[New Music] Has Ariana Grande Run Out Of Ideas Already? Listen To "Right Here" And Decide For Yourself.

I'm back to being ambivalent about young vocalist Ariana Grande after hearing new track, Right There. Whereas there had been development from the Diva on second single, Baby, I, this new track, which admittedly is an album track so I shouldn't have expected anything spectacular, sounds pretty much like a clone of her debut single The Way.

With Mariah-esque vocals (with a splash of Aguilera), a sample (courtesy of Rain Dance) and a guest rapper ( Big Sean); it's no wonder even Ariana herself called this The Way Pt II (Source: someone's comment on YouTube(!)). But just because the artist has been self-aware enough to (supposedly) note the similarities, it doesn't excuse this sloppy effort for me. 
 
Right Here isn't offensive, though. I'm sure I'll even enjoy it on rotation for a few days. But it's disappointingly more of the same from Ariana. Something perhaps concerning just three releases into her young career.

[Random Spam] Lady Gaga, Mel C, Jessie J, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and Selina Gomez.

So some of you may or may not know that I'm currently up in Oxford helping a brother move! As so, I haven't been able to update the blog- Booo! However,  I've managed to find a laptop in his boxes and piggyback off a stranger's WiFi to quickly cobble together a post. Watch me get hacked (!)

Having been away from the internet for the week, I'm currently behind on what's going on in the world of Divas and music. Thus, to kill two birds with one stone (a post and catching up) I thought it made sense to do a varied Spam post.

Enjoy.

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[Watch] Celine Dion Performs New Music, "Loved Me Back to Life" Live

Celine Dion, the Diva who has been ruling Vegas since 2003, is finally back with new music for us ignoramuses who don't parlez Francais (the Diva released French album Sans attendre last year for those who do). Premièred at a concert that I have no more information about, the singer gave the lucky audience a live rendition of the title track from the October-due English-language album, Loved Me Back To Life.

It's not the best recording- no shade to the YouTuber- but from what I can hear, it sounds like Celine has managed to contemporise her music without sounding like she's blatantly playing to a different demographic. A tough ask for writer Sia and producers Sham and Motesar, but they seem to have pulled it off with Loved Me Back To Life. Her voice also sounds amazing, but I haven't watched it close enough to discern whether it's lipped or not...perhaps one of you can help me with that (Read: I'm not poking any hornet's nest today).

[Free For All] 2

Last week's "Free For All" post worked strangely well! So let's throw another one out there a week later. My thoughts are this is too close to the last one and I should spread them out to twice a month, but who knows, you guys might have news you are dying to share!

A few rules though:

• Try not to get too perverted-this site still needs to basically be "safe for work".
• If somebody starts a controversial subject, try keeping it civil when dealing with it. If things get out of hand please flag the conversation.
• It would be nice if it stuck to music, but it's not a requirement! So talk about news, current events, how you're getting your hair done next time you hit the hairdressers! Whateves, really!
• No nasty comments aimed at other users. (That's a new one!)

The list of rules will probably grow again after this post. Enjoy! Inappropriate hugs for all y'all!

[Duelling Divas] Deniece Williams "Free" Featuring Chante Moore, Debelah Morgan And Corrine Bailey Rae

A blast from the past today with a "Duelling Divas" that features Deniece Williams' 1976 hit Free as its focus. This was initially going to be just a post about the song, because for some reason unbeknownst to me it popped into my head. However, once I read it had been covered by other Diva's I thought I'd switch the post up a bit!

Like a time machine, Free will transport you right back to the1970's with its easy, laid-back groove and gorgeous, sweet and loved up vocals. (Actually, now that I think about it, I'm sure I'm talking about the 60's. Oh well. I'm not changing it. Call it "wilful ignorance" on my part.)

Like her contemporary and colleague , the great Minnie Ripperton, Williams is credited as having a 5 octaves vocal range. However, though this song contains some soaring vocals, there isn't actually any whistle notes in her own version. The other Divas, however, weren't so restrained.

[Watch] Ellie Goulding Sings Acoustic Version of "I Need Your Love"

We've all heard Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's collaboration I Need Your Love- seriously, radio is KILLING the song. But I bet you haven't heard the club track done this way. (Note: That bet is off the table if you've already seen this EXACT video, mind!)

Sitting down with Billboard on a tour bus in Pittsburgh, Ellie (and her guitarists) discombobulated and reconstructed the dance anthem, putting a fresh spin on the played out song. In other words, they gave it the acoustic treatment.

In the context of Ellie's own folksy-inspired back catalouge, this version makes more sense to me. I wouldn't say it's better, so much as it's different. But a bonus of this change of pace is that the focus is put squarely on Ellie's impish voice. A voice that has never been what one would call "powerful" can be better appreciated-note its delicacy, slight rasp and nimbleness - in an softer setting

Take a listen to both versions of I Need Your Love and let me know which you preferred! 

[Watch] Florence Welch Covers Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" And Gossip's "Standing In The Way Of Control"

OMG! Okay, the Daft Punk bit I'm "meh" about- I don't really like the song- but Florence Welch covering Gossip's Standing In The Way Of Control blew my mind (as it clearly did to some woman in the audience). So how did this impromptu performance come about? Well, according to Spin,

It was the annual Sourberry summer party and Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine was in attendance...She hopped up on stage during our sound check and rocked out a couple of numbers with us while we warmed up. 'Get Lucky' - Daft Punk and 'Standing In The Way Of Control' - The Gossip.

Before you watch the video, don't expect a polished performance- Read:lower your expectations(!). I'm pretty sure Flo was on the libations before gatecrashing the stage- she certainly enjoyed a "wee dram" while on it- so her faculties might have been somewhat impaired! I'm just amazed she covered a Gossip song! Now if only I could get her to do it again in a more focused state, now that'd surely be something...

Also, hats off to the band, Sourberry. They rocked!