Christina Aguilera finally unveils 'Not Myself Tonight' - listen to the song premiere now!

It's 'Sexyback' - lite.  It's 'Dirrty' but a little cleaner.  It's the new Christina Aguilera track on which we've been waiting for about a year now.  There was a whole countdown thing on her website that ended up ticking down the minutes until we were given....a picture of Christina Aguilera with a tail.  Then there was another countdown to something else irrelevant and now FINALLY there is this.  Was it worth the wait?  We're inclined to say no - not out of pessimism or some sort of retaliation for the tedious countdown, but because it just isn't one of her best songs.  The verses are a little weird, the chorus isn't particularly catchy, and as we alluded to before, the backing track is a 'Sexyback' ripoff.  There's a cool bit where the producer did a jumpy thing with her voice though.  It occurs at the exact 2:00 mark and is a tiny bit brilliant. 



The album is out June 8. 

54:The Self-Empowered Woman: Dame Muriel Spark

Dear Followers,

Today I'd like to write about a working class girl from Edinburgh (born Muriel Sarah Camberg in 1918) who became a best selling author (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), lived in Italy, bought a race horse from the Queen of England, and became Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993.

Her father was a Jewish engineer, her mother was an English music teacher, and as a child she loved literature and read Scott, Swinburne ad Browning. At the age of 14 she won first prize in a poetry competition (2: An Early Sense of Direction).

In 1937 she married Sidney Oswald Spark and moved with him to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Soon after they had a son, and she learned that her husband was a violent manic depressive (15: Forget About Prince Charming). Spark moved back to the U.K. in 1944 (14: Selective Disassociation), but her husband and son stayed in Africa for several more years.

She kept her married name, eventually sent her son to be raised by her parents in Scotland, and began writing seriously after the end of WWII. In 1947 she became the editor of Poetry Review, but was fired after two years. By 1954, money was scarce and she was at a low point both physically (she was taking diet pills instead of eating meals) and emotionally (12: Hard Times). Her conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1957, which had an impact on every aspect of Spark's life, was supported by Graham Greene.

For years Spark was considered an anarchist, feminists often disliked her work, as did many of the respected critics who felt her work was too "light." Spark's estrangement from her son (who had converted to the Jewish faith) was simply one more example of iconoclasm (5: Life Is Not a Popularity Contest).

The author of 22 novels and 21 other books (short stories, poetry, biography and autobiography, etc.), Spark died in 2006 ( she was 88) in Florence, Italy. Should you wish to learn more about this amazing, complicated woman I recommend Martin Stannard's new book Muriel Spark: The Biography.

Looking forward to your comments...

Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos ask 'Why Don't You Love Me' in their new duet - listen now!

In this post-"homosexual Ricky Martin"-world we're really not sure which way is up anymore.  The news was SUCH A SHOCK, however, that on the plus side it blunted the surprise when we heard about this ....odd pairing: 

Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos were bound to do a duet together at some point because they are such a natural fit, both personality-wise and musically.  For all you ESL students out there, that is sarcasm.  All kidding aside, though, their voices actually work really well and the song is a little bit rad.

Cyndi has been doing a lot of not-musical stuff lately, teaming up with Lady Gaga to warn women of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and such.  Tori Amos, meanwhile, has just been getting weirder since we lost interest after 'Spark' so we can't really say what she's been up to.  It's not important. 

What is important is that the song comes from the forthcoming FATBOY SLIM/DAVID BYRNE CONCEPT ALBUM ABOUT IMELDA MARCOS.  If that sentence didn't send shivers down your pop-spine then we have nothing left to say to you.  Because I think we all know it is going to be AMAZING.




Out April 6 on Nonesuch Records

Kelis shows us her big, bulging 'Acapella' in new video

We gave you a preview of the 'Acapella' video the other day, and many of you thought it could either go HORRIBLY WRONG or be the VIDEO THAT SAVES POP.  Luckily for everyone, the clip tends heavily toward the latter.  There's a sort of Avatar thing at the beginning then a sort of Mummy Returns thing then a bit of writhing in a dress like Kylie would do and then everything ends in a desert. 

And it is good.



The album, 'Flesh Tones' is out this summer (maybe June 22 but we're not really sure)

The best Lady Gaga/Beyonce spoof video ever in the history of everything

That is all.

Kelis teases us with her 'Acapella' vid - watch now!

We've already gone on and on about how Kelis's new single, and in fact her whole new sound, is AMAZING and will CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER so we'll spare you that whole bit again.  Instead we'll just say that the song 'Acapella' deserves a very good video, and if this teaser clip is anything to go by, that's what it got.  In it there is NEON and COMPUTER GENERATED THINGS and STUFF THAT FLASHES IN TIME WITH THE MUSIC and because of all of these things is ACCEPTABLE. 



The full video debuts in a couple days, and we can't wait.  We're still calling sound of the summer for this bad boy. 

REVIEW: CHANEL GLOSSIMER, 105 SIDERAL

Hey everyone,

This is a review on a Chanel Glossimer in "105 Sideral" from the Levres Scintillantes collection.

First thing you should know about the whole Levres Scintillantes collection is that all the shades of colours are very vibrant and you won't find a subtle colour. This can be good and bad; you may want your lips to be the focus of your makeup but you may also want your makeup to not be over the top.

The consistancy is even stickier than MAC Dazzleglasses BUT Chanel acts as a lipstick in a gloss form whereas MAC is just a transparent gloss. The glitter is a little chunkier than necessary but i think it is just due to the amount because it can be seen that the glitteris still very finely milled. It has a metalic finish as the blue glitters reflect upon the pink.

The packaging is extremley appealing with the gorgeous gold Chanel decals. For $53 i would say that this product is worth it but just because it works great as a lipstick. I probably would not purchase any more colours from the collection as they don't appeal to me but this vibrant pink is a gorgeous colour to have in my collection.

Although Chanel promises creamy with this gloss they don't deliver. However, it is still a great 2-in-1 product with it able to be used as a lipstick and lipgloss.

