X Factor Winner Joe McElderry Comes Out

Last year's winner of The X Factor Joe McElderry has announced that he is gay.

After months of speculation since winning the British talent show in December, the 19-year old singer revealed the truth in an exclusive interview with the UK's Daily Mirror.

About his announcement, he said "I'm really happy, I now know who I am".

Before, he has always told people that he was straight, but finally realized that he was attracted to men about three weeks ago. He also told his mother as recently as last week, who has been very supportive of his decision.

Pop singer Joe McElderry has come out
in an interview with the Daily Mirror

Joe also said: “I’ve had time to think about things. I wasn’t attracted to anyone anyway, male or female. It never really entered my head I was gay. But I just know. It’s how I feel.”

Despite his announcement, he also said that he isn't actively looking for a boyfriend at the moment, since he is so busy. However, he doesn't rule out a chance at finding a "Mr. Right".

Last Christmas, Joe McElderry became the first ever X Factor winner to lose out on the Christmas number one single, thanks to a Facebook campaign to place Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" at the top. His single "The Climb" hit #1 the next week. His album is due out at the end of the year. He is currently working with popular producer Dallas Austin on the record, as seen in the picture above.

Being so young and in the public eye, it was very brave of him to come out the way he did. Kudos to Joe and I'm really looking forward to his new album. With a voice like his, he is easily better than 70% of the male singers out there, so he should have no problem becoming a chart smash (and as easy as the comparison is to make, especially now, he does seem fit to follow in Will Young's footsteps).

Now, if you have absolutely no clue who I'm talking about, check out this performance during last season's X Factor of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"

American Idol's Mess: Ellen and Kara Out, J.Lo In!

Jennifer Lopez is reportedly
joining American Idol this winter

After a terrible ratings season and Simon Cowell officially gone from American Idol, the show's producers have been scrambling to retool the show and save it from its inevitable cancellation.

The first step, completely shake up the judging panel.

Yesterday, Ellen Degeneres shockingly announced that she was leaving the show after one season. She claimed that she never really felt comfortable on the show and that she made the decision months ago, only announcing it once the producers found a suitable replacement.

But Ellen isn't the only one on her way out.

While it should have happened last year, singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi has been reportedly fired from the show as well, hours after Ellen's announcement. TMZ reportedly wants to go back to a three-person panel, after facing criticism for the change back in season 8.

So, with the two ladies gone, who will be on the panel?

Well, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Jennifer Lopez has joined the show. She served as a mentor for season six's Latin Night (a.k.a., the night Sanjaya sang "Besame Mucho"). The news has yet to be confirmed by FOX, but rumors also suggest that the panel will be announced on Monday.

Another name floating around alongside Lopez's is Aerosmith's frontman Steven Tyler. There is no information about Randy Jackson's status on the show.

I'm sorry, but I still belong to the school of thought that this show should have been cancelled the minute Simon quit. Ratings are down, contestant sales and chart positions have been dropping, and frankly, the show is a joke now. Instead of ending it with dignity (and on top), it is clear the network is going to let this dying horse continue to ride until it's flat out dead.

Oh well, time for X Factor!

BWU Singles Chart Roundup 7/26: Nicki Minaj Rockets to #1, Katy #2

THIS WEEK'S #1: "YOUR LOVE" BY NICKI MINAJ

Usher's reign at the top has been cut short by the biggest female rapper of the moment.

After five weeks and a re-entry, Nicki Minaj has reached the top of the BWU Singles Chart with her single "Your Love". Buoyed by the release of the music video, "Your Love" shot to the top from #9. It is the highest jump to #1 ever, beating Usher's 3-spot jump last week. It is also the first rap song to the top the BWU Singles Chart.

Nicki prevented Katy Perry from entering at #1 with her new single "Teenage Dream", which debuts this week at #2 after only three days of release. Katy's other hit "California Gurls" misses out on a seventh week in the top 10, falling to #12. Also debuting in the top 10 this week are Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are" at #4 and Robyn's "Hang With Me" at #9.

Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" falls to #6, while Shakira's "Waka Waka" slips to #7. Currently, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue are dueling out for who can stay in the Top 10 the longest; both "Alejandro" and "All The Lovers" are 7 weeks. However, Kylie has the most cumulative weeks with 10 when combined with "Get Outta My Way".

To see the full chart, visit the BWU Singles Chart page, link at the top of the blog.

Download of the Day (7/24): "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry

Katy Perry's having a "teenage dream"

Katy Perry is determined to rule the summer.

Just hours after "California Gurls" fell from the top of the Hot 100, a number of radio stations premiered the pop star's new single "Teenage Dream".

She couldn't have chosen a better time to release "Teenage Dream", because sounds like the perfect end-of-summer song. Where "California Gurls" was a bundle of electropop joy, "Teenage Dream" is more subdued pop rock. Still, there is a whimsical air surrounding it, making the song a perfect soundtrack to sitting on the beach at the night with a bonfire. It's ironic that the setting is a part of Katy's perfect night with her guy. The song tells of the "teenage dream", which according to Perry consists of beaches, forts made out of sheets and going all the way. The credit goes to her lover, of course, who she claims brought her to life.

