Alexandra Burke MUST Win The X Factor!

After this performance, there is no way in hell she can fail:



Seriously, Britons. Don't vote for the cute boyband or the quirky Duffy-looking girl or the young guy with the rather weird hair. Vote for this fantastic young woman Alexandra. She has proven since day one that she is ridiculously brilliant, and it would be a travesty if she lost.

Think of Leona. Think of how much global success she's had, and how Alexandra, after everything, deserves it too.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ALEXANDRA BURKE IN THE SEMI-FINAL NEXT WEEK!!!

Britney Spears Performs on The X Factor

She is definitely getting more confident in her dance moves. It is very nice seeing Britney getting herself back on track. This is definitely her best performance so far.

She is supposed to appear on ABC's Good Morning America to celebrate her album release and birthday so keep a lookout for that.

Did You Watch Rosie Live? No One Else Did!

Don't piss off Barbara Walters!

After basically giving the middle finger to her former co-host, Rosie O'Donnell created her own variety show called Rosie Live! for NBC. The program, which aired Wednesday, aired the same night as Barbara's interview with President and Mrs. Obama..

Guess who won out?

Rosie Live! brought in a crappy 5 million viewers, which was worse than Knight Rider, the show she replaced for the evening.

Karma is a you-know-what!

The failure has led the comedian to scrap any future variety programs.

When will celebrities learn that they shouldn't bite the hands that feed them? When you do, they'll just slap you across the face, or beat you in the ratings. Whichever hurts more.

Lewis Loves... Charley From 2007 Big Brother UK

Once in a blue moon, there comes this unstoppable force that leaves massive wreckage in their wake.

That unstoppable force hit the Big Brother house in the Spring of 2007, and its name is Charley.

The self-proclaimed it girl made the 8th season of UK Big Brother so memorable because of her penchant for starting the most ridiculous arguments. Take this argument with Chanelle, over Rihanna's age:



Anyone who could cause a massive fight over a famous person's age deserves some kind of recognition. OK, maybe not, but Charley's trashiness is appreciated. Whenever I have a tough day, all I have to do is YouTube her and know that even at my worst, I am 2000 times better than the utter crap that is Big Brother.

Britney Spears Performs at the German Bambi Awards

If this hadn't been Britney's first performance since last year's disastrous VMAs, I would declare this a failure.

However, considering, I'll give her a free pass. Baby steps, right?

Album Review: "808s and Heartbreak" by Kanye West

808s and Heartbreak can be seen in two ways.

For some, it is Kanye's magnum opus. It is the album that proves that all of the self-imposed hype is true; he is a musical genius.

For others, it is Kanye's declaration of insanity. This is the album that proves that all of that self-imposed hype has gotten to his head, causing it to explode, leaking epic amounts of failure.

Here's how I see this album; if it wasn't a quarter-stroke of genius, I would've believed Kanye has lost his goddamn mind.

Hearing the album for the first time would make you think the second of the previous two statements. That's because its a cold, calculated piece of work, production-wise. The electro beats and the terrible overuse of Auto-Tune/Vocoder gives off this chilly aura, as if Kanye deliberately wants us not to connect to the music. Unlike his previous works, there is little warmth or fun on this album. The sound is harsh, as clearly evidenced on the distorted "Street Lights" and the foggy "Welcome to Heartbreak". The two tracks that carry some kind of energy, "Robocop" and Paranoid", still have the sharp, unconventional sounds throughout. Quite frankly, its a bit of a turn-off.

After a second listen, however, the lyrics are taken in and you kind of understand the point of this record. Apply Kanye's tough year filled with death and broken engagement, everything clears up. Many of the songs are clearly about his troubled times, and they are his most personal and emotional to date. Lyrics like "when I grab your neck, I touch your soul" from "Say You Will" are jarring, but effective. Obviously, he has put the ego aside while writing this album, letting people see the Kanye without the gloss.

Still, the vulnerability that Kanye shows is contrasted by the production. While the lyrics show his passionate anger and sorrow, the heavy beats, buzzing synths, and the Auto-Tuning sound empty and emotionless. Yet, the battling sides don't cancel each other out. Somehow, Kanye has smartly applied one of the basic rules of interaction: "opposites attract".

The only downside is Kanye's voice. It's clear why he chose to mostly sing on this album (sometimes, rapping doesn't quite cut emotionally). It's also clear why he decided to Auto-Tune and Vocode his voice within an inch of its life (1. he can't sing well, 2. the robotic voice counters the powerful lyrics well). What's really unfortunate is that his voice is really, really not suited for singing. In fact, his voice may be a hindrace to the impatient listener; its the biggest detractor from many of the songs that really need a second chance to take. Although the effort is appreciated, Kanye should probably find another way to convey the complexity of his emotions.

Since the album is mostly about him, the guest appearance are smartly scarce. Lil' Wayne's inclusion on "Welcome to My Knightmares" is great and lends to the song. Young Jeezy's appearance on "Amazing" (while obviously a return on Kanye's appearance on his hit "Put On") is also purposeful. On his most personal album to date, Kanye was surely not going to let anyone overshadow him.

Kanye's album is a triumph for many reasons. For one, it proves that he can pretty much get away with anything (let's call a spade a spade here; this is a pop album). Despite the danger of alienating his fanbase, he is willing to take outrageous risks to prove his points. While pompous, its also admirable.

More importantly, though, 808s and Heartbreak is a creative, enigmatic gem. Kanye juxtaposed affecting lyrics with distant, barren production, and created a powerful collection of music. While it's not one of his most understandable efforts, its probably his most important.

So yes, its a bit psychotic, but the brilliance overweighs it completely.

9/10

BWU Hot 40: Leona Lewis Scores Thanksgiving #1 In Third Week

It's a very funny week with the BWU Hot 40, with many songs either rising high or dropping terribly low.

