Thursday, June 30, 2011

SHOCKER: Aaron Carter says Michael Jackson gave him wine & cocaine at 15


WOAH. Just...woah. 


In a new interview with OK Magazine, late 90s teen idol Aaron Carter briefly but shockingly opens up about his friendship with musical legend Michael Jackson. He's never spoken much about the man and mentor he knew as a young man, but he reveals that MJ introduced him to not only good music, but also drugs and alcohol.

When asked if Michael had ever given him alcohol, Aaron said:
"I never talked about it… This is the first time. I do… I miss Michael… I have spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did… But I was also troubled about what he did to me … Yes, he gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was 15."
When he was pressed further for more information, Aaron dropped this bomb:
"He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff… We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. I admired Michael, but his behaviour bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police…"
Can this really be true?
Back in 2004, Aaron Carter's mother expressed her concern over her sons friendship and unsupervised vitsits with the King of Pop, where she implied drug use was involved. At the time 16-year-old Aaron said, "I don't do drugs. I didn't do them with Michael Jackson and I don't do them with anyone else." 

Hard to know what to believe. Then again, why say this all now? 

Sources: OMFGPerez

MUSIC VIDEO: Cobra Starship ft. Sabi - You Make Me Feel...



New single from upcoming album "Night Shades", "You Make Me Feel..." is most notable for its blatant similarities to Calvin Harris' "I'm Not Alone" and, by extension, Chris Brown's "Yeah x3" (which sampled Calvin). Generally unknown rapper chick Sabi - who began making waves this year by being a random feature on Britney's Femme Fatale album - is featured on the hook of the song.

The video is typical dance-pop fodder with a photograph concept thrown in. 

Unexceptional in all accounts, the song has already overtaken Adele as #1 on iTunes New Zealand with a huge margin. Go figure.


VIRAL HIT: MangeMakers - Party at Mange's (Fest Hos Mange)


Already going viral and - whilst I have no idea what these guys are saying, other than there will be a party at Mange's (nickname for Magnus) - this is turns out to be a strangely addictive tune.

Props to the producer and whoever Mange is. Dancing is good too.

MUSIC VIDEO: Sander Kleinenberg - T.I.O.N. (This Is Our Night)

With Dev at Coachella
If you want a successful house party, just play this. Excellent serving from Dutch DJ and producer Sander Kleinenberg. 

Watch it and then try to tell me you don't wish you were in that music video, c'mon.

MUSIC VIDEO: Tinie Tempah ft. Wiz Khalifa - Till I'm Gone


Second single from the US edition of Tinie Tempah's debut album, featuring "Black & Yellow" rapper Wiz Khalifa. The track follows up hit "Written In The Stars" and will be serviced to American radio in due time. Whilst it's a shame that tracks like "Pass Out" can't be pushed in the US (radio probably wouldn't play it, at least not from an unknown artist like Tinie) it's great to see one of UK Hip-Hop's first and foremost doing so damn well across the pond. 

Wiz Khalifa's feature is expendable but welcome nonetheless. 

Favorite lyric: "Call Me Aloe Blacc, cos I need that dollar yo"

MUSIC VIDEO: Joe Jonas - See No More


Joe Jonas' music video for new solo single "See No More", the first to be lifted from debut solo project "Fast Life" (out September 6th in the USA), is now out. He's looking and sounding great and I already love the song a whole lot more - I really think this can be the big Pop hit he needs to open up the way for a successful solo career. 


Maybe, just maybe, Joe can fill the gaping hole left in the world of Pop by Justin Timberlake ever since he decided to spend his time becoming a comedian and buying shares in Myspace, SMH. 

Enjoy below:

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

INTERVIEW: Beyoncé on Piers Morgan Tonight


And the "4" promotional onslaught continues.