While some people may prefer Katy at her bounciest, this song is definitely one of her best records. "Teenage Dream" is as introspective and thoughtful as pop music gets, without sacrificing that boundless energy and charm that she exudes so easily. It's pretty hard to top a song that has owned the charts for six weeks, but Katy has done it, as easy as a dream.

Rating: 8 out of 10

British Boyband JLS To Release New US Album August 3rd!

One of Britain's biggest boybands are making a play for the United States.

JLS, who came in second place on The X Factor two years ago, has been rocking the British shores with #1 hits like "Beat Again", "Everybody In Love", and their latest "Club Is Alive". Now, after the mild success of "Everybody In Love" on pop radio, they are releasing their debut album as an extended play. The album will have six tracks on it, including the four singles they've released in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, UK fans will be treated to a brand new album from the foursome in November.

While I think "Club Is Alive" is a steaming pile of dog mess, I do hope they can find success here in the States. No one has really been as successful as Leona Lewis, and it seems like Alexandra Burke's US plans have been dropped. Even though the group annoyed me to no end when they were on X Factor, I can recognize that they have the best chance for transatlantic success, so good luck to them. It would've been smarter for them to release another single, like "Beat Again", but who knows? They might do well with it.

New Music Alert: "Hang With Me" by Robyn

Swedish pop singer Robyn is moving swiftly with her music plans this year. Fresh off the UK Top 10 success of "Dancing On My Own", she is already readying the release of a new single, "Hang With Me".

The song originally appeared as an acoustic version on Body Talk Pt. 1, but for her next album Body Talk Pt. 2, the song is getting a electropop makeover.

"Hang With Me" is a groovy synth-driven track which is a bit of a pick-me-up from "Dancing On My Own". Instead of being depressed on the dancefloor, she is making sure a would-be lover is ready to be with her. Among her numerous conditions, the most important is not to "fall recklessly, headlessly in love with her". It's fair, since she only wants to hang, after all.

Robyn sure has the rare ability of choosing singles that get me interested in the album. September can't get here fast enough (it's released on the 6th, by the way).

Check the song out below (especially if you're not familiar with Robyn):

Cover This: Katy Perry's Teenage Dream Covers!

Katy Perry is on a roll right now with her massive hit "California Gurls" and she's not slowing down a bit. The pop star has released the artwork for her new album Teenage Dream and the title track, which will serve as the second single:

Here is Teenage Dream, the single:



And here is Teenage Dream, the album:



To be honest, the single artwork looks better suited for an album than the actual artwork. The album artwork, while definitely sexy, just seems too sparse for the energetic Perry. That said, the single cover is like a hyper-updated version of Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth (I said hyper):



Katy Perry's new single is expected to debut next week, and the new album is due for release on August 24th.

Music Video Premiere: "Your Love" by Nicki Minaj

After it's release forever ago, rapper Nicki Minaj has finally released the music video for her hit "Your Love".

Taking cues from the lyrics, the music video takes place in a female dojo led by Michael Jai White. The teacher catches the eye of Nicki and another girl, and as you would expect, they end up fighting over him.

I find it surprising, considering all of the cash coming into Young Money, that the video looked so cheap. The concept was actually brilliant, and Nicki looked amazing (she's really coming into her own style), but the overall direction was just amateurish at best. Seriously, whoever is directing the videos at Young Money needs to be dropped stat, because all of them so far have been disappointing.

That said, "Your Love" is a great song and Nicki has a really promising future in the pop arena.

Check the video out below. Did you guys like it?

Nicki Minaj - New Music - More Music Videos

Download of the Day 7/30: "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars wants his fans
"just the way they are"

If you are a fan of radio, then you have definitely heard this guy's voice before.

Bruno Mars is responsible for some pretty huge hits lately. The singer/songwriter penned Flo Rida's massive smash "Right Round" (featuring fellow hitmaker Ke$ha), then followed it up with spotlight-stealing features on two of 2010's biggest hits, B.O.B's "Nothin' On You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire". It was obvious, even from his appearance on their hooks, that this guy had some serious talent. We were just waiting for him to step out on his own.

Now is that time.

After releasing an EP in May, Mars has dropped his first official single, "Just The Way You Are". Those features were absolutely not flukes; this guy has got it. "Just The Way You Are" is a midtempo ballad dedicated to his insecure lover, who he sweetly reassures of his unwavering devotion. Everything about this song screams romance, from the syrupy lyrics to the synth-adorned piano melody. It can border on being too sweet, depending on when and how you listen to it, but the song is definitely a sincere effort on Bruno's part. His vocal performance is even more genuine; you can feel like you're the center of his whole world. The range of his voice is spectacular, reminding me a bit of another multi-talent Ryan Tedder, with just a bit more purity.

