September 2008 - Celebrity Bug

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9/30/08

New Christina Milian Promo Pics

9/30/2008 0
With Christina Milian continuing to prep her MySpace Records / Interscope debut (due early 2009), new promotional shots for her project have surfaced.


Stunning isn't even enough of word to describe how amazing she looks in these promos.

She is really catching a lot of heat from bloggers, due to her being signed to Myspace Records, I however look at it as a good thing, because the company is housed under the branch of one of the front running record labels (Interscope) and she is their most known signee to date, which means she's a priority there and will get the promotion that Def Jam failed to supply. Not to mention, they gave her creative freedom and as a artist what more can you ask for.
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Jennifer Hudson Performs 'If This Isn't Love' On GMA

9/30/2008 0
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson continues on her promotion trail in support of her newly released self titled debut album, this time hitting up Good Morning America, to perform 'If This Isn't Love', Check it out:



Great performance, it's really fitting to see Jennifer deliver such a memorizing performance of one of the album's best tracks.
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On the Set: Ciara featuring T-Pain - 'Go Girl'

9/30/2008 0
Check out these shots of Ciara on the set of her latest video, 'Go Girl' featuring T-Pain.

Peep what she wrote on her blog late last week:
I just shot the video for “Go Girl” and it was crazy! All My Go Girls, stand up! Melina directed it and of course Jamaica got busy on the choreography! I added a little two cents but Jam Session (Jamaica) laid it down on the steps. Talk about some Go Girls: Melina (director) Jamaica (choreographer) Yolanda (make-up) Kiyah (hair) all the ladies put it down. Go Girls in the house! You will see it shortly! [SOURCE]

Ciara’s third studio album, 'Fantasy Ride', is scheduled to be released on December 9th.



The video is supposedly set to have a ‘Dark Knight Theme’, as far as the pics are concerned, they aren't the least bit flattering or womanly, but hopefully the video will showcase that in a different light.
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Celebrity Bug's Top 10 Best Dressed Women

9/30/2008 0

  1. Jennifer Lopez
  2. Rihanna
  3. Halle Berry
  4. Eva Mendes
  5. Eva Longoria
  6. Jennifer Anniston
  7. Charlize Theron
  8. Fergie
  9. Ashanti
  10. Beyonce

When it comes to fashion, no one does it with as much grace and class as Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna doesn't mind taking chances, she was literally the main attraction at this year's red carpets, Halle's appearances were rare but all memorable, while Ashanti, Fergie, and Beyonce made a lot of fashion don'ts, when they got it right they definitely got it right.

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Toni Braxton & Kim Kardashian on 'Dancing With the Stars' (Week 2)

9/30/2008 0
6x Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton and reality star Kim Kardashian, each made it made it through last week, and lived on to dance another day on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, this time taking on the Rumba. Check it out:





Toni continued to ride high, once again placing second, while Kim continues to get stiffer and stiffer each week.
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Janet Jackson Hospitalized

9/30/2008 0
Janet Jackson has been hospitalized, a rep said Monday.

The singer "got suddenly ill during the sound check" before her concert in Montreal and had to be rushed to the hospital, according to a statement released by W&W Public Relations.

Jackson, 42, is being monitored at the hospital, and hopes to reschedule the show.

No further information was given about Jackson's condition.
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Britney Spears Interviewed On Z100

9/30/2008 0
Britney Spears surprised New York radio station Z100 this morning by granting them a quick interview to promote her first single 'Womanizer', off upcoming album 'Circus' (due December 2nd). In the interview, Britney discusses her single 'Womanizer', the VMAs, and her plans to tour next year. Check it out:



Brit was in high spirits and is very much returning to her old self. This also heightens hopes that Britney will indeed promote properly this time around, considering she failed to do so with last year's 'Blackout'.
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9/29/08

Rihanna Triumphs Beyonce & Alicia Keys in Worldwide Album Sales

9/29/2008 5
Rihanna's latest album, 'Good Girl Gone Bad' has sold over 6 million copies worldwide, besting her counterparts Beyonce and Alicia Keys. Check out the Top 12 below:

1. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black – 10.830.000
2. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds – 9.004.000
3. Soundtrack - High School Musical – 8.155.000
4. Nelly Furtado - Loose – 7.998.000
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium – 7.536.520
6. Soundtrack - High School Musical 2 – 6.296.680
7. Fergie - The Dutchess – 6.206.540
8. Pink - I’m Not Dead – 6.181.820
9. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight – 6.168.560
10. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad – 6.057.280
11. Beyoncé - B’Day – 5.992.540
12. Alicia Keys - As I Am – 5.792.960

Just further goes to show that image is more important than actual talent these days. I really have to give Rihanna her props though, because to take the minimal talent she has and transform it into super stardom amazes me, I mean Janet, Madonna, and Britney all came before her, but they were all exciting and transcendent performers, what does Rihanna offer?

I'm personally still trying to figure that out.
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Beyonce's Wigs Worth $1 Million

9/29/2008 2

According to In Touch, the singer has tailor-made hair-pieces for every occasion.

A friend told the magazine: "The majority of them are custom-made from real hair and she's probably got $1 million worth of stunning wigs.

"It's part of the reason why she always looks so gorgeous.

"Knowles is said to donate her old wigs to a charity which helps cancer sufferers.

The 'Crazy In Love' singer was recently named the second highest-paid music act of the past 12 months, banking more than £40 million. {Source}

I'm honestly just going to leave this one alone, because if I started I would never stop.

