Paula Abdul’s performance at the Super Bowl this past Sunday was altogether impressive with all things considered.
I am NOT fond of lip-synced performances under any circumstances; however, I can understand miming with performers who focus more on theatrics, special effects, dancing, etc., rather than the singing.
Those like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, hell, even the Spice Girls, who claimed time and time again they’re “singers” first and foremost, but then go on to give us a lip-synced performance tend to really, really grind my gears.
Honestly, I think that’s just stupid!
But…
I cannot recall Abdul ever making such a claim in her career as a singer and dancer nearly two decades ago, so I give her a pass.
Though the performance was pre-taped, and lacked any close-ups of her face, it was still a great show!
The song is hot, the dancing was hot, the concept of beginning with a classic hit (”Forever Your Girl”) and then transitioning into her current single (”Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow”) was for the most part, pretty creative.
Her body is in impeccable shape, and she can still hold her own as a performer with the best of them (If you haven’t seen how she kicks around a mic stand, you really need to).
Check it out for yourselves:
I honestly feel there’s something special about Abdul, and I hope she’ll be able to shine again.
I really, really do!
With more songs like “Dance,” I’m sure she’ll make the ultimate 80’s comeback EVER!
Oh…
Did I mention she has a new, full-length album slated for a summer 2008 release? Yep, that’s right!
According to her official site, “Dance” is only the tip of the iceberg!
There’s more Abdul-goodness in store for us all!
I can’t wait!
Check out the headline for yourself as well as other Abdul information from her official site:
P.S. I’ll probably post once or twice each weekend, because with school and work I just don’t have the time, or the brain power to post anymore than that at the moment. Should I find time throughout this semester to post more frequently, please know that I will.
An interesting blog discussion took place on Spinnerette’s official message board regarding what it is to be “punk.”
The conversation included the participation of my good friend, Sam (web owner of the up-and-coming, The Spinnerette Chronicles), Spinnerette’s frontwoman, Brody Dalle, and a handful of Hot Topic-consuming, so-called “punks.”
Apparently the definition of “punk” was reduced to nothing more than sexual profanities.The best part of this forum discussion is not Dalle’s response to the haters, but her siding with my friend Sam! Though her message is explicit in nature (rightfully and deservingly so, I might add), she definitely stands her ground, and perhaps forces, once and for all, her legion of negative-Nancy’s to finally keep their big, fat mouths shut!
Here’s what she said:
WARNING: The following content has been deemed EXPLICIT! WARNING: The following content has been deemed EXPLICIT!
“I’m still a punk . i like it in the ass too……. does that mean i’m an “OG” punk ? cos i really want to clear this up. If sammy is the real deal so am i .i’m a straight woman gay man woman . i”m infiltrating . you’re gonna like it , at least i suspect so …….all you pissed-off 18 year olds were 13 when coral fang came out , you’ve probably been through 3 style changes already what’s another one , eh ? We’re mixing the record right now . We have “the best management cool can buy” .Hold on to your panties/diapers cos your gonna shit . And btw all the real “scummer, garbage eating, dope/meth slamming /snorting, street sleeping PUNKS” don’t sit on there fucking mum’s/dad’s/schools/friends/ fucking computer and bitch and moan like little babies . also btw ” men are the new women” brody xxx ”
WARNING: The following content has been deemed EXPLICIT! WARNING: The following content has been deemed EXPLICIT!
Take a look at the original source of this post, and take some time to catch up on the heated discussion, as well as read the added comments of Sam himself, by visiting the following sites, respectively:
Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) of Days of Our Lives is NOT being fired after all, a Days’ spokesperson said.According to Soaps.com, Koslow is not going anywhere despite a “rumor” that spread like wildfire and which I earlier reported to all of you (See story:“DOOL Cast Shakeups).
This should come as great relief for any Kate Roberts fans – hell – I’d argue even haters!Without her character who would take her place to cause mischief and mayhem with such elegance, and such class? No one has the power, tact, and tenacity that Koslow’s Kate Roberts has, and without her the show would surely be at a total loss.
Unfortunately, for the first time I can recall, my trusted sources turned out wrong from apparently falling victim to the same seemingly believable and credible “rumor” I feel victim to.I’ve been tapping these aforementioned sources for years and never once had the information panned out wrong.
I’m just in a bit of shock here, people.
