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VMA 2009 Post Coverage

2009-09-14T09:25:00.007-04:00

Another September, another MTV Video Music Awards broadcast. I'm sure MTV execs long for the days when an audience can be shocked by a pop star in a wedding dress writhing on the floor making sexually suggestive moves. Or even for the days when that same pop star can wow audiences by kissing two women. Alas, those days are gone. Our generation is perpetually unimpressed. But, here's what might have caught your attention this year.

Of course, no award show could have ignored the biggest thing to happen to pop culture this year: Michael Jackson's death. The tribute to the King of pop was thorough and momentous including a grand speech by Madonna, choreography to some of Michael's greatest hits including Thriller and Bad, and, an icon in her own right, Janet Jackson performing Scream alongside Michael. Say whatever you will, and much has been said, but there will never be another.

The night took a negative turn shortly thereafter when Taylor Swift was awarded Best Female Video. Kanye West took Taylor's win over fellow nominee Beyoncé as a personal affront and took it upon himself to interrupt her acceptance speech, grab the mike from her hands and proclaim that Beyoncé had one of the greatest videos of all time. While what he said was 100% right, how he went about it was 100% wrong: it was incredibly disrespectful to everyone involved, but especially to 19-year-old Taylor. Kanye is an insufferable piece of shit.

Beyoncé later went on to win Video of the Year for Single Ladies and allowed Taylor another shot at her acceptance speech. Leave it to Kanye to make me feel sympathetic towards Taylor Swift (I really don't like that little girl very much).

The Twilight cast (who all looked absolutely miserable) was in attendance to premiere the extended trailer for their impending sequel, New Moon. Not gonna lie, it looks great. Can't wait to see the scenes with the Volturi. And, dear me, did you SEE Edward with his shirt off?! Good heavens.

Finally, Lady GaGa's performance, even after all the hype, was absolutely incredible.
Her vocals were the best I've ever heard them, the set was amazing, the concept brilliantly executed. Awesome, awesome. It's crazy to think that this is her first VMAs and she's only been in the spotlight for a year's time. She's so ahead of the game.

That's pretty much it for this year. Not the worst, not the best. Kinda meh. Below is a list of winners.

Video of the Year: Beyonce Knowles – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Best New Artist: Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Best Hip-Hop Video: Eminem – We Made You
Best Male Video: T.I. ft Rihanna – Live Your Life
Best Pop Video: Britney Spears – Womanizer
Best Rock Video: Green Day – 21 Guns
Best Female Video: Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me
Best Video (That Should Have Won A Moonman): Beastie Boys – Sabotage
Breakthrough Video: Matt And Kim – Lessons Learned
Best Art Direction: Lady Gaga – Paparazzi
Best Choreography: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Best Cinematography: Green Day – 21 Guns
Best Direction: Green Day – 21 Guns
Best Editing: Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Best Special Effects: Lady Gaga – Paparazzi

New Music: Gleeful Greats

2009-09-11T21:43:00.008-04:00

I raved about how fantastic I think Glee is in my review of the season opener yesterday, but for those of you who need a little more convincing, check out two songs from Wednesday night's episode. (If you're already a Gleek, consider this a treat =]). First up is the Glee Club's take on Kanye West's Gold Digger. Rachel's (Lea Michele) cover of Take a Bow by Rihanna follows. Listen and enjoy, luhvahs.

Gold Digger
Glee Cast

Take a Bow
Rachel (Lea Michele)

New Music: Mika Says 'Blame' the Girls...I'm With Him

2009-09-11T12:48:00.011-04:00

It is gloomy here today in New York City; it has been raining since early morning, and, of course, today's significance is enough to put a dour fog on any day. So, when I'm feeling glum, I play music to cheer myself up and who better to put a smile on my face than the ever adorable Mika? Isn't it just serendipitous then that I got my mitts on Mika's brand new single this morning?

Blame It On the Girls is fantastic pop. The opening drums, handclaps, and piano draws you in immediately and Mika takes you for a ride. The lyrics are characteristically fresh, the melody customarily infectious and the song overall is less polarizing than lead single We Are Golden. Everyone can get into this.

Check out Mika's second single, Blame It On the Girls below. Mika's second studio album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, will be available on September 21. I've also thrown in a live performance of We Are Golden. Allow Mika's joyous music and smile to brighten your day. I think I see the sun peering out...

Blame It On the Girls
Mika
The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Janet Jackson's HB Cover, A New Job for Ellen, "I Got You on Candid Camera w/my iPod Nano!"

2009-09-11T02:01:00.008-04:00

Miss Jackson is looking fabulous on the cover of October's Harper's Bazaar. Go here to read the exclusive interview, her first since Michael's death.

America's favorite lesbian will be on America's favorite TV show: it's been revealed that Ellen DeGeneres will be the fourth judge on American Idol this season, replacing Paula Abdul. Ellen's absolutely amazing, but how much does she know about singing??

Steve Jobs is back on his feet after liver transplant surgery. He says he's fortunate to be alive and urges everyone to become organ donors. I agree. Updates were relatively light for Apple this year; thankfully my original iPod Touch isn't horribly outdated (yet). You can however purchase a new, metallic iPod Nano complete with video camera. Yeah, 'cause that's necessary. Also, iTunes Version 9.0 is now available.

TV Review: Don't Be Shy, 'The Vampire Diaries' Has No Fangs

2009-09-10T22:21:00.015-04:00

Vampire Diaries made its debut on the CW tonight without much bite. While I'm not familiar with the series of books the show is based on, I have seen all seven seasons of Buffy (multiple times), read the Twilight series and seen the movie (again, multiple times) and am waiting on pins and needles for the second season finale of True Blood on Sunday. I know vampires. I know they're hot right now. And it would seem that Vampire Diaries’ lifeless (in a bad way) pilot is the CW's attempt to cash in on the bloody cow. Or something like that. (I like malapropisms! And parenthetical thoughts!!)

Nina Dobrev, another Degrassi alumnus to get a break in Hollywood and star in her own show on the CW (You hear that, Cassie Steele?! You let TWO girls cut in front of you!!), plays Elena, a high school girl struggling with the loss of her parents. Surely, whoever employed Nina as the lead in this show has reviewed her work on Degrassi? Apparently, they overlooked her limited talent. In Vampire Diaries, that oversight is glaring; she plays Elena completely flat and her awkwardness in the scenes with lead vampire, Stefan, is cringe inspiring. I mean, I know her parents just died a few months ago, but damn, nothing brings you back to life like bumping into a smolderingly hot vampire in the hallway. Act like you know, girl.

"Dobrev plays Elena awkwardly and completely flat…kinda like the way she played Mia on Degrassi."

Stefan, played by Paul Wesley, is perfect. The square jaw, the piercing eyes, the cute butt. He is exactly how I imagined Edward Cullen to be while reading the Twilight series. Robert Pattinson added in his own dorkiness, but it added to the charm and ended up working. Paul, however, has classic vampire down. Stefan starts off the episode saying, "I have to know her," 'her' denoting Elena, and I spent the first half hour wondering why in the hell anyone, dead or alive, would want to get to know her. It definitely isn’t her personality!

Lastly, there is Damon, the evil vampire played by Ian Somerhalder. Firstly, just to get it out of the way: Ian needs a haircut. Besides that, he’s pretty generic. While his brother, Stefan, has decided to live amongst people and live off the blood of animals, Damon, clearly a voluptuary, has not. And of course, he has this nasty grudge against his dear brother and likes to see him suffer. Not only was the pilot a solid hour of "meet the characters," but also the plot of episodes to come seem easily predictable, especially with the show’s similarities to the other popular vampire stories of the moment. I think the only way they’ll get viewers to stick around is if everyone is really hot and there’s vampire sex.

"The only way viewers will stick around is if there’s lots and lots of vampire sex."

Well, it’s the CW -- so yeah, everyone’s really hot. Elena’s psychic best friend, her acquaintances, her ex-boyfriend (dear god), her ex-boyfriend’s sister, and even her little brother are all insanely attractive. Clearly, I need to move to Mystic Falls. The vampire sex thing remains to be seen. But they’ll do the right thing if they’re smart. As it’s only the pilot, I’ll be giving the Vampire Diaries another shot to surprise me next week. There better be less clothing.

Rating:5/10

Too harsh?? Too nice?? Sound off! Leave a comment.

Check out reviews to the other shows premiering this fall!!

TV Review: Cycle 13: Smaller Girls, Bigger Crazy

2009-09-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Tyra's back, and of course, she's bringing the crazy. For this unbelievable thirteenth cycle (like, seriously can you imagine this show ending?) Tyra has opened up the doors to aspiring young models shorter than 5'7". This is a bit of a stretch considering even the tall winners of ANTM have only seen limited, scattered success, but there's no contradicting Tyra.

Rae

Even though it's 'Le Cycle 13,' the general formula of the show is mostly unchanged with the exception of the shorter girls' inclusion. Oh, and Paulina Porizkova is gone. She'll be replaced by a different guest judge every week. Paulina was kind of weird and annoying, and new guest judges are more exciting besides. So, not exactly 'good riddance' but you won't actually 'be missed' either.

Sundai

As is typical, the premiere ran for two hours with the 14 finalists selected at the end of the first hour. But the first hour of a season of ANTM is like the auditions for American Idol. Pure comedy. Amber, possibly the most insane, hilarious girl I've even seen on the show actually made it through to the final 14, but as she probably is actually insane, she dropped out shortly after, replaced by a Mila Kunis wannabe (who ended up the first girl to get the boot). It was actually sad seeing all the girls eliminated this time around. You know they're so short that this was really a one-shot opportunity... Oh, well!

Nicole

The biggest difference in this cycle in my opinion isn't the girls' height but how gorgeous so many of them are. Sure, it's a modeling competition and there are always a couple girls in every cycle that are beautiful but I spent most of last night saying "She's so pretty..." That or "Wow, this bitch is crazy!"Usually I'm squinting at the screen trying to see what Tyra is seeing, but all the girls look like models this time around and the vast majority are breathtaking on film. It's one of the best bunches she's gotten together. My only issue is Bianca. Damn, did we really need another bald, black bitch?? Nnenna and Sandra and now this chick. These girls don't love themselves, they're insecurities are plain as day. Giving dark-skinned girls a bad name.

Kara

As this is the thirteenth cycle, I'm sure you know by know whether you like ANTM or not. I can only tell you that this season stands up to the ones that came before it, and has the potential to be even better. Instead of the bitchy catfights to come, I'm actually looking forward to seeing these gorgeous girls compete. Pictured above are the girls I think have the most potential. Agree? Glee and ANTM Wednesdays for me, yeee.

Rating: 7/10

Will you be watching Top Model this season?? Which girls do you like the best?? Sound off! Leave a comment.

Check out reviews to the other shows premiering this fall!!

TV Review: Oh Em Glee

2009-09-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

Glee. Is. Amazing.

Because of all the hype surrounding this show since the pilot episode aired a few months back, I decided to wait for the series' proper premiere to watch the show. I mean, why suffer all summer? Turns out I was (unusually) prescient in this instance; I couldn't imagine waiting three months to see the next episode!

"Glee had me literally L-O-Ling from start to finish. Comedic gold."

Glee had me laughing out loud from start to finish. The humor is quick, biting, and relentless. There was much garbling about stereotypical, unoriginal characters after the pilot aired, but while the social hierarchy of the students may be archetypal, I have never seen these characters before. The satire turns everyone inside out, and while you think you know what roles these characters will play, it's wildly entertaining to watch them surprise you over and over again.

If this ensemble cast has a main character, it's Will, the hot Spanish teacher who becomes Glee Club director, played by Matthew Morrison. The show shuffles back and forth between his home life with his demanding, conniving wife and his school life concerning his relations with the rest of the staff and his Glee students. Rachel, played by Lea Michele, is the leader of Glee Club, passionately devoted to her craft and developing her talent, and the object of ridicule for the competing cheerleading squad and the football team. The rest of the Glee Club is made up of Finn, a conflicted jock with a big voice, Mercedes, a black R&B diva with a bigger voice (she is "Beyoncé, not Kelly Rowland!"), Kurt, a flamboyant, headstrong tenor in fierce designer fashions, Tina, an Asian goth chick with a stutter, and finally, the paraplegic Artie. It took me a while to place him, but I finally realized that Artie is played by Kevin from NLT(!!). You can't fool me with those glasses and that wheelchair, Kevin. I still see all that fine.

"'I tried [bulimia], but I don't have a gag reflex.' 'When you're older, that'll turn out to be a gift.'"