This song is a great introduction to an artist who hopefully doesn't fall into that dangerous male pop star pit that has befallen many as of late. Bruno Mars is the real deal, and I hope that he can remain just the way he is.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

BWU Singles Chart Roundup 7/19: Usher Hits #1

Usher has set a bunch of new chart records this week.

His new single "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" has topped the chart this week, knocking Kylie Minogue's "Get Outta My Way" to #2. Usher becomes the first male artist to top the BWU Singles Chart, and is the first artist to ascend to the top. Last week, the single entered at #4.

Fresh off the World Cup, Shakira's "Waka Waka" enters at #3. The Saturdays move down to #4, while Kylie's "All The Lovers" slides to #6. Brandon Flowers and his song "Crossfire" hold at #5.

After re-entering the chart two weeks ago, "Your Love" by Nicki Minaj finally enters the Top 10 at #9. The song originally peaked at #12 before falling off the next week. Also entering the Top 10 is Ke$ha with "Take It Off".

Adam Lambert breaks the highest re-entry record, coming in at #11 with "If I Had You".

To see the full chart, visit the BWU Singles Chart page, link at the top of the blog.

WORST!!! Katie Price Performs Disastrous New Single On TV!

Where a pair of implants will take you in this industry....

British trainwreck Katie Price, fresh off a new marriage to cagefighter Alex Reid, is back at work, this time as a pop star. The glamour model performed her debut single "Free To Love Again" on GMTV this past week, and let me tell you, it is a mess.

The whole thing is just ridiculous. The terrible lipsynching, the lack of dancing, the song itself (one of the worst I've ever heard), it all came together in a fiery display of undeserved celebrity failure. The funny thing is she at least had the decency to admit that she's piss poor minutes later on the couch.

Luckily, it appears that Price's pop star aspirations won't go anywhere. Released this week, the single hasn't even cracked the Top 40.

Watch the ridiculousness below:



Do you think Katie Price has a career as a singer? Comment below!

Robbie Williams Rejoins Take That!

UK pop star Robbie Williams is rejoining his bandmates Take That for a huge reunion album and tour, the group's website confirmed yesterday.

The news should really come to no surprise to anyone reading the British tabloids (or this blog) for the last two years. In fact, speculation of the group's reunion began way back in 2005, when Take That reformed without Robbie for a TV special. A year later, they released Beautiful World, which sold over 3 million copies worldwide and spawned two #1 hits. That same year, Robbie released Rudebox, which was declared a flop.

Robbie, who released the successful Reality Killed The Video Star album last year, called the reunion "like coming home".

The album is due for release later this year. The album is to be produced by Stuart Price, the dial-knobbler behind Kylie's Aphrodite. On top of that, Robbie is doing a duet with Gary Barlow titled "Shame" for his greatest hits record In and Out of Consciousness.

Honestly, the timing of this is a bit curious, and I can't even really tell you why I feel that way. I guess if it was going to ever happen, it would be now. That all said, "Rule The World" and "Back For Good" are absolute brilliance, and I really liked Reality Killed The Video Star. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

Below is their official reunion photoshoot video:

I'm On Tumblr!

To change things up a bit, I have decided to join Tumblr!

No, I'm not quitting BWU at all. In fact, I'm hoping Tumblr will enhance the experience. For those who want to know a little bit more about my life, then you can head over to my Tumblr blog lifeofbl.tumblr.com

Some of my BWU posts will be up there, but it's mostly what's happening in my own life.

If you're so inclined, take a look, even follow me. If you have one, I'll follow you back. I'm still working on it, so don't be surprised if it a mess.

To all my readers, thanks so much for sticking with me as long as you have. Trust me, it's nowhere near over :)

Hilarious Truth Quote of The Day: The Music Industry and Taio Cruz

Do you consider Taio Cruz's US career a flop?

The ATRL forum is probably one of my most visited sites on the web, because of the comments about the pop culture world that members come up with. If you haven't yet, please pop on over there. You won't regret it.

Anyway, I was just reading a thread about the flops of 2010 so far, and in the comments that followed, British pop star Taio Cruz and his album Rokstarr were mentioned. Here is a quote that pretty much sums up the state of the music industry by CxMxPUNK:

Taio Cruz's album is certified tin foil but guess what he's a miliionaire anyway off of singles, ringtones and touring. 

it couldn't be more true: despite two massive hit singles, including #1 hit "Break Your Heart", he has only sold 48,000 copies since his album was released in June.

Uhhh....

Why The Final Scene of The Hills Was Genius

MTV' series ended with a surprising final scene

Last night, MTV's stain on the face of recent pop culture came to an end last night.

The Hills, which followed the vapid exploits of a bunch of privileged young people in Los Angeles, aired its series finale amidst a schnazzy red-carpet party at The Roosevelt Hotel. The last episode attempted to answer many questions about the lives of Kristin Cavallari, Audrina Patridge, and Lo Bosworth, but the biggest question of all was finally given a definite answer.