In addition, it looks like even though Martha Madison (Belle Black) is being written off the show in the coming weeks, executive producer, Ken Corday, has recently been quoted in an article stating that Madison “…will return someday in the future” (Check out a reproduction of the article here: Madison and Beemer Axed from Days).
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Julie Pinson (Billie Reed), who was the second to be fired in this round of cast shakeups, will have her confirmed firing revoked in the coming weeks.
We’ll see what further develops in the interim.I’ll keep you all posted as usual.
My second new muse of the year, like Sara Bareilles, broke out in 2007. She’s amazingly gifted as well, and uncannily a self-taught pianist, too! Her name is Alison Sudol, but her persona is publicized as A Fine Frenzy.
Her big hit “Almost Lover” is bittersweet and encompassing of those feelings some of us may have experienced — you know — having to let go, or pass up someone you may or may not have been right for. Though tragic to its core, her voice almost soothes you as if she’s saying between the lines, “It’s alright, you did what you had to do. We all experience this some way, some how. No one is exempt.”
Sample for yourself:
Her album “One Cell in the Sea” will be in my hands in a matter of days, tops!
She could easily be one of Natalie Portman’s sisters (does Portman have a sister?), pyscially speaking of course. She’s emotionally-infused, with vocals I can only descibe as “chocolate velvet,” and full of more promise then I think even her label, Virgin Records, is aware of! I can’t wait to have my ears have a go at her musical world of sheer promise and long-awaited hope.
To find out more about A Fine Frenzy, and the voice behind the name Alison Sudol, please check out her official website:
I have two new muses for the year, even though they were last year’s hot ticket. The first is the incredibly graceful and extremely talented, Sara Bareilles. She’s been around for sometime, well, since 2007, and her biggest hit to date, as far as my research goes, is “Love Song.” Man-oh-man, love the comma usage in the preceding sentence, how ’bout ya’ll?
Back on topic. Take a look:
Though the song is extremely catchy, it’s her voice and self-taught skills at piano that truly allured me to pursue more about Bareilles. She’s just amazing. She has special meaning for me though, as far as writing about her is concerned, because she’s a college graduate of communications studies. I, too, am pursuing communications with my concentration residing in public relations. And though she left the world of formal communication, she now communicates through the airwaves via voice and heartfelt, musical poetry. Her album “Little Voice” has already garnered rave reviews.
The Debbie Gibson look-a-like, has a rich vocal style, and though unique, it still bears a striking resemblence to dark, edgy singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, and power-whisperer, folk-rock contender Sarah McLachlan. The interesting distinction I extend to you all is that where Apple lacks pop, Bareilles does not, and where McLachlan falls short of power, Bareilles thunders through.
She’s currently signed to Epic Records, formal label of the great Mandy Moore, so let’s keep our fingers crossed they don’t attempt to quash her voice as they tried with Moore. As far as “Love Song” goes, it sounds great LIVE, and from just sampling three tracks from her official site, I’m already sold. Not bad for a self-learned pianist.
I’ll tell you what I all think about the album once I get my hands on a copy of it!
My only regret is that I fell upon her bandwagon a bit late…
Oh, well, better late than never!
To find out more about Bareilles, check out her official site:
Finally, I was able to watch Mariah Carey’s Adventures of Mimi Tour LIVE in Anaheim, CA for the first time last night! You can tell by my use of an “!” that I am pretty excited writing about my experience.
Now, I have constantly gone back and forth between love and hate with Ms. M, but the truth of the matter is that the world has never heard a better vocalist. Her projection, range, octaves, etc. are unmatched, and though I might be stretching here, I don’t think my generation will ever bear witness to another voice like hers. In the words of my mother, “Mariah’s voice is like glass.” Though I’m not sure what she means exactly by that, I have my suspicions. She’s flawless, crystal clear, crisp, and dead-on precise everytime!
For all the haters out there who think Ms. M lost her voice or is unable to carry a note she once did in the early 90s, I say you’d better get your hands on a copy of this amazing concert! Rest assured, M-haters, her voice is very much in tact. A tad bit raspier, definitely more mature, but still with all its glory. She hits all the notes from her CDs, but adds new vocal inflections, and melody never heard before. She revamps her classic standards, and takes her more uptempo tunes to levels unimaginable. She dances around, in her usual teasing fashion, and her body, for her age, is in impeccable shape (24K gold tan and all).