Of course, I expected the show to focus mainly on the kids, their hilarious antics and awesome talent. So I was a tad nervous to discover that it was mainly narrated around Will's point of view. Like, if there's one thing I couldn't stand about Degrassi, it was all the plotlines surrounding the adults. Who really cares about Spike and Snake's marriage? Not me. But, Will, again, is super hot, and Emma, the guidance counselor who holds a candle for married Will is so cute with her mysophobia. Not to mention, Sue, played by the superb Jane Lynch. She absolutely steals every single scene she's in. Brilliantly funny.

"The ensemble cast is phenomenally talented; they really make the show special."

Now, brace yourself for the cheesy part. There's no better title for the show than Glee. As bitchy as everyone and despite all the facades the characters put up, the show manages to be incredibly heartwarming at times. This is, in large part, thanks to the music. There are three or four numbers per episode and it's really when everything clicks and comes together. Possibly my favorite thing about the show is how positive the message is about the arts without being preachy or uncool. All the kids in Glee Club are committing social suicide but they do it because they love it. And while we're on the subject of the music, Mercedes took Kanye's Gold Digger to church last night and Rachel straight-up killed Rihanna's Take A Bow. She reminds me of a mini Idina Menzel. I can potentially see that dancing and singing along with a sitcom is not everyone's thing. But it's a dream come true for me.

"There is no better title for this show. Glee says it all. Love it, can't recommend it enough."

All in all, I can't recommend Glee enough. I loved every minute of it. The cast is extremely talented, the writing fresh and inventive, and the music phenomenal. There's no where else you should be on Wednesday nights.

Rating: 9/10

Oh Em Glee, did you love it too?? Or do you think it's just a stupid musical pretending to be a sitcom?? Sound off! Leave a comment.

Check out reviews for the other shows premiering this fall!

TV Review: Melrose Place is AWFUL...ly good... Who knew?

2009-09-09T02:11:00.008-04:00

The series premiere of the revamped Melrose Place aired tonight and color me surprised when 5 minutes in I didn't want to shoot myself and 20 minutes in I was actually into it. MP was not nearly as lame as I expected it to be. While that's normally a snide, queeny judgment, this time it's actually a compliment!

"Melrose Place may just be what the CW has been missing."

The CW has the 90210 kiddies with the emotional ranges of 8-year-olds, and it has the Gossip Girl socialites who are clearly grown up but restricted by the limitations of their high school roles. But, Melrose Place may just be what the CW has been missing: an adult drama. There's nothing holding the characters in MP back from taking it to the next level, and judging from the premiere, they won't disappoint.

First off, let me get it out of the way and say that everyone is hot. Duh, it's the CW. The show began with a half-naked Michael Rady (hence my rapt attention) who is ridiculously attractive and teasingly put his shirt on far too soon. And then of course there's the hot girlfriend, Riley, played by a Jessica Lucas migrated from 90210, and all the other fabulously beautiful residents. The gate on 4616 Melrose Place must read "You can't move in unless you're pretty."

"Michael Rady puts his shirt on way too quickly..."

The characters' beauty aside, the most intriguing aspect of the first episode was the juxtaposition of the goody-goodies and the ones who seemed to have misplaced their moral compasses. There's the earnest videographer pedaling his amateur film against the slutty, drug-abusing thief. There's the compassionate doctor-in-training versus the haughty, bisexual publicist who takes what she wants. The conflicts work because they're plausible and relatable: What would you do if someone offered you $5000 in tuition money in exchange for sex? (Mm, no comment). Or maybe you'd blackmail and exploit your way into stardom if you had the opportunity. All this combined with a murder in the first ten minutes of the show, and the subsequent whodunit, and Melrose Place becomes a dizzying, yet absorbing drama. Which totally knocked me down on my ass because I expected it to suck.

"The series' intrigue lies in its diverse range of characters; the good boys and girls mixed in with the grittier characters makes for absorbing television."

I guess I expected Melrose Place to be so bad because every time I heard about it or saw an advertisement, I would see Ashlee Simpson. Producers, pay attention: this is what we call 'poor marketing.' After the drab hour spent watching 90210, MP seemed like an oasis in a programming desert. I'll definitely be checking back next week to see if it was all a mirage, or if the show can make good on its promise and become even half as tantalizingly addictive as the original.

Rating: 8/10

Did you love it, too?? Or maybe you hated it and you think I'm a moron?? Sound off! Leave a comment.

Be sure to check out the reviews for all the other shows premiering this season!!

TV Review: 9021No.

2009-09-09T00:56:00.004-04:00

90210 came back from the grave, or wherever it is that cancelled TV shows go and now it's back for its second season. Hot guys and scantily clad girls rampaging wild and loose in Beverly Hills, yeeeeee!! Wait. What's with all the suck??

"FAIL. Whomp whomp."

90210 should work. It's got all the makings of a hit teen drama and the advantage of a template that it can shamelessly abuse. However, as shallow as the genre is purported to be, teen drama is evidently more than just the sum of its parts. 90210 is almost a parody of what it's trying to be. You can almost hear the writers and producers scratching their heads as they attempt to grasp the inner workings of a teenager's mind and the "whomp whomp" as they fail miserably.

The show's leading ladies are legitimately gorgeous, especially queen bee Naomi, played by AnnaLynne McCord, whose venomous facial expressions are something every self-respecting gay boy should be practicing in the mirror. But all the slow-motion scenes of the girls in itsy bitsy bikinis at the private pool club or strutting the school hallways in chic ensembles (Silver looked fabulous, didn't she?) isn't enough to overlook the show's stunning lack of decent dialogue. Wait, maybe 'decent' is too high a standard? How about any dialogue at all?? None of the characters actually talk to one another; there is only self-absorbed ranting that no one onscreen actually pays any attention to. 80% of the forced, contrived drama that will indubitably be rehashed on the show until at least January could have been resolved in the first episode if any of the characters cared to actually carry on a conversation.

"Every self-respecting gay boy should practice Naomi's stank faces in the mirror."

Also, what's with all the plot devices coming at you with the speed of an old granny in a walker? Annie, troubled by her deep, dark secret, pushing her friends and family away and turning to sex and alcohol? Called that, saw it on Degrassi five years ago. Naomi, jumping from man to hideous, double-chinned older man to keep her mind off the (smoking hot) guy who wronged her last season and, surprise!!, has enrolled in all of her classes this year? Yeah, not surprised. And what's with all the disingenuous histrionics? One day, Silver has no idea whether she wants to be with Ethan or Dixon, the next she "can't breathe, can't breathe" *rolls eyes* because she knows it's Dixon now but he doesn't want to be with her, and the next the bitch is totally fine and absolutely WERQing a fierce outfit down the halls of her school (seriously, that belt was fire). Spare me. Oh, and another thing: does it have to be so blatantly obvious that none of these people are remotely close to 16??

"90210 is great except for the complete lack of dialogue and miserably predicatable plot developments. Sorry."

I'll give the show another shot next week in the hopes that Naomi will make another stank face and Liam will take his shirt off for some reason, but, unless Ethan and Tabitha both come back to the show and start making out with each other, I almost certainly won't be following 90210 this season. There's just too much else on this year.

Rating: 4/10

Think I was too harsh? Did you absolutely love it?? Sound off! Leave me a comment.

Check out reviews to the other shows premiering this fall!!

Fall Premieres - Reviews

2009-09-08T19:30:00.008-04:00

It's that time again. Time for fall premieres! What shows will you be watching this season? Check back here throughout the next few weeks to read impressions of the shows once they air and see what's worth following this fall. Am I missing a show on the calendar?? Did I get a show's review totally wrong?? Give me feedback and I'll follow your favorites.

Pass

Fail

New Music: Former Cheetah goes solo with 'Superbad'

2009-09-07T23:44:00.005-04:00

Recently liberated from the Cheetah Girls, Adrienne Bailon has signed a solo deal with Def Jam and is looking to release her debut album later this year or early 2010. The 25-year-old seasoned veteran is venturing out on her own after her success shuffling back and forth between girl groups for the last ten years -- 3LW's debut album was certified platinum and the Cheetah Girls brand, one of the most popular and profitable brands Disney has created in the past decade, has racked up five Billboard-charting albums (one achieving double platinum status) and tens of millions of dollars in revenue from three movies, four nationwide tours, and countless merchandise.

"Superbad is an upbeat, club track with strong vocals from Bailon, but lacks the personality necessary to separate itself from the bunch."

Rumored first single Superbad is an upbeat, club track with decent production by D'Mile. Adrienne, a very capable, competent vocalist, sounds great, but the track itself lacks any semblance of personality. The catchy hook stands out as it calls to mind the 2007 film of the same name and Adrienne's vocal delivery manages to keep the song from backsliding into the gray void of monotony, but the unfortunate truth is she will probably need more than this to make an impact on radio. Adrienne is reportedly working with the likes of Brian Michael Cox and The Dream for the new album. If her solo debut does see release -- and I sincerely hope it does, as I love Adrienne's voice -- I wouldn't be at all surprised if she picked another single to lead.

Check out Superbad for yourself below and drop a comment to let me know what you think.

Superbad
Adrienne Bailon

Newsweek Interviews Lady GaGa

2009-09-06T18:07:00.008-04:00

Regular nodnarb readers are well aware that the man behind the blog is completely enamored with Lady GaGa. I believe that she is the future of pop music; a powerful combination of talent, daring, focus, and artistry. She is experiencing great success with her debut album, The Fame, and is distinctly ahead of the curve in every move she makes. Love her or hate her, Lady GaGa demands your attention.

Above is the first, ferocious shot from Lady GaGa's upcoming spread with British Vogue, discernibly inspired by the impending rerelease of her debut, newly titled The Fame: Monster. Below is a recent interview with Newsweek in which GaGa explains her concept of fame, what she hopes to accomplish with her updated debut album to be released this fall, and her upcoming VMA performance, which with she intends to "inspire a movement." Read on...

Congratulations on your nine nominations. Have you always been a fan of the VMAs?

When I was younger, I used to wrap a big blanket around myself, an afghan my grandmother knitted, and I would wear it like a gown. I would run around the basement with popcorn and I would scream in excitement waiting for them to come on. I used to love the big pop acts. I remember Alicia Keys gave a beautiful performance and Michael Jackson with 'N Sync.

Have you figured out what you're going to perform?

I'm going to be performing one of the most recent singles off my album. But it's going to be a different and more dramatic interpretation. And it is most certainly rooted in New York-style performance art.

What does that mean?

It's less of me singing the song, and more of an art installation. A performance-art piece. It's very well-designed and thought out, and we've been planning it for months and months. It is for me a very meaningful performance, [for] where I am in my career, as well as the experiences I've had, as well as the co-headlining tour I'm going on in the fall.

Do you think it will be one of those defining moments people will remember at the VMAs?

I know it will. I sort of have this philosophy about things: there's never a reason to do something unless it's going to be memorable, unless it's going to change things, unless it's going to inspire a movement. With the song and with the performance, I hope to say something very grave about fame and the price of it.

Something grave? What?

You'll have to see.

What are you going to wear?

I would say that the fashion for the performance is a representation of the most stoic and memorable martyrs of fame in history. It's intended to be an iconic image that represents people. I think after watching the performance and maybe studying it after you watch it on YouTube, you'll see the references and the symbols come through.

Do you watch yourself on YouTube?

I like to watch my performances sometimes. I'm always trying to improve on choreography and the stage shows. I like to watch the lighting. I often argue with my lighting designer on the show; as much as I like to light the show for the room, it's important to light the show and design the sound for YouTube. In truth, lots of my fans can't make it to my shows in Israel or Germany or in Paris, so they go online to watch them.

How do you light a show differently for YouTube?

I like it to be moody. I like it to evoke an idea more than light my face. It's not about what you see. It's about what you don't see, and sometimes that vacant space can be very scary.

Everybody knows you now, but if somebody didn't, how would you describe your music?

It's New York pop. The music reflects the lifestyle of me and my friends living in downtown New York, with no money but a dream and fervor for fame and to be a star. And it was through a constant devotion to our work, as well as a relentless pursuit of our dream, that we are here today. For myself, the Haus of Gaga is not a marketing tool. It's a group of friends and young designers that I wish to use my fame to propel them forward. So it's music in tandem with art.

How old were you when you first wanted to be famous?

I think I was in my mother's womb. But it's not about fame, you see. It's about "The Fame." It's about a life of glamour. I believe in a glamorous life.

What's the difference?

Fame today, the stereotypical idea that we have about fame, is that cameras follow you everywhere and everybody is talking about you and you can't go anywhere. The "it" girl. [With] The Fame, I'm talking about the inner sense of confidence.

So you can be a non-famous person and still have The Fame.