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Alicia Keys & Jack White - ‘Another Way to Die’ (Bond Theme) Video

9/29/2008 0
'Another Way to Die' is the theme song for the new Bond film, 'Quantum of Solace'. The track is a duet between Alicia Keys and The White Stripes’ Jack White. The soundtrack to the film arrives on October 28th, while the movie hits theaters November 14th. Check out the video below:


I can appreciate the fact that's its something different, but my mind can't help but notice the singers who would have been much better for the collaboration, and well the video doesn't help much. Still big ups to Alicia for scoring this.
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Album Review: Robin Thicke - 'Something Else'

9/29/2008 0
On his third offering, 'Something Else', Robin Thicke picks up the ball exactly where his predecessor 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke' and it's hit single 'Lost Without You' left off and, for the most part, he rides in that same lane all the way to the finish lane.

'You're My Baby', takes a strong resemblance to Marvin Gaye's oldie, 'After the Dance', as Robin chants "you're my only love", over and over, as if he's trying to convince himself more so than the woman he's singing to, still a worthy track all the same. The groovy, 'Sidestep', is a definition of pure sexiness, at it's best.

The lead single, 'Magic', offered a remarkable reintroduction to this generation's most premier blue eyed soul man since Jon B., in the early nineties. On 'Dreamworld', Robin paints a descriptive picture, depicting racism, regarding his African American wife/actress Paula Patton, and even the ever so tragic death of legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye.

'The Sweetest Love', is a simply joyful piano driven ballad, and the record's best offering.

Other notable tracks include: the groovy 'Shadow of Doubt', the overly compelling 'Cry No More', and the Sade rooted 'Loverman'.

The album's misses aren't necessary bad, they just seem awkward and like Robin is trying too hard to switch it up. The most efficient example of this include the bore some 'Ms. Harmony', the seventies inspired roller skate KC & the Sunshine Band inspired 'Something Else', and raw guitar Jimi Hendrix influenced, 'Hard on My Love', all of which takes Robin out of his comfort zone and just seems mistakenly out of place.

While Robin's career may never soar to the height of his peers, Usher and Chris Brown, he offers something that neither of their last albums did, both technique and more importantly skill.

Also unlike many of his peers, Robin knows his limits and the album is very much true to who is as an artist, not to mention nobody's falsetto game is stepping on his, Justin Timberlake included.

3.5 out of 5
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Celebrity Bug's Top 10 Best Dressed Men

9/29/2008 0

  1. David Beckham
  2. Justin Timberlake
  3. Andre 3000
  4. Brad Pitt
  5. George Clooney
  6. Zac Efron
  7. Terrence Howard
  8. Sean 'Diddy' Combs
  9. Chace Crawford
  10. Will Smith

I know some people are going to find this list a little lacking on the urban side, but the fact of the matter is, when it comes to clothes and fashion that shouldn't play a factor, its not always about what a person wears, its about if they can pull it off or not, and David Beckham has proved to be a icon from his changes in hair to his changes in fashion.

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Solange Performs 'Sandcastle Disco' On The View

9/29/2008 0
As Solange continues to promote her exceptional album 'SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams', she appeared on The View to perform her latest single 'Sandcastle Disco', Check it out:



First off, Solange looks a lot better with the straight hair than that curly bush she often chooses to wear and the performance was really entertaining.
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Album Cover: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes - 'Eye Legacy' / Album Details

9/29/2008 0
The late Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' second solo album will finally be released six years after her death. 'Eye Legacy', due November 11th [cover art to the left], will be a 12-track set featuring unreleased recordings from the TLC rapper alongside the likes of Lil' Mama, Missy Elliott (on first single "Let's Just Do It"), Chamillionaire, Tupac Shakur (on the song "Legendary"), & Bobby Valentino.

Material from Lopes' first solo album Supernova will also be included, as the effort remains unreleased in the US. A portion of the proceeds from the album will go to the Lisa Lopes Foundation & her orphanage in Honduras. Read what the Lopes family had to say about this release:

"We hope people understand the message in Lisa's music & appreciate her as not just a member of TLC, but as a solo artist as well. This album is Left Eye's musical gift to her fans & adds to the beauty of her legacy."

The album cover is nice and I'm sure Lisa's fans will be please, although I personally have not been able to enjoy any of the ladies music outside of TLC, maybe this will change my mind, but if its anything like her debut album 'Supernova', then I don't think so.
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New Christina Aguilera Promo Pics

9/29/2008 1
Here are two new promotional photos of Christina Aguilera for her upcoming greatest hits album Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade Of Hits (November 11th).

FIERCE!
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'Seven Pounds' Trailer

9/29/2008 0
Academy Award® nominee Will Smith, along with Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, and Tom Cruise’s son, Connor Cruise, star in the drama “Seven Pounds,” re-teaming with the director and producers of “The Pursuit of Happyness” for the emotional story of a man who will change the lives of seven strangers.



Compelling to say the least, plus there's no denying that Will is one of the only actors who can compete in both the comedy and drama circles just as well. He's also probably to see all of his movies.
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Toni Braxton Signs With Atlantic Records

9/29/2008 0
Six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton has inked recording contract with Atlantic Records.

The R&B diva, currently competing on the ABC reality series 'Dancing with the Stars,' quietly inked a deal with the label recently and has been selecting music to begin recording her CD for Atlantic while competing on the show.

I'm told the label plans to have Braxton's first offering for the company ready for early 2009.

