The D.J. Art Print
Bua, Justin
Buy at AllPosters.com
Some things are just so outstanding that you don’t have to say anything about them. This music art print, The DJ, by Justin Bua is just such a thing. The DJ would be a gorgeous addition to a dorm room, an office, a bedroom, music room, living room, den, game room… just about any room you can think of.
Love it!
The Academy of Country Music announced the nominees for the April 18th ceremony. My much, much, much, much beloved Lady Antebellum is up for seven awards – the most of any nominees, thank you so very much. Lady Antebellum was followed by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood who have 6 nominations each. Taylor Swift is up for 5. I’m not sure how the Zac Brown band can’t be up for at least as many but they may just fall into the same area Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins always have – the fans love them to distraction and back, but the ACMAs aren’t entirely sure what to make of them. I’d walk across glass then go back and eat every piece to see any of them perform.
The entire list of nominees is below – I’ve colored my favorites red because… well, I can. I have a few ties that I just couldn’t decide between. Let me know in the comments who your favorites are.
Entertainer of the Year:
• Kenny Chesney • Toby Keith • Brad Paisley • George Strait • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Keith Urban • Zac Brown Band
Top Male Vocalist:
• Kenny Chesney • Brad Paisley • Darius Rucker • George Strait • Keith Urban
Top Female Vocalist:
• Miranda Lambert • Reba McEntire • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Lee Ann Womack
Top Vocal Group:
• Lady Antebellum • Little Big Town • Randy Rogers Band • Rascal Flatts • Zac Brown Band
Top Vocal Duo:
• Brooks & Dunn • Joey + Rory • Montgomery Gentry • Steel Magnolia • Sugarland
Top New Solo Vocalist:
• Luke Bryan • Jamey Johnson • Chris Young (nothing but love for Jamey too, though!)
Top New Vocal Duo:
• Bomshel • Joey + Rory • Steel Magnolia
Top new Vocal Group:
• Eli Young Band • Gloriana • The Lost Trailers
Album of the Year:
• American Saturday Night – Brad Paisley • Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum • Play On – Carrie Underwood • Revolution – Miranda Lambert • The Foundation – Zac Brown Band
Single Record:
• Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • People Are Crazy – Billy Currington • Red Light – David Nail • Toes – Zac Brown Band • White Liar – Miranda Lambert
Song:
• Cowboy Casanova – Carrie Underwood • Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • People Are Crazy – Billy Currington • White Liar – Miranda Lambert • You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
Video:
• Boots On – Randy Houser • Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • Welcome To The Future – Brad Paisley • White Liar – Miranda Lambert • You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
Vocal Event:
• Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins • Honky Tonk Stomp – Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons • I Told You So – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis • I’m Alive – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews • Seeing Stars – Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin
I seriously try to keep things positive – I have an inner Mary Poppins, you know. But, I have to just ask – how in the world did You Belong with Me find itself in the nominations? It’s not Taylor’s best and it certainly isn’t Country Music’s best. Oh, well, I don’t want to end on a negative note, so I’ll just say how proud I am of the ACMAs for recognizing Lady Antebellum, The Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, and Hillbilly Bone.
I also want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Joey + Rory! As much as I love Montgomery Gentry, I wouldn’t be upset at all if they won the category. Of course… come on…. we all know who will. Not only do the ACMAs love, love, love Brooks & Dunn, they’re more likely than ever to give them the award since they announced that they’re breaking up.
Congrats to all of the nominees – just about all of them are very well-deserved. A few categories (like to new solo vocalist for example) could, literally, go any way. It’s been an outstanding year in Country Music!
BMI Honored Miranda Lambert for her First #1 single with a 1940’s style bash. A few hundred people helped her celebrate at The Cellar on February 26, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
My only thought is this, how could this be Miranda Lambert’s first number one single? The girl has been putting out incredible songs for some time now. Wow. Congratulations for an honor that, in all honesty, should have come much sooner. Miranda Lambert is one of the biggest stars in Country Music right now – with a voice as good as anyone on the radio.
Enjoy these pictures of Miranda Lambert from the event. You’ll recognize her boyfriend and fellow country music superstar (Love Hillbilly Bo-bo-bo-bo-bo Bone!) Blake Shelton. You’ll also probably recognize Kellie Pickler. I say probably because when I first saw the pictures of Kellie, I couldn’t figure out if it was Kellie Pickler or a very thin Kelly Osborne.
Brett Michaels was the lead singer for one of my all-time favorite bands, Poison. As a song writer, the man has as much talent as he does as a singer and performer. I think he’s just excellent in all of these areas, so I’m beyond excited to announce that he’s launching a solo career.
I’ve also got nothing but love for Miley Cyrus – she’s as talented as she is beautiful. She has way too much talent for one person… especially for one so young. I honestly will go so far as to say I think she has the best voice of any of the young singers out there right now. Yes, including the reigning queen of country music radio.
