by wildangels

So, you may remember before I mentioned Alexz Johnson of Instant Star and how she's going to be releasing an album sometime soon.  Well, recently I bought a song from the show called "Love to Burn" off Amazon. While Alexz sings the song on the show, her version was not allowed on the soundtrack due to Alexz's then-label. Instead, co-star Cory Lee stepped in to offer her version of the song. Here, I offer you links to both versions. Personally, while I like Alexz's version better overall, Cory's is really growing on me. Check them out and let me know which one you think is the better version.

by wildangels

Hello, everyone! For those who don't read the Country blog, Sorry for my absense. I'm back, though, and ready to get back to business.

First off, Lou Pearlman. You remember him, don't you? He's the puppet master behind Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and other 90's pop acts. Well, instead of making music, he's now facing it. According to yahoo, he's been sentenced for defrauding people and money laundering. I can't say I'm shocked. When your two biggest bands sue you and want to leave, there's got to be something amiss right? Besides that, I always did get an odd vibe off the guy.

Metallica seems to be embracing the old saying "if you can't beat them, join them". The band who became famous for fighting illegal downloading on Napster is now joining the digital world. The site, called Mission: Metallica, will allow fans to get all kinds of cool extras. This is all in anticipation of their new album due out late this year. Some lucky fans will even win the chance to go backstage at every show on their tour. Check out all the details here.

by wildangels

for Emilio. According to a report, he was not just drunk at the time of his accident. He was over twice the legal limit. Prosecuters are currectly deciding what to do, given his condition right now. Check out the story here, courtesy of people PC. One of his bandmates is quoted as not knowing what to think about these latest developments.

Well, I'm out of here for now. Catch you guys nect time!

by wildangels

After about a week of rumors and statements from family and others involved, Mariah and Nick themselves confirmed their marriage during an interview. I'm a bit surprised that she made this move, especially talking wanting kids. Wasn't she just going on about how she'd feel "violated" by having children? Ah, well. Good luck to her. Maybe she'll outdo some of the others yet again by actually making a quickie celeb marriage work. If not... well, I guess we know what the next album will be about.

Well, I'm out of here. Take care and I'll see y'all next time with more news and reviews.

by wildangels

Here’s a blast from the past. Blondie is going to re-release their album Parallel Lines and go on a tour. Why you ask? Why, to celebrate it’s 30^th anniversary. Check out the yahoo story and to see where they’re going to appear on tour. What is up, by the way, with everyone being on a nostalgia kick? First the Spice Girls, then the New Kids and now this? Ah well. At least this is a tour most people would go to see and not wanna keep it on the hush-hush. So which of these reunions have you been the most excited about? Did you or didn’t you get tickets? Sound off here! Especially if you’ve been to any concerts. I’d love to hear how they went. Til next time.. Take care!

by wildangels

Imagine my surprise when I checked out the VH1 Rock Clock and found out the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is only 11 years old. I could've sworn it's been airing longer than that. The BeeGees and Jackson 5 were among the first inductees. Check out who else made that class that year and other events that happened this day on the VH1 site.

Vanessa Williams has made a great career in both acting and singing for herself. Still, like Gretchen Wilson, she was missing something- a degree. Over 20 years after she left College to get into the entertainment business, she is now earning it through credits she earned by acting and singing all these years. Good for her!

by wildangels

Apparently, Amy Winehouse has decided she's not going to be doing a Bond theme after all. Figures... I thought as much with all the drama going on. By the way... is it just me, or is there something just a little creepy about her producer? There are times when he seems a bit too involved and too desperate to put the fact she's recording out there. Hopefully, her family and close friends are keeping an eye on her right now to help her recover.

And Kanye has officially entered into "shut up" territory for me. I have much sympathy for the guy over the loss of his mother and that song with Stacy Dash in the video is great, but really.... saying "don't Michael Jackson" me? His explanation almost made it seem like he sympathizes with Michael and that is not cool in my book. I don't care if that guy did Thriller back in the 80's, he really is odd. Not to mention a cheat, since he's never paid anyone back without a court forcing it. So, Kanye... bad comparison. People aren't trying to make everything he does seem weird because of who he is. They do it because well... he really does do weird stuff all the time. All those times you talked like you were the second coming and throwing hissy fits after not winning something are probably not helping your case. Just something to think about....

by wildangels

For all you Alicia Keys fans out there, you just might get to go on tour with her! Apparently, she's holding a MySpace contest to find herself some backup singers. Check the link for details. It sure is a different world now, isn't it? Who would've thought years back it'd be so easy to get a chance to tour with one of your favorites? Good luck to anyone out there who auditions. If you do see this and decided to give it a shot, let me know! I'd love to keep up with how things are going.

Meanwhile, in the not-so-good section... While Emilio is recovering pretty well from his accident, it looks like he may have some legal trouble in his future. According to the report, he was intoxicated when the bus crashed. Normally, I'd be ready to roll my eyes and smack him for being that stupid, but I think this is one celeb DUI I kind of feel sorry for. This guy has surely already been suffering enough for what he did.  Good thoughts are going out to him and his family.

by wildangels

Looks like Miley Cyrus isn't the only one looking a bit red right now. Depsite all the publicity Ashlee Simpson has been drumming up with her engagement and coy non-answers to the preganancy questions, she has yet to score a hit single off her new album. As far as the album goes, it came in fourth place... don't expect it to stay in the top 10 long, either.