Was The Hills fake?

Many of the cast members, including former lead Lauren Conrad, have all implied that the show wasn't as real as MTV would want you to believe. Ultimately, the real question was, how fake was the show? How staged were the fights, the tears, and the parties? Was there any iota of truth this hyper-reality? Despite years of speculation, the producers had the last say in the final moment of the series. Kristin Cavallari and on-again, off-again boyfriend Brody Jenner shared an emotional goodbye (complete with montage) as she prepared to head off to Europe to "find herself". As the car drove away, the camera pans out to reveal a solitary Brody... in front of a Hollywood backdrop on a soundstage with cameramen, production workers, and all the makings of a relatively expensive looking cable network show. Seconds later, Kristin comes out of the car that was supposedly headed for LAX and hugs Brody as the camera pulls further away to show what "the hills" really are.

It can be debated forever (hopefully not that long) whether the ending was MTV copping out to the obvious truth, or having a tongue-in-cheek. Either way, the ending of history's fakest reality show was sort of brilliant. While I'm sure many fans are either feeling devastated or betrayed if they believed this show was real, I thought the ending was refreshing for a show that took itself way too seriously, even to after it's end (with the god-awful reunion special). Sure, MTV should be sent to the gallows for holding the lives of millions of people hostage over a farce, convincing Lauren Conrad she could have a sustainable career outside of looking pretty, and introducing Spiedi into the American lexicon.

But, at least The Hills, which was never good television to begin with, can say proudly that they offered up a satisfying conclusion.

Some Notes About Mel Gibson's Rants Against His Ex

By now, everyone has heard at least one of the shocking angry rants from movie star Mel Gibson against his baby's mother Oksana Grigorieva. Instead of writing an essay about the tapes, I won't even give him that much of my time and just list some important notes to take away from the whole fiasco.

Note 1: His career, as he and we know it, is over
While many people have warned against such strong statements, it is pretty hard to imagine what kind of career this man will have after the full scope of these tapes are realized. He has shown bigotry against everything not white male: blacks, gays, jews, hispanics, and women. You could essentially use those tapes as an encyclopedia of slurs. Ironically, the industry he works in is filled with plenty of the people he harshly insulted. I can't imagine any actor, actress, producer, director, or even gaffer who is one of those denominations who would want to work with him.

Note 2: He cannot hide behind alcohol this time
Mel Gibson's infamous 2006 anti-semitic rant was the result of being pulled over by police and arrested for a DUI. While he could argue that the nasty incident was the result of the booze, there is no excuse that could explain away blatant racism, misogyny, and unspeakable violence. Sorry, there's no way to get out of this one, Mad Max

Note 3: He needs help. Serious. ass. help.
While he may a racist, a misogynist and an alleged perpetrator of unspeakable violence, but it is also clear he is in desperate need of therapy. Anger management, sensitivity training, the works. Not only is his behavior completely unacceptable in most circles of humanity, it is also unhealthy. When you're unhealthy, you usually got to a hospital. I'm sure Bellevue has openings this time of year.

It's a damn shame that an actor that I have enjoyed in films could have fallen so far from glory.

Download of the Day 7/13: Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) by Shakira featuring Freshlyground

Sure, Spain took home the trophy on Sunday, but who said the celebration has to stop?

To coincide with 2010 FIFA World Cup, Shakira was chosen to record the official theme song. Teaming up with African band Freshlyground, the Colombian pop star churned out "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)", an uplifting theme celebrating the first World Cup on African soil. Combining the beats of African and Colombian music with a wispy, playful melody, the song perfectly captures the energy of both the African people and the excitement that comes with the coming together of nations. The lyrics gel with the production well, inspiring the same kind of unity and pride that those beats do. It is one of those songs that is meant to unite instead of segregate, so its awesome that it has become a relatively big hit in virtually every country in the world. It also doesn't hurt that a global pop star, with her unique, sexy voice is helming the track. While she's the most visible star on the track, Freshlyground deserve just as much shine for their simple, yet brilliant instrumentation.

While the 2010 World Cup is over, this song has more than enough punch to carry us over to Brazil in 2014.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

iPhone 4 Disaster: Will Apple Recall iPhone 4 Over Antenna Issues?

Experts are suggesting that Apple recalls the iPhone 4, or risk irreparable damage to reputation

Class action lawsuits, ordering drama, signal issues, and now calls for a recall? Apple is arguably suffering the backlash from hell.

I am a proud owner of an iPhone 3GS (iPhone 3G before switching it out a week after I bought it to get the latest model). While I could've easily purchased another phone for a lot less than my current one, I did for one reason. I bought the iPhone because I knew that Apple only made quality products that would last me a significant while.

While I still believe that to be true, there is no doubt that Apple's sterling reputation for engineering excellence has been tarnished by the widely reported signal issues associated with the latest iteration of the iPhone, iPhone 4.