I prefer non-famous people who have The Fame. I myself don't like celebrities. It's the idea that you can be whoever you want to be. You don't have to be a victim of your environment. You can become the image of yourself you project, [that] you could become in the future.

Why don't you like celebrities?

I just haven't had an excellent personal experience with celebrities. But I'm sure there are a few lovely ones. I have made a few friends, of course.

You wore a jacket made entirely of Kermit the Frogs. Were you a fan of the Muppets?

I do love the Muppets. It is a wonderful childhood memory I share. That particular jacket, we had no idea it would make such a splash. That jacket is very famous now. We're excited that it's famous. It's by a designer we wanted to support. I thought it was comical because I don't wear fur. But there was something morbid and hilarious and wearing a jacket made of lots of Kermits. Dead, dead Kermits.

Did you still have the jacket?

I sent it back to [the designer]. I imagine he would like to have it. Maybe some amazing fashion model will wear it on the cover of Italian Vogue.

I read that Madonna came to your concert?

Yes. She did.

Did you meet her?

No. I didn't. But we have exchanged messages [through] mutual people that we know. She is very kind to me and supportive. I appreciate her support very much.

I read on your Twitter they tried to arrest you in Russia.

They did. I was wearing my outfit from my performance at this nightclub in the middle of Moscow. I was in the car going back to the hotel. I asked them to pull over in Red Square so I could take a picture. I was out there for about five minutes, and I guess they thought my clothing was inappropriate.

You Tweet in German a lot. Do you speak it fluently?

I don't speak German, but my favorite writer is German, Rainer Maria Rilke. I just got a tattoo of this book he's very famous for, Letters to a Young Poet. I got the tattoo on my bicep.

How many tattoos do you have?

Six.

You recently wrote a song for Michael Bolton?

I love Michael Bolton, and I always have. The record label called me and said, "Michael is doing a new album, and who better to write an '80s love song than Lady Gaga?" I said, "You're absolutely right." I looked at it as an exciting opportunity, especially after I wrote "Just Dance" and I was writing for other artists, everybody wanted me to write them the next "Just Dance." It was always dance music. It was an exciting opportunity to work with someone as timeless as Michael and do a ballad. Do something that I'm really good at that I don't get to show very much. Or that I haven't shown on this record. But I will be showing on the rerelease, which is coming out this fall.

Would you be interested in writing for other artists?

I am working on other people's work right now. I'm always writing.

Can you tell me who?

No. I couldn't do that. I like to honor the artists. Some artists don't like other people to know they're collaborating. So I want to be honorable and take care of the artist. When I'm a writer, it's not about me. It's about them.

Do you ever ghost-write a song?

I prefer not to say.

Listen to the track Lady GaGa wrote (and sang backing vocals) for Michael Bolton below.

Murder My Heart
Michael Bolton featuring Lady GaGa
One World, One Love

P.S. It was just announced that Lady GaGa is the songwriter and performer behind the #1 and #3 most downloaded songs in UK history! Poker Face has amassed an astounding 779,000 downloads in a year's time, followed closely by the 700,000 downloads of her debut single Just Dance. Incredible. Congratulations.

Chuck Goes Gay?? Tell me more...

2009-09-06T15:58:00.006-04:00

At the conclusion of season two of GG, Chuck and Blair finally dispensed with all the excuses and admitted their love to each other (at the same time). Heartwarming, wasn't it? The evil schemes these two will plot together this season is one of my main reasons for tuning in. Early buzz for the third season reveals that one of those schemes will involve our favorite motherChucker getting in touch with the roots of his literary counterpart. That is to say, Chuck will (however briefly) be playing for the other team. Will he be getting hot and heavy with his best frenemy Nate?? Read on to find out...

Meet Neal Bledsoe. No, Chuck won't be making out with Nate *pout*. But, I mean, c'mon, how could they explain that? No, Ed will have to settle for Mr. Bledsoe instead, who may not be quite as dreamy as Chace Crawford, but is certainly handsome as far as consolations go. The relatively unknown Bledsoe will play an influential alumnus that Blair will need to manipulate to get her way. Enter a seductive Chuck. Ah, can't wait!

In a recent interview, Neal was asked about his reaction to the role and the slightly controversial smooch. He asserted:

"Things like that shouldn’t matter. Unfortunately for some actors things like that do matter and they’ll turn down projects because of it. I thought it was a really fun episode. I had an awesome time doing it. And I think it would’ve been a shame if I was not open-minded enough to do the episode simply because I had to kiss another man."

Um, swoon. Can we keep him?

Sadly, it would seem that Neal is only sticking around for the one, steamy episode. But, silver lining: he's also scored a role in the upcoming Sex and the City sequel. Good on you, Neal! There's literally four pictures of Bledsoe on the internet as of this posting. But if he keeps pleasing the gays like this, we'll make sure he has a steady paycheck.

New Music: Leona Lewis just wants to be 'Happy'

2009-09-06T00:01:00.011-04:00

Leona Lewis is officially back on the scene. After a few tracks from her upcoming album, Echo, leaked some weeks ago, we now have the official lead single. Leona co-wrote Happy with Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart, but ten seconds into the track and you could have figured that out for yourself. It's so very irritating when one producer gets branded a "hitmaker;" it only translates to monotony on the radio. Happy is filthy with Tedder's footprints; his formula for creating a stellar, striking pop song is clearly perfected, but the sad reality is we've heard it too many times before. Case in point: after I heard Happy for the first time, I had Bleeding Love stuck in my head.

"Happy is filthy with Ryan Tedder's footprints."

With all that said, Happy is almost certainly Leona's next big hit. The track saddles the fence between Bleeding Love and Better in Time -- two singles I found to be oddly polarizing amongst friends, so everyone should be 'happy' this time around. Even with its blatant similarities to Bleeding Love and Jordin Sparks' Battlefield, there's no denying the pull of that sudden, booming chorus or Leona's pitch-perfect vocals. These mid-tempo, power pop ballads are clearly Leona's bread and butter. I'd be astonished if she didn't give an amazing performance complete with fog and moody lighting at the upcoming Divas special on VH1 to quiet all the whispers of her mistaken inclusion. While she may be lacking the diva flair in personality, Leona is still at the very pinnacle of the game vocally -- the Mariah to Christina Aguilera's Whitney.

"Mid-tempo, power pop ballads are Leona's bread and butter; Happy is almost certainly her next big hit."

Leona's sophomore album Echo is slated for a November release. You'll be listening to Happy for the next year or so -- you may as well take the plunge now. Enjoy.

Happy
Leona Lewis
Echo

Crystal Kay Promotes New Album: Watch 'KnO,' Listen to 'Step by Step' & 'Helpless Night' ft. Jin Akanishi

2009-09-05T12:18:00.014-04:00

Crystal Kay performs 恋におちたら for the umpteenth time and I still swoon. She just sounds and looks so good. Love the pose at the end! Of course, Crystal is pimping out her most successful single to date on Music Fair to promote her new compilation album, BEST of CRYSTAL KAY, which is actually selling fairly well. I was a tad nervous when her double A-side After Love/Girlfriend basically bombed, but I guess a catalogue of all her hits along with Jin Akanishi's name on the cover of the CD is providing more of an incentive. As I've mentioned before, the album is absolutely amazing in all its awesomeness, and you should definitely pick it up if your a fan. Check out a couple of the tracks from the new disc below.

Step by Step
Crystal Kay
BEST of CRYSTAL KAY

Helpless Night
Crystal Kay featuring Jin Akanishi
BEST of CRYSTAL KAY

Step by Step must be a lot like crack. I don't know, I'll have to ask Whitney. But, seriously, I start to itch if I haven't heard it over six hours. It's the best result one could have imagined from a collaboration with Yasutaka Nakata; Kuri brought out the best in his style. Love it. Helpless Night is nice, but leaves a little to be desired. I'll go ahead and blame that on Jin; he just doesn't sell it. I would have preferred Wonder to be included instead, but again, it's not a bad listen. Honestly, with the After Love/Girlfriend single and the four new tracks included in this set, Kuri was well on her way to a new studio album. I'm a bit flummoxed as to why all these great tracks and high profile guests are being relegated to a first-press special edition disc, but then again, Crystal is never really promoted well. All we can do as fans is support our girl =D.

Because I can't help myself, I'm throwing in this video of Crystal Kay and BoA in the studio recording Girlfriend. They're so encouraging of one another. And Kuri doing the Eat You Up choreo!! かわいい！！

Janet on Michael, Chris Brown v. Oprah!, Lady GaGa's Hot Vag

2009-09-04T20:43:00.014-04:00

A mum Janet Jackson has decided to pierce her silence regarding her brother's untimely death. The icon is set to cover the next Harper's Bazaar issue with an exclusive interview. Jackson is also working on her next film, Tyler Perry's How Did I Get Married, Too and is reportedly in the early stages of recording her 11th studio album, the follow-up to last year's Discipline. I'll be interested to hear the differences in her new material now that she has split from Def Jam and boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. At the very least, we can hope that Janet finds a label willing to promote more than one single.

Michael Jackson, who passed away over two months ago, was finally laid to rest yesterday, September 3rd. The lavish ceremony was befitting the king of popular music, whose legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence and inspire aspiring musicians for decades to come.

An audacious Chris Brown, apparently unimpressed with the pity party following his abrupt and much deserved fall from grace, has gone on record against Oprah in a recent interview. When asked about his feelings regarding Oprah's show focusing on abuse shortly after his assault against Rihanna, the brazen buffoon had the blazing gall to say this:

"I commend Oprah on being like, 'This is a problem,' but it was a slap in my face. I did a lot of stuff for her, like going to Africa and performing for her school. She could have been more helpful, like, 'Okay, I'm going to help both of these people out.'"

Ummm, how about "no," bitch.

Of course, this little stunt didn't elicit a direct response from the Big O herself, but her people quickly responded:

"Oprah is very appreciative that Chris Brown performed at her school but she takes domestic abuse very seriously. She hopes he gets the counseling he needs."

Yes. Get help, asshole. Singing for children in Africa may sound like the ultimate tool for exoneration, but it doesn't mean the most influential woman in America should condone your disgusting behavior. Go get that counseling -- and stay off our radios and television sets in the meantime. Dick.

Lady GaGa is quite busy kicking ass and taking names, thank you very much. While making the rounds promoting her solo tour in Australia, our fair Lady was queried about the hermy rumors on a morning show in Brisbane. When asked about the "tiny penis issue" and whether the rumors offended or embarrassed her, GaGa retorted with:

"My beautiful vagina is very offended. I'm not offended — my vagina is offended. I've sold four million records in six months. I'm not embarrassed about anything. Those rumors [are based on] society's reaction to a strong woman — the idea that we equate strength with a man and a penis as a symbol of male strength."

Sadly, while her response was more than a little pretentious, feminist, and self-important, she's probably right. And I still love her.

Eek! September!! Fall TV Premieres!!

2009-09-01T18:44:00.010-04:00

Ah, it's September! Can anyone else believe that summer's over and the year's almost through?? I know, right?

Along with the end of summer, September also means "back to school" and, infinitely less depressing, season premieres. Most anticipated on my list are the antics of our favorite Upper East Siders on GG. Considering all the crazy shit that went down while they were in high school, one can only imagine what's in store for their college years. But you won't have too much time to ponder all the trouble Blair can conjure up in NYU; new Gossip Girl episodes start on the 14th.

If GG doesn't tickle your fancy, fret not; there's a veritable panoply of premieres to enjoy this September. The second season of 90210 and the recycled, nay, revamped Melrose Place both premiere next Tuesday, the 8th. A whopping 13th cycle of America's Next Top Model starts next Wednesday, the 9th, along with the series premiere of the highly anticipated Glee. Damn, hasn't Tyra run out of ideas?? The sad reality is that she probably has...

More vamp fever!!; Ian Somerhalder stars in what's sure to be the newest blood-sucking craze, Vampire Diaries. See Ian's fangs and his dreamy, dreamy eyes on the 10th. Heroes makes its return on the 21st; hopefully the team behind the once-phenomenal series can resurrect the show from its messy, boring, convoluted ashes. My advice: kill someone off, and MORE POWERS!

Crystal Kay's second compilation drops tomorrow, yeeeee!! I currently have all three discs of Best of Crystal Kay on repeat and Kuri can be very proud of her body of work; not only are the new songs absolute FIRE but most of the oldies stand up to time really well. Make sure to get your copy -- it's the best introduction to Crystal Kay you can get, and the ultimate collection of hits if you're already a long-standing fan.

Happy September, luhvahs.

