Hot Music Beat

In case you missed it, Lady Gaga made her SNL debut! Besides performing “Paparazzi” and a “Poker Face” / “LoveGame” / “Bad Romance” medley, she was featured in two sketches with Andy Samberg, Kenan Thompson, and surprise guest Madonna! Check out all of Lady Gaga’s show-stealing moments below!

“Paparazzi” Live on SNL:

“Poker Face/LoveGame/Bad Romance Medley” Live on SNL:

Lady Gaga & Madonna Catfight Sketch:

Bubble Suit Sketch:

To celebrate the release of their eighth studio album, Crash Love, AFI took to the stage at the world famous Roxy on Sunset thanks to local Los Angeles radio station KROQ. In front of an intimate crowd of hundred’s, rather than thousands that typically fill AFI shows, the band played a thrashing 14 song set filled with classics of the past, and a handful of Crash Love gems that are soon to be just that. Highlights of the night were too many to capsulize, but front man Davey Havok’s front flip into the waiting crowd on “Kill Caustic” and the stunning rendition of The Cure’s classic “Just Like Heaven” marked just a few of the moments that lit up the night. Reminiscent of 1995, AFI welcomed Nick 13 (Tiger Army) and Geoff Kresge (ex AFI/Tiger Army) to the stage to sing “Nyquil,” a track from the band’s first album, Answer That and Stay Fashionable. Electric performances of AFI’s radio singles “Miss Murder” and Crash Love’s “Medicate” put a cap on a night that will not soon be forgotten by the fan’s lucky enough to be present that night.

Fans of AFI who could not be at the show now have the chance to watch a handful of videos from the epic evening on KROQ.com. To find out when and where you can see AFI live, visit www.AFireInside.net/events. Crash Love is in-stores now and available everywhere good music is sold.

As a favor to her husband, Nick Cannon, who just happens to be the host of America’s Got Talent, Mariah Carey performed on the show last week. The curvaceous singer sang her latest single ‘Obsessed’. There was something mighty off about her performance though. Mariah’s performance was very reminiscent on Britney Spears’ VMA 2007 performance – dull, disappointing and all sorts of awful. I can’t say that I’m not surprised. The song she sang is mediocre at best so I can’t really appreciate it if she performs it and I can tell that she’s singing to a backing track. I almost fell asleep watching her.

Lady Gaga paid a visit to ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show’ and performed a stirring rendition of her international smash, “Poker Face”. Watch her tear it up on the keys AND the dance-floor!

“Poker Face” on Ellen:

Brand new remixes of Lady Gaga’s latest single “LoveGame” by Dave Aude, Space Cowboy & Robots To Mars are available today! Download them from iTunes now!

Country star Taylor Swift announced that she’s donating $100,000 to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa branch of the Red Cross. Two month ago, Cedar Rapids suffered millions of dollars in damages and thousands of job losses due to torrential rains. A source close to the singer said “Taylor was going to cancel the concert, thinking few people could attend, but the mayor of Cedar Rapids asked her to carry on.” Taylor said of the donation “The people in this town have been through so much loss this year, and my heart goes out to them. They’ve stood by me, they gave me a sold-out show. You’ve got to pay it forward in life – that’s all I did in Cedar Rapids.”

Rihanna performed her smash hit single ‘Umbrella’ with Jay-Z at the 3rd Annual THISDAY Fashion and Musical Festival in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday. This year’s festival, which is tagged ‘Africa Rising: To Celebrate the Best and Brightest of Emerging New Africa’, was designed o revolutionize global perspectives on African issues. The organizers of the event are intent of Africa receiving investments instead of aid as well as a new mindset which they believe can be achieved through a celebration of the continent’s potentials. And who better to catch attention than who can arguably be the most recognizable artist of this era?

3 Doors Down stopped by AOL’s Studios in LA to shoot an intimate performance for Sessions. Check it out and watch them perform their latest single “It’s Not My Time”, as well as “Let Me Be Myself” and “It’s The Only One You’ve Got” from their brand new self titled release as well as their smash “Kryptonite.”

Toni Braxton went to the hospital in early April due to some health issues which put a then temporary damper on her string of shows in Vegas. Now, the singer’s chest pains have put a definite end to it. Toni has decided to not continue with her Vegas show so she can focus on getting back to 100% health. The show ‘Toni Braxton: Revealed’ has been playing at the Flamingo for two years and was only put on hold during her hospitalization. I hope Toni gets better soon and it’s not like the pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart, that she was treated for in the past.

Once the title of American Idol has lost its luster on you because someone hotter has come along, there’s always musical theater to run to. Just like fellow Idol alums Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken, Diana DeGarmo, Frenchie Davis and Constantine Maroulis, ex-American Idol champ Taylor Hicks is heading to the Great White Way. The fallen idol is set to join the cast of ‘Grease’ as Teen Angel starting on June 6. He says he plans to add ‘soulful flavor’ to his performance of ‘Beauty School Dropout’. He also said that the flashy role is “a classic fit for a classic performer”. Did he just call himself a classic performer? I think he meant has-been.

