Slim Shady v. Mimi Part Four! Eminem Strikes Back at Mariah With Diss Track, and He Goes In!

So, Mariah Carey finally fought back against Eminem with her single and video "Obsessed" after years of him talking about her. Clearly, he wasn't amused, because now he is going after her and her husband Nick Cannon on the new diss track "Warning".

In the song, he goes after the diva full throttle, and as much a Mariah fan I am, I've got to admit, he slays her on this track. Like never before, he drops some serious bombs about his and Mariah's purported relationship. He gets pretty graphic, even recalling a time when they were together and he, erm, came early.

Yeah, gross. Too much information.

He continues to blow up her spot with various tidbits, but it gets really interesting when he drops this: "when me and Luis were trying to stick two CDs in the same slot". Luis is most like Latin singer Luis Miguel, who Mariah dated for a while in the early 90's. Now, he is either saying she was involved with both men at the same time, or that they had a threesome. Either way, it is totally over the line.

Of course, what most people will be talking about on Twitter is Mariah herself, on the track. Toward the end of the song, Eminem splices in clips of a woman (Mariah) apparently leaving a voicemail for him. Among other things, she says she loves him and she calls herself Mary Poppins. It's quite shocking to hear, and I haven't decided whether or not it's Mariah.

Eminem has really gone too far with this diss stuff. I mean, it's so juvenile, and it makes him so petty and quite pathetic. At the same time, Mariah would've been nuts not to think that he wasn't going to respond to "Obsessed" (and she can cut it; the song's about him and we all know it). Both need to chill themselves out.

That said, i would not be against Mariah going after Eminem, harder this time.

IT'S TRUE! Joe Jackson Confirms Omer Bhatti As Michael Jackson's Son!

I KNEW IT!

Joe Jackson, in an interview with TV One here in America, has confirmed that Norwegian-born Omer Bhatti is the son of the late Michael Jackson.

He also acknowledged that he looks and acts like a Jackson, and is an excellent dancer. When asked if he could carry MJ's legacy, Joe said that he couldn't say until it happens.

The story officially broke when it was observed that Omer was sitting with Michael's other children and aunt Rebbie in the front row. It was revealed from there that Michael met Omer (who had gotten attention for be an excellent MJ impersonator) in Tunisia in 1996. Michael then took Omer and his family on tour with him and even moved them in Neverland Ranch.

It is believed that Michael Jackson, during a visit to Norway, had a one night stand with Omer's mother in the early 80's that resulted in Omer's birth.

Here are pictures of Michael Jackson's purported son Omer Bhatti:

DOTD: Madonna Sets The Dancefloor On Fire With "Celebration"

LISTEN BELOW!




If you have been following the internet for the past few weeks, you probably know that there has been a lot of buzz over Madonna's newest single and album, both titled "Celebration". This is a particularly significant release for the Queen of Pop because it is her last album in her deal with Warner Bros. Records (she is currently signed with Artist Nation, the music subsidiary of concert promoter Live Nation). The album is a greatest hits compilation, with a smattering of new songs, including the title track.

Madonna, after taking a hip-hop detour with Hard Candy, has returned to her true home. "Celebration" is nothing short of a full-blown, deliciously synthy, sexy, club anthem. The song definitely lives up to its name, celebrating what launched the 50-year old into superstardom in the first place, while still sounding excellently current. That is thanks to the song's co-producer Paul Oakenfold. He gives her enough swishing synths, massive beats, and fluid production to set any pair of feet on fire. The song isn't all about the ace production; the lyrics seem to be bred from an all-night club rave. Yet, there is something special about them. If you listen closely (and are a Madonna mega-fan), you can catch references to her past hits in the verses.

Arguably the most memorable part of this massive song is the spoken word toward the middle. Madonna brings us back to the sexual energy of her controversial "Erotica" single, especially when she says "I guess I didn't recognize you with your clothes on". Hearing her voice against the synth-drenched beats reminds us of one thing lost in the messiness of her personal life and her fitness regimen: Madonna is kind of smoking hot.

Madonna is back to her true form as she celebrates her 25-plus years of pop culture dominance. While she has been admired for her ability to reinvent herself, it is her ability to make us all dance that has afforded her the crown of "Queen of Pop".

"Celebration" will be released on August 4th.

Music Video Premiere: Mika's "We Are Golden"

What. The. Hell.

That was running through my head as I watched the music video for Mika's newest single "We Are Golden". It's an excellent track, but I'm not too sure about the video.

Here is the link to the video. I will update it with YouTube link when it becomes available.

We Are Golden - Mika

Get Whitney Houston's New Single "I Look To You" For Free!

The album won't be out for another month, but you can download Whitney Houston's new single "I Look To You" for free!

Whitneyhouston.com is offering the single for free! All you have to do is enter your information and it will be emailed to you!

Get it while it's hot!!!

POSSE Test of Fire Information!

Hey TP7!

Here is the information for tomorrow's Test of Fire:

Meeting time: 9:00 am

Meeting place: 13 Astor Place (can take the N/R to 8^th Street/Prince Street or the 6 train to Astor Place)

Instructions: when you’re entire Posse is at the Starbucks, please call this number for more directions – 917. 842. 6935

LEAVE A COMMENT TO LET ME KNOW YOU'VE READ THIS (AND DON'T FORGET TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND LOL)

Did Dr. Murray FALL ASLEEP Giving Michael Jackson Death-Inducing Propofol?

 

Stunning revelations continue to be leaked in the weeks after Michael Jackson's shocking death, including how King of Pop's last hours were.

What may shock and enrage Michael's fans is the latest news coming from the Los Angeles Police Department. According to TMZ.com, speaking with multiple police sources, Dr. Conrad Murray, the "doctor" who was with him at the time of his death, admitted to police that he had administered Propofol to the singer hours before he died. He made this admission on June 27th, two days after Michael was declared dead. If you remember, there were reports that Murray had abandoned his car and essentially went missing in the immediate aftermath of Michael's passing.

The shockers don't stop there. The police, trying to piece together this sad story, are convinced that Murray was negligent in administering the extremely powerful anesthetic drug, which is used only in hospitals. It is even believed that, while the drug was continually being pumped in Michael's veins, Murray was asleep in his own room at Michael's rented L.A. mansion. While the doctor was allegedly asleep, the King of Pop's heart stopped beating as he went into cardiac arrest.