TRACKLISTING: Kelly Rowland - Here I Am (US Standard & Deluxe Edition)


Out on Universal Motown on July 26th in the USA and Canada, the finalized track listing for the North American versions of Kelly Rowland's upcoming third album leaves out previous singles "Grown Ass Woman", "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Forever And A Day" as well as previously confirmed collaborations with Pitbull and Chris Brown and the official hip-hop remix of "Motivation" (featuring Busta Rhymes, Trey Songz and Fabulous). A new 'Rebel Rock' remix of "Motivation" and the Rico Love-helmed urban edit of "Commander" featuring Nelly, do, however, make the final cut - take that as you will.  



STANDARD EDITION:

1. I'm Dat Chick
2. Work It Man, feat. Lil Play
3. Motivation, feat. Lil Wayne
4. Lay It On Me, feat. Big Sean
5. Feelin' Me Right Now
6. Turn It Up
7. All of the Night, feat. Rico Love
8. Keep It Between Us
9. Commander, feat. David Guetta
10. Down For Whatever


DELUXE EDITION
11. Heaven & Earth
12. Each Other
13. Motivation (Rebel Rock Remix) feat. Lil Wayne
14. Commander (Urban Remix) feat. Nelly

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Drake Bell - Terrific


It's been five years since Drake Bell's sophomore album "It's Only Time" was released and four years (leaving aside specials) since the end of Nickelodeon's hit teen show "Drake & Josh"  which made him a household name worldwide. In the that time he's been hard at work with both film and television, as well as touring, an EP and a  live concert album. 


Most importantly, he's grown, he's matured, he's evolved. And that's what strikes you first and foremost about his new music video "Terrific" - Drake is far more than just the cute freckled kid from that funny show.  The visual is simple and low-budget but nice and clean; mature and fittingly somber in tone. Drake is back now with his second EP, A Reminder, featuring four brand new tracks, including Terrific, whose video you can view below: 


MUSIC VIDEO: David Guetta, Flo-Rida & Nicki Minaj - Where Them Girls At



The music video for French electro-producer-extraordinaire David Guetta's hot new production featuring rapper Flo-Rida and rap-singer Nicki Minaj has debuted. Whilst Nicki is without a doubt the highlight of the song, David's production skills and even Flo-Rida's participation are also on point. Surprisingly, electro suits Nicki just as much as her own bubblegum pop-rap and harder hip-hop music. 

Enjoy below:

LIVE: Far East Movement "If I Was You (OMG)" at NHL Awards 2011


Far East Movement continue on their promo trail with a snowy performance of recent single "If I Was You (OMG)" at the NHL Awards 2011, in Las Vegas. Featured artist Snoop Dogg was not present but in all honesty his absence made little to no difference; definitely one of FM's best televised performances thus far. The song follows up smash hits "Like A G6" and "Rocketeer", all off their latest album "Free Wired". 

Watch their performance below: 

NEW: The Wanted Single Cover & Release Date


Love it!

The Wanted's new single "Glad You Came" is officially out July 10th, no doubt delayed to ensure a #1 debut.

LIVE: Beyoncé "Run The World (Girls)" at Le Grand Journal



Having wowed fans headlining at Glastonbury Festival (where her performance propelled new single "Best Thing I Never Had" to #1 on UK iTunes), diva extraordinaire Beyoncé flew over to France for some more heavy promo for new album "4", which is also at #1 on UK iTunes. In addition to performing RTW and BTINH on French X-Factor, Bey or "King B" stopped by popular show Le Grand Journal to perform lead single "Run The World (Girls)". Watch her performance below.

If the video is blocked or temporarily unavailable, click to view on YouTube.

MUSIC VIDEO: Dutch Uncles - Cadenza


Comes highly recommended for fans of Foals and the like. "Cadenza" is the second single from the Manchester indie rocker's second album, also "Cadenza", their first to be officially released in the UK (it made #24 in the indie charts).

Watch the cutesy music video below:


MUSIC VIDEO: Simple Plan & Natasha Bedingfield - Jet Lag


The unexpected collaboration between Canadian rockers Simple Plan and New Zealand/UK singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield is already a big hit in Australia, Canada and Germany. 

Unfortunately it currently has no adds date at US Mainstream radio. Simple Plan and Natasha fans can only hope it will eventually be given the right promotional push in North America. 

