[Hot Video Alert] Katy Perry - Wide Awake

Following the success of "Wide Awake," her ninth #1 at Top 40 Radio and her tenth consecutive #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart, I think it's fairly safe to say that pop star Katy Perry's sophomore album, Teenage Dream is a relative success.  The song was co-written by Perry, singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Henry Walter and produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut.  Featured on the Teenage Dream album special edition/re-release, The Complete Confection, "Wide Awake" is as catchy as anything else Perry's released from this album era, and looking at the team of hitmakers behind her, that shouldn't come as a surprise.

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[Hot Video Alert] Adam Lambert - Never Close Our Eyes

Last week, Adam Lambert unveiled the video for latest single, the Bruno Mars co-penned dancefloor banger "Never Close Our Eyes," and WOW was it worth the wait.  While it was digitally released in America April 17th, the Dr. Luke/Cirkut/The Smeezingtons-produced dance jam is being more heavily promoted over in the UK, where it will serve as Lambert's lead single off of Trespassing, which is scheduled for release July 2nd.  The single will be released on June 24th, backed by an impressive array of dance remixes from some of the UK's biggest mixmasters, including peaktime pop mixers Almighty, the ever-fantastic Digital Dog and garage gods Sunship.

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[Album Review] Adam Lambert - Trespassing

Adam Lambert will release his hotly anticipated sophomore album, Trespassing, this Tuesday, May 15th via RCA Records/19 Recordings.  To get the fans pumped up and ready to buy on Tuesday, the album can be streamed in it's entirety on Lambert's official website.  In addition to a standard and deluxe version of the album, Lambert is selling an exclusive Trespassing - Box Set for $49.99, which includes six 12" X 12" lithographs, Trespassing on vinyl, and the fan edition (CD/DVD). Eat it up Glamberts!

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Katharine McPhee's 'Touch Me' Gets the Remix Treatment

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Katharine McPhee's DELICIOUS new single, "Touch Me" was given the royal remix treatment.  Serving as the first single off of the official SMASH soundtrack, "Touch Me" was produced and written by Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson) with Brent Kutzle (Beyonce, Cobra Starship), Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears) and Noel Zancanella (The Wanted, Demi Lovato) serving as co-writers on the track.  "Touch Me" appeared in the March 26th episode of NBC's hit TV show and was used heavily in TV spots for the series.  In it's original form, "Touch Me" is an up-tempo party track with but remixes from Jump Smokers, DJ Kue and Jody den Broeder take it to a whole other level.  "Touch Me" is just BEGGIN' for that #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and with proper promotion and support from the club scene, I think it has the potential to get there.  Listen to the SICK Jump Smokers remix BELOW.

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[Review] Adam Lambert - Never Close Our Eyes

Released April 17th, "Never Close Our Eyes" is the name of Adam Lambert's new single from his forthcoming sophomore album, Trespassing.  The single was written and produced by Bruno Mars and Dr. Luke and serves as the follow up to "Better Than I Know Myself," which by most accounts was a commercial floppity-flop.  "Never Close Our Eyes," sees the flamboyantly big-voiced Lambert return to his dance-pop glory days in this pulse-pounding new dance-floor-ready new single. Stylistically, "Never Close Our Eyes" is right in Lambert's wheelhouse, echoing the same sound of his past club friendly hit "If I Had You."  Lambert does his thing, belting out the big chorus, his voice soaring over the bangin' electro-rock beats and sleek production.  It's clear that Lambert's looking for another anthem, and "Never Close Our Eyes" very well could be it.  Here's hoping radio latches on to this one more than they did with the lead single.

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Kosovo-Born British Singer/Songwriter Rita Ora Drops Hot Debut U.S. Single & Video

Hot off the success of her collaboration with DJ Fresh, Kosovo-born British singer/songwriter Rita Ora is ready to make a splash over on this side of the pond, releasing the video for her debut U.S. single "How We Do (Party)."  Produced by hip-hop hit makers The Runners (Keyshia Cole, Chris Brown, Usher), "How We Do (Party)" is the ultimate party song, borrowing lyrics from Notorious B.I.G.'s 1993 single "Party and Bullshit."  Released March 20th on Jay-Z's Roc Nation, "How We Do (Party)" was written by Andre Davidson, Andrew Harr, Bonnie McKee alongside a troop of other talented songwriters.