Crystal Kay & BoA Perform Girlfriend

2009-08-16T15:01:00.007-04:00

I knew beforehand that this performance would be done to a backing track instead of a live band with backup singers, but I'm still a bit disappointed. I'm tired of these cutesy performances; these scarce Music Station appearances are really all we get to see of Crystal in the States. Can't we get something with a little more pow? Anyway, Kuri and BoA sound good together here -- both vocal performances were fairly solid. Didn't much care for Crystal's hair or BoA's outfit but, it's whatever I guess. I'm still holding out hope for a proper music video for Girlfriend, but as the single officially dropped this past week, my little hope candle is almost burned out.

(Another) New Music Video: BoA - Energetic

2009-08-07T11:22:00.003-04:00

I'll be honest and say I listened to Energetic exactly once when BoA's English debut album had just been released. But, sometimes a decent video can breathe new life into a song you've passed over. This is almost the case with Energetic; while the track may have more potential than I initially realized, I still don't think it has enough of an impact to make BoA's crossover into the American market any more relevant. However, I can definitely imagine getting down to this in a club. I recently heard I Did it For Love at a bar and it knocked like it never did in my home.

Now, onto the bad: BoA is definitely wearing way too much makeup in this MV; it's the worst I've ever seen her. Not that she's ugly, but she looks weird -- I much prefer her fresh-faced. Also, it really annoys me that she's not singing the hook, which is arguably the best part of the song. Can someone offer Sean Garrett a seat? Thanks.

New Music Video: Beni feat. Tynisha Keli - The Boy is Mine

2009-08-06T09:33:00.005-04:00

To be honest, I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner. Many of our old hits in the States have been re-recorded by Japanese artists and I figured it was only a matter of time until the rights to the most successful song Brandy or Monica ever made got snapped up. But, when I first saw Beni's name in the title I was pissed I didn't see 'featuring Crystal Kay!' If Crystal has a closer friend in the industry than BoA, it's Beni, and she would have been sooo hot on this song. Instead, we have Tynisha Keli's vocals to contend with.

Did I say I'd prefer Beni and Crystal Kay? Well, maybe Crystal and Tynisha would do a better job. Beni completely dropped the ball on this; her verses sound like Engrishu karaoke. She put no funk or flavor on the track, which is a damn crime considering all the attitude included in Brandy and Monica's version. Tynisha on the other hand is clearly a native English speaker and has a bit of a voice on her. She didn't exactly give Monica a run for her money, but she definitely held her own. It's clear that Beni and Tynisha actually like each other in real life; they could have used some of that real, tangible enmity that was the driving force behind Brandy and Monica's #1 interpretation. You could tell they couldn't stand each other and did everything they could to blow the other one out of the water.

But, herein lies a thought: Crystal, whenever she decides to attempt the jump to America, should do a classic R&B song as a promo track. This would give new listeners a chance to hear her signature vocal style and exploit their nostalgic weakness. Someone put me in charge of the Crystal crossover -- I'd do that shit right. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for the Girlfriend video...

New Music Video: Crystal Kay feat. KANAME - After Love

2009-08-04T15:55:00.005-04:00

Oh. Em. Gee. Crystal has finally (FINALLY!) turned out a good video! It's safe to say that, perhaps with the exception of the きっと永遠に video, she's never looked better. There's a mature feel about it and Crystal is effortlessly sexy. I love it! Can't wait for the Girlfriend video; hopefully it can live up to this new standard.

The New "It" Boy?

2009-07-23T17:17:00.004-04:00

Meet Freddie Stroma. You may have seen him in theaters portraying Cormac McLaggen in the record-breaking sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise. He's also currently starring in my fantasies. Smokin'. Charming, too. Are we witnessing the birth of the next "it" boy?

From where I'm standing, the title of Hollywood's hottest up-and-coming bundle of muscles and testosterone is up for grabs. The fervor around Chace Crawford, who recently celebrated his 24th birthday, has died down to a quiet simmer. Zefron is now too good for musicals (Footloose would have been awesome), too dumb to drop Vanessa Hudgens, and, frankly, too boring to garner much attention. Reigning hottie Robert Pattinson is still really hot in the Twilight movie and he does have a second one on the way. But as for the in-between time, while RPattz is still as pale and broody as Edward Cullen, he's pale and broody without lighting. Lighting is key. Recent photos of him strolling around NYC kinda kill the magic.

And, let's not forget that RPattz got his big break starring in the fourth Harry Potter film. If Freddie can land himself another prominent role, he can rise up the ranks fairly quickly. I, for one, humbly suggest that he do it wearing as little clothing as possible. Like this: check out his new Acne underwear advertisement.

Enjoy the "Best of Crystal Kay"

2009-07-16T10:59:00.007-04:00

Crystal Kay will indeed be releasing her second compilation album in commemoration of her decade in the music industry on September 2nd titled Best of Crystal Kay. This news, coupled with all the new music she's been working out is really the most her fans could have hoped for. I'm certainly satisfied. You can't help but be proud of Kuri, huh? Only 23 and celebrating ten years in the game? I thought Christina Aguilera was awesome for hitting that milestone at 28. (She is, of course).

Best of Crystal Kay is rumored to include a whopping three discs containing well over 30 tracks from her diverse discography. I hope you all voted as I requested because it would seem that Kuri has already selected the tracklist. Check it out.

01 Eternal Memories

02 こみちの花

03 ダーリン P.P.P.

04 Girl's Night

05 Ex-Boyfriend （feat.Verbal／m-flo）

06 lost child

07 月のない夜、道のない場所

08 A song for you

09 think of U

10 hard to say

11 Girl U Love

12 Boyfriend-part 2-

13 片想い

14 I LIKE IT

15 Candy

16 Can't Be Stopped

17 Motherland

18 Tears

19 Kiss

20 恋におちたら

21 Two As One

22 I Know

23 Kirakuni

24 涙があふれても

25 きっと永遠に

26 こんなに近くで...

27 あなたのそばで

28 Dream World

29 涙のさきに

30 ONE

31 帰り道

Yay, all my tracks made the list! Well, there wasn't much doubt about 恋におちたら (Koi ni Ochitara) and こんなに近くで (Konna ni Chikaku de) but even the album track I Know (which is pure gold) was included! Woot. I love that 帰り道 (Kaerimichi) is in there, too. Now you may notice that Crystal's newest material like Girlfriend, After Love, and, more importantly, Over and Over, which has never seen a physical release, are not included in the track listing. I fretted for a while, but it was later revealed that the First Press Limited Edition will include a 5-track bonus disc containing her previously unreleased material. The tracklist for this disc hasn't been explicitly stated yet, but I can guess it will include Girlfriend, After Love, Over and Over, and Step by Step. Which leaves one space empty. Ah, the possibilities! 出会えた軌跡 (Deaeta Kiseki)? Hold On from the Dolan's Cadillac soundtrack? Wonder, her duet with Jin Akanishi?

No matter what the final mystery track turns out to be, it's clear that Crystal Kay has assembled quite the package for her fans. I'll definitely be picking up my three discs of Kuri goodness. Congrats again, Kuri-chan!

More CK!

Crystal Kay Covers Michael Jackson's Human Nature

Listen to Hold On

Happy 10th Anniversary, Kuri!

Listen to Girlfriend

I♥GaGa - Lady GaGa Performs Paparazzi

2009-07-16T10:40:00.005-04:00

Fantastic performance. I live for the outfit, the vocals were on point -- just spectacular. Paparazzi just keeps sounding better and better to me. Wouldn't it be nice if this were the standard for pop acts? Live instrumentation, live vocals, and, of course, fierce fashion? No one in the pop game right now can touch GaGa when it comes to artistry.

Oh, and our fair Lady made history again -- this time on the Mainstream Top 40 Chart when current single LoveGame, like Poker Face and Just Dance before it, hit the top spot. Congrats, GaGa.

More GaGa!

GaGa discusses her influences while wearing a ferocious mask

Watch the Paparazzi music mini-movie

Watch a live, acoustic version of Paparazzi

Channing "G.I. Joe" Tatum does GQ

2009-07-14T16:35:00.007-04:00

Go Joe! So I was all about Chan when he first started getting work a few years back and then he did that awful movie with Amanda Bynes, it became painfully clear that he's got absolutely nothing between his ears, and I got over it. But, over the last few years I've re-prioritized and decided it's what's between the legs that count! Chan Tate here is pushing 30 and still smokin'. *Swoon.*

Check out the rest of Channing's spread...

How does the Chan compare to RPattz?
How about Zefron?

M.A.L.R. pays his amazing, hilarious respects...

2009-07-14T15:35:00.004-04:00

OH. EM. GEE. That was awesome. And creepy!! Love the Weegee Smooth Criminal lean!! Michael has never been more alive!

Crystal Kay's 'Human Nature'

2009-07-09T16:12:00.004-04:00

Ahh, I may have to just rechristen my blog "Crystal Kay Central." But, since they took the amazing, amazing live video of すき (Suki) down (I'm so upset) I had to share this one with you guys. I mentioned in an earlier post that Crystal Kay did a cover of the late (so weird to say) Michael Jackson's Human Nature and now we have the full video. Check it out.

They don't call this bitch GaGa for nothing...

2009-07-09T09:33:00.001-04:00

She's mad. She's mad in such a creepy, weird, awesome way. Love it.

New Music: Crystal Kay - Hold On

2009-07-07T18:33:00.030-04:00

The rumors regarding a Crystal Kay track on the soundtrack to the upcoming Stephen King novel-turned-movie Dolan's Cadillac have been swirling around for so long now that I thought the track would never drop. But, Hold On has finally landed -- and I love it. Crystal, in case you were unaware, sounds every bit as good in English as she does in Japanese and the production, a combo of echoed vocals and a moody beat, is great. Crystal sounds eerily like Janet at some points and works a vocal style I've never heard from her before. Good stuff. I'm loving the onslaught of Kuri tracks; keep 'em comin'!

Listen to Hold On below.

Britney performs 'Mannequin,' takes concept too literally

2009-07-06T23:33:00.005-04:00

Mannequin is the only track from Circus that I can still listen to; the production is fly and the beat knocks. But this is some bullshit. First off, Britney looks like a cheap hooker from Jersey. Second, that choreography has to be some of the most uninspiring I've ever seen, and the delivery the most spiritless. Bitch has no swagger. None. She's not singing. And she's not working the stage. Yet, this bitch is preparing to tour America AGAIN this summer. Why are people paying for this? You want a show? -- my friend Amima and I have done better impromptu choreography to Mannequin in the comfort of her living room. This shit is a joke.

Oh, look. Summer.

2009-07-06T00:12:00.002-04:00

It's July and it's finally feeling like summertime here in NYC. Joy!

This month, our favorite wizard starts his search for Voldemort's horcruxes in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I was pretty disappointed in the last movie but, I still have high hopes for this one -- the trailers look great. After this, there's only the two movies comprising the final book left. Damn, time flies. Check out HP6 in theaters on the 15th.

Happy 10th anniversary to Miss Crystal Kay. I hope you're around for decades to come. 愛してるよ。♥♥♥

Finally, Brüno comes to American theaters on the 10th. I was worried that Cohen taking on this character would be something like a white person in blackface, but early reviews have allayed my fears and I'm actually excited to see it.

Hope everyone had an awesome Independence Day! And, Happy July!!

Crystal Kay Performs After Love, Suki

2009-07-05T22:32:00.009-04:00

Crystal recently had a little showcase in honor of her ten year anniversary in the biz. Among other songs like her signature 恋におちたら (Koi ni Ochitara) and a cover of Michael Jackson's Human Nature, Crystal performed her brand new single with KANAME, After Love -First Boyfriend- for the first time. Check it out. (I love the cute dress).

Crystal also recently performed at a special live concert. BoA performed at this concert as well, and even though part of me was hoping they'd perform Girlfriend together, I was more than happy with Crystal's stunning performance of すき (Suki). It's beautiful -- check it out below.

Happy Anniversary, Crystal Kay ♥

2009-07-05T21:11:00.016-04:00

This bitch is giving good face! Crystal Kay is officially on the grind; After Love -First Boyfriend- is the latest Crystal Kay song to drop. Seeing her collaborate once again with KANAME from CHEMISTRY, it has been revealed that this track will accompany Girlfriend, Crystal's duet with BoA, on a double A-side to be released on August 12th. After Love strikes me as a more mature, but less catchy Two as One. Unfortunately KANAME doesn't have much of a presence on the song, but I do find the track easy to listen to -- the cutesy beat and smooth vocals have a nice effect. The song will serve as yet another tie-in for the Tully's Coffee chain.

Listen to After Love -First Boyfriend- (damn, how many Kuri songs have 'boyfriend' in the title?!) below.

