[Countdown] P!nk Has Highest Grossing Tour of Any Female In 2013

Taken from Billboard's run down of the 25 highest grossing tours of 2013, P!nk coming on top certainly wasn't what I was expecting after listening to the more rabid stanbases talking trash all year about their fav's ticket sales. The diva also had the highest position of any female (number 7) on Billboard's tally of the top 10 Year-End most popular songs across all genres with Just Give Me A Reason. Just two of the reasons, I suspect, the pop-rocker was deservedly named Billboard's Woman of the Year! Finally, girl be getting some recognition!

But it was a good year for Divas in general, with Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Beyonce all making the top ten highest grossing tours of the year- though it seemed some had to work harder, over more dates, to gross the amount they did. Interestingly, out of all the Divas, Taylor Swift was the only one who sold out all her dates, with Beyonce, conversely, failing to sell out 19 of the 59 shows.

Still, Divas be getting money!

[Video] Beyonce Confuses With "Grown Woman" Visuals

I have exactly zero clue as to what this Grown Woman promo is for, or where it came from.

It doesn't feature the entire track, so it can't be the actual music video. But that doesn't mean it can't be a teaser for something longer. It may even be a video played on the jumbo screens while Beyonce performs the buzz track/album cut/single/Lord-knows-what on tour. However, it's not something I recall seeing when she sang it at Chime For Change. Could it be that she's updated the visuals since then?

Please, one of you guys, help a confused individual out and tell me just what the heck I'm looking at here!

[New Music] Beyonce - "God Made You Beautiful"

Beyonce is back with new music! Unfortunately it is BEYONCE that is back, and not the Queen that is Sasha Fierce.(what's up with that? Has Bey killed her? I feel like I haven't seen her in too long a time! Someone put out an APB!)

God Made You Beautiful  is a song from mother to daughter that I'm sure is very special and personal to Beyonce and her family. However, I don't know any of them, so I'm having a hard time getting into this offering. My frowny opinion might be biased by my ears and heart still being clogged with flu junk, but as of now, I deem this track to be a slushy snoozefest. Arise Sir Snoozefest! If only I'd had it last week for all those hours I couldn't get to sleep, tossing and turning with fever. Would have been a Godsend.

Yes, the sentiment is beautiful- you have to say that right?- and I'm sure God Made You Beautiful  will touch many - mothers being the most obvious demographic (not to mention overzealous fans who see Blue Ivy as the second coming)- but it's just not for bitter ol' me. And I'm OK with that. Perhaps I'll give it another spin once I'm fully back with the land of the living. I'm sure you guys will help me refine my next listen with your comments!

[Video Spam] Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey, Britney Spears, Regina Spektor and Beyonce

Video spam time again! Get ready to be hit with a random assortment of Diva related videos!

First up we have Ellie Goulding's new track, Burn. Clearly hoping to capitalise on the success she's enjoying in the club with her Calvin Harris duet I Need Your Love, Burn has Ellie continuing in a similar vein. Dance floors beware!

Burn is taken from the re-release of second album Halycon, now called Halcyon Days, and a useless fact for you: a version of the song was originally recorded by Leona Lewis for her Glassheart album!

[Discuss] Beyonce Reportedly Scraps Album Number 5 And Starts Recording Again!

We've all been wondering what has happened to Beyonce's fifth studio album. This was supposed to be the year "King B" came back for her throne, making us all Bow Down before her greatness. It all started so well too, with huge amounts of publicity being generated by the singer via a brilliantly orchestrated campaign that included a performance at the Super Bowl, a massive Pepsi deal, an interview with Oprah and a HBO documentary. Surely this couldn't have all been for a tour that we all know would have sold out regardless of this promo.

It's more likely that there was an album ready for release, but lacklustre response to songs coming from camp Bey must have scared the singer/record label into postponing the album. It's something Ne-Yo briefly touched upon, but now producer Diplo has out and out said that album number five has most likely been scrapped entirely:

[New Music] Beyonce Inspires With "Rise Up" From "Epic" Soundtrack

It looks like Beyonce isn't done with helping us become better human beings just yet! Last weekend saw the Crazy In Love singer teach us about women's rights and gender equality at the Chime For Change concert while today, with the release of new song Rise Up, the singer offers up some sage advice on building and maintaining our fragile self-esteem.