Meanwhile, Looks like Paula Abdul really put her foot in her mouth. I just read a story on yahoo! about last night's show and how Paula kinda lost it a little. She apparently got all confused and commented on a song that hadn't even been sung yet. Once it was pointed out to her the finalists had only done one song, she backtracked and claimed that she was looking at notes from someone else's performance and got confused. Read the story to see where that one goes wrong. Now, I know this isn't exactly a revelation regarding reality TV, but I have to ask: anyone else smelling a fix in the works? Let me know.

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Take care and see you next time!

by wildangels
According to the Pulse boards, Kelly Clarkson may have her first single from a new album out soon. Make sense, as the album is supposed to be out later this year. I'm excited to hear what she's come up with now that Clive isn't in the picture anymore. I still say My December could've been a big hit had more than one single been promoted. Hopefully, she's just as involved in the album this go around, no matter what sound has been adopted.

by wildangels
Now's your chance. A copy of the lyrics to John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" is on sale. Talk about a collector's item! All I have to say this... that was one lucky girl to be given those. The lyrics and photos are gonna set her up for life. According to the article, fans will also get a chance to view them up close. Well, that's it for now.... take care and I'll see y'all next time.

by wildangels

So, as promised, here is my review of Mariah Carey’s E=MC2. As I said before, this is a really good disc and it’s exactly what I’d been hoping to hear from her. She’s showing off her vocals more than she had in some songs recently without going overboard. Good to see she’s found the balance so many can’t. The people who said this is an album full of singles were right. There are only a couple I’m not too thrilled with. The others, I can definitely see being hits. I’m gonna go through my favorites one by one. Feel free to reply to this post with your own thoughts.

Migrate: This is definitely a hit in the making. It’s fun, catchy and she sounds good in it. The song starts with her typical whistle note and then smoothly transitions into a nice mid-tempo beat with a high-pitched sound in the background that really adds to the unique sound.

Cruise Control: This is a reggae-influenced song that is another mid-tempo number. She actually adopts a bit of an accent on this one that sounds pretty natural to me. This is bound to be an R&B and club hit for sure.

Side Effects: This is probably one of my favorites. It’s got a slow beat, but Mariah’s vocals are rapid fire as she blasts an abusive/controlling ex. You can just feel the bitterness and determination oozing out of her voice when you listen. Makes you really wonder about what did go on back in the day before her divorce.

I’ll Be Loving You Long Time: This song actually reminds me on old school R&B. I haven’t seen the track info in my CD jacket yet, but I’m willing to bet there’s an old sample in here. It’s up-tempo and has a bit of a feel-good pop vibe to it as well.

I Wish You Well: This is probably the closest Mariah gets to the sound of her first two albums. Her voice shines over a kinda bluesy/gospel arrangement. It’s a song about using your faith to get through tough times and rising above pettiness.

Well, there you have it: Mariah’s new CD. Check back next time for more music news and reviews. Take care!

by wildangels

Hey, all! Just wanted to stop in real quick and fill you in on Emilio's progress for any Tejano fans out there. According to Yahoo!, he was moved to a rehab facility and is now beginning the next phase of his recovery. They still don't know if the accident will prevent him from performing though. See the full story here.

In other news, Fergie's back! This time, she's doing the theme for the Sex in the City movie. I haven't heard it yet, but I'm excited to. She usually puts out something good. If anyone has heard the song, feel free to share your thoughts on it.

Finally... make sure you come back tomorrow when I will post my review of Mariah's E=MC2. It's #1 on the charts, so you're sure to wanna read this. Til then, take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels

If you're an 80's metal fan who was looking forward to Chinese Democracy finally getting release, you're in for some bad news. According to yahoo, there is no release date still and they're currently negotiating a release. After all this time, this better be one amazing disc or fans are going to riot. I mean, really.... over ten years? Has this ever happened before? I kinda of doubt it. Axl better hope he saved a nice mint from his 80s glory days, cause this one is bound to be costing him.

by wildangels

Well, I'm a bit pressed for time right now, but I wanted to check in and say that I just got the new Mimi album (along with The Emancipation of Mimi). I'm loving it! I'll post a more detailed review later, but suffice it to say that this is the CD I was waiting to hear from her. It shows off her voice and is a great mix of her old and new sound. Stands outs for me right now are "Migrate", "Side Effects", "I'll Be Lovin You Long Time", "Bye Bye" and "I Wish You Well". From what I've seen it also looks like this just may debut at #1, too. Go her!

In the meantime... has anyone else bought them and want to share their thoughts? I'm interested to hear what other fans think about it.

by wildangels

Maybe... according to yahoo!news, a new guy will be taking Clive Davis' job at Sony/BMG. Clive still has a position with the company, but most speculation out there says this may mean less power for him. I'm hoping that is true and Kelly gets to do another CD her way. I loved My December and felt it was treated very badly by Clive and company.

To this day, I can't understand the rationale behind killing the album they way they did. It was a good effort that could've had a few hits on radio if promoted right. Also, the songs that appeared were hands-down better than some of the stuff that Clive was said to want to include (Lindsay Lohan cover, anyone?). Not to mention that fact it still sold a couple million copies. Not bad for a "flop".Well, here's to the future. It should be interesting to see what happens next with her.

by wildangels

I go away for the day and Dada has completely changed! I see they are now offering mp3s and videos as well. I don't have a traditional cell phone service, so I don't even know if I can get these downloads. I do love, though, how it looks like I'll be able to watch videos here. I miss seeing videos and have even taken to getting up a little earlier now and then to catch Jumpstart and Fresh on VH1. Now, maybe I won't have to.