So, I guess there was no way on earth I was NOT going to love a duet featuring Brett Michaels and Miley Cyrus (a combination I never expected to type, let alone hear). When I was sent this song, I nearly fell out of my chair – the first word out of my mouth was, “Random.” I was so excited for its potential that I was half afraid to listen to the song.
Am I ever glad I overcame the jitters. The song is called “Nothing to Lose” and I couldn’t love it more. Check it out for yourself.
Sun 03.07.10 Hidalgo, TX State Farm Arena
Fri 03.12.10 Fargo, ND The Venue @ The Hub
Sat 03.13.10 Clear Lake, IA The Surf Ballroom
Mon 03.15.10 Dubuque, IA Mississippi Moon Bar
Wed 03.17.10 Chicago, IL Joe’s
Thu 03.18.10 Hayward, WI LCO Casino
Fri 03.19.10 Red Lake, MN Seven Clans Casino
Sat 03.20.10 Clive, IA 7 Flags Event Center
Tue 03.23.10 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
Thu 03.25.10 St. Louis, MO Ameristar Casino
Fri 03.26.10 Kansas City, MO Ameristar Casino
Sat 03.27.10 Primm, NV Primm Valley Casino Resort
Mon 03.29.10 Green Bay, WI Oneida Casino
Tue 03.30.10 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Wed 03.31.10 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Thu 04.01.10 Prestonsburg, KY Mountain Arts Center
Fri 04.02.10 Nashville, TN Wild Horse Saloon
Sat 04.03.10 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center
Fri 04.09.10 Ardmore, OK Heritage Hall
Sat 04.10.10 Ft. Worth, TX Billy Bob’s Texas
Sun 04.11.10 San Antonio, TX Nautilus Amphitheater
Sat 04.24.10 Florence, IN Belterra Resort & Casino
Wed 05.05.10 Denver, CO Grizzly Rose
Thu 05.06.10 Colorado Springs, CO Cowboys
Sat 05.08.10 Rio Puerco, NM Route 66 Casino
Wed 05.12.10 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Thu 05.13.10 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
Fri 05.14.10 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Fri 05.28.10 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Casino
Sat 06.05.10 Fort Yates, ND Prairie Knights Casino & Resort
Fri 07.23.10 Sioux Falls, SD Dakota Rock Fest
Fri 08.06.10 Clearfield, PA Clearfield County Fair
Fri 09.03.10 Indianapolis, IN Military Park
Brett Michaels Official Website
When I first read the following this morning, I thought, “Has Solange completely lost her mind? Rihanna doesn’t need to rip off anyone or anything – she’s Rihanna for crying out loud.” Here’s what Solange tweeted after seeing Rihanna’s Rude Boy video:
“It’s flattering and frustrating when somebody does things u dif before way later. Well….. It’s actually kind of funny. Over and over. I think there’s emotion behind it because if you have been considered, “weird, kooky,” ect. scince u were a lil kid, & made fun of terribly and then u see folk who hopped on the “weird train” now that it’s pop culture to be “different”…it’s innnteeerrreesttting!”
Then. I. Watched. The. Video. In. Question.
There’s no denying that whoever was in charge of making the video used similar effects. I mean, when you put the videos side by side and play them (going back and forth between the two) it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Rihanna’s body, of course, serves as a pretty good compass – but other than that….
With gazillions of videos made a year, similar effects are going to show up. It’d kind of be like the first country star to wear a cowboy hat and drive a pick up truck in a video pointing his finger and laughing at the other stars who do it today. It’d be like, if they have more success with it now than you did… maybe they’re doing it better.
I don’t have anything against Solange – she’s a lovely, talented girl and I’m really surprised that she’s not a huge star in her own right – but, in all fairness to Rihanna, I doubt seriously she creates her own videos and if she did, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t say, “I want this to be a hot one – let’s see what Solange has done in the past.”
I mean, I had to search out the video to even see what it was!
What do you think?
Great song, but I think I love the video even more. Who couldn’t appreciate the Chris Brown look alike and the whole in your face attitude? It’s like she flies the finger at him with her entire body. And what a body – good Lord, this girl is ridiculous.
Matt Kemp, Rihanna’s rumored lover, has gone on record as saying that they’re “just good friends.”
Rihanna was first linked to the baseball player at the end of last year, and rumors of a budding romance hit an all-time high when they were spotted vacationing in Mexico. They were also spotted watching a basketball game together in Los Angeles, fueling reports they are dating.
Rihanna recently dispelled the rumors by saying she’s “not dating anyone — I’m single,” and now Los Angeles Dodgers star Kemp has spoken out, too, by saying their relationship is purely platonic.
He tells People, “I can’t get distracted by that. When it’s time to play baseball, that’s my job. No distractions. (Rihanna is) just a friend, a good friend of mine.”
Jason Castro took some time on his current “State Lines Tour” for an interview with CNN’s Shanon Cook. The singer/songwriter shares his experience playing shows across the country at both clubs and local high schools. Watch the interview below to find out how life is going for Jason on the road and what to expect from his debut album due out in the spring!