JORDY,
xx

Listen to 18 Seconds of Christina Aguilera's new single and tell us what you think

THIS JUST IN: THE LATEST FROM CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S MARKETING FAIL....

Chrissy A., pictured above after filming a low budget Bulgarian porn video, has been attempting to do the whole viral marketing buzz thing and to be honest it's flopped a bit on its ass.  We got a little excited when a countdown appeared on her website, but when it got to zero and all we got was a dodgy picture of X-tina in bondage gear with a photoshopped tail we were less than impressed.  Wisely, Miss Aguilera's people have decided that it might be a good idea to give us a taste of what we actually care (however little) about - her new music - and chucked this 18-second clip of the new single onto the interwebs.  It sounds a bit like a Gaga b-side but because it is EIGHTEEN F*CKING SECONDS LONG we will withhold judgment until we hear the rest. 














"Not Myself Tonight" premieres in full on March 30 and it had better be good. If it's not we won't be mad. We'll just be DISAPPOINTED.

Today we ask ourselves why music isn't as good as it used to be - watch the video showdown now

We were just thinking last night that music before was way better than music now, and for today's post decided to put that theory to the test.  The best way to do this is obvious: arbitrarily pick a shit song from today and a brilliant song from before and post them in some kind of EPIC THROWDOWN FOR THE AGES.   



 VERSUS



Case closed. 

Monica isn't as irrelevant as we thought - watch the new video from her surprisingly high-selling album now!

I don't think anyone expected this Monica resurgence to actually work out.  Even the marketing and the promotion had a distinct "this sounded better when we were high and watching a VHS of the VH1 pop up video of 'The Boy Is Mine' " feel to it.  But sometimes a MOR ballad and a flaccid press campaign can produce a winner, apparently, as Monica's new album 'Still Standing' is on track to sell 165,000 - 180,000 copies this week.  If anybody told you they were expecting that they are lying or are Monica's immediate family.

Amid that bit of surprisingly good news, the singer has debuted the video for above-mentioned MOR single, 'Everything To Me,' and it is about as shocking as the song.  Even so, well done, Monica.  Your new stuff may bore the hell out of us but it's still nice to see you back. 

That Christina Aguilera thing we told you about is this:

Yeah.  That's all.  

The new single will premiere next week or something but we stopped caring when she baited us for days all for a photograph with some words on it.  But if the song is amazing we'll totally love her again.  Because we're fickle.  And that's ok.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is 'Bittersweet' in new video - watch the video premiere now!

A few days ago we went on and on about how wonderful the new Sophie Ellis-Bextor track is and then gave you a link to the song with a static, but still rather lovely, photographic image of Sophie. Apparently with the idea that "if an unmoving photograph looks so wonderful with my song, I bet MOVING images would look even better," Miss Bextor has done a thing called a music video.

They used to be on TV. Ask your parents.

Anyway, it has dancing and feathers and compliments the song excellently. Best of all, there's no dodgy Gaga-Beyonce dialogue :-/



"Striking."

HOW TO: SALON-STYLE BLOW-DRY!

Hey everyone,
 As you probably already know, i work at a hairdressing salon. I understand that noone can afford to go to the hairdressing to get the perfect blow dry hair before every event they go to. So i am going to tell you how to do it yourself!! So basically 50% of my time when i work is spent blow-drying hair!! You would hope i know how to teach you...

For a tutorial on how to get a "Salon Style, Blow-Dry"...

Start of by ensuring that you have clean hair because it is hard to dry hair with excess oil in it. Wash your hair as per usual; 2 shampoos and a condition. After making sure everything is rinsed out of your hair, run some cold water through it (this helpes seal the cuticle).

When blow-drying, position the dryer vertically with the hair flowing down, this is to leave the outer layer of hair smooth and healthier looking. (It also helps if you plan on straightening your hair as this technique makes it appear straighter through the blowing of heat in downwards motions affecting the keratin in the centre of your hair.) Also, make certain that you dry your fringe in the direction you wish to part it on, it always falls better if dried that way.

If you do not wish to straighten or curl your hair then just take some product and smooth it through your ends and if needed, crown. If you are unsure of what product to use then it is best to base it upon what lok your going for.

*Use gel to sculpt your freshly dried hair in the direction you wish it to go.

*Take some setting spray and apply it in your roots to create volume.
*A smoothing serum is suggested for any fuzzy bits of flyaways.

*Applying hairspray to your brush just before brushing through your hair sets your look.

So i hope that helped you guys to see the method of which a hairdressing salon blow dries hair!
Tell me if you do anything really cool when blow-drying your hair?? I want to know if there are any special techniques that some people may use??

JORDY,
xx

MAGAZINE: ITALIAN VOGUE BEAUTY 2010

Hey everyone,
I found these gorgeous scans from the 2010 Italian Vogue. I have been reading Italian magazines ever since i began learning Italian 3 years ago and they are amazing things to read. Even if you can't read Italian, the pictures entertain you enough!!

It seems as though 2010 in Italy is all about blonde hair and bleached eyebrows. Everywhere you looked in this issue it was platinum blonde hair and white eyebrows! The hairstyles in some of these pictures are incredible and definetley unique.

To see more pictures...

I hope you guys enjoyed!!

Tell me if your loving the whole bleach and crazy hair thing at the moment or if it's not really your style???
JORDY,
xx

Dragonette make it look 'Easy' in new video - watch the masterpiece now!

What to do with Dragonette?  The brilliant band has tried and tried again to break through, but while their output keeps inexplicably getting better, the response always seems to be a resounding 'meh' from the pop masses.  We posted a live version of 'Easy' the other day, and mentioned that it's not likely to turn around the band's chart fortunes, but in true good-spirited fashion Dragonette have given their small but devoted legion of fans the gift of a video for the track.  Needless to say, it is quite good.


Dragonette:  EASY music video

Dragonette | MySpace Music Videos

Now for the next album they'll probably work with RedOne and 3OH!3 and become huge :(

53: The Self-Empowered Woman: Rebecca Samaria Lolosoli

Dear Followers:

I love the fact that amazing women can be found everywhere on the globe, and I want to introduce you to a woman in Eastern Africa who embodies strength and bravery.

