Tidbits

-Across the pond in the UK, super cute British singer, Pixie Lott, has scored her second number one of the year with her infectious retro single, Boys and Girls. Those Brits have fallen for this gal. Congrats, Pixie.

-Tyler Perry's latest film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, has topped the box office making 24 million over the weekend. His films always do well. He has a built-in audience. This movie actually got good reviews (most of his films don't) with the Boston Globe giving it 3 out of 4 stars. There's a part of me that wants to see it now especially cause Taraji P. Henson (Benjamin's adopted mom in Benjamin Button) plays the lead role.

-Shakira's new album, She Wolf, will be released in the US on October 13th. I am so excited.

Tidbits

-Yesterday, La Roux hit number 1 in the UK for the first time with their fantastic new single Bulletproof. Their album is released today in the the UK. Congrats! Florence + the Machine debut at #12 with Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up), their wonderfully odd new single. This song would never even crack the top 100 here.

-Sales of Michael Jackson albums and singles have shot through the roof since his death last Thursday. 8 songs in the iTunes Top 10 are MJ, the number 1 spot occupied by Man in the Mirror. 7 of the top 10 albums are his as well.

-Here's a clip of a Jordin Sparks demo called Vertigo that should totally be on her new album which comes out July 21. It's super fun and dancey.



-The Spanish version of Shakira's new single has appeared online. The song is called She-Wolf and it is a big change of pace for Shakira. It's got a funky bassline, a disco feel, and it's overrall very pop. It suits Shakira well. I'm really loving it. Can't wait for the English version.

Tidbits

In other news:

-One of Charlie's Angels died yesterday as well: Farrah Fawcett. Rest in Peace.

-Sam Sparro and Adam Lambert will work together on Lambert's album. This could be very interesting.

-There was a great article about Men's Fashion Week in Milan in yesterday's Thursday Styles section of the New York Times. It's a very interesting read: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/fashion/25MILAN.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

Tidbits

-American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert will be working with RedOne on some songs for his debut album due this fall! This is so exciting. RedOne and Lambert will make some good stuff.

-Kylie Minogue will be working with Girls Aloud producers Xenomania on her next album. This is also exciting. Xenomania make some of the most exciting pop music around and Kylie and them will make beautiful dance floor heaven for the world.

-La Roux's next single after this week's probable #1 Bulletproof will be I'm Not Your Toy, another delicious 80's style confection with steel drums. The lyrics are great: "I'm not your toy, this isn't another girl meets boy...it's all false love and affection, you don't want me, you just like the attention" I'm really looking forward to this album. All the clips I've heard are very promising. Apparently, the album will be out in the US in October! They will be touring around the US this summer. No Boston stops though.



-Another singer I'm loving at the moment is kooky Brit Florence and the Machine. The Machine is her band. Anyway Florence's debut album, Lungs, will be out in the UK in a couple weeks. Her songs are raw and emotional almost tribal especially her new single Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) which is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard all year. It has big drums, Florence's soaring voice, and an ecstatic and cathartic chorus. It's pretty crazy (same with the video), but I'm in love with it. The part in the song around 2:24 is gorgeous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHqbco0zHWo

Two other great songs of hers:

Dog Days Are Over-Handclaps, piano, and when it kicks in around 1:19, you'll totally be into it. Another soaring chorus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZPTFfpO40

Cosmic Love-A massive song that swells with drums, echoing voices, and harp. It's epic and grandiose. Gorgeous. It reminds me of Bat For Lashes or Kate Bush. The "oooo" part is lovely.

Tidbits

-Emily Blunt (the sharp-tongued Emily in the Devil Wears Prada), one of my favorite young actresses, is dating Jon Krasinski of The Office. I'm so happy for them. Both of them are simply amazing.

-Taylor Swift's album, Fearless, topped the charts this week. Congrats, Taylor!

-Russian popstar Sergey performed a super colorful, deliciously poppy live cover of Erasure's Love to Hate You at this Latvian concert thing a few months ago. I LOVE his purple tank top! The choreography is also amazingly late 90's/early 00's!! Also, I love his expressions. He's so campy and pop. I love it.

Sergey Lazarev Covers "Love To Hate You" by Erasure from EQ Video on Vimeo.

Tidbits

-Franz Ferdinand's third album, called Tonight: Franz Ferdinand will be released January 27. I'm excited. They are a fun band with some truly great songs. The first song, not a single though, from the album that I've heard is Lucid Dreams. I heard it twice on FNX yesterday and it is a tempo-changing romp. I really like it.

-Girls Aloud's new album Out of Control will now be released on November 3, a week sooner than originally planned! I heard a clip of their collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys on Popjustice the other day, and it was good, very good. The song is called The Loving Kind. The album cover is lacking though. I like the outfits and poses but too many words, too busy. The Promise was released to the UK iTunes today. Here's the link for The Loving Kind clip:
http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3075&Itemid=206
-The new Keane album, Perfect Symmetry, is really good. Spiralling, The Lovers are Losing, Better Than This, You Haven't Told Me Anything, and Pretend That You're Alone are standouts, but the whole album is delightfully poppy and wonderful. I love the lead singer's soaring voice.

-The Saturdays' second single Up was the number 5 song on the UK charts for the week. Congrats, girls.

Tidbits

-First off, M.I.A. is pregnant!!! What?! That came out of nowhere! Congrats.








-Taylor Momsen of Gossip Girl rocked the premiere of Sex Drive last week. She has a really cool, edgy style. I like it.

-Here are some pictures of the boys from Twilight. That is all. Bask in them.

