Alicia Keys is a Girl on Fire

Alicia Keys is truly a Girl on Fire. The star’s brand new album is sitting on top of the Billboard album charts this week. It debuted at number one with album sales of over 159 000 copies and this latest accolade adds to her already impressive run on Billboard. She now has five number one albums to her name. Big up Ms. Keys.

I’ve been listening to the album in my car and when I have some down time and I really am enjoying it. When the news of the album was announced, Keys promised a “new me” and that’s exactly what she is. She’s a mother, a wife. She looks amazing and from what I’ve seen in recent interviews and appearances, she’s just content, confident and loving life. I must admit though, when I heard the first single I was a bit worried about what else was to come. That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the single, I was going on the reactions that I had encountered from friends and fellow AK fans. They weren’t loving it as much as I thought. So it made me wonder if the album would be similar and therefore how it would fare in the market.

Well when I went through to the album listening session recently, I was pleasantly surprised. Her voice is raw, stripped down to the basics and it sounds beautiful. She has some magical tracks in the form of Fire We Make, which features Maxwell. When It’s All Over
and Listen To Your Heart are my other favourites off the album too. You’ll hear her signature sound i.e. the oh Ms. Keys on piano and you’ll also hear her little man, Egypt too.

On this album she’s worked with husband and super producer, Swizz Beatz. She’s also enlisted the writing duties of John Legend, Emeli Sandi, Babyface and Nicki Minaj.  Track listing below:

1. De Novo Adagio (Intro)
2. Brand New Me
3. When It’s All Over
4. Listen To Your Heart
5. New Day
6. Girl On Fire (Inferno Version) f. Nicki Minaj
7. Fire We Make f. Maxwell
8. Tears Always Win
9. Not Even The King
10. That’s When I Knew
11. Limitedless
12. One Thing
13. 101

If forced to rate the album out of ten, I’m going to go with a cozy 8. Grab yourself a copy on the iTunes store in America, Europe… and SA!! Boom

2012 MTV EMA winners

http://tv.mtvema.com/photos/2012-presenters

Check out the list of winners from this year’s MTV EMAs. I wasn’t able to watch the show because my DStv signal bombed at around 16:20 (first world problems).

So if any of you watched the show, hollerback with highlights etc.

BEST FEMALE – Taylor Swift

BEST SONG – Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”

BEST MALE – Justin Bieber

BEST LIVE – Taylor Swift

BEST LOOK – Taylor Swift

GLOBAL ICON – Whitney Houston

BEST VIDEO – PSY – “Gangnam Style”

BEST WORLDWIDE ACT – Han Geng (Asia Pacific)

BIGGEST FANS – One Direction

BEST WORLD STAGE – Justin Bieber

BEST PUSH – Carly Rae Jepsen

BEST ALTERNATIVE – Lana Del Rey

BEST ELECTRONIC – David Guetta

BEST HIP HOP – Nicki Minaj

BEST NEW- One Direction

BEST POP – Justin Bieber

BEST ROCK- Linkin Park

Rihanna, Nicki lead American Music Awards nominations

The 40th anniversary of the American Music Awards will be celebrated in true style this year – that if the list of nominees for this year is anything to go by.  Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the pack with four nominations each. Other big nominees include Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Katy Perry.

Already confirmed to perform at the awards is Ms. Christina Aguilera, who no doubt will be bumping off a few guys… if her latest video, Your Body is anything to go by More performers will be added to the list in the build up to the awards on the 18th of November.

Check out the list of nominees below:

 2012 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES:

 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Justin Bieber
• Drake
• Maroon 5
• Katy Perry
• Rihanna

 

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• J. Cole
• fun.
• Gotye
• Carly Rae Jepsen
• One Direction

 

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

• Justin Bieber
• Flo Rida
• Pitbull
• Usher

 

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

• Kelly Clarkson
• Nicki Minaj
• Katy Perry
• Rihanna

 

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK

• fun.
• Maroon 5
• One Direction
• The Wanted

 

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK

• Justin Bieber /Believe
• Maroon 5/Overexposed
• Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
• One Direction/Up All Night

 

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Eric Church

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

• Miranda Lambert
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

 

FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP – COUNTRY

• Zac Brown Band
• Lady Antebellum
• Rascal Flatts

 

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY

• Luke Bryan/Tailgates & Tanlines
• Lionel Richie/Tuskegee
• Carrie Underwood/Blown Away

 

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP

• Drake
• Nicki Minaj
• Tyga

 

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP

• J. Cole/Cole World: The Sideline Story
• Drake/Take Care
• Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

