[Video Spam] Watch New Music From Fatih Evans, India Arie, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus!

We all know I'm pretty terrible at keeping on top of new releases and such- which is crazy considering I "run" a music blog. But I'm not sure if anyone else even caught the release of this new video from Faith Evans. Knowing my luck, it's an old song/video and Faith's team has only just posted it to her Vevo but since I've never heard it before, I'm posting it!

Dumb- no, I haven't resorted to name calling, that's the song's name- is an energetic, Motown-inspired romp, which pairs Faith's raspy and soulful voice with a quick tempo and playful sound to dizzying effect. Yep, the video is #BUUUUUUUDDGET but a quick wiki tells me why: the song isn't from a new album but from a compilation album, entitled R&B Divas, which was released last year. So I was kind of right and wrong about the song; it's old, but the video is new.

Still, I'm glad to have our first lady of Bad Boy back!

[Discuss] Should Rihanna Act More Like A Role Model and Less Like "Pop's Poisonous Princess"?

Rihanna has one again been cussed out in the media, this time for being a "toxic role model for her army of young fans". Citing the Umbrella singer's use of drugs, the rekindling of her relationship with abuser Chris brown, and her dress sense, columnist Liz Jones took to her platform at the Daily Fail Mail to spread her (childless) opinions on why Rihanna is corrupting a generation of kids.

Now, I'm not one to listen to Liz Jones at the best of times- I think she writes to troll- but this article was something else, even by her standards! When a supposedly educated individual can write the sentence, "She (Rihanna) promotes... the sort of fashion sense on stage that surely invites rape at worst, disrespect at least", you have to question if this individual is a sandwich short of a picnic. Since when did rape become the fault of the victim?

But what about some parity. Surely if women should be acting as role models for young girls, then their male counterparts should have the same consideration for the boys of today? Well, according to Liz, they needn't worry about it because, "young women are far more impressionable than young men". Really? That's not how I remember it! So being well behaved and "good" should only be practised by the female entertainers of this world? Sexist much? If these two statements alone don't make you question the sanity of this woman, I recommend you subscribe to her posts because you've found a (rare) friend in Liz!

[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

[Versus] Who Sang "Stay" (Live) Better: Demi Lovato Or Rihanna?

Demi Lovato is one of the new generation of Divas- along with Ariana Grande- whose vocal profile gets a heck of a lot of hits daily. Not only that, but I know there are a number of regular readers, or "Lovatics", who also enjoy the X-Factor USA judge's musical output and voice. This being so, I thought I'd play to the crowd and post her rendition of Rihanna's Stay, which was filmed at the B96 Pepsi Summer Smash in Chicago.

Needless to say, Demi has no problem handling the Mikky Ekko assisted duet. For the most part she refrains from going crazy with the pipes, sticking pretty faithfully to the song's melody. But let's get real, no one wants to hear a cover sang exactly as the original was- there's kinda no point- and Demi knows it, "Lovatomising" the song at its climax by taking it up an octave. Vocally impressive, but does it match or even best Rihanna's original?

[Vocal Profile] Haley Reinhart

Haley Reinhart

Vocal Type: Light Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: D3-E6 (3 octaves, 1 note)
Tessitura: D4-E5 (1 octave, 1 note)
Whistle Register: No

Vocal Pluses: An emotive singer, this Diva demonstrates great control over her instrument in its upper reaches. Her voice is characterized by its ability to growl emotively, and go from a sweet whisper, to a belt at forte. Her voice also has a nice natural rasp that gives the voice a false sense of thickness.

Haley Reinhart's lower register, is thin and lacks resonance, though the tone is nasal, reedy, and sweet. She loses resonance as she dips below B3. Despite this fact, she wields it with nice artistry; using the thinness of this register to give the voice a great sense of dynamics, being able to go from a low whisper-like note to an elastic belt easily [Hear: Oh My]. However, her technique in this region is questionable, with notes often being reached by forcing the larynx down.

Her mid voice, spanning C4-C5, is still light in both weight and volume which gives her voice an overly delicate and youthful sound [Hear: Wasting Tears]. The voice breaks at around C5 where her falsetto gives way. Her tone in this area is rather guttural and edgy at times [Hear:Wasting Tears] but can be softer, and cooler [Hear: Hit the Ground Running ]. This area is quite easily accessed, though at times she can sound monotone.

Her belting register is her strongest suit, spanning from B4-G#5. She uses this part, combined with her ability to mix and her extensive volume control, to give the voice added dynamic [as heard in the D5 of Oh My and the C#5 of the chorus of Undone]. She has quite a durable voice, being able to "growl" for extensive periods with little if any resulting vocal deterioration. She also has extensive stamina in this region, being able to sing difficult lyrical passages [as heard in her many American Idol covers and her song Keep Coming Back]. Her tone in this region is very reedy, though its texture is very raspy.

Haley has a well developed mix and relies heavily on falsetto, rather than true head voice. It extends upwards to Soprano E. Her tone here is a dead ringer for a piccolo, and is in contrast to the rest of her voice. It is warm and has a light weight fragility to it. She can switch to head tones within the space of a breath and exhibits great dexterity here. Her mix is stellar and uses great technique to achieve this sound. (Just about every single song she has created shows off her head tones.)

Vocal Negatives: Thin light voice, is a very acquired taste and has trouble being heard over instrumentation in a live setting. Her technique in her belting register needs polish, as there is questionable technique and a lack of mixing involved when singing. Her growling, similarly, employs questionable technique. A listener may also take issue with the nasal and bight tone present in her full voice,  her rasp, and her weak lower register.

Thanks to Montrez Rambo for this Profile! 

[Cover] Florence Welch Works Her Magic With Icona Pop's "I Love It" @ HRC Benefit

Here's something I wasn't expecting to see, EVER: Florence Welch covering Icona Pop's thumping dance track I Love It.

With the original version housing a rebellious and petulant vocal courtesy of Charli XCX, I couldn't even fathom how someone with as contrasting a voice as the Welchster would bend the song to her musical will. The answer, was of course, for Florence to strip the track back, slow it down and give her wavering voice the room to substitute a more melodic line for Charli's punchy delivery. Initially it sounded out of tune to me, but the magic built as the song progressed and I was suitably charmed and impressed by the end.

An effect of the change of pace and Florence's emotive ways, was that the song's lyrics- which originally sounded as shallow as a dried up puddle- got a better chance to be heard and appreciated. Where there was once just defiant empowerment, there's now a sense of sorrow and loss mixed in with this sentiment. Effectively Florence managed to give the song a depth which wasn't present before.

[Watch] Cher Wows With Live Rendition Of "Woman's World" @ Voice USA

The Legend (with a capital letter!) that is Cher took to the Voice USA to spread the camp Gospel to a new generation of listeners. Rejoice and receive it gratefully, young'uns! Rocking some kind of hybrid wig, and an outfit that you won't find knocking about your local high street, the Diva had the crowd suitably hyped with her new single, Woman's World. Sure, there was a backing track going on, but her live vocals were pretty strong over the top, so all was okay! If I'm honest, I thought Cher couldn't sing live anymore, but she sure shut me up with this performance. Shame on me for doubting her! I only wish her Burlesque co-star had been there to catch the performance!

I already covered my thoughts on the single, here: it's good but not great. Still, it's almost unbelievable that its release marks the entertainer's fifth decade in the industry! When will your fav be able to boast such a feat!? NEVER- that's when! And she's still going strong, even now! Whatever this member of the Diva aristocracy is taking, I want (desperately need?) some of it! I have my suspicions that she's made a deal with this lovely lady, but I'm yet to one hundred percent confirm it...