Saturday, December 22, 2012

Mariah Carey's Timeless Christmas Anthem Re-Enters the Hot 100!


I've been a Mariah Carey fan for over 20 years now, and if I haven't learned anything else, I've learned one important thing. That important thing is to never count this woman out. She's always full of surprises and has proved countless times the reason why she will always remain at the top of music. 18 years ago when she sat down in the studio to write "All I Want For Christmas Is You", little did she know that she was writing a song that would live on for years and ultimately be hailed as "a holiday standard" as stated by Rolling Stone. Along with other classic Christmas songs like "Rockin around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee and "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey remains an iconic composition worthy enough to be paired with the greats.
 
Aside from amazingly Re-Entering the Holiday song charts at #1 every year since it's inception, "All I Want.." has made yet another achievement to add to the list. Due to recent changes being made to the charting guidelines, the effervescent Holiday standard has Re-Entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #29. Since then, it has climbed up a few more spots and sits pretty at #25.
 
Due to the way the charting guidelines were written back in the 90's, the song was ineligible for inclusion on the Hot 100, but that has since changed. The new rules of the chart states should any song accumulate enough radio airplay, online streams and sales to crack the top 50 of the Hot 100, it will be eligible to chart. Guideline changes such as this made it possible for Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" to re-enter the charts and ultimately peak at #3, following her untimely passing back in February. One can only imagine how high "All I Want" will peak after all is said and done, but rest assure we are all happy for Mariah and celebrate the fact that real music is finding its way back to the public and to the charts where it belongs.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mariah Carey Continues To Captivate At The Jimmy Fallon Show


Every year, Mariah Carey tries to find something new, fun and festive to do for the holidays. This year, she's been popping up unexpectedly at shows and giving stunning vocal performances in order to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. First, it was her performances at the Rockefeller center that had the world buzzing. Then came a surprise that shocked all. She showed up at the Jimmy Fallon show to give an acoustic performance of her iconic holiday standard "All I Want For Christmas Is You". All of the instruments used were found around a classroom and were played by The Roots and Jimmy Fallon himself. However, the real treat was the woman none other than Mariah Carey. Using absolutely no pre recorded vocals, microphone, or assistance of any kind, Mariah took us back to 1994 by belting every note of the happy holiday tune with just her raw vocals. If you had any doubts to whether or not Mariah Carey still had the chops to handle some of her most vocally powerful songs, then please proceed to slap yourself. Mariah Carey's voice was still in its full glorious form and probably made the lessor singers wanna consider retirement. 
 
Mariah single handedly showed everyone how its done by never shying away from a high note and, as usual, tackling a high note with great ease and panache. It was truly something wonderful to hear. Mariah is the epitome of a masterful vocalist. It also appeared that I wasnt the only person who was bewitched by the brilliant performance because something awesome happened after the show. The vide,o which was shortly uploaded to Jimmy Fallon's youtube page after the performance managed to log a million views in just a single day. since then, It has amassed over 8 million views and counting. Poor Floptina's video of her performing "Your Body" at Jimmy Fallon has only managed to log a million views, and it's been uploaded since November. Mariah is capable of easily passing up another popular Jimmy Fallon video that features Carly Ray whoever the hell she is whose video has 12 million views. Anyways, dont miss out on seeing this simply amazing video of Mariah's impeccable vocals.
 
Watch one of the greatest singers of all time spread the holiday cheer with her heavenly voice by singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You".



Mariah Carey Shows Off Impeccable Vocals At The Rockefeller Center


Tis the season to be jolly, festive, loving, decorative and all that other good stuff! As youre decorating, be sure to pop in the boom box your Merry Christmas album by Mariah Carey! Whether it's her 1994 album Merry Christmas or her 2010 album Merry Christmas II U, I guarantee you that they will put you in the spirit! Recently, Ms. Carey stopped by the Rockefeller Center to spread some Christmas cheer and to shock the drawers off the audience due to the magnificent condition that her voice was in. Boy, was it ever in magnificent condition! Carey hit the stage with her blinged out microphone and festive outfits to perform a song from each Christmas album. First was the iconic Holiday standard written by herself, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" from her 1994 "Merry Christmas" album and the second was "Christmas Time Is In The Air Again" from her 2010 "Merry Christmas II You" album. The latter is one of the many gems from Mariah's second Christmas album that showcase the sheer beauty of her voice and is bound to make you feel good inside. Its undoubtedly one of my favorites from the album. During the show, Mariah quickly put all of the doubts aside that The power, fullness and one of a kind tone that captivated us over 20 years ago was still intact and ready to conquer. Mariah was arguably having a tougher time at the beginning of the year vocal wise, but as we all witnessed during Rockefeller, her magnificent voice never missed a beat. I truly think that the condition of Mariah's vocals depends on adequate rest and weather. After all, she's only human folks, she's not a jukebox. However, the bottom line is that Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas and she's got the heavenly festive vocals to get even the most bah humbug type in the mood! Go Mariah Carey!
 