 

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B

• Chris Brown
• Trey Songz
• Usher

 

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B

• Beyoncé
• Mary J. Blige
• Rihanna

 

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B

• Chris Brown/Fortune
• Rihanna/Talk That Talk
• Usher/Looking 4 Myself

 

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK

• The Black Keys
• Gotye
• Linkin Park

 

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY

• Adele
• Kelly Clarkson
• Train

FAVORITE ARTIST – LATIN

• Don Omar
• Pitbull
• Shakira

 

FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

• Jeremy Camp
• Newsboys
• tobyMac

 

FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)

• David Guetta
• Calvin Harris
• Skrillex

 

2012 VMA winners list

The annual MTV VMAs took place at the Staples Center in LA last night. Unfortunately we didn’t have a live stream in South Africa, but if you were able to watch the awards in your part of the world, let us know what the show was like. I hear Rihanna’s performance was superb and a great way to open the show. She performed her song Cockiness alongside A$AP Rocky. Taylor apparently closed the show with her hit, “We Are Never Getting Back Together”, which by that point everyone was like uh, whatevs Taylor imma drink myself stupor… Na’mean Ha! Here’s a list of the winners from this year’s VMAs:

Video of the Year: Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Best New Artist: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
Best Female Video: Nicki Minaj, “Starships”
Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake, featuring Lil’ Wayne, “HYFR”
Best Male Video: Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”
Best Pop Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
Best Rock Video: Coldplay, “Paradise”
Best Video With a Message: Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”
Best Electronic Dance Music Video: Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”
Most Shareworthy Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
Best Choreography: Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”
Best Editing: Beyonce, “Countdown”
Best Visual Effects: Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”
Best Cinematography: M.I.A., “Bad Girls”
Best Art Direction: Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Best Direction: M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Listen to Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has just released the first official single off her forthcoming album, Girl On Fire. The title single was released last night and the star is set to perform it live on the MTV VMAs stage tomorrow evening. On the album the star says, “I have arrived at a place in myself that I am comfortable being exactly who I am in this moment and sharing it with no reservations.”

The single features Nicki Minaj. There are two versions of song. The one above is called the Inferno Version and the one below is the bluelight version. The bluelight version is a stripped down version, which for me is where Keys really shows her unbelievable talent.

I love both versions. I think the inferno version is more suitable for radio playlists, but I’m digging the blue version… what can I say, blue is my colour man Stripped down, vulnerable Alicia Keys is incredible. Listen to her version of Empire State of Mind, Part II Broken Down to see what I mean. The album is set for release on the 27th of November. I cannot wait!!

Related articles

• New Music: Alicia Keys Teams Up With Nicki Minaj On ‘Girl On Fire’ (Listen To Both Versions Of Her Latest Here!) (styleblazer.com)

Watch Pound The Alarm by Nicki Minaj

Whoop. Nicki Minaj has just released her video for the absolutely awesome track Pound The Alarm… This track is one of the better, if not the best track off the album. Love it! Nothing wrong with a little bit of daytime, carnival fun in Trinidad huh? Share your thoughts.

Justin Bieber’s Believe biggest opener of 2012

Justin Bieber has even more to celebrate this week. The Boyfriend singer scored himself his fourth number one this week. The 18-year-old’s new album Believe hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 200 list. So that’s a big achievement right? Well in addition to opening at number, Bieber’s album is officially the biggest debut opener of the year. It has shifted 374 000 copies already and without a doubt thousands more will be sold in the weeks to follow.

His previous number ones include 2009′s My World, and 2011′s Never Say Never: The Remixes, and his holiday set, Under The Mistletoe.

Here’s the tracklisting in case you haven’t seen it:

01. All Around The World ft. Ludacris
02. Boyfriend
03. As Long As You Love Me ft. Big Sean
04. Take You
05. Right Here ft. Drake
06. Catching Feelings
07. Fall
08. Die In Your Arms
09. Thought Of You
10. Beauty And A Beat ft. Nicki Minaj
11. One Love
12. Be Alright
13. Believe
14. Out Of Town Girl
15. She Don’t Like The Lights
16. Maria

Related articles

• Justin Bieber Confirms Next Single (mtv.com)
• 10 things about Justin Bieber (nation.com.pk)

Grammys 2012- red carpet

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards are here. Finally. It’s going to be a bittersweet evening tonight, but here are a few highlights from the red carpet.

Big hair seems to be the order of the day. Corinne Bailey Rae, Kelly Rowland are showing that tonight. As is Diana Ross. Bruno is wearing Tom Brown.