Despite the multitude of new features, it hasn't prevented people from noticing that, when held a certain way, the cell signal is degraded to almost nothing. Apple has remained relatively mum on the subject, only copping to a software issue, but the issues have now begun to affect the acclaim of the hard-won Apple brand of perfection. This week, Consumer Reports magazine, which offers recommendations on products, has revealed that they wouldn't recommend the iPhone 4 after testing it and confirming the reality of the signal issues. Despite not receiving the recommendation, iPhone 4 still ranked highest amongst all smartphones.

Now, the Cult of Mac blog is suggesting, with commentary from multiple experts in public relations, that the only way to prevent a widespread Apple crisis is to recall the popular phone and fix the hardware, not the software. The experts, including "Master of Disaster" White House consultant Chris Lehane has related the iPhone 4 issues to the recent Toyota recall crisis, where over ten million vehicles were recalled worldwide, sparking government hearings over the matter. They believe that the cost of a recall doesn't overvalue the reputation of the Apple brand, and that a recall is the only way to resolve the issue. Lehane even referred to Apple's response to the furor over their 2007 iPhone price cut. Instead of ignoring disgruntled customers, Apple CEO Steve Jobs offered both an apology and refunds. Lehane was quoted as saying: "Apple must protect its brand image, its crown jewels, at all cost. Apple has enormous consumer loyalty but it depends on whether people believe it’s credible."

I completely agree with the PR experts on this one. If there is no software fix to this issue, then Apple has really no choice but to recall the phones and fix them. People, like me, don't pay up to $500 for phones that can suffer from such terrible signal strength (and that's considering we are dealing with AT&T here). Apple has always prided itself on its customer service and quality product. Well, they clearly gaffed on the latter, so its time to prove they are still the company to beat with the former.

Usher MegaPost: New Single on iTunes, Video for "There Goes My Baby" and More!

Today is a pretty big day for R&B superstar Usher.

Just four days after premiering it on his website, Usher has released "DJ's Got Us Fallin' In Love" on iTunes. The single, featuring Pitbull, is first off of his upcoming EP Versus and is already in the Top 50 of the iTunes Songs chart. Speaking of new singles, Usher won't be leaving his R&B fans hungry for new music: "Hot Tottie" will be the song released to urban radio on August 9th.

Usher's current urban single is "There Goes My Baby", and to promote it, he has finally released the music video for it today on VEVO. The clip shows Usher with his woman frolicking in and around a house on the hill, sometimes shirtless. It's basically a lite version of his steamy "Trading Places" video.

Check out the video below:

BWU Singles Chart Roundup 6/15: Kylie's #1 Again With "Get Outta My Way", Usher Debuts High

WEEK OF 7/12

After surrendering the top spot to The Saturdays last week, Kylie has reclaimed #1 with "Get Outta My Way", the second single from her album Aphrodite. Her lead single "All The Lovers" slips to #3, while "Missing You" falls to #2.

Usher's new single "DJ's Got Us Fallin' In Love" is the second highest debut of the week, entering at #4. Right behind him is Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and his solo track "Crossfire" at #5. Just missing the Top 10 is Ke$ha and her new single "Take It Off", debuting at #11.

The Script's single "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" falls 21 spots out of the Top 10 to #28, one of the biggest ever. Also suffering a deep drop is Maroon 5's "Misery", falling to #22.

The full chart is available at the BWU Singles Chart page of the blog, link at the top.

Download of the Day 7/11: "Take It Off" by Ke$ha

Ke$ha wants you to "take it off"

If you were lucky to run into a certain unclothed picture of Ke$ha last week, then the title of her next single is quite ironic.

But all jokes aside, "Take It Off", the fourth single from the pop star's Animal, is probably my favorite song she's released so far. Sure, the vocals are processed within an inch of it's life, the lyrics are as deep as a puddle, and it doesn't really lend to Ke$ha's proclamation of her being taken seriously as an artist. However, it would just be lame of me not to admit that this song is fun, sexy, catchy, and clever. I mean, using a nursery rhyme as a chorus sample was definitely unexpected. Also, there are times when the AutoTune works in adding to the song's dirty atmosphere. It sounds like this song, produced by Dr. Luke, was born in a gritty underground rave party in Amsterdam. Not that it's a bad thing.

Ke$ha's desire for respect as a serious artist is considerably ridiculous when you consider her easy-won party girl image, but there is denying she is pumping out some irresistible dancefloor smashes. And with this song already climbing up the charts, it looks like the pop world will be eating up more Ke$ha for the foreseeable future.

It's a nice halfway point.

Rating: 7 out of 10

JLS and Kylie Top The UK Charts

Kylie Minogue has scored her fifth #1 album in the United Kingdom with Aphrodite.

The UK music charts, which was released today, show Kylie beating Eminem, which falls to #2 in its second week. It is the pop superstar's first #1 album in the UK since 2001's Fever. 2007's X peaked at #4. Her other #1 albums are Kylie, Enjoy Yourself, and Greatest Hits.