Twelve years ago Rebecca Lolosoli and several other women created a village in the Samburu district of Kenya that is a women-run "Violence-Against-Women-Free Zone." The village is called "Umoja," which means unity in Swahili, and was built on an unwanted plot of dry grasslands.

Samburu women and children have no rights - they cannot go to school, own livestock or land, or choose a husband. If a wife is murdered by her husband it is not considered a crime because he paid a dowry for her and therefore owns her.

Lolosoli was outraged by how many women were raped and beaten, and wanted to find a way to improve the livelihoods of women who had been disowned by their families. Today the village women sell artifacts and bead work to tourists and have built a school for children, even though local warriors have threatened them.

Lolosoli has campaigned to stop female genital mutilation and educate girls about HIV/AIDS. She had to drop out of her nursing training program six months before graduation because she had no more money for school fees. In her quest to help educate and protect females, she has been beaten, received death threats, and seen her village threatened by local men who felt that Samburu women should not own land. In a patriarchal society, even the local politicians can't believe that the village has its own money and a website!

Lolosoli, the matriarch of the village insists that men are forbidden to live Umoga, but "...may visit as long as they behave and abide by the women's rules." To learn about this pioneer who has taken a stand against domestic violence, child marriage, poverty and discrimination click Umoja Charity

Looking forward to your comments...

In like a day and 2 hours Christina Aguilera is going to announce something...does anyone care?

Our guess is she's going to reveal details of her forthcoming single 'Glam,' and a sponsorship deal with Mystic Tan.  We'll let you know.

Trina is a 'Million Dollar Girl' in new video - watch now!

Trina (pictured above, seconds after being interrupted while doing a shit) isn't someone we think of when someone mentions the word 'pop,' and this new track probably won't do anything to change that.  It's sort of R&B/rap-lite, albeit with a nice hook.  The most notable thing about the song is its video, though probably not for any of the reasons intended.  The whole thing feels like a clip from another era - you remember, when rappers shouted things in front of a fish-eye lens and threw money at the screen.  The bigger the car, the bigger the man, and 'bling' became a word for some reason.  With that slice of classic history in mind, it's really no surprise this mess came from that era's biggest offender, the GOD-LIKE GENIUS that is Diddy or Doody or Dingus or whatever the hell his name is these days.  Now, however, in this hipster-chic recession-bound world, everyone is paring things down, and while the visual effects might admittedly get more expensive, the flaunting of wealth in front of the screen has become a bit passe.  Hell, Britney even stopped buying expensive wigs.   So this whole Trina 'I have a plane and you do not' business comes off as a bit crass and dated but we're probably just hungover and bitter so watch and decide for yourself.



No.  No, we were right.

BRAIDED HAIRSTYLE

Hey everyone,
Just a quick video showing you a tutorial on a braided hairstyle. It is really quick, easy and simple but very chic and cute :)



JORDY,
xx

Lady GaGa-Telephone

Lady GaGa-Telephone(Official Explicit Version)

Sophie Ellis Bextor is officially back and brilliant with 'Bittersweet' - listen to the premiere now!

A while back we brought you the Freemasons' mix of Sophie Ellis Bextor's brand new track 'Bittersweet.'  Needless to say, it was very good.  Now the original has finally come out, and even though we didn't think it possible, it is A BILLION TIMES BETTER.  It has a proper verse and a proper chorus and then it does both those things again and then there is a skippy bit where a producer has done something very neat. 

Hopefully its chart fortunes will be better than her last single, which although it hung around the top 40 for ages and ended up being quite a sizable hit, only ever managed to peak in the top 20.  If Sophie's good at anything it's flinging good songs into the top ten without the buzz and drama that her pop diva compatriots employ.  Let's hope this continues the trend.



Out May 2.  Buy it because it must be huge.

52:The Self-Empowered Woman: Sister Rose Ann Fleming

Dear Followers,

I have been doing a lot of talks lately about The Self-Empowered Woman, and am intrigued by the fact that audience members are almost always interested in Mother Teresa's story. So today (since it is March Madness) I thought I'd share the story of another nun who has accomplished a great deal and done so without a lot of fanfare.

Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio may not hold a handful of NCAA Championships, but they do lead other college basketball teams in one very important arena. Ever since Sister Rose Ann Fleming became the academic advisor for Xavier Athletics back in 1985, every single men's basketball player who has played as a senior has graduated. This is a major improvement in light of the fact that 19% of the 65 teams competing in March Madness have graduation rates lower than 40%.

Sister Rose Ann Fleming, 77, has lived on campus since 1983 when she was a teacher at prestigious Xavier (a Jesuit university). She believes that if students have the mental ability to become Division 1 Athletes, then they obviously have the ability to do well in school. Freshman athletes at Xavier must attend ten hours of supervised study hall each week (two hours per night) and she has the cell phone numbers of athletes, which she doesn't hesitate to use if she feels an academic problem is on the horizon.

She wakes at 4am to pray and meditate for one hour before going on the computer as part of her work for Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor. Daily mass is at 8am and then she goes to her office where two advisers and two volunteers help her monitor the 271 athletes who participate in Xavier's 17 sports. Her own exercise routine includes an elliptical trainer, weights and swimming. Sister Rose Ann cares about her athletes, her school, and her own academic achievements; she has a law degree, Maters degrees in English, Theology and Business Administration, as well as a doctorate in Education Administration.

A recent photo in the New York Times showed her wearing gray Nike sweats, white tennis shoes, and a heavy gold cross hanging on a chain the represents her order (the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur). In 1991, the then-Xavier basketball coach named her the teams most valuable player, and in 2000 she became a member of Xavier's Athletic Hall of Fame.

One five foot four, white-haired woman has changed the face of NCAA players by "meticulously shepherding athletes towards college degrees." Little Sister Rose Ann Fleming has become Xavier's secret weapon.

Looking forward to your comments...

Kelis has unexpectedly become a HUGE GAY DIVA - watch the video now

So when we heard 'Acapella' a few months back we knew Kelis was going for a....different market... than she was in her previous work.  A rave-up anthem with soaring vocals and tight harmonies, it was worlds away from anything she had done before, but somehow fit her to a tee. 

