[Review] christina Aguilera - Accelerate

Post by: Diva Devotee

Over the years Christina Aguilera has become more well known for her stints on The Voice than her musical output. This was much to the chagrin of her fans, who really wanted a new album. Well, today she's deemed the Fighters worthy, blessing them with the title of her eighth studio album, Liberation, and (depending on its success, I'd imagine)the lead single Accelerate.

Any good? Read on and find out...

[NEW MUSIC] Lorde - Green Light

Post by: Montrez Rambo

So, Lorde is back with a new song called Green Light.

It's a nice little pop song, if a bit generic. The music video is definitely Lorde-esque with quirky rave/T-Rex arm dancing and Donald Trump style mouthing of words... The vocals were relatively decent, though she still decides to battles with her lower register and middle instead of working with it. You know, if you don't have a low voice, it's okay to not sing low. No hard feelings, of course.

[NEW MUSIC] Minzy - Ninano

Post by: Montrez Rambo

I've been waiting for this day for over a year. Who is Minzy, you may ask?

She is the former Maknae (youngest) of world renowned K-pop girl group, 2NE1. In 2015, 2NE1 had a serious scandal revolving around drug allegations. As a result, a member was forced into hiding for over a year. Meanwhile, the leader of 2NE1, CL, was preparing for an American debut, pushing everyone else in the group onto the back burner. Minzy, who had tiny rumours circulating that she'd be making a solo debut soon, was at a stand still. She continued to wait for the day she could reach out, show artistry and get recognition.

[Review] Song Run-Down, Eurovision 2016

EUROVISION TIMEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Watched by 200 million people over 50 countries, the state-spanning song contest is once again upon Europe (and some other honorary countries). Today I am going to be writing up the review as it happens. To the uninitiated, the opening catwalk is a great metaphor for the contest as a whole:it's camp and ever so slightly ridiculous.

Being hosted in Stockholm, Sweden, this year's theme is apparently "come together". How lovely! It mirrors the original sentiment of the first show which was started as a way to rebuild relationships post World War 2. Sure, make friends by having a competition(!) Genius.

Anyway, it's starting! Let's get ready for some Euro-centric fun.

Note:Each song is being reviewed as I listen and in show order. I've not heard any of the entries before, and after a brief blurb they'll be given a rating out of 5 Euros (5 being Euro-rific, 1 being Euro-trash).

[Review] Beyonce Fails to Top Self-titled Album With "Lemonade"

Lemonade has landed!

Beyonce's sixth studio album comes hot on the heels of its feature length HBO promo. Having initially been a Tidal exclusive, the LP has now made its way onto iTunes for the masses to enjoy.

Lemonade finds Beyonce at her furthest from chasing hit singles or appeasing the radio. Don't look for anything easy or immediately infectious- that came courtesy of our first sip, Formation. Instead offered is a collection of eclectic songs, held together with a strong narrative of infidelity and heartache. Sure, these are topics the Diva has tackled before, but they've never had the ring of realness they have here. Gone are the pageant, overwrought lyric and vocals, and in their place is a body of work that feels authentic and entirely more affecting.

[Review] Ariana Grande Drops The Christmas EP I Never Knew I Wanted With "Christmas & Chill"

Ariana Grande clearly is a fan of the holiday season. She already gave us her obligatory, Diva festive release in 2013's Christmas Kisses. Yet, that didn't stop her dropping another Yuletide treat last year with single Santa Tell Me. Perhaps trying to cement an association with herself and the holidays in our feeble minds, 2015 sees the Diva persist with the tradition and unwrap her new EP, Christmas And Chill.

Since it's a mini album, I'll be giving it a mini review. Take a read of my thoughts on each track, below.

Demi Lovato sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" @ Game 4 of the World Series

Demi Lovato is up in all our faces promoting the release of her latest LP, Confident.

Her latest stop was at game 4 of the World Series- whatever that is- to sing the range-y national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

[Review] Ariana Grande Delivers unto us "Problem" Pt. 2 with "Focus"!!!

Ariana Grande returns from the wilderness with the first taste from her third album, Moonlight. Brave lady. She obviously didn't get the memo of a certain someone else returning and reserving the throne until mid-quarter 2017.

[Review] Jennifer Lopez tackles Ballad, "Feel the Light", on American Idol

We're more used to Jennifer Lopez giving us choreography, with the singing being a side dish. In doing so, we often don't expect much from the Diva, vocally. As long as the show put on is enjoyable we give her a pat on the back and send her on her way. After all, JLo is known more for being an entertainer than a vocalist.

However, in promoting the Home soundtrack on American Idol, the Diva chose to sing the ballad Feel The Light. Not only did she pick a challenging song to sing, but, since she was literally static for the duration of the whole thing, she had no excuses when it came to the vocals. So, how did she fair?

