Bieber Wins Big but P!nk Steals the Show at the American Music Awards

Teen sensation Justin Bieber may have been the big winner at last night’s American Music Awards taking home 3 trophies, but the true victor from the show was P!nk with an astounding performance of her new single “Try”. In fact, pretty much everything from the show was a bit forgettable when compared with P!nk’s gorgeous moving and intense performance. With that said, take a look at my rankings of all the performances below. And can we please stop with all the lip synching? It was an atrocious lip synched mess for like 70% of the “singers” last night! .. As for the winners, a rather annoying Bieber took home Artist of the Year, Male Artist and Pop Album and he really needs to learn how to make an acceptance speech and get a sense of humor. A sense of humor would also help Taylor Swift, a winner for Country female, whose fake humility and incredibly irritating persona is grating on mine and a lot of other people’s nerves (and don’t get me started on that horrible performance)… Other big winners included Nicki Minaj with two awards and one apiece for Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Adele, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Usher, Beyonce and Best New Artist Carly Rae Jepsen… For more on my take on the show and the winners, check out my twitter feed from last night here. (Yes, I live twatted the whole show!)…. And take a gander at all the winners below.

2012 American Music Award Winners:

Artist of the year: Justin Bieber
New artist of the year: Carly Rae Jepsen
Pop/rock female artist: Katy Perry
Pop/rock male artist: Justin Bieber
Pop/rock band, duo or group: Maroon 5
Pop/rock album: Justin Bieber, Believe
Country female artist: Taylor Swift
Country male artist: Luke Bryan
Country band, duo or group: Lady Antebellum
Country album: Carrie Underwood, Blown Away
Rap/hip-hop artist: Nicki Minaj
Rap/hip-hop album: Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Soul/R&B female artist: Beyonce
Soul/R&B male artist: Usher
Soul/R&B album: Rihanna, Talk That Talk
Alternative rock artist: Linkin Park
Adult contemporary artist: Adele
Latin artist: Shakira
Contemporary inspirational artist: tobyMac
Electronic dance music artist: David Guetta

Ranking the AMA Performances~

1. P!nk “Try”: this performance was simply stunning as P!nk married lyrical contemporary choreography and gorgeous emotional vocals to perfection in a duo with dancer Colt Prattes. It really defies words. Take a look below. Amazing. Grade: A+
2. Kelly Clarkson “Miss Independent/Since U Been Gone/Stronger/Catch My Breath”: with arguably the best vocal of the night, Clarkson paid homage to her American Idol roots and gave a flawless and fantastically fun performance. Now, that is how you sing LIVE people! Grade: A
3. Stevie Wonder “Dick Clark Tribute”: there’s a reason he’s a legend people and he proved it again… and he werrrrrked some serious purple to boot! Grade: A-
4. Linkin Park “Burn It Down”: giving you early 2000′s realness and a rocking good time, Linkin Park brought intense energy and precision to their industrial rap rock fusion hit. Grade: A-
5. No Doubt “Looking Hot”: they’ve still go it! Gwen is definitely still hot. Adrian is still crazy and Tony still looks stoned. Grade: B+
6. Carrie Underwood “Two Black Cadillacs”: despite a little pitchy start, Underwood nailed the rest of her delightfully dark and dramatic single. Grade: B+
7. Psy with Hammer “Gangnam Style/2 Legit 2 Quit”: there is no escaping the Korean Macarena and you know you loved it when Hammer showed up for a mashup of these dance hits… However, billing Hammer as an “international superstar” was a big much AMA’s… It’s not 1991. I’m just saying…. Grade: B
8. Justin Bieber “As Long As You Love Me”: I don’t know about you but I was shocked at how good and surprisingly authentic this acoustic performance was. It was easily the best thing I’ve ever seen him do. Grade: B
9. The Wanted “I Found You”: the hotter British boy band (sorry One Direction) actually sang live for most of the song and I’m kinda sucker for their rocking Ibiza dance party vibe. Grade: B
10. Christina Aguilera “Lotus/Army of Me/Let There Be Love”: Ok, the lip synched “Lotus” beginning was bad, but the let your freak fly positivity message was great. Plus she can wail like no other. It was just a bit of too much overall though. Grade: B-
11. Pitbull “Don’t Stop the Party: Ptibull is a fantastic performer and this generic but incredibly infectious song got everyone on their feet. However, did you really need to lip synch too Pit? Um, you’re rapping! Automatic point deduction. Grade: C+
12. Usher “Numb/Cant Stop Wont Stop/Medley”: it was a half sung/half lip synched vogueing laser show with a treadmill! He literally threw in everything but the kitchen sink. Grade: C+
13. Ke$ha “Die Young”: It was Game of Thrones meets Day of the Dead with a touch of Stomp at a gay circuit party. Oh, and another lip synched, but it was fun. Grade: C
14. Carly Rae Jepsen “This Kiss/Call Me Maybe”: it was fun but forgetful and this girl really needs to learn how to lip synch for her life. Grade: C-
15. Justin Bieber w/Nicki Minaj “Beauty and a Beat”: it was a second-rate wannabe NSYNC number, that was lip synced to boot. And Bieber looked rather tired. He is no JT people! Grade: C-
16. Nicki Minaj “Freedom”: here’s something I never thought I’d say about a Nicki Minaj performance~ that was BORING. Seriously boring and lip synched to boot. I had more fun staring at her Staypuff Marshmellow man meets Mariah Carey Christmas costume outfit. Grade: D+
17. Taylor Swift “I Knew You Were Trouble”: this was atrocious! It was a lip synched crapfest that stole from everyone including Madonna (“Vogue” at the VMAs), the Backstreet Boys (the “Everybody” video), Annie Lennox (the “Walking on Broken Glass” video) not to mention Gaga and Rihanna and more. Just belch. And Taylor would you please admit you’re not a country artist for once? That song is total pop meets dub step. Grade: D-
18. Swiss Beatz/douchebag Chris Brown/Ludacris performance: in a word, AWFUL. Grade: F

