[Free For All Friday]

Almost forgot about Free For All Friday today! Naughty, DD! Well here it is! ENJOY! :D

If you don't know the score, here be the rules:

• Try not to get too perverted- this site needs to basically be "safe for work".
• If somebody starts a controversial subject, try keeping it civil when dealing with it. If things get out of hand please flag the conversation.
• It would be nice if it stuck to music, but it's not a requirement! So talk about news, current events, how you're getting your hair done next time you hit the hairdresser! Whateves, really!
• No nasty comments aimed at other users.

Inappropriate hugs to all of y'all (hi-fives to the underagers), and wishing you an awesome weekend!

Ten Reasons To Pick Up "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"

Mariah Carey is predicted to enter the Billboard album chart with her lowest opening figures, ever! We all know music doesn't shift like it used to, but a prediction of 55-60K is shocking for a musical A-lister like Mazza.

Nicole Scherzinger Returns With "Your Love"

If there was ever any doubt that a great set of pipes is never a guarantee of chart success, look no further than Nicole Scherzinger.

With a voice that could destroy many a Diva, the Ex-Pussycat Doll hasn't quite managed to recapture the glory days she shared with her fellow Dolls. Some would say that's the fault of the material she's been singing over- something I'd disagree with, actually enjoying a lot of her solo stuff!

Rita Ora Covers Her Boss's Wife's Track. Voluntarily, I'm sure....

What happens when you can't be bothered to promote your own material? Get your record label owning husband to make one of his employees do it, of course! Genius!

[Discuss] Mariah Carey Shows Beyonce How To Legitimately Earn A Writing Credit.

This post is going to come off shady as f**k but bear with me- it's genuinely not my intent.

[Battle] Beyonce Vs. Christina Aguilera: Which Is The Better Singer?

It's time to stir the pot again! I only realised today how successful the Demi Lovato Vs. Ariana Grande post had been, so I thought, "Hey, let's try again with two new divas".

Today's battle centers around two peers who, though having differing voices, styles and techniques, get compared an awful lot. This is perhaps understandable when you consider both are of the same generation. However, the comparisons are further fueled- in my opinion- by Beyonce fans who feel slightly aggrieved that Aguilera- aka "The Voice of a Generation"- often gets labelled a vocalist, while Bey is referred to as an "entertainer". 

Dolly Parton Promotes New Album "Blue Smoke" @ Today And Queen Latifah Show

The prolific Dolly Parton is back!!

Promoting new album Blue Smoke, the legend took title track and Home to the Today Show. Blue Smoke was a little too "country" for me, however Home was dilute enough for me to get into. Still, even though the songs weren't 100% to my taste, I'd have to be an animate brick not to appreciate the musicality of Dolly and her awesome band.

[Listen] Destiny's Child Regroup for Michelle Williams' "Say Yes"

Yes, you better believe I stay promoting Michelle Williams- even if no one cares!

To get some of you heathens noticing, the Queen has summoned her Destiny's Child backing vocalists to help her out on new song Say Yes. But don't think 'Chelle has jumped ship and gone back to the booty poppin' music of her group in search of a hit.  Nope, this lady stays praising Jesus, re-imagining a Nigerian gospel song for this outing.

The fact that I don't like it means nothing. To paraphrase Anderson Cooper: "This is Michelle Williams' world and we're just living in it"!

Sia Belts Out "Chandelier" Live @ The Ellen Show

Sia took her new single, Chandelier, to the Ellen Show last week, with creepy video dancer in tow.

Well truthfully, I can't actually tell if it's the same girl, but the routine, costume and wig are pretty close to that of the video. (Oh, Ellen confirms it's the same girl at the end. Good thing I watched it again, and to its conclusion the second time!) But whatever, we aren't here for that. We're here to hear Sia belt out those big notes! 

[Listening Party/ Discuss/ First Thoughts] "Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse"

I'm not sure this was a good idea from team Mariah. As of today, the entirety of Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse has been put up on Itunes Radio for streaming. (And as of a millisecond after that moment, I'm sure it was ripped and made available, illegally.) Still, what do I know!

Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande Perform @ Billboard Music Awards 2014

Can't even be bothered to watch, nor review this performance of Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande- but I'll post it since some of you guys might want to enjoy/discuss it.