Well if this video is anything to go by, she is well on her way to ruling the gay scene in a big way with her new album.  As weird as it might sound, we're predicting the sound of the summer to be the new Kelis album.  Remember, you heard it here first. 

Here's Kelis at Club 57 in NYC to promote her forthcoming album 'Flesh Tones.'  Don't let the dodgy video or crap sound put you off - look at the hat, the outfit, the dancing, and tell me she doesn't 'get it.'



"Flesh Tones" is out May 4

SXSW 2010: Fader Fort 3/18/10 (Afternoon)

Hi:) For all of the grime and chaos that attracts folks to drink, party and listen to music at the litany of bars strewn along Sixth Street in Austin, there’s a certain sense of civility at the Fader Fort. You wait in line, people are generally cool, and the event is free if you know how to hondle a wristband.

Located slightly east of the highway on 5th Street, it’s a venture presented by Fader Magazine, parent marketing company Cornerstone Promotion, and sponsored by Levi’s. This massive temporary festival site (complete with a multitude of booths where you can buy clothes from the aforementioned clothing giant, swill free Budweiser and booze, and receive blatant marketing missives from companies like Dell and Korg), was all the rage last year. While it has always been an event not officially sanctioned by SXSW, it still manages to book some of the It bands of the moment. Hell, last year they booked Kanye West and friends to close out their week of parties.

While this year’s lineup isn’t as compelling as last year’s (don’t get me wrong, there are still lots of great acts on the bill), the Fort is still a must-attend event thanks to the top-notch production and chilled-out vibe.

Today’s lineup featured Yawn, Everything Everything, Best Coast and Rye Rye. Denton, Texas’ Neon Indian did a very capable job of presenting their electro-pop sound to a tent full of eager hipsters. Next up, L.A.’s Local Natives showed why they are one of the buzziest indie-rock bands on the West Coast. Barreling through songs off their new album, Gorilla Manor, the Natives proclaimed how stoked they were to be playing the Fader Fort and announced an imminent U.S. tour. While I missed Bomba Estereo, Chew Lips, and The Morning Benders, who definitely delivered the goods in a sloppy, in-your-face way. But I’ve gotta go rock, so look for a full review shortly. Enjoy

NEW CAMERA + CURRENT CAMERAS!!!

Hey everyone,

EXCITING NEWS!! I got a new camera!! I know what your thinking...havn't i already bought 2 cameras in the past 2 months? The answer is yes but i saw this new camera that was coming out and couldn't resist because it is nothing like i have ever seen before. I also included the other cameras i own at the moment because it is pretty commonly asked what cameras i use (for YouTube and all).

It is the...
Sony HD Bloggie, MHS-PM5
($299.00)

It comes in white, blue, purple and pink so i bought the pink one because i feel in LOVE with the shade of pink it was. It is a portable/compact HD video camera which has the same quality as a Sony Handycam!!
Just a few features include;

* No cords because it has a USB that pops which you plug into your computer.

* Full 1080 HD
* Complimentry 4GB Memory Stick
* Uploads straight from camera onto YouTube (specially designed software)
* A little add on that allow 360 filming!!

All of the above and it is soooo small, cute and compact while being the cutest shade of HOT PINK!!

To see other cameras i own...  

Sony handycam, Super steady shot, HDR-CX7(1099.99)

I bought this camera in a hope to have high quality for YouTube. The quality exceeded my expectations and i was amazed at the high definition resolution. However, when i went to upload it to YouTube is too sooo long because the resolution was so large so i decided that i couldn't put myself through that much trouble and now only use it for person use on occasions and such (because the resolution works fine on my computer, it's just that it takes forever to upload to YouTube).

Sony Cybershot, Optical SteadyShot, DSC-T500

($649.99)

This is the camera which i have filmed all of my Youtube videos on so far. So check out my YouTube section here on my blog to check out it's quality. It is a very good camera and has an ENORMOUS touch screen.


Kodak M1073 IS

($184.99)

This is a pretty standard camera. It has 2.0 mega pixels more than the usual 8.2MPs so it is great for taking still shots. However, i wouldn't reccomend the video recorder because although it isn't that bad of wuality, it isn't HD and you can get much better camera's.

So i just wanted to share with you guys my new camera and then tell you about the camera's i currently own to answer a few questions and possibly help someone looking for a new camera.

JORDY,

xx

I would love to know what camera you use at the moment!

OR

If you have ever used any of the cameras mentioned above?

NEW FEATURE TO MY BLOG!!

Hey everyone,

I just added some sections to my blog because i thought it would add more content and allow you guys to know a bit more about me. The sections include;

* Introduction

* YouTube

* Links

* Gallery

You can find these sections placed just below my banner and all you need to do is click on the topic you are interested in and it will take you to that page.

I will probably be making more sections and adding to the current ones in the near future.

Tell me what you think if you check it out!
JORDY,
xx

Robyn would like to tell you that 'Fembots' have feelings too - listen to the first track from her new album!

Robyn.  Is.  Amazing.  After the whole "giant comeback during which she topped the charts with literally phenomenal music" thing, her new album is being awaited with quite palpable anticipation.  For good reason too, it seems, if this track is anything to go by.  'Fembots,' posted on Robyn's official site yesterday, is an electro masterpiece with a heart, and combines Robyn's trademark hip wordsmithery with her superior tune writing skills to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts and clearly better than anything Avril Lavigne has ever released.  Avril has nothing to do with this discussion, but we just like to remind everyone that she is terrible.



'Fembots' will be on Robyn's new album later this year, which will actually be THREE albums according to an interview she just did with Pitchfork:
“They’re albums with enough songs to make them feel like real bodies of work. They are shorter than usual, but still closer to ten songs than five… Right now I’m finishing the first one, which is going to come out in June. I’m already working on the second album so I hope that’ll come out sometime after the summer."

Amazing.

Amber Digby: The Real Deal!

