Hot Music Beat

It is now official that Jessica Simpson will return to the world of reality TV. The failed country singer and actress will host the documentary series ‘The Price of Beauty’ which will follow the singer as she treks around the world in search of what people find beautiful and why. In a statement, Jessica said “I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect. I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful. I know we will all learn a lot on this journey and I am so excited that VH1 is coming along on what I’m sure will be a wild ride.” Will you watch her desperate attempt at a career?

Allison Iraheta is the last woman standing on American Idol. How much longer can she stand amongst the boys? Despite winning accolades for her voice and a stage maturity beyond her years, the 16-year old may be a long shot to reach the final based on the voting patterns. She clearly has the star potential so what’s gotten her on the bottom three more than any of her rivals? Maybe it’s just her being an awkward and goofy teenager when she’s not singing. It goes without saying that the show has really turned into something more of a popularity contest rather than a talent show. Allison may be leagues better than some of the guys but those guys bring the popularity factor several times that of Allison’s.

Very few people were stellar during last week’s showing of American Idol doing country but what do you think about this week being about Motown? The Idols were treated to spending time with mentors Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson before taking the stage. Matt Giraud sang Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’. Kris Allen sang ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)’. Scott MacIntyre sang ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’. Megan Joy sang ‘For Once in My Life’. Anoop Desai sang ‘Ooh Baby Baby’. Michael Sarver sang ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’. Lil Rounds sang ‘Heat Wave’. Adam Lambert sang ‘Tracks of My Tears’. Danny Gokey sang ‘Get Ready’. And finally, Allison Iraheta sang ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’.

It has only been a few months since American Idol reject Kimberly Caldwell broke up with American Idol champ David Cook. However, it seems that Kimberly has found another Idol partner to look after her – Carly Smithson. The show’s cast offs rolled up to Apple in West Hollywood last week. Before they went inside, cameras caught Carly cleaning the fluff off of Kimberly’s butt. Is Kimberly so stuck up her own butt that she can’t clean her own back side free of dirt? It must suck to be Carly. But oh well, unlike most other Idol rejects, at least she has a job.

After announcing the three remaining finalists at the end of Thursday’s wild card round, Simon Cowell announced that 22-year old Anoop Desai won a previously unannounced 13th spot in the next round of the singing contest. The three other wild card finalists were Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey and Matt Giraud. Desai, Miurray, Corkrey and Giraud join finalists Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver.

The 2009 Junos will be held in Vancouver on March 29. The show will be hosted by comedian Russell Peters.

2009 JUNO AWARD NOMINEES:

JUNO Fan Choice Award
Celine Dion
Feist
Hedley
Nickelback
The Lost Fingers

Single of the Year
Celine Dion “Taking Chances”
Divine Brown “Lay It On the Line”
Kardinal Offishall “Dangerous”
Michael Bublé “Lost”
Nickelback “Gotta Be Somebody”

Artist of the Year
Bryan Adams
City and Colour
k.d. lang
Sam Roberts
Serena Ryder

Group of the Year
Great Big Sea
Nickelback
Simple Plan
The Trews
Tokyo Police Club

New Artist of the Year
Crystal Shawanda
Jessie Farrell
Kreesha Turner
Lights
Nikki Yanofsky

New Group of the Year
Beast
Cancer Bats
Crystal Castles
Plants and Animals
The Stills

Songwriter of the Year
Alanis Morissette
City and Colour
Gordie Sampson
Hedley
The Midway State

Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Hawksley Workman Between the Beautifuls
Kathleen Edwards Asking For Flowers
Ron Sexsmith Exit Strategy Of The Soul
Sarah Slean The Baroness
Serena Ryder is it ok

Alternative Album of the Year
Black Mountain In The Future
Chad VanGaalen Soft Airplane
Fucked Up The Chemistry Of Common Life
Plants and Animals Parc Avenue
The Stills Oceans Will Rise

Rap Recording of the Year
DL Incognito A Captured Moment In Time
D-Sisive The Book
Famous I Rap Now
Kardinal Offishall Not 4 Sale
Point Blank Point Blank

Jonas Brothers are officially set to appear on Barbara Walters’ Oscar special! Other guests will include Mickey Rourke, Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman. Be sure to tune in Feburary 22nd at 7pm on ABC to catch the intimate interview with Kevin, Joe and Nick.

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.

 

Be sure to tune in, set your TiVos, DVRs, VCRs or whathaveyous! Alanis Morissette is set to appear on the following programs to promote her new album, Flavors of Entanglement, due out on June 10.

TV Appearance Schedule:
May 20 – Ellen
May 23 – The Today Show
June 9 – The Today Show
June 10 – Late Show With David Letterman
June 12 – Howard Stern (radio)
July 18 – Jimmy Kimmel Live!
June 11 – The View

Listen to Alanis’ new single, “Underneath,” below.