Jennifer Lopez Serves Voice With "First Love" @ 2014 Billboard Awards

Awarded some kind of Icon award at the 2014 Billboard Awards, Jennifer Lopez was definitely being shown some love by the chart compilers on the night.

Katy Perry Celebrates fan's "Birthday" @ 2014 Billboard Music Awards

I'm convinced Katy Perry uses all the colours and visual aides to distract us from how basic she really is.

Shakira Makes Billboard Music Award Audience Very Happy With "Empire" Performance

With whispers of Shakira lipping Empire when she took the song to The Voice (US), it seemed like the Diva had something to prove at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, where she a gave another rendition of the rocky ballad.

[Watch] Mariah Carey Showcases New Song From "Me.I Am Mariah" @ Toyota Summer Concert

Mariah Carey is back in the public eye, gearing up for the release of new album Me.I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse.

The latest outing saw the Diva give a live concert in the heart of the Big Apple where she performed Touch My Body, fan-favorite Always Be My Baby and A NEW SONG, in the disco-inspired You Don’t Know What To Do.

It wasn't Mimi at her most polished, but early mornings and open air will do that to her voice. There were some promising notes and "moments" - forgetting the words to Always Be My Baby, anyone?- throughout. But the thing that irked me most was big-mouth Wale talking during the intro to You Don't Know My Name. Someone better smack that guy upside his head have a quiet word with that dude. You do NOT talk over Mariah Carey- EVER!

[Free For All Friday]

Damn you O2, I will not "be more dog"! CAT PERSON 4 LIFE! And with that, let me take a moment to pay homage to Tara, the brave moggie who saved a child from being (further) mauled by an apparently free roaming dog!!! PUSSY POWER.....


If you don't know the score, here be the rules:

• Try not to get too perverted- this site needs to basically be "safe for work".
• If somebody starts a controversial subject, try keeping it civil when dealing with it. If things get out of hand please flag the conversation.
• It would be nice if it stuck to music, but it's not a requirement! So talk about news, current events, how you're getting your hair done next time you hit the hairdresser! Whateves, really!
• No nasty comments aimed at other users.

Inappropriate hugs to all of y'all (hi fives to the underagers), and wishing you an awesome weekend!

[New Music] Mariah Carey - "Thirsty"

Jeez, Mariah. What is this mess of a new song, Thirsty??

Really, I don't even know how to react to this. There's a part of me hoping I'm slightly in shock from the direction she's decided to take with the track, and that it'll grow on me once the HQ version  hits. But honestly, this Pour It Up/ Obsessed/ Ni**as In Paris hybrid just sounds awful to me and I can't see myself changing my mind. Vocally, she doesn't sound great either, with the end belt being stringy, unpleasant and nigh on impossible for her to recreate live.

Cracks Appear In The Fabuolous Life Of Beyonce As SIster Attacks Jay Z (Updated)

Does anybody have any clue what is going on here!?

The world seems almost to be in meltdown with the leaking of footage- from an elevator camera- of Solange Knowles going in on Jay Z. If that wasn't bizarre enough, this is all going down WHILE Beyonce is standing, apparently, unbothered by the kung fu showdown occurring before her eyes.

Christina Aguilera Delivers Gorgeousness With "Say Something" @ Wango Tango

Has Christina Aguilera given a bad rendition of A Great Big World duet Say Something, yet? If she has, I haven't seen it!

[New Music] Jazmine Sullivan - "Dumb"

Quite a few of us have been waiting for Ms. Jazmine Sullivan to make her return. Well today marks that day as the Diva drops new song, Dumb.

[New Music] La Roux Return Strong With "Let Me Down Gently"

La Roux finally make their return to music, and it's a good 'un- a real good 'un.

Let Me Down Gently starts off simple enough, channeling the duo's trademark synth-pop sound. It's a perfect start to their first song in five years (that being I'm Not Your Toy), giving us the opportunity to focus on Elly Jackson's voice and fall in love with it all over again.

However, it's not till three minutes in that the beat really drops and the song grows legs, with other (electronic) instrumentation rushing in to fill out the track's landscape. I'm convinced there's even Morse Code going on in the background. Now if only I could decode it. Maybe it'll tell me the secret as to what keeps Elly's hair so perfectly coiffured.

Pop perfection!

Bearded Diva Wins Eurovision Song Contest 2014!

I didn't get a chance to watch Eurovision this year, but the few bits I did catch were amazingly staged. Copenhagen, you did good!