Watch below:

MUSIC VIDEO: Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks



Already taking off in the UK (#27 UK iTunes), "Pumped Up Kicks" is the debut single of Columbia Records indie-pop/alt-rock outfit Foster The People. The song is apparently about someone going on a killing spree and is lifted from their debut album "Torches", also out now. 

SHOW-STOPPER: KELLY ROWLAND'S CHRONIC DIARRHEA AT BET AWARDS 2011


That's right. At last night's BET Awards Miss Kelendria Trene Rowland - better known simply as one third of Destiny's Child Kelly Rowland - was shitting left right and center ALL OVER every other R&B chick out in the music game.

The show-stopping performance opened with sex crooner Trey Songz performing Love Faces/Unusual , seguing into Kelly's nod-to-Janet performance of Motivation, with the two finishing off with Trey's verse from the official Motivation remix. Kelly donned a church hat that was coming off for no one and sang live over a pre-recorded track, as is clearly discernible when a slight error occurs at the end when the backing track skips to a different part of Trey's verse. 

The performance marks the start of Kelly's promo campaign for smash hit "Motivation" and new album "Here I Am" (out next month). Needless to say, I am beyond excited and will continue reporting on her progress. 

Be wowed below: 

MUST-SEE: BET AWARDS 2011 LIVE PERFORMANCES















Many thanks to MrWorldPremiere !


(Editor's Note: Unfortunately, I have been unable to embed the taped Beyoncé performance, Gospel Medley, Patti LaBelle tribute and RIP Tributes - working on it). 

MUSIC VIDEO: Abi Phillips feat. Fugative - Summer Sunshine


Released digitally July 31, "Summer Sunshine" is the new single from deep voiced seventeen year old singer-actress Abi Phillips, best known as Liberty Savage on British soap opera Hollyoaks. It's generic dance-pop at it's very best: a perfect holiday anthem. Whilst the likes of Katy Perry and Ke$ha would no doubt kill themselves for such an obvious made-for-radio smash, the fact that it's NOT done by an established mainstream dance-pop girl is endearing; there's something about Abi and her voice that adds an extra edge to the song that I quite like. The cherry on top is up & coming teen pop-rapper Fugative's participtaion in both video and song. 

Loves it!

Bring out the boys boys boys! Bring out the girls girls girls!

NEWS: Lady Gaga taken to court for stealing from fans + profiting from Japan Relief!


After being contacted by fans who felt cheated, U.S. consumer attorneys 1-800-Law-Firm filed a class action lawsuit (from an unspecified number of individuals) at the U.S. Federal Court in Detroit, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) act, against pop star Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta); Live Nation Merchandising, Universal Music and a number of Gaga's business ventures are also named too. 

The suit is to the sum of £3.1 million and alleges  Lady Gaga profited from her own charity wristband, sold to help the victims of the Japanese earthquake. Gaga is accused of grossly overcharging for shipping costs and wrongly putting sales taxes on what should have been a charitable donation, in addition to keeping as profit some of the money paid for the wristband itself despite assurances to fans that all the money would go direct to Japan.

The lawsuit cites a "deceptive advertising campaign" and "pattern of racketeering" utilized by the involved parties to persuade the unsuspecting public to buy the $5 (£3.10) wristband through her official website. Furthermore, fans were charged £2.50 ($1.55) for shipping when the real cost was 31p (50 cents) - with the difference being kept by Gaga and her associates. 

The lawsuit states that the Bad Romance singer "then used the inflacted financials to solicit additional 'donations' as evidence of the good they were doing." The overall sum raised so far is unknown. 



The wristband is still for sale on Gaga's official merchandising website with the caption: 'Little Mosnters, show your support for Japan with this "We Pray For Japan" wristband!' 'Choose your price to add an additional donation with your wristband. All proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts.". 

Whereas most stars encourage fans to donate to established charities, Lady Gaga took it upon herself to collect the money and (allegedly) did not turn it over, exposing herself to these charges. Gaga and the other parties have 30 days to respond.

Stay tuned for further developments.


EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Patrick Stump feat. Lupe Fiasco - This City


Patrick Stump first shot to fame as the chubby ginger-haired frontman of pop-punk outfit Fall Out Boy. Now, he's on his own and putting the final touches on his debut studio album, "Soul Punk", in which he bares his R&B and hip-hop influences more openly than ever before.

"This City", which features fellow Chicago native Lupe Fiasco, serves as the record's first single. Described by Stump as representative of the record, being "kind of pop but a little left of center...it sounds kind of like it makes sense on the radio but at the same time doesn't at all. It's very me." Stump and Fiasco have known each other several years - Stump produced Lupe's track "Little Weapon" and originally wrote the hook for "This City" with Lupe in mind; having decided to keep the track for himself Lupe was the only natural choice to be featured on it.

On a side-note Stump is looking the best he's ever looked. Damnit boy! 

Listen below:

Monday, June 27, 2011

BET AWARDS 2011: Award Mix-Up & Winner's List


With four wins to his name, none other than "Beautiful People" singer Chris Brown was the biggest winner of the night, to Team Breezy's evident delight (cue millions of fangurls singing his praises online). This includes the  Viewer's Choice Award which was presented by contest winner Tiffany Green, causing great mix-up: her tablet announced Chris Brown as the winner, but the teleprompter said Rihanna (which, in case you didn't know, is Chris' ex which he battered a while back). The poor girl announced Chris as the winner, only to correct herself and announced Rihanna and Drake as the winners for their #1 hit "What's My Name". In Rihanna's absence Drake comes out and accepts the award. At the end of the show Chris was brought out and announced as the real winner of the Award; to add to the confusion BET Awards also sent out tweets announcing both Rihanna and then Chris as winner. Watch the awkward moment below: 



Full list of BET Awards 2011 Winners:


Best Female R&B Artist: Rihanna 
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown 
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj 
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kanye West 
Best Collaboration: Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, “Look at Me Now” 
Best New Artist: Wiz Khalifa 
Best Group: Diddy-Dirty Money 
YoungStars Award: (tie) Jaden Smith and Willow Smith 
Best Gospel: Mary Mary 
Centric Award: Marsha Ambrosius 
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson 
Best Actor: Idris Elba 
Best Movie: For Colored Girls 
Sportsman of the Year: Michael Vick 
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams 
Best International Act (U.K.): Tinie Tempah 
Best International Act (Africa): 2Face Idibia and D’Banj 
Video Director of the Year: Chris Robinson 
Video of the Year: Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, “Look at Me Now” 
Viewers’ Choice: Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, “Look at Me Now”





Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child looking glamorous on the red carpet



NEWS: Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket auctioned


The King of Pop's iconic red and black "Thriller" jacket was auctioned - alongside other memorabilia from the likes of Madonna, Beatles and Elvis Presley - at this weekend's Julien's auction in Beverly Hills, California. 

The jacket, famously donned by the late Michael Jackson in his "Thriller" music video, went for the figure of $1.8 million - many times more than the estimated bid of $200,000 to $400,000. According to CNN, part of the proceeds will go towards the Shambala Preserve where Jackson's two Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, have been living the past five years. 

Continuing (from CNN): "The jacket had been given to Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, the singer's longtime costume designers, to use as a reference for concert performances of the "Thriller" song. It includes an inscription to them on the jacket's lining, and the sleeve is signed, "Love Michael Jackson." (...)

The jacket wasn't the only piece of history from the late King of Pop that was part of the auction. The signature fedora Jackson wore during his Bad Tour was sold for $16,250, a handwritten note to friend Elizabeth Taylor went for $5,625 and a signed pillowcase fetched $3,584. And a bidder paid out $330,000 -- more than 10 times what Julien's had expected to get -- for one of the famous, shiny, crystal-covered gloves that Jackson wore during the 1980's. (...)

Other pieces of history, from other members of music royalty, were also featured at the auction. While gold records and instruments were common items, others were more practical -- like Frank Sinatra's boots (selling for $2,500) and his 1986 Jaguar car ($19,000) as well as the U.S. Army-issued sewing kit of Elvis Presley's that went for $1,536. 

