floor" should've been at least a Top 10 hit, if not a chart-topper (like it was in the UK). The song was destined to set clubs aflame, with its unbelievable hook and extremely danceable rhythmic base. Michael hadn't released anything this club-ready since the 80's, and "Blood on the Dance Floor" showed that he still could. It is seriously one of his best.

I think this song goes to show exactly how important proper promotion is to a song's success. Had he toured the US with this, it would've been an easy #1.

Considering this song was made during the latter part of his career, it shows that Michael still has the magic that made Thriller the best selling album in world history.

My advice: Don't count the King of Pop out yet.

Rating: 9.5/10

Classic Download of the Day: Take That's "Back For Good"

When I discovered Leona Lewis last year, I developed a serious interest in British music.

What I found was that pop across the pond was SOOOO much better. Seriously, even the "manufactured" (it sounds like a bad reference, correct me if I'm wrong Brits) pop is awesome.

I was first introduced to UK uber-boyband Take That during the Concert For Diana, the charity concert Prince William and Prince Harry put together in honor of their mother's birthday commemoration. I watched (and DVR'd) the whole 6 hour concert on VH1. Toward the end, Take That, who I never heard of before then(although I have heard of Robbie Williams prior), took the stage and sang their first song, called Shine. I hated that. Then they sang "Patience", and I liked that one.

Then they performed their old 1995 hit "Back for Good".

With 30 minutes or so after they performed the song, I downloaded it. The song is a near-perfect example of classic popular music. The lyrics aren't too schmaltzy; they were real enough to not be embarrassed to admit to listening to it. Gary Barlow has a great voice, and the harmonies were top notch. The simple, guitar-driven melody is perfect. It is simply one of the best pop songs I have ever heard.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I learned that the song was actually a hit in the US; it peaked at #7 on the charts. It's unfortunate that months after breaking the extremely difficult American music market, the group broke up.

Now that they have reunited (sans international superstar Robbie), is it possible that they could make a go in America again?

Rating: 9.5/10

New Song Alert: "So What" by Pink

Fans of Pink rejoice!

The singer of "Who Knew" (one of my favorites from last year) is releasing new music at the end of the year, and her new song, titled "So What" will be impacting radio on August 18th!

Keep an ear out for it!

David Archuleta Single Announced!

The 2008 American Idol race to #1 is on!

Jive Records has confirmed the first single of runner-up David Archuleta, titled "Crush". The single is expected to impact radio on August 12th.

Is it a good or bad sign that David A's single will be out before David C's?

Hot 100 Update: Katy #1 For 3rd Week

Katy Perry's song "I Kissed A Girl" remains on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a third week, with no real competition. Following at #2 is Rihanna's "Take a Bow" which moves up two places thanks to an increase in airplay. However, her single "Disturbia" moves down 4 spots. Her move up pushes Lil' Wayne and Leona Lewis down one spot respectively.

Last week's HSD, Jonas Brother's "Burnin' Up", suffers from a dip in sales and drops three places to #8 on the chart. Labelmate Miley Cyrus moves back into the top 10 with "7 Things", being the Biggest Sales Gainer of the week.

Lil' Wayne is on the verge of getting another top 10 single with "A Milli", which moves up to a new peak of #11.

US Top 10

1. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry
2. Take a Bow - Rihanna
3. Lollipop - Lil' Wayne
4. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
5. Viva La Vida - Coldplay
6. Forever - Chris Brown
7. Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield
8. Burnin' Up - Jonas Brothers
9. Bust It Baby Pt. 2 - Plies featuring Ne-Yo
10. 7 Things - Miley Cyrus

BWU Hot 40: Leona's #1 Again, Ne-Yo Jumps

On the BWU Hot 40, Leona Lewis spends a second week at #1, with "Better In Time". She is tied with Rihanna and Katy Perry for most weeks at #1. Ne-Yo's song "Closer" jumps up 8 spots to #2, thanks to chart-topping placement on the Interest chart. The highest debut of the week is Keri Hilson's "Energy", which enters at #20. Other songs debuting this week are "Give It 2 Me" by Madonna and "Can't Speak French" by Girls Aloud.

In certifications, Leona scores two double platinum certifications this week with "Bleeding Love" and "Better In Time". Many songs were certified platinum this week, including "Closer" and "Burnin' Up".

