Here we go again! Another day, another rumor that Britney Spears is in talks to join The X Factor (US).
According to Us Weekly, Britney wants to join the judges’ panel on X Factor. A source tells the magazine that recently engaged “I Wanna Go” singer has a keen interest in joining Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the judges’ table for the FOX smash.”
The show recently fired judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and the show’s host, Steve Jones. While Britney is still just rumored to be joing the show, multiple sources confirmed to the magazine last week that Janet Jackson will definitely be on the show. Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie, is also in the running for the show, the source added on Wednesday. A rep for the show didn’t return calls to Us.
Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream domination isn’t over just yet! Following her futuristic performance at the 54th Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 12th), Katy’s new single, “Part Of Me,” debuted at #1 on The Billboard Hot 100 this week.
After the song was released to radio and retail the day after the awards show, the Dr. Luke produced track, which is the lead single from Katy’s new deluxe edition album, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection (in stores on March 27th), skyrocketed to the top of The Hot 100 and Digital Songs with over 411,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
This is Katy’s best career sales week, and is her 7th chart topper on The Hot 100. Katy is currently filming the music video for the song.
During a new interview with Z100, Kelly Clarkson confirmed that the amazing “Dark Side” will most likely to be the third single from her Gold-certified, album Stronger.
Her second single, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” is currently #1 on both The Hot 100 and The United World Singles Chart. The song is still rising on the radio, so we’re going to guess that the third single won’t be released for a while, but it’s nice to see that their going in the right direction with single choices for the album.
“I Forgive You” was rumored to be the next single a few weeks ago, but it looks like it will probably be released as a single later on. We think that although it’s a good song (like there’s any songs that aren’t amazing on the album), there’s just way too many songs that would work better as singles.
What song would you like as the next single from Stronger?
Adele isn’t the only diva dominating The Billboard 200 this week. Following her untimely death on February 11th, Whitney Houston’s album sales also saw a huge increase. Her greatest hits compliation (originally debuted at #5 in 2000) Whitney – The Greatest Hits leaped up four positions to #2 with over 175,000 copies sold in the first full sales week since the singer’s death.
Her greatest hits compilation wasn’t her only album to pop up on the charts. Houston’s debut album, Whitney Houston, climbs to #37 (17,000), The Bodyguard soundtrack is at #38 (17,000), I Look To You moves up to #65 (9,000), Whitney rises to #87 (7,000) The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack is at #90 (7,000), and My Love Is Your Love re-enters the Top 200 at #193 (4,000).
What are some of your favorite Whitney Houston albums?
One year ago today, Adele’s 21 was released in the US. Flash forward a year later, and the British singer has now reached her 21st non-consecutive week at the top of The Billboard Top 200 album chart after selling a whopping 703,000 more copies of 21 following her performance on The Grammy Awards two weeks ago. Billboard notes that 21 has sold a total of 7,353,000 copies of 21 in the US alone, while worldwide sales are at 20 million. The publication began using SoundScan data to track music sales in 1991, and 21 is the longest-running #1 album since that era began.
Adele has now passed Whitney Houston’s 20-week record with soundtrack for The Bodyguard, and is now the female with the longest of time spent at #1 on the album chart’s history. The “Someone Like You” second album is now tied with MC Hammer’s 1990 album, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, which was the last album to spend 21 weeks atop the chart.
It looks like fans were rushing to stores to by Adele’s first album as well, because her 2008 debut album, 19, also climbed up the charts to #4 with over 87,000 copies sold last week. It looks like Adele wasn’t the only artist who benefited from The Grammy Awards. The Grammy Nominees compilation album along with the latest albums from Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars, Lady Antebellum and the Civil Wars all saw impressive sales following the awards show.
The Top 10 Of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart
1. Adele, 21*21 weeks*
2. Whitney Houston, Whitney – The Greatest Hits
3. Various, Now 41
4.Adele, 19
5. Various, 2012 Grammy Nominees
6.Van Halen, A Different Kind Of Truth
7. Paul McCartney, Kisses On The Bottom
8. Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans
9. Lady Antebellum, Own The Night
10. The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
It must be extremely difficult dealing with your private problems, especially when you’re a young star in the Hollywood spotlight. Demi Lovato is up for the challenge as she chats with MTV about struggling with depression, cutting, and bulimia in the trailer for her upcoming MTV special Demi Lovato: Stay Strong.
The “Skyscraper” singer says that although she initially hated being called a role model, she’s up for it now. “I had so many issues underneath that needed to be taken care of,” Demi said. “I’m not fixed. This is a daily battle. But, I continue to work my butt off, because now I want to be a legitimate role model.”
Watch the pop star visit her treatment facility, and deal with her first Thanksgiving since leaving rehab in the trailer below.
She has six Grammys and seven American Music Awards under her belt, so there’s never been any doubt that Toni Braxton can belt out a song. The “Breathe Again” singer also showed her fans at a recent stop of her tour that just like a fine wine, she only gets better with age.
Last night, the 45 year-old singer’s voice wasn’t the only thing wowing the crowd. Her outfit was just as show stopping. Toni looked absolutely breathtaking in a to the stage in a dramatic purple dress which boasted a waist-high split, backless detail and sheer material, while on stage at The Nokia Theatre, in LA.
The Braxton Family Values star also hinted on Twitter a few days ago that she’d like to be a judge on the next season of The X Factor (US) before of her concert. When a fan tweeted that she’d love to see her on the show on Twitter, @ Jasmine_Sharee: @SimonCowell I’m thinking you should make@tonibraxton a judge on @thexfactorusa…yup that sounds epic to me,” Toni replied, “aww thanks!”