Watch Mariah sing the hell out of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Here:



Mariah also performed "Christmas Time Is In The Air Again from her second Christmas album. Check out the magnificent performance here:

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

2013 Grammy Nominations

 


1. Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy- The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
Track from: El Camino
[Nonesuch]

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)- Kelly Clarkson
Greg Kurstin, producer; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]

We Are Young- Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Jeff Bhasker, producer; Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen]

Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer
Track from: Making Mirrors
[Universal Republic]

Thinkin Bout You- Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean, producer; Jeff Ellis, Pat Thrall & Marcos Tovar, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
Track from: Channel Orange
[Def Jam]

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together- Taylor Swift
Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, producers; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]

2. Album Of The Year

El Camino- The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
[Nonesuch]

Some Nights- Fun.
Janelle Monáe, featured artist; Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Jake One & TommyD, producers; Jeff Bhasker, Pete Bischoff, Jeff Chestek, Andrew Dawson, Emile Haynie, Manny Marroquin, Sonny Pinnar & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Fueled By Ramen]
Babel

Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Glassnote]

Channel Orange- Frank Ocean
André 3000, John Mayer & Earl Sweatshirt, featured artists; Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean & Pharrell, producers; Calvin Bailif, Andrew Coleman, Jeff Ellis, Doug Fenske, Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean, Philip Scott, Mark “Spike” Stent, Pat Thrall, Marcos Tovar & Vic Wainstein, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]

Blunderbuss- Jack White
Jack White, producer; Vance Powell & Jack White, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Third Man/Columbia Records]

3. Song Of The Year

The A Team
Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
Track from: +
[Elektra; Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing]

Adorn
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]

Call Me Maybe
Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope; Publishers: Jepsen Music Publishing, Regular Monkey Productions, Crowe Music Publishing]

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly
Clarkson)
[RCA/19 Recordings; Publishers: Universal Music Publishing MGB Scandinavia, Perfect Storm Music Group/Sony ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia, BMG Gold Songs, Kurstin Music/EMI April Music]

We Are Young
Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun.
Featuring Janelle Monáe)
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen; Publishers: WB Music, FBR Music, Bearvon Music/Rough Art/Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music/Way Above Music/Sony ATV Songs]

4. Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

5. Best Pop Solo Performance

Set Fire To The Rain [Live]
Adele
Track from: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
[XL/Columbia]

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Kelly Clarkson
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]

Call Me Maybe
Carly Rae Jepsen
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope]

Wide Awake
Katy Perry
[Capitol]

Where Have You Been
Rihanna
Track from: Talk That Talk
[Def Jam]

6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Shake It Out
Florence & The Machine
Track from: Ceremonials
[Universal Republic]

We Are Young
Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen]

Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Track from: Making Mirrors
[Universal Republic]

Sexy And I Know It
LMFAO
Track from: Sorry For Party Rocking
[will.i.am/Interscope/Cherrytree Records]

Payphone
Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa
Track from: Overexposed
[A & M/Octone]

7. Best Pop Instrumental Album

24/7

Gerald Albright & Norman Brown
[Concord Jazz]

Impressions
Chris Botti
[Columbia]

Four Hands & A Heart Volume One
Larry Carlton
[335 Records, Inc.]

Live At The Blue Note Tokyo
Dave Koz
[Just Koz Entertainment]

Rumbadoodle
Arun Shenoy
[Arun Shenoy Music Publishing]

8. Best Pop Vocal Album

Stronger
Kelly Clarkson
[RCA Records/19 Recordings LLC]
Ceremonials

Florence & The Machine
[Universal Republic]

Some Nights
Fun.
[Fueled By Ramen]

Overexposed
Maroon 5
[A&M/Octone]

The Truth About Love
Pink
[RCA Records]

9. Best Dance Recording

Levels
Avicii
Tim Bergling & Ash Pournouri, producers; Tim Bergling, mixer
[Levels/Atom Empire/Interscope]

Let’s Go
Calvin Harris Featuring Ne-Yo
Calvin Harris, producer; Calvin Harris, mixer
[Ultra Music]

Bangarang
Skrillex Featuring Sirah
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Bangarang
[OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic]

Don’t You Worry Child
Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin
Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, producers; Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, mixers
[Astralwerks]

I Can’t Live Without You
Al Walser
Al Walser, producer; Al Walser, mixer
[Cut The Bull Entertainment]

11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Christmas
Michael Bublé
[143/Reprise]