While the upcoming double A-side will also feature 出会えた奇跡 (Deaeta Kiseki), there is still no word on when or whether Over and Over and Wonder, Crystal's collaboration with Jin Akanishi, will see official releases. However, Over and Over was recently featured in an NTT (a Japanese radio station) commercial and rumors abound regarding Wonder's future release. There is speculation that the single will drop within the year and that Jin and Crystal have formed a unit, aptly christened "Crystal Red." Of course, these rumors fuel those other rumors linking Jin and Crystal together romantically. Time will tell. Both these songs are too hot to sleep on, though, so something better happen. Also, can we get some music videos, please? Kthx.

Finally, there are whispers that Crystal's second compilation album, titled BEST OF CK, will be released this coming September in commemoration of her ten years in the music industry. Congratulations, Kuri! Perhaps Over and Over and maybe even Wonder will find a home in this compilation. Check out the three new commercials featuring Crystal's music below.

Farewell

2009-06-25T18:56:00.005-04:00

Down the rabbit hole - First Look at Burton's Alice in Wonderland

2009-06-22T15:21:00.006-04:00

Wow. Just, wow. This has me looking forward to March, 2010. Who the hell looks forward to March?! Some people say Tim Burton shouldn't be allowed to tinker with children's movies, and I say kill those people because they're stupid. Burton turns everything into creepy, creepy gold. And, Johnny Depp! You just know his Mad Hatter is going to be incredible. He should spend the rest of his career portraying crazy people. Helena Bonham Carter looks frightening as f*** as the Red Queen. Love it. This marks Depp's and Burton's seventh collaboration; I say keep 'em coming.

Click here or on the image for a bigger view.

Crystal Kay & BoA - Girlfriend (Full)

2009-06-15T14:22:00.007-04:00

Yay. My first day back in NYC and Girlfriend drops in full. うれしいいい！

Girlfriend easily surpasses UNIVERSE; Crystal and BoA sound better together this time around. Crystal kinda pulls away, though. She just has more swagger. I'll be pissed if the video doesn't drop soon. Time for Crystal to get on the grind.

Check out Girlfriend below.

E3 2009 - Nintendo News

2009-06-03T15:12:00.008-04:00

After disappointing the "hardcore" crowd at last year's E3, Nintendo was looking to redeem itself at this year's expo. I think they're strategy going into it was to mention Mario as many times as possible. Works for me =].

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a great idea. The classic game still holds up to this day; thanks to the Virtual Console, it's one of the most played games on my Wii. Updating it with better graphics, some WiiMote functionality, and a four-player co-op/vs mode is genius. The people at Nintendo are experts at getting people to drop cash on the same damn game over and over again. Even with 18 million copies of the game already sold on the DS, watch the Wii version sell like hotcakes. People are already complaining about the game's lack of online play, but I think it's better for it. Play with real people. Your siblings, your cousins, your friends, your dog. Do it.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Fall 2009

Easily the most surprising announcement of the conference, Nintendo announced that it had teamed up with development group Team Ninja (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive) for the next installment in the Metroid series. With Metroid Prime 3 still standing as one of the most celebrated games on the console and the complete Prime trilogy being prepped for a re-release, Metroid: Other M is a great way to move forward with the franchise without rendering the previous offerings irrelevant. Team Ninja's fingerprints are all over the trailer and I'm excited for this new, darker approach to Samus Aran and her backstory. Good on you, Nintendo.
Metroid: Other M - 2010

Yay! Mario's never gotten a full sequel on the same console before but, even when the original Galaxy was released, it just felt like there would be a sequel coming. The game, admittedly, looks a lot like the first Galaxy with the addition of Yoshi, but Miyamoto reassures us that the game is 90-95% brand new. Galaxy was a stellar game and my only real complaint was that it was a tad too easy. With WiiFit Plus, Nintendo seems to have demonstrated that they are indeed listening to user feedback, so perhaps we'll see an increase in difficulty in Mario's next space outing. Either way, exciting!
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 2010

So, hardcore gamers will likely still find something to grumble (loudly) about after this year's E3, but these announcements coupled with news of Tatsunoko vs Capcom seeing an American release has me plenty satisfied with the Wii's prospects for the upcoming year. What about you? Placated?

Twilight: New Moon Trailer

2009-06-03T14:47:00.002-04:00

Not bad. My interest isn't necessarily piqued, but it's sustained. Taylor's still not tall enough...

There are no words... - Lady GaGa: Paparazzi Music Film

2009-06-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

Current♥Fancies - Passion Pit, Jordin Sparks, & Chester French

2009-05-26T00:37:00.005-04:00

These are a few songs that have been released recently that I've taken a liking to. They've caught a hold of my ear and haven't let go. They demand that I listen to them (at least) once a day. They're my Current♥Fancies.

Passion Pit, after receiving acclaim for their EP Chunk of Change, released their debut album Manners last week to, you guessed it, more acclaim. I've yet to check out the entire album, but I need to get on it if Little Secrets is any indication of what's to come. When I first heard it, the beat immediately drew me in. So I'm rocking in my seat already when the chorus comes along. Then I'm up dancing around, really feeling it when the kid's chorus comes in. Then I'm singing along, dancing around, grinning like a damn fool. Isn't that at least one of the desired effects of music? Good, fun pop. Check it out.

Season six American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is ready to release her sophomore album this summer and has recently dropped her first single, Battlefield. At first listen, the Ryan Tedder penned mid-tempo seems like an odd choice to spearhead an album, but it's a quick grower and I can actually see it having some longevity on the charts. It marks a dip into different territory for her and even though it opportunistically calls to mind the Pat Benatar classic, I like it a lot.

Chester French released their debut album, Love the Future, last month and I've had a crush on them (on both D.A. and Max separately and Chester French as a band) ever since. They were opening for Lady GaGa for a while and so when she suggested to check them out, I did. Not Over You is my favorite track by these Harvard boys; while not the best example of their overall sound, I challenge you not to sing along.

Super Duper Uh-Maze-N - Lady GaGa: Paparazzi (Live Acoustic)

2009-05-21T21:25:00.005-04:00

This is incredible. Like, try and forget that I have an IV constantly feeding me GaGa Kool-Aid for a minute and allow yourself to enjoy the magic. Seriously, who else does this? You have all the cookie-cutter pop acts who don't write any of their shit, desperately trying to remain current by shaving half their heads or showing their cho-chas (or, in one particularly desperate case, both) and can't actually sing when they finally do get up on stage. And then you have GaGa. I hate when people call her the next Britney or Princess of Pop. Britney never had a fraction of GaGa's talent. Ever. And she damn sure doesn't have it now. Britney sold a lot of records. Period. And it's debatable how much of that even had anything to do with her. Anyway, let me cut myself off before this becomes any more scathing. Check out the live, acoustic version of Paparazzi from Lady GaGa's debut album, The Fame, below.

Barack Obama ft. Michelle Obama - Blame It (Remix)

2009-05-21T14:55:00.004-04:00

I knew from the 31 second mark when Palin came out on the dance floor that this shit was going to be hilarious. Ooh wee! I was rollin'. This could be on the radio. They should start asking radio stations to pick this up. The Michelle was so ridiculously on point! And Barack was puttin' the funk on it! "B-U-D-G-E-T... G-E-T." Mm, MM! Get it!

Crystal Kay's got songs in the oven - Over and Over, Girlfriend ft. BoA, Wonder duet w/Jin Akanishi

2009-05-21T13:31:00.026-04:00

As Crystal's tenth anniversary draws closer, she reveals some of the tricks she has up her sleeve. Sneaky Crystal got a little more out of her collaboration with m-flo and BoA earlier this year than she originally let on. A couple of weeks back it was announced that Crystal had scored the theme song for new show DRESS. Over and Over, produced by Taku Takahashi of m-flo, was later debuted by Crystal herself on Japanese radio. Unfortunately, the radio rip is still all that is currently available but at least you can get a feel for the track while you wait for its release in HQ. Over and Over is a house track. Normally that's a dealbreaker for me, but there's no denying this song's heat. Check out Over and Over below (updated with HQ version).

Over and Over
Crystal Kay
BEST of CRYSTAL KAY

Kuri also revealed today on her website that her following single will be Girlfriend, another collaboration with BoA. Even after UNIVERSE, I have to say I'm still interested to hear what they will sound like together, especially without Verbal's rhymes taking up space. Crystal arguably outshined BoA when she was featuring so I'm sure she'll shut BoA down completely now that it's the other way around. Girlfriend will be a tie-in with the Japanese release of He's Just Not That Into You. The song is supposed to be a girl anthem, we-don't-need-boys sort of thing, sort of like one of her very first singles, Girl's Night. Hopefully we get a video this time. Here's an MQ snippet. Sigh. Even a pretty girl like BoA shouldn't stand next to Crystal Kay.

Update!!: Crystal is even busier than I thought! Jin Akanishi, the sexy and most un-Johnny like member of KAT-TUN, revealed a duet with Crystal Kay during their current tour. The track is titled Wonder and it is hot! During the live performance, Jin worked some choreography and sang his part while what clearly appeared to be a music video featuring both Jin and Crystal played on the monitors. If there's already an MV then there's a good shot that Wonder will get the single treatment! The song has a latin vibe to it, similar to the one Crystal worked on the B-side Girl, Move On. And though I'm not hating on KAT-TUN, there's thankfully nothing KAT-TUN about it. There are also rumors going around that Crystal and Jin have a little som'n som'n going on. If she's smart she'll keep that on the low, though. So exciting to finally hear the fruits of Crystal's labor over the past few months. Unfortunately, there are only fan videos from the tour on YouTube. We need some HQ mp3s, stat!!

Special thanks to LuluJay for the heads up on Wonder!!!

RiRi goes Canadian, eh? - Rihanna & Drake

2009-05-21T06:12:00.006-04:00

Rihanna is officially over Chris "Shit Stain" Brown (hooray!). Rumor has it that Riri is getting cozy with Canadian actor-turned-rapper Drake, real name Aubrey Graham and better known to us Degrassi-heads as Jimmy Brooks. Now, this is a good look. I have the utmost faith in Drizzy's good intentions and actually hope that the rumor mill has it right this time. I mean, he was easily the best boyfriend on Degrassi. By a long shot. Drake is finally getting some decent exposure for his music; he's featured on a great remix of Santigold's Unstoppable along with Lil Wayne and his debut single, Best I Ever Had, is climbing the Billboard charts. I'm sure fans of Degrassi are proud of Drake's budding success, but can I just say how nice it is just to see him standing erect? Lol. The wheelchair treatment was so grimy.

So, yeah. Cute (potential) couple, yes? Drake has denied the rumors regarding their romance, but it's understandable that Rihanna might be hesitant to be public about her relationships after the Chris fiasco. The pair have reportedly been seen kissing all over NYC this past week. How hot and exciting. I could use a romance like this. Hey, Riri, if it doesn't work out, could you send Drizzy my way? I could use some Canadian lovin'.

No f***ing way...

2009-05-20T22:17:00.000-04:00

...Adam lost?!?!

May! Summer Movies & A New American Idol!

2009-05-19T11:22:00.006-04:00

Yeah, I've been gone for a while. I'm embarrassed. Let's not get into it.

The summer blockbuster season is officially open, bub. X-Men Origins: Wolverine slashed its way into theaters and wallets on the first of the month. Reviewers collectively branded the film mediocre, but apparently adamantium sells. The film has already raked in approx. $275 million worldwide. Snikt.

Star Trek kept things moving, entering theaters a week later with outstanding reviews. The eleventh film based on the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek has received nearly universal acclaim from critics and has proved to be a moneymaker as well, grossing nearly $216 million worldwide to date. I've yet to see either film, but I'll be in theaters soon enough. Though Hugh Jackman is ripped and rugged and ridiculously hot, I think I may see Star Trek first. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto? Two for the price of one ^_^. Not to mention Zoë Saldaña. Girl is smokin'!

And in the center is MY American Idol, Adam Lambert. We'll find out if he's yours as well tomorrow night when the winner is announced. I'll be pissed if Adam doesn't take it, though. I mean how did we get through eight seasons without a gay Idol? Totally not changing my banner if he doesn't win...

Happy May (...what's left of it)!!!

X-Men! The Animated Series vs. Evolution vs. Wolverine

2009-05-19T09:33:00.012-04:00

So, I've been revisiting old episodes of X-Men: Evolution now that the first two seasons are on YouTube. Blessed, blessed YouTube. Evo is easily one of the best cartoon series of the decade and, at its best, rivals its 90s counterpart, X-Men: The Animated Series. True, Evo was initially marketed to a younger crowd and the majority of the X-Men were portrayed as teenagers, however after introducing the characters and laying the foundation, the latter half of the series took on a relatively serious tone and told some great stories.