Has anyone tried the downloads out? Do you like the new service? Sound off- I'm curious to hear from others.

by wildangels
Hey, everyone. I just thought I would post a link I found on yahoo. It's an update about the condition of Tejano star Emilio Navaira. He's a talented guy and I'm glad to see he's doing better. Here's hoping his progress continues and he's back on his feet soon.

by wildangels

Yes, I know.... Idol is kinda cheesy and I usually avoid it. When you get Dolly or some of the people on the special last night involved, though? I'm there. Last night, they had some of my all time favorite people there: Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, Fergie, Heart and Mariah to name a few. How could I resist?

If you read my Country Blog, then you already know about Carrie's part in the show and what I thought of it. So, let's talk about some of the others, shall we? Annie Lennox was great and sounds just as good as ever. I wish she'd get a little more more attention again- she definitely deserves it.

Mariah was pure awesome. She sang "Fly Like a Bird" and really got into it. She still can hit the high-notes like no one else. If this is any indication of what I can expect vocally out of her new CD, count me in. She actually closed out the show, which ran long. She didn't get on the stage until after 10 PM.

The highlight for me was Fergie. After a nice performance of "Finally", she got onstage with Heart to sing "Baracuda". What a performance it was! She did more than hold her on against Ann Wilson and seemed to really enjoy herself. She should definitely do some more rock-themed material in the future- it really suits her voice.

by wildangels

It's really strange, what can inspire a post here. I was browsing a message board on Television Without Pity and saw an Unsolved Mysteries topic. I used to love that show, and one of the sadder cases I saw on that show was about a kid named Katherine Korzilius. She was a 6-year-old girl whose mother let her walk home from the community mailbox often. One day, the girl never came home and her mom and brother went looking for her. They ended up finding her laying dead in the street and to this day no one is 100% sure what happened to her. Some say she was murdered, while others say she probably tried to jump on the bumper of the car as it was driving away and fell.

I'm sure some of you might be asking what exactly this has to do with music. Well, Katherine's father just happened to work with Bon Jovi. When Jon released his solo album, Destination Anywhere, he included a song about the incident. I had forgotten about the song until I started reading those posts and thought I would share a line and a few thoughts about it.

First off... it's a very moving song. Don't get the wrong impression, though- it's not a ballad. This is a fast number with a driving beat that perfectly expresses the anger and frustration over the situation as well as the grief. In the song, Jon tells the story from beginning to end. He starts off talking about how "they raced home from the mailbox, a mother and a son, against a girl of 6-years-old the independent one". His voice is tough throughout the whole song, showing a little vulnerability in a couple spots. One is in the chorus, where he begs someone to "tell me it was just a dream, August 7, 4:15". He goes on to say that "God closed his eyes and the world got mean" that day. The most moving part is the final verse. His mournful voice cracks as he talks about how no one will ever hurt her again. In the same verse, however, he manages to quickly shift to an angry and accusing tone as he says that "somewhere someone's conscience is like a burning bed. The flames are all around you, how you gonna sleep again?"

To this day, I still get chills listening to this one. If you've never heard it before... you are really missing out. This song is pure emotion and is exactly what music can be at it's best. I'm sure "August 7, 4:15" is on amazon or itunes.

by wildangels

Those who discovered Paula Abdul through American Idol might not remember that she was once accused of pulling a Milli Vanilli. My grandmother used to love buying the tabloids and occasionally she'd show me a story about people I liked. Well, one was about this girl who claimed her vocals were mixed with Paula's for the CD Forever Your Girl.

According to VHI, today was the day she sued Virgin Records over it back in 91. She lost the case, but I still don't get it. The vocals on that album were not that great... I would hope Virgin would've hired someone who sounded better than that if that was what they were doing. Despite the vocal problems, I did like the music. "Straight Up" and "Cold Hearted" were my jams when I was a kid. Who could ever forget that video she did where she and her dancers auditioned for a part and got all the execs hot and bothered? Now, that was a video! If you wanna see more events that happened today, check out the link above.

For all you Mariah fans out there, here is a link to an Island/Def Jam page where you can hear a new Mariah song called "Bye Bye". I just had a listen and loved it! To me, it's a great mix of the hip-hop sound she loves so much and the vocals of her old records. It's a One Sweet Day kind of song in that it talks about losing someone and not wanting to say goodbye.

Well, that's all for now. Check back next time for more. Til then, take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels
This one one of the best write-ups I have seen about Mariah's new CD. While I have been kinda leaning towards wanting to get it, this actually really makes me excited about the release. It sounds like it's gonna be a great disc. Based on this, I think I may end up liking "I Wish You Well" the most. It sounds like it's gonna be true old-school Mariah and a much more mature song than some of her more recent hits.

by wildangels

After 2 outright refused to do a reunion when VH1 asked, one said "only on our terms" and one was only down with it cause of his brother, the New Kids really are reuniting. Now the question is... do we really want to see the 40-year-old "kids" performing "Hanging Tough"? If you're interested, the story says they'll be announcing it on the Today show soon.

I admit to loving these guys when I was younger. Looking back, though, I wonder why I loved the music so much. Was I really that blinded by cuteness? I think about the songs now and I cringe. In any case, this reunion will have one thing the Spice Girls didn't- an album of all original material written mostly by the New Kids themselves. Should be interesting to see if they can make an impact on the charts in today's music world. I say good luck to em.

