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Tag: Beyonce

  • It’s The Same Old Song

    It’s one thing for a writing or production team to have a signature sound, quite something else when someone basically writes 100 versions of the same song, right?

    At least back in the day, folks had a sense of humor about it, right? Motown stuck so close to formula on the first few Four Tops hits (“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”) that the next song they did was called “It’s The Same Old Song” (wink, wink…nudge, nudge).

    This process started getting really stale in the late Eighties, when every faceless dance act released a second single that sounded exactly like the single before (Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever”, Real McCoy’s “Another Night” and “Run Away” and Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” and “The Sign” being just a few examples), but the Norwegian production team of Stargate has gone just a wee bit overboard. Although for some reason I can’t quite pinpoint, I actually *like* all of these songs!!

    Compare for yourself:

    Ne-Yo’s “So Sick”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hvI9kAUTKA
    vs.
    Lionel Richie’s “I Call it Love”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx-PJfsvR5Q
    and Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEskpfHOTAk

    AND

    Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFtICBASrpY
    vs.
    Chris Brown’s “With You”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqumjziPTzk
    and Ne-Yo’s “Go On Girl”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49P8X438NZk

    What do YOU think??

  • 2007 American Music Awards: The Cure For Your Insomnia!!

    When I was a kid, there was one night I knew I would be allowed to stay up past my bedtime for-the American Music Awards. While I didn’t appreciate the Grammys until much later (too serious, too much non-pop music), the AMAs were the fun award show. Over the past couple of years, though, it’s gotten a bit boring. Whether it’s because the marginally talented Jimmy Kimmel has hosted for the past four years or whether it’s because a sizable chunk of winners have stopped showing up (it’s become abundantly obvious lately that winners are now notified before the ceremony, guaranteeing their appearance), the show has lost some of it’s luster. Or maybe I’m just getting older.
    Unlike the MTV VMAs and the Soul Train Awards, both of which completely jumped the shark this year, the AMAs found themselves in a holding pattern. Here were this year’s Top 5 highlights and lowlights.
    Highlights:
    1) Alicia Keys turning in a spirited performance of the remix to her hit “No One”, featuring cute choreography and guest appearances from reggae legends Beenie Man, Junior Reid and Chaka Demus & Pliers. If you were from New York (or Jamaica), you probably stood up and cheered (because all of the songs they performed were HUGE hits in the NYC area). If you were anywhere else in the country, you probably scratched your head and wondered who those folks were.
    2) Beyonce’s performance of “Irreplaceable” with country duo Sugarland. When I first heard “Irreplaceable”, I thought it sounded a little bit country. Hell, the song’s writer, Ne-Yo, said in several interviews that he wanted to write country music. But who knew it would work so well with a twangy arrangement? Hell, she’s already made a Latin album. Could Beyonce’s next step be a two-step to Nashville?