Evo also had a better sense of balance; let's face it: X-Men: TAS was obsessed with Jean Grey. The Phoenix Force was obsessed with her, Cyclops was obsessed with her, Wolverine was obsessed with her, Professor X was obsessed with her. I can't really remember anything about the show that's not directly related with the Dark Phoenix saga, which of course was a phenomenal story, but inadvertently rendered the other tales irrelevant. If Evo got anything amazingly right, it was the character development. Everyone had their turn in the spotlight and the writers adeptly integrated their convoluted histories into the dynamics between characters. As a result, very few of the episodes are throwaway.

Anyway, I bring this all up because I just found out there's a third (OK, technically it's the fourth, but are we really gonna count Pryde of the X-Men? Didn't think so.) X-Men series airing now titled...wait for it... Wolverine and the X-Men. I rolled my eyes so hard they hurt when I first heard it. That title sounds about as intelligent as 'The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger.' In other words, that title sounds really dumb. Am I the only one who thinks Wolverine is incredibly overrated and, worse, bordering on uninteresting? I mean, OK, his backstory is decent, but we've been hit over the head with it so many times. An extremely resilient, grumpy amnesiac with claws, got it, got it. Not that he's unnecessary but why is he so often put in the foreground at the expense of other, frankly, more fascinating X-Men?

I've caught a few episodes (again, bless you YouTube) of Wolverine and, believe it or not, they're chock full of Wolverine. Some episodes don't feature any other X-Men at all. The Professor is M.I.A. and Wolverine is actually leading the team. Like, seriously? The one episode I watched that attempted to focus on Cyclops kept panning back to Wolverine and how he felt about what Slim was doing. It was sickening. The team includes Nightcrawler, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Shadowcat, Storm, and Emma Frost and the show is admittedly a lot of fun to watch when they're featured. Unfortunately, we're stuck watching Mr. Grumpy stalk around most of the time, claws out but not actually able to slice anyone up (it airs on Nickelodeon after all). Apparently, the entire creative team behind Evo came back to do Wolverine, but I don't know whose idea it was to give Wolverine such a prominent role.

If you were a fan of the 90s version and are ever hankering for some mutey magic, I'd recommend Evo in a heartbeat. Wolverine, to be fair, is only in its first season, but it's inferior to the other two series. Hell, even go back and watch old episodes of X-Men: TAS. I watched the pilot yesterday; it was 90s-tastic and fabulous.

Edward or Jacob? - First Official 'New Moon' Poster

2009-05-19T08:14:00.005-04:00

Someone saw the dollar signs and wasted no time in churning out these Twilight films. The second project, New Moon, will see its release just two days after my birthday, only a year after the first movie's release. Here we have the first official poster. Meh. I'm still a tad upset that Taylor Lautner is reprising his role as Jacob (instead of the drastically more attractive Michael Copon) and I'm harboring doubts that he can pull off the role convincingly. Judging by this poster alone he's not looking nearly as tall as he should. R-Pattz is looking as scrumptious as ever though, while mindless twat Kristen Stewart looks just as drab as she wants to be. With the second installment of the franchise approaching, brace yourself to hear much "Team Edward or Team Jacob" chatter amongst 'fanpires' (as if there's any contest). And if you are a fanpire, be sure to watch the 2009 MTV Movie Awards for your first peek at New Moon.

Ooh, this will have me crying in a theater near you! - 'Precious' Trailer

2009-05-19T08:04:00.003-04:00

This movie looks amazing. And, incredibly enough, Mariah Carey may actually add something to the film! The trailer alone already had me choked up so goodness knows I'll need to bring some Kleenex to the theater with me. What do you guys think?

Because the ice is just another place for ferocity...

2009-04-27T16:16:00.001-04:00

Tyra may murder me... - More hotness from MMAS Cycle 2

2009-04-18T13:06:00.005-04:00

I am absolutely hooked on Make Me a Supermodel this cycle. The show has improved so much over last season and it's really everything I could ask from a show about modeling. Everything. Which is why I haven't bothered to watch America's Next Top Model in over a month. I've been walking around campus looking over my shoulder every now and again, knowing Tyra has sent Miss J out to kill me. I'm such a traitor. But, I'm sorry. ANTM just doesn't have hot man candy like this...

And, no, Jay "Pencil" Manuel does not count as man candy. MMAS is such a better show. Jonathan, pictured above, totally booked a 2xist campaign, while on the show. Unheard of in ANTM. The models on MMAS go on go-sees every week, instead of once a season, and actually book jobs instead of just finding out if they would hypothetically be booked. It's just awesome, OK? Here's some more fabulosity from this cycle. Drooling allowed and encouraged.

Can't get enough? Check out this cycles models dressed up as candy.

Zac Efron gives us MORE sex

2009-04-17T14:09:00.003-04:00

Thank you, GQ! And yes, he totally rocks the Gucci jeans some more...

More Zac: Check out the rest of his GQ shoot

RPattz for Contrast?: Check out our new favorite vampire's GQ spread

First Dog 'Bo' Talks to the Press

2009-04-16T05:09:00.003-04:00

"Yeah, I'm a big deal."

New Music: Julian Perretta, Leighton Meester, and Heidi Montag

2009-04-14T03:20:00.000-04:00

Julian Perretta has been the recipient of much good buzz thanks to bloggers like Perez Hilton who praise his music regularly. The 20-year-old's debut album isn't set to be released until this autumn, but if the few tracks that have made their way onto the web are any indication, it will be quite the delight. Wonder Why sounds a bit like a Mika track, but without the camp. Which, is still a lot of fun. The little quirky instrumentations give the track personality and Julian's earnest vocals sell the song. Definitely an artist to watch for this year.

I've never seen even one episode of The Hills and generally ignore all of its stars when they make their way onto headlines. But, Heidi Montag seems determined to put out an album and after leaking track after track she's finally decided on two official singles. The better of the two, Your Love Found Me, is really catchy and I'm not ashamed to admit that I like it. It's solid, fun pop with a hint of ska for flair. She's not at all a very capable vocalist but the chorus is crack and the song is well produced. Heidi and Spencer have to be two of the most obnoxious people in the public eye at the moment, but after pulling in $3 million in the last two years alone, you have to admit they know what they're doing. Can not, will not knock the hustle.

Leighton Meester, better known as everyone's favorite, fabulous frenemy on Gossip Girl, leaked Birthday late last week. She's reportedly been shopping around for a record deal for some time now, and while I expected she'd eventually get one, I didn't foresee her actually being good. She's not the next Christina or anything, but her vocal style is surprising in a good way. Birthday, an Awesome New Republic cover, is also a bit more edgy than I'd expected from her. Overall, Leighton, with Birthday, doesn't sound like someone trying to get into the game by emulating what's popular. She actually seems to have a particular direction for her music and Birthday shows promise. Here's hoping she follows through.

These newcomers have provided the beginnings for a fun spring soundtrack. These songs are great to listen to on a sunny day while walking home from class or work. If only it would start to feel like spring here in Chicago... Anyway, hope you enjoy. ^_^

Zac "Lord of the Tweenyboppers" Efron Does GQ

2009-04-13T17:54:00.005-04:00

Not to be outdone by Robert Pattinson, Zac Efron does his own spread for GQ. I'm not that crazy about Zac, but the boy is pretty, isn't he? Click here to check out the other photos. (I especially like the one where he rocks the Gucci jeans and nothing else...)

Prefer your heartthrob with a little more 'bite?' Check out Robert Pattinson's GQ spread.

This b*tch...

2009-04-11T18:24:00.005-04:00

Damn, desperation is a terrible thing. Look what it's driven Cassie to do to her hair! Haha, if this triflin' trollop thinks this move will help her sell more records, she really is as dumb as she looks. Cassie really needs to give up and go back to modeling. I actually sorta like the haircut, and even if you think she looks creepy, it's something to look at. This sh*t is funny...

Damn, this sh*t is so fabulous...

2009-04-08T23:36:00.002-04:00

Lady GaGa wants to bring back the "super-fan." I think she's already got some on her hands...

The equality keeps coming! - Gay Marriage Legalized in Vermont

2009-04-08T04:50:00.003-04:00

"Vermont is the first state to allow same-sex marriage through legislative action instead of a court ruling." Woot! Check out the article in the NYTimes.

New HBIC - Lady GaGa Tops the Charts Again

2009-04-07T19:06:00.003-04:00

Lady GaGa’s second single, Poker Face, has reached the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 making her the first artist in nearly a decade to have their first two singles reach #1. Mmhmm, right. Another level. Meanwhile, her first chart-topper, Just Dance, is still holding strong at #9. With this accomplishment, GaGa shares a record with Christina Aguilera, who had a pair of #1 singles, Genie in a Bottle and What a Girl Wants, with her debut in 1999. However, with the even hotter track, LoveGame, slated as the next single, our Ferocious Lady may be coming up on Mariah Carey territory. Mariah, famously, had her first five singles hit the #1 spot.

As if I needed another obsession - Joss Whedon's Dollhouse

2009-04-07T18:26:00.011-04:00

Little tidbit about the man behind nodnarb: HUGE Buffy freak. When Buffy died at the end of season five, I cried like a baby. Though I did eventually find closure after the show ended in 2003, there is still a void in my heart where SMG should be, patrolling with a blonde ponytail, silver hoops, and a leather jacket and roundhousing enemy vamps while wearing heels. Sigh… Give me a moment to collect myself…

Fast forward to 2009 and Joss Whedon (whom I love) and Eliza Dushku (whom I love, platonically) have teamed up again for his newest project, Dollhouse. The series follows Echo (Dushku) and other “Dolls” who have had their own memories wiped, been imprinted with false memories and personas, and programmed to serve a client’s needs. These needs range from tailor-made girlfriend to ass-beating assassins. While not the most novel of ideas, Whedon has a knack for making the tried and true seem brand new. And to be fair, what is exactly original in sci-fi these days anyway? In his typical fashion, Dollhouse is clever, smart, unpredictable, and engaging. Moreover, Eliza’s often in hot outfits kicking the s*** out of people. What more would one ask for, I wonder. To her credit, Dushku pulls off the acting challenge of being recreated every week quite well. While I do love the surly, broody Faith, Echo has certainly begun to grow on me.

In short, if you’re into this type of s***, you need to check Dollhouse out. Chances are, with its god-awful time slot, plenty of people are missing out. Whedon seems convinced that FOX isn’t going to screw him over again (*cough* Firefly), but I’m not so sure. Friday nights at 9 is simply murder for a new show.

Brighten up your day w/awesomeness

2009-04-03T17:07:00.003-04:00

This is so awesome. Like, insanely awesome. Stop standing in the way of awesomeness and hit play already.

The Sound of Music was my fifth grade play; I luvloveluv it. Julie Andrews is my b*tch. The only thing that would have made this spectacularly fabulous video just a little more fabulous is Missy Elliott. If they just could have had her scream "RREEEEEEMMIXXXXXXX."

Iowa voids gay marriage ban, Judge Judy on gay marriage

2009-04-03T16:31:00.004-04:00

Progress! Gay marriage will begin in Iowa on April 24th. ^_^ Check out Judge Judy's opinion on gay rights.

"An affront to common sense." Damn, b*tch, preach!

"I saw (I saw) your face and WOW!" - I miss Hey Arnold terribly...

2009-03-31T01:20:00.001-04:00

I started randomly humming this tonight, realized what it was from, and YouTubed it immediately. I watched it twice and now I miss Nickelodeon (the real Nickelodeon, for all you smart people named Alec) so badly, I think I might just shed a tear.

Ronnie Matthews was such a clown a** b*tch. I remember my cousin and I used to call this the Britney Spears episode. We felt Phoebe's pain. Helga is ride or die, though. Damn, this show was so good.

Christina Aguilera Performs @Perez's Bday Bash

2009-03-29T17:29:00.004-04:00

From all indications, Perez had quite the birthday party. I can't stand him, but I would have went. No gift! Haha.

Perez bashed Christina for months, calling her a hot tranny mess (which wasn't totally undeserved, but still) and boycotting her music and performances while she was promoting Back to Basics. Yes, the fans remember! But, lately he's changed his tune; showing excitement for the work she's done with Sia for her upcoming album and calling her "faboosh." Guess he knew he couldn't continue to trash her if she was on the bill. I'm sure Christina's people knew about all the s*** Perez has talked about her in the past, but this way she gets good press for the next album. Smart woman.

Check out the tail-end of Christina performing Lady Marmalade (one of her many gay anthems) at Lavandeira's birthday bash. Not gonna lie, it's the best I've heard her belt in a long while and I've seen every live performance.