By the time paramedics arrived, Michael was dead and reportedly unrecognizable to them.

Murray's administration of the Propofol violated virtually every medical guideline. For one, Michael's vitals should have been monitored by either an EKG to watch his heart or a pulse oximeter to check his blood oxygen levels. Neither machine was present in the home. 

Murray's horrifyingly unprofessional behavior regarding Michael's health has been well-documented in the past month. Murray, apparently in shock, didn't call 911 for a half hour after he found an unresponsive Michael in bed. He practiced CPR, but not on a hard surface, as is protocol.

Court papers have named Murray as a suspect in the investigation that has been labeled manslaughter.

3OH!3 Brings The Ridiculousness, and The Fun With "Starstrukk"

 3OH!3 turned the pop landscape on its ear this past late spring with their stupid, highly inappropriate, and brilliant single "Don't Trust Me" (no one will look at Hellen Keller the same way again).


After the surprising success of that song, the boys are back with second single "Starstrukk", a fizzy electro romp about casual hook-ups. The boys switch things up from "Don't Trust Me"; the most danceable parts of this song are the verses, with the best use of whistles since Juelz Santana. The lyrics are as mindless as ever here, singing about Daisy Dukes and cup sizes (and I'm not talking the ones you drink Coke out of either). The song's Hellen Keller line "push it baby, push it baby, out of control, I got my gun cocked tight, and I'm ready to blow" is kind of juvenile (even for them).

Things get really interesting in the chorus, though. Here, amidst edged-out synth lines, the boys admit their promiscuity and reveal they don't know the meaning of the word love. They ponder the possibility of messing around without "leaving their fingerprints out", a thought rather poignant for a culture obsessed with a "love 'em and leave 'em" mentality.

While not as instant as its predecessor, "Starstrukk" proves to be the more conscious of the two, and will easily jump start any dying college party. With songs like these, its not hard to see why 3OH!3 are the princes of punk pop.

Rating: 7.5/10

BEST: Kings of Leon FINALLY Find US Success with "Use Somebody"

Anyone who has been reading this blog since last year knows that I like Kings of Leon. Both "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" were top 10 hits on the BWU Chart, even when most people in the mainstream weren't even aware of them.

Well, they are finally catching on here in the US after tons of international success, thanks to their second single "Use Somebody", an excellent rock anthem. The song got its first mainstream exposure when the band performed it at the MTV Movie Awards two months ago. The song caught on, gaining steam on CHR radio, which shamefully ignored "Sex on Fire".

The song its currently in what I like to call its "smashing" phase, thanks to tastemaking New York radio station Z100, which added the song to its playlist earlier this month. Currently, it is #2 on iTunes, behind the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling". It's #15 on CHR radio and climbing, which is quite amazing since it was barely making a sound a few months ago. It will mostly likely debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 this week, making it their first real mainstream hit.

Last year, "Use Somebody" saw a peak of #2 on the UK Singles Chart, selling over half a million copies. Good to see the US is trying to catch on with worldwide mainstream trends.

If you have yet to hear this song, check it out below:

Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon

Chart Battle: Demi Set To Outsell Jordin Two to One!

This isn't a good week for American Idol alum Jordin Sparks.

This past week her sophomore album Battlefield was released. Also released this week was the sophomore effort of Disney's pop/rock princess Demi Lovato, titled Here We Go Again.

Blame it on the mega-marketing machine aided by Disney, the MJ effect, or the overall lackluster content of Jordin's album, but it appears that Demi will not only beat Jordin to the top of the charts, the teen will double her sales. Trade magazine Hits Daily Double is predicting sales of Here We Go Again to range from 110k to 120k, while Battlefield is expected to stall at 50k to 55k. The lead single and title track "Battlefield" has received mild success, despite television performances and critical acclaim. However, with a pop radio placing of #11 and growing iTunes sales due to the album's release, it is possible that it could rebound and break into the Hot 100's Top 10. She is also due to release her second single "S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)" within the coming months.

In MJ chart news, he will most likely reclaim the top of the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart (the chart that includes both old and current releases) with sales of his Number Ones compilation ranging from 175k to 200k, thanks to Sony restocking record stores. Last week, Daughtry pushed Michael from the top of the charts with their second album Leave This Town. That album is expected to bring in at most 105k this week, coming in at #2 on the Billboard 200 behind Demi.

The complete sales chart will be released on Wednesday, with the Billboard chart positions coming in on Thursday.

Music Video Premiere: Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone"

Kelly Clarkson has just released the music video for her new single "Already Gone". There appears to be no actual storyline, but the video is very stylish and she looks surprisingly glamorous. I presume the simplicity of the video is supposed to compliment the simplicity of the song. In that case, the video does its job.

Me to the Obama-Bashing "Birthers": Either Get Lives and Shut Up, Or Admit You're Racist

When I first heard rumors that Obama wasn't a legitimate United States citizen during the campaign, I tossed it aside as pointless garbage drummed up by lame people desperate to tear him down.

Six months into the presidency of the first ever African American to hold the title, the rumors have seemingly gained a second wind. A woman at a GOP town hall accused both Obama of hiding his birth certificate and the government of ignoring it. A congressional bill that requires presidential candidates to show their birth certificates has been co-sponsored by GOP House and Senate members. Various commentators, ranging from Lou Dobbs to Rush Limbaugh have discussed the topic, either denouncing the rumors or fueling them.

The "birthers", as they are apparently called, refuse to look at the cold hard evidence; Obama's birth certificate confirms that he is a United States citizen. They refuse to acknowledge that numerous legitimate (there's that word again) news services have confirmed the certificate's authenticity. They even ignore a news clipping from a Hawaiian newspaper published in 1961 announcing his birth (his name is not listed, just his parents).

No, instead they circulate a ludicrous rumor that Obama was actually born in Kenya and that there is a massive conspiracy to hide it. Forget the fact that, if this was true, the validity of this country's entire government would be shattered, since a conspiracy of this nature would require cooperation from virtually every single governmental agency in the country. They would rather believe that Obama was not born in this country, despite numerous evidence to the contrary. Why?