So what do you all think? Is this a good idea? Are you looking forward to it at all? Sound off and let me know. Til next time, take care and "let the music play".

by wildangels
According to Yahoo!news, Mariah Carey just beat Elvis' number #1s record and is now in second place behind the Beatles. Good for her! I loved her reaction in the story, too. She didn't seem to make a huge deal about herself and knows she hasn't been quite as influencial and long lasting as them. Now, that's what I like to see- a Diva with a little humility. Well, that's about it for now.... see y'all next time.

by wildangels

I thought today would be a good day to share my top 12 (couldn't narrow it down to 10) favorite Selena songs with you all. Please feel free to comment with your own favorites. Here they are...

12)  "Amame (Love Me)". This song is just a fun one that is pure early 90's dance/pop. It reminds me of the time period and would've surely been a mainstream hit if it were in English.

11) "Ya No (Not Anyore)". This is basically a rock-influence song about kicking a cheating guy to the curb. She sings it with such attitude and conviction, you just get the feeling she would actually kick your butt if you messed with her.

10) "Si Una Vez (If Once)". This is a much more Spanish sounding song and, once again, Selena nailed it. This is another song where Selena tells off a no-good guy.

9) "Ven Conmigo (Come With Me)" This is a very tenjano-sounding song with the main instrument being an accordian. It's one of her sweeter songs, since it's about being in love and not wanting to lose the person.

8) "Tu, Solo Tu (You, Only You)" This is one of her more heartbreaking songs. It's all about being mistreated by someone to the point of being a broken mess. It's really hard to not get lost in the emotion of her lyrics. The song has a mexican ranchera sound.

7)  "Que Creias (What Did You Think)?"  This is, again, Selena in revenge and anger mode. She's telling a guy that he made his bed and now he's got to lie in it- she isn't taking him back, no matter how miserable he is. Her vocals are great, as usual.

6) "Aunque No Salga El Sol (Even If the Sun Doesn't Rise)". This song is a beautiful pop ballad. It's about being in love and Selena does it better than many of the divas today could've.

5) "I Could Fall in Love" Again, another beautiful ballad that shows Selena's vocals well. It's about being afraid to let go completely and give your full trust to someone.

4) "Dondequiera Que Estes (Wherever You Are)" This is Selena's duet with the Barrio Boyzz that appeared on one of their CDs originally before showing up in an  English/Spanish version on Dreaming of You. It's a love song that's a  mix of pop and R&B.

3) "No Me Queda Mas (I Have Nothing Left)" This is a heartbreaking ballad about loving someone who doesn't care about you the same way. It was supposedly written by one of the band members about Selena's own sister. It's a dramatic numbers that lets Selena's vocals shine.

2) "Captive Heart". I think this song would've been a major AC/Pop hit had Selena been around to promote it. It's about being so in love with someone, you can't imagine being without them. You'll go anywhere to keep them around. I remember around the time it came out, People reviewed this song well, comparing her to Taylor Dayne and Gloria Estefan.

1) "God's Child (Baila Comgio- Dance With Me)". This song was one she did with Davie Byrne and is one of the most unique songs on the album, in my opinion. It's a haunting, yet catchy tune with lyrics that are kind of surreal and poetic. Selena's vocal are strong, with a bit of a rough edge to em in some parts.

Well, there you have it: my favorite Selena songs. There are others, but I had to narrow the list down somewhat. See y'all next time... take care!

by wildangels

It's hard to believe it's been exactly 13 years since Selena was murdered by Yolanda Saldivar. Boy, time flies. I was reminded by the fact one of the Spanish networks here was playing a new documentary/performance special about her. Basically, it featured performances from her famous last concert mixed with commentary about her and her career. Later on, they aired a couple other performances she did at Noche De Carnival and a couple of her videos.

The thing that really struck me while watching these is what an amazing performer she really was. She seemed completely natural onstange and had such a connection with the crowd. You could just feel how much they loved her. I think one of my favorite clips they aired was her performance of "Dondequiera Que Estes" with the Barrio Boyzz. She could've easilly embarrassed any of today's performers with that one. They wouldn't be able to match it.

I didn't really get introduced to Selena until she died, unfortunately. I was still in my "spanish music sucks" phase and wouldn't even listen to a second of it. I had heard a few mentions of the "Mexican Madonna" on TV before, but that was about it. I became very aware of her and her story after the murder, but still hadn't been fully exposed to her music yet. Then came "I Could Fall in Love." It was such a beatiful song and vocal that I couldn't help but like it at first listen without even knowing who sang it. Once I knew who it was, I got the Dreaming of You CD to get that song and soon came to enjoy the Spanish tracks as well. Stay tuned for another post today about my favorite Selena songs. I hope you'll post your thoughts here and tell me some of your favorites as well.

by wildangels

I was reading VH1's Rock Clock and was surprised to learn it's been over 4 years since the big to-do over Janet's Super Bowl performance. It really doesn't seem like it's been that long. According to them, back on this day in 2004, Janet was still trying to explain away the incident on a talk show. I remember being so annoyed by how the whole thing was playing out. Granted, what they did was dumb, but they hardly committed the worst crime ever. To this day, the incident is still having an effect on our media. Thankfully, it's toned down a little music-wise.. afterall, who needs another Maroon 5 video with little swirling flowers added to hide certain scenes? I think it showed a little bit of an ugly side to our culture, too. I still can't understand why Janet was crucified for this, but Justin got off with barely a scrape. He was just as responsible as she was and if he had any integrity, he would've stood up for her a little more.