I was floored the whole time… I truly could not believe what my ears were hearing. She really emotes in her tunes and truly takes you on a journey into the heartstrings of your deepest emotions. One second you’ll feel energized, another you’ll feel sexy, one minute you feel greatly empowered, moments later you feel bittersweet. You constantly battle with taming the goosebumps, but all the while you’re truly living, and breathing Mariah Carey. It’s almost an indescribable feeling. She’s breathtakingly beautiful and on key every step of the way.
Am I done building her up to you all? I think so. Let’s just say if she’s this good in home viewing then I cannot even begin to fathom her depth and complexity as a recording artist, LIVE, in a huge, sold out ampitheater.
Adventures of Mimi Tour is available exclusively at BestBuy as a two-disc DVD.
Click here to read more or purchase your copy today.
Now, I’m sure most of you out there are wondering why I am writing about a lead singer from a “punk rock” band, and the answer is simple: I respect this woman’s voice and writing talents immensely. In addition, she’s not your typical “hardrock” singer. Not only is she a tremendous singer-songwriter, she’s also a mother, and a devoted wife. She’s respectable, beautiful, and has more grace than perhaps most give her credit for. She holds herself responsibly, and she’s rarely, if ever, in the tabloids. That to me, my friends, is “class,” “elegance,” and everything else Eve’s Corner stands for.
Moving on…
Brody Dalle (ex-frontwoman of The Distillers), lead vocalist and guitarist of the upcoming band, Spinnerette, in recent weeks released a sample of her new sound on her band’s official Myspace. Apparently, motherhood, according to a number of articles, is not going to slow her down or make her music any less “hard.” However, after my initial sampling, her musical direction has definitely transitioned into something less hardcore. Her new sound, musically and vocally, is highly reflective of her rocker-husband’s band, Queens of the Stoneage. Don’t get me wrong, you can still hear the raw, raspy vocals that made Dalle famous from time-to-time, but overall, her sound is much more marketable. Mainstream speaking that is…
Is that a bad thing? Well, if you’re a lover of hardcore, punk rock music, perhaps. If you’re like me — someone who prefers folk-like, singer-songwriter, easy listening types — then definitely not. It’s perhaps one of the best surprises of the year! I always told my good friend, an avid (if not the most dedicated) follower of Brody Dalle’s work, she could sing! And, though he knew it and agreed always with me, my point was that I always wanted her to switch her musical style. Needless to say, based of the sampling of her soon-to-be-released, untitled album, my wish was granted.
For more information on Brody Dalle and Spinnerette, with the musical sample I referred to, please visit:
Finally, after all the speculations, sensationalism, etc., yellow journalists, and disgusting, starved-for-ratings TV personalities (*cough* Nancy Grace) alike can read what a real lady of the media would say. Her name is Star Jones, and she addresses all the hype surrounding Heath Ledger’s untimely demise similarly as I did:
I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes at Days of Our Lives, but it appears that another contract-player, Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts), has been let go from the show. Despite her taking a paycut to renew her contract late last year, sources reveal Koslow has been fired! At this time, there are no reports regarding her last airdate. I’ll get back to you when more information is available.
Koslow’s firing comes fourth in line from a core-cast shakeup since the writer’s strike (it should be over and done with).
Julie Pinson (Billie Reed) and Martha Madison (Belle Black-Brady) were also let go from their contracts, respectively. Madison played half of the fan-deemed “Shelle.” Brandon Breemer (Shawn Douglas Brady), the other half of the young supercouple, has also been let go.
Pinson’s on-screen daughter, Rachel Melvin (Chelsea Brady), is in the midst of a huge storyline soon to wrap up, but remains unscathed by the recent cast cuts. Is she next?
God, I hope not!
UPDATE 2:
Judi Evans (Adrienne Kiriakis, ex-Bonny Lockheart) was the first to be let go toward the end of 2007. Though she was on recurring status, execs still released Evans from her contract late last year. Evans on-screen personality will join her husband and children in relocating to Dubai when her character is written off the show. Look for Evans to last air sometime in the coming weeks.
UPDATE: It should be known that Days is notorious for firing characters and then shortly thereafter bringing them back. No matter if they were sent to Europe, maimed, or simply fired, head executive, Ken Corday, always finds a way to bring them back to the Days canvas. However, since the writing strike is still going, I’m not sure what’s in store for Melvin, or other cast members for that matter. With new writers taking over in the interim, it’s anyone’s guess.