These "birthers" and their supporters should be ashamed and embarrassed by their blatant idiocy and disrespect of the president. It is one thing to disagree with the president, but it is a whole different situation to attack a man's integrity with baseless accusations. These charges against Obama by these people are not only stupid, they frankly reek of racism.

I am not someone who throws the idea of racism around carelessly. As a young African-American man living in New York City, I have encountered many racial situations, and I take pride in my ability to identify racism when it is truly present. This is one of those times. This is the first time that I have heard accusations about a president's citizenship. John McCain, who wasn't born in any of the 50 states but in the Panama Canal Zone, wasn't subjected to such ridiculous speculation. He, nor any of the 43 presidents before Obama, received demands to reveal their birth certificate. Why is it that Obama is being accused? Is it because his father was African, and therefore couldn't possibly be a US citizen himself? Maybe it's the similarly baseless accusations that he is a Muslim that inspire the ire of these people.

There could be another reason, but it is most likely rooted in racist intentions. I am beginning to believe that these people, under the guise of fairness, are so terrified at the idea of a non-white Christian person as president that they will concoct absolute garbage. These people have already proven their racism by implying that Muslims were bad as they accused Obama of being one. If that wasn't bad enough, now they are implying that people with direct ties to Africa can't legitimately hold high government office.

It's time to stop this. These birthers need to get over this bullshit they are on, because it is embarrassing to everyone. Accept the fact that Barack Obama, not John McCain or even Hilary Clinton, is the president. If you seriously can't, then at least stop hiding behind moralistic shields and admit that you are scared of an African-American president, or that you don't think that an African-American president can do as good a job as a Caucasian president can. Either way, you would ultimately admit that you are a racist. It doesn't make you a good person at all, but at least it's honest, something that you hypocritically demand from the president.

The BWU of Lady Gaga's German Fashion

Pop star Lady Gaga is known for two things: her radio-burning pop music and her fashion sense.

The latter tends to make more headlines, as proven with her latest trip to Germany. Here is the BWU (Best, Worst, and UNBelievable) of Gaga's looks:

BEST:

Here, Gaga is in Zurich wearing a tabloid pantsuit. Some notable images in the outfit; Princess Diana, Princess Di, and Michael Jackson. It makes a statement, it's definitely unorthodox, and it actually really looks good, and even classy.

WORST:

Where the hell do I begin? First off, she looks stoned. Second, she is wearing an outfit made of effing Kermit the Frog? Third, what the hell will Miss Piggy think about all of this?

UNBELIEVABLE:

Um... no. Just no.

Tabloids, frogs, and lampshades. What is next for Gaga?

Has Whitney Houston Found Her Comeback in "I Look To You"?

The comeback of Whitney Houston is in full force, with listening parties all over the world and positive reviews for her upcoming album I Look To You.

Clive Davis and co. are apparently ready to kick it up a notch, releasing one of the tracks to select radio stations this week. The song is a ballad called "I Look To You", written by R. Kelly. Although not confirmed as a lead single (many are reporting "Million Dollar Bill"), it appears may be released in some capacity in the future. The question is, should she?

For starters, "I Look To You" confirms what "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" had suggested: Whitney Houston's voice has changed, probably forever. Her tone has never been as deep as it sounds here. Those expecting the same pipes blew the roof off that Dolly Parton track may be disappointed. That said, it doesn't mean her new sound is unlistenable; quite to the contrary, it's actually interesting and even fresh to hear this new Whitney. She still masters the lost art of emotive vocals. Sure, it will take some getting used to, but the fact that she still has a voice after everything she went through in this decade is nothing short of astounding.

The song itself isn't that different from "Strength", except for the fact that is actually good. Yes, it's another inspirational ballad, but it far more melodic and far less sappy than what was originally offered to us all. It's a piano arrangement, but there is some synth lines toward the middle end to flesh it out, which makes it sound contemporary enough to evade the "out of touch" label that many have already assigned Whitney's album. The lyrics don't derive from the basics of the emotional and touching ballad, with some metaphorical references that could either cause an eye roll or a tear, depending on your life outlook. I wouldn't list it amongst R. Kelly's greatest songwriting achievements, but it is great enough for someone of Whitney's caliber.

Of course, the quality of the lyrics really don't mean bupkis where Whitney is concerned, as long as she is singing well. Her voice has changed, yes, but she still has it. By it, I mean the ability to use her voice to beautifully convey emotions. She seems to be focusing more on that aspect of singing instead of the vocal acrobatics that she's known for. Even in the climax, she scales it back, highlighting the words of the song. Not to say that Whitney never connected with her music, but it's present, more than it has in a long time (I'm going back to the movie version of "I Believe In You and Me").

Truthfully, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" made me nervous that this hard-earned comeback would end up failing, but this new song is restoring my faith in "The Voice". Now all we need to hear is "Million Dolllar Bill", produced by Swizz Beatz and written by Alicia Keys.

I Look To You is due for a September 1st release, and will be her first studio album since 2002's Just Whitney.

Some Notes About Twilight...

If there is one pop culture phenomenon that has completely gone over my head, its the Twilight series. I never read the books, I never saw the movie, and I did not buy into the overnight celebrity and tabloid craze of its stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

Well, after months of befuddlement over the Twilight obsession, I decided to buckle down and watch the movie this past weekend. Without getting into a full movie review (it would be kind of pointless, since it came out last year), here are some things I noticed/gathered about this film:

- Even though, in real life, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (especially her) annoy the crap out of me, they actually have some chemistry on screen.

- That said, their characters Edward and Bella, are ridiculously dull, and I frankly cannot imagine how FOUR books were based around them.

- I understand that the book is 500 pages, so maybe it was lost in translation, but their love story is completely rushed. I mean, one minute he can't stand her, the next they're all awkward, and then they're head over heels? I know its primarily a teen book, but that is still too far out of the realm for anyone.

- The Cullen family scenes were my favorite scenes, especially the one where they first meet Bella at their amazing elevated house in the middle of nowhere. If the movie was based around them, and not Edward and Bella, I could've gotten into this movie a long time ago. I find Rosalie and Jasper the most interesting of the family.