To see the full chart and all information, visit http://www.freewebs.com/brandonbestworst/bwuhot40.htm

BWU Hot 25 Becomes Hot 40!

I have decided to extend the BWU Hot 25 to 40, to match how many songs are in my "Flavor of the Moment" playlist on iTunes.

For now, the certification rules remain the same.

Remember, the Hot 40 is still at the BWU Website, http://www.freewebs.com/brandonbestworst.

UNBelievable! Teenage iPods Contain Over 800 Illegal Songs

Seriously, I thought it was more!

The Times in the UK reported that the average teenager has 842 illegal copied or downloaded songs on their iPod.

According to their research, the average iPod for people 14-27 years olf has 1,770 songs on it, meaning that 48% of the songs has been obtained illegally. The percentage rises to 61% when its between 14-17 years.

Wow.

Is the music industry in the toilet, or what?

Pokemon Platinum Cover Released!

Doesn't that look AWESOME!!

Nintendo has released the cover of Pokemon Platinum, this time using Giratina, one of the legendaries for Diamond and Pearl.

Pokemon Platinum will be released sometime in the fall in Japan and early next year in North America.

Nickelback Humiliates Record Label By Signing Live Nation Deal

Megapopular rock group Nickelback has signed with concert production company Live Nation's artists division, joining the ranks of Madonna and most recently Shakira to forgo record labels in favor of the "360 deal".

Nickelback's new deal has left record label Warner Music Group with egg on their face. According to trade publication Hits Daily Double, WMG spent $75 million to buy controlling interest in Nickelback's record label Roadrunner Records at the end of 2006. They have been courting the multi-platinum band ever since to sign a revenue-sharing deal, however, those plans are now dead in the water.

Nickelback is the second artist Warner Music Group lost to Live Nation. Earlier this year, Madonna made headlines when she chose the touring company instead of signing a new contract with her 20-year long label. She is the founding artist of Artist Nation, LN's division that will manage every aspect of an artist's career.

Nickelback is one of the most successful bands in recent history. Their latest record, All The Right Reasons, sold 10 million copies worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the United States.

Madonna and Britney Team Up For Tour

The last time Britney Spears and Madonna worked together, they shared a shocking kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards.

This time, it appears to be more tame.

Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's publicist, told the Associated Press that Britney was filming some material that would appear during Madonna's "Sticky and Sweet" tour, which begins on August 23rd in Cardiff, Wales. She could reveal no more than that, claiming it was a secret.

The news becomes the first from her career life since her personal life erupted in tabloid scandal. Her presence in the life Alex Rodriguez has reportedly caused the breakdown of his marriage to Cynthia. Rampant speculation has also surrounded her own marriage to filmmaker Guy Ritchie. This past week, Madonna has both denied any affair and the ending of her marriage.

Italian Vogue To Feature Black Models On Cover

Another door in the fashion industry has been busted open as a top magazine makes a statement against discrimination.

The Italian version of Vogue is putting together an issue completely to devoted to successful blacks in arts and entertainment, including a black model-only cover. The cover is to be shot by famous photographer Steven Meisel. He has shot many successful black models, including Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, and Alex Wek.

The special issue has reportedly come about as a response to both a New York protest group that is trying to fight racism in the industry and Barack Obama's success in the presidential election. The issue was editor Franca Sozzani's idea.

Here in the States, Vogue is also responding to the criticism by featuring an article about the lack of black models. There has been no word of an issue like Italian Vogue's.

Despite the success of Tyra and Naomi (she was one of three most successful models in the 80s and early 90s, along with Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista), there still has been a significant gap between the working white and black models in the mainstream fashion industry.

Jennifer Hudson recently made history by becoming only third black celebrity to cover American Vogue, after Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry. She is also the only black singer to do so.

Kudos to Vogue Italia for breaking down another boundary!

Usher's Album Sales Fury

R&B singer Usher is absolutely furious that his album sales have been lowered than his last.

According to the Rush & Molly from the New York Daily News, Usher is so upset that he is even considering the return of his mother Jonetta Patton as his manager. Last year, he shockingly dropped his mother in favor of Benny Medina, the man behind the careers of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and formerly Tyra Banks.