The 40-year-old singer was last signed to Blackground Records, where she released her fifth album 'Libra' in September 2005.
Braxton, who had released four albums over a 12-year stint on LaFace Records, then filed suit against Blackground's founder Barry Hankerson, who was also Braxton's manager, after her CD failed to perform.

In the suit filed in January 2007, the star of Broadway's 'Aida' also alleged "fraud, deception and double dealing," in addition to mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records in the $10 million claim. Source

Good for her, I just hope the label doesn't screw her over like Blackground did, 'Libra' was a great CD that the label failed to give the correct promotion. Eventually going gold, only leads one to believe what would the set had done if it had been properly promoted.
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Jada Pinkett Smith Covers 'Jet'

9/29/2008 0
Check out Jada Pinkett Smith looking fabulous on the cover of this week's 'JET' below:

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9/28/08

Ashanti Performs at Hennessy's Artistry Concert Series

9/28/2008 0
On Sept 25th, Ashanti performed at Hennessy's invitation-only concert in Chicago as part of its 3rd Annual Hennessy Artistry Concert Series, check out her set below:







The crowd was definitely feeling her and the reviews for the show were good.
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Jennifer Hudson On Jay Leno

9/28/2008 0



Academy award winner Jennifer Hudson made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in support of her self titled debut album, as well as, to chat about her recent engagement and new movie 'The Secret of Life of Bees'. Check out the interview above and the performance of 'Spotlight' below:



Good interview and performance.
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Album Review: Jennifer Hudson

9/28/2008 1
After getting the early boot in season 3 of 'America Idol', Jennifer Hudson went into seclusion, clawing her way back to the top with her Academy Award winning role in 'Dreamgirls' and landing a contract with the legendary Clive Davis, who launched the successful careers of Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, and recently Leona Lewis. After dabbling in film ('Dreamgirls', 'Sex in the City: The Movie', 'The Secret Life of Bees', and 'Winged Creatures'), the 27 year old singer is finally set to release her longly awaited self titled debut album on September 30th.

The Ne-Yo written 'Spotlight' starts the set out on a high note, as Jennifer proclaims:

"Well, I don't like living under your spotlight
Just because you think I might find somebody worthy
Well, I don't like living under your spotlight
Baby if you treat me right, you won't have to worry"

A moderately safe introduction to say the least, but the piano driven melody, along with the lyrics, work hard to grab your attention and eventually comes out a winner. 'If This is Love', is a well written clip that engages you, complete with nice melodies and piano riffs, and Jennifer beautifully sings each word.

The Timbaland and Jim Beanz produced 'Pocketbook', is definitely entertaining, but also a little humorous at the same time as she playfully flirts by singing "don't make me hit you with my pocketbook". The track does take an attempt at trying to make her music relevant and you have to respect her for that, people will either love or hate the track, I'm leaning more towards the first, and the seriously underrated Ludacris helps by adding some flare to the track.

The Robin Thicke written and produced, 'Giving Myself', is an impressive, heartfelt, compelling number sung by a woman who evokes all the emotion of being truly in love. 'We Gon Fight', has an gospel influenced edge that is reminisce to that R. Kelly often incorporates into his albums, and 'Invisible' is a nice piano built up midtempo.

Other notable tracks include, the Polow Da Don assisted 'My Heart', the powerful 'You Pull Me Through', and Ne-Yo's second contribution 'Can't Stop the Rain'.

The album isn't without flaws, as the T-Pain assisted duet, featuring his tiresome vocoded vocals, would have actually been an overly solid track had it been sung with a male singer that can actually sing, but his fragile voice against her beyond powerful voice, proved to be the wrong potion. 'I'm His Only Woman', a duet with Fantasia, features an overly sung scream match between the former two competitors, that's just extremely too much on the ears. The overly played out 'And I Am Telling You', could have also been left on the movie's soundtrack, where it belong.

Overall, the album is beyond solid, not by far something you could listen to everyday, being that its a little too ballad heavy and depressing. Jennifer also give you the feeling that she is still trying to prove she can sing, by all the unnecessary screaming battles she puts you through.

Still the set manages to highlight her soulful styled voice, which is transcendent and a true throwback to an era where singers could actually SING.

3.5 out of 5
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9/26/08

Beyonce to Perform at EMA's

9/26/2008 0
It has been confirmed that Beyonce will perform at this year's EMA's, which will be broadcast live from the Liverpool Echo Arena in Liverpool on Thursday November 6th. The remaining performing artists will be announced in the next few weeks.

Her single 'Single Ladies' title has change to 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)', it is still set despite rumors to impact radio on October 7th, along with 'If I Were A Boy'.
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New Music: Britney Spears - 'Womanizer'

9/26/2008 0
Britney Spears's single "Womanizer" is here! After a leaked clip, followed by a short delay, we can finally hear Brit's newest song in full. Check it out:



I like it, but I have to say this pails in comparison to anything on 'Blackout', which is the best Britney album IMO, but a hot video and great choreography can hopefully help get this song to the next level.