- Another focus I would've preferred; the whole "vegetarian" aspect of the Cullen family's life. I mean, how did vampires find the self-control to not suck the blood of every single person at that stupid school? They alluded to it with the Edward/Bella story, but it wasn't enough.

- Another rushed thing was the whole tracker vampire thing with James. I didn't enjoy ANY of that part at all. There was virtually no buildup, and the whole "kill Bella to stick it to the Cullens" was shallow, at best.

The Must-Haves From Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield"

Today sees the release of Jordin Sparks' sophomore album Battlefield, the same title as her lead single. To be honest, the album is a bunch of radio-friendly pop/rock/R&B tracks thrown together on one CD (or digital download package, depending on how you take your music) that doesn't express any more music point of view that her first eponymous album. Still, there are some good, great, and pop smashes on this album, so they shouldn't be counted out. Here are songs that make the album worth the $9.99:

Walking on Snow - It's a good album starter; there's a Kelly-esque guitar intro, before some synthesized beats and hand claps come in to fill the song out (it won't be their last appearance). There are some cute lyrics about clipping wings and ricocheting words. It's a very good pop record.

S.O.S. (Let The Music Play) - Jordin ditches the cutesy defiance and throws on some of that armor she was talking about in first single "Battlefield". The song is based off the 80's dance hit "Let The Music Play" by Shannon, spicing it up with some sharper synths in the chorus and Beyonce-lite lyrics about holding on to a straying man. Jordin's voice gets a little edgier, especially when she sings "that crazy chick doesn't know who she's messing with". "S.O.S." is her most dance-ready track yet, and will probably be huge on the club scene.

No Parade - There are quite a few ballads on this album, but this one is the best, hands down. It's a lament about a relationship that inexplicably went wrong with no warning, with the title serving as the main metaphor. Frankly, its a good one. There are other good ones too, but the true standouts of this (hopefully) future single is the surprisingly rich production and Jordin's voice. The songs switches between elegant piano and a meaty guitar/synth combo, which is interesting, if not completely original. It probably ranks in the top 5 of her best songs.

Was I The Only One - Another ballad, a pretty one at that. In an album that is a bit overproduced, this has the simplest arrangement and the least vocal acrobatics, which does her more favors than she thinks. It's quite sad, and relatable, hearing Jordin's soft but assured voice convey words of doubt about a broken relationship. For the Disney kids who constantly write music about their relationships, this is how you do it without coming off annoying and whiny.

Battlefield - Of course, the lead single is one of the standouts. It is also the best record she has ever released. On this song, the AI princess comes out swinging, singing with such energy that it could literally knock you out. That's probably why she warns, in one of the best lyrics of the year, "you better go and get your armor". That hook is brilliant, and if she and her record label were smart, they would definitely take her in that direction. If she had done that here, I would've listed every track in this post.

Mariah Album Drama? Amazon Shows Three-Week Release Pushback

Anyone who has made their way over to Amazon.com to pre-order Mariah Carey's new album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel will notice that the release date has changed. Instead of August 25th, the original date, the newest drop date is September 15th, a full three weeks than originally planned.

Mariah and her camp have yet to comment on the change, but it seems likely that the change is real and permanent. Mariah recently Twittered that she was still working on the album. Is that the reason for the postponement? Or, is it to allow for more promo time, since her new single "Obsessed" is under-performing (the word flop is too strong since its only been out for download two weeks)?

Either way, the pushback does her no real favors. The new date puts her out of the eligibility bracket for the 2010 Grammys, and puts her in competition with fellow comeback diva Whitney Houston, whose album I Look To You is due for a September 1st release.

Expect confirmation from Mariah soon.

Cover This: Whitney Houston Returns With "I Look To You"

At an album listening party in London, Whitney Houston and Clive Davis revealed the album cover for her September 1st album "I Look To You", her first in six years. Here it is below:



The cover altogether is kind of cheap-looking to be honest. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could make a better one on Photoshop using Whitney's picture. She looks amazing on the cover (even though there is some clear airbrushing), looking like the pop queen that she is. Compared to pictures of her from two or three years ago, the improvement is staggering.

The album again drops on September 1st in the United States, and it is rumored that the single will drop on July 28th (and it's NOT "I Didn't Know My Own Strength", thank God).

Download of the Day: She Wolf by Shakira

Summer is in full swing, which means that many of the year's biggest releases are dropping. One of the most anticipated songs of the season is "She Wolf", the first single and title track from Shakira's new album, due in October.

"She Wolf" is a completely unexpected effort from the Spanish songbird. It sounds like nothing on radio at the moment, thanks to its fusion of funk, disco, pop, violins, and even some Enya-esque vocals in the intro. It's midtempo and mellow, yet ready for the dancefloor (a remix would make this epic). Her English has gotten better, while maintaining that sexy, smoldering tone that just leaps off the speakers as she sings about a woman with a dark side (hence the title, She Wolf).

After the global smash that was "Hips Don't Lie", Shakira is ready to take on the music world again with "She Wolf", which is not only a hot summer smash, but a surprisingly agile artistic effort as well.

Rating: 8/10

Download of the Day: Beat Again by JLS

Alexandra Burke better have a corker under her sleeve, because if she doesn't, she may just fall behind these guys.

JLS came in second place on last year's X Factor, but that hasn't kept them from capitalizing on their massive popularity. They signed with Epic Records and have released their lead single "Beat Again" ahead of their eponymous debut due later this year.

Following the current pop music trend, "Beat Again" is a very club-friendly synth jam, with some light beats to give some R&B flavor. Fans of the boys' vocal talents won't be disappointed here; their harmonies are as slick as their dance moves in the video. While the lyrics may range from ridiculous ("I need love CPR") to slightly creepy ("Would you come to my funeral, would you cry"), the chorus and hook are quite good and pretty memorable. I'm definitely surprised to say this especially after the fiasco that was Eoghan Quigg earlier this year), but this quite the debut for Aston, Marvin, Jonathan, and Ortise (and yes, I did not know their names prior to writing this post).

C0ngrats to JLS for avoiding the X Factor loser's curse.

Rating: 7/10

Watch the video below:

TV Review: Torchwood - Children of Earth

Russell T Davies, the writer of Torchwood's five-episode season arc "Children of Earth" is probably the most loved and hated man in television right now.