On a high note for Leona Lewis, her third week at the top with "Run" gets her two distinctions. She is now tied with girl group Girls Aloud for most weeks at #1 and she has the first ever Thanksgiving number one. On a low note, her other single "Forgive Me" drops 10 spots to 29, and her first #1, "Better In Time" drops out completely.

Speaking of Girls Aloud, their second #1 single "The Promise" sees a major rebound, jumping up from #8 back to #2, after news of its official release was revealed this week. "The Promise" holds firm in the Top 5 at #4. The girl group has officially surpassed Rihanna for most weeks in the Top 5.

The biggest rebound goes to Sugababes, whose album track "You On A Good Day" vaults up 11 spots to #11. Their upcoming single "No Can Do" also enters the chart this week at #33.

Beyonce re-enters the top 10 with "If I Were A Boy" at #7, while Mariah re-enters at #9 with "I Stay In Love".

The biggest drop is "The Boy Does Nothing" by Alesha Dixon, which falls from #6 to #21.

The full chart is available at brandonbestworst.webs.com

Preview of Britney Spears' New Video "Circus"

She has truly made a comeback, hasn't she?

The video should be fully released sometime next week, to coincide with the album release and her birthday.

Download of the Day 11-25: "Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay

Coldplay definitely knows how to keep their fans guessing.

For instance, the group, headed by the always intriguing Chris Martin, released "Lovers in Japan" to pop radio instead of "Lost!", which would have been a smash. Yet, the odd choice may have been inspired.

"Lovers in Japan" is a powerfully upbeat track. It's chock-full of lively and energetic instrumentation, such as the wonderful piano melody that is the backbone of the song. Paired with Martin's twisting vocals, "Lovers in Japan" is this irresistible force of positivity. That makes it a brilliant choice for a single. In this climate filled with dropping stocks and rising prices, a song about being lost wouldn't really go over well. However, a song about love underneath the Osaka sun?

Just the right song the country needs right now.

Video Premiere: "Sober" by Pink

Pink's new video for the single "Sober" has been released, and it's a serious contender for "video of the year". It is artistic, provocative, and the video's plot is actually stirring. The scene everyone will likely be talking about is Pink basically having sex with herself in a bed. Of course, people will take it literally instead of considering the metaphor it represents.

Bravo Pink for making a truly awesome video.

Music Video Premiere: "Run" by Leona Lewis

British pop diva Leona Lewis has finally released the video for her highly-anticipated single "Run", and just as expected, its fantastic. I love the enchanted forest concept. Everything about the video is dark, haunting, and beautiful. Leona is too beautiful for words, so I'll just leave it at that.

Easily one of her best videos so far, and it is definitely a number-one contender when its released next week.

The Best, Worst, and UNBelievable Of the 2008 American Music Awards

BEST
It was a very a good night for the divas. Mariah delivered her best performance of the year by far. Pink delivered the two best performances of the night: her new single "Sober" and "Angel", her duet with Sarah McLachlan. Beyonce brought out Sasha and brought the awesomeness. Leona twisted her single "Better In Time" into a very cool soft-rock ballad and delivered a faultless performance. Annie Lennox was given the Award of Merit after performing a stirring rendition of "Why".

Amidst the teenybopper fare, it was very cool to see Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Motley Crue, and a visibly inebriated Scott Weiland presenting in order to give the show some much needed cred.

Taylor Swift, who topped the Billboard charts with her sophomore album Fearless, performed "White Horse". I don't know if its about Joe Jonas or not, but her emotional delivery made it seem like that. It was very well done.

WORST
Just as it was a good night for the ladies, some of the boys suffered, a lot. The boy bands who performed, to be more specific, outright sucked. New Kids on the Block performed a terribly lackluster medley of their old hits and their new singles "Single" and "Dirty Dancing". On the other side of the age spectrum, Kevin, Joe, and Nick of the insanely popular Jonas Brothers whined their way through their single "Tonight" off of the platinum A Little Bit Longer.

Despite a "who's who" of talent performing, the American Music Awards truly have no clue about anything when it comes to nominations. How was possible that Chris Brown and Rihanna were nominated in both pop/rock and R&B? Same goes with Alicia Keys, who won both Pop/Rock Album and R&B Album. It was terribly unfair to the other artists who deserved nominations.

Unless your last name was Jonas, Cyrus, or Swift, there was no love for you at the AMAs. Honestly, that audience couldn't be more dead even if they were dragged from the grave. Even the host, the very funny Jimmy Kimmel, had to deal with the crappy audience. Of course, when the aforementioned came on screen, the crowd erupted into annoying screams.

UNBelievable

Remember what I said about the divas? I forgot one. Kanye West. Usually, he's throwing temper tantrums that would make a 7 year-old shut up. Now, he's complaining about winning. Then, he proclaims he wants to be bigger than Elvis. After his "experimental" phase, paired with this, I think someone should consider putting Kanye in a mental hospital.

Am I the only one who didn't really get Alicia Keys' "Superwoman" finale? Don't get me wrong, it was very nice to see her, Queen Latifah, and Kathleen Battle perform onstage, but there was something off about it, like it didn't fit well.

Bisexual Twin Models Score MTV Dating Show

Less than a week after MTV cut its last tie to its true roots, they have announced a new reality show starring two women I have never heard of.

Rikki and Vikki, aka the Ikki Twins, will be starring in A Double Shot at Love, a spin-off of Tila Tequila's unreasonably popular show. The two model sisters will be the objects of affection for both straight guys and lesbians in the program that begins December 9th at 10pm.

So, this sounds real promising. A show about two bi girls looking for a boy/girlfriend who they'll dump just in time for the reunion show.

Seriously MTV, just change your name and get it over with.

An Interesting Read...

Idolator.com has posted a spot-on analysis of the impact TRL has had on pop culture. I couldn't agree anymore with what they said here.