In other Britney news, this past Wednesday and Thursday she filmed the video for the single with Joseph Kahn, who also filmed her 'Toxic' and 'Stronger' clips. In the clip, Britney sports a vampy look — a short black wig, red lipstick, black leather pants and fake tattoos — and plays a waitress. It is also set to feature 'erotic' choreography and Britney lies on a kitchen counter and then proceeds to make out with a man dressed in a suit.
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Rihanna on 'This Morning' in the UK

9/26/2008 0
Rihanna was interviewed on This Morning in the UK by Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield. She also performed her current single 'Disturbia'. Check it out:





The performance had the energy of a corpse, but Rihanna did have moments where she sounded just like the track and then there were those other moments that were just horrific. I still think she needs to take the advice I gave on her last performance.
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9/25/08

'Madea Goes To Jail - The Movie' Trailer

9/25/2008 0
Tyler Perry is set to release the film adaptation of popular stage show 'Madea Goes To Jail' in February of 2009. Check out the trailer for the movie below:

Tyler has also stated this will be the last Madea movie, but he does plan to create one more stage play to properly send the chararacter off.
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Toni Braxton & Kim Kardashian on 'Dancing With the Stars' (Week 1 - Day 2)

9/25/2008 0
6x Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton and reality star Kim Kardashian made another ballroom appearance on ABC's Dancing With The Stars last night, taking on the Quick Step and Cha Cha respectively. Check it out:





Toni, once again took second place with a stunning performance, while Kim took STIFFNESS to a whole new level.
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Solange Interviewed on Hot 97

9/25/2008 0
Solange Knowles appeared on Hot 97 this week to continue promoting her album, as well as, to shed more in sight into the Fox News drama. Check it out:



Good Stuff.
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9/24/08

Album Cover: John Legend - 'Evolver'

9/24/2008 0
Check out the official album cover for John Legend's third studio album 'Evolver', due October 28th, below:

I Likes.
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9/23/08

Ciara Insists: 'I Wasn't Nude' In Vibe Photo Shoot

9/23/2008 1
R&B chanteuse Ciara would like to set the record straight about the photo spread she shot for the October issue of Vibe magazine: She was not nude, and yes, she's very upset by the magazine's depiction of her as such — but she is not planning any legal action against the urban glossy. Check it out:

No comment!
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Nelly, Ashanti & Akon Perform 'Body On Me' On Jimmy Kimmel

9/23/2008 0
Nelly, Ashanti, and Akon made their third live appearance together on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' this Monday. Check it out:



Decent.

'One & Only'
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The Pussycat Dolls Perform on 'Ellen'

9/23/2008 0
The Pussycat Dolls sexed up the 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on Tuesday when they performed 'When I Grow Up', Check it out:



A VOCAL DISASTER!
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Keri Hilson Performs 'Energy' On Yahoo Music

9/23/2008 0
Keri Hilson performed her current single 'Energy', recently as part of Yahoo Music's 'Who's Next'. Check it out :



Good Stuff.
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‘Notorious’ Trailer

9/23/2008 0
Check out an official trailer for the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic Notorious (Fox Searchlight), in theaters January 16, 2009. Get a closer look at the actors playing Biggie, Diddy, Faith Evans, and Lil’ Kim.

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Rihanna Performs 'Disturbia' On GMTV

9/23/2008 0
Here's another Rihanna performance shot recently during her UK promotion trail, this time at GMTV, performing 'Disturbia', Check it out:



Word of advice to Rihanna, just stop performing 'Disturbia', because it just brings out the worst in you and truly DISTURBS us.
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Toni Braxton & Kim Kardashian on 'Dancing With the Stars' (Week 1)

9/23/2008 0
6x Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton and reality star Kim Kardashian made their ballroom debuts on ABC's Dancing With The Stars last night. Check it out:





Toni's body is still killer, her performance was also really impressive, so much that she managed to get the second highest scores. I thought other than Lance, she was the best, but the judges gave the top spot to Brooke Burke. Kim was just too stiff, but hopefully she gets better.
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9/22/08

Rihanna Performs 'Disturbia' at For One Night Only

9/22/2008 0
Rihanna also to the stage at For One Night Only in the UK, to perform her latest hit 'Disturbia', Check it out:



Once again starting with the positive, this is her best showing of the record, she looks great, and there were actually moments when she sounded okay (the first few bars of the second verse), but the ending and those ab libs, NO....JUST NO!
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Janet Jackson Leaves Island Def Jam

9/22/2008 0
In his first Darkchild video blog for Rap-Up.com, super producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins exclusively reveals that Janet has cut ties with the Island Def Jam Music Group. Check it out:



No surprise here, Janet has often mouthed off her thoughts about the label's lack of promotion in a few interviews, in her defense, the promotion of the project was horrible, but in Def Jam's defense, so was the material.

Best of luck to Janet though, because she truly is one of the great performers of this time.
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9/21/08

Album Review: The Pussycat Dolls - 'Doll Domination'

9/21/2008 2
Following their hugely successful debut album 'PCD' and the seemingly disappointing effort of a solo career for lead member Nicole Scherzinger, the girls are back for a second round and other than their appearance, they don't have much to protect them in the fight with their competition.

With the help of hit makers Timbaland, The Clutch, Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo, Darkchild, Polow Da Don, among others, the dolls offer a sixteen track collection that ranges from Britney Spears knockoffs ('Bottle Pop') to songs that are as stupid and dumbfounded as their titles would suggest ('Whatchamacallit').

The infectious lead track, 'When I Grow Up', produced by Rodney Jerkins', is a number that may not initially impress you, but the track's beat, enticing lyrics, and Nicole's in your face delivery will surely have you dancing along before the four minute mark closes out. The album's second helping, 'Bottle Pop', which Sean Garrett compared to the energy of Usher's 'Yeah', seems like an attempt to play off the lane Britney Spears created, and while the track is catchy and one of the album's standouts, it only makes you question whether the track would have made a bigger impact if it was, in fact, recorded by the front runner. Another fun and upbeat number is the sinful 'Whatcha Think About That', the album's second single, where Missy Elliott's impressive entrance almost manages to make you forget about the girls.