Hi:)In 2000, Loretta Lynn enjoyed some attention at radio with a song called “Country In My Genes.” If the format could actually be a part of someone’s genetic makeup, Amber Digby might very well be that person. Country music has been a part of her life and upbringing for as long as she can remember. “That’s true,” she says. “I was brought up in Nashville, born and raised there, and my parents were in the business as pickers and back-up singers, and also aunts and uncles. It was my normal. It was normal for me to be around music all the time.”

Her father, Dennis, played bass for Lynn for many years, and that experience offered her a birds-eye view of life from the road. “As far back as I can remember, when a child starts to have their first memories at three or four years old—that’s when my vivid memories begin, and I would go on the road with my dad sometimes, and ride on the bus. That was normal to me. I knew it was special. It was exciting for me, but to what extent I didn’t know yet until I grew up looked back and thought ‘Wow, there’s a lot of people that can’t begin to imagine growing up in that environment.’ I got to, and I don’t’ take it for granted at all. It taught me a lot. Especially me getting into the business myself—I was learning the business, and didn’t even know it.”

In addition to her father’s career, her mother Dee sang harmony for many singers of the day, including Connie Smith, and she also worked in Ronnie Milsap’s office for many years. Her stepfather, Dicky Overbey, was one of the more influential steel players of his time, spending time in the bands of greats such as Milsap and Faron Young. But there’s even more honky-tonk lineage in her family tree. Her uncle, Darrell McCall, is one of the more revered traditional-minded singers in Music City.

With those links to the heritage of country music, it should come as no big surprise to anyone that Amber Digby has made a name for herself as one of the most respected traditional singers in the business. Her new album, Another Way To Live, promises to kick her career into an even higher gear. “Things are moving along fairly quickly,” she tells LimeWire Music Blog. “We stay really busy—not just working on the road every weekend at different venues, but there’s some festivals in there too. I don’t just work the road, but I also do some session work for some labels down here,” referring to her home state of Texas, where she is especially revered. She also takes her music outside of the United States every now and then. “I go overseas once in a while. I’m getting ready to go Scotland in April.”

“I made my debut on the Grand Ole Opry, and that was a big deal for me, to say the least. That was icing on the cake. I can’t even begin to put it into words.”

She’s also no stranger to Nashville audiences, becoming a favorite at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop Midnite Jamboree. And then, there was another performance that will be a career highlight. “Back in December,” she says with pride, “I made my debut on the Grand Ole Opry, and that was a big deal for me, to say the least. That was icing on the cake. I can’t even begin to put it into words. It was such an exciting night, and I thoroughly enjoyed my moment. I took it all in, and everybody was so great to me. It was so incredible. I’ll never forget it, and being at the Ryman was so magical.”

Another Way To Live is another stunning showcase for her gorgeous vocals. One of the highlights is a re-make of the Porter & Dolly 1968 classic “Just Someone I Used To Know,” which she performs with her husband. “It’s a song I’ve always loved, and I wanted to record a couple of duets with my husband, Randy Lindley, who is also my guitar player. He comes from a bluegrass background, and this is one of those songs that could be done either bluegrass or country. The harmony straddles the fence, and I thought it was the perfect song for us to do.”

While there are a few remakes on the new disc, Digby feels there is a little bit different of a feel on the album, as it showcases some of her songwriting. “This is kind of the closing of a chapter, and the beginning of another so to speak. I’m finally putting myself out there, and letting people hear the songwriting. That took a long time for me to get the courage up to say ‘OK, I’m going to put my songwriting out there for people to listen to.’ I’m real proud of myself for going for it and doing that. I’ve been really lucky to write with some great songwriters both in Nashville and in Texas. It makes it fun. I’ve discovered that I have another area of creativity. I’m having a blast with it. With that comes a little bit more of me than on previous albums where it was all covers or originals written by other people. So this album shows a little more of who Amber Digby really is.”

One of the writers she has collaborated with as of late is Country Music Hall Of Fame member Vince Gill. “That was amazing,” she says of the experience. “It tickled me to death that he’s a fan of my music, and wanted to write with me. It was exciting. We churned out a really good song, one that I’m really proud of. I’m looking forward to it getting out there. Vince is a sweetheart, and has become one of my mentors, that’s for sure.”

She includes a song originally recorded by Ronnie Milsap on the new album, which has been a trademark of sorts for the singer. “Ronnie is not only a mentor, but I am a huge Milsap fan. He cut some great Country records in the ’70s. I think I have all of his LP’s. I collect vinyl albums, and every once in a while, I just go through them and listen to them. I think he is one of the best country vocalists ever. He just delivers. You can totally feel what he’s singing, and that’s important to me. As an artist, you love the ones who are believable and the ones that have soul, and he’s got all of that.”

The song she covered on Another Way To Live, “Silent Night (After The Fight),” is one of the legend’s more obscure offerings. “I was just in one of those modes where I was listening to nothing but Milsap. Dickey had worked for Ronnie in the 70s and then again in the ’80s and the ’90s. He asked me if I remembered ‘Silent Night,’ so I got on eBay and found a record of that song, and when I played it, I remembered it. I remembered my mom playing the song on the record player at our house. It was actually a later record…a very country song, but released in 1980. When I heard it again, I thought ‘I have to cut this song, It is awesome…..so I did!”

Hailed as one of the keepers of the honky-tonk flame, Digby simply says that her vocal approach simply represents who she is. It’s all about being real, for me. I listen to all kinds of music. When I tell people that, a lot of them are surprised. Just because of the records I put out. My heart is definitely in classic and traditional country, but I think good music is good music. What genre it is really doesn’t matter. The albums I make are exactly what I want to do. Nobody is telling me that I have to do it that way or this way, and that’s a great freedom that I love. I’m definitely spoiled in that regard. At the same time, it’s still traditional country, but there’s some growing going on. There’s some expansion there, and that’s cool. I’m coming into my own, but it’s still traditional!”