Click here to check it out

Lewis Loves.... UK Celebrity Advertisements

"Lewis Loves..." are my posts about my favorite things in pop culture that I've discovered recently.

My first "Lewis Loves..." goes to my favorite country besides the one I'm living in, the UK, and their fun advertisements (or adverts, as they are called across the pond).

We don't have many fun celebrity ads in the States since they seem to be frowned upon. However, over in Britain, there are tons of them. Some are funny, some are cute, some are festive, and others are corny in that non-annoying way.

These are my favorites:

Here, Girls Aloud members Kimberly Walsh and Nadine Coyle, Ronan Keating, Nicole Kidman, and TV hosts Fern Britton and Phil Vickery promote the Nintendo DS:





Yes, Nicole Kidman is smarter than Ronan Keating.

This one shows Irish boyband Westlife shopping for internet deals at the Post Office (go figure):



You gotta love the "what the hell" look Shane has on his face when the postman shoves the receptionist out of the way.

And don't even lie, you know these two Spice Girls ads for Tesco is pretty cute:





If you find any others, let me know.

Take That On The X Factor

UK pop gods Take That took to the stage of The X Factor tonight, before the release of their new album The Circus coming on December 2nd.

The foursome performed lead single/guaranteed UK #1/BWU Hot 40 #5 "Greatest Day", which will be released this upcoming week.

Is it only me, or is Mark Owen's little hat bugging anyone else? Other than it, a great performance as usual.

Check it out below:

ABC Cancels Dirty Sexy Money!

WHY?????

The idiots at ABC have gone and made a STUPID decision by canceling one of the best shows on television, Dirty Sexy Money. Although its not set in stone technically, ABC has yet, and is unlikely to, order new episodes.

Seriously, WTF?

DSM is one of the smartest, funniest, most interesting programs in right now. All of the actors are brilliant, and the stories are full of interesting twists and turns. So, you sack it instead of the terribly boring Private Practice (sorry Kate Walsh)? Come on!

To make matters worse, they cancel it after one of the best episodes ever, with the best catfight I have ever seen!

ABC sucks!

DOTD UK 11/22: "Better" by Boyzone

Controvery courts interest.

It's not the reason why I found Boyzone's "Better" (that was a YouTube accident), but I'm sure it will be a major reason why this song gets a lot of attention.

Putting the video aside for a minute, there is actually some good in this track.

It should be noted that this song is actually a cover; Tom Baxter released this in January. That means Boyzone shouldn't be blamed for the song's blandness (although some will argue blandness is their trademark). It's a nice song and all, but there is really nothing special about it. It's about a relationship that has gotten "better". It's an admitted step-down from "Love You Anyway", which I'm warming up to, by the way. When a song is this ordinary, that means the vocals have to be top-notch.

Lead singers Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately deliver some pretty powerful vocals on this track, and its a definite that both have become better singers since the group's hiatus in 1999. Especially Stephen, who has eradicated that annoying nasal warble from "No Matter What" and allowed his great vocal range to shine through. Ronan, the obvious lead of the whole group, sounds amazing. The richness of his lower register compliments Stephen's upper register perfectly, and that definitely makes this song great.

It's going to be an interesting chart situation for them as they go head-to-head with Take That and Leona Lewis, but Boyzone should definitely be happy with a comeback which has delivered another good single.

7/10

BWU Hot 40: Leona Still #1 Amidst Four New Top 10s

Leona Lewis' single "Run" has spent a second week on top of the BWU Hot 40. To date, Leona has logged six weeks on the top, putting her behind Girls Aloud with the most weeks at number one for an artist.

This week saw the most Top 10 chart entries yet. Irish pop group Boyzone saw two new singles enter: upcoming single "Better" at #4 and current single "Love You Anyway" at #10. Beyonce scores another Top 2 debut with "Smash Into You" off of the Deluxe Edition of I Am... Sasha Fierce. Alesha Dixon's single "The Boy Does Nothing" enters at #6.

Former number one "The Loving Kind" falls down to #8, while Girls Aloud's six-week chart-topper "The Promise" holds firm at #3.

For the full chart, visit http://brandonbestworst.webs.com/bwuhot40.htm

Why Is Sony BMG/Syco Screwing Up Leona's Career?

You would assume that when you have a multi-platinum pop star on your roster, you would your damn-best to make sure she has as much success as possible, right?

Explain that to Sony BMG/Syco, her record label, who have bungled her single choices/appearances more times than one can count.

Here are the biggest mistakes:

• No summer release in the UK: The summer season is the most lucrative (next to winter) in the music business. More people are at home (especially kids) or at the many places where music is played. What a wasted opportunity for Leona to not have a huge smash single that could've carried album sales through the summer to the crucial winter season (plus, a number one wouldn't be bad either). Instead, they release Leona's would-be summer single in November, months after her last release, effectively killing any momentum.

• Releasing "I Will Be" instead of "Forgive Me" in the US...in 2009: Blame the disappointing performance of FM in the UK or the idiocracy of her management, but radio website FQMB is reporting that the Avril Lavigne-penned track "I Will Be" will be released in January. Another ballad? Don't get me wrong, I love Leona's ballads, but she really needs something uptempo after BL and BIT. She also needs something that will sell, well. As proven with the #11 peak of BIT, the slow-tempos aren't the huge money-grabbers that they used to be. FM would be perfect to put her back in iTunes' Top 10. Also, the release date sucks. If they have to release IWB, why not now, to capitalize on the Christmas season, which LOVES balladry?

• Useless performances in the US: Leona Lewis performed on two big shows this past week: Jimmy Kimmel Live and the results show of Dancing with the Stars. Instead of previewing a new single, she performed past singles "Bleeding Love" and "Better in Time" respectively. Why? Why perform a song that is either not on radio or beginning to leave radio? It's basically wasted promo.