Other standouts include: Usher's 'Love in This Club' younger sister 'Out of this Club', featuring R. Kelly, and 'Happily Never After' a track that was originally intended for the lead woman's solo album.

The bad sees the girls attempting to sing songs that outweigh Nicole's versatile, but often jarring voice, the Melody assisted vocals and ab libs that often come across as Christina Aguilera imitations that lack the soul and depth the pioneer offers up, and other times it just so childish you want to scream for the girls to GROW UP ALREADY.

'Whatchamacallit', is the prime example of this, as the third grade lyrics do little to make the track any better than its stupid name. 'Who's Gonna Love You', another song originally intended for Nicole's solo disc, is just so cliche that you will quickly brush it off. Others on the downside include: the ghastly 'Halo', 'Hush Hush, and 'In Person', among others.

'Doll Domination, I think not, more like DOLL DISMISSAL, however given the current state of music, I wouldn't at all be surprised if this effort becomes a big successful hit.

2 out of 5
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New Music: T.I. featuring Rihanna - 'Live Your Life' (Version 2)

9/21/2008 0
A newer version of T.I.'s and Rihanna's duet 'Live Your Life', from T.I.'s upcoming album 'Paper Trail, has surfaced. This time with a newly sung verse by Rihanna, I have to say this definitely makes the already impressive track even better.

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9/20/08

50 Cent, Kanye Set For December Album Battle

9/20/2008 0
In what could be a repeat of their battle for marketplace domination last September, 50 Cent and Kanye West will release new albums a week apart in December.

An Interscope representative confirms 50's "Before I Self Destruct" will arrive Dec. 9, while West's "808's and Heartbreak" is due Dec. 16 via Def Jam. In its debut week last year, West's "Graduation" easily outsold 50's "Curtis," both of which came out Sept. 11.

During a recent performance in Albany, N.Y., 50 Cent took a moment to poke fun at West's new single "Love Lockdown" with a sarcastic rendition of his own. The rapper also played the new song "Burn."


Meanwhile, "Love Lockdown" is now available for purchase from Apple's iTunes Music Store, where it has quickly become one of the top downloads there.

"I guarantee this will be 50's favorite album of mine," West wrote today on his blog. "This will be gangster's album of the year."

I guess getting shut down the first time wasn't enough, although I am kind of surprised that 50 didn't try to rebattle him and drop the project the same day. I think he knows that Kanye has a built in fanbase that he just can't compete with, not to mention Kanye has the critical acclaim. Best of luck to both.
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Christina Aguilera's Inspire Fragrance Commerical

9/20/2008 1
Christina's latest fragrance, Inspire, recently launched on 1st September 2008. It has been created to bring a little of her self-assured confidence and sexiness to every woman's life. A fragrance that will remind you not to drift along with the crowd, but will inspire you to stand up for what you believe in and strive for your dreams. Inspire is a beautiful white floral fragrance, twisted with colorful fruit notes, that is classic and enduring.

In the campaign top director, David LaChapelle captured the essence of this new fragrance by taking a modern approach to the Pop art style of the '60's and '70's. Inspired by Tokyo at night he creates a colorful work that is full of energy and fun. Check it out:



Great I guess, but the celebrity fragrances are becoming a little cliche and frankly unneeded at this point.
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Album Cover: Christina Aguilera - 'Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits'

9/20/2008 1
Check out the official album cover for Christina Aguilera's greatest hits album, 'Keeps Gettin Better: A Decade of Hits', due in stores on November 11th, below:

Its simple, but effective.

Target has announced plans to partner with five time Grammy Award winner, Christina Aguilera, as the exclusive retailer of Christina Aguilera's Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits, a collection of the singer's most memorable songs. The album will feature ten of her most popular, chart-topping hits and include two brand new tracks in one CD collection which will only be available at Target and Target.com, beginning on Tuesday, November 11th. Also, Christina has re-recorded two classic songs, "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful," which can only be found on this album. In addition, fans may pre-order the CD at www.Target.com/music beginning Tuesday, September 30th, and in doing so will receive an exclusive free down load of Aguilera's new single "Keeps Gettin' Better." This single will impact Top 40 radio on September 22nd.
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Rihanna Performs 'Disturbia' at the Star Academy In France

9/20/2008 0
In addition to performing International hit single 'Don't Stop The Music', Rihanna also to the stage at Star Academy in France, to perform her latest hit 'Disturbia', Check it out:



Starting with the positive, she looked insanely hot, and although this performance was better than her VMA showing, Rihanna just lacks the energy to pull off any of her material in performances, and the voice is still on the verge of giving you an ear infection.
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Christina Milian Talks to Billboard About New Single & Album

9/20/2008 0
In the wake of her 2006 departure from Def Jam, Christina Millian has signed a new deal with MySpace Records, Billboard can exclusively reveal. Her label debut is due next spring.

The first single, "Us Against The World," is a "cinematic power ballad" produced by Madd Scientist (Leona Lewis, Jesse McCartney) and will be available via the social networking site on Oct. 6.

"I've been out of the game for one-and-a-half years, and I think I'm long overdue for a comeback, so I'm treating this album like it's my last chance to make an impression. I'm competing with myself and being very detailed," the 26-year-old Cuban-American tells Billboard. "Before, I had a label telling me what direction to go in. Now, it's my choice, so I'm being very particular about it and I'm really excited."

