Simon Cowell is a total expert in managing groups. Now it's about time he brings back girl power with his recent signing - the all-girl band Fifth Harmony that placed 3rd on the new X Factor USA with whom he also mentored. Looks like the girlband phenomenon is ready to make another splash after the global success of Spice Girls and the Pussycat Dolls. I'm lovin' it. What about you?
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Kordei, Ally Brooke, Lauren Jauregui and Camila Cabello!
#FifthHarmony
Relive their classic performances on the X Factor USA:
A brand new year calls for a brand new Carrie Bradshaw. Tune in to the CW Network on January 14 as The Carrie Diaries make its debut.
With a retrofabulous cast of characters led by the multitalented AnnaSophia Robb as teenage Carrie and a dose of 80's flair, the show is bound to be unforgettable as it details Carrie's pre-Sex and the City life and her search for her own unique writer's voice long before she hits it big time in NYC.
If you haven't already, The Carrie Diaries books (also written by the original Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell) will make sumptuous reads and delight you as you await the show's premiere. Get a first taste of the Big Apple Carrie Bradshaw style :)
Snowflakes, hot chocolate, delicious treats... The spirit of Christmas is officially back in town. It's also the perfect time for countless servings of jazz. One of the holiday tunes that will surely jazz up your winter is the latest rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by the hottest jazz duo around, Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams.
With their Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers charm and all-round merry personalities, this version sparkles like your finely decorated Christmas tree ;)
Happy holidays to you all! I will be away on a 2-week trip to France, Monaco and Spain, and I plan on catching up with my good friend and subscriber Carmina (on_the_ground) along the way. Jazz on the Rocks will reopen mid-January. Cheers! xo
So we're down to the Top 4 on the X Factor USA, and the competition is drawing close to the grand finale. Each act really played to their strengths this time around, but this is a $5 million dollar recording contract, and X Factor is about international superstardom.
Regardless of what the judges have said, it's up to you the voters to decide which acts can break the *global* music market. Let's hope we've all voted right.
Mysterious, twisty and noir-ish... That's the vibe you get the minute you witness Carrie Underwood's cinematic trailer for her January music video "Two Black Cadillacs".
Are you ready for a dark ride? :)
Also, congrats to her on winning the most important role of her life - Maria von Trapp on the upcoming NBC live broadcast of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic The Sound of Music (no, it's not a movie remake, as you know it)!
For those who doubt her, no need to be. Carrie has been one of those music artists with a respectable acting resume, as demonstrated by her heartfelt, inspiring role on the critically acclaimed film Soul Surfer.
Given her down-to-earth persona and ability to sail in-between genres, I trust that she will bring her natural charisma to the iconic character that was popularized by the notable Dame Julie Andrews.
With double performances from each of the Top 6 acts last night, we got to see them live unplugged and also hear the songs we've voted for them to sing on the X Factor USA website. Here are some highlights from the top contenders! It will be disheartening that one or two of them may probably leave tonight due to the votes, though they're bound to have a bright career after the competition is over. Who will make it to the semi-finals?
FIFTH HARMONY - GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK
Category/Mentor: Groups/Simon Cowell
DIAMOND WHITE - DIAMONDS Category/Mentor: Teens/Britney Spears
CECE FREY - EDGE OF GLORY Category/Mentor: Young Adults/Demi Lovato
CARLY ROSE SONENCLAR - AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME Category/Mentor: Teens/Britney Spears
Last night on major talent contest X Factor USA, fans were treated to Top 8 Hits-themed performances by the Final 8 and also the premiere of Britney Spear's new music video with will.i.am. After these all-out performances, these acts definitely proved they deserve to stay in tonight's results.
FIFTH HARMONY - STRONGER
Category/Mentor: Groups/Simon Cowell
Finally, an upbeat song made these girls more on fire than they were in previous performances. There must be something wrong with the voting if they don't make it through to next week. They made me a believer in girlbands.
CECE FREY - LADY MARMALADE
Category/Mentor: Young Adults/Demi Lovato
Poor girl always ends up in the Bottom Two just 'cause her seemingly edited audition footages portrayed her as a bitch? Give the girl a break. She really is a tryer, and in here, she's a star.
DIAMOND WHITE - DANCE WITH SOMEBODY
Category/Mentor: Teens/Britney Spears
While she could use a more unique song choice, she did infuse her own flavor into her performance, which started with an intense acoustic-driven version before moving on to the fast beats.
CARLY ROSE SONENCLAR - ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Category/Mentor: Teens/Britney Spears
She's right, an overly popular hit is not an easy thing to cover. But she slayed it like she has always done week after week.
In honor of Thanksgiving, the Top 10 acts of X Factor USA have been dedicating last night's performances to the people who matter in their lives. Still, the pressure is always on, as they must face another double elimination on tonight's results show. Who delivered the most impact? All in all, they have been very genuine. But here are the top contenders in my book. Their world-class performances have succeeded in capturing many audiences' hearts.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! :)
DIAMOND WHITE - BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME Category/Mentor: Teens/Britney Spears
FIFTH HARMONY - I'LL STAND BY YOU Category/Mentor: Groups/Simon Cowell
It's amazing that two mainstream country sensations can take on the world by storm! Proof: this year's AMAs which took place just last night -November 18 - at the prestigious Nokia Theater in LA. Congrats to Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift for taking home AMAs in their respective Country Music categories (alongside Lady Antebellum as the Best Country Band, Duo and Group): Favorite Album for Carrie and Favorite Female Artist for Taylor (literally her ELEVENTH win)!
