Kelly Clarkson: Mr. Know It All

I’ll admit it.  I voted for Justin Guarini.  I really thought he was going to win it all.  It was the very first season of American Idol and I fell in love with the show instantly.  And I fell in love with Justin Guarini.  I’m not ashamed. He was talented!  He was cute!  He had that…hair!  But halfway through the season, the real star emerged. Kelly Clarkson was the cute one from Texas with the amazing voice.  SHE went on to win it all.  She is still the face of American Idol.  The very first winner.

Kelly’s been away from the pop spotlight for awhile.  She had some serious mega hits including, my favorite, “Since You’ve Been Gone.” But then she left and did some country.  Her duet with Jason Aldeen, “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” topped the country charts.  But what is most exciting is that she’s back with a brand new pop song. “Mr. Know It All”  is a fun, tell-em-off anthem.  She’s mad at the boy.  She’s mad at the tabloids.  It’s time to sing about it!  You go, girl!

Here’s the brand new video.  Happy Friday.

John Mayer: Get Well Soon

I’m a big fan of John Mayer.

I know he’s had some trouble keeping his mouth shut about past personal relationships.  Yes, I know he’s a serial dater and a bit of a playboy.  Yes, he might even be arrogant and a little self absorbed sometimes.  I just like his music.  I think he’s an amazing artist and songwriter.  He’s also a quiet philanthropist.  So I was sad when he wrote this on his Tumblr blog a few weeks back. (I wish John would get back on Twitter but, again, he had some issues there as well.)

“Hi everyone,

After several months of going week to week monitoring and hoping to correct the condition, I am forced to cancel my upcoming singing engagements due to something next to my vocal cords called a granuloma. 

I’m bummed to have to bow out of both the iheartradio Music Festival in Las Vegas and an appearance with Tony Bennett in Los Angeles. I know there were people depending on me to be there and I’m sorry that I can’t be on those stages. 

‘Born and Raised’ is complete as far as music recording, song selection, and in some cases mixing, but because of this condition I couldn’t finish singing on several of the tracks. This means the record will be released next year instead of this fall or winter. 

This is a temporary setback, though I’m not sure how long or short a period of time it will be. I’ve got the best doctors in the country looking after me and I will be singing and touring again as soon as I get the all clear. Until then I’ll be spending time writing and composing more music and kicking an empty soup can around the West Village. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon. Until then take good care.

John”

Get well soon, JM.  I can’t wait to hear “Born and Raised” and to see you in Jacksonville again soon.

 

The R.E.M. Post That Turned Into a Hootie Video

Iconic rock band R.E.M. has retired.  They made the big announcement yesterday.

I honestly have not thought about R.E.M. in YEARS, but I had a twinge of nostalgia when I heard the news. R.E.M.’s song “Superman” was my college anthem.  I’m a Delta Gamma and we would play that song at every party and sing, “I Am. I Am. I Am. Delta Gam.”  My entire sorority even went on a bus trip to see R.E.M. in concert.  It was just a bunch of girls (okay, there were boys too) hanging on the lawn and singing all the words.  We watched Michael Stipe shimmy all around that stage and we danced right along with him.  There might have been some beer drinking too. You know, for those of us 21 and up.

It’s weird because R.E.M. also made me think of Hootie and the Blowfish’s power ballad “Let Her Cry.” Remember that one?  Of course you do.  You still hear it every day on that elevator music radio station.  But have you really LISTENED to it?  It’s a great song and it’s my favorite Hootie song of all time.  Here’s a fun fact: two of the guys in Hootie went to my high school.  I told them that when I met them at a record store signing back in 1993.  It was just me and maybe 10 other people because their album had just been released.  They sang an acoustic set right there among the cassette tapes.  It’s a great memory.  Well, here’s Hootie’s Darius Rucker, now a successful country music artist, singing a stripped down version of “Let Her Cry.”  Michael Stipe’s not far behind.

RIP R.E.M.

Maroon 5 at NFL Kickoff Show: Moves Like Jagger

I’m obsessed with this song right now.  Just ask my two kiddies who wonder why I blast it at top volume every time I hear it on the radio.  I’ve always loved Maroon 5 and Adam Levine is just so dreamy.

Here they are performing “Moves Like Jagger” at last night’s NFL Kickoff Show in Green Bay.