To end on a positive note, here are my two favorite performances. Enjoy the astounding P!nk and the fabulous Kelly Clarkson.

P!nk “Try” live at the AMA’s

Kelly Clarkson Medley live at the AMA‘s

GLEE Preview~ It’s Britney 2.0

Glee is back this Thursday with another tribute episode. After taking on Madonna, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, the show takes on another superstar diva… Britney Spears. Yes, it’s Britney 2.0…. Glee will tackle 8 more Spears hits including the iconic “Oops… I Did It Again”, the lovely ballad “Everytime” plus two more # 1 hits “Womanizer” and “Hold It Against Me”. Now, I have your first look at this week’s new episode with the full video for “Hold” below. (And for full music previews of the show’s songs, head to mjsbigblog here.) Enjoy and watch the rejuvenated season 4 of Glee Thursday on Fox following Britney herself on The X Factor.

Glee “Hold It Against Me”- Brittany (Heather Morris)

Need your Glee Fix? Check out the Glee Project

For those of you obsessed with Glee, like me, you are probably going through some serious withdrawals right now. This summer there is no Glee tour to tide us over, but there is one way to get your Glee fix… Check out season 2 of Oxygen’s The Glee Project. This awesome, heartfelt, and hilarious reality series is everything that Glee aspires to be, week in and week out. The 14 contestants on the show compete each week in singing, acting and dancing exercises filming a music video at the end of the show. Then, three of them are put up for elimination as casting director Robert Ulrich, choreographer Zach Woodlee (who I remember fondly from his stint on Madonna‘s Drowned World tour) and vocal coach Nikki Anders decide who remains in the competition with a shot at a role on Glee. Last season there were two winners, dreadlocked crooner Samuel Larsen and Irish cutie Damian McGinty, who both landed 7 episode stints on the show. (McGinty actually ended up doing 17 episodes!) The runners-up Lindsay Pearce (who should’ve won if you ask me) and Alex Newell each landed 2 episodes of the Emmy winning show. I sure hope both Pierce and Newell show up next season on Glee. They’re pretty phenomenal. I like McGinty and it would be nice to see him again, but Larsen can get the boot if you ask me. He’s a terrible actor and does nothing for the show as Christian rocker Joe. Anywho, we will see who makes it all the way to the finals and a spot on Glee as the show progresses, and boy are there some great and diverse contenders. There’s a girl in a wheelchair, a blind guy, a transgender contestant and more! To see profiles of all the contestants, head here and check out the Glee Project‘s first music video for Lady Gaga‘s “The Edge of Glory” below…. Then watch The Glee Project Tuesday night’s on Oxygen.

The Glee Project “The Edge of Glory”

Madonna’s Magnificent MDNA Tour kicks off in Tel Aviv!

The Queen of Pop and Grammy winning Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Icon Madonna opened her massive and magnificent MDNA tour last night in Tel Aviv and it was majestic as always. Her tour features a great deal of music from her fantastic new album, MDNA, including “Girl Gone Wild, “Turn up the Radio”, “I’m Addicted” and “Masterpiece” (her Golden Globe winning song from her latest directorial feature W.E.) while also mixing in her classic hits like “Vogue”, “Express Yourself” and “Like a Prayer”. The first videos from the show have hit the net and I have two below. Check out her amazing entrance to “Girl Gone Wild” and then her take on “Express Yourself” which playfully uses a bit of Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” (which was clearly owes a lot to the former song) and the beautiful “Masterpiece”…. For more on her tour, tour dates and all your Madge news, head here. Get tickets now (if they’re available, not many are)… I’m seeing her in LA in October and I can’t wait! Long live the Queen Madonna!