He has reportedly blamed Medina for his album's failure, while Medina has assured him that the disappointing sales were because of the dying music industry. His blockbuster record, Confessions, sold a staggering 1.1 million copies in its debut week in 2004. Medina may have been right, but the case wasn't helped when, two weeks later, Lil' Wayne stunned the music industry when he sold 1 million in his debut week. Coldplay sold over 700,000 copies the next week. To date, Usher has only sold 741,000 copies of latest record Here I Stand, even though he had a #1 single with "Love In This Club". It's also been poorly reviewed, with many claiming a lack of growth between the two records (I call it boring, uninspiring, and formulaic).

"Usher was livid! He threatened to fire everyone.", an insider told the Daily News.

Another troubling sign of his career possibly fading is the BET Awards ratings. He opened this year's show with a terribly lackluster performance, which only brought in 5.8 million viewers. Beyonce's opener last year brought 6.3 million.

Another source told the Daily News, "People have been telling Usher to listen to his mother. Nobody knows how to sell him better than she does. Usher can be stubborn. But he may be ready."

Reasons for why his mom was sacked have been subject to much rumor and speculation, with the lead reason being that she and Tameka Foster, his publicly unpopular wife, have not gotten along well. However, things have improved between the two since the birth of their son, Usher Raymond IV.

If Usher was smart, he would definitely take his mother back. His promotion has been weak at best, focused squarely on promoting his wife's image instead of his album. Plus, Benny Medina's methods are pretty suspect. He was allegedly fired by Tyra for inappropriately using his position as executive producer of her talk show to get more perks.

You know what they say, mother knows best.

UPDATE (AUGUST 7TH): Usher has fired his management team and rehired his mother. To see the follow-up to this post, click here

Another Regine Performance....

Here, "Asia's Songbird" sings Barry Manilow's "Weekend in New England":



She is simply fantastic.

I Love Money: TV Review

Last night, VH1 rose to new heights of tackiness with the premiere of I Love Money, a game show starring previous contestants of I Love New York, Flavor of Love and Rock of Love. The craziest contestants from the 6 seasons are competing to win $250,000 by participating in various mental and physical challenges, all based off of the most memorable moments from the shows.

I have watched 5 seasons of three shows (I didn't watch the 1st season of Rock of Love), so I was pretty familiar with the cast. It wasn't surprising that none of them have changed, except that most of them have developed this false sense of celebrity. I've gotta give it to the casting directors, because this is the craziest group of people to ever live in a house together, or be forced to be put on unisex bikinis.

Speaking of the bikinis, every member of the cast had to put on the "uniform" in order to compete in the challenge, which was to get the most money flying around in a telephone box thing. Midget Mac, the memorable little person from I Love New York 2 was the only person not to wear it. The issue launched the first big fight of the season, with Midget Mac going toe-to-toe (no pun intended) against Hoopz, the kick-ass winner of Flavor of Love. Things got really nasty when he called her a ho, and Hoopz threatened to drown him in the pool. Seriously, even Chance from ILNY wore the bikini, so it wasn't that big of a deal. He was just being a spoilsport.

The night had me seriously busting my gut with laughter. Between dreams of helping mentally challenged dogs and shocking revelations of premature ejaculations, there was barely a minute I didn't stop laughing. Mr. Boston, from ILNY, provided the most unintentional laughs. After Pumkin (still a whore) told everyone that he, erm, released early when they kissed, Mr. Boston revealed to the audience that he stuffed his speedo because he wasn't very endowed. He unfortunately had to pull the stuffing out in front of everyone to make room for the money he was gonna stuff down there. When he was taking the money out, he accidentally flashed the cast. Any cool that Mr. Boston built up on his previous show has effectively been destroyed.

So far, the show is looking as expected; crass, tacky, slutty, and overly ridiculous, much like its predecessors and contestants. While there are some I am rooting for, none of them honestly deserve it. The fact that they are willing to humiliate themselves, again, is just proof of that.

If you are looking to laugh at people and making yourself feel better, this show is for you.

If you are looking for a stimulating program, turn around.

In fact, just leave VH1 alone.

A BIG Thank You!

This month, my blog hit 7,000 visits from 100 countries!

