Britney Spears gets grimy on "I wanna go" David A. Remix

Where as the original version of I wanna go wasn't my ideal choice for single number 3 from Britney Spears' electrostatic Femme Fatale album, the song has just gone up in my estimation thanks to the excellently grimy, Justicesque David A remix . The remix has officially been endorsed by Team Britney, having been reblogged on the stars Tumblr page, and its no wonder considering how hard this remix goes!

Bjork - Vocal Profile/ Range

Bjork

Vocal Type: Robusto Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves 7 notes and a semitone E3-D6
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Voice is strongest in the midrange and in the lower chest register (up to a D5). Unusually the chest voice retains its power, volume and strength despite its timbre thinning somewhat as it pushes higher. As a whole, the voice is a dynamic one that can be oppressive and domineering one moment, and soft and sweet the next. It has the dexterity to sing complex melodies and vocal runs, but also the stamina to hold notes, while maintaining its quality, at length.
Vocal Negatives: The lack of vibrato sometimes makes the higher chest notes sound too sharp and piercing, thus becoming overbearing at times.

Lady Gaga: "Hair" Live performances:

The more I listen to Lady Gaga's new album Born this way the more I like it. Sure, lyrically it's a little lacking but production wise, thematically, vocally, and melodically its solid piece of work that makes better sense, and stands stronger, as a collection of songs than as individual singles.

Joss Stone- Vocal range/profile

Joss Stone

Vocal Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves  4 notes C3-G5
Whistle Register:  No
Vocal Pluses: Expressive, soulful voice that manages to maintain these qualities throughout the registers.The lower range has a beautiful cool, smoky tone to it whereas the belted voice is warmer with a gutsy, passion to it. Her head voice is also full, and bright.
Vocal Negatives:  The technique she employs to generate grunts and growls, though sounding good and in keeping with her vocal style, can cause problems to the voice if used extensively. 

Video Review: Britney Spears does Awake in new video for "I Wanna Go"

I Wanna Go is a tongue-in-cheek video where Britney Spears swears at journalist, gropes a fan, flashes random people -including a minor- and then begins a fight with cyborg paparazzi, only to be saved by an atypical “hunk” who apparently likes milk. But it seems too surreal to be true and at the end its revealed that its all been a daydream/fantasy that a bored Britney was having at the press conference that opened the video......or was it? Watch the end of the video to fully understand!

Avril Lavigne - Vocal Profile/ Range

Avril Lavigne

Vocal Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves  6 notes and a semitone (approx) C#3-B5
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Punchy, peppy vocals that are full of attitude. Has a sharp, piercing chest register.
Vocal Negatives: Voice is thin and weak throughout the registers.

Video Review: Lady Gaga "Edge Of Glory"

Simple isn't a word usually associated with Lady Gaga but the video for new single Edge of Glory is just that, and frankly the timing for Gaga to embrace the word couldn't have been better. Nothing about the Born this way project has been simple so far and was starting to feel like it was relying too heavily on gimmicks, controversy and big money to guarantee high sales instead of trusting in the music to do so. But the video for Edge of Glory bucks this trend.

The video contains no controversial religious imagery (gasp!), only one extra (double gasp!)- in the form of saxophonist Clarence Clemons - is all shot on one location/set (hyperventilating) and only features two outfits (FAINT!).

There are problems with the video though. The original director, Joseph Khan, left the project part way thorough, after supposedly having differences in opinion about the direction of the video, and as such the video is missing a strong, if any, narrative or structure to the video. However that's a minor quibble as the video could be seen as a performance piece. The main issue, and the one that makes me feel most uncomfortable watching the video, is Gaga's proactive postulating and scantily clad gyrations when the song is supposedly written about, or at least inspired by the passing of her Grandfather.

Cyndi Lauper- Vocal Profile/ Range

Cyndi Lauper

Vocal Type: Lyric- Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 4 notes F3-C7
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses: Expressive, versatile voice, that can switch from sounding innocent and sweet like a child to coarse and throaty like a rock star to crystal clear and dramatic like a diva extraordinaire all within the space of a lyric. The voice sounds most impressive when belting clearly with her dramatic vibrato applied.
Vocal Negatives: Lauper's deployment of the child like singing style is an acquired taste and can quickly turn off a listener.