What Should I Buy This Week? [New Releases for 3/16/10]

Hi:) As we approach the annual musical mind-messer known as SXSW — an event that many who read this blog (and many who write this blog) will no doubt be attending — it seems like an opportune moment to prepare ourselves for what’s to come in the days ahead. Let’s face it, for all the different types of music on offer in Austin this week, folks are bound to be inundated, if not straight-up overwhelmed, by a towering inferno of rawk. You’re gonna need some palate-cleansers for all the rocking that’s gonna be happening in the Lone Star State, and even if you’re not SXSW-bound, let’s face it, a little variety ain’t gonna kill ya. In fact, it might just turn you on.

Label Profile: Hometapes

Hi:) Many in the music community in Music City believe that “it all begins with a song.” That is one of the mottos of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. One artist who believes those words in Georgia-born singer Matt Kennon. He has witnessed the impact of those words first-hand, with the success of his debut BamaJam single, “The Call.”


“It was a true blessing to have the ability to channel that song,” he says of the tune, which deals with three different potentially life-changing situations. “I really believe that song came from the Good Lord. It was put on my heart to write a song that I thought could touch other people. I know that there have been times in my life where I have been flat on my back, and had several friends, Good Samaritians, and family members that helped get me back on my feet. With this song, that’s what we wanted to do. We took some real-life situations, and my co-writers, Noah Gordon and Jeremy Campbell got in a room, and it was very therapeutic for us to talk about that stuff, and we came up with the song.

Review: Tim Deluxe – ‘Freedom’ EP (Skint)

British DJ/producer Tim Deluxe is no stranger to the top of the charts. In his teens Deluxe co-penned Double 99’s speed-garage classic “RIP Groove,” and he’s been on a tear ever since. After going solo, he scored two massive vocal-house anthems in the ’00s, “It Just Won’t Do” and “Less Talk, More Action.” As his global profile has significantly increased, his array of dance floor-oriented productions continue to push the envelope. The Freedom EP finds Deluxe diving back to the underground with two provocative tracks. “Freedom” brandishes a nifty uptempo groove that’s founded on an array of piano and keyboard melodies and a compelling male vocal sample. “Sawubunga” is a dark, techy number on the Detroit tip; its sinister strings could probably scare The Joker into quitting his life of crime. It’s a safe bet that both tracks will be deep in the mix at this year’s Winter Music Conference.

Various Artists – ‘Rare Bacharach: The Early Years 1958-1965′ (Rare Rockin Records)

Just as the 1998 box set The Look Of Love proved that Burt Bacharach didn’t magically burst into being just in time to write smash hits for Dionne Warwick, et al, this collection — which focuses exclusively on Bacharach’s 1958-’65 work as a Brill Building tunesmith — goes one step further, presenting largely unknown Bacharach compositions for a wide variety of pop vocalists. A few of the artists here are well known (Jack Jones, Connie Stevens, Paul Anka), but most of the names found here will be unfamiliar to those who haven’t examined the pop esoterica of the era with a microscope (Tina Robin, Sam Fletcher, Babs Tino, etc.). It’s obvious that Bacharach was already a remarkably flexible craftsman, capable of writing classic crooner-style pop ballads, soul-tinged, groove-conscious numbers, and more, as the situation demanded. It should be noted that by the end of the period encompassed by this collection, Bacharach had already written some of his legendary tunes for Warwick, so the tracks that hail from those years are especially fascinating, pulling the curtain back a bit to reveal more of the man pulling the strings. While there’s nothing here that equals Bacharach’s biggest success, that’s pretty much the point, showing not only that the iconic songwriter didn’t hit a home run every time, but that even his unspectacular base hits had something compelling about them.

Video: “I’m on a Boat” Metal Style

Hi:) Last year the musical parody brilliance that is The Lonely Island hit what might have arguably been their pinnacle. They’d already infected the internet with every one of their SNL shorts, starting with “Lazy Sunday” until the release of their album Incredibad last February. That saw Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer dropping their soon-to-be-ubiquitous single “I’m on a Boat.” don’t believe any English speaking person has not seen it at this point, but if not, here you go. If the musical parody game tends to be pretty lame, a musical parody of a musical parody is maybe a step through the looking glass. But now that Columbus, Ohio metal act Goatmill have taken a swing at their own version of “I’m on a Boat,” with a corpse-paint wearing kid replacing T-Pain, well…I couldn’t resist.

American Idol Recap 3/16/10: “Revenge of the Nerds”

Hi:) Did you hear that collective sigh America? That’s right; we can all relax because American Idol is back. No, it’s not 100% back, but it’s almost there. Perhaps we have a couple of scraggly old Jurassic rockers named Mick and Keith to thank as the top 12 tackled the songs of arguably the greatest living rock band, The Rolling Stones. These classic songs certainly inspired this motley crew of singers who, save for a couple shining stars, have been underwhelming, boring and downright bad in the weeks leading up to these finals. And we can thank two nerds in particular for stepping up their games this week. We actually might have a contest on our hands. Sorry, Crystal Bowersox, you’re gonna have to fight to win now.


Those aforementioned nerds, the steadily climbing Siobhan and the out of nowhere Aaron, both brought their “A” game tonight while still staying true to themselves. That’s a key ingredient in making the perfect Idol cake. While neither seemed to realize the weight of their accomplishments tonight, I think both made incredible strides. First and foremost, the quirky glassblower girl, Siobhan, must now be considered a front runner alongside the consistently fantastic Crystal, and Aaron has stepped out of the tween ghetto to showcase a strong voice and presence that I presume a number of adults will be supporting in the weeks to come. He even had the best makeover of the week. Thank god, Buddha, and your higher power that the top 12 have a wardrobe and stylist budget! Aside from all of that, you had several other contenders delivering strong performances as well, refusing to go down without a fight. Let’s take a closer at look at the competitors in this suddenly exciting race.

Michael: Big Mike certainly took to the big Idol stage like a star with another good if not great performance. Taking on the #1 hit from 1978 “Miss You,” Mike again incorporated his falsetto and worked the entire stage with finesse. However, something was missing. It seemed a little too “performed,” i.e.: it felt a little false and ultimately forgettable after seeing some of his peers. The judges generally liked it with Randy saying he “slayed it,” Kara calling it “hot” and Ellen noting “what’s not to love about that?” Simon was the one detractor saying it seemed “a tiny bit desperate.”