• Not releasing Run digitally until December 1st: Last Saturday, Leona delivered a perfect performance of "Run", one of the new tracks off of the re-release of Spirit. It was believed that the album, included with the song, would be released the midnight after the performance to maximize sales. Instead, fans were surprised to see it not there. It turns out that the label decided to withhold the single to maximize sales of the album. Big mistake. Instead of robbing Leona of a chart double, they should've released the album online, allowing people to download "Run" and the album. Did they forget about iTunes' nifty "Complete My Album" feature?

Hopefully, these will be last of the Leona bungles, and her management will finally get things back on track. It would be a travesty if the reason why Leona's career begins to slide is because of her own team.

DOTD UK 11/18: "Run" by Leona Lewis

It is so hard to believe that two years ago, Leona Lewis was competing on The X Factor. It's so hard to believe because you don't expect such a high-level talent to come from one of TV's lowest forms. Then again, it lends to the magic that is this burgeoning megastar.

The main source of said magic is in that unbelievable voice she carries. Leona is more than a good singer. Yes, she can string together some pretty melodies, but there is something much deeper in those vocal cords. Her voice has the remarkable ability to evoke powerful feelings. All Leona needs is a good song, and she's golden.

So how fortunate was it for Jo Whiley to invite Leona to perform on the Radio 1 Live Lounge, where she performed a cover of the Snow Patrol hit "Run". Her version was so popular that it was added to Radio 1's A-List. Now, in a move that can only be described as genius, she has recorded a full studio version in hopes to recapture the magic that she created on the airwaves.

Trust me, the magic is there, and then some. It's a vocal masterclass if there ever was one. Leona's interpretation is exceptionally powerful, thanks in part to her emotional, haunting beginning vocals that slowly transitions into a powerful climax. What's truly remarkable is how that amazing voice can so easily evoke powerful emotions within the listener. The song is essentially a steep rollercoaster that leaves you so high, that when you drop, it actually hurts. Instead of making the song about her naturally melismatic vocal style, Leona ensures that those who listen get their 5 minutes worth.

Of course, that's what reminds us that this global sensation is really a sweet girl from East London. Always graceful and genuinely nice, Leona isn't wasteful with her voice. She sings with everything she has, as if this song could be her last.

I'm glad she does, but she has nothing to worry about.

This outstanding track, available on the re-packaging of Spirit, further proves which should be obvious by now; Leona Lewis is here to stay.

9.5/10

DAYS OF OUR LIVES DISASTER! John and Marlena Fired!

Fans of NBC soap opera Days of our Lives are in an uproar over the shocking firing of two of its most iconic actors, Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn.

Soap Opera Digest is reporting that the two, who play supercouple Marlena Evans and John Black, will be written off the show in January.

The massive firings are the results of huge budget cuts after the show was renewed through the summer of 2010. According to executive producer Ken Corday, firing the two iconic actors was "a very tough decision to make".

They may not be the last, though. Rumors are circulating that they aren't the only big name talent on the chopping block.

I haven't watched DAYS seriously in a while (since the stories sucked), but this is truly an outrage. With all the useless people they have on that show, they choose to fire two of daytime's biggest stars? And there's more coming?

They might as well stick a fork in themselves, because they are O-V-E-R!

BWU Hot 40: Leona Scores Another Number One

The week after Girls Aloud became the first artist to score a second number-one song, Leona Lewis does it too.

The British songbird, who spent four weeks on top in the summer with "Better In Time", debuted at the top this week with "Run", the upcoming single from the deluxe edition of Spirit. It is her first single to debut at the top. In the same week, her current UK single "Forgive Me" falls out of the top 10 to #12. She currently has 2 other songs in the top 40: "Better In Time" at #28 and "Bleeding Love" at #40.

Last week's #1, "The Loving Kind" falls to #2 this week, ending Girls Aloud's 7-week reign at the top. The girl group previously spent 6 weeks on the top with "The Promise", which moves down to #3.

Lady GaGa, who made a giant rebound with "Just Dance" last week, sees new single "Poker Face" enter at #4.

Despite a questionable performance on The X Factor, Mariah Carey's single "I Stay In Love" continues its seventh week of gains, breaking into the top 10 at #8.

For the full chart, click here

Leona Lewis on The X Factor

That was one of the greatest vocal performances I have ever heard in my entire life. She was put on this Earth to sing, no question.

Britons, PLEASE make this single number one!

Music Video Premiere: "Better" by Boyzone

Irish boyband Boyzone has released the video for their upcoming single "Better" this week. The clip has courted a bit of attention because of its featuring male love interest for the openly gay Stephen Gately. It is the first video by a boyband to feature a gay couple. The B&W video is very intimate and sensitive, matching the song well.

The single will be released on December 8th. Check the video out below:

Leona Lewis Album Advert Previews "Run" Music Video

In the UK, Leona will be re-releasing her album Spirit with three new tracks, including her extremely popular cover of the Snow Patrol song "Run".

Apparently the song will be released as a Christmas number-one contender (rather smart choice), and a music video has been made for the song.

The video is previewed in the advertisement for deluxe edition, as seen below:



It was only a few seconds but it looks epic.

Can't wait to see it.

Album Review: I Am...Sasha Fierce by Beyoncé (Part One)

 

In case you didn't know, Beyoncé Knowles has multiple personalities.

At least, that's what her album I Am...Sasha Fierce suggests. It's actually a double album: one CD represents one side of the R&B diva, while the other shows a completely different side.

To be fair, I have decided to review the two sides separately first, then combine it later.