The news isn't so hot over the singles chart, where "All The Lovers" slides down to #9 on the chart. Topping the UK Singles Chart is X Factor boyband JLS, with their new single "Club Is Alive". The song topped the iTunes chart within 24 hours, almost guaranteeing a #1 debut. This is their fourth consecutive top 10 singles and third #1 single, after "Beat Again" and "Everybody in Love".

Aphrodite is expected to debut in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 this week, which make it her most successful chart album since Fever.

Download of the Day 7/10: "Crossfire" by Brandon Flowers

It's kinda neat that I get to write a DOTD post about someone with the same name as me.

But vanity aside, The Killers frontman and I do have some other things in common besides our common given names. We both have a penchant for genuinely good music, regardless of genre. We also both appreciate independence; he is striking out on his own with a new album due in September.

Finally (as far as I know) we both really, really like his first solo single "Crossfire". I'm only familiar with a few of The Killers songs, but this definitely sounds like a new, gorgeous direction for him. It's an intense and emotional pop/rock ballad that doesn't fall into the "overwrought" trap that other songs do. The melody is just excellent, and the lyrics are so ace that it would be so easy to strip this song into memorable quotes for Facebook. As for Flowers himself, he had one of the most powerful voices in pop music today, which is saying a lot in this AutoTuned world we live in. Actually, with that in mind, this good old-fashioned song is a revelation.

Going solo is certainly difficult, but Brandon Flowers appears to be doing just fine. And as a fellow Brandon, I take immense pleasure in saying that.

Rating: 8 out of 10


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New Music Alert: "DJ's Got Us Fallin' In Love" by Usher featuring Pitbull

Today, R&B superstar Usher officially released "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love", the lead single from his upcoming EP Versus. The single features rapper Pitbull, and follows the electropop style of his massive #1 single "OMG". It's quite ironic that Usher is releasing another pop song, after he reportedly bashed British artists like Jay Sean and Taio Cruz for watering down the R&B genre with their pop hybrids.

Usher's purported hypocrisy doesn't take away from the imminent pop smash that this song is. With its pulsing, rave-style electro beats and Usher's powerful vocals, "DJ's Got Us Fallin' In Love" has got late summer dancefloor filler written all over it. Pitbull, who nearly stole the show on Enrique Iglesias' hit "I Like It", is ultimately relegated to the backburner against the bigger popstar, even with his quickfire verses. Usher proves that, even when hopping on the dance-pop bandwagon, he still reigns as a king among his fellow artists.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Media Debacle That Is LeBron James and "His Decision"

NBA superstar LeBron James to join the
Miami Heat next season

Last night, NBA superstar Lebron James announced to the world that he was joining the Miami Heat, officially ditching the Cleveland Cavaliers after seven years with his hometown team.

He announced his decision on ESPN in a special called "The Decision", live from the Boys and Girls Club of America in Greenwich, Connecticut. After a good ten minutes of the interviewer building up unnecessary tension with pointless questions, LeBron finally dropped the bomb that broke the hearts of New Yorkers, Chicagoans, and Clevelanders alike.

Now, I will admit that I don't really follow basketball like my mother does. Frankly, LeBron James' decision wouldn't have made a difference to me at all, even if he came to New York. That said, I tuned in to see what the big deal was.

It was big, all right. A big disastrous mess.

What I witnessed in that forty minutes (I missed the first twenty) was one of the most narcissistic displays of star power I have ever seen. I simply don't understand why he went through all of this trouble, building all of the tension, hosting an hourlong special dedicated to what should've been a few words: "I chose (fill in the blank)". He should've just released a statement to splash over the front pages. Instead, we had to hear how emotional the decision was for him and how he was deciding even at the last minute, as if he was negotiating a nuclear arms treaty. The whole thing was frankly absurd in just that regard, but the heart of this lies in Cleveland. I wasn't aware of this until tonight, but apparently James is regarded as a hero in his hometown, even a king. People laid all of their basketball dreams on the superstar, and I would assume LeBron did his best to make his fans proud. So what puzzles me is why he would humiliate them so blatantly with this special. Yes, he's a massive sports star, but why go on national television to basically say "Sayonara" to the people who supported him for seven years? I believe he had the right to move on if he felt Cleveland wasn't going to deliver him victory, but he did it in such a classless, insulting way that I doubt he will ever be forgiven by his fans there.

Of course it wouldn't be a debacle if there was only one side, right?

The immediate response to LeBron's not so shocking announcement was utter disgust from his home state of Ohio. ESPN, after the initial interview, aired live footage of fans groaning as the decision came in. Then, in what I can only describe as insanity, they aired someone setting LeBron's jersey ablaze in the street, as they were talking to him. Twitter went into hyperdrive, with trending topics focusing on reactions, the burning jersey, and almost inexplicably instant comparisons to Scottie Pippen. In fact, he is still the top TT as I type. Anyone looking for a beacon of grace certainly wasn't finding it with majority owner of the Cavaliers Dan Gilbert. He shockingly blasted him in an open letter on the team's website, labeling him shameful, selfish, and a coward. He even went as far as to accuse "the formerly self-titled King" of quitting during the NBA playoffs last month.