Aside from Scientist, other producers on the pop/urban set, which the 26-year-old powerhouse describes as a "very feminine, strong and independent album," include T-Pain, Cool and Dre, Jim Jonsin, Toby Gad and Danja, etc. Kanye West is the sole guest feature so far, although Milian, who wrote most of the album, does hint at some potential collaborative surprises down the line. (Rick ross, Pitbull)?

In addition to "World," the album includes tracks like the feel-good "Diamond," "Stay," which Milian compares to an early '90s s Madonna ballad, and the Euro-club record "Tug of War."

Milian's stint with Def Jam did not end well. She was dropped just a month after the release of her third studio album, 2006's "So Amazin'," allegedly due to poor sales. The set has shifted more than 163,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

But she's viewing the MySpace deal as a chance for a fresh start. "I have a lot of support from my peers. I have lots of people that love me and want the best for me," she says. "Sometimes things don't work out the right way, but I know I work my butt off on my end. As long as you know you worked hard, you feel accomplished. Thankfully, I took the time off to check out what's going on and now I'm back, and MySpace is allowing me to do tons of different things creatively."

In related news, Milian is next set to appear in the movie "The Ghosts of Girlfriends," starring Matthew McConaughey, which will hit theaters in February, and is filming the latest installment of the franchise "Bring It On." Milian was also recently featured as the lead in a live action film made for the EA video game "Need for Speed," due Nov. 28.

I hope that she can successfully make an impact this time, because I thought her 2006 effort 'So Amazin' was pretty good, but faced the lack of promotion.
Best of luck to Ms. Milian.
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Nelly, Ashanti & Akon Perform 'Body On Me' On Ellen

9/20/2008 0
With Nelly's new album 'Brass Knuckles' in-stores this week, the St. Louis native stopped by The Ellen Degeneres Show last night to perform current single 'Body On Me', with song collaborators Akon and Ashanti. Check it out the performance and interview below respectively:




The performance was still just okay, but the interview made for a good laugh. Ellen is a trip, which is why she continues to rack up them Emmys.
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9/19/08

Aubrey Covers 'Complex'

9/19/2008 1
Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day covers the latest of 'Complex' and had more than a few interesting words to say, Check it out:

Complex: How many Danity Kane albums are you locked in for?
Aubrey O’Day: Seven, not including holiday and live albums.

Complex: Damn! So that means at least five more to go.
Aubrey O’Day: In a perfect world, that’s what appears to be the case. But, as we all know, this world is not perfect.

Complex: So when people hear you’re best friends with (porn star) Jenna Jameson, they think—
Aubrey O’Day: —I’m going to do sex tapes and porn. Jenna and I never even talk about porn. I think one time Jenna and I had a conversation about having sex on your period.

Complex: Oh, running a red light?
Aubrey O’Day: Yeah. There was some new guy I was dating, and it was the first time we were going to go there, and he was weird about it. So I ask Jenna for advice and she’s like, “Honey, it’s just a little war paint, who cares?”

Complex: You seem to like to talk about sex.
Aubrey O’Day: I love porn.I usually watch black guys doing white girls, that’s my little fetish, even though in real life race isn’t a factor for me. Really, I’m more turned on by watching the girls than the guys. I love someone who looks like they’re really into sex.

Complex: All this porn talk raises the question: Would you ever be in one?
Aubrey O’Day: I wouldn’t. I’d like to keep my sex life personal. I’ve had sex on camera with my boyfriend for fun, though.

Complex: Damn, you know those things can leak, right?
Aubrey O’Day: I’ve made all of them delete it right after we watched it.

OH SO CLASSY!

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Rihanna Performs On Star Academy In France

9/19/2008 0
Today, Rihanna performed her International hit single 'Don't Stop The Music' at Star Academy in France, Check it out:



Vocals aside, which I'm trying to learn to ignore from Rihanna because there never good, the performance was the equivalent to watching a snail cross the road. For the song to be an upbeat dance number, there was very little energy and no dancing. SMH.
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Jada Pinkett Smith to Star in New TNT Drama, 'Time Heals'

9/19/2008 0
As a loving mother to her three children with husband Will Smith – Trey, Jaden and Willow – Jada Pinkett Smith can draw from her experience for her role as a strong single mom on the TNT drama pilot, which she is also executive producing, Time Heals.

Pinkett Smith will play Nancy Hawthorne, which the network describes as the strong but caring director of a nursing hospital in North Carolina, a single mother who places the pain of others first.

In terms of her role off-screen, Pinkett Smith, 37, acknowledges that neither she nor Will exerts a particularly heavy hand.

"We're not strict but we definitely believe it's a very important component for rearing children," she said last month. "It creates safety for them. They understand that they need guidance."

Still, if a member of their brood wants to sneak an extra sweet, Pinkett Smith acknowledges with a laugh that her husband is the more lenient one.

"He's so lenient on that stuff," she says with a sigh. "Daddy tends to [say], 'Yeah! Have chocolate cake for dinner! It’s all right with me.' I'll come home and it's just, 'Has anyone had lunch?' 'Yeah, I had some Frosted Flakes!' "
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Album Review: Nelly - 'Brass Knuckles'

9/19/2008 0
With the assistance of sixteen different guests, Nelly offers his fifth installation on 'Brass Knuckles', sticking to the traditional Nelly formula and fare of friendly pop ('Party People'), tributes to shoes ('Stepped on My J'z'), singer lead choruses ('Long Night' with Usher), and his sing-song delivery that very few rappers do as well ('One and Only'). Emerging after a four year absence with a new muscular and chiseled body, the only question is does the traditional Nelly formula still work?

