News Spam: Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Sugababes And Christina Aguilera

Lady Gaga has revealed the name of her upcoming third album-which we will hear music from later this year- to the world! But not one to just release a press statement, Lady Gaga has gone and marked the occasion by getting the album name tattooed on her arm and posting a picture of it on Twitter.!

As you can all see below, the album will be titled "ARTPOP", and Gaga made it known that it must be spelt entirely in capitals, so don't say I didn't pass on that important message! I know I might be too quick off of the draw here, but I am choosing to ignore the "ART" part of that title and instead rejoicing at the mention of the word "POP".

Could Aretha Franklin Be Joining American Idol?

Don't mess with my awesome Photoshop skills.

With the current line-up of judges on American Idol falling faster than the chances of me magically receiving tickets for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, it looks like an unlikely candidate has stepped up to the mark and stated their desire to claim one of the coveted (now empty) seats. Enter, Aretha Franklin!

Duelling Divas: " I Will Always Love You"

This is what happens when us normal, regular folk try to tackle the Whitney Houston version of I Will Always Love You:

Though the critically acclaimed song was written and released by Dolly Parton in 1973, it wasn't until Whitney Houston covered the song two decades later that it really took on the iconic status it now enjoys. In fact Houston's rendition was such a worldwide phenomenon, and so different from the original, that many didn't realise it was a cover or a Country song.

News Round Up: Beyonce Has A Baby, Rihanna Keeps Selling, Sugababes Reform, Katy Perry Divorces and Christina Aguilera Talks Weight.

The biggest news of last week was of course the birth of Beyonce and Jay Z's first child- a daughter- named Blue Ivy Carter. It seems like only yesterday Beyonce spectacularly revealed her pregnancy to the world during her live performance of Love On Top at the 2011 MTV Music Awards.

The speed of the pregnancy seemed in stark contrast to senior Diva Mariah Carey, whose pregnancy felt like the gestation period of an elephant last year! Blue Ivy Carter was delivered healthy, via C-Section, at Lennox Hill Hosptial, New York- just in case you wanted to send flowers. Congratulations to the Knowles/Carter family.
Source: Everyone

Beyonce performs "Countdown" Live on Jimmy Fallon

I had assumed Beyonce had given up on latest album 4 after releasing pretty much half the album and not gaining any traction with the wider music world or its charts. Yes, it was better received by critics than any of her other albums- I liked it- and yes it was a record supposedly "for the fans" but don't be fooled, Beyonce is all about the numbers. Perhaps that's why, like a dog with a bone, Beyonce won't let this album go.

Beyonce's "Countdown" and Kelly Rowland's "Lay It On Me" both suffer plagiarism accusations.

If the BBC think Beyonce and the plagiarism accusations levelled at her new video Countdown is news then who am I to not post on it. Read the the original BBC post below, and find my two pennies under it along with the Kelly Rowland story.

Beyonce Versus Solange: Whose voice do you prefer?

Juvenile perhaps, but definitely with tongue-in-cheek, I ask the question: Beyonce or Solange Knowles, which is better? In reality, you can like them both, but for the sake of this post imagine there's a metaphorical gun to your head and force yourself to choose!

2011 MTV Video Music Award Performance reviews: Adele, sounding a little rough, Beyonce lip-synching and Lady Gaga embarrassing!

What a strange and surreal experience this year's MTV Video Music Awards was. I think, in all honestly, at 27 I'm getting a little too old and jaded for this show. However, as there were Divas performing on the bill I had to watch! Below is my review of Adele's, Lady Gaga's and Beyonce's performances from the night. If you haven't seen them yourself, I've posted the videos too, so there is no excuse for not letting me know what you think in the comments.

Duelling Divas "At Last" Christina Aguilera Vs Beyonce: Who sang it best?

Etta james first covered At Last in 1960 and as far as I am concerned her rendition will always be the best. Not because it's the most well known version, or the one that brought the song to the worlds attention, but because of Etta James' masterful and impassioned delivery.

Etta James utilised her contralto range perfectly, never becoming self-indulgent, showy or overwrought. Instead her voice coexisted with the beautiful lyrics and captivating  instrumentation harmoniously, giving us the resulting classic we know and love today. But how does the renditions of fellow Divas, Beyonce and Christina Aguilera, fare in comparison.

2003 Summer Classic: Beyonce, Missy Elliot, Mc Lyte and Free "Fighting Temptation"

Hot, uncomfortable and sticky nights are here, meaning only one thing- no the heating isn't on the fritz- the arrival of summer! So what better time to roll out some sympathetic music to enjoy the season by.   

Fighting Temptation is a song that totally epitomises the season for me- a feat no doubt helped tremendously by it featuring not one, not two but four sizzling Divas, in the form of Beyonce, Mc Lyte, Free and Missy Elliot, on the one track!