So let's start off with the first personality: Beyoncé

"If I Were a Boy" - One of Beyoncé's best songs so far. She may not have written it, but she still performs the hell out of it, allowing her voice to naturally soar and the reaches its climax. It's almost perfect. 9/10

"Halo" - This Ryan Tedder-penned track has been involved in some controversy lately, for a pretty good reason. It's a great song. It follows today's pop format perfectly; a metaphorical title, hand claps, and catchy repetition in the chorus. Some will pull comparisons with another Tedder song (Bleeding Love), but its a perfectly good enough to stand on its own. 8/10

"Disappear" - The dramatics are put aside for some soft, sensitive balladry with this song. Beyoncé proves here she doesn't need to shatter the sound barrier to be an amazing singer. In fact, she sounds amazing with this intimate arrangement. The song isn't very captivating, but its a good album track. 7.5/10

"Broken-Hearted Girl" - Even her album filler is above average. Yes, this song isn't very remarkable lyrically (in fact, I miss the metaphors a bit), but Beyonce's voice picks it up. Also, the composition changes also make it more interesting; the song begins with a piano, but soon a beat picks up and even a light synth dresses things up. 7/10

"Ave Maria" - No, its not a remake of the aria. Still, its sounds a bit like a classical song, thanks to the light plucking of guitar strings and the piano. I wasn't particularly moved by the song, but I appreciate the simplicity of it, even with the inevitable Beyoncé power notes toward the end. 7/10

"Smash Into You"* - This is one of my favorites on the album. The song starts very softly, just letting Beyoncé sing full-voice. I'm particularly fond of the chorus, which is pretty beautiful. Like the first two songs of the album, the song builds slowly to a powerful climax. Yet, she holds back and refuses to over-power the song, which is a pleasant surprise. The ending is very sweet, perfectly capping off the song with just her voice and the whisper of a guitar buzz. 9/10

"Satellites" - It's a very nice song, but my least favorite on this side of the album. The metaphor of satellites and space, paired with the simple arrangement, made for a pretty boring listening boring experience. 6.5/10

"That's Why You're Beautiful"* - Beyoncé definitely loves her guitar. And her drums. Incorporating instruments typically absent in R&B music into a slow-churning ballad is her specialty, as evidenced here. A solid album track, but nothing special here either. 6.5/10

Final Thoughts - The "Beyoncé" side shows a wide array of ballads, from the rhythmic to the simplistic. With only a speed bump or two, this is one of her most solid collections to date.

Rating: 7.5/10

* - only on Deluxe Edition

Christina Aguilera Responds To Lady GaGa Copycat Claims

Christina Aguilera, whose new album Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits is coming out this month, has finally talked about the many claims that she has been copying Lady GaGa's style lately.

Here is what she said:

You know, that’s funny that you mention that. This person [Lady Gaga] was just brought to my attention not too long ago. I’m not quite sure who this person is, to be honest. I don’t know if it is a man or a woman. I just wasn’t sure. I really don’t spend any time on the Internet, so I guess I live a little under a rock in that respect.

So, Christina basically called Lady GaGa an irrelevant transvestite. Classy, Xtina.

The resemblance is very uncanny, though. It may have not been Christina's idea, but it's hard to believe that someone didn't cultivate the idea.

Music Video Premiere: Will Young's "Grace"

He's played fighter pilot and weird guy at art gallery, so how much of a stretch is equestrian?

Check it out now in Will Young's video for the upcoming single "Grace":

Proposition 8: Why It Is Wrong

It is truly astounding how afraid of change we are in this country.

On the same night that a black man was elected to the highest office in the land, Californians allowed an amendment that would ban gay marriage to pass. What's even more ironic is that it was California's electoral votes that help clinch the election for Obama.

I'm not going to lie and say that gay marriage is something I find as normal. Truthfully, considering how I was raised, it is a bit odd when the marriage ceremonies roll across my TV screen. That being said, who am I to say that its wrong? What gives me the right to declare a person's right to love whomever they choose as indecent or immoral?

What gave the right to those who voted for such a hateful act?

I'm sure people will claim religion as their influence.

Think about it like this. God, as I have been taught, loves every person unconditionally. This means that he is not someone who condones hatred and bigotry.

Proposition 8 is bigotry, plain and simple.

When a person claims that God says gay marriage is wrong, they are essentially saying God is a supporter of bigotry.

Since God is not a bigot, that person is lying about God. That person is committing slander against the Creator. They are defaming the entity they claim to adore so much.

So, by using God as a reason/excuse/cop-out for supporting Proposition 8, you are slandering God's name and defaming his character.

Also, the "golden rule" of doing unto others as you would do to yourself was derived from the Bible, the word of the Lord. By voting for Proposition 8, you are disobeying that rule, a rule that maps out basic human decency.

So, by voting for Prop 8, you are slandering and defaming God, and deliberately disobeying his word.

So, for every devout Christian who supported this amendment, please don't be surprised when your judgment day arrives and God doesn't receive you into his kingdom. I'm sure He doesn't appreciate people misinterpreting and outright lying about him.

Finally, to the overwhelming number of African-Americans who supported this proposition, I'm very surprised at you. How easily do we forget the racism that we still face? As an African-American myself, I cannot imagine perpetuating the same kind of bigotry that my family was forced to deal with. It's outrageous that we can look back at American's checkered racial past, see the casualties of our fight for equality, and yet deny it from others. What does that say about us as a race? Have we learned nothing from the last 200 years?

Proposition 8 is more than just an amendment to the California Constitution. It is a precedent that threatens to unleash a new wave of intolerance after we defeated an old one in the same day. Regardless of your views of homosexuality, you would have to be blind to see what Prop 8 means.

It means everything God has taught us to fight. It means everything the civil rights leaders taught us to fight. It means everything the Founding Fathers fought when this country declared its independence from the suppressive Britain.

It means hatred, it means bigotry, and it means inequality.

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Proposition 8

One of the reasons why I admire Keith Olbermann: even when discussing a topic not directly related to himself, he still speaks with eloquence and passion that only the cold-hearted would not be moved by.

Grant Aleksander Returns To Guiding Light!

FINALLY!