Madonna MDNA Tour opening

Madonna “Masterpiece” from the MDNA Tour

Madonna “Express Yourself” from the MDNA Tour

 

Lady Gaga, “Pariah” and “Dancing With the Stars” win the first round of GLAAD Awards

Last night, the first round of awards for the annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards were announced at a ceremony in San Francisco. Hosted by Glee stars Cory Montieth and Naya Rivera, the show honored the film Pariah for Outstanding Film in Limited Release and Lady Gaga for Musical Artist. Dancing With the Stars won the Reality Show award for the first time following a season featuring gay contestant Carson Kressley and its first transgender contestant Chaz Bono. Other awards to the brilliant TV Movie Cinema Verite, Diane Sawyer, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Smash/Chicago/Hairspray producers Neil Meron & Craig Zadan . Take a look at the winners below and for more on GLAAD, head here. Also watch for the next round of winners in April which will include the TV Drama and Comedy Series winners.

VITO RUSSO AWARD
Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, executive producers of Smash

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Katy Butler, openly gay 17-year-old anti-bullying advocate

OUTSTANDING FILM – LIMITED RELEASE
Pariah (Focus Features)

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Cinema Verite (HBO)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM – NEWSMAGAZINE
The ‘Sissy Boy’ Experiments, Anderson Cooper 360

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT
Battle Against Bullying, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATRE
No Word in Guyanese for Me by Wendy Graf

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATRE
The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER/ Off-Off Broadway
Southern Comfort, book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE
“Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests” The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST
Lady Gaga, Born This Way

And here’s Musical Artist winner Lady Gaga with her equality anthem “Born This Way”

My Music Roundup for 2011

The other day I posted my top five albums for 2011 led by the one and only Adele whose album 21 stole everyone’s heart including mine. Every song on it was brilliant and two of them end up on my top 5 songs list for this year. Now, remember this list is what I liked the most, so don’t giggle when you see a lot of pop divas. Let’s be honest, they are my favorites. I do love all kinds of music, but the divas do rule the day… Anywho, take a look at my top 20 Singles for 2011 and more music notes about the year below.

My Top 25 Songs of 2011:

1. “Don’t You Wanna Stay”- Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

2. “Someone Like You” – Adele

3. “We Found Love”- Rihanna w/Calvin Harris

4. “Rolling in the Deep”- Adele

5. “Fuckin’ Perfect”- P!nk

6. “Born This Way”- Lady Gaga
7. “Firework”- Katy Perry
8. “Mr. Know It All”- Kelly Clarkson
9. “Run”- Matt Nathanson & Sugarland
10. “Give Me Everything Tonight”- Pitbull w/Ne Yo, Nayer & Afrojack
11. “The Edge of Glory”- Lady Gaga
12. “Grenade”- Bruno Mars
13. “For the First Time”- The Script
14. “Moves Like Jagger”- Maroon 5 w/Christina Aguilera
15. “S & M”- Rihanna
16. “Party Rock Anthem”- LMFAO
17. “Pumped Up Kicks”- Foster the People
18. “On the Floor”- Jennifer Lopez w/ Pitbull
19. “Call Your Girlfriend”- Robyn
20. “Uncharted”- Sara Bareilles
21. “Fuck You”- Cee Lo Green
22. “Sexy and I Know It”- LMFAO
23. “I Wanna Go”- Britney Spears
24. “E.T.”- Katy Perry w/ Kanye West
25. “Just a Kiss”- Lady Antebellum

And some random musings….

Favorite Dance Tracks (that didn’t make the top 25)…
“Night of Your Life”- David Guetta w/ Jennifer Hudson
“Higher”- Taio Cruz w/Travie McCoy & Kylie Minogue
“Save the World”- Swedish House Mafia
“Hello”- Martin Solveig
“Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)”- Kylie Minogue
“Good Girl”- Alexis Jordan

Songs by Tween Titans that won me over:
“Love You Like a Love Song”- Selena Gomez & The Scene
“Skyscraper”- Demi Lovato

Album I was surprised to really like: Country Strong soundtrack (featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, Faith Hill, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, etc)