He is loved for broadcasting five of the most brilliant hours of television this year has seen so far. He is hated for completely shattering our thoughts of government, society, morality, and even mortality.

It would have been too easy to create a crowd-pleasing spectacle filled with explosions and BBC-treading sex scenes. No, Davies made us think hard, making us question the building blocks of human interaction, and how easily they could be rearranged. Under the blanket of aliens attempting to take over the world was a serious, stunning commentary about government and its secrets, society, sacrifice, life, and even drug use.

In this story, the children of the world are being controlled by an unknown force, parlaying harrowing and disturbing messages of an impending arrival. No one knows what it is, except the government, who apparently had a previous dalliance with said unknowns before, in 1965. In an effort to keep it quiet, they (being Home Office civil servant John Frobisher, in particular) order the murders of those previously involved, including Captain Jack Harkness. They blow up the headquarters by planting a bomb inside Jack's stomach, but thanks to his immortality and the quick wits of partners Ianto and Gwen, their plans ultimate fail. The force is ultimately revealed as the 456, an alien race who requires the children of the Earth, approximately 35 million of them. Why? The children produce a chemical that serves as a recreational drug for them. The children are essentially apart of an intergalactic drug cartel. The 456 gives the government an ultimatum: 10% of the child population of Earth, or annihilation of the entire species.

While the show has its fair share of spectacular action sequences, the plot, or its metaphorical truth, is what is truly the draw. The government is forced with the arduous task of choosing which children are to be handed over to the 456. Seeing them squabble about saving their own kin and sending off children from what they consider the bottom denominator is stunning, infuriating and not completely outside the realm of possibility. More disturbing when watching those scenes is wondering if you would agree with their choice. How would you sacrifice the lives of innocent children, in order to save the human race? It's an impossible choice, but it had to be made, with the excuse of "35 million children or 6.7 billion people?". Ultimately, the government's role in this plot reinforces the difficulties that a president or prime minister must go through in deciding what it is good for their country, and how much sacrifice is needed to preserve what they consider peace. It also acknowledges the evils of politics; the scene where the Prime Minister tells John Frobisher that his children will be sacrificed while writing something is chilling beyond words.

Frobisher (played by Peter Capaldi), a civil servant for the Home Office who is thrust into the middle of this scandal, probably accounts for 65% of the show's most memorable moments. Capaldi is brilliant conveying a man against the moral ropes as he tries to navigate a global disaster. Even if his choices are highly questionable, you can understand why he makes them. His last choice would serve as his most shocking and heartbreaking. After learning the fate of his two daughters, Frobisher sends them and his wife upstairs, where he follows them with a pistol and closes the door behind him. The next 20 seconds are cinematic genius, as the four gun shots ring out, signaling the deaths of those inside. Compounding the horror is the voice of Bridget Spears speaking to supporting character Lois in jail, repeatedly informing her that Frobisher was a good man.

Also dealing with improbable choices and their consequences is Captain Jack Harkness. Throughout the story, we learn more about the things he's done and watch him as he struggles with them. For example, he was directly involved in the 1965 incident with the 456, who had requested 12 children in exchange for an antidote for Indonesian flu. We learn that when he comes face-to-face with one of the children who escaped, Timothy White. He also chooses to confront the 456, which results in the extermination of the building, and his partner Ianto. It was so sad watching a crying Jack, a man who would refuse to even acknowledge them as a couple, hold a dying Ianto. What was sadder was Ianto, in his last words, resigning to the fact that the immortal Jack will eventually forget him, regardless of his plea not to.

The most tragic element of the final hour of the show involved Jack and his relationship with his never-before-seen daughter Alice and grandson Steven. His daughter, who looks older than her father, kept her distance, claiming two reasons. One, he makes her feel old, and two, he is too dangerous. In a bit of foreshadowing, she says, "a man who doesn't die knows no fear". A truer statement was never made before, especially considering the devastating decision Jack makes in order to save the 35 million children about to sacrificed. He trades their lives for the life of Steven, using him as a sonic vessel to kill the 456. Alice screaming, tears rolling down Jack's face, blood pouring down Steven's face, and the high-pitched squeal of those children form an unspeakable moment that will go down as the most harrowing in the show's history.

All in all, the third (and possibly final) series of Torchwood was a tour de force. While there were some weak moments throughout the five hour presentation, the series reached a level of excellency I would have never expected. The acting was superb, the story was solid and meaningful, the production was intensely satisfying, and presented wonderfully. What pushed the showing into the stratosphere was its presentation of the world's worst fear in a way that wasn't cliche or tired. Instead, it inspired consideration of our own moral code if something similar and of massive scale were to occur in our lives. As we watched those choices made by Torchwood, the government, and even the public, we were brought to the realization that we take for granted the concept of humanity and what a delicate concept it is.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Chart Battle: Miley Trumping Mariah and MJ on iTunes!

V.S.

Everyone expected Mariah Carey's latest single "Obsessed" to top the iTunes chart this week, but it seems like that won't be the case, at all.

Right now, "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is sitting pretty at #1. That's no surprise. What is surprising is who is #2, and no it's not Michael (he and "Man in the Mirror" are at #3). At #2, is Hannah Montana, with the song "He Could Be The One", off the third HM soundtrack.

So, why is Mariah flogging with the sales, her strongest ally?

Why Pelosi's Killing of the Michael Jackson Resolution Is a Good Thing, For Now

 

At Michael Jackson's massive, emotional memorial service at the Staples Center, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee presented a resolution to honor the icon for humanitarian works and for his status as an American icon. The announcement of the resolution drew rapturous applause.

Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi effectively killed the resolution. Her reason for doing so was that discussions on the resolution would bring up "contrary views" that were "not necessary at this time" (she did acknowledge him as a "great, great performer"). Essentially, she is saying that the resolution has the danger of splitting up the House into two groups: those who love Jackson and those who despise him. That split would potentially be disastrous as the House tries to pass more important legislation, such as those involving healthcare.

The split was confirmed when Peter King, the classless New York congressman who called Michael Jackson a "pervert" and "pedophile" and appeared to relish in the attention those insults caused, promised he would block the resolution. Also, only one other congresswoman announced their support, while other members, including those from the black caucus, remained silent.