I want to, again, thank EVERYONE who has visited and continues to visit. It really means a lot!

Thank again for all of your support!

Brandon Lewis

Who's Better Live: Demi Lovato or Miley Cyrus?

I have seen a few things online saying that Demi Lovato, the star of Camp Rock, is much better a singer than Miley Cyrus, TV's Hannah Montana.

For me to decide, I found a live performances from both of them to compare. Demi was on Regis and Kelly today, singing "This Is Me". Miley was singing "See You Again" at the 2008 Disney Channel Games.

Here's Demi:



Here's Miley:



While Demi does seem to have a better voice than Miley's, her performance was borderlining on bad. Vocally, she was all over the place, and she hit many flat, cringeworthy notes. She definitely needs a vocal coach to help control her voice. Miley definitely wins with stage presence. For a 15-year old, she knows how to work a crowd like a pro. Her voice isn't terrible, but it sure as hell isn't Faith Hill (the LA Times compared her song "7 Things" to her).

Based on these performances, I have to give it to Miley as the better performer.

What do YOU think?

Download of the Day 7/07: Keri Hilson's "Energy"

When I learned that Keri Hilson, the woman behind "The Way I Are", was releasing a single, I honestly wasn't that interested. I figured that it would say much like a Timbaland production, which pretty much filled music for 2006 (2007 belonged to Stargate). However, in a smart move, they played the song during the VCAST commercials before the movies began.

So, after hearing snippets of the song a few times, I finally decided to check it out. It turns out that either Timbaland is expanding his musical repitoire or he isn't on the track at all. The piano melody and the synthesized drum beats are something I can honestly say I haven't heard on radio recently, which makes "Energy" pretty fresh and new.

Lyrically, its about a girl trying to understand went wrong with her relationship, and now it's taking all of her "energy" to keep working. The words are very cool, and Keri sounds great singing them. She definitely attempts to show off her range, something she couldn't do on "The Way I Are" and it is impressive.

For someone losing all their energy, Keri definitely put together a power-filled track.

Rating: 7.5/10

An Interesting Read...

I never did finish my analysis of teen pop that I started early in the blog, but it seems like the Los Angeles Times did it for me!

Here is an article about the teen pop music compared to the days of Britney and 'N Sync.

Leona Goes Platinum!

Although she hasn't reached the million mark in sales yet, the RIAA has officially certified Spirit platinum, denoting 1 million copies shipped.

Congrats Leona!

Amy Winehouse Performs at Rock In Rio in Madrid, Spain

Why is her label letting perform while she's like this?

Amy Winehouse, after two so-so performances at Glastonbury and Nelson Mandela's birthday concert, appeared on stage again, this time at Rock in Rio in Spain.

With a glass of wine on stage, Amy warbled her way through 8 songs, including Download of the Day "Valerie" and my personal favorite " Back To Black".

Here are some performances I thought were her "best" (I'm probably being too nice):

"Back To Black"

"Tears Dry On Their Own"

"Wake Up Alone"

Classic UNbelievable: Cliff Richard and "The Millennium Prayer"

Many Americans will probably not know who Cliff Richard is, but in the UK, he is one of the most successful artists in history. He has 69 top 10 singles on the UK chart, which is absolutely unheard across the pond.

However, I'm sure even the British people have to question this choice.

In 1999, Cliff Richard released his last single before the new millennium, aptly title "The Millennium Prayer". You would think that people would know what they were in for just by the title, but no.

"The Millennium Prayer" is Cliff Richard singing the Lord's Prayer to the music of "Auld Lang Syne".

Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

Well, it must have been somewhat conceivable. Although Cliff's label EMI refused to release it, he found another label who would. When it finally was, the song went to #1 on the UK charts for two weeks. Two weeks! It would've been the Christmas number one (a huge deal in the UK, we don't notice in America) had Westlife not taken the spot with "I Have A Dream" (and no, it's not about Martin Luther King's speech). The song ended up being the third highest selling single of his entire career.

Here is a video of him singing it live:



Now, he sounds good singing it, but seriously? Why was this #1 period, let alone two weeks?

UK readers, I would really appreciate your input. If you like/d this song, why? Religious content? Auld Lang Syne? The awkward fusion of them both?

And for anyone else, love it? Hate it?