Didi: The comeback kid from last week kept that upward trajectory with a sexy, passionate and confident performance of 1965’s “Play with Fire.” Looking gorgeous, Didi impressed the judges with Randy imploring “for the first time, you are on fire” and Ellen calling it “great.” Kara commented on her “intensity” and how it was “dark and compelling” while Simon was a fan as he could finally see “the artist (she) is going to be.” I am a fan too, Didi.

Casey: The blues-guitar rocker was next with an adequate if uninteresting spin on 1964’s “It’s All Over Now.” He’s clearly capable, but to me, he just seems like any other bar band singer. I guess his blonde locks and Val Kilmer face circa Top Gun is casting spells on the judges because they really liked it. Randy likened him to Johnny Lang and Kara exclaimed “tonight, you were a rock star.” Ellen, in fine comedic form tonight thank you very much, chimed in with “for most women, their hearts are gonna start racing just looking at you… but for people like me… blondes… I thought it was fantastic.” Touché Ellen! It was up to Mr. Crankypants to rain on Casey’s parade saying he was disappointed that it was “like an audition performance” and he should’ve “done something incredible.” Well, apparently the V-neck wonder and I are on the same page about Casey tonight. Who’d a thunk it?

Lacey: Nikki McKibbon 2.0 with the whiny squeaky voice hit the stage next with a pretty much horrible version of the #1 hit from 1967, “Ruby Tuesday.” For me, the only thing interesting about that performance was the string quartet. Lacey’s vocals were appalling. At least, she looked fantastic… The judges didn’t seem to love it either. Randy said it was “interesting” while Ellen called it “weird” and a “bit sleepy.” Kara called it a “50/50” performance Simon felt she “over thought it.” I bet Lacey will have plenty to think over when she lands in the bottom 3 at the results show.

Andrew: Ok, it’s official, Andrew confuses me. Just when I think we’re headed for another acoustic “Straight Up” clone, he goes and makes like Seal on an electric rock version of “Gimme Shelter.” I didn’t quite know what to make of it, but I liked it. It was easily his best performance since Hollywood week. The judges weren’t quite on the same page, as Randy called it “pitchy” and Kara failed to feel a “connection.” Simon thought he gave it “100%, but something didn’t connect.” At least the average viewer like us, Ms. Ellen, loved it proclaiming “that was your best performance yet.”

Katie: Little miss teen was up next with a surprisingly tuneful and lovely interpretation of 1971’s “Wild Horses.” Tonight, Katie showed some personality in her clip package along with an assured performance that easily ranked as her best to date. The judges were happy with the improvement as Ellen thought she sounded “amazing once (she) got into it” and Randy said “you sang that really well, very strong performance.” Kara said she was “moving in the right direction” and Simon was happy she finally connected with a job “well done.” Well done indeed, Katie. You may finally not be in danger of going home!

Tim: Well, Tim aren’t you just adorable with those abs and dimples and, wait, a darn second, what’s going on here? Did you just turn “Under My Thumb” into a reggae tune? Well, kudos to you for taking a big chance and staying on tune for those four notes you can hit. Despite my jokes, I sorta liked it. The judges did not. For Randy, it was just “bizarre.” Ellen wasn’t wowed and Simon said it was “a crazy decision” that “didn’t work.” Kara, at least, applauded his effort in “making it his own.” I think he may be making a trip to the bottom three too.

Siobhan: Give it up for the queen of the lady nerds! And hello, there’s another glory note! Damn, Siobhan is in it to win it. Her fantastic and dramatic version of the #1 hit from 1966 “Paint it Black” stole the show. Let’s also give her some props for the prom dress and combat boots combo. She seriously hit all the right notes literally and figuratively. The judges also had high praise for her with Randy extolling “that was hot” and Kara comparing her to last season’s best Idol Adam Lambert. Simon called it “the standout performance of the night” and Ellen loved how she rose above the competition. She added “Like Snookie’s poof, you stand out and I like it.” I like it too, Ellen!

Lee: Getting all Dave Matthews-y on his cover of the #8 hit from 1978 “Beast of Burden,” Lee gave his best performance so far. He had a great deal more confidence than before and I love his raspy distinctive voice. Randy did too, eloquently calling him “dope.” Ellen thought that it was good despite it almost not “coming together like a hospital gown” and Kara liked his “tremendous growth.” Simon also liked him but wishes he would shine more in order to get his “moment” on the show. No need to worry, Simon, he should get another chance next week.

Paige: Despite battling laryngitis, Paige recovered incredibly well from last week’s train wreck with a fun country rock spin on “Honky Tonk Woman” a #1 hit from 1969. Showing the spunk and personality we saw from her in the first week of the semi-finals, Paige returned to form. Randy thought she “pulled it out” and Ellen loved her “great star quality” and the way she “worked the stage.” Kara applauded her vocals in spite of her situation as did Simon. However, he’s still waiting for her “to connect” to the audience. I think she’ll be safe to attempt that connection again in a week’s time.

Aaron: What? Wait, what? Are my ears deceiving me or did the lil teen wonder Aaron just kill it with an excellent performance of the #1 hit “Angie” from 1973? Color me confused and bewildered, but in a good way. I’m not even ashamed to say I really liked it. With a strong new look, confident vocals and an easy stage presence, Aaron has shockingly emerged from his more seasoned competitor’s hallowed shadows to become a real threat for the title. The judges certainly would agree as Randy praised “you were born to sing” and Kara called it “powerful” and “really great.” Simon was encouraged that he “chose the right song” labeling it “one of his strongest” performances to date. Ellen thought it was “beautiful” and then joked “are you trying to do your hair like mine now?” Whatever he’s doing, if he keeps it up next week, he’ll be in the game for a long time.