I know the contest has always had the aroma of  kitsch campness surrounding it, but even I was stunned to hear a bearded drag Queen claim the 2014 crown for Austria.The song itself was a little basic for my liking, but there's no denying the guy has a set of pipes on him- with some nicely held notes, and a steady vibrato on show on the night.

Check out Conchita Wurst perform the winning song, Rise Like A Phoenix, below. And if any of you did manage to catch the show, please point me in the direction of any standout performances from the contest in the comments.

[Music Video] Michelle Williams: "Fire"

Bless Michelle Williams. New song Fire- whose video was released today- was just what I needed to hear. It might be a song about God, but that didn't stop me being uplifted by the positive vibe the track brings. (By "vibe" I mean its melody, production, harmonies and Michelle's distinctive pipes- more so than the song's lyrics.)

My frazzled spirits have been lifted.

The simple, but colourful video was also definitely nourishing me, this time visually, looking like a low-budget 1+1. I think no matter what Michelle does, I'm inspired by the hustle. Keep doing you, Tenitra!

[Music Video] Lana Del Rey Debuts "West Coast" Visuals

West Coast, the new Lana Del Rey video is here!

Shot mostly in black and white, the long awaited visuals find Lana frolicking on the beach with a grungy beau for the most part. However, during the song's tempo change, we are transported to a past (or future) life more in line with the sugar daddy-craving, ultra glam persona of the Born To Die era, as she gets cosy with an older man. By its end, both are consumed in the flames of desire as colour is finally added to the mix.

The visuals aren't anything exceptional to me, but watching the video has reminded me just how much I love the song. To say I'm excited for Ultraviolence is now officially an understatement.

[Music Video] Sia Furler: "Chandelier"

Now, the obvious thing to do would have been to have had Sia swinging from the lights whilst getting wasted for the video for Chandelier. But since Miley was straddling a wrecking ball not too long ago, Sia must have decided against that course of action- best for all not to court comparisons. Instead the Diva thought left field was the way to play it and refrained from featuring in the video at all.

What we got as her substitute is a child (Maddie Ziegler, apparently) in a wig and a flesh coloured leotard-thing doing an interpretive dance routine in a grubby looking flat. It's actually a bloody good watch, with some cool gymnasticy moments and odd choreography making for an entertaining few minutes. That is until the end, where it gets a little creepy....

Watch Alice Smith's Raw Cover Of "I'm A Fool" @ Black Girls Rock

How the hell did I miss Alice Smith's performance of Fool For You at Black Girls Rock 2014? Wow, this woman has one set of soulful pipes on her! I haven't heard anything else from the Diva, but if this song is any indication of the type of music she is gifting the world, then I think I to get her album - She- ASAP!

Check out Alice rocking the house with her rhythmic rendition of Fool For You, below. Those interested in hearing her range- particularly in her upper reaches- take a listen to the studio version. It contains a fair few head notes in the song's closing.

BTW this is a cover of a Cee lo Green song of the same title.

Free For All Friday

It's that time agaiiiiiiiiiiin: FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY, EVERYBODY! While you guys get to it in the comments, I'm gonna watch this cat work the morph ball for a few hours. Maybe I can learn the meaning of life from it. I have a feeling it's hidden in there somewhere..

If you don't know the score, here be the rules:

• Try not to get too perverted- this site  needs to basically be "safe for work".
• If somebody starts a controversial subject, try keeping it civil when dealing with it. If things get out of hand please flag the conversation.
• It would be nice if it stuck to music, but it's not a requirement! So talk about news, current events, how you're getting your hair done next time you hit the hairdresser! Whateves, really!
• No nasty comments aimed at other users.

Inappropriate hugs to all of y'all (hi fives to the underagers), and wishing you an awesome weekend!

[Discuss] Mariah Carey Reveals New Album Name And Cover Art

Scrapping original title The Art Of Letting Go, Mimi has finally confirmed the name of her first LP in four years. You ready for it? Well here it! The new album is called Me.I am Mariah.

I have a feeling the promotion is going to have a lot of "This album is the real me" moments - much like was the case with The Emancipation Of Mimi. The cover art also looks suspiciously familiar, and is, unsurprisingly, Photoshopped to the gawds.

At least we finally have some concrete info about her new project- even if it is hardly a groundbreaking reveal. I was worried for a moment the project was going to be pushed back into oblivion!