[New Music] Jewel Featuring Kelly Clarkson "Foolish Games"

Jewel's Foolish Games is one of my favourite songs by the singer-songwriter, so you can understand why I had a little "moment" (not in a good way) when I heard she was rerecording the song for her February 5th-due, greatest hits album. How was it ever going to be able to improve on the perfection the original bittersweet tale of love achieved?

[Watch] Beyonce Addresses Inauguration Lip-Syncing Fiasco and Performs US National Anthem LIVE!

There was never any question (in my mind) that Beyonce could belt out the Star Spangled Banner, live, if she wanted to. But there are those who used her controversial choice to sing over a backing track at the Obama inauguration as an excuse to throw mud at her abilities as a live vocalist. To silence the naysayers, The Queen of the Beehive, who has kept schtum on the whole affair since it happened, decided the best way to shut down those critics was to sing the anthem again, but this time, 100% live, and 100% a cappella!

Taking to the podium at the Super Bowl 2012 press conference- she's performing at the half-time ceremony, didn't you know?- the Destiny's Child member asked the audience to stand before launching into a pretty perfect rendition of the American National Anthem. If that didn't speak volumes in and of itself, the Diva then went on to address, directly, the issue of her choosing to you use a backing track at the inauguration, saying;

[Vocal Profile] Kimbra Johnson

Kimbra Johnson

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 4 Octaves 1 note and a semi-tone (C#3-D#7)
Whistle Register:Yes
Vocal Pluses: Kimbra's voice isn't like that of a powerhouse Diva, but instead its strength lies in its unique timbre and the the quirky jazz-inspired way she wields it.

Her low notes are not well supported (though an artistic decision) but are still characterful and identifiable [as demonstrated by the A#2 in Somebody Please]. She's at her most comfortable between the notes F3-C5; where the voice has a surprising warmth, tinges of smokiness, and a delicate quality [Hear: Limbo].

Overall her voice is head-dominate, which is perhaps why the weight of the voice is so light. In this upper-register, Kimbra exhibits much  freedom, being able to navigate it easily and effortlessly [Settle Down] and able to jump from a belt to a head-voice note with impressive dexterity.

Her belting range shares this dexterity-she can jump from a F3-F#5 in elastic and energetic bouts [Hear: Call Me]. However, as the voice climbs past A4 it drops weight quickly, becoming lighter but brighter and steelier in tone. To give the upper belts more substance Kimbra often layers and incorporates them within harmonies, or uses studio effects to give the sound an "artificially cavernous" one.

Vocal Negatives: Kimbra's voice doesn't carry much weight, which is surprisingly light considering how dark her tessitura is (F3-D5). Her chest voice also has a tendency to sound "throaty", which, in combination with her unusual vibrato and quirky styling, may not be to everyone's taste.

[New Music] Tweet "Enough"

Tweet has been gone too long! Eight years since her last album, It's Me Again, it looks like the singer-songwriter is finally ready to mount a comeback in 2013. 'Bout time too!

Last year, the Southern Hummingbird reminded us how much we miss her music in our life with the Soundcloud-hosted, "Tweet Tuesdays". A weekly event- unsurprisingly held on a Tuesday- where an unheard song was released to the public for exactly zero monies. However, this year a proper release is in the pipeline; with new material set to join songs already recorded for an unreleased 2008 album.

[Single Review] Nicole Scherzinger: "Boomerang"

What is it with Nicole Scherzinger? This is one Diva who can dance, can sing and has an eye for the "X-Factor". So how is it that she never seems to quite hit the mark with her own material! New single Boomerang is no different.

Produced by Will.I.Am, Boomerang is unfortunately a rather dull and flat experience. I would have loved to have heard Nicole's tones over his typical, more jagged production, but for some reason Mr I.Am decided to play Russian roulette with Nicole's comeback and dish out this undercooked record when Scherzy came knocking. I only hope she didn't pay full whack for the pleasure.

Kimberley Walsh Performs "One Day I'll Fly Away" Live @ National Television Awards

Runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing and Girls Aloud member, Kimberley Walsh has an album of cover songs (taken from popular musicals, no less) coming out next month. Did you know that? I didn't! So how did I find out about it while you remained in the dark? Well, I happened to stumble upon the video for the first single to be lifted from that album: the Randy Crawford, but Moulin Rouge inspired version, of One Day I'll Fly Away.

Beyonce Confirmed To Have Lip-Synced At Obama Inauguration

How quickly things can change in a day. Yesterday saw Beyonce sing her heart out during the President's Inauguration and, as a result of it, gain worldwide acclaim for her stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.