Kelly Price spoke about chatting and singing with Whitney Houston, whom she sang with on Thursday evening. She said it was an honour and that she didn’t expect her to get up and sing, but Whitney insisted. When Ryan asked her what Whitney would’ve wanted tonight, she said, “She would want it to be celebratory and about the music. She loved what she did.”

Sasha Gradiva is looking very bizarre. She’s got some pink number on, which isn’t bad but the the ‘jewelery’ is the gun

Maroon 5′s Adam Levin talks about Whitney Houston, “She’s just Whitney freaken Houston. We’re all upset”. He also told Ryan Seacrest that he was excited to take to the stage with the likes of the Beach Boys and Foster the People.

Juilianne Hough tells Giuliana that her boyfriend Ryan Seacrest helped her picked out her outfit. Aah cute. They have a dual screen going up and they’re just cut to Ryan.

Fergie’s “more conservative” dress is very bright. She is rocking an orange number with black lingerie She was nominated and subsequently won for her role.

Jessie J says “it’s very surreal but I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to see Adele and represent the Brits”. She also said she was sad about the passing of Whitney Houston. “Her daughter was at the rehearsals and I got to meet her. I feel very honoured to be alive with her music”.

Katy Price has taken on a smurf look. Sans the blue hair, the rest of her looks good. Hopefully she’s on the road to becoming a happy smurf again.

http://www.grammys.com

Nicki Minaj arrived with her Bishop tonight. Sound weird? Well when a picture surfaces I will post it because clearly he’s her date for the night. She’s looking like Red Riding Hood. The makeup is very simple but she looks good.

Malin Ackerman is here too. Her dress doesn’t do much for me. I’m sure Joan Rivers will tackle this in more detail. Watch out for this.

John Legend is chatting to Ryan Seacrest. He gushed to Ryan about being newly engaged. His wife-to-be is beautiful.

http://www.grammy.com

Alicia Keys looks amazing tonight. The hair, the makeup, the dress. She just looks gorgeous.

Rihanna looks beautiful. Very very very good. Yowza! Winner! She’s in Armani.

Flo Rida on hearing about Whitney Houston’s death: “I was about to go on stage. I definitely spoke to the fans. She inspired me and my condolences go out to her”. He told Ryan Seacrest that there is some good things coming.

Music highlights at Super Bowl XLVI

Congratulations to the New York Giants, who are the new Super Bowl champions. Super Bowl Sunday took place in Indiapolis last night. It saw the Giants beating their rivals the Patriots 21 points to 17. As you know this is a music and entertainment site, so I thought let’s look at some of the musical highlights from this year’s Super Bowl. First off, one of my favourite artists Kelly Clarkson had the honours of singing the American National Anthem and man oh man did KC nail it. She’s scored rave reviews all over the place, and rightfully so. Check it out below:

Country superstars Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton performed America The Beautiful too. What did you think of their performance?

Then the biggie of the night… The Queen of Pop, Madonna performed during the Bridgestone Halftime concert. She was joined by the likes of M.I.A, Nicki Minaj and Cee Lo Green. Check out the set below:

Performing tracks like Vogue, Music and her new single Give Me All Your Luvin‘, she proved she still has was it takes to be the queen. I really liked the remix of Music, which featured the Party Rockers LMFAO…. Love it!

X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro’s Pepsi commercial debuted during the Super Bowl too. It features Elton John and Flavor Flav. Check it out:

Are you ready Super Bowl XLVI Sunday?

It’s Super Bowl XLVI time and this year the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots this Sunday. The game, presented by Chevrolet, takes place in Indiapolis. I’ll admit being down here in South Africa, I haven’t followed this season so I’m not sure who will win the game. My American readers can enlighten me and others on who you think will win the game.

This year’s Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show is going to be something else. The Queen of Pop, Madonna will be taking to the stage to perform some of her biggest tracks. There is also a lot of speculation that Nicki Minaj and M.I.A will join Madge on stage to perform her new track, “Give Me All Your Love“. Damn, what a powerful trio! It’s as if Madge has moved on from the pop princesses, Britney and Christina in favour of the powerful MCs Nicki and M.I.A. BOOM!!!

At a press conference yesterday, Madonna said she was excited. She also promised “the greatest show on earth “The envelope I’m pushing is just for a spectacular show, which I think will entertain all age groups and hopefully will be a feast for the eyes and the ears”. The star, who recently won a Golden Globe, has been relatively quiet in the last few years. Now she’s back, winning awards, building schools in Malawi and now performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. Can’t wait to see it.