Right now, Congress needs to focus on bringing this country back from the gates of hell, not fighting over Michael Jackson's legacy. That would only drudge up the most unsavory of the pop star's history, which does nothing but tarnish an already spotty reputation.

While Michael Jackson's cultural influence, despite King's and Bill O'Reilly's opinions, is grand and undisputed, I have to agree that congressional recognition isn't something that should be prioritized. Maybe in the future, after all of the dust surrounding his death has settled and the issues most important are resolved, the resolution, whatever it would mean, can be reintroduced.

Mariah Carey Apologizes For MJ Memorial Perfomance: Should She Have?

In a move that's quite stunning, Mariah Carey has apologized to her fans for her vocal performance at Tuesday's memorial for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center. The singer performed the Jackson 5 classic (and her 1992 #1 single) "I'll Be There" with Trey Lorenz. Afterwards, the pop diva wrote on Twitter, "Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me. I could barely keep myself from crying. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to pull it together and really do it right, but I was literally choked up when I saw him there in front of me."

The "apology" comes as a surprise since no one referred to her performance as bad at all. It was clear that Mariah wasn't up to form, especially compared to her vocals on the original. It is clear that she was choked up and very emotional upon seeing the casket, which likely affected her performance.


However, how much was grief, and how much was just a gradual change in her vocal ability, noticeable in the past few years. For instance, here is Mariah on David Letterman in 2005, singing "We Belong Together":




Here is her performance at the Inaugural Ball in January:





Finally, here she is performing at the memorial:





While Mariah's performance was hindered by the emotions of the day, it is clear that her live vocal performances have gotten progressively worse. At the same time, Mariah didn't need to apologize for her lacking vocal ability at the memorial. Both apparent causes of the performances were beyond her control, and she shouldn't be faulted for that.

Song Review: UK Girl Group Sugababes Get Lazy With "Get Sexy"

After the shockingly disastrous reaction to their album Catfights and Spotlights, the Sugababes have come back from a long recording session in Los Angeles with their new single, called "Get Sexy". They hope that this song will bring the girls back to the top of the charts and even score them some US success (they recently signed to Roc-A-Fella Records) by returning to their dance-pop roots.

And what a return it is; "Get Sexy" is their most danceable track since "Hole in the Head". Thanks to its synthy, GaGa-like sound, courtesy of the up-and-coming The Smeezingtons, it is guaranteed to fill up the clubs. However, it is also their most uninspiring, and blatantly lazy single ever.

Lyrically, its essentially about how sexy they are, which may be true. However, it gets kind of repetitive after the first 200 times they sing it. What's just bordering on pathetic is the sample from the iconic and cheesy 90's song "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. I mean, off all the songs in the world, why that song? What's next, a song sampling "The Macarena"? The most interesting part of the song is the intro, which is inspired by Michael Jackson's 1988 single "Another Part of Me". After that, the song quickly melts into the huge, post-MJ pot called typical.

By the time Amelle sings "If I had a dime, for every single time, these boys stop and stare, I'd be a billionaire", you just want to yell at the girls, "we get it! You're sexy!"

Why don't you prove that you can make music that is a bit more interesting, instead?

Rating: 6/10

Check out their new single (due out on August 31st) below:

"Morphine": Michael Jackson's Secret Drug Pain, in Song

The circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Jackson are still unclear, but prescription drugs are the most likely cause.

Michael has had a complicated history with prescription drug addiction. In 1993, the singer went into rehab after he became dependent on painkillers to fight the stress of his worldwide tour and the child molestation allegations against him. Then again, in 2005, rumors of Michael's self-medicating resurfaced as fought another wave of allegations and a trial.

Now, it has been revealed that in the last six months of his life, powerful drugs that treat chronic pain have been involved in Michal's daily routine. One of them was Demerol, the first drug name cited in Michael's death. However, it is not the first time that drug and the King of Pop have crossed paths.

"Demerol, Demerol, oh God, he's taking Demerol..."

Those are the words in Michael Jackson's 1997 song "Morphine", off the remix album Blood on the Dance Fllor: HIStory in the Mix. The album was largely ignored in the United States, just selling one million domestically. For the first time, he directly refers to his history painkiller abuse, dedicating the song title to morphine, a highly potent painkiller that hits the central nervous system. The song is broken into three parts; the first part features a hard-driving, screeching beat. While his post-allegation music was edgier than his earlier music, this song features Michael at his most harsh. Words of razor blades and buzzes, combined with this industrial-sounding beat combine to represent the chronic pain that Michael suffered. That fades in the second part, as a tender melody takes its place with Michael's soothing voice. Singing "Relax, this won't hurt you, before I put it in, close your eyes and count to ten", Michael sings as the morphine, eerily comforting its patient/victim. What's interesting, and even troubling, is in the background is the sound of beeping hospital equipment. Th third and final part crashes through the peace, bringing back the sharp slamming beat and the quick yells from Jackson. When the singer, who is known for his emotionally-filling vocal delivery, screams the word "morphine", it has a bite that can send chills down your back.

It's hard to tell whether "Morphine" was a reflection, a cry for help, or even a premonition. The haunting sound of Michael singing "Demerol" repeatedly is so disarming when current events are taken into account, and lends a sense of tragedy to this surprisingly great piece. You almost wish that someone repeated the above lyrics to Michael in the months leading to his shocking death.

Michael Jackson will be remembered for his brilliant pop masterpieces like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", when he was in his supposed prime. Songs like "Morphine", "Stranger in Moscow", and "Childhood" from his more difficult years paint a deeper, richer, and more troubling picture of this man's true genius: his ability to turn personal struggles into universal themes.

Too bad no one listened; maybe then he wouldn't be where was today.

Listen to "Morphine" below, or download it on iTunes:

Michael Jackson and Princess Diana: Fallen Rulers of the Media Kingdom, Part 3

Michael Jackson and Princess Diana are unique in their celebrity because, as a new media age dawned, they attempted to control how they were seen by the world. There were times when it was successful, greatly so. However, by the mid-90's, the methods that worked for them early on began to lose effect, and they were trapped in their own special kind of media hell.