In another more encouraging incdient, this is also the day ('93) a record store owner was let off the hook for selling 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be". This was huge news here, since they are from the area. I remember them going all over the media defending themselves and wondering what the big deal about their songs was in the first place. One good thing to come out of the whole mess? The so-bad-it's-good video "Banned in the U.S.A". If you haven't seen it, do a search-it's bound to be posted somewhere.

Check the link above for more history making events on this day. See ya next time!

by wildangels

It seems like a lot of my childhood is getting defiled lately. Most of it, I think is pretty funny- like the Robot Chicken sketches about You Can’t Do That on Television, Care Bears and the Smurfs, This one? Not so funny. Sambora needs a serious kick in the bottom and I hope the threat of child endangerment charges due to the fact his kid was probably in the car is that wake-up call. The celebrity thing is getting pretty odd lately. People are out there making headlines so often doing such stupid things, it’s getting harder and harder to separate the person from the work. It’s gonna be a little odd now watching him perform "Living on a Prayer" or "Dead or Alive" knowing he’s turning into a bit of a mess.

Looks like the times needs to hire more fact-checkers. Apparently, that story they printed about Diddy being involved in the Tupac Shakur robbery/shooting a year or two before he died is a complete fake. They claimed they were duped by forged documents and wish they’d done more to authenticate them. I say they were being lazy and are now trying to save themselves a lawsuit. What’s up with reporting these days anyway? I wouldn’t have gotten away with this stuff on my High School yearbook back in the day.

Finally, Madonna’s talking Britney, her music and her marriage (which she insists is fine, by the way...). Hey Madonna? If you want people to believe you don't pay attention to these reports, don't let your publicist release flowery denials saying you're all "joyfully together" and "all is fine in the Ritchie home". Seriously, though... I’m curious to hear her new stuff. I’ve heard a few raves and I’m curious to see if Madonna is back to her hit making ways. No matter what, she always gets some points for me cause of the Like a Prayer CD.

by wildangels
According to yahoo, he was hurt in a bus accident while coming home from a gig over the weekend. Doctors say he's stable, but it's still pretty serious. To get more details, check out the story here. While he is mainly a Tejano act, he did release a couple of country albums a few years back. Here's hoping he pulls through and makes a full recovery.

by wildangels
I was pretty amused by a yahoo!news story where Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham dismissed Sheryl Crow's announcement they'd be working together. Apparently, they'd talked about maybe working on a project, but nothing was set in stone right now. Take note, kids- this is why you never announce it til the ink is dry on the contracts.

by wildangels

Since Mariah is releasing "Touch My Body" on Itunes today, I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite Mariah songs. "Vision of Love" is the first one that comes to mind for me. It was the first single and the first video of hers I ever saw. Let's just say that by the end of that song, I was in awe. "Love Takes Time" and "Vanishing" were favorites of mine cause they were a little more soulful. Especially "Vanishing", which had a really bluesy feel to it.

"Someday", "You Need Me" and "Prisoner" from that album are favorites because they were more uptempo and fun. What can I say? I'm a sucker for any song with some attitude in it. Plus, they were a little different from the other songs she was releasing at the time and I like variety in my music.

When Emotions came out, I fell in love with the title track almost immediately. Especially the note towards the end. I still wonder how she does that! It was also nice to see her open the album with something more fast paced and fun, since she had mainly released ballads until then. "Make It Happen" was another really great uptempo track and at the time I just loved that really inspirational message in it. She didn't lose the attitude, though, including "You're So Cold" on the CD. It starts off so slow, you think your in for another ballad until the beat picks up and takes you by surprise.

Mimi's at her best, though, with ballads. "And You Don't Remember" from Emotions is a classic for me. It's so soulful and emotional and a great song to belt out when you're not feeling so great and you just want to let it out.

"Dreamlover", the lead single from Music Box was another instant favorite. I remember dancing around my house rocking out to this one and just having a great time. It's one of those feel-good songs that just makes me smile every time I hear it. "Now That I Know" and "I've Been Thinking About You" were just really fun dance tracks I couldn't help but like. There's something about the message of the songs, too, that appeals to my nostalgic side. I mean, these songs just seemed to be made with her teen fans in mind. "Hero" is also one of my favorites because of it's inspirational message and amazing vocals. I still try and belt along to this one sometimes.

Her Daydream CD's lead single, "Fantasy", was kind of a surprise. I think that was the first time she had some hip-hop in her songs and sampled another song in one of hers. It was a great song, though, and my teenage self loved it. Meanwhile, "One Sweet Day" always makes me bawl like a baby most of the time. It makes me think of my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me. I always thought it was really interesting how she and Boyz II Men were writing pretty much the same song without realizing it until they showed what they had to eachother. I loved "Always Be My Baby" because it was such a fun song and really great to sing along to. My other favorite is "Forever", just because it reminds me of those old 50's ballads for some reason.

So, now Mariah's away from Tommy Motolla and things are really getting shaken up. "The Roof" and "Breakdown" were total shocks to me, but I loved them. From the first beats, I could tell we were gonna see a whole new Mariah.To this day, I'm not sure I like the direction these ended up leading her in, but they're great tracks. Of course, it's not a Mariah CD without some ballads and there were some good ones here. I remember loving "Outside" and "My All" the most. "Outside" even inspired a paper for a music class in college.