Written by Co-written with Sia, and taken from the soundtrack of animated film Epic, the track has Baddie Bey and Sasha Fierce take a back seat, leaving regular, plain ol' God-fearing Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter in the front seat, driving the vocals. So be ready for a delivery that is totally sugar and spice and everything nice. It's not a song I'll be spinning again any time soon, but it's pretty, features some nice, if excessive, harmonies and I can see how it fits perfectly with the movie it's been recorded for.

Take a listen to Rise Up and let me know what y'all think below in the comments.

[Watch] Divas Unite For "Chime For Change" Concert @ Twickenham Stadium

Saturday saw the Chime For Change concert take place at the home of Rugby Union, Twickenham stadium. There was something fittingly symbolic about a venue usually so crammed full of alpha males that just breathing the surrounding air on match day could make you sprout chest hairs, being used to highlight the plight of women everywhere.

Some of you may know that I was lucky enough to attend the concert- and had an amazing time, thanks for asking. But this post isn't really going to offer a play by play of the concert, instead I thought I'd post MY top three best and worst things about the night. Doing that should hopefully stop me from rambling and let you get to the performances quicker. (Or you could just ignore all of this and just scroll straight down, you scoundrels!)

[New Music] Take A Listen to Beyonce And Kelly Rowland's Guest Vocals On The-Dream's New Album, "IV Play"!

Having been responsible for creating some of our Divas' biggest hits- Single Ladies /Umbrella/Obsessed, to name but a few- it's small wonder super-producer The-Dream was able to rope in some big names for his fourth album, IV Play.

The only two Divas making an appearance though, are DC sisters-in-arms, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland- wait, no love for Michelle? Lucky for us, both songs have been released on to the net as a precursor to the album's May 28th release, so no need to wait till then to hear them!

[Listen] Emeli Sande Gives Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" A 1920's Makeover For Gatsby Soundtrack

Beyonce didn't even try to capture the 1920's spirit of The Great Gatsby with her cover of Amy Winehouse's Back To Black. But thankfully Emeli Sande and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra were a little more sensitive when reworking Bey's own Crazy In Love. (Check out executive producer of the soundtrack, Jay-Z, making sure his wife (and himself) get another paycheck from writing credits off of the album! Nepotism at its finest!) 

Now I know a lot of you guys aren't exactly enamoured with Emeli- well, if the comments on her vocal profile are to be believed- but I have to give her, and The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, props for at least trying to deliver an authentic 20's sound. With it's muted trumpets and jaunty rhythm, the song practically paints a picture of bob-haired flappers getting down in trendy, smoke-filled jazz bars.

Take a listen to the song, lifted, of course, from The Great Gatsby soundtrack, below.

[Full Version] Watch Beyonce Perform "Grown Woman" Live

A snippet of Grown Woman had been used for Beyonce's Pepsi commercial, but up until now the full song had alluded us. But with fans crying out for new music during her world tour, the "King" has decreed her Parisian fans worthy of the whole song! Performed during the Paris date of her Mrs Carter Show, Bey worked it like only she could: with Sasha Fierce realness!

Take a look (and listen) to the new cut, below!

[Watch] Beyonce Visits The Past In New Pepsi Advert! But Which Looks Made The Cut? Find Out Here!

I feel a bit conflicted posting what's essentially an advert for Pepsi, but since it features new music from Beyonce, I thought "What the hell" and would share it anyway! Besides, the video contains some pretty neat visuals, as the entertainer extraordinaire does an Annie Lennox and gets down with past incarnations of herself during- what I can only assume is- a bout of psychosis brought on by too much time rehearsing for The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. (It's either that, or the Pepsi!) But don't worry, it all ends well with the doppelgängers being smashed to smithereens when current Beyonce has the realisation to "Embrace your past, but live for the now". So profound.

Having been putting out videos since 1997, Beyonce sure had a tough task deciding which outfits should make an appearance in the commercial, but I'm guessing the ones that did are some of Beyonce's own personal favourites. But what about your favourite(s)? Did they manage to get resurrected in 2013? Take a look and find out below!

[Listen] Beyonce "I Been On" Remix

I'm just going to leave this remix of Beyonce's I Been On, here- just in case any of you want to discuss it....

[New Music] Beyonce Commands You To Bow Down, With The Release Of Two New Songs!

For someone who usually likes to do things with a fair amount of hype, Beyonce sure did come like a thief in the night [no shade] with new buzz tracks, Bow Down / I Been On. Released on the star's Tumblr, the tracks hit the net without any warning but unsurprisingly, considering how thirsty people have been for new music from her, it's a tactic that has generated a huge amount of press. A smart move, it seems.