Beyonce's warming timbre is given the task of handling the melodious vocals of the chorus, while the verses are left to the remaining rappers to run amoc over, with their usual brand of creative and stylistically individual flow.

With the songs laid back beat, old school horns, and hazy loved up feel, Fighting Temptation's summery atmosphere is incredibly potent. So much so, I guarantee* it can make it feel like summer no matter the time of year, or the weather outside. Try it next time it's minus 50 degrees outside and your marrow is beginning to freeze in your very bones! Take a listen after the jump.

Beyonce "Runs The World (Girls)" @ the 2011 Billboard awards

Beyonce's commitment to taking her craft to the next level is inspiring. Check out her amazing live performance of Runs the world (girls) at the 2011 Billboard awards to see what I mean.

Clever use of screens, lighting, extras and pyrotechnics gave this showing a cutting edge, futuristic feel. But it was the singer's stage presence that really shone, never being overwhelmed by all the spectacle that shared her stage.

Watch the performance below and see why Queen B is on a level of her own when it comes to putting on a show.

Video review: Beyoncé does Post-apocolyptic Stripper in new video for "Who runs the world (girls)"

With Who runs the world (Girls)- which I actually quite like- tumbling on world charts, Beyonce has finally got her act together and released its accompanying video. But with the song suffering from a lukewarm reception, at best, it's going to make one hell of a video to reverse the song's fortunes. The teaser for the video certainly gave me hope that it would do just that. It hinted at impending greatness; featuring an iconic visual of a strong, commanding Beyonce atop a white horse rampant, as if getting ready to mobilise and lead the females of the world to empowerment.

Single review: Beyonce "(Who run the world) Girls"...what a mess!

You have to give it to Beyonce. Far from staying safe and returning with something that screams "HIT" or that treads familiar territory, Queen B takes a risk and serves up something that sounds akin to a lot of noise on first listen, in the form of new single Girls (Who Run the World).

Q&A: "Who is naturally a better singer, Beyonce or Christina Aguilera?"

This question comes via an email from AmbeRussel [check out his youtube channel here]. If you'd like to ask a question please me email at divadevotee@gmail.com

"Hey I just found your blog online and I enjoy what you have to say. I was just wondering, since i have been having this debate, who you think has a better voice between Beyonce vs Christina Aguilera?

I personal feel that 1 girl's voice is 10x better but doesn't sing as well while the other female singers with the best tech. But there is very little to her voice. I don't want you to be biased so I've used no names. lol.

Can you help me by giving you 2 cents?"
AmbeRussel

Alexandra Burke & Beyoncé duet on "Listen"

Alexandra Burke , Beyonce and Cheryl Cole

Alexandra Burkeduets withBeyoncéon the song "Listen". This performance was ultimately what sealed Alexandra's fate as the winner of the X-factor in 2008 and its not surprising considering she held her own against such a formidable singer.

Beyonce- "Halo" live at NAACP

Beyonce gets emotional while
singing Halo live.

I previously reviewed Halo and in that review commented on Beyonce's vocal delivery not really sounding like,well, Beyonce. To further illustrate my point and show you what the "Beyonce" way of singing the song would have been like, if she had conducted the vocal arrangement, I present to you her NNACP performance.

*Interesting fact: It turns out that the song was actually meant for Leona Lewis. This makes the album's vocal arrangement make more sense*

Review: Beyonce "Halo"

Beyonce returns with a mid-tempo ballad from the Sasha Fierce album called Halo. Penned by the same persons who gave the world Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love, it follows in a similar style with the synths, strings and  prominent beat combo.

Halo has Beyonce taking a new vocal approach with a harsher timbre and a noticeable shift in less vibrato.I would have preferred softer vocals to contrast the harsh synths and drums but overall it's still a great song which I prefer way more to Beyonces' last sappy ballad If I Were A Boy.


4/5 OVERALL: More Sasha Fierce less Beyonce please

Lowest Note in 'Halo' F#3

Highest Note in 'Halo' F#5

Listen to Beyonces' single Halo below:

[Vocal Profile] Beyonce

Beyonce Knowles

Vocal Type: Coloratura (Light-Lyric) Mezzo
Vocal Range: 4 octaves. F2-F6 (approx)
Whistle Register: No
Longest Note: 14 seconds - 'Flaws And All' (live)
Vocal Pluses: A technical singer who has trained their voice into one of the strongest in the industry. Her incredible vocal flexibility and dexterity allows for pin-point accurate, and quick melisma that can traverse through the registers [Link]. In addition, her exceptional breath and core support means Beyonce can hold notes, vocalise long phrases and dance with little decline in vocal quality. She is also in possession of a variable vibrato that is considered one of the best in the business [Link ]. She often adds this to “polish” notes and negate any shrillness that may be present.