More Utada: Performing Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI

2009-03-28T16:48:00.002-04:00

Yes, Utada, get on the grind! Hikki-chan made an appearance on the CBS Early Show this morning and performed Come Back to Me and FYI. Check out FYI below; she sounds a lot better compared to her first performance on KTLA.

Check out Utada performing Come Back to Me | Utada: This is the One - Album Review

Utada Performs Come Back to Me

2009-03-27T13:22:00.001-04:00

Utada is (finally) performing to promote the album; check out a little interview and Come Back to Me live.

More Utada: This is the One - Album Review

Utada - This is the One: Album Review

2009-03-27T12:55:00.012-04:00

Utada Hikaru has returned stateside to release her second English album to follow up 2004's Exodus. While her English debut was very "mad scientist, experimental," This is the One sees Utada a little more hands-off and going for a fun sound. Short and sweet, this album is certainly a departure from the Hikki I know, lyrically at least, but it definitely stays true to her style and would serve as an excellent introduction to the rest of her discography.

Continue reading...

I still haven't tired of lead single Come Back to Me but I still don't love it, either. It's a solid ballad and a grower, but a bit bland. I think it's time Utada released a second single that highlights her personality a bit more. Me Muero, Utada's "favorite song on the album," is an excellent way to kick things off. Hikki combines dramatic lyrics with a carefree melody to expertly capture the melodrama that follows a break-up. The chorus is great, I love the harmonies, and the song is easily relatable. Maybe it'll become my favorite song on the album, too.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI isn't one of those tracks that jump out at you, but I enjoy it quite a bit. The track, I feel, really embodies Utada as an artist; it's incredibly quirky yet well structured in a way that still feels organic rather than deliberate. I see FYI as the Utada litmus test -- if you like this song, you'd probably appreciate the majority of her work. Catchy break-up song Apple and Cinnamon follows and is more engaging and accessible. I almost wish this were her first single as it's more memorable than Come Back to Me.

Taking My Money Back and This One (Crying Like a Child) slow things down, but are no less engrossing. While I've listened to and understood much of her Japanese music, I could never really appreciate her merits as a lyricist because I'm not fluent. But, Hikki really has a way with words and knows how to write a hook. Taking My Money Back, about leaving a no-good man, and This One (Crying Like a Child), about missing a former lover, don't exactly cover uncharted territory but feature Hikaru's stylistic touch and stick with you.

Automatic Part II, the song I was most anticipating, did not disappoint. The song is essentially Utada's 'about me' in musical form. The vocals are very sing-song-y and tongue-in-cheek -- the track's a lot of fun. Dirty Desire and Poppin' explore Utada's sexy side, which really had my jaw dropping once or twice. I'm sure I didn't imagine the sweet, innocent image she's promoted in Japan and so hearing her saucily deliver debaucherous lyrics like "doing my 9 to 5, I'm thinking 6 and 9s" and "tight jeans, no panties on" really took me back. With that said, I really like the mixture of Utada's high and low registers in Poppin', but I'm not too crazy about Dirty Desire.

The album closes with On and On, possibly my favorite track of the set. Hearing Hikki lay her signature vocals on a dance track was bizarre at first listen, but it definitely works. I honestly don't expect anyone to play Utada at a club, but this is my new pre-gaming song. Whilst getting ready "to dance the night away" I dance around my room to Hikki's slick harmonies. And I love the shout-out Hikki throws to the 'mos in the hook. The guy screaming "Yeah!" in the background throughout the ENTIRE song can be distracting, though.

This is the One is a solid pop album that more than stands up to some of the drivel released by our own "artists." The overall tone is light, but it's far from bubble-gum. For people who like to listen to full albums, none of the tracks are throwaway and are all worth a listen. For what is essentially her real American debut, it's nice that her musical integrity and artistry remain intact and she doesn't try to cater to the whims of the American market. (BoA would have been wise to do the same). If this is your first introduction to Utada, I think you'll like what you hear. If you're already a fan, This is the One offers new insight into Hikki-chan as a woman and artist, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This is the One was digitally released on iTunes this past Tuesday for $7.99, so go pick it up. Also, the Come Back to Me music video is this week's free download, so hustle and download it before you have to pay. The album was released back on the 14th in Japan and nabbed the #3 spot on the Oricon Weekly Chart, a testament to her popularity.

Album Rating: 8/10

Crystal Kay's It's a crime - Acoustic Version by Kelly Rose

2009-03-26T02:46:00.004-04:00

YouTube really is a wonderful thing. I stumbled upon this cover of It's a crime, one of the hottest tracks on Crystal Kay's most recent album, Color Change. Kelly Rose killed it! I think a lot of what made the original song special was all the effects and Kuri's processed vocals; it was such a departure from Crystal's usual sound and it made the song stand out. But, this slowed down, acoustic version is just lovely. It's got me jonesing for the days when Crystal used to do acoustic performances. Check out Kelly Rose's cover of It's a crime. You won't regret it; girl is talented!

'Purple Teardrops I Cry' - Lady GaGa: AOL Sessions

2009-03-24T02:47:00.004-04:00

Lady GaGa recently did her AOL Sessions and surprise, surprise -- b*tch shut it down. I've played her more popular songs like Poker Face and LoveGame to death and resurrection at this point, but some of the songs I used to skip over from her debut The Fame are now my new favorites. Her performance of Beautiful Dirty Rich was super dramatic, but really engaging and I actually like the song now. Now that I hear Just Dance four times a night when I go out, it's nice to listen to Paparazzi and pretend I'm the only one who loves GaGa. Creepy lyrics, but catchy. Is it 'too much' to call an artist iconic if they've only released one album? I mean, damn, I say it over and over but, she really is on another level.

My New Guilty, Sinful, Debaucherous Pleasure - Make Me a Supermodel

2009-03-23T22:33:00.012-04:00

So I've been gone for a bit. Blame finals week. After that was done, I celebrated finals week ending with lots and lots of alcohol. And now it's spring break! And I'm not going anywhere with sand or waves so that's about as much as I'm willing to say on the subject.

Anyb*tch, the new seasons of CW's America's Next Top Model and Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel started a few weeks back and I'm watching both. Tyra's on to her twelfth cycle (ridiculous) and the show is still as entertaining as ever. Anyone who's watched as much ANTM as me knows Tyra picks half the girls for their modeling potential and the other half for comedic value. And, Tyra certainly knows how to pick 'em! I really don't think any of the girls will be successful as models, with the exception of maybe Sandra, who's gorgeous but also a raging b*tch. Self-proclaimed 'Blaxican,' Fo, is super-duper cute, but models are not, so... yeah.

Make Me a Supermodel, on the other hand, is actually what one would expect a modeling competition to be, and then some. I've been saying for years that Tyra should put aspiring male models on her show as well; her core audience is undoubtedly made up of females and gay men who would definitely appreciate some hard pectorals and dreamy jawlines thrown in amongst the catty b*tchfights. Make Me a Supermodel incorporates said dreamy jawlines AND actually makes some semblance of sense. MMAS, 2, ANTM, 0. Top Model, however, has Tyra Banks, our favorite, industrious ex-supermodel who hasn't a modicum of sanity left to her name. Tyson Beckford, though hella fine, simply cannot compete. And besides, how many shows, silly modeling competitions or otherwise, stay on the air for twelve seasons these days?

Top Model has definitely had some cool photo shoots over the years, but I found this idea from MMAS particularly sweet. Here's some eye candy (lame a** pun intended) from a recent episode.

P.S. I ♥ Colin.

BoA Performs Second Single: I Did it for Love

2009-03-14T17:16:00.004-04:00

BoA performed her second single from her English debut album, I Did it for Love, in L.A. She looked hott. The stage was a bit small, but she worked the choreography anyway. This is the image she should have been pushing from jump. No one wants to see her walking around in baggy sweatpants. The song, though, is more than a little whack and does not lend it self well to live renditions. It's way too processed. She may have been better off lip-syncing as there were times when she sounded just plain bad. Anyway! Check out BoA, whooo!

Dear. God. - Robert Pattinson Covers GQ

2009-03-12T18:15:00.008-04:00

Click here for more. You KNOW you want to.

ha ha hee hee ha ha ho - Britney: If U Seek Amy Music Video

2009-03-12T17:47:00.008-04:00

Britney's turned out her video for third single If U Seek Amy. Check it out...

This is definitely my favorite video of the three she's released to promote Circus. She's picking the right singles and it's becoming easier to look at her without worrying if she'll fall asleep during her choreography. She's still not the Britney we knew and loved but, it's a decent pop video; definitely a step up from the whack Toxic parody that was the Womanizer video. What do you guys think?

Damn...he likes girls - Se7en Ft. Lil Kim: Girls Music Video

2009-03-12T16:53:00.005-04:00

It's easy to write Se7en off as a Rain wannabe -- I did. But, after listening to his original crossover album (going from the Korean to the Japanese market) First SE7EN, I became a fan. He rocks a similar style, but he's legitimately talented. Like BoA and Utada, Se7en wants to expand his fame to include America and is readying his English debut. He seems to be taking his time with it, though -- he'll leak a song, gauge reactions, and come back stronger. It seems he's finally settled on a single he's willing to stand behind; check out his US debut, Girls featuring Lil Kim.

Brilliant move putting Lil Kim in the video. That b**** is such a spectacle. I'm sort of surprised he didn't put in any choreography, though; Se7en can definitely move. Girls has grown on me. The beat is kinda tight and he came correct with the vocals. His English is really good, too, all things considered. Both Rain and BoA's English is still weird and they've been practicing for years. Of course, in typical, Asian, overachieving fashion, Se7en also recently released a new Japanese single. BoA, Rain, Se7en, and Hikki make American pop stars seem so lazy.

Hot New Couple: Kyle XY & Aaron Samuels

2009-03-11T02:55:00.013-04:00

Rumor has it that Matt Dallas and Jonathan Bennett, better known as Kyle XY and Aaron Samuels respectively, are getting it on. Hott. I think this just goes to show that a hot romantic linking can make you relevant in Hollywood, even if the parties involved are less than A-list separately. With the floundering Kyle XY ending next week and 2004's Mean Girls still standing as Bennett's most prominent role, they would be wise to get jobs. Like, now. Or at least do a steamy shoot together. That would be grool.

Update: I tried to ignore this for a while, but it seems Kyle XY and Aaron Samuels have broken up. By all accounts, things didn't end well. Perhaps this had something to do with Jonathan wanting to come out publicly and Matt preferring the closet? Either way, opportunity squandered! This has easily been the best press they've gotten during their entire careers. They should have capitalized! Or at least given us that photo shoot! How ungrool.

Check out these other hotties who know how to capitalize on a good opportunity!!

The New "It" Boy?? - Meet Freddie Stroma

He can be my G.I. Joe... - Channing Tatum's GQ spread

Zefron or RPattz?? - Check out their GQ spreads and decide for yourself: Zac | Robert

I been the #1 Diva in Japan for a minute - Utada Hikaru: Come Back to Me Video

2009-03-11T01:37:00.006-04:00

The video for Utada Hikaru's current single Come Back to Me debuted about a week and a half ago, and was added and quizzically removed from iTunes within a week. This is the One was set to be released last week in Japan but is now slated to drop this Saturday. The US will see a digital release on the 24th and the album on shelves on May 12th. Things seem to be a little out of sorts; hopefully Utada and Def Jam know what they're doing.

The video has Hikki looking like the diva she is and features a hot man piece. Fabulous. Though, it's clear she has overestimated the average, or even the aggregate American attention span. But I'm sure you can make it through at least once. Right?

My life would be OK without Kelly singing live

2009-03-10T23:03:00.006-04:00

Kelly Clarkson has been making the rounds performing her new single My Life Would Suck Without You to promote her upcoming album, All I Ever Wanted. I've been waiting for a performance that I really liked to post on nodnarb, but I'm tired of holding my breath. The performances aren't bad, but I can't help but feel like Kelly has sort of begrudgingly returned to her pop sound instead of embracing it. The best part of My Life, in my opinion, is its over-processed chorus that's impossible not to sing along to. Kelly always puts this acoustic, raw vibe on it during her live renditions and it's not as fun. Am I being too particular? Check her out on Good Morning America.

Crystal Kay's 10th Anniversary - Vote for your favorite songs!

2009-03-09T22:46:00.008-04:00

As I mentioned before, Crystal Kay will be commemorating her 10 years in the music industry on July 1st with a special release of some sort. Her very first single, Eternal Memories, was released on July 1st, 1999. My guess is that she will release a compilation album and a new single, as クリ reports on her blog that she is in and out of the studio recording. With her milestone quickly approaching, Crystal has reached out to her fans through her official website and asked for their input. She wants you to vote for your three favorite songs from her decade-spanning discography -- from Eternal Memories to 出会えた軌跡 (Deaeta Kiseki). Tough, I know.