Maybe, because while sometimes he manages to offer up one of his signature radio hits, others times it's just so ridiculously stupid that you can't bear to listen to it.

The lead single, 'Party People', assisted by Black Eye Peas front woman Fergie, shows the two competing in a back and forth battle over the energetic Polow beat, where Fergie surprisingly holds her own against the main man. 'Long Night', featuring R&B superstar Usher and produced by Usher's younger brother J. Lack, is a grower that may initially leave you feeling a little shortchanged especially considering the two names sound like collaboration heaven, but once you hear the jam more than once it quickly becomes one that you will be spinning again and again. The Polow Da Don produced 'Lie', is a stupidly catchy and infectious number, where you know the lyrics are on the walls of horrendous, but so catchy that you really can't help singing along. The track also sees Nelly garnishing the help of his label mates and group members the St. Lunatics and a unnamed female artist, who is said to be Keri Hilson, but sounds nothing like the Timbaland protege. 'Self-Esteem', featuring the legendary Chuck D. and also Nelly's favorite track on the album, is a inspiring almost retro seventies jam as he boast about overcoming obstacles and setting examples for the younger generations. Nelly also takes on Uncle Sam and the Iraq struggle so fearlessly that you can't help but admire him, as does Chuck D. 'Body on Me', featuring Akon and girlfriend Ashanti, is another radio friendly record and while the track is pretty good, the other version mainly featuring Ashanti is a little more impressive, as the latter part of the track feels a little dry without any ab libs on her part. The Pharrell produced and assisted, 'Let It Go', is a ear enthralling catchy tune, that makes you realize that maybe people do underestimate the lyrical stylings of St. Louis' finest too much, as he raps:

"I'm the most underrated,
under appreciated, most sold to dated,
f*cking rapper we got,
See I don't drop every year to give you n*ggas a shot,
now I might not get five mics or a XXL (never),
but f*ck it you keep it, I'm a take the 100 mill"

The melodic, 'One and Only' previously titled 'Piece of My Heart', shows Nelly doing his traditional singing/talking with a melody that was previously seen in hits 'Dilemma' and 'Over and Over', as he sheds his heart over love lost. Other standouts include the enthusiastic but underwhelming 'Hold Up' and 'U Ain't Him'.

The album's downfalls include the Jermaine produced 'Stepped on My J'z', which also features the hit maker and Ciara, and falls too closely to the ground he already cover on 'Air Force Ones', the Snoop Dogg assisted 'LA', as well as the in house assisted 'Chill'.

Overall, I was expecting the album to be much worse considering I thought a lot of the material that leaked was underwhelming, but it turned out to be a pretty good effort and while Nelly may never get the critical acclaimed that Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, or Kanye receive, and he probably knows this, he has out sold all of those guys, so its safe to say he probably doesn't care.

3.5 out of 5
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9/18/08

Album Review: Ne-Yo - 'Year of the Gentlemen'

9/18/2008 0
After penning hits for the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna and work with legends Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston on the scheudule, one might think that you would be in for a treat on Ne-Yo's third album, 'Year of the Gentlemen', but the surpises are few and far in between.

On the opening and lead track, 'Closer', Ne-Yo catches your ear with the enthralling beat and lyrics, but this isn't a connection that is made immediately, but rather something that begins okay and grows more pleasant after each listen. The track did show there's more to Stargate than the what he normal offers up. 'Mad' is an impressive track complete with a great vocal delivery and emotional depth lyrics. 'Nobody' shows Ne-Yo taking on Michael Jackson ground or damn near close and while the track is pretty great, it would have probably been better suited for the king himself. Other notable tracks include the the pianio tinkling 'Lie to Me', the Polow Da Don produced 'Single', and the album's vocal high 'Stop This World'.

With Ne-Yo, bad is never as bad as it gets with other artists, its just boring or so repeative that you can't stand to listen to it, and often it takes hearing the song over to fully grasp it because a lot of the cuts tend to lose your attention by the time they hit the one minute mark. 'Why Does She Stay', 'Fade into the Background', 'Part of the List', and 'Back to What You Know' are all underwhelming, but none are just plain out horrible.

While Ne-yo may talk the talk, the album more than proves he's just a kitten, who in time may grow to be great, but is currently just in a costume pretending to be a tiger that he isn't and may not ever be.

3 out of 5
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R. Kelly - 'Skin' Video

9/18/2008 0
The video for R. Kelly's new single 'Skin' premiered today via Yahoo Music. Check it out:



I had forgot about this song, I don't even remember what my initial thoughts were, but I'm feeling it this time around, the video is solid too.
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New Brandy Promo Pics

9/18/2008 0
Check out these promotional shots for Brandy's forthcoming album 'Human', due November 11th.



She looks good.
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The Pussycat Dolls - 'Whatcha Think About That' (Behind the Scenes)

9/18/2008 0
Check out the Pussycat Dolls on the set of the video for their latest single 'Whatcha Think About That':

Visually the girls always look good, but none of their videos seem to move me and this one doesn't look like its going to change that.
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Fantasia & Jennifer Hudson Honor Patti Labelle

9/18/2008 0
Check out clips of R&B divas Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson, performing 'Lady Marmalade' and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' respectively, at the 30th Anniversary - 'An Evening Of Stars', which honored Patti's nearly 50 year career.