A Holiday Carole
Carole King
[Hear Music]

Kisses On The Bottom
Paul McCartney
[Hear Music]

17. Best R&B Performance

Thank You
Estelle
Track from: All Of Me
[Home School/Atlantic]

Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)
Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Ledisi
Track from: Black Radio
[Blue Note]

I Want You
Luke James
[Mercury]

Adorn
Miguel
[RCA Records / Bystorm Entertainment]

Climax
Usher
Track from: Looking 4 Myself
[RCA Records]

18. Best Traditional R&B Performance

Lately
Anita Baker
[Blue Note]

Love On Top
Beyoncé
Track from: 4
[Columbia Records]

Wrong Side Of A Love Song
Melanie Fiona
Track from: The MF Life
[SRC]

Real Good Hands
Gregory Porter
Track from: Be Good
[Motema Music]

If Only You Knew
SWV
Track from: I Missed Us
[Mass Appeal Entertainment/E1 Music]

19. Best R&B Song

Adorn
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]

Beautiful Surprise
Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Tamia)
[Plus 1 Music Group; Publishers: Plus 1 Publishing, Studiobeast Music/Warner Tamerlane Music/Linden Springfield/EMI Blackwood Music]

Heart Attack
Benjamin Levin, Rico Love & Tremaine Neverson, songwriters (Trey Songz)
Track from: Chapter V
[Songbook/Atlantic; Publishers: Matza Ball Music/Where Da Kasz At, EMI Foray Music, April's Boy Muzik/Warner Chappell Music]

Pray For Me
Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton & Patrick “jQue” Smith,
songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
Track from: Back To Love
[RCA; Publishers: Tappy Whyte's Music/Songs of Universal, Faze 2 Music/Songs of Universal, Antonio Dixon's Muzik/EMI April Music, Christopher Matthew Music Publishing/Songs of Windswept Pacific]

Refill
Darhyl “DJ” Camper, Elle Varner & Andrew “Pop” Wansel, songwriters (Elle Varner)
Track from: Perfectly Imperfect
[RCA Records/MBK Entertainment; Publishers: Ellevision Music/Sony ATV Songs, Private Stock Entertainment/Songs of Universal, CampStar Music/EMI April]

20. Best Urban Contemporary Album

Fortune
Chris Brown
[RCA Records]

Kaleidoscope Dream
Miguel
[RCA Records / Bystorm Entertainment]

Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
[Def Jam]

21. Best R&B Album

Black Radio
Robert Glasper Experiment
[Blue Note]

Back To Love
Anthony Hamilton
[RCA Records]

Write Me Back
R. Kelly
[RCA Records]

Beautiful Surprise
Tamia
[Plus 1 Music Group]

Open Invitation
Tyrese
[Voltron Recordz]

22. Best Rap Performance

HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)
Drake Featuring Lil’ Wayne
Track from: Take Care
[Cash Money Records]

Niggas In Paris
Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC]

Daughters
Nas
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam]

Mercy
Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
[G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam]

I Do
Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000
Track from: TM: 103 Hustlerz Ambition
[Def Jam]

23. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Wild Ones
Flo Rida Featuring Sia
Track from: Wild Ones
[Poe Boy/Atlantic]

No Church In The Wild
Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC]

Tonight (Best You Ever Had)
John Legend Featuring Ludacris
[Epic Records]

Cherry Wine
Nas Featuring Amy Winehouse
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam]

Talk That Talk
Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
Track from: Talk That Talk
[Def Jam]

24. Best Rap Song

Daughters
Nasir Jones & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale
Frashuer & Paul Leka, songwriters) (Nas)
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam; Publishers: Rich Daily Since '71, Universal Music Publishing, Unichappell Music]

Lotus Flower Bomb
Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson & Miguel
Jontel Pimentel, songwriters (Wale Featuring Miguel)
[MMG/Warner Bros.; Publishers: WB Music/Deadstock Music/Verrin Howard/Miguel Jontel
Pimentel Publishing/Fusician Publishing]

Mercy
Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton &
Kanye West, songwriters (Denzie Beagle, Winston Riley & Reggie Williams, songwriters) (Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
[G.O.O.D. Music; Publishers: Please Gimme My Publishing/EMI Blackwood/RLFG Music/FF to Def Pub./Neighborhood Pusha/Sony ATV Songs/Ty Epps Music/Copyright Control/Roynet Music/Dub Plate Music]

The Motto
Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Tyler Williams, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil’
Wayne)
Track from: Take Care
[Cash Money Records]

Niggas In Paris
Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, songwriters (W.A.
Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Def Jam; Publishers: Hit-Boy Music/Very Good Beats, Hip Hop Since 1978, Dean's List Productions, Unichappell Music]

Young, Wild & Free
Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez
& Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (T. Bluechel, M. Borrow, T. Griffin, K. Jackson, N. Lee & M. Newman, songwriters) (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars)
Track from: Mac And Devin Go To High School: Music From And Inspired By The Movie
[Atlantic; Publishers: My Own Chit Publishing/EMI Blackwood, PGH Sound, Mars Force Music/Roc Nation Music, Toy Plane Music-Universal Music, Westside Independent, WB Music, Late 80's Music, Beechwood Music, BMG Platinum, Rebellion Corps.]