The King of Pop's closest competition at the auction was the Beatles, which had a number of items for sale. A signed postcard from Liverpool's finest sold for $5,504 and Paul McCartney's bass guitar fetched $14,080. But oft-diminished drummer Ringo may have gotten the last laugh, with the cape he wore in the movie "Help!" selling for $37,500 -- about five times the estimate". [CNN.com]


Jackson's latest (second posthumous) album release "Michael" has spawned three singles in "Hold My Hand", "Hollywood Tonight" and "Behind The Mask" and shipped 3 million copies worldwide since it's release last December. 

GOSSIP: Delta Goodrem and Nick Jonas snapped kissing


Having split up from boyfriend and sometime fiancé of seven years Brian McFadden earlier this year, Australian singer-songwriter and cancer survivor Delta Goodrem, 26, has jumped right into a new relationship with 18 year old American Nick Jonas, of Jonas Brothers fame. 

The 8 year age gap has not deterred the couple from making public displays of affection; with a huge smile on her face, Delta greeted Nick with a kiss in the car park outside Los Angeles International Airport yesterday. Afterwards they were snapped on way to lunch at Henry's Hat in studio city (below).

The two have been spending plenty of time together in the past few months, working on Delta's new studio album. They were first seen together on March 5th, when Delta tweeted a pic of the two (with their arms around each other) alongside Jonas Brothers bass guitarist Greg Garbowsky - three weeks prior to announcing the end of her relationship with McFadden.  





On way to lunch at Henry's Hat

Sunday, June 26, 2011

BET AWARD 2011: Kelly Rowland Red Carpet Pics

Whilst "sister" Beyoncé Knowles headlined across the pond at Glastonbury Festival, all eyes were on R&B's current HBIC Kelly Rowland as she worked the BET Awards 2011 red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium. With current single "Motivation" notching a fifth consecutive week atop the R&B charts, despite only just being shipped out to Urban Adult Contemporary radio and only going to Pop radio early next month it has already become the eleventh most played song overall at all American radio outlets. After the general lackluster performance of her solo material stateside, Kelly Rowland has rebounded and become one of the most talked-about stars of 2011. Her third studio album, "Here I Am", out next month, has become one of the year's most highly anticipated releases and her every move generates discussion and speculation. 

Prior to receiving a full standing ovation for her first televised performance of "Motivation", Kelly worked the red carpet outside. Girlfriend is looking fabulous as always - pink really is her color. I'll be posting the performance as soon as it makes it's way online so stay tuned!



LIVE: Beyoncé "Run The World" at Glastonbury


Headliner Beyoncé Knowles performed lead single "Run The World (Girls)" before an audience of 177,000 at Glastonbury Festival 2011, the biggest musical festival in England. Her setlist also included covers of  "You Oughta Know" (Alanis Morisette), "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" (Eurythmics), "The Beautiful Ones" (Prince) and "Sex On Fire" (Kings of Leon).

Bey's rapper-entrepreneur husband Jay-Z controversially headlined Glasto back in 2008.

Watch her "Run The World" performance below. (If it's blocked or temporarily unavailable, just click to watch on YouTube). 

MUSIC VIDEO: Jay Sean - Where Do We Go


Indian-British singer and rapper Jay Sean shot to fame in the UK back in 2003, when the underground track "Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)" on which he was featured took off and became a chart hit. The song's success lead to him signing a million pound deal with Virgin's Relentless Records. Three albums and several hits later he broke through in the USA and internationally with the #1 smash hit "Down", which he followed up with the Top 10 hit "Do You Remember". 

Foto de Jay Sean

Since then Sean (real name Kamaljit Singh Jhooti) has been hard at work at his fourth album, now titled "Freeze Time". The LP has suffered several changes of release date and has already spawned three singles: "2012" (#31 US), "Hit The Lights" (#18 US) and "Like This Like That". His latest single is "Where Do We Go" and it's video has just debuted.