Crystal: Closing out the show with another great and skilled performance, Crystal infused 1973’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” with personality, pitch perfect vocals and her usual authentic interpretation. It’s just so easy for her. However, that doesn’t mean she’s coasting on her laurels. And now that she’s got some serious competition, I bet she steps it up. The judges are still on the Crystal bandwagon too. Randy loved that “she didn’t disappoint” and Ellen called it “effortless.” Kara loves how comfortable she is on stage and Simon loved her but “wants her to dig deep” as the Idol crown is no longer set in stone for her. Crystal’s humble response and praise for Siobhan show what a great person she is, as well as a wonderful artist. I can’t wait to see what she does next…

Now, if you were paying attention to those summaries, you’d see there was a lot of positive feedback and critiques from me and the judges. So, just where do they all rank? Take a look.

The Idol Rankings for tonight:
1. Siobhan
2. Crystal
3. Aaron (who knew!)
4. Lee
5. Didi
6. Katie
7. Paige
8. Andrew
9. Mike (see what happens when you go first and others are more memorable? A former front runner could be in danger)
10. Tim
11. Casey
12. Lacey

Predictions:
Bottom 3: Andrew, Tim, Lacey
Going home: Lacey

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty excited after tonight’s top 12 performance show. There was huge improvement all around. (Well, except for Lacey). It also feels like we have a true competition on our hands finally! … What do you think? Did the Idol’s performances of the Rolling Stones catalogue start you up? Or did it leave you with mixed emotions? … Are you happy that Ellen is finally bringing the funny? … Did you buy that forced confrontation between Ryan and Simon? … Are you annoyed that the audience sway-bots are back? … Did you get any satisfaction with tonight’s show? Rock it out below.

Hot Chip and some shirtless men say 'I Feel Better' in their...bizarre new video - watch now!

Hot Chip are hardly the most mainstream of pop bands.  This is a fact that goes without saying.  ScopiSat was under the impression 'Ready For The Floor' was sung by a woman (think that lady from Everything But The Girl who sang 'Missing') only to find some weeks later that it was actually warbled by a bearded hipster with an affinity for stripy clothes.  So in the end we weren't really far off the mark, but that's neither here nor there. 

The point is, Hot Chip are a bit strange and their new video is sort of a brilliant incarnation of everything they stand for.  It also features some very fit men taking their tops off.  Do with that what you will.

For its part, the song is a pretty standard Hot Chip affair.  A thumping but hipster-friendly beat layered with a shaky vocal that leaves the listener thinking 'I'm sure he could actually sing if he would just TRY, for chrissake,' and, when taken as a whole, is actually quite good.  Not quite as good as some of their other tunes, but the band has been busy writing for Kylie so we'll give them a pass for phoning this one in. 




Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Hot Chip | MySpace Music Videos

Out as an album download now

Mika's new video is 'Kick Ass' - watch now!

Mika's comeback hasn't gone 100% to plan, as he has fallen victim to the sophomore slump in a big way.  This probably isn't a surprise to anyone, as a large part of his success the first time around was his novelty.  With his current album, Mika stuck to his formula but added in some nice touches, and met with a resounding 'meh' from the charts.  So what is a flailing popstar to do?  Chuck out a soundtrack jam produced by Gaga's musical sherpa RedOne, of course. 

It's a step in a different, chav-friendly direction, but we're not here to judge.  In any case, the song isn't terrible by any means, and serves as a kind of theme track to the new film 'Kick Ass.'  See what they did there?  With the names?  Clever, right?



"Kick Ass" features on the soundtrack of the new film of the same name

Sign of the Apocalpyse #9: This is the UK's Eurovision entry this year

It's that time of year again.  When the Page 3 models, "not gay" West End stars, and all the girls that have been chucked out of Sugababes come out of the woodwork to vie for the chance to represent the glorious United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest.  With all that raw, stunning talent (this process gave us Scooch, remember) we are sure to have a winner on our hands, as some guy named Josh walked away with the "honor."  He will be singing a thing by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman (2 of the 3 guys in Stock, Aitken, Waterman - the team that gave us masterpieces by Bananarama and Kylie, and frankly, gentlemen, we expected a bit better) and is certain to get....about 5 points total. 



The final is on May 29. 

Robyn's new album preview sounds very very promising - watch the video now!

Robyn, the same Scandi-songstress that gave us 'Show Me Love' back in 1996, went away for a while and then staged an epic comeback a couple years ago with 'Every Heartbeat' and the absolutely sublime 'Be Mine!', has been working on her brand spankin new album.  Expectations are high, since her last album was an instant classic, but from the sounds of the tracks on this video she has pretty much delivered. 




And just in case you've forgotten just how LITERALLY SPECTACULAR she can be, here's Robyn's 'Be Mine!' in all its glory:


Robyn - Be Mine 2006
Uploaded by chicethautaine. - Explore more music videos.

There's no release date yet for the new material, and no word of what the lead single will be, but expect an announcement soon.  We'll have all the details for you when it happens.

8 FAVOURITE: MAC SHADOWS

Hey everyone,

This is a new sort of thing i am going to be doing on my blog it is "8 FAVOURITE:" which is a strange amount of something, i know, but i think 10 of something is too much and so you get 8. I would honestly be asleep by the time i got through 10 items LOL :)

The following 8 things are my favourite MAC eyeshadows.

Clarity, Talent Pool, Bitter, Amber Lights,
Sable, Naked Lunch, Vanilla, Forgery.

with flash

without flash

INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT Clarity: Matte2. Clarity is an amazing vibrant blue.

Talent Pool: Starflash. A super pretty ocean blue that reflects green.

Bitter: Velvet. A fluro green with gorgeous lime green sparkles.
Amber Lights: Frost. A stunning shimmery baked gold with hints of warmth and a foiled effect on the lid.

Sable: Frost. A beautiful chestnut brown. Perfect for the crease in any neutral look.
Naked Lunch: Frost. A peachy toned hilight with pink reflects.

Vanilla: Velvet. So incredibly smooth and glides right on. A pigmented white hilight with beautiful silver and blue reflects.
Forgery: Lustre. Basically just a whole bunch of silver glitter pressed into pan form. Surprisingly there is minimal fallout and looks like a pigment has been used.

So they are my 8 favourite MAC eyeshadows. Tell me some of your favourites? Reccomend me some nice MAC shadows and i will look into purchasing them :)