Soap opera veteran Grant Aleksander will be reprising his role as Phillip Spaulding on CBS soap Guiding Light. After four years of continual rejections, Aleksander will return to the role that made him famous in the coming months.

In 2004, in an extremely controversial decision, Phillip Spaulding was killed off in a "whodunnit" storyline. Months later, it was revealed he was alive. CBS and show owner Proctor and Gamble have made many attempts to get Aleksander to return to the show, but he refused. During his hiatus, he focused on directing. He directed for sister soap As The World Turns.

When Phillip was last seen, he was still suffering from the mental illness that stemmed from his marriage to Olivia Spencer. It is unclear whether he will be cured by the time he arrives.

I guess I can finally put GL back on my DVR.

UK Charts: X Factor Trump 4-Way Diva Battle

People still love the combo of Mariah Carey, X Factor, and charity.

"Hero" the single by the 12 finalists of the reality competition remained at the top this week, despite huge competition from four of the biggest female artists in pop music.

Speaking of the chart battle, Beyonce comes out as this week's winner, peaking at #2 with downloads only. Britney finishes second with "Womanizer", coming in at #4. At #5 is Leona with "Forgive Me". Christina Aguilera finishes last and out of the top 10, entering at #14.

Girls Aloud stand strong with "The Promise", only slipping one spot down to #3.

Feb Sweeps Crossover For Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice

TV Guide is reporting plans for ABC shows Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice to share a storyline early next year, most likely around the crucial February Sweeps period.

Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, will return to her old stomping grounds of Seattle Grace. Other character switches are unknown at this point.

This isn't the first time the show did a switch. One was made last year, the same year the Addison spin-off premiered.

Madonna and Britney Perform "Human Nature" At Dodgers Stadium

I'm just going to say two things:

Britney looks fantastic.

She's getting better and better every day. Her's might be the best comeback in recent pop culture history.

Madonna looks WAY too old to be dressing the way she is.

Seriously, and I mean no disrespect, but Madonna does not look attractive on that stage at all. It's not even the age thing. It's more the "I'm going to wear a bra and panties with a sheer black top at 50" thing. It's a bad look on paper, but in reality, with her thin, too-muscular body, its just kinda gross. What happened to the yoga thing Madonna had going on?

Until she's ready to put the weights down, I think she should rethink her wardrobe, by putting more on.

For more Britney, she'll be doing LOTS of promo in the coming weeks, including X Factor. For more Madonna, she's currently on her "Sticky and Sweet" tour.

DOTD Album Tracks 11/08: "You Are What You Are (Beautiful)" by Christina Aguilera

It's very hard to believe that 10 years has passed since the young Christina Aguilera blew up on the scene with the inescapable "Genie In A Bottle".

In the next decade, she proved to be one of the most enduring stars of the teen pop era. When Britney melted down and the Backstreet Boys fell into obscurity, she continued titillating the music world with new songs that never left anyone bored.

One of those songs was "Beautiful", the Linda Perry-penned mega ballad that inspired millions of people with its message. It is one of Christina's most defining moments as an artist.

What has she done to celebrate its six-year anniversary?

For her greatest hits compilation Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits, the pop diva re-recorded the song (don't worry fans, the original is still on there) and retitled it "You Are What You Are". It was a smart move to separate it from its parent, because except for the lyrics, there is nothing similar about the two.

She has stripped away the melody and replaced omnious electro sounds. Her voice has been layered and made almost monotone. Essentially, she turned a pop ballad into a haunting, dark, slightly menacing techno slow jam.

It's very cool.

While the message may be lost, Christina delivers a whole new point of view with this remake. She gives the words new life, revealing the darker side to such uplifting lyrics. Her voice, as robotic as it sounds here, is still captivating in a weird way.

Kudos to Christina for switching things up completely.

Question of the Day, Week, and Month: What Is Twilight?

This has to be the biggest phenomenon I've never been apart of since the 2006 Disney craze.

I would really appreciate it if someone could explain to me the fascination with Twilight and the movie's star Robert Pattinson.

X Factor's Laura Voted Off!

Two terrible eliminations in a row?

This week on Britain's X Factor, Laura White from Cheryl Cole's group was the fifth contestant cast off the show.

Laura was one of the favorites to win, and she definitely caught my ear with her very soulful performances. So, why was she kicked off?

Even Simon Cowell called the bottom two (shared with the amazingly sexy Ruth Lorenzo) a joke, which makes one wonder. Did it have something to do with Laura's romance with the show's executive Matthew Firsht? Or maybe her fans thought she would be safe? Or maybe she didn't have many supporting her after all.

Regardless of the reason, another extreme talent has been kicked off (and Daniel Evans is still there)...

Mariah Carey Performs On The X Factor

OK, someone has to ask it...

Is Mariah seriously losing her world-famous voice?

The only other reason that can explain Mariah's two weak performances on the UK's X Factor is exhaustion, which is also plausible considering how tired her face looks. In fact, she looks like she can barely stand up. Someone save Mariah please!

Here is her performance of "Hero" (with the finalists):



and here is her (3/4-mimed) performance of "I Stay in Love":

Today's My Birthday!

Yes, I turn 17 today, November 7th, 2008!

I'm planning a bunch of Brandon's Lists to celebrate, so keep on the look out this weekend!

Dannii Minogue's X Factor Hell: Cheryl's Popularity, Leon's Disappointments, The Rachel Controversy, and Her Future

Things aren't looking good for the Aussie pop star.

Dannii Minogue, who joined the UK's X Factor talent show in 2007, is reportedly in danger of losing her job after serious gaffes with her contestants and the insane popularity of new judge Cheryl Cole.

Dannii's place on the show has been in serious question ever since Girls Aloud member Cheryl was revealed as Sharon Osbourne's replacement in the summer. Rumors of serious battles between the two have been UK tabloid staples since the show began its new season. Both have denied any rows (as fights are called across the pond) and have talked about how they get along. Still, Cheryl's popularity has made its mark.