    3) Mary J. Blige, who turned out a stellar performance of “Just Fine”. MJB has come a long way from dodgy notes, shakin’ her booty while singing the song perfectly. I had to chuckle when she soft-tossed her sunglasses to the side. They must have been too expensive to chuck into the audience. While “Just Fine” in no way shape or form sounds like a typical Mary J. song, it has grown on me a great deal. It wa also funny how ABC’s cameras tried their best to shoot from the chest up, considering she was wearing a fairly sheer top.
    4) The “Soulja Boy” skit, featuring Kelly Pickler and Jordin Sparks, along with host Jimmy Kimmel. Oh come on, you didn’t laugh at that?
    5) Rihanna and Ne-Yo’s classy duet of “Hate That I Love You”. Who knew she could sing live? Rihanna did a very nice job.
    Lowlights:
    1) Jimmy Kimmel. Despite the “Soulja Boy” skit, almost everything else he did fell flat (wow, guess he really does need writers). When your comic trick bag consists of yet more jokes about Snoop getting arrested and smoking pot and a punching match with Kid Rock, you’re in pretty bad shape. Kudos for not making any Britney jokes, though.
    2) The Soul/R&B category. While I don’t have a problem with Justin Timberlake winning Favorite Soul/R&B Album over R. Kelly and Beyonce (it was certainly the best album of the three), what’s up with Rihanna winning Favorite Soul/R&B Female? Last I checked, she wasn’t exactly an R&B singer. Even SHE expressed surprise at winning the category.
    3) The Jonas Brothers-one of only two acts that lip-synched (Chris Brown was the other, and considering the choreography, I’m willing to give him a pass there).
    4) Usher’s presentation to Beyonce of the International Artist Award, in which he stumbled over the TelePrompter and the award inscription at least five times. Yo, Ush…it’s called “rehearsal”.
    5) Duran Duran’s lame performance of “Hungry Like The Wolf”. While I admire the fact that bassist John Taylor seems to have not aged in the past twenty years, it seems like Simon LeBon was more hungry than the wolf was and probably ate it.
    If you must know, it was “American Idol” night at the AMAs. Chris Daughtry (oh, excuse me. The “band” Daughtry) and Carrie Underwood won three awards each. Kelly Pickler, Jordin Sparks and Ryan Seacrest also made appearances. They tried to bring Ruben out, but he wouldn’t leave the catering tray.
    Justin Timberlake won two awards via satellite and seemed completely unenthused.
    Here’s a full list of winners:
    Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock: Justin Timberlake
    Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock: Fergie
    Favorite Group, Pop/Rock: Nickelback
    Favorite Album, Pop/Rock: “Daughtry” Daughtry
    Favorite Male Artist, Country: Tim McGraw
    Favorite Female Artist, Country: Carrie Underwood
    Favorite Group, Country: Rascal Flatts
    Favorite Album, Country: “Some Hearts” Carrie Underwood
    Favorite Male Artist, R&B: Akon
    Favorite Female Artist, R&B: Rihanna
    Favorite Album, R&B: “Futuresex/Lovesounds” Justin Timberlake
    Favorite Rap Artist: T.I.
    Favorite Rap Group: Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony
    Favorite Rap Album: “T.I. vs. T.I.P” T.I.
    Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist: Daughtry
    Favorite Alternative Artist: Linkin Park
    Favorite Latin Artist: Jennifer Lopez
    Favorite Inspirational Artist: Casting Crowns
    Breakthrough Artist: Daughtry
    International Artist Award: Beyonce
    T-Mobile Text-In Award (for favorite artist of the year): Carrie Underwood