You know that you have the hottest tour of this year when you’ve got some of the hottest artists OPENING your show for you. Rihanna beams in a hot pink number during Kanye West’s ‘Glow in the Dark’ tour at HP Pavilion on Saturday in San Jose, California. The Queen of 2007 and still reigning in 2008 Rihanna is just one of three opening acts for Kanye. The other acts are Lupe Fiasco and NERD, Pharrell Williams’ rock ensemble. Kanye’s show is already getting rave reviews on its own. The addition of those three big opening acts are just an added bonus that takes the show all the way to the top.

If you live in the Southern California area, Alanis Morissette will be filming a special performance for Yahoo! Music on April 24th, 2008 at 7pm (you will need to arrive two hours before). The first 200 fans to email Invite@YahooLiveSets.com will get in the doors for this exclusive taping! Plus you get to bring a friend. Just email your name and your location, and you will be contacted if you are chosen to attend.

*You must be at least 13 years old to attend. Fans under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. You must provide your own transportation and accommodations (if necessary).

I wrote about American Idol contestant – as of last Thursday, American Idol wannabe – Robbie Carrico having a full head of fake hair. Even AI judge Simon Cowell perhaps took shots at the piece when he told Robbie that his performance “just never ever felt real”. But the guy is singing a different tune. Robbie told People last Friday that he’s been growing his head of hair for a very long time and that it’s ridiculous that the media came up with something like that. So what were the spies inside Idol talking about with the Idol officials freaking out over his hair? I guess he just can’t accept the fate that gravity has given to his hairline.

Idol watchers are going nuts over 17 year old David Archuleta. His Tuesday performance of “Imagine” amazed fans and judges alike and placed David at the forefront of the Idol race.

Many are looking back and comparing this performance to Kelly Clarkson’s “Natural Woman” and Carrie Underwood’s “Alone”. Only difference – looks like this year’s winner will be a guy. David’s got an upperhand with the “tween” crowd of 10 to 16 year old girls!

If you’re thinking about getting on stage at a Wyclef Jean concert, be sure to weigh yourself before going and see to it that you weigh under 200 lbs. The former Fugees member asked for 30 girls to shake it with him on stage at a Super Bowl weekend performance at 944 Village in Scottsdale, Arizona but announced that there was a weight limit for anyone who decides to climb up there to join him. Wyclef finished his performance with a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Mind you, the caliber of that rendition was far from Jimi Hendrix’s caliber.

When one party ends, you just move to another one that’s still hopping. Two out of three Jonas Brothers, Kevin and Nick, were spotted entering their tour bus after leaving the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Albany, New York. The band of brothers has played their final sold out show at the Times Union Centre as part of the Hannah Montana tour. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be seeing them at a place near you any time soon.

The brothers are soon to start doing their own thing after signing a deal with Live Nation. If you remember how much Madonna is set to make off of Live Nation, you can just imagine what the boys would wind up with.

18-year old Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers was reportedly rushed to the emergency room on Saturday. Thankfully, it was nothing too serious and he’s doing fine right now.

The teen heartthrob was reportedly horsing around backstage at a concert in Atlantic City when he tripped and hit his head. A source says that the singer ran into a wall. Joe was taken to a nearby hospital where he received a few stitches and was released shortly after. Be a little more careful next time Joe. Tween hearts would break into million pieces if anything really bad happens to you.

Jonas Brothers will be taking the stage at Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve! Nick, Kevin, and Joe are set to join Miley Cyrus and Carrie Underwood during this year’s bash live in Times Square. The party ushering in 2008 will be hosted by Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest.

Rihanna’s hit single ‘Umbrella’ has been the biggest single of the year which merited a lot of covers from different artists representing different genres. It’s actually the most covered single of 2007. It’s so big that even Rihanna has done her own cover of her own song!

Rihanna actually went back in to the studio and recorded an amazing acoustic version of the song. Her acoustic version features a new arrangement and even a few added lyrics. It’s incredible! Maybe this would be the end of the ‘Umbrella’ covers. It’s already gone back to where it all started – Rihanna herself.

When you get successful, people all of sudden either want to be your friend and get some freebies bought with your hard-earned money or they want to sue you for it.

While a lot of celebrities get sued for something when they get rich with baseless accusations, I can’t say the same for Soulja Boy who just got sued with a very tough case ahead of him. The rapper with the most obnoxious song of the year is being sued for trademark infringement by a musician named Souljah Boy.

A rep for the guy with an H says “I am writing on behalf of the law firm of Alexander, Odunze & Kang LLP to give you a heads up re: the attached complaint, which was filed in federal court this afternoon on behalf of Willie Lyons p/k/a Souljah Boy. By way of background (and as you may already know), Mr. Lyons, known in commerce as Souljah Boy for over twelve years, is suing artist Soulja Boy (birth name: DeAndre Way), his record label, attorney & manager in connection with his blatant infringement of Mr. Lyons’ trademark.”

Soulja may have to pay up.

Early Thursday morning, Black Eyed Peas front woman Fergie was on hand to announce the nominations for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Despite being a big favorite to score a lot of nods, the ‘Fergalicious’ singer only got one nomination for herself in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal.Despite the disappointing number, Fergie still helped kick off the Grammy’s celebration with a People party at the Avalon Hollywood nightclub on Thursday in Hollywood. I bet she’s saying that she already has 3 Grammy’s anyway so she still has reason to party. And let’s not forget that her album has 5 hit singles off of it. That’s something!