The songs themselves are interesting in that they offer us an insight into the direction Bey might be taking with her new album. I especially like the beat for the second song I Been on, which has already been featured as the backing on the adverts for her 02 concerts in the UK. The weird voice used on it, I'm not feeling so much, but as this is most likely just the song's outro I can't really judge it until I hear the full thing. As for Bow Down, Beyonce has never exactly been humble when playing alter ego Sasha Fierce- see Diva, Upgrade You, Check On It- but the boastfulness here is a little overwhelming. Honestly, I'm not sure I buy into it, but after the hazy, wishy-washy era Beyonce just had, I can totally understand why she's come back stronger and more bolshy.

[Watch] Beyonce Wins The Super Bowl 2013

Beyonce, you did it! I am #Dead after watching your 2013, half-time Super Bowl performance! Everything I wanted from you, you delivered on (see my original list, here): You took risks, like relying on material from 4; You brought out Destiny's Child, which was great, but made even greater when you let them participate in perhaps your most well known solo song, Single Ladies; you delivered on the stunning visuals; and you sang LIVE! The only misstep was Halo and its arrangement, which asked for too much, vocally, at a point where you were clearly starting to tire. But that was a small misstep in an otherwise knock-out showing!

Five Things I Want To See From Beyonce During Her 2013 Super Bowl Performance

The night is upon us!! Beyonce is going to be tearing up the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans tonight, with her Super Bowl, half-time extravaganza. So why the early post? Well, I wanted to let you guys know what I'm hoping we'll see from the entertainer on this momentous day!

But this is a blog, with the ability for people to comment turned on (yes, I can switch it off!), so I obviously want to hear about your expectations, too! So drop a comment, after you've read my top-five things I want to see from Beyonce's 2013 half-time show, below! We can compare them with the actuality tomorrow, after the show!

So let's get started:

[Watch] Beyonce Addresses Inauguration Lip-Syncing Fiasco and Performs US National Anthem LIVE!

There was never any question (in my mind) that Beyonce could belt out the Star Spangled Banner, live, if she wanted to. But there are those who used her controversial choice to sing over a backing track at the Obama inauguration as an excuse to throw mud at her abilities as a live vocalist. To silence the naysayers, The Queen of the Beehive, who has kept schtum on the whole affair since it happened, decided the best way to shut down those critics was to sing the anthem again, but this time, 100% live, and 100% a cappella!

Taking to the podium at the Super Bowl 2012 press conference- she's performing at the half-time ceremony, didn't you know?- the Destiny's Child member asked the audience to stand before launching into a pretty perfect rendition of the American National Anthem. If that didn't speak volumes in and of itself, the Diva then went on to address, directly, the issue of her choosing to you use a backing track at the inauguration, saying;

Beyonce Confirmed To Have Lip-Synced At Obama Inauguration

How quickly things can change in a day. Yesterday saw Beyonce sing her heart out during the President's Inauguration and, as a result of it, gain worldwide acclaim for her stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.

[Watch] Kelly Clarkson And Beyonce At 2013 Obama Inauguration

Our American Divas were out in force to celebrate the second term inauguration of President Obama in Washington, DC. Kelly Clarkson was the first to show her patriotic pride, giving a rousing rendition of My Country Tis of Thee which concluded with quite a few held notes that really let Kelly's impressive vibrato shine. Overall this was a performance that wasn't as polished as Beyonce's, but it's hard to knock the emotion it packed.

Top Ten Biggest Selling Diva Singles (Ever) Of The UK

The OfficialCharts.com have released their list of the top ten biggest selling female singles of the United Kingdom. Having compiled the official UK Charts for just under 60 years, no one else is better placed to give us a reliable run down, figures included, of the impressive accolade.

Take a look at the list below:

[Watch] Beyonce Gives Worst Performance Of Her Career @ Barclays Center

Having given so many knock out performance in her mammoth career, I thought Beyonce was infallible.

Consistently delivering high octane choreography, along with world class vocals, the Bootlicious star had convinced me that perfection was her standard and it wasn't possible for her to deliver anything but that. Well, if you thought that too, check out her performance of Diva, Crazy in Love and Young Forever.

Pitchy vocals, clearly lacking stamina (vocally and physically), and sounding like her voice has dropped some of it's range, Beyonce was all over the shop in this set at the Barclays Center. Jay-Z wasn't much better either.