[New Music] Anouk Tackles Race and Cultural Appropriation on single "Wigger"

As if none of you have figured, we have a MASSIVE Anouk fan on this website! I'm not sure I even need to point fingers because her love for the singer-songwriter is made known so often (particularly on our " Free-for-all Friday" posts) that you'd have to be a newbie not to have noticed (hello if you are!). So in honour of one of our most vocal members, here's Anouk's latest single, the controversially titled, Wigger.

Being the mother of mixed-race children , Anouk offers a very personal, and informed, take on the subject of race and identity. The guitar-led song is bound to stir-up controversy, as not only does it deal with a subject that make some uncomfortable, but Anouk isn't subtle with the lyric either, leaving little room to hide from its meaning. 

The Dutch Diva was obviously aware of how the song and the title may ruffle feathers, so decided it best to tackle the subject head-on in a Facebook post:

[New Music] Britney Spears "Work B!tch"

Britney Spears' new musical era has begun with the pushed forward release of single, Work B*tch.

The song isn't what I was expecting from the Diva, and honestly I'm left a little cold with the dance direction they've decided to take. Damn you Will.i.am!! However, I've only given the EMD-influenced cut a couple of spins, so perhaps it'll grow on me once the disappointment that she hasn't ventured back into Blackout territory has subsided

Still, it's nice/brave to try new things, so some respect goes to Britney/her handlers for not retreading old ground. (You know things are bad when I'm serving up generic platitudes!) Maybe you guys can help me understand how I should be feeling about the song in the comments.

[Discussion] Celine Dion Speaks About Music Industry And Over Sexualised Young Artists

Celine Dion is clearly a Diva who isn't afraid to give her opinion. Speaking to Access Hollywood on the promotional trail for new single Loved Me Back To Life, the Diva was asked her thoughts on the younger generation of music stars who use controversy to sell their product. But what did she say? Find out below...

[Discuss] Why Did MKS's "Flatline" Flop And What Can Stop Their Comeback suffering A Similar Fate?

MKS performed their first single Flatline live for SBTV in an acoustic fashion- and of course it was amazing. What was so gorgeous about this stripped back performance was how it highlighted how great their voices work together; with the ladies handling the alto, mezzo, and soprano roles of the harmonies without ever losing the individuality of their own voices.

[Listen] The Weeknd Samples Emika's "Professional Loving" on Own Track "Professional"

So I was minding my own business, taking a listen to The Weeknd's new album- Kiss Land- when  I got a very pleasant surprise. Two and a half minutes into opener Professional, when the track begins to wind down seemingly to its conclusion, the song unexpectedly starts up again. Now that's not the kindly surprise I was referring to before; it was actually the choice of sample used-  Emika's Professional Love- to build the coda that made me pause and smile [Don't click on that link if you plan to sleep, EVER].

I suppose I'm just agog that he's even aware of Emika, since her début album wasn't a big seller. But the two artist do share a dark and melancholy sound, so perhaps it's not so unexpected that their musical paths would have crossed eventually. Seriously, if you like The Weeknd's brand of atmospheric electronica, you'll probably enjoy Emika's 2011, self-titled album.


Check out Emika's original and The Weeknd's subsequent use of the sample, below.

[Music Video] Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball"

The follow-up to Miley Cyrus's publicity generating single We Can't Stop has dropped! Thankfully new song Wrecking Ball finds the singer changing gear and delivering a tune with a little more depth than the song that preceded it.

The new song also gives Miley a chance to show everyone that she possesses a set of unique and capable pipes (I can't wait to hear her sing this live). I just wish she hadn't gone for shock value with the nudity in the video because I think the faux-scandal it's probably going to generate might overshadow the song itself.

But whatever, the Dr. Luke and Cirkut produced song is a corker and that's good enough for moi!

[Watch] Celine Dion's Performance of "Loved Me Back To Life" and Interview @ Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Glad to see Celine Dion isn't resting on her laurels and leaving the success of new single Loved Me Back To Life to chance. The Diva is out promoting- wooo yeah!- and joined American Talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform the mid-tempo ballad and chat about various bits and bobs.

The performance itself wasn't as pristine a one as I've come to expect from Celine- note the slight awkward transition to headvoice at 3.04 for example. But I'm just splitting hairs, in reality it was a great rendition that illustrated to people who accuse her of being a serial-lipper that the voice is still present and accounted for. The only thing really lacking was the manic energy she usually comes with- which I felt particularly absent in the belts. Perhaps she was just tired.

Check out the performance of Loved Me Back To Life and her interview with the host (which shows just how down to Earth this megastar still is) below!