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Tokio Hotel have just unveiled the latest installment of their Tokio Hotel TV series. The newest webisode, and the first shot on U.S. soil, gives a behind-the-scenes look into the band’s travels to Los Angeles, exploring on Melrose Ave. and their sold-out concert at the world famous Roxy!

Watch it here

Any and all the American Idol wannabes this season might want to pay close attention especially if they want to go further than Ramiele Malubay. The Idol wannabe’s Spanish teacher at Zephyrhills High School leaked out something she distinctly remembered that could knock Ramiele off the show. Shorty is extremely allergic to peanuts! This can be some vital information for the other contestants who may feel that she’s a threat. Fortunately, based on previous performances, none of them have to resort to sabotage. Ramiele may want to eat peanuts herself just to get her out of humiliating herself any further.

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!

Season 7 of American Idol may have the most talented group since the inception of the show – though that’s what they always say every season – but it hasn’t helped with the ratings any. The ratings are so down that the show is finding some new ways to get the cash to roll in. In a first, FOX is partnering with iTunes to offer Idol fans the opportunity to download the performances, both in audio and video format, of all the contestants the days after the show airs. Here’s a bit of my mind for FOX: no one would buy into this ploy. This is what TiVo and YouTube are for.

Well this one is quick. Someone should sock Chris Daughtry for selling out on his beliefs. The American Idol alum is doing damage control over his harsh criticism of the show which launched his career on his official blog. He opens by saying that he was just being honest but that he’s sorry. He also wrote that “if you heard the whole conversation you would’ve heard all the good things I said about the show as well… I was never trying to “DISS” the show or “BITE THE HAND THAT FED ME” so to speak. I was simply giving my input on what I think would spice the show up a bit.
Sorry for being honest.”

If you’re still in doubt, the 2007 American Music Awards held on Sunday should be all the proof you need that 2007 is the year of Rihanna. Not only did she rock the red carpet, she also rocked her performance and took some awards home while she’s at it.

Rihanna did a medley of two of her hits ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Hate That I Love You’. She performed a classical rendition of ‘Umbrella’ complete with the whole string section. Then, Ne-Yo came out to perform their duet. Later on in the night, the Barbados hottie picked up Favorite Female soul/R&B Artist beating out Beyonce and Fantasia.

Blake Lewis is the popular runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol. Born in Redmond, Washington, Lewis started singing at age five and competed in statewide talent contests while in high school. He became a beat-boxer at 17, inspired by the then Seattle-based a cappella group M-Pact. I love the single. It was everything I expected. And what’s more he looks cute too, so that all makes for an interesting new superstar in the making. I also like it when there are newer people on the horizon to replace the old sagging music artist that have been around for eternity and never with of retiring from the music scene. It’s kinda always refreshing to see new kids on the block trying to make a name for them in this bloody shit cut-throat mouth wagging all but insulting world.

You know you love Ricky Martin, that Latin heartthrob who blew onto the scene and sung to us about “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and won himself countless female fans in the process. Thanks to this great performer, you can rest assured that you are going to be in for an awesome showcase when Ricky Martin open the 8th annual Latin Grammy Awards. He will also be hosting with some help from the Blue Man Group and there will be plenty of other artists at this scenario too.There are various other artists who will perform in this awards ceremony including the likes of Ivy Queen, Andrea Boccelli, Pepe Aguilar, Miguel Bose, Call 13 and Cunjunto Primavaera as well as Juan Luis Gerra. Other artists will join in on these festivities taking place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas including Intocable, La Quinta Estacion, Orishas and Jesse & Joy among others.

Don’t risk missing out on this great event, make sure you get yourself tickets

Australian country music star Keith Urban is on the cover of the upcoming issue of People magazine. In the interview that accompanies the cover, Keith admits that he “wouldn’t be here without [wife Nicole Kidman]. He apparently credits his music and Nicole for getting him through the roughest year of his life.

Keith also just turned 40 this past Friday. Wife Nicole threw a party at their favorite Bondi restaurant, Icebergs. A guest list of 45 family and friends included the likes of Hugh Jackman and his wife and director Bas Luhrmann.

This past Sunday also saw Keith dedicate his ARIA award to Nicole during his acceptance speech.

Mel C was the first one to blog on the official blog of the Spice Girls and now it’s Mel B’s turn. In her entry, Scary Spice talks about the busy schedule that she’s keeping, their recent video shoot, Dancing With The Stars and what she’s feeling about getting back together.

She said that it was great to be back together again with her girls and that the video for their new song ‘Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) is going to be fantastic that she can’t wait to see it finished and on TV. She also says that she’s incredibly pleased with the new single and that she can’t wait to perform it.

On DWTS, she says that it was a rush to dance to ‘Spice Up Your Life’ and that she thinks her girls were her lucky charms on the show.