Watch below.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Selena Gomez & The Scene - Love You Like A Love Song



If like me, you never imagined that "Wizards of Waverly Place" star Selena Gomez would go on to become one of the hottest things in Pop, brace yourself. Three albums in, Selena and her band The Scene (pictured with her above) have already sold millions of records and seem set to continue their winning streak with new [slightly dubstep-tinged] single "Love You Like A Love Song", whose karaoke/Japanese-themed music video you can watch below. 

I love it. So catchy.

MUSIC VIDEO: Enrique Iglesias, Usher & Lil Wayne - Dirty Dancer


Enrique's back and he's here to stay. Following the huge success of comeback singles "I Like It" and "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)"  is another club-ready banger. CashMoney frontman Weezy (Lil Wayne) is enlisted for a remixed version of "Dirty Dancer", a duet with Usher, which serves as the latino Pop prince's newest single.

Watch below. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Shwayze feat. The Cataracs & Dev - Love Letter


Shwayze is back with a cute new summery single. It's titled "Love Letter" and features (like a whole bunch of other songs out there) feature-whores The Cataracs and Dev. It's not immense, it's not immediate, but it's kinda cute. It's the kinda song that could potentially be hammered out by college radio so incessantly that eventually you have no option other than just give in and like the damn thing.

With their own solo material not making any dent on the charts, I'm not sure whether being "cute" combined with the Cataracs+Dev feature will be enough to make this a chart/commercial hit. Wait and see. 

Watch the video below:

LYRIC VIDEO: Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger



Diva extraordinaire-cum-"The Voice" judge Christina Aguilera has joined forces with her fellow judge Adam Levine on the infectious summer jam "Moves Like Jagger". Produced by none other than Benny Blanco, the track is the official new single from Adam's band Maroon 5 and will be performed by the two judges tonight (June 21) on NBC's hit talent show The Voice. 

I've always liked Maroon 5 but Queentina - aka Slaytina, Godtina, Legendtina, Successguilera - really makes the song.

I smell a hit. Check the lyric video and an unclothed Adam below:


MUSIC VIDEO: Britney Spears - I Wanna Go


Britney's back with the visual for her third single "I Wanna Go", which is already blowing up at US radio with sizeable updates every day. Fierceney and Funney are both back - she's looking good, sexy and bouncy. It's a message for da haterz and blowing off some steam -it's a nice fun clip for a nice fun song .  The video concept is similar to the MJ classic "Thriller" which I also loved. OK, the styling is a bit Avrilesque, but then again, Avril hardly patented the Pop-punk princess look; personally I think it suits Britney better (in this one-off occassion). 

The shameless promo for the Femme Fatale Tour and Femme Fatale Album make me love this even more. Watch below.

(If temporarily blocked or unavailable for viewing in your territory, click to view on YouTube).

Monday, June 20, 2011

MUSIC VIDEO: Weird Al Yankovic - Perform This Way (Lady Gaga Parody)


Everyone's favorite music parodist Weird Al Yankovic is back and saying what we've all been thinking. "Perform This Way" is a parody of  Lady Gaga's "Born This Way". After a whole bunch of drama and confusion, Al was finally able to secure Gaga's permission for the parody, which serves as the first single from his upcoming album "Alpocalypse", which is out tomorrow (June 21, 2011). 

Watch the accompanying music video - featuring Al's face superimposed on a female dancer, a Madonna lookalike and scantily clad dancers - below. 

(If it is blocked or temporarily unavailable, click to watch on YouTube).

NEW PROMO PIC: Sugababes 4.0


Looking good.

The girls are now signed to Sony and have a new single "Freedom" coming out soon.

MUSIC VIDEO TEASER: Darren Hayes - Talk Talk Talk


New single from Mr Darren Hayes' as-of-yet untitled fourth album. Definitely pursuing a more commercial route than previously. Check out the video teaser below:

MUSIC VIDEO: Havana Brown - We Run The Night


Already a big hit down under, it's somewhat akin to Wynter's "Dirty Talk" until a pretty darn good Afrojack-ish breakdown. Video is nothing special in terms of recent dance-pop either - singer looking 'fierce' amidst scantily clad male dancers. Still, worth a listen.