Rainbow's actually the last Mariah album I have. Again, not thrilled with how far she's gone in that hip/hop direction. She doesn't seem to show off her voice as much lately. Still, there were a couple here I loved. "Heartbreaker" was just lots of fun to listen to and sing along with and come on- who didn't love the dueling Mariahs video? "Against All Odds" is one of the moments on this CD where you see classic Mariah and it's one of my favorites from the 80s. Mariah's vocals seem to make it even better then it was originally. Finally, couldn't help but love "Cry Baby". Even though I tend to like the songs without such a hip/hop feel, this one still gets to me. Can't explain it, but it does. The video was great, too.

Well, there's some of my favorites from Mariah- now what about you guys? Do you like her more pop-influence songs? Is hip/hop Mariah your favorite? Let me know, it's always fun to hear what other fans think.

by wildangels

Lawsuits are nothing new in music and it appears more have just been settled. Both the Beach Boys and Motley Crue have been involved in lawsuits regarding name rights and other issues. Music is a hard business, y'all. By the way, speaking of Motley Crue, has anyone here seen Nikki Sixx's edition of Live Through This on FUSE? If not, you need to look for it and check it out. It goes into great detail about Nikki's "fatal" overdose back in the 80's. He's one tough guy.

Speaking of law suits... remember awhile back when I mentioned some guy in Miami was getting ready to release a CD of a Beatles performance from before they got their record deal? Well, you guessed it. Apple is now suing to stop the release. Looks like the Beatles are pretty supported of the release getting squashed. Check out the quote from George Harrison that's mentioned in the story that appeared in one of the depositions.

In other more happy news, I have always been a fan of oldies. Growing up, I got into them cause of my family constantly playing them. Those songs just have this certain feel to them that is very hard to capture anymore. That's why I'm all happy that the Supreme's label is putting out an album of rare songs and their hits. Now, let's see if Diana gives the other ladies any spotlight time when this comes out...

Well, that's all for now. Take care and I'll see y'all next time.

by wildangels

I usually stay away from the VH1 and MTV sites since I have very little interest in hte networks and many of their news stories have to do with random celebrities and reality shows/movies. Still, I ended up browsing VH1's site today and found something kinda cool. There's a "This Day in History" feature and today is full of great stories.

Several of the stories that are recorded are from 2003 and have to do with the war in Iraq. According to them, this is also the day that EMI cuts a ton of artists in an effort to save money.

The one that struck me the most was the fact today is the date that Gloria Estefan had a serious accident in her tour bus. That was a huge story here, where Gloria is one of the most popular celebrity residents and I remember the reports very well. I also clearly remember seeing her perform "Coming Out of the Dark" for the first time and how emotional everyone in the audience was to see her actually standing and walking again. Very few celebrities have that type of emotional impact on others.

Check VH1's "This Day in History" to read about more events that happened March 20th. Til next time, take care and "let the music play."

by wildangels

You all know you have one. A song or artist that you like but are too embarrassed to admit it. A guilty pleasure. For the rest of this week, I’ll be talking about some of my guilty pleasures and I hope you guys will post comments about yours. I promise not to laugh if you won’t laugh at me!

Anyway... one of my guilty pleasures is Debbie Gibson. I guess the guilty part of this should be obvious. After all, she’s a teen idol who hasn’t been popular in the mainstream for a long time now. Let’s not even get into the cheese factor of some of her songs and videos... still, I have a soft spot for her and occasionally listen to a song or two.

The reason it’s a pleasure is because of all the memories it brings back. I spent much of the summer of ‘89 hanging out at a community center with some kids that went to a school I was about to start. I ended up hanging out with a fan of hers who played me Out of the Blue. We spent most of the summer listening to that and a couple others.

The first time I made a real recording (as in, actually done somewhere other than my room with a cheap tape recorder), I sang a couple of her songs. It was at a carnival where they had a recording booth set up and let me tell you... I never forgot the thrill I felt when they played my recordings back over the loud speaker. Her music also makes me think of my former best friends who lived next door. We’d spend hours making up dance routines to her songs and singing along with the recordings. It was a really fun and simple time and it’s nice to put one of the songs on once in awhile to kinda go back and reflect on it and where things have gone since.

So, there ya have it- one of my guilty pleasures. Now, it’s your turn! What’s your guilty pleasure and why do you like it? I’d love to hear about it...

by wildangels

Hello, out there! Like I promised, here is one of the tracks from Makell Bird's How to Walk on Water. He said I could post any tracks I wanted and I decided to use this one since he said it was his favorite. For a few other tracks, make sure to visit the MySpace page I linked below. Enjoy and don't forget to post your own thoughts on it! I'll post a few lyrics as well as soon as he sends them my way! I'm working on showcasing some other artists as well, so keep checking back!

by wildangels

Hello, out there! As promised, here is a new feature I hope to post from time to time where I discuss the music with the one who's making it! First up is Hip Hop/R&B/Rap artist Makell Bird. We talked about his CD How to Walk on Water.

1) "Intro"
He says- Well for the intro, I wanted a totally cinematic feel. Believe it or not I got my boy Paul Johnson, who I convinced to be a voice actor to a degree. His voice was really horse that day because he was sick. I told him I was thinking about hiring a voice actor to do a movie trailer like intro for the CD. He said he could do that. I said PROVE IT... he sounded just like the dude. So, I instantly recorded him saying the intro plus about a dozen other sweepers for my upcoming projects. And as far as the music itself. I found it fitted perfectly.

I say-This was a nice intro with some cool sounds in it. I also liked how the end of it bleeds into the next song. It reminds me of how the second disc of Christina's Back to Basics begins.