-The Scissor Sisters played two shows in New York earlier in the week and debuted new material! Yay! I love lead singer Jake Shears' nerdy glasses. His outfit is very 40's/50's all-American high school boy. (see photos below)

-Posh just knocked it out of the park with this ensemble. Love the new weave, the classy black dress, and the shades! Perfection.

-Here's an outtake of Zac Efron's from his photo shoot with Entertainment Weekly. Why must he look at me with those puppy dog eyes? Also, yesterday was his twenty first birthday. Happy birthday, Troy.

-Leighton Meester, rocked the Sex Drive premiere as well just in a simpler way. Here she is with the funny Katrina Bowden of 30 Rock.

Tidbits

- Here's a recent picture of Shawn Johnson. Just because a little Shawn Johnson makes any day better.


-Scarlett Johansson embarrasses herself with the new Cosmo Girl cover. The outfit is just....no. I still love her though.



-Miley's man, Justin Gaston, performed at her huge Sweet 16 bash at Disneyland this past weekend. Here's what Miley's dad, Billy Ray, has to say about the Gas: "He actually reminds me a lot of myself when I was 20 years old and I was living and searching for the dream. He's got a great heart and soul, and a lot of determination. I think that's the true measure of a man, is when you measure his heart." (Billy Ray told this to Access Hollywood). This relationship is so weird but I love it. No way is she still a virgin. Look at that picture of him in his underwear model days (above). No way! Well, her excuse is....she's just being Miley.

-Katy Perry graces the cover of the November Blender looking vintage chic. I like her style. It's very 40's pinup.

-Krysten Ritter, one of Rory's college friends on Gilmore Girls in the last two seasons, rocks it out at a recent event. I love the puffy high waisted black skirt. She's pictured here with redheaded comedienne Isla Fisher who I love. The two of them will be starring in February's romantic comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic which actually looks decent. Hugh Dancy (!!!), Joan Cusack (I LOVE THAT WOMAN....the water bubbler scene in Sixteen Candles), and Kristen Scott Thomas also star.

-Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist stars Jonathan B. Wright and Aaron Yoo appear in an article at Out Magazine's website talking about the movie. They were both so great in that movie. I heart them.

















-Britney Spears new video for Womanizer will premiere during 20/20, of all shows, tomorrow night on ABC. 20/20 is a news magazine show. I don't see the connection. Check out these photos from the video shoot. Look at her as a shmexy secretary! Anyway, I bought Womanizer out of love for my Brit Brit, and I like the song more now. Dancing to it immediately makes it better. Also the lyric "Daddy-o, you've got the swagger of a champion" is an undeniably genius lyric. Not Brit's best though. Gimme More was way better.

Tidbits

-Kings of Leon are number 1 on the UK charts for a third week in a row, and their new album, Only By the Night, released September 22 there, hit number 1 too. Congrats! I finally watched their performance on last week's SNL and they were really good. Jared's weave looked amazing. By the way, the new album is really, really good. Use Somebody is an epic, anthemic song. This album is definetely much more anthemic than Because of the Times.

-Jennifer Hudson released her debut album today, and it is getting mixed reviews.

-Anne Hathaway hosts SNL this Saturday, and The Killers are the musical guest. I wonder how Anne will do. She's not exactly hilarious.

- OMGGGGGGGGGG! The Gossip Girl boys grace the cover of Details magazine looking fiiiiine except Chace's hair is kinda messed.

Fashion

Project Runway Season 4 winner, Christian Siriano, debuted his Spring '09 line at NY Fashion Week a few weeks ago, and I just love his tastefully dramatic, over the top, and avant garde outfits. I love avant garde things. I especially adore the one on the right. In other Project Runway news, current contestant, Kenley is really grating on me. She has a become a seriously delusional, stubborn pain. Also, Korto, looks so much like Jennifer Hudson.

Tidbits

Girls Aloud new video for their genius single The Promise will premiere on AOL Music tomorrow morning, and it will be on the gals website. I'm so psyched! Also, apparently the album will be released on November 10, according to Wikipedia (don't know how reliable that is).

-Awesome pop website, Popjustice, have heard the new Britney single, Womanizer, and they say it's good. Thank goodness!! Here's what they had to say:

Stylistically it shares a lot in common with Rachel Stevens' 'Some Girls' but in Britney terms it's a brilliantly executed mashup of 'Toxic' with the last album's more insane moments like 'Ooh Ooh Baby'. Most important thing: it doesn't fade at the end - the beat drops out while Britney trills the main "YOU'RE A WOMANIZER OH WOMANIZER OH YOU'RE A WOMANIZER BABY" hook. This track lays a really strong foundation for the fully-realised comeback that didn't quite happen last time and it's hard not to think of it as a late contender for single of the year. Like we said above, it's literally quite good.

I'm glad they mentioned Rachel Stevens' Some Girls because that is one of the best songs so far this century. If Britney's song has a Some Girls-style that's a very good sign.

-British singer, Alesha Dixon, who used to be in a great Brit girl group called Mis-Teeq, who released a song called Scandalous in the US back in 2004, is releasing her second album, but first official album in the UK. The first single is The Boy Does Nothing and Popjustice has a clip. It's catchy (especially the chorus), different, old school, and I love it. I haven't heard the whole thing yet, but I assume I will soon. Here's the link to Popjustice: http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2981&Itemid=206 and if you go to her Myspace, you can hear a one minute clip: http://www.myspace.com/aleshamusic. Check it out! It's wicked good. Her album will be released in the UK in November along with the single.