His anger is understandable, sure, but the letter was so unsportsman-like, it makes one think that LeBron really did choose right.

Whether he chose the right team will be up for weeks of debate, but this media circus he created was certainly a huge bust. LeBron, who hours ago was labeled a hero and a king by many, is now facing backlash that ranges from being new teammate Dwayne Wade' second string (clearly LeBron has never heard Jay-Z's hit "Empire State of Mind") to being a selfish, self-obsessed traitor. Meanwhile, his grieving hometown looks like shamefully petty on national television and the Dan Gilbert looks like a tacky ass asking for a humiliating loss next season. Let's also throw the New Yorks Kncks in there for good measure, who have been preparing for LeBron for years, only to be snubbed. I can't wait for the morning papers about this one.

While he may be labeled as a king, it is hard to deny that his crown may be tarnished just a bit.

Usher To Release New EP Next Month; New Single Out TODAY

R&B king Usher has announced the release of a new record, just months after his latest effort Raymond v. Raymond.

Versus, an extended play in the vein of Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, will be released on August 24th. Usher, on his website, calls the release the "final chapter" of Raymond v. Raymond, which was released in March. The first single from the EP will be "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love", an electropop number featuring rapper Pitbull. While the single will hit radio tomorrow, it has leaked online today (my review will come later). The EP will be released alongside the deluxe edition of Raymond v. Raymond, which combine both records for a total of 22 songs.

Usher isn't the first artist to release an EP alongside an album, especially lately. Gaga did it with The Fame Monster, Justin Bieber split his My World album into two different records, and Rihanna and the Black Eyed Peas are both reportedly prepping similar re-releases.

Will you be picking up the album?

Glee Smashes Emmys With Nineteen Nominations!

There is a lot be gleeful about!

FOX's hit show Glee has landed an astonishing nineteen nominations at this year's Emmy Awards, which will be held in August. The show is nominated for every category in the comedy field, including Best Series, Best Actress (Lea Michele), Best Actor (Matthew Morrison), Best Supporting Actor (Chris Colfer), and Best Supporting Actress (Jane Lynch).

Following Glee in nominations is AMC's Mad Men with 17 nominations. The most nominations of the year goes to HBO's TV miniseries The Pacific, with an amazing 24 nominations.

Below is the nomination list for the major awards:

DRAMA

OUTSTANDING DRAMA
Lost
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Mad Men
True Blood
The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Mariska Hargitay (Special Victims Unit)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Laurie (House M.D.)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Matthew Fox (Lost)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
John Slattery (Mad Men)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Martin Short (Damages)
Terry O’ Quinn (Lost)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

COMEDY
OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Glee
Modern Family
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Nurse Jackie
30 Rock
The Office
Curb Your Enthusiasm

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Lea Michele (Glee)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Jon Cryer (Two and A Half Men)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Holland Taylor (Two and A Half Men)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien

REALITY
OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
MythBusters
Undercover Boss

OUTSTANDING REALITY - COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)
Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars)
Heidi Klum (Project Runway)
Jeff Probst (Survivor)

NOMINATION TALLY
The Pacific (24)
Glee (19)
Mad Men (17)
30 Rock (15)
Modern Family (14)
Lost (12)
Saturday Night Live (12)
Dancing with the Stars (9)
The Good Wife (9)
Nurse Jackie (8)
The Amazing Race (7)
Breaking Bad (7)
Dexter (7)
American Idol (6)

Cheryl Cole Suffering From Malaria, Condition Is Worsening

Cheryl Cole is battling infectious disease malaria

Beautiful British pop star Cheryl Cole is reportedly in dire condition after contracting the disease malaria on a vacation to Tanzania.

The Girls Aloud singer has spent a fifth night in the hospital being treated for the illness after collapsing at a  photoshoot last weekend. Originally thought to be exhaustion, her health continued declining until it was clear something was very wrong. She was admitted to the hospital and it was there where she was diagnosed with the terrible illness.

Malaria is a disease that affects over 300 million people worldwide, with about 1 to 3 million fatalities, most of them being children. The mosquitos that carry the disease are most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Cheryl vacationed with Dancing with the Stars dancer Derek Hough.

According to OK Magazine UK, a spokesperson for Cheryl has announced that she was moved to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases at University College London in order to receive specialized care. She is expected to be there for a while, and is not expected to return to the auditions for her show X Factor.

Fellow Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle has asked fans to pray for her stricken bandmate on Twitter. Cheryl's estranged husband, footballer Ashley Cole, seems to be unaware of her plight, partying up in Los Angeles after England's disastrous removal from the World Cup.

Along with X Factor, Cheryl has been working on her second studio album, which was due for release in October. She was also supposed to perform at next month's V Festival in the UK. Both plans might be up for change as she battles this disease.