Princess Diana probably didn't realize the extent of reciprocal damage her 1995 Panorama interview would cause. While she succeeded in winning public favor again (especially after a friend of Charles called her mentally ill in a special after the initial airing, confirming her accusations of backdoor sabotage), her interview was looked upon kindly by the Palace. The Queen, apparently fed up with the media circus the family was subjected to by Diana's antics, wrote both her and Charles, suggesting a divorce, something Diana did not want (per the interview). Ultimately, she had no choice, especially after she slyly accused her sons' nanny Tiggy Legg-Bourke of aborting Charles' baby.

The early half of 1996 saw Charles and Di fighting over terms of a divorce. The most publicized aspect of the discussions was whether Diana would retain her title of Her Royal Highness, or HRH. According to the Queen, since Diana would be divorced from the prince, she had no right to the HRH. She had the title taken away, being restyled as Diana, Princess of Wales. The removal of the title hypothetically meant that Diana would have to curtsy to members of the family, even her own children. After the announcement, Diana announced that she was quitting a number of charities, choosing a select few to continue with. The media heavily implied that she did that as retaliation for losing her title. The media also reported of the changes in Diana's staff, who quit over lack of communication and trust with the princess. Divorce also saw an increased effort from the paparazzi to get pictures of her, particularly in a state of distress. Paparazzi followed her everywhere she went and, with a serious downsizing in security, were free to pester her into tears, which the media gladly attached headlines with.

What her divorce didn't mean was that she would quit her charity work, and that the media wouldn't be used to promote it. In January of 1997, Diana teamed up with the Red Cross to create an international ban on landmines. She traveled to Angola, where news cameras from round the world documented her journey. That trip showed Diana exemplify both her compassion for suffering and her astute understanding of imagery. When Diana stopped to visit a severely injured girl in a hospital, she covered the girl's body from the prying cameras and demanded that they stepped back from scaring the sick girl. In another astonishing moment, Diana walked amongst active landmines in an uncleared field. When she realized that the media didn't get clear pictures, she did it again. Those pictures were published on front pages worldwide. Her visits to Angola and Bosnia brought unprecedented coverage to an issue often ignored worldwide. She was often cited for the creation of the Ottawa Treaty, which was signed by over 100 countries. Unfortunately, she wouldn't live to see the day.

On August 30th, 1997, Diana was dining with her boyfriend at the time Dodi Al Fayed at the The Ritz Hotel in Paris, France. In the weeks prior, Diana and Dodi were heavily photographed frolicking on a yacht owned by Dodi's father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of Harrod's. They continued their vacation in France, followed by the paparazzi. The photographers and fans were stationed in front of the hotel, and in an effort to escape them, they took the back way out of the hotel. Somehow, paparazzi on scooters were there and, driven by an inebriated Henri Paul, the lovebirds fled with paparazzi hot on their trail. Three minutes after their departure, Paul lost control of the car and it crashed into a pillar in the Pont D'Alma tunnel. Inside the wrecked car were a dead Dodi and Henri Paul, and a barely alive Diana and her bodyguard. As the princess lay dying in the car, lightbulbs flashed as the paparazzi took pictures. Eventually, the French ambulances arrived and took Diana to the hospital. Two hours of surgery was unable to repair the damage to her heart, and she declared dead at 4:00 am.

       

The news of Diana's tragic death shocked the whole world. The UK alone saw a massive outpouring of grief never experienced before. The tabloid newspapers, who at the time were covering Diana's relationship with Dodi, went into overdrive as they covered her death. Images of the princess at her most saintly adorned nearly every British paper. That didn't stop the public from blaming them for her death, since they used the paparazzi to get pictures of Diana. What wasn't known at the time was that pictures of Diana in the wrecked car were sent to the newspapers, ready for publishing. According to an interview with the editor of tabloid, they were ready to print the pictures, until it was announced that she had died. Almost immediately, he deleted all images from the database. In the late edition of News of the World the day of her death, they proudly proclaimed that they refused to print pictures of a dying Diana. The press got a lucky break when reports from Paris came in blaming Henri Paul for the crash. From then on, the press assigned themselves as the speakers of the public. They took the charge when it soon became clear that the millions who mourned Diana were furious that the royals weren't in London and that the Royal Standard wasn't flying at half-mast. The family was on holiday at Balmoral in Scotland, and the flag on flew when the Queen was in residence at Buckingham Palace, but it didn't matter. The press attacked the family for their lack of public grief. The Sun asked on their front page: "Where is our Queen? Where is her Flag?". The Daily Mirror also questioned their absence with this headline: "Your People Are Suffering. Speak To Us, Ma'am." Even in death, Diana had a significant hold on the media. What was becoming clearer was that an ample part of the hold came from the public who adored her. Sensing media and public apprehension (some papers were publishing reports that many mourners weren't against abolishing the monarchy), the family returned to London.



Their return saw a series of precedent-breaking actions. First, the Union Jack was flown at half-mast on the day of her funeral. The day before, the Queen delivered a television broadcast, speaking to the world in tribute to Diana. Despite reported troubles between the two of them, the Queen regarded Diana as "an exceptional and gifted human being". It was her first ever television broadcast, just another sign of the extraordinary reaction, media and public, to her death. While some accused both reactions of being grotesquely dramatic and even insincere, the majority was clearly in favor of the princess. Her funeral was the biggest in pop culture history. Over one million people lined the route from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey. 250,000 watched the funeral on large screen televisions at Hyde Park. 33 million people watched the funeral in the UK alone, the second most watched television broadcast of all time, and the most watched since 1966. The same amount watched the funeral in the United States, where there was almost wall-to-wall coverage of Diana from her death. Those people viewed iconic images of Diana's coffin draped in the Royal Standard, her sons, with their father and grandfather, walking behind the carriage, a tearful Elton John singing "Candle in the Wind 1997", and her brother verbally slaying the royal family.

Today, Diana's funeral is still one of the most memorable events in modern history. Her image still inspires fascination, and more importantly to some, big sales. Since that sad day of September 6th 1997, there hasn't been a pop culture moment to match that same kind of media coverage.

That was until around 4pm, twelve years later, on June 25th 2009.

Next, the last years of the King of Pop: married with kids, Invincible, Berlin, Martin Bashir, the trial, and the six months that spelled the end of Michael Jackson's life.