Come pick up their latest albums and be a part of the Carrie and Taylor phenomenon:
* Blown Away - Carrie Underwood
* Red - Taylor Swift
Now it's time to relive these multitalented artists' spectacular AMA performances! :)
Vintage Hollywood is back with a glamorous yet surreal, dark twist in today's contemporary music scene. Who better to represent it than Lana Del Rey? No matter what adjective pops in everyone's head when they listen to her voice, it's undeniable that her vocal style is timeless and rich in texture like a slice of red velvet cake on an end-of-summer afternoon.
Congrats to Lana for her recent collaboration with popular fashion brand H&M! Watch her exquisite cover of "Blue Velvet", which is basically a homage to David Lynch's film works. Blue Velvet, anyone? :)
For those who are new to her, you may have heard her single Video Games from her sparkling debut album Born to Die, which you obviously can get on iTunes.
And so this tagline marks the essence of BBC America's crime drama Copper. Those who are longing for quality period shows with award-winning production just can't skip this compelling hit.
Set in 1864 New York City, the gritty show follows Irish copper Kevin Corcoran (played by the charismatic Tom Weston-Jones of MI-5) as he chase dangerous criminals all over the rough neighborhood of Five Points with his sidekick detectives while attempting to solve the mystery behind his wife's disappearance and daughter's murder along the way. The plot explores various issues relevant to those times, such as crime, class and corruption, which constructs an image of the city's actual history in that specific era.
These fine actors help build an unforgettable cast with their stunning performances:
Franka Potente (Run Lola Run, The Bourne films)
Kyle Schmid (Being Human, Smallville)
Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars, Hidden Palms)
Anastasia Griffith (Once Upon a Time, Damages)
Ato Essandoh (Damages, White Collar)
Dylan Taylor (Covert Affairs, Rookie Blue)
Kudos to the young Kiara Glasco (Haven) for her amazingly fierce portrayal of Annie Reilly, a child prostitute with a mischievous personality who ends up sticking with Corcoran as he looks out for her like she's his own kid.
All in all, it's a show to savor along with your English Breakfast tea and butter biscuits :)
Country superstar Carrie Underwood has finally announced her new single from her Blown Away album. After "Good Girl" and "Blown Away" have stormed their way into the music charts, it's only right that she lets her darker tune "Two Black Cadillacs" reign this Fall season.
I'm sure we all agree this song is too cool not to have its own music video :)
Get Blown Away at your nearest record store or on iTunes.
On October 16, Interscope artist Haley Reinhart (who's gaining momentum with her Grammy-worthy debut album Listen Up) performed a SOLD OUT online show at Stage It dedicated to her massive fans - the Haliens - all over the world, where she performed right at the comfort of her living room couch with guitarist John Notto.
The live concert that ran less than an hour gave off an acoustic, intimate, exotic vibe with an incense candle on her table. It was jam-packed with familiar tunes from Listen Up, including "Hit the Ground Running", her potential new single "Oh My" (which she recorded with award-winning rapper B.o.B. in the studio version), the bluesy rock "Keep Coming Back" and the retro-pop "Wonderland".
To spice up the set list, she also added some covers, such as Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home" and the timeless Etta James classic "At Last", which brought everyone on a trip to Old Hollywood. Simply charming :)
One of my favorite parts was when she showed the fans her adorable-looking mug. The show felt very personalized thanks to Haley's entertaining talk in between songs.
With her diamond-studded sultry voice, there's no doubt Haley is an original. Let's say those who don't appreciate her should not have the privilege to call themselves true music fans. She is America's answer to Adele and Duffy. A respectable singer-songwriter and divine inspiration.
Grab your copy of Listen Up and learn more about Haley on her official site.
We already know how epic Pretty Little Liars is with its delicious mystery and super-steamy suspense. This hot ABC Family show never fails to deliver! A trip down Mystery Lane with Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson) and Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario) in Rosewood always brings us the creepy and intense.
This Halloween, prepare yourself for a very special PLL event featuring guest star Adam Lambert - that's right, the chart-topping pop icon, hit maker and glam king! Ready to have a spooky good time? Turn your flashlight on, as "A" could be anywhere to haunt you and the girls.
Be sure to tune in to this glam-filled event next Tuesday - October 23 - at 8PM ET/PT only on ABC Family! It's a party to die for.
Once in a while, we discover a select group of singer-songwriters with a strong online presence and an original style who instantly draw us in like a magnet by our first listen. Sara Skinner is one of them! In fact, she's in a league of her own.
As a pop-rock artist, she's truly an original with the way she brings her own unique flavor to today's chart-topping hits. These are some of my favorite covers by her. If you haven't become a Skinner yet, you will be! Visit her official site for more info and follow her on Twitter. She's amazing!