Great Performances. The full show airs in the US January 24 and 25, 2009 on BET and WGN.
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Album Review: Jessica Simpson - 'Do You Know'

9/18/2008 0

On Jessica Simpson's debut country album, she manages to capture the perfect balance of catchy infectious tunes and the emotional fails and wins she has experienced throughout her life to compile her most impressive and solid collection of material to date.

The infectious lead single, 'Come On Over', which made Billboard history to become the highest debuting single by a new country artist, sees Jessica begging for comfort in the form of sex and successfully seducing her mate without much effort by the warmth of want and desire intertwined in her voice. 'Remember That', sees her tender voice recall the realism of domestic violence and do so with little struggle that helps materialize the fact that maybe she has taken a few licks back in her day. 'Sippin' On History', which is the record's strongest offering and most likely a reference to ex-husband Nick Lachey, shows her beautifully laying down all the things they could have experienced together if their love would have lasted, as she proclaims:

"We could have had a big trampoline
Kids running round the yard
Superman and bottle cars
We could have had that one of a kind love
The kind that fits like a glove
That everybody's jealous of
We could have been"

'You're My Sunday', an ode to current beau Tony Romo, is beautiful track where she exclaims his power to make everything in her life pointless and be her calming force:

"When life is like a hurricane
Flying off the rails like a fast train
Everything around me is so insane
You come and take it all away
You're my Sunday"

Other notable track include, the spiritual 'Pray Out Loud', the Dolly Pardon written and assisted title track 'Do You Know, and 'Still Don't Stop Me', which seems like a take on her on and off again relationship with John Mayer.

While her debut set probably won't stop the reign of Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift in country music, her effort to pull from her failed romances and produce material that the public can relate to, more than proves she can compete with them.

4 out of 5
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Album Cover: Keri Hilson - 'In A Perfect World...'

9/18/2008 0
Check out the official album cover for Keri Hilson's debut album, 'In A Perfect World...', now due in stores on November 4th, below:
It's different and I even like it, but things still aren't looking good for Keri, because with all the pushbacks and 'Energy' basically tanking on the charts, it seems like her album is going in the directions of Mya's 'Liberation', which faced so many pushbacks it was eventually shelved.
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Ciara Poses for 'Maxim'

9/18/2008 4
Ciara, once again, sheds her clothes, for the latest issue of 'Maxim', check it out:

I'm not going to for one second deny that she looks great, but so far the 'Fantasy Ride' era looks like nothing more than attempt to sell her body rather than the actual material (which is more than underwhelming), and I don't mind artists doing these kinds of shoots, Beyonce and Ashanti do them for time to time, but they also do twice as many with their CLOTHES ON.
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9/17/08

New Music: Alicia Keys with Jack White - 'Another Way to Die' (Bond Theme)

9/17/2008 1
After being pitted against Beyonce, Leona, & Amy, the much sought after theme for the new James Bond movie 'Quantum of The Solace' that eventually went to Alicia Keys and Jack White, 'Another Way to Die', has surfaced and its a complete mess. The song doesn't suit Alicia's voice at all and would have probably been better suited for Amy or even Pink.

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Nelly, Ashanti & Akon Perform 'Body On Me' On Leno

9/17/2008 0
With Nelly's new album 'Brass Knuckles' in-stores this week, the St. Louis native stopped by The Tonight With Jay Leno show last night to perform current single 'Body On Me', with song collaborators Akon and Ashanti. Check it out:



The trio FAILED to bring any energy to the performance, but the chemistry between Nelly and Ashanti was interesting to see, even Nelly couldn't keep his hands to himself. The trio will also perform together tomorrow on Ellen and the 22nd on Jimmy Kimmel.
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Album Cover: Pink - 'Funhouse' / Scores First #1

9/17/2008 0
Check out the official album cover for Pink's album, 'Funhouse', below:

I love it, the cover is full of personality and worth a thousand words.

In other Pink news, her new single 'So What' jumped #2-#1 this week on the Billboard chart - marking her first time atop of the chart.
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Ne-Yo Performs 'Miss Independent' on 106

9/17/2008 0
Ne-Yo stopped by BET's 106 & Park to perform his current single, 'Miss Independent', check it out below:



Good Stuff.
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Keri Hilson Performs 'Energy' on 106

9/17/2008 0
R&B beauty Keri Hilson stopped by BET's 106 & Park to perform her current single, 'Energy', check out the performance below:



A few bad notes here and there, but good performance overall.
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New Music: Keri Hilson featuring R. Kelly - 'Shake It Like A Dog'

9/17/2008 0



As you may recall this new Keri Hilson track, 'Shake It like A Dog' was originally intended for placement on Mya's now shelved 'Liberation'. With the help of hit maker R.Kelly, Keri has breathed some new life into the track, unfortunately its not enough to save the track from being any less lackluster than Mya's version.

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R. Kelly Breaks His Silence

9/17/2008 0
R. Kelly sat down with BET News’ Touré for the first time to discuss his child pornography trial, which ended in an acquittal on all charges. Check it out:

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9/16/08

Kat Deluna Gets Booed Singing The US National Anthem

9/16/2008 0
Kat Deluna stepped on the football field in Dallas, TX, to give an interesting, to say the least, rendition of the US National Anthem. So interesting that the performance was met with boos from the audience, check it out:



Gosh, well in her defense the girl actually can sing, but her and the National Anthem is like eating onions with chocolate ice cream, just not a good fit. The runs, which were seriously unnecessary, basically killed the performance before it started.
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