Another factor in Dannii's possible termination is Leon Jackson, who she mentored to a win last year. The Scottish contestant already had high expectations after the meteoric rise of his predecessor Leona Lewis, and so far, he has failed to reach any of them. The first blow was losing the number one spot on the UK charts, debuting at #3 behind Pink's "So What" and reality show parody single "The Winner's Song". The next week, which saw Girls Aloud top the chart, the single fell 7 spots to #11, still behind "The Winner's Song". His debut album has done even worse; it debuted at #4, and then fell to #20. It is not a good look for Dannii to have her act become the first X Factor winner to have their album fail to reach number one.

On the current season, Dannii has been criticized for the song choices made for popular finalist Rachel Hylton, who wowed the country during the auditions. Her first live performance, of Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat", was panned by the judges. Her second, a cover of "Dirty Diana", also failed to impress. She received praise for her performance of "Felling Good" in the third week, but last Saturday, Rachel landed in the bottom two for the first time. The shocking decision reportedly launched Rachel into a fury.

Many UK tabloids, including th Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail, reported that Rachel "fired" Dannii after holding crisis talks with the show's producers and Simon Cowell. Show reps announced that Rachel would have more control over song choice and styling, but would not say that Dannii was dumped. Both Dannii and Rachel denied that assertion. If it was true, Dannii would be the first "fired" judge in the history of X Factor.

With all of these issues coming to a head at once, it appears that Dannii's future on the show is severely in doubt. In an article by the Daily Mail, a close X Factor source said that "[Dannii] no longer serves a purpose". Only time will tell, but when you look at the evidence, it seems like Minogue should begin looking for other gigs.

Barack Obama's Victory Speech

Here is President-Elect Barack Obama's victory speech, arguably the most important speech by an African-American since Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech over 40 years ago...

McCain Loses With Grace

Republican presidential nominee John McCain made one of the most difficult calls in the history of his career after 10 pm last night.

He conceded the most historic election in recent memory to Illinois senator Barack Obama.

Afterwards, he went on the stage of his election night party in Arizona to deliver the concession speech to the world.

Undoubtedly, it must have been utterly gut-wrenching to declare himself the loser, after nearly 2 years of campaigning for the highest office in the land. This would make his third consecutive loss in a presidential election, his closest to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Still, despite the humiliation of losing by nearly 200 electoral votes, McCain approached the stage with a smile and his closest supporters; wife Cindy and running mate Sarah Palin.

As he approached the podium to announce the end of his bid for president, you wouldn't guess he was doing so. However, as he spoke, you could see the defeat wearing down on him. Still, he spoke with more strength than I've seen from him in months, telling the world to support the new president-elect.

Unfortunately for him, his eloquent and emotional speech was nearly ruined by the obnoxious booing of those in attendance as he spoke Obama's name. He explained to them that dwelling on the loss would be beneath the American standard. He explained that Americans move forward; he would, and his supporters should as well. He said he would do everything in his power to aid the future president in helping preserve the country's status as the leader of the world, and that despite obvious ideological differences, we are all still united as Americans.

It can be argued that if McCain has presented this kind of attitude during the last leg of the election, instead of falling into gimmickry and nasty political tactics, he might have won this contest. Still, it is good to know that John McCain, the maverick, the man who worked with both parties, the man who is ultimately 100 times more qualified than the man who beat him in 2000 and 2004, still exists.

Barack Obama Wins!

Congrats to Democratic nominee Barack Obama for being the first African-American to be President of the United States of America.

This is truly a historic day.

With 284 electoral votes as of 11 pm EST, all of the major networks are projecting his election to the highest office in the world.

Once again, congratulations to Barack Obama. As an African-American, I am insanely proud.

Chart Battle UK: Beyoncé, Leona, Britney, and Christina Fight For #1

   

What happens when you have four of pop music's biggest artists releasing a song in the same week?

A chart battle, of course!

Yes, less than two months before the coveted Christmas number one is up for grabs, the lady leaders of the industry are engaging in a chart race to the top! Beyonce has released "If I Were A Boy", the first single from I Am...Sasha Fierce. Leona has sent out "Forgive Me", which precedes the release of Spirit: The Deluxe Edition. Britney, fresh from a US #1, releases "Womanizer" from Circus. Finally, Britney's longtime chart rival Christina will be releasing "Keeps Gettin' Better" from her greatest hits package of the same name.

So, who will be on top?

Right now, Beyonce is topping the UK iTunes chart, with Britney close behind at #2. Leona is a bit farther down at #5, being separated by "Hero" and Girls Aloud's "The Promise". Christina is out of the top 10 completely, settling for #12. Leona and Christina have the benefit of a CD single to help their sales, so its possible that Leona may pull a #1 upset. 

Still, the four divas are facing other competitors. "Hero", the Mariah Caey cover sung by the X Factor finalists, will probably sell well into its second week after topping last week's chart with sales of over 310,000. Girls Aloud's "The Promise" is also holding on tight as well. Strictly Come Dancing contestant Alesha Dixon also has a new single out, "The Boy Does Nothing".

Right now, here are my chart predictions:

"If I Were a Boy" - #1 

"Womanizer" - #3

"Forgive Me" - #4

"Keeps Gettin' Better" - #8

Stay with BWU for the latest on the chart battle!

Cover This! UK's Daily Mirror on the 2004 Presidential Election

THIS is why I L-O-V-E the Brits!

You know what's truly funny about the cover from a November '04 issue of UK tabloid The Daily Mirror? It's the sub-headline "U.S. ELECTION DISASTER". The other stuff its too obvious to mention.

Let's see what they'll come up with tomorrow morning.

Leona Supports Barack Obama As US President!