2) "Get It Poppin'"
He says- Well Get it Poppin was always intended to be the Intro track. But since I wanted to put the "cinematic intro" on there. "Get It Poppin" got moved to track 2. It's basically a re-introduction to me as an artist from a more "Vegas" perspective, but it still had that gritty "Dirty South" vibe. So it was perfect!

I say- This track really lives up to its name, making you want to get up and move when you hear it. I really love the violin in the background, too.

3) "Tha Matrix (Freestyle)"
He says- Well I got that beat from a producer named Bigg T. He sample some music from the movie "The Matrix"... As soon as I heard the beat I recognized it. The Matrix is one of my favorite movies. As soon as I heard it I had that feeling that "I could take over the world with this beat"! So, I wanted to talk rap slower on that beat so people could here EVERY word I was saying. So, I dropped it and there you have it!

I say- I love the beat in this song- it's fun, light and is something I can hear being played in any club. I also love the sample included. The modern, uptempo beat mixed with the operatic, dramatic vocals makes for a nice contrast.

4) "Everywhere We Go"
He says- It had a banging beat. So, I dropped it. I was choppin' it up on myspace with an artist I felt had some real talent (Young R). So, I did my part then tossed it him and he dropped some heat on it. Young R won the ATL Record Pool shortly after doing that track with me. Then I put the Rocky Quote on there to give it that extra punch!
I say- This wasn't one of my favorites, but it's still pretty cool and the message is nice. There's a quote added in there saying how it's not about how hard you get hit, it's about if you can get up and keep moving. You can't blame anyone else for the way your life is.

5) "Chapelle Excerpt"
He says-I always liked Dave Chappelle and when I heard him saying that I instantly said "I gotta put that on one of my albums!". It is an ode to myself and all the other ghetto ass white dudes out there. Me originally being from Atlanta I instantly agreed with his opinion haha.

I say- This is a cute little interlude that keeps things very light hearted and offers a bit of a break.

6)  "Find Me Somebody"-
He says- That was just a crazy beat to me. So, I figured I would just Wild out to it. I wanted to this whole "up and down" bouncy voice motif to it. My girlfriend heard it and said I was crazy haha!

I say- This is my absolute favorite track. I love the rythm of the vocals and the beat. Add a little Queen into the mix and I'm a very happy person.

7) "U Can't Be Me"
He says- Well, that was baically like from me to people in 'the industry'. I figured alotta people who are famous or own Huge major labels. Their fame and money comes with alotta strings attached. So, in a sense I bet there's a part of them that wants to be like me (i.e. more independent). But "U Can't B Me!". Originally I was planning on doing the whole song myself. But my voice alone sounded too plain on the track. So, I brought in Natika to spice things up. She's a pretty good rapper too.
I say- I like how this one starts with just a little piano and then in comes the beat. Natika and Makell blend nicely vocally in the song.

8) "Bedtime Stories" (this actually has two other parts later on).
He says- Well, my boy Paul Johnson has some CRAZY stories! And they're all true!. I mean I first heard those stories like 2 years ago and he had me rollin'. I always like to have some comedy on my album so people get a full range of emotions when they hear my music. I thought it would be funny to get him to tell those stories on the album. We were there the whole time recording him. If you listen closely you can hear us laughing in the background.

I say-Paul Johnson has a very commanding voice, demanding your attention and he definitely can tell a story. Btw, yes I did hear the laughter in the background!

9) "I'm an ATLien"
He says- That was just for all those people from Atlanta who love Atlanta and loved Outkast's whole ATLien vibe. In our eyes, that was their best album. So, I just wanted to recapture that vibe and give a view of Atlanta to anyone with an outside perspective.
I say-This one has a cool futuristic sound that definitely fits the title.

10) "Can't C Me (Freestyle)"
He says-I've loved 2Pac since 1995. That was one of his hardest beats. So I dropped it in my version.
I say- The sound has a strong, energetic beat that fits the message of the song well.

11) "Put Ya Money Up (Freestyle)"
He says-Well, me living in Vegas, I wanted to have a casino sounding song. Like a gambling song. So, that beat was perfect and I could just have fun with it. I didn't know any info about the beat so I actually had to contact 4-Ize himself to get the credits haha!
I say- This sort of reminds me of some of the stuff the new hot producers do beat-wise. I like the vocal effects and rhythm of the vocals in this one.

12) "Have Some Fun"
He says- Well, I've been working with DJ Taz since 2000. I worked on his mixtape "Classic: The Black Mongoose" and wrapped that up in October 2007. So, he threw me the track and I dropped it. DJ Taz is one of the best producers out there.
I say- This song has a little bit of a harder beat to it then the others, while still having a bit of a laid-back feel to it that's fun to listen to.

13) "Bedtime Stories 2"
More adventures of Paul Johnson

14) "Simple Shit (Freestyle)"
He says- I made a really simple sounding "snap music" beat. So, I figured I figured I'd drop a "simple" freestyle over it. And I didn't have a title for it, so, I just called it "Simple Shit" haha.
I say- This is one of the more unique freestyles on the CD. The vocals almost remind me of Twista, cause of their speed and phrasing.

15) "4eva and Always"
He says-That was originally intended to be on Natika's forthcoming album. Natika is a singer here in Vegas that I signed to ADE. But at the time, I had more tracks done towards my project. So, I did a quick verse over it and decided to put it on my album.
I say- This song reminds me of one of those old-school R&B tracks from the early to mid 90s.