Get well soon, Cheryl!

BEST: Prince Says The Internet Is Over!

Prince says NO to iTunes for new album 20Ten

Prince would say some next level stuff like the Internet is over, because he's freakin' Prince!

The pop legend declared the world wide web's demise in an interview with UK tabloid The Daily Mirror, which is giving away his new album 20Ten for free this week. The Purple One, who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's BET Awards, has yet to announce an American release date, but it certainly won't be over iTunes, or the Internet.

“The Internet is completely over. I don't see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won't pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can't get it. Internet’s like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can’t be good for you.”

Of course, he couldn't be further from the truth, but Prince wouldn't be who he was if he didn't make comments like this. Plus, he has a pretty dodgy history with big business. Remember when he changed his name to that symbol in the 90's during a feud with Warner Bros. (who ironically share his distaste for YouTube)?

Download of the Day 7/6: "Get Outta My Way" by Kylie Minogue

Today, Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue releases her new album Aphrodite here in the United States, and it only felt right to honor with it.

Of course, it just happened to work out perfectly that my favorite song off of the album will be the second single, possibly released in September.

"Get Outta My Way", as I mentioned in my review of Aphrodite, is the juiced-up love child of her previous hits singles "Wow" and "Love At First Sight". Yet, instead of being awestruck by her lover, she promptly tells him to buzz off as she moves on to a guy who can better hold her attention. Only Kylie could pull off being both bitchy and irresistibly charming as she taunts her lover with this lyrical gem: "see me with him and it's turning you on". It also helps that the song is backed by some bouncy, bright production that matches Kylie's slinky vocals perfectly. Basically, it's the most fun you'll probably have listening to any song this summer, or fall, or maybe even winter. In fact, through Spring 2011 in there for good measure, this song is multi-season.

"Get Outta My Way" just goes to show that you should never count Kylie out for the count, because she will "show you what she's made of".

Rating: 10 out of 10 (BUY THE ALBUM, but if you don't this is available for download on iTunes and the rest)

BWU Singles Chart Roundup 7/55: The Saturdays Are #1 With "Missing You"

THIS WEEK'S #1 SINGLE

"Missing You" by The Saturdays

The Saturdays have dethroned Kylie Minogue.

The British girl group has topped this week's BWU Singles Chart with their new single, "Missing You". They are the first artist to debut at the top of the chart, a feat Kelis was held from two weeks ago. Kylie's "All The Lovers", which had topped the chart for three weeks, falls to #2. Had she been #1 this week, she would have been the first artist to cross the 100 point mark. She will next week, though.

Lady Antebellum and their new pop radio single "I Run To You" is up 12 spots to #3, outpeaking "Need You Now", which debuted at #5 and is now at #17. Also moving into the top 10 is The Script's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", which climbs to #7. Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and Kelis' "4th of July" fall from the Top 5 to the bottom of the Top 10. Glee's "Faithfully" and Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" fall out of the Top 10.

Other notable debuts this week: "Yo Side of The Bed" by Trey Songz at #15, "There Goes My Baby" by Usher at #23, and "Power" by Kanye West at #29.

You can see the full chart every Monday at the BWU Singles Chart page of the blog, link at the top!

A Fascinating Read... The Truth About The Michael Jackson Trial

The tragic King of Pop during his 2005 molestation trial

A few weeks ago, Charles Thomson published an article on Huffington Post titled "One of the Most Shameful Episodes in Journalistic History", about the media's distortion of the 2005 child molestation trial against Michael Jackson. In the article, he reveals how terrible the prosecution's case was, how strong the defense was, and how bloodthirsty the media was for a conviction against the King of Pop.

Even more fascinating were the questions it posed about the media's effect on Jackson's later and deadly dependency on drugs:

When Michael Jackson died the media went into overdrive again. What drugs had killed him? How long had he been using them? Who had prescribed them? What else was in his system? How much did he weigh? But there was one question nobody seemed to want to ask: Why? Why was Michael Jackson so stressed and so paranoid that he couldn't even get a decent night's sleep unless somebody stuck a tube full of anesthetic into his arm?

Reading about what really happened during the trial was stunning, because I can attest to the media's twisting of the facts. In fact, the only real thing that stuck out from the trial was the mention of "jesus juice". I can't remember the media reporting about the defense at all.

I know why they didn't though. They wanted Michael to fry, if not in the court of law, then at least in the court of public opinion. And they succeeded, because after that disastrous trial, Jackson's career would never be the same.

Now, a year after his death, I can't help but wonder what would have happened to the King of Pop had the trial been reported fairly. Would he have fled to Bahrain, exhausted from a witchhunt that should've never been? Would he have fallen victim to his own neuroses, and then drugs? Would he have been forced into the tour that ultimately end his life? Would Michael be at peace, raising his children and entertaining his millions of fans who never gave up on him?

Sadly, we will never know.

Check out the article below:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-thomson/one-of-the-most-shameful_b_610258.html