Her site is in Japanese, but it's not too difficult to navigate from here. Just select your favorite songs, give your nickname, gender, and age, and tell Crystal why you chose the songs you selected. It only takes a couple minutes or so, depending on how much you'd like to write, but I think it would be a great way to show support for Crystal in America. If BoA can crossover to the States, Crystal Kay certainly can, and maybe this will help make it happen.

The three songs I chose were 恋におちたら (Koi ni Ochitara) and I Know from Call Me Miss... and こんなに近くで。。。(Konna ni Chikaku De) from ALL YOURS. Some of Crystal's most popular songs, but hey, they're popular for good reason. Check out my favorite live performance of 恋におちたら (Koi ni Ochitara) and listen to こんなに近くで。。。(Konna ni Chikaku De) and I Know below. And don't forget to vote!

Guess Who?: Brawl Edition

2009-03-09T22:26:00.003-04:00

Bahahaha.

New Rain: 9월 12일 (September 12th) Music Video

2009-03-09T22:05:00.005-04:00

Rain has released a music video for the ballad 9월 12일 to promote the re-release of his album, newly titled Rainism Recollection. Drool. The re-release comes with a second disc featuring acoustic versions of Rain's ballads from Rainism (all of which are lovely) and English, Japanese, and Chinese versions of his songs Love Story and Rainism. Sweet. The video for 9월 12일 is really a montage of footage shot backstage at his concerts, during his photoshoots, and candid film of Rain just fooling around. Kind of a cop-out but I'm still busy drooling. 9월 12일 isn't my favorite song, or even my favorite ballad off of Rainism, but again... Drool.

It's March!! - Damn, did I really get this out on time...? Featured Artists: BoA, Utada Hikaru, and Kelly Clarkson

2009-03-01T16:04:00.014-05:00

Please, excuse my... promptness? It's been forever since I got a new header out on the first of the month! I'd advise you not to get used to it... >__>

This month, arguably the most popular Asian pop stars are trying their luck in the American market. BoA will release her self-titled debut English album on the 17th. The singles have been nothing spectacular, but I'll be interested in listening to the finished package, not to mention the Bloodshy & Avant productions. I was actually more impressed with UNIVERSE and Eien, her singles for her second compilation album, Best & USA, to be released a day later in Japan. Can't knock the hustle.

Utada Hikaru will be releasing her second English album, This is the One, on the 24th. I really can't say she has pushed hard enough in the States in support of her album, and I'm afraid she'll see the same results she did with Exodus. Come Back to Me has grown on me, but I think it was obvious from the beginning that the track was not going to garner the sort of attention necessary for big success. The tracklist for the album is a bit skimpy for my tastes, but it does include Automatic Part II, reason enough for me to check it out. Automatic is one of my favorite Hikki songs -- an updated, English reworking sounds awesome.

It's true, neither BoA or Utada did the kind of promotion they probably should have to secure big sales, but with Kelly Clarkson releasing an album this month as well, it would not have made any difference. Kelly, redeeming herself from the debacle that was My December, is poised to reclaim her title as American Idol. First single My Life Would Suck Without You has already broken records on the Billboard's Hot 100 and her return to the sound she cultivated on six times platinum Breakaway can only lead to success. I hated My December with a fiery passion, but I'm happy to say 'Welcome back, Kelly!'

Happy March, luhvahs.

President Obama's Budget

2009-03-01T13:59:00.004-05:00

Whether you see it as sharing the burden or redistributing wealth, President Obama's new budget definitely makes good on his promise of change. It just so happens to be change I can believe in ^_^. And anyway, the transparency is refreshing.

Read up on the Prez's plans.

My Favorite Oscar 2009 Moment

2009-03-01T13:37:00.006-05:00

The Oscars were great this year, surprisingly enough. The 'Big 5' Oscar winners were pretty predictable, but it was still entertaining from start to finish, thanks in large part to Hugh Jackman, one of the best hosts in some time. My favorite moment was Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech. Goosebumps.

How did I not know about this?! - Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter

2009-02-28T18:12:00.006-05:00

Way back in 2007, I went through an anime phase more serious than I’d like to admit. Every week I’d rush to my computer to download fresh episodes of Nodame Cantabile and Code Geass mere hours after they had aired in Japan. Code Geass was easily the more popular of the two, seeing an English dub and syndication on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim a little over a year later. While I have love for the show, I’ll be the first to admit that it was hella dramatic, and I found Zero’s convoluted plans of world domination more palatable when interspersed with Nodame’s foolish antics. I definitely owe the show credit for sparking a deeper interest in classical music in me. When the seasons ended, there was this big fuss over Code Geass’ final episodes being altered so that they could begin production on an unplanned second season, but there was no word on Nodame continuing.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a few days ago that a second season of Nodame Cantabile aired last fall. Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter is half the size of the first season and, my otaku sensibilities kicking into gear, I polished off the eleven episodes over two nights. My first instinct was to complain that we were robbed of a full season of Nodame hilarity, but I enjoyed it so much. I think the producers had it right with the ‘short & sweet’ approach. While the first season arguably focused on Chiaki’s aspirations to become a conductor and Nodame’s attempts to keep up, Paris marks a shift to focus on Nodame’s hard work and successes. It’s also nice to see Chiaki and Nodame’s relationship evolve in this chapter; the best scene in the entire series thus far has to be when Nodame beats Chiaki’s ass in the middle of the street. Love it. Fans of the show know that to be a huge turnaround from their usual, Chrihanna-esque relationship.

A new season has been announced for this fall, and this time I’ll be all over it. A live-action film is also supposed to start production in May. I prefer the anime series to the drama, but exciting news nonetheless.

Rihanna's Bruises

2009-02-20T02:01:00.004-05:00

It's Official: GaGa is ferocious - Lady GaGa LoveGame Video

2009-02-13T16:59:00.007-05:00

OK. This b**** is officially on another level. I didn't even know this was coming! Apparently, GaGa has decided to drop LoveGame instead of Eh Eh as the next single in the US and Europe and here's the feeh-uhce video. Love the Michael and Janet references. She really does look like Christina in some of these shots. (And, no, b****, I didn't mean that the other way around). Adore her. Yes, yes, yes.

B Marvels - Beyoncé Performs Halo

2009-02-13T16:42:00.004-05:00

Beyoncé looks and sounds lovely singing current single Halo at the NAACP Awards. I've been waiting for her to perform this song live and I'm relieved that she didn't give into her baser instincts and start thrashing that weave around. Beyoncé definitely teared up at one point during the song. Perhaps she was thinking about Etta James' harsh words? But you know that android is incapable of crying. She doesn't know how! "What is this moisture?" Ha, it really was v. nice, though. Let's hope she never decides to perform that other single...

BoA, Crystal Kay and Verbal Perform UNIVERSE

2009-02-13T15:39:00.004-05:00

うれしい！チェックしてください！

Cuteness Overload - Crystal Kay ft. Pikachu: ONE

2009-02-11T12:41:00.008-05:00

Crystal Kay has this gorgeous song from her last album called ONE (#7 on my Best of 2008 list). It's one of those songs that gets me to smile no matter what mood I'm in. When it was released as a single last summer, it was a tie-in for the 276890499th (ok, only the 11th) Pokémon movie. Apparently, Pikachu saw fit to drop by the studio and drop some vocals on the track.

I didn't know this existed until last night, and I kind of wish I could have stayed oblivious. Cuteness of this severity can make you unwillingly cover your face with your hands, laugh uncontrollably, or die. Damn you, Pikachu, and your little Poké-pal, for being so damned adorable, damn it. Take a listen if you dare. You've been warned.

More of John Mayer on Ellen

2009-02-11T03:06:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I'm kinda crushing...

Bad Girls - Rihanna vs. The Pussycat Dolls

2009-02-10T20:54:00.009-05:00

About a month ago, a Rihanna track by the name of Bad Girl leaked from the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. Like most Rihanna songs of late, it knocks and I've been playing it regularly. On the official soundtrack however, The Pussycat Dolls have replaced Rihanna on the track. Nicole sings the song exactly the same; the only difference is Chris Brown's rap is excluded from the PCD version. As vocalists, I easily prefer Nicole to Rihanna and I'm sure the Dolls can turn out a hot video for the track if it ever gets released as a single. But the song suited Rihanna so well that I wish she could have kept it. What do you guys think?

This makes me happy - John Mayer & Ellen DeGeneres Sing in the Bathroom

2009-02-10T20:41:00.004-05:00

I love Ellen. She always gets me to smile. So, she's doing this "Bathroom Concert Series" on her show, one of the cutest concepts ever. This time, she invited John Mayer in the bathroom with her to sing Lady GaGa's ubiquitous hit, Just Dance. Even though John Mayer's currently deluded enough to be dating Jennifer Aniston, I've got love for him. He's dreamy and he makes good music (John snagged two more Grammys to add to his collection on Sunday). And, he's really tall. Check out the Grammy-deserving duet.

Universe, eyes here - BoA, Crystal Kay & Verbal to Perform UNIVERSE

2009-02-10T20:19:00.008-05:00

BoA, Crystal Kay, and Verbal are set to perform their new single, Universe, this Friday on Music Station! This is pretty surprising news because, as far as I know, Crystal and m-flo have never taken to the stage together before, despite their many collaborations. Even their last project, the awesome Love Don't Cry from m-flo's collaboration album Cosmicolor, saw random J-pop ladies filling in for Crystal when performed live. It seems their contractual limitations have been sorted out.

Unlike Crystal Kay tours, performances from Music Station regularly make it over to the States so I'll be sure to post it here as soon as I can get my hands on it. Seems BoA is taking the promotion for Best & USA seriously in Japan. It'd be nice if she could make an appearance in the US, though. I mean, they know who she is over there. Anyways, super excited!! ^_^ Seems I haven't seen a live Kuri performance in ages.

Chris Brown allegedly assaults Rihanna

2009-02-09T05:58:00.006-05:00

I wasn't planning on saying anything about this, because no one really knows what's going on or what's actually true. What we do know is that Chris Brown was arrested Sunday evening and has allegedly assaulted a woman. Though her identity has not been confirmed, sources are claiming that it is indeed his girlfriend, Rihanna.

First off, it's sad that what was supposed to be a great weekend for them both has turned into such a disaster. Rihanna was set to open the Grammys last night and both artists were nominated for multiple awards. If these allegations turn out to be factual, Chris Brown's career is over. I don't think there's any getting around that. And if that happens, he brought it upon himself.

In my attempts to find out more about the situation, I'm sad to say I stumbled upon too many comments from random people to the tune of "Rihanna got what she deserved." I am extremely bothered and I figured I'd let it off my chest, so to speak, and maybe I could get back to sleep tonight. Because these people are celebrities, I can understand feeling like their situation is removed from reality in some way. No one, however, deserves domestic abuse. This is not another wacky celebrity event that the world will parody and laugh about for weeks. There is no humor involved here, so your jokes are beyond inappropriate. I don't care how you may feel about Rihanna's songs or image, you're scum if you can express concern over Chris Brown's career instead of her well being. Hopefully, it will come to light that there was a misunderstanding, or it wasn't Rihanna at all. But, for now, I'm just ashamed to see such cold comments from so many people.

Update: It has been confirmed that it was in fact Rihanna that Chris Brown assaulted. Photographic evidence was taken at the scene and Rihanna's bruises are said to have been 'horrific.' This really rocks my world. It just shatters my view of the kids of my generation and their impact on pop culture.

Oh yeah, and people are still scumbags. Chris Brown deserves every thing he gets. I hope he's brought to justice quickly.

M.I.A. Performs Pregnant, Introducing the 'Rap Pack' and I'm spent!

2009-02-08T22:01:00.005-05:00

M.I.A. opened for the 'Rap Pack', consisting of Jay-Z, T.I., Lil' Wayne, and Kanye, with a full belly. Today is her due date! And she was awesome. The boys were as well, though Jay-Z sort of pulled away.

Haha, but I'm afraid that concludes my Grammy coverage for the night. I somehow managed to pass out after their performance ended. Guess it wasn't that entertaining after all! Ha, no, I was pretty exhausted. Hope it was a good show XD. Though I doubt it; the Grammys usually fall off as the show progresses. And it would seem that the rumor I heard last year about the performers at the AMAs not being allowed to perform at the Grammys was true. A real shame; I would have loved to see Leona, P!nk, or Christina perform.

Did you get through the rest? How was it??