[Review] Taylor Swift - "Shake It Off"

What is this noise, Taylor!? Seriously, this must be a joke, or a parody of something I'm not cool enough to have seen yet. No? This is a legitimate release, you say? Oh... Ok. Let's me proceed with the review then...*sigh*

[Review] Ariana Grande - "Best Mistake"

Ariana Grande has released a third song from her sophomore album, My Everything.

The Big Sean assisted Best Mistake is a piano-driven, merry-go-round of a love song that finally offers Ariana's light voice an opportunity to shine, without the production overpowering it- as was the case in both Break Free and Bang Bang.

[Review] Jessie J Feat. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - "Bang Bang"

Jessie J kind of fell off with her second album Alive.

Hoping to reclaim former success with album number three, the Diva has released its lead single, the much hyped Bang Bang. A song that should make her relevant alone with its featured artists: vocalist Ariana Grande and rapper Nicki Minaj.

With a gospel influence and two capable singers at its helm, I was expecting one helluva vocal show from Bang Bang. It's an expectation that never really fulfilled, with the song peaking after halfway with a throat-busting (A Cappella) run from Jessie that should see the singer blow out her voice box sometime this year when attempting live. After that "moment", it's a noisy stumble to an unsatisfying conclusion.

[Review] Mariah Carey Gets Slushy (And A Little Repetitive) With "You're Mine (Eternal)"

They're here! Mariah Carey has released the album version and remix- featuring Trey Songz- of You're Mine (Eternal). This is the third song to be lifted from the Diva's May-due album The Art Of Letting Go, and no doubt she's hoping it'll echo, and build upon, the success of her last big hit, Beautiful.

After listening to her performance of the song at the BET Honors [here] I was craving the studio version of the Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins produced You're Mine (Eternal) like a fiend. However, since hearing it in its mastered glory, the similarities it shares with Mimi's biggest hit We Belong Together have become more apparent, leaving me a little bummed. I'm definitely feeling the laid back and "direct" (read: less "whispery") vocal, but lyrically and production-wise, I feel like we've covered this ground with Mariah many, many times before.

The Diva was definitely onto something with the fresher sound she cultivated with Miguel on Beautiful- the positive public reaction attested to that. So it's a shame she decided to look to past hits for inspiration with this track, especially when has so recently been shown Mariah can still be relevant if she chooses to move forward with her music.

Still, I like You're Mine- just not as much as I thought I was going to.

Rating: B

[Review] Shakira Featuring Rihanna - "Can’t Remember To Forget You"

The first big Diva related release of the year is here: Shakira and Rihanna's team-up, Can’t Remember To Forget You.

[Album Review] Ariana Grande "Yours Truly"

Guest Reviewer: Brian Helms
Ariana Grande’s first musical project has finally come to its release date, and boy does she show a love of R&B with it. With the singles preceding the release of Yours Truly came a lot of comparisons to the young talent's favourite songbird, Mrs. Mariah Carey. With good reason too, as the young songstress can definitely sing. However, does the rest of the album continue to warrant these comparisons, or do we finally hear more of the artist’s individuality coming to the fore?

[Album Review] Charlotte Church Continues To Amaze With Ep "Three"

To those hoping to hear more from Charlotte Church's  mezzo, you need look no further than her newly released EP, Three. In fact you won't have to wait longer than the coda of first track-the stunning Sparrow- to witness the Diva deftly using its operatic weight against a cacophony of dissonant guitars. It's an apt introduction to this collection of seven songs, which are darker in tone and more experimental with the vocals.

[Review] Lady Gaga "Applause"

IT'S HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!! With her hand forced by the threat of the full song being leaked, Lady Gaga has released her comeback single Applause a full week early! Lucky us! Now if I were you, I'd listen to the iHeartRadio exclusive below before you read on. I'd hate to colour your judgement.

Okay you guys are going to hate me for even mentioning her name in this post, but is anyone else hearing Madonna's Girl Gone Wild in this? Believe me when I say I didn't go into this with even a thought of the Material Girl, but that song- which I haven't revisited since the video premièred in March of last year- pinged into my head the second Applause got to its chorus. It's not anything major, more a vague similarity, but I'd be interested to read if any of you heard it too.

Ignoring that, I like it. Gaga was never going to go back to straight pop (like many hoped)- that would have been too obvious a retreat after Born This Way-so the dance floor was the next logical step for the singer. And it's a move that totally works for her.