Song that Beat me into submission til I loved it: “E.T.”- Katy Perry w/Kanye West
Stupidest Song of the year (and perhaps ever): “Red Solo Cup”- Toby Keith
Song I never want that I never want to hear again: “Hey Soul Sister”- Train
Most Disappointing Album: 4 by Beyonce

Best Glee cover: “Rumour Has It/Someone Like You” (both originally by Adele)

Most Fun Trend in Music: Potty Mouth Songs….
“S & M”- Rihanna
“Tonight I’m Fucking You”- Enrique Iglesias
“Fuck You”- Cee Lo Green
“Fuckin’ Perfect”- Pink

Please take a Loooooooooong Nap: Taylor Swift
Please go away and never come back: Justin Bieber
Sorry, it’s apparently never going to happen: Nicole Scherzinger’s solo career

So, there’s a brief recap of some of my favorite songs and some fun musings on the music biz from last year… Who were your faves? And who are you looking forward to in 2012? … For me, it’s Madonna, but I bet you could’ve figured that out. =)

Lady Gaga’s Happy New Year from Times Square!

Happy 2012 everybody! One lady who made a ton of news last year, and heck, every year since her debut in 2008 is Lady Gaga. And it looks like this new year will be no different. Check out her awesome performance from Times Square last night celebrating the New Year. Nobody does it like Gaga!

Lady Gaga “Heavy Metal Lover/Marry The Night/Born This Way”

My Top 5 Albums of 2011

I’m way behind on all my recaps for the year, but here’s a quickie to tide you over… Check out my top five albums of 2011… Now, I have to put a little asterisk on this list because like most pop music listeners, and ahem, teenagers, I am more of a singles buyer these days. It brings me back to my youth! And let’s be honest, most albums are just really good for a few songs. Rarely does a masterpiece that is brilliant from beginning to end happen anymore. But it sure did with the top-selling and critically acclaimed, soon to be Grammy winning, 21 by Adele. It’s pretty much perfect and it’s my fave of the year. Take a gander at the rest of my top 5 below (and some choice tracks from each album) and watch for more on the year in music to come.

My Top 5 Albums of 2011:

1. 21- Adele: basically every song was flawless, heart wrenching and beautiful. It already has yield two #1 singles “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You” and “Set Fire to the Rain” just hit the top ten. Watch for this hit heavy record to continue to thrive in 2012. It’s also the biggest selling album in the US since 2004 as it nears 6 million copies sold.
Adele “Rumour Has It”

2. Stronger- Kelly Clarkson: this Grammy winning came back with a vengeance and arguably her strongest record to date. It features the top ten smash “Mr. Know It All” and the #1 country and AC duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean. Watch for several more smashes on the way. And damn does she have some soul for the girl next door.
Kelly Clarkson “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)”

3. Lady Gaga- Born This Way: with the biggest sales week of the year at over 1 million units on its debut, Gaga’s third record was another smash. It yielded the hits “Born This Way” (# 1), “The Edge of Glory” (# 3), “You and I” (# 6), Judas (#10) and “Marry The Night” which just went top 40. It was more fabulous fancy fun dance pop from Gaga.
Lady Gaga “Hair”

4. Body Talk- Robyn: this Swedish dance chanteuse cranked out dance smash after smash from this album grabbing a Grammy nomination last year and two more this year. All the tracks are infectious and unique and it’s hard to pick just one favorite. She also is finally breaking through in the US, thank goodness!
Robyn “Call Your Girlfriend”

5. Nothing But the Beat- David Guetta (with various artists): this dance smash was a nonstop party with wonderful pairings from the French DJ and artists like Jennifer Hudson (the anthemic “Night of Your Life”), Jessie J, Will I Am, and Usher (the top five smash “Without You”). But the best was the brilliant and haunting “Titanium” with Sia.
“Titanium”- David Guetta w/Sia

So those are my favorites. What are yours? And who are you looking forward to in the next year. I don’t know about you, but I’m counting the days til the new releases from Madonna and Adam Lambert.

Lady Gaga is “Stuck on F**ing You”!

Lady Gaga gave her little monster fans a special Christmas present yesterday as she released a brand new track, “Stuck on Fucking You”. The song was recorded in one acoustic take and it’s a ton of fun. Check out the previously unreleased track below and for more on the song, head to Billboard here. Are you stuck on Gaga’s latest?

Lady Gaga “Stuck on Fucking You”

First Look~ Lady Gaga’s epic new video for “Marry the Night”

Lady Gaga is having a good week. She just landed 3 Grammy nominations and performed two amazing numbers at the Grammy nominations ceremony. One of those songs was her new single “Marry the Night”, and today the epic video for the song hit the web. Check it out below.

Lady Gaga “Marry the Night”