Happy Friday.

MTV VMAs 2011: Adele’s “Someone Like You”

When Adele started to sing “Someone Like You” at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, Hubbie and I both stopped typing on our laptops and looked up at the television.

We had to watch this incredible stripped-down performance.  Her voice is beautiful.  This song is amazing.  Just give this woman a microphone and a stage and she is undeniable.

You’ve done it again, Adele.

Scotty McCreery: I Love You This Big

Here’s the official music video for “I Love You This Big” by Scotty McCreery. It’s the American Idol Season 10 winner’s debut single. My favorite line is “I love you to the moon and back.”  He’s just so darn cute.

I was a fan of Scotty’s from the very beginning and I’m so happy he won.  I’ve always loved country music.  And I think the video is perfect for him.  It’s simple.  It’s down to earth.  It’s true country.  The fun thing is he’s from Garner, North Carolina, a small town near Raleigh where I lived for five years.  It’s a wonderful place to live and I’m sure everyone there is just thrilled for their hometown boy.

Taylor Swift: Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”

Yo! I love this girl.

Taylor Swift covered Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” during her concert stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan last week.  She’s been paying homage to hometown artists in each city of her Speak Now tour. She chose Eminem’s Oscar-winning song for her show outside Detroit.  And she remembered all the words!  That’s not easy. Here’s the video of that ultra cool performance followed by her cute crowd pleasing cover of Uncle Kracker’s “Smile.”  I adore that purple dress, Tay!

Stingy: Jordan Knight feat. Donnie Wahlberg

Here’s the official music video for Jordan Knight’s new song, Stingy.  Okay, I’ll admit. I did not LOVE this song the first time I heard it.  And I’m a HUGE fan of Jordan and the New Kids on the Block.  But this super hot video is convincing me that this song is pretty darn good.  It also features my sister’s favorite, Donnie Wahlberg (or D-Dub. Hee.)

The Fresh Beat Band: Here We Go

You know you’re a Mom when…

You can’t get this song out of your head!  I’ve been singing this all week.  It’s Nick Jr’s “The Fresh Beat Band” and their new single, “Here We Go.”  It’s pretty darn awesome.

Happy Friday.

Demi Lovato: Skyscraper

There was a time, a few years back, when I could not tell the difference between all the young, cute girls who starred on the popular Disney Channel television shows.  Then, Hannah Montana made Miley Cyrus a HUGE superstar and I saw her first interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show.  I was floored by her immense popularity.  After that, I took notice.  Not just of Miley, but of all the other girls on the scene like Raven Symone and Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.  They were all young and talented and every little girl began to worship them.  You could not miss the posters and bed sheets in all the tween stores.  But I couldn’t tell you which one starred in iCarly or Suite Life of Waverly Place or Wizards of something or other.

Then, Miley grew up and showed her independence…maybe she showed a little TOO much of her independence.   Moms like me got upset. What happened to this adorable young star with the big smile whose Daddy was her best friend?  It was reminiscent of when Britney tumbled off that role model pedestal we all built for her.

I now know who Selena Gomez is because she recently started dating boy wonder Justin Bieber.  That’s probably NOT what she wants to be known for, is it?  And then there was poor Demi Lovato.  The headlines were bad.  She got in a fist fight with one her back up dancers. She canceled her tour.  Some said it was because she was depressed about a breakup with her best friend, Joe Jonas. There were also reports that she cut herself and had an eating disorder.  Just some really awful, sad stuff.

Demi left the scene, went to rehab, and took care of herself which, I think, was the most important decision she’s ever made.  I hope she also got lots of hugs from her Mama.  These kids are just that…kids.  They are young girls growing up in front of us.  They were blessed with extraordinary talents, but that doesn’t mean they don’t struggle with peer pressure and body issues and heart break too. And, let’s be honest, it’s magnified for all the world to see.  I know it was their choice (maybe?) to go into the entertainment business and I don’t think I would allow my daughter to enter that world until she was AT LEAST 18 years old, but the truly awesome thing about falling down in front of everyone is that you can also show the world how you can stand right back up.  And that’s what Demi did.  In front of everyone.

Here’s the premiere of the video for her brand new song, Skyscraper.  It’s raw and real and beautiful.  This is what girl power is all about.

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