However, the single marks the first time Gaga could be seen to be chasing a sound rather than leading from the front or trying to innovate. Something to worry about perhaps for those who look to her for originality. Not me though, I'm glad she's not trying so hard this time around. From the cocky lyrics, to the stylised vocal, this is the "fun" Gaga we needed  after the preachy weighty Born This Way. Still, the DJ White Shadow production isn't anything special, but at least it allows for the focus to be firmly on Gaga and her great vocal.

[Single Review] MutyaKeishaSiobhan: "Flatline"

This is not the sound I was expecting MKS (Mutya Keisha Siobhan) to be launching their return to music with, so colour me surprised! I'm just not sure whether it's a good surprise or not at this moment.

Definitely sounding maturer than their last outing together- hardly a shock considering that was over ten years ago- new single Flatline sees the ladies taking an 80's pop route that initially brought to mind Fleetwood Mac's Big Love. However as the song played out, it quickly becomes less reminiscent and more contemporary, oozing the freshness that was/still is so synonymous with trio.

Producer, Dev Hynes has done a beautiful job with the song's arrangement: balancing it so it's structurally interesting throughout, but left with enough sonic space for the ladies to implement their brand of killer vocals (which are stunning!). The overall effect is one of quiet beauty, rather than that which smacks you around the head with its plumage, and that's where I worry because the song doesn't come off as immediately radio friendly. Their name alone should be enough to get Flatline on heavy rotation- which is half the battle won- but it's still undoubtedly a risky choice for a first single.

Cool, well constructed and exceptionally sung ( I especially love Siobhan's part in the bridge), Flatline is pretty great; it's just not as strong a first single as I was hoping. Still, critics are going nuts for it, so, fingers crossed, that's a positive sign of impending success for this overdue reunion.

[Review] Michelle Williams- "If We Had Your Eyes"

The only Destiny's Child member not selling music with the aide of her sexuality, Ms. Michelle Williams is back! *Yikes, that reads way more bitchy than it was in my head!* I've always had a soft spot for the Gospel favouring Diva and her new single, If We Had Your Eyes, doesn't do anything to harm those affections. They may even have increased them!

Though back on the Gospel tip, after last and secular album Unexpected failed to sell, Michelle's choice to return to her roots doesn't have the smell of failure or a U-turn about it. In fact it sounds as if she's come home, with If We Had Your Eyes ringing a lot more truer than anything found on Unexpected. (I should just say, I actually really liked that album.)

Michelle's voice is stronger than ever too, with it definitely being more commercially viable than at any other point in her career– mostly thanks to the nasal tone being somewhat tempered and her voice thickening. But not only is the vocal suitably impressive, the Harmony Samuels old-school production marries beautifully with its earthy tones and the Gospel message.

It's a promising return from Tenitra (I haven't forgotten who I am writing about, that's her Christian name!), and I look forward to hearing more from the Diva's as yet untitled fourth album– secular or not. Oh and I'm loving the spoken outro, it's giving me Who Is Jill Scott? goodness!

Buy If We Had Your Eyes @ Itunes

[Review] Listen To Mariah Carey And Miguel Make "#Beautiful" Music Together...Sorry, I Couldn't Resist...I'm Lame.

Thank God for #Beautiful! I was starting to lose faith in Mariah Carey after Triumphant (Get Em) and Almost Home failed to illicit much, if any, of the love I usually feel for an MC release. For some of you who are not so hot on her, not liking two songs might not be a big deal. But for someone like me, who can listen to her back catalogue pretty much straight through, it was more than a little disconcerting to have two strikeouts (in a row, no less) after more than a decade of consistent home runs! It was pushing me to thinking I'd fallen off the Mariah bandwagon completely, but #Beautiful has given me faith a new in Mariah! Phew!

As good as #Beautiful is, it's not perfect. But let's start with the positives. It's great to hear Mariah tackle a new sound, and though still Rnb, like most of her hits, it definitely has a more indie infusion than the Pop or Hip-hop she usually dilutes the genre with. Excitingly, it gives the singer a freshness that she hasn't enjoyed in a long while, making her sound relevant and current. Hopefully it'll help the Diva generate  the buzz needed for a hit by appealing to- and surprising- critics and non-fans alike.

Of course Mariah's voice, though more nasal, sounds stunning. Adopting an earthier/rawer timbre, the singer refrains from excess ornamentation for much of the song, adhering to a concise melody that is sensitive to the retro feel and Miguel's vocal style. Sure, she does let loose towards the end of the song, but it's totally called for, and she still manages to sound restrained (by Mariah standards) and sympathetic to the laid back air of the track- this is despite some gloriously quick melisma. Ultimately, it's a slight change in style for Mariah, but it should appeal to the current music listener who - if the success of Adele, Taylor Swift and P!nk is anything to go by- seems to have grown tired of showy vocals.