16) "Training Day Excerpt"
He says-That's just a quote from Denzel Washington I felt fit for this album, on the serious side.
I say- Another quote interlude about looking at things realistically and taking your time. The quote says you have to make changes to yourself sometimes before you can change anything else.

17) "Void in My Life (Freestyle)"
He says- That's probably my favorite track. It's just a short glimpse of my life in this music business and the struggle between someon's faith and their job.
I say- This is probably one of the most emotional songs on the CD and I love the melody and phrasing.

18)  "Living in the Projects (Freestyle)"
He says-That's basically an uplifting track for all those people who get tired of watching "MTV Cribs" and seeing all these other people who are basically holding up a mirror and saying "See, were doing much better than you".
I say- This is another slow number that reminds me of 90's style R&B mixed with a more modern beat and phrasing.

19) "Ghetto Queen (Freestyle)"
He says- That's basically me in pure story telling mode. It's about young women who chose to be sexually active and the pitfalls of that. It's kind of like the song "Verge Uv Ambition" from my previous album "Birth Uv Destruction".
I say-This is another more laid-back song that I enjoyed a lot. Once again, he manages to mix a little of the old with a little new.

20) "Rev. Hagler Speech Excerpt"
He says- I actually got that off youtube. I was looking for an inspirational speech to coincide with the serious side of my album. I was originally looking for some Martin Luther King or Malcolm X type of speech, but I came across that and thought it was perfect.
I say- This is a stirring speech that adds a bit of a break in the action

21)  "Will You Remember Me?"
He says- I'm not really a big fan of country music. But, I DO know that alot of them have pretty good lyrics. I heard that beat with that Sarah McLachlan hook and thought it would be a nice touch to the album. It's probably the most uplifting message on my whole album.
I say-I love the original song and it's cool that he chose this. The song has a nice, relaxed feel to it while still being good for a little dancing.

22) "Bedtime Stories 3" Another really funny yet true moment from Paul Johnson's life.
 
23) "My Problem (Jealousy- Freestyle)"
He says- Alot of the lyrics in the song I hold true because I actually DID know some people who said they weren't interested in working with me. Then later I found out it was mainly just because I was white! So, I thought I would do a track to project my views on such simple minded shit like racism and jealousy.
I say-This is one of the deeper songs on the album and has a nice, soft feel to it.

24) "Go Back (Freestyle)"
He says- That's like a reminiscent track. A song that gives a little bit more into my background.
I say- I like the background singer and the effects on her vocals in this one. This is a nice track to sit back and relax with.

25)  "Outro"
He says- Usually I just talk on my outros and give people information on how to obtain more music from me or contact me.
I say- Makell hooks fans up in this one by telling them how they can get his music and contact him.

So there, you have it. Makell Bird's How to Walk on Water. Check out his MySpace to hear some songs and get his music. He just released a mixtape yesterday called Makell Bird Presents Maktown Radio Vol. 1: The Spityogame Takover (Co-hosted by DJ Taz). Check back here another time when I post some lyrics and a song or two. Til then, take care and "let the music play."

by wildangels

Hey, everyone!! Just wanted to give you all a head's up about a cool new feature I'll be adding occasionally to the blog. It's called "He Said, She Said" and I got the idea after meeting up with an artist named Makell Bird on MySpace. He's a rapper nicknamed the Mixtape King of Las Vegas. You can see his page here.

Sometime next week, I'll be review his new CD called How to Walk On Water. In addition to my thoughts on each track, you'll get to hear from Makell himself on the songs. Also keep an eye out for Jnel and J Magazine on MySpace as well, where I'll be submitting an interview with him. I've also interviewed several other artists for it.

In other music news, looks like P!nk and Kelly Clarkson aren't the only ones getting ready to put out new material. Mandy Moore is also working on a new CD. I'm interested in seeing what she comes up with since I really enjoyed Coverage and Wild Hope. She seems to be one of the few teen pop artists of her time that are still putting out music and working to grow as an artist, so that's pretty cool to me. Let's just hope she doesn't start slamming her later albums too once the new one comes out.

by wildangels

For any Madonna fans out there, her concert film/documentary Truth or Dare will be airing tonight on FUSE at 8 PM eastern with many repeats likely to follow. I watched it last night for the first time and thought it was pretty interesting. My favorite part was still the concert footage, though.

The funniest scene had to be when the cops were threatening to arrest her if she didn't change certain things in the show. She seemed positively giddy at the idea of being a poster child for free speech. I'm sure newspaper headlines were dancing in her head the whole time the cops were telling her that. I also thought her pouting about the fact some people in the front row didn't seem to be enjoying themselves was amusing, too.

For anyone who has seen this did you like it or no? If you did, what was your favorite part? I'd love to hear about it! See you all next time...

by wildangels

VH1 is actually going to be playing music in the afternoon! Tune in between 4 PM eastern and 5 PM eastern tomorrow to see the 100 Greatest Vdeos of the 80's. I think the early days of videos (and video channels) where the best. I remember spending a lot of time as a kid tuning into MTV and loving this new way to enjoy music.

Were the videos kinda cheesy? Oh, yeah. But it also felt like most of them were more fun and creative. It was about doing something new and cool every time. There are still cool videos today, but it kinda feels like something's been lost. Too many of them are set in clubs and parties now and it feels a bit boring. That's why I'm loving Mariah's new video and several of Fergie's. It feels like they're trying to have fun for the most part.

So, tell me about your favorite videos! Have any videos ever helped you like a song more than you did before you saw it? Sound off and let's chat about it.