Mariah Carey Sings "I'll Be There" At MJ's Memorial

A clearly emotional Mariah Carey performed the Jackson 5 classic/her #1 hit "I'll Be There" at Michael Jackson's emotional memorial service at the Staples Center yesterday. She performed the song with Trey Lorenz, who sang on the track with her in 1992. Check it out below:

Michael Jackson and Princess Diana: Fallen Rulers of the Media Kingdom, Part 2

By the early 1990's, pop star Michael Jackson and British royal Princess Diana were massive global celebrities, admired the world over for their works. There was little dispute over their influence in popular culture, attributed to the media's unwavering fascination with them. The media's fascination, at this time, began to show its darker shades.

Michael's wildly eccentric lifestyle drew the media in, giving them bucket loads of material to discuss, truth or fiction. His guarded nature fanned the flames, since he wouldn't speak about the countless stories written about him. However, that was forced to change in 1993. That year, in the middle of his successful Dangerous tour, Michael was accused of child molestation by a 13-year old boy. Suddenly, the images of Michael with young children (the boy who accused him attended the World Music Awards with his mother as Michael's guests) were given a dark shade. The media ran with that angle almost out of the gate; the New York Post ran this infamous headline: "Peter Pan or Pervert" as the allegations broke. Although he wasn't formally charged, he was still treated like he was guilty. Televisions shows like Hard Copy paid thousands for "revelations" of improper conduct on Michael's part from former employees, even though those were highly incredible. Court documents were leaked, compromising an already weak case. Even with the massive negative response, they still gave Michael the chance to defend himself. In December of 1993, televisions stations worldwide aired Michael Jackson's rebuttal video live from Neverland Ranch, where he told of his humiliation at the court required strip search. There was little sympathy for the singer, even after he became addicted to painkillers to deal with the terrible stress of the trial. To stop the media circus in its tracks, he settled out of court, to a rumored tune of $20 million. While lawyer Johnnie Cochran insisted the settlement wasn't an admission of guilt, that did not stop newspapers of branding him guilty.

With the charges somewhat behind him, Michael stunned the world again by marrying Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis. The union was met with nearly universal skepticism, believing it was a calculated move to repair his cracked reputation. There was certainly an effort to prove their love; the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards was opened by them, and they shared a jaw-dropping kiss in front of millions. The couple appeared semi-nude in the video of Michael's #1 hit "You Are Not Alone". The same year, they also sat down with Diane Sawyer for Primetime. The interview saw Michael defending everything from his sexuality to his facial changes to even a promotional video for his new album HIStory, was compared to Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will. The efforts were futile and ultimately pointless; they divorced the next year. Michael's presence in the media didn't seem to help his album sales. HIStory, which he released in the summer of 1995, was his first album since the allegations. It was a double album; one disc held his greatest hits and the other was full of new material, most of which referring to the allegations. The album served as a test of his selling ability after the scandal. To aid sales, he released the first single "Scream", a duet with Janet. The video that accompanied it was the most expensive ever, costing $5 million. The song was a hit, debuting and peaking at #5. The second single, "You Are Not Alone", became the first ever song on the US charts to debut at #1. Despite the single successes, the album wasn't without controversy. Jackson was accused in the media of antisemitism with the song "They Don't Care About Us", which he vehemently denied. A performance of the British Christmas #1 single "Earth Song" at the 1996 BRIT Awards was crashed by Jarvis Cocker, who accused Michael of portraying himself as Christ. Ultimately, the album sold 3.5 million copies in the United States, less than Dangerous' 8 million sales, and much less than Thriller's 28 million sales. While sales of 3.5 million, especially in this current climate, are nothing to sneeze at, HIStory was deemed a disappointment.

That three year stretch also saw Diana face some struggle with the media she once dominated so easily. In November of 1993, the Sunday Mirror published secret pictures of Diana working out in a gym, in a unflattering pose. Humiliated, and sick of the media scrutiny, Diana formally withdrew from public life during a speech a month later. The absence was short-lived. She soon got back doing public charity work with cameras following her. What followed her return nearly derailed her public support. 1994 saw James Hewitt publish a book called Princess in Love, where he revealed their affair to the world. His overt betrayal of Diana made him an overnight celebrity, but the media's coverage of him wasn't favorable. Still in Di's favor, the British press referred to him as a "love rat", who violated the princess. Standing on her side didn't stop them from publishing stories about her other conquests, such as her relationship with rugby player Will Carling. Diana's understanding of the media was still strong during these times of indecent exposure, and she didn't pass up an opportunity to upstage her separated husband. The night that he admitted adultery in a televised interview, Diana stepped out for a night at the Serpentine Gallery. The dress she wore, a sexy black fishtail number, stole the front page from Charles. That dress has been referred to as the "revenge" or "up yours" dress.

Still, Diana wasn't satisfied with stealing press from Charles. She wanted to finally reveal to the world how she was feeling. Enter Martin Bashir, a reporter with BBC's Panorama. In a secret deal, she filmed an interview with him in 1995. On November 20th, the world sat down and watched as Diana officially blew the lid off the royal family. With downcast eyes, she stunned everyone with her revelations of bulimia, adultery, and loneliness. The most shocking of her interview was her suggestion, if not assertion, that Charles was not fit to be King, she would never be Queen, and that William would be better fit.

Diana's interview with Martin Bashir was one of the definitive moments of her life. It was also her biggest mistake. For someone who was so intelligent with the media before, it is mind-boggling that Diana would think openly challenging the validity of the monarchy's line of succession was a good idea. The Queen certainly didn't think so. Shortly after the interview, Diana and Charles received formal letters from Her Majesty, requesting they divorce immediately.

Michael and Diana were at different stages in their lives in the mid 90's. Diana was to be an ex-wife of a prince, stripped of her HRH. Michael was trying to salvage his career with a new album and marriage. As they navigated their significantly changed lives, the cameras were there, every step of the way. But it is clear that the media played more of a role in the latter parts of their lives than they originally thought.

In Part 3, how Diana and the press worked when she lost her title, and what role the paparazzi played in her tragic death. Also, Michael fights for his life, as odd behavior and sagging sales turned Michael from pop hero to laughingstock.