Single review: B.Scott "Kiss Kiss"

Just because you're a man, doesn't mean you can't be a Diva. Enter case in point fierce, cross dressing, Youtuber, blogger and all round media darling B.Scott and the video for his new single Kiss Kiss.

Lara Fabian- Vocal Profile/ Range

Lara Fabian

Vocal Type: Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves 7 notes  D3-C6
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Strong, powerful,clear belting range, that has a dark, heavy timbre.
Vocal Negatives: Belting (chest) voice can become overbearing due its power.

Patti LaBelle demonstrates why she is the Don Diva as she duets with Lady Gaga on "Over the Rainbow"

Patti LaBelle and Lady Gaga singing "Over the Rainbow" together

Below is a snippet of Ms Patti LaBelle and Lady Gaga performing the Wizard of Oz classic Somewhere Over The Rainbow after the CFDA Awards. It still amazes me how a diva as distinguished as Patti has managed to remain so warm, welcoming and personable at this stage in her career. There are plenty of other divas- included a few much younger than Patti- who would treat another singer on stage, especially one that is younger and currently more successful than them, as competition, singing all over the place to assert their dominance. But not Ms Patti. She always seems to embrace and respect whoever she's on stage with regardless of age, success or talent. Diva's take note; if you've got the goods, don't feel threatened when another female joins you on stage!

Kate Bush- Vocal Profile/ Range

Kate Bush

Vocal Type: Dramatic Soprano
Vocal Range: 4 octaves G2#-G6#
Vocal Pluses: Incredibly versatile, rich and emotive voice that has a dark, weighty timbre. The midrange is solid with a  warmth and sweetness. The belting range is clear and robust with a fiery passion and connects seamlessly to the head voice. This part of the range is bright, resonate and has the flexibility to sound operatic, contemporary or even able to mimic birdsong. Expert control over the voice means that notes can be sustained effortlessly- with or without vibrato- and pitched perfectly.
Vocal Negatives: Unique and individual singing style is not to everyone's taste.

Jill Scott - Vocal Profile/Range

Jill Scott

Vocal Type: Soprano
Vocal Range: 4 Octaves  C3-C7
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses: Powerful voice, that has a rich, deep texture through out the range. Voice is tremendously versatile and emotive. Technically brilliant singer.
Vocal Negatives: Suggestions?.

Nicola Roberts "Beat of my Drum" Single Reivew

The dark- or should that be ginger?- horse of now defunct girl group Girls Aloud finally peaks her head above the musical canopy today with the premier of new single Beat of my Drum. But whereas her fellow band mates have failed to set the music world alight with their endeavors how can the member of the group with arguably the weakest voice be able to buck that trend?By being smart, switched on, and playing to her strengths, that's how!

As mentioned above Nicola's voice is nothing of real note- having a light, soft, floaty timbre with a warm colouring that's average at best. Qualities that allow it to blend well in a group situation, but were always going to be difficult to sell a whole song on. However, if Beat of my Drum is a sign of things to come, Nicola seems to be aware of her own voice and its limitations, and has taken the smart move of switching up her vocal style. Now opting for a talk singing delivery- favoured by the likes of Uffie and Ke$ha- to ride the real star of the show, the song's Diplo production.

Prepare yourselves for the return of British soul singer Joss Stone

Having been seen stretching her acting chops of late I was worried singing sensation Joss Stone had ditched singing for good. However, news has reached me that the British soul singer is gearing up to release her first album in 2 years, entitled LP1, on her own Label.

I'm genuinely excited to see how this project- which hardly anything about has been revealed- will sound. Especially now that she has full artistic control over her material. All I know of the project is that it was recorded in Nashvile in only 6 days(!) with Eurythmics legend David A. Stewart. This is bound to be something special. Roll on release date 26th of July!

In honour of this news I thought it was time to showcase some of the singers best live performances. Though Joss lacks the wide vocal range or bombastic belting voice of other Divas, the earthy character of her voice and the power of her delivery more than makes up for it. Her skill and technique is something many a singer would trade a couple of octaves, if not their right arm, for.

LeToya Luckett (Original Destiny's Child member)- Vocal Profile/ Range

LeToya Luckett

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range:  2 Octaves 3 note D3-G5
Vocal Pluses: Latoya's strength lies in her strong chest voice. It's well supported and maintains an impressive tone in its upper reaches ( D5 to G5) that is further polished by the application of her striking vibrato.
Vocal Negatives: Limited range in the extremities of her voice.