  • 2007 American Music Awards: Random Thoughts

    To show you how much I’ve been keeping up with this stuff, the only thing I knew about this show before hand was that Jimmy Kimmel was hosting. Hopefully there will be an Adam Corolla appearance.

    • They just announced that Fergie was the hottest female pop star. That Fergalicious got me suspicious, check it out.
    • It’s not Thanksgiving, but I’m thankful that I don’t have HD yet. I bet Fergie is even scarier in HD.
    • Actually, I’m probably just as thankful that I don’t have a stereo receiver, because she’s singing Big Girls Don’t Cry live. She misses me like a child misses his blanket.
    • Now it’s will.i.am’s turn and the crowd goes completely quiet. Dude, you have to sell more than a handful of your solo record to be solo on this show.
    • The dude is trying to be James Brown and maybe if James were drunk, or had half of a right leg, he’d come close.
    • Nicole Schwarchenegger is out next and she could be naked on stage and I wouldn’t care because I’ve pretty much seen everything in that Blender spread. And I don’t like the song very much.
    • Now that was as flat an opening as I’ve ever seen.
    • I just found out that Souja Boy is on this show. Someone needs to kick his ass.
    • Speaking of Soulja Boy, he just did the Soulja Boy dance with Jimmy Kimmel, Jordin Sparks, and Kelly Pickler. I just heard the words, “Superman that ho” on the Disney owned ABC. They should be ashamed of themselves.
    • Carrie Underwood is giving out the Best New Artist award, but before she gives it out, she claims that Tony Romo had a minuscule penis and kissed like a walrus.
    • Daughtry wins by the way.
    • That boy band, Rascal Flatts is performing tonight as well. I mean, that country group.
    • The single greatest man on earth just took the stage. His name is Ryno Seacrest.
    • Adam Levine has a great voice, but if you were to point to one guy who would be proof that white guys shouldn’t shave their heads, you’d point at him.
    • Ashanti (remember her?) just presented the Male R&B award, which Akon won, and he said that T-Pain deserves this “reward”.
    • Some young cats named the Jonas Brothers are out (and the lead singer bailed trying to get to the mic). Ah, I remember them from about 15 years ago when they had blond hair and were called Hanson.
    • They introduced someone presenting as a, “number one rapper from Brooklyn” and nope, it wasn’t Jay-Z. It was FABO. I’d call that trickery.
    • Beyonce is in the audience. The Dreamgirls Soundtrack better win the soundtrack of the year. Dammit! High School Musical 2 just won. Maybe Beyonce can float some naked Vanessa Hudgens pictures out there. Wait, she already did that?
    • I really hate it that Rihanna loves Ne-Yo too.
    • Carrie Underwood just won the award for Best Female Country Artist, but this time, Faith Hill wasn’t around to give her the gas face.
    • I wonder how much they paid Beyonce to sing Irreplaceable with Sugarland? Especially the honky tonk version?
    • You know it’s a popularity contest when Daughtry beats out John Mayer in any sort of category.
    • I’m not surprised to see that Celine Dion is out here singing live. She knows she has a record to sell. But why is Lenny Kravitz out there singing live? When’s his record coming out? And where’s Denise Huxtable?
    • Who knew that Sean Kingston was really Keenan from Keenan and Kel?
    • Dancing With The Stars has really turned the clock back on Kelly Taylor. The woman looks almost fantastic enough to be married to Brandon Walsh now.
    • I’m the biggest MJ fan in the world, and I can still give Chris Brown props for his dancing. Now he just has to get that making songs that people want to hear part down.
    • Will Miley Ray Cyrus ever be able to be anything but Hannah Montana?
    • Carrie Underwood just won the very prestigious T-Mobile Text-In Award. I mean, I think Elvis Presley won that one back in ‘65.
    • Did Daughtry win again? I don’t think he’s thanked Randy or Paula yet.
    • It’s reggae night with Alicia Keys!

    I Don’t Worry ‘Cause Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

    • Carrie Underwood is cleaning up tonight. Tony Romo is in the locker room, staring at Terrell Owens’ naked backside. I wonder who’s having the better night?
    • Usher just presented Beyonce with the International Artist Award. Well, that’s what got her up there to perform with Sugarland.
    • You know, Mary J. Blige is blatantly stealing from Off The Wall era Michael Jackson with her new song Doin’ Fine, but you won’t find MJ in those stunna shades. Maybe that shade of lipstick though.
    • In 2007, how can Bone Thugs-N-Harmony win any sort of award? And more importantly, how can an award where Pretty Ricky and the Shop Boyz are also up for the same award, get on the television broadcast? You’d think that one gets presented right after Kirk Franklin wins his award that they gave out at the morning breakfast buffet.
    • You know that pop music sucks when Queen Latifah sounds ten times better live than Fergie, and the Queen wasn’t rapping.
    • Uh oh. Jay-Z’s in trouble. Rihanna just beat out Beyonce for Best Female R&B. And Rihanna thanked Jay, while Beyonce didn’t. Hmmmm.
    • Daughtry has the best selling album of 2007? Jeez, and here I thought it was Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
    • I can actually fast forward through their performance because I only heard it at the end of every single elimination episode of American Idol. Where’s Daniel Powter when you need him? Having a bad day?
    • Fergie didn’t win an award all night that didn’t have to do with her having a resemblance to a toothy animal, and she wins the big one for the females. And she even thanked Tad Hamilton.
    • Nope, no Adam Corolla tonight.