25. Best Rap Album

Take Care
Drake
[Cash Money Records]

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1
Lupe Fiasco
[Atlantic]

Life Is Good
Nas
[Def Jam]

Undun
The Roots
[Island Def Jam]

God Forgives, I Don’t
Rick Ross
[Def Jam]

Based On A T.R.U. Story
2 Chainz
[Island Def Jam]

67. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Dan Auerbach

El Camino (The Black Keys) (A)
Locked Down (Dr. John) (A)
Savage (Hacienda) (S)
Shakedown (Hacienda) (A)
Jeff Bhasker
Some Nights (Fun.) (A)

Diplo

Climax (Usher) (T)
Get Free (Major Lazer Featuring Amber Coffman) (S)
La La La (Snoop Lion) (S)
Lies (Marina And The Diamonds) (T)
Look At These Hoes (Santigold) (T)
Push And Shove (No Doubt Featuring Busy Signal & Major Lazer) (T)
Slight Work (Wale Featuring Big Sean) (T)
Thought Of You (Justin Bieber) (T)
Too Close (Alex Clare) (T)

Markus Dravs

Babel (Mumford & Sons) (A)
Mylo Xyloto (Coldplay) (A)

Salaam Remi

Back To Love (Anthony Hamilton) (T)
Between The Cheats (Amy Winehouse) (T)
Girl On Fire (Alicia Keys & Nicki Minaj) (S)
How Many Drinks? (Miguel) (T)
Life Is Good (Nas) (A)
Like Smoke (Amy Winehouse Featuring Nas) (T)
Running (Melanie Fiona Featuring Nas) (T)
Sins Of My Father (Usher) (T)
A Song For You (Amy Winehouse) (T)

80. Best Short Form Music Video

Houdini
Foster The People
Daniels, video directors; Gaetano Crupi, video producer
[Columbia]

No Church In The Wild
Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
Romain Gervais, video director; Mourad Belkeddan, video producer
[Def Jam]

Bad Girls
M.I.A
Romain Gavras, video director; Romain Gavras, video producer
[N.E.E.T./Interscope]

We Found Love
Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris
Melina Matsoukas, video director; Juliette Larthe & Ben Sullivan, video producers
[Def Jam]

Run Boy Run
Woodkid
Yoann Lemoine, video director; Roman Pichon, video producer
[Green United Music]

Monday, December 3, 2012

Lady Caca Buys 55 Pieces of The King of Pop's Wardrobe


Well here's an exciting piece of news for today that's bound to make you feel nauseated! A couple of hours ago, Lady Caca posted on twitter that she will be stealing purchasing some of Michael Jackson's wardrobe. 55 pieces to be exact. She started off by posting a picture of someone wearing MJ's sacred legendary glittery glove holding a bidder's number. I'll give you one good guess of who it was, and one guess only. Now at this very moment, If something just compelled you to start shaking your head in disapproval and mumble "this ho right here..." to yourself, then you've successfully guessed it was the likes of Lady Caca! The picture was also attached to another picture of her looking like a damn idiot Holding what looks like catalogues of the prospective pieces of MJ's clothes that she was interested in purchasing. This is just...NO. Im not sure of what I'm disgusted with the most. The fact that The King of Pop's clothing is just being actioned off all willy-nilly, or the fact that Lady Caca is buying the hell out of The King of Pop's clothing. You just know this attention seeking ho is somehow gonna incorporate his wardrobe into hers! Oh wait! Never mind what I just said because Lady Caca soon after posted the following message above to assure us that MJ's wardrobe is in good hands and it will be taken care of.


Yeah friggin right, dude! You already know that this Crazy looking ass copy-n-paste queen is gonna be dressed up as MJ during her next era! Then followed by the inevitable backlash, she'll wear up and down that "I'm just so heavily inspired". You know, like another certain person who's famous for copying more things than a damn copy machine but we wont go there. I mean, why not? The ho dresses up as a MANdonna clone every chance she gets, so why not just just swag jack the hell out of Michael Jackson while she's at it? Have you ever seen Caca's choreography in her "Bad Romance" video? Pshh! Straight out of the damn "Thriller" video, folks!