Afterward, head over to JasonCastroMusic.com for a complete list of tour dates, exclusive videos and Jason’s web store. The Love Uncompromised EP is available now.
Internationally rising star Agnes was the youngest winner of Sweden’s American Idol at 17 years old, and now only four years later her eyes on are on the USA. The rising star is currently featured on Access Hollywood’s “On The Download” where she is called an artist to watch in 2010. Agnes has made a huge splash in the dance/club scene with her single “Release Me” and is ready for the mainstream as the song crosses over to pop radio.
“My music is pop, dance and a little bit disco,” says Agnes. “The songs on this album – it’s a lot of up-tempo songs – but the most important thing is just having good songs and good melodies. I like to debut my songs just singing to guitar accompaniment, so that people can hear the melodies.”
Read the rest of the interview here to find out about Agnes’ love for music, role models and forthcoming album release.
When I first saw pictures, I couldn’t help thinking how much Agnes reminds me somehow of a beautiful mixture of a couple of my favorite artists, Leona Lewis and Shakira. Then, I heard her amazing voice, and she kind of reminds me of them vocally as well. Given the fact that I am completely obsessed with Shakira and Leona Lewis, it’s high praise from me indeed.
I can’t even tell you how much faith I have in this impending girl’s rise to the top. To give you somewhat of an idea, I’ve already given her her own Category heading. – - – - — – - – - ->
Watch for future Agnes pictures, updates, videos, and audio. It’ll be fun watching her star shoot through the air.
Growing up in the small town of V’nersborg, Sweden, music was always an integral part of Agnes Carlsson’s life. Her career took off at the tender age of 17 as the youngest-ever Pop Idol winner (Sweden’s American Idol counterpart), triggering a string of chart successes in Sweden. As she grew up, her style evolved. She was introduced to songwriter and producer Anders Hansson in 2008 and the creative sparks began to fly as Hansson’s dance-flavored production allowed Agnes to express her drive, energy and attitude, and of course, let loose with her incredible vocals. Release Me is the result of this studio alchemy and announces the arrival of a major new talent.
Release Me was released earlier this summer, and became a pan-European smash before spreading to airwaves around the world, from South Africa to Israel to Australia. The video for Release Me has already hit well over 5 million views on YouTube.
The album Dance Love Pop is soon to be released internationally and contains smashes like On And On and Love Love Love, both already proven hits in Sweden. Through beats and ballads, the album showcases Agnes at her best.
With her infectious enthusiasm, sparkling energy and stunning vocal ability, Agnes is on the way to becoming one of music’s biggest new names.
There’s a little controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s wins at that Grammy’s. There’s a little controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s performance at the Grammy’s. There’s a little controversy surrounding the fact that there’s a little controversy.
Are there better, pure, natural singers out there? Sure. Taylor doesn’t quite own the range or perfection that the vocal gods saved for…. say, Martina McBride, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill or Carrie Underwood. However, lets give the young lady her dues: She writes just about all of her own material (and is a wonderful songwriter, especially considering the fact that she has only 19 years of experience to draw upon), she sings from the heart, there is nothing at all fake about her, and she has a wonderful girl-next-door quality that I hope and pray she never loses.
If you’re one of the ones who questions her dues, look at record sales. The girl is outselling everyone – how are you going to question that? Maybe, just maybe, what most of us want isn’t necessarily a perfect voice (whatever that is) or a perfect pitch (oooh, exciting). Maybe we want someone who sings the song like the song means something to them. Maybe we’re all tired of the overly-pampered, ridiculous holier-than-thou divas with their lists of demands and notebooks filled with what the world owes them. Maybe we’re totally over the trashy, good for absolutely nothing trouble makers who only amuse themselves.
Maybe we’re looking for someone who we actually like and we want to listen to.
The next time someone gets bent out of shape over Taylor Swift, I challenge them to swing around their radio dial and listen to some of the other popular artists (male and female from every genre). The bottom line is, Taylor sounds as good as any of them and better than a lot. She’s as apt to suffer jitters in live performances as anyone…. she’s 19!
Personally, I think she’s experiencing something that the Yankees, Microsoft, UK Basketball, the Lakers, and McDonald’s experience. When you’re on top, people come after you with magnifying glasses and criticism. Why not just realize that if someone’s on top, they didn’t get there by making a wish. They worked for it, they paid their dues, they have fan bases in the millions, and they earned it. Enjoy them!
A lot is being written about who wore what at the Grammys and who looked the best… the worst… the most ridiculous, and so on. I’m gabberflasted (sorry, I thought it was high time this word was pulled out of retirement – Colbie’s worth it) that beautiful Colbie Caillat isn’t getting more attention. Personally, I think the lady put on a clinic: This is how you look gorgeous and sexy while standing out without looking like a danged fool. She didn’t play it too safe but treated the evening with the respect and class it deserved. A few female artists looked like they were going to the prom (way, way too safe) – while a few looked like absolute jokes.
Colbie showed how it should be done. Gorgeous. Click each thumbnail for a larger view – you’ll want to do that, you’ll very much want to do that.