We LOVE the idea of Toni joining The X Factor (US)! Who better to help mentor new talent than someone who’s been in the music business as long as Toni?
One Direction may not be a name that you recognize right away, but that’s something that’s sure to change come Spring. The British/Irish boyband, consisting of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, came in third on the seventh season of The X Factor (UK), have taken over the music scene overseas, and will surely to be the next big import here in the U.S.
But, with the array of cookie-cutter groups that try to make it year after year, there’s always that one that actually does. And can you guess which group that is? Yup, One Direction (or as their fans simply call them, “1D”). Sure, at first glance they look like just another boyband made up of pretty faces with a polished wardrobe, but there’s something more to these guys that sets them apart. They’re unique, charming, and most of all, talented (hey, they’re Simon Cowell approved!) They don’t have synchronized choreography, or even dress alike. And in every interview and public appearance, their level of comfort and candidness is refreshing… almost too refreshing.
Although they did not win the very show that put them on A-list, they definitely have the “x factor” needed to succeed. After signing a £2 million record deal with Simon Cowell’s label, Syco Music (even though that’s usually set aside for the winner), they proved that they were unstoppable. Their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” was released in September of 2011, and sold over 153,365 copies in its first week on the charts. The single quickly became the third best selling single of 2011 on the UK singles chart, and is on its way to dominating the charts here in the states, too. (The single broke into the Top 10 on iTunes within a couple of days of its release last week.)
One Direction’s debut album, Up All Night, is filled with solid, power-pop anthems which will surely help them cross over into the mainstream. The group worked with top-notch producers like Steve Mac, Matt Squire, Rani Yacomb and Red One have all contributed to help perfect the album’s overall sound production. Unlike most of the groups at the moment, the album isn’t soaked in club-influenced beats that drown out their vocals. One Direction also had help from a fellow talent competition contestant turned superstar on Up All Night. The original (and our favorite) American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, wrote “Tell Me A Lie” for their debut album. The song, which features her signature guitar sound and catchy lyrics, is another pop-rock tune that would make a great single. While, we think that it would fit perfectly on her latest album, Stronger, we’re happy that the guys got to use it for their album. They add a fun element to the song that only they could do.
The group’s second UK single (which may very well be their second here as well), ”Gotta Be You,” follows the theme of their charming lead single, and also showcases their vocal abilities even more so. One Direction surpassed the audience’s expectations of what a modern boyband can do at a results show for The X Factor (UK) last year, when they debuted the song with a breathtaking performance. The combination of vibrant keyboard strings and top-notch vocals (check out those high notes) makes this track a timeless pop ballad.
While the album’s tracks stay mainly in the pop-rock genre, it does come with a euro-influenced sound. One of our favorite songs on the album is the infectiously catchy pop-dance number, “Stole My Heart.” The Brian Rawling and Paul Meehan produced club banger shows the group’s musical versatility, and is reminiscent of the group’s X Factor performance of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World).”
Up All Night is a strong debut album. Not only could any of the songs work as singles, but the lyrics capture the realism of what some relationships are like today without being overly cliché (ala the cookie-cuter groups of boybands’ past), which is exactly why we believe that One Direction will have no problem resonating with teenage girls (and even many adults) in the US.
So, boys, get those passports out, you’re about to take the world by storm!
Click HERE to pre-order One Direction’s Up All Night.
Christina’s definitely the diva on The Voice, but it looks like she’s being a diva for other reasons that her talent. According to sources, the singer is irritating the crew and other celebrity judges on the hit singing show because the extra weight that she’s put on. Although the singer had said in several interviews that she loves her curves, it looks like she feels differently about them while filming the show.
Insiders on the show said, “The reason behind it all is she is unhappy with the extra weight she has put on, and spends a lot of time trying to make sure she is filmed at the best possible angles so she does not look plump.”
A source revealed, “Christina holds up production with her constant demands, saying, ‘Don’t make me look fat,’ or ‘Don’t show my butt.’ She insists the cameramen only shot her at flattering angles, forcing a few segments to be re-shot. She also demands that stylists bring her the latest slimming fashions, and she’s always ordering the makeup artists to make her face look thinner.”
“Christina has turned into a bullying diva,” said the show’s source. “In interviews, she likes to say that she’s at peace with her new curves, but that’s not how she really feels.”
While most of the judges are tolerating her diva-like behavior, it looks like fellow judge Adam Levine isn’t okay with it. The website adds that he thinks she is behaving unprofessional and believes that producers should not pander to her demands.
We’re not sure why she’s not happy with her new curves. Singers like Adele have shown that it’s okay not to be stick skinny, and that being curvy is beautiful. We think that she looks great! Maybe she should listen to “Beautiful” a few more times.
If there’s one thing that we love more than pop music itself, it’s popstar BFFs. And, when it comes to popstar besties, Katy Perry and Rihanna are definitely our favorites! Although Katy couldn’t join Ri Ri for her birthday in London, she did send her galpal a heartfelt tweet.
“@rihanna HAPPY BIRFDAY u hoodrat, bearcunt, crazy, sexy ass, freaky whole bit beotch. I <3 u so much. Keep it real tonight, as I know u will!”
Okay, so maybe it’s more funny than heartfelt, but we definitely love their sense of humor! Katy is currently filming the music video for her new single, “Part Of Me,” so we can see why she wasn’t able to be with her best friend for her birthday while she’s in The UK. As wacky as they are, we love them together. We would have much rather had Katy on Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” remix than you know who!