British songbird Leona Lewis has joined many celebrities in their support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. However, her reasons for believing in him are more about her home country of England than anything else.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper in the UK, Leona said, "I just don’t know what’s going on with the young kids in London now. I think Barack Obama could inspire young ethnic minorities in the UK to do something productive and show it’s not cool to do nothing with your life."


England, London in particular, has been stricken with an increase in teenage violence. One of Leona's childhood friends was involved in such violence that lead to his death, and since then she has been advocating for the cleaning up of the streets.


She also talks about his mixed race: “It would mean so much to have a mixed-race president, I just can’t explain. The country needs that change. It would mean everything for ethnic minorities in that country and every country around the world to have a mixed-race leader of America.”


Americans in every state are currently voting for either Barack Obama (my choice) or John McCain. Will Leona get her wish of a mixed race president for the world to admire? We will see tonight.

Happy US Election Day!

After nearly two years of rigorous campaigning, the time has come for us Americans (well not me, since I'm not 18 yet, lol) to vote for who will lead the country from the current hellhole its in.

If you haven't yet, please vote and make your voice heard!

DOTD UK 11/03: "The Winner's Song" by Geraldine McQueen

In the middle of last month, Leon Jackson suffered a humiliating chart defeat. His single "Don't Call This Love" didn't even make it to #2, forced to take the third slot after another song debuting the same week.

"The Winner's Song" by Geraldine McQueen.

What's so terrible about that? For starters, Geraldine isn't a real person. In fact, she is really British comedian Peter Kay in drag, who put the character together for his 2-hour sitcom special Britain's Got The Pop Factor...And Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice. The show is much-needed spoof of the reality competition craze.

The song, co-written by Take That's Gary Barlow, perfectly matches the parody. It follows every coronation song cliche. The intro sounds strikingly similar to X Factor winner Leona Lewis' single "Footprints in the Sand". The lyrics speak of Geraldine's struggle through the competition, reminiscent of an American Idol track. Finally, there is the must-have element of every reality singing competition song; the key change. All of this combined with Peter's Geraldine's earnest vocals makes for an absurdly hilarious single that you can't help but love.

The irony that a parody of a winner's song beat a real winner's song on the charts would be tragic if it wasn't side-splitting. But honestly, who were you going to choose; Leon, the winner of X Factor, or Geraldine, the lovable transsexual who nearly choked to death on confetti.

Duh, Geraldine.

Rating: 7.5/10

Download of the Day 11/02: "Lost!" by Coldplay

Thanks to the unexpected success of the epic single "Viva La Vida", Coldplay's album of the same name had the third-highest first week sales of any album in the United States.

Now, they are back with their third single "Lost!", which is a far cry from their previous two singles. In fact, and I might get blasted for this, this is their most pop-sounding moment ever.

How does an alt-rock band go for CHR? Behind Chris Martin's distinctive vocals, you put a kick drum, a church organ, and hand claps, the new pop music staple . What you get is a surprisingly rhythm-based song from a band known for being charmingly off-beat.

You know a band is talented when they make pop sound cooler than people think it is.

Rating: 8/10


P.S.: Want to know something funny? This song, which will have its radio release next week, is not being sent to pop radio.

DOTD UK 11/02: "Grace" by Will Young

There is one major concrete difference between the US music industry and the UK music industry.

A song like "Grace" would probably flop on pop radio.

For the WY fans ready to flood the comments with "I hate you" messages, the statement says more about American radio than it does about Will.

I happen to think "Grace" is brilliant.

The reasons why it would fail are the reasons why its amazing. "Grace" is simple, but rich in its musical composition. It's a mid-tempo ballad; not rhythmic, like the Stargate productions that have been smothering our airwaves for the last 2 years. The lyrics, written by Will himself, are thoughtful, inspiring, and metaphoric. His voice is smooth, yet passionate. With every word he sings, you can feel it.

So, why would a song so great fail in America? Because it's atypical, interesting, different, and nothing like what's on radio now. In a country where UK gems like Kylie, Robbie, and Girls Aloud flop miserably, most people wouldn't get the pure elegance that this song so easily evokes.

But Will Young doesn't need Leona size success to define himself as a singer, and an artist. He has proven with "Changes" and this single that he is truly a cut above many in his pop generation.

How?

Don't you know? He sings about it.

Will Young has grace.

Rating: 9/10

Cover This! Britney Spears' "Circus"

OK, so we were all excited about the release of Circus, the Britney Spears album that restore her to pop domination. In fact, I really really wanted to see what the album cover looked like; I wasn't sure what to expect.

I certainly didn't expect this.

While Britney looks all cute and innocent, everything else around her looks terrible. The star border and the font makes it look like Britney's album is a collection of cheesy country ballads.Either that or a free ride to the freak show.

Seriously, who is designing these covers, because many of the latest ones are pretty bad.

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked!

I don't know which is worse; the fact that she honestly believed she was speaking to Nicolas Sarkozy, or the idea that phone access to the potential second-in-command is so easy to achieve.

Absolutely painful/hilarious/disastrous to watch.

Will Young Performs "Grace" on X Factor

Speaking of the UK's X Factor, Will Young performed his upcoming single "Grace" on the shock elimination show. Check it out below:



The single will be in the shops on the 1st of December. It's available to download now.

To see my review of "Grace", click here

Austin Drage Voted Off X Factor!

 

OK, what the hell?

In one of the most ridiculous X Factor eliminations ever, my favorites (and potential winners) Austin Drage and Rachel Hylton landed in the bottom two this week after good performances (Rachel suffered from a terrible song, Austin phoned in a bit). After a sing-off, the judges decided to send home Austin, because Rachel deserved it more.

Although I do believe Rachel needs the break more than Austin, the fact that both were in the bottom two in the first place is just outrageous. They were the two to watch since the auditions, so how on Earth did they get where they were?

Sorry Brits, but you guys got it HORRIBLY wrong this week.