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Adam Lambert To Release Sophomore Album May 15th, Listen To Four New Tracks

FINALLY. The release of Adam Lambert's highly anticipated sophomore album is in sight. Trespassing was originally due to come out March 20th however in mid February, RCA announced a delay to allow time for Lambert to record new material.  The album is now scheduled for release May 15th in the U.S. and I couldn't be more excited.  Clearly, Adam's people were nervous after lead single, "Better Than I Know Myself" flopped its way onto the Billboard Hot 100, fizzling out at an unfortunate #76.  Not quite what everyone was hoping for.

The song, which I called a "drab" mid-tempo electro-pop ballad seemed to have all the makings of a hit, including a STRONG team of songwriters and producers (Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Ammo, Claude Kelly)...sooo what happened?  Well if you look back at Lambert's relatively short chart history, there haven't been too many smashes.  In fact, Adam Lambert has only one Billboard Hot 100 top 10 to his name and that was 2009's "Whataya Want From Me," which peaked at #10.  The next highest charting single - "If I Had You" which peaked at #30.  

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Hot Video Alert: Katy Perry - Part of Me

Not sure what it's been about the last couple Katy Perry songs, but they took some time to grow on me.  The very same thing happened with Perry's latest smash, "Part Of Me," and I don't know what it is.  Perhaps it's over saturation? Perhaps it's because all of the songs all sound the same (*AHEM* Dr. Luke)? Who knows?! For one reason or another, Perry's music doesn't instantaneously connect with me.  Of course, after being hammered over the head with the songs for months and months, it's only natural that you start to develop an affinity towards it. Perhaps that's why after a few listens, Perry's catchy brand of top 40 pop candy takes hold, bludgeoning me into STAN-DOM. I sure ain't complaining.

"Part Of Me" is the first single to be lifted off of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, a special re-release of her best selling, Grammy-nominated album.  The song, written by Perry, alongside Bonnie McKee, Lukasz Gottwald (AKA Dr. Luke) and Max Martin, "Part Of Me" was produced by Dr. Luke, Martin and Cirkut and serves as the followup to "The One That Got Away."

  

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Hot Video Alert: Adam Lambert - Better Than I Know Myself

In case you missed it, 30 year old singer/songwriter (and American Idol alum) Adam Lambert premiered the video for his brand new single, "Better Than I Know Myself" earlier today.  The beautifully shot Ray Kay directed video features Lambert playing two different versions of himself, good versus evil, if you will. The video plays out in a split screen format, with each "version" of Lambert confined to it's own space. The evil dwells in a dark, blueish green tinted space while the good inhabits a much more zen, warmly lit room.  Very literal but still effective at getting the point of the video across.  In the end, breaking free from the confined space, Lambert's character seems to achieve some sort of balance and all is well again.  Definitely one of more interesting videos to come out in a while.  I'm wondering if it's supposed to be autobiographical in any way, given some of the star's recent press. Hmmmm...

Now...let's discuss the song.  Despite being impeccably performed my Mr. Lambert, "Better Than I Know Myself" is rather drab as far as Adam Lambert singles go.  It's a mid-tempo electro-pop ballad produced and co-written by Dr. Luke (Ke$ha, Katy Perry), Cirkut (Jessie J, Rihanna) and Ammo (Pitbull, Britney Spears) along with Claude Kelly who also served as co-writer on the track.  Lambert has one of the best male vocals in pop right now and he certainly sings the hell out of this song, but it's lacking something for me.  I don't know if it's the hook, or the depressing subject matter or what. Something just isn't connecting with me and I can't quite figure out what it is.

Released on December 20th, the single peaked at #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Currently sitting at #83, now that the song has officially been sent to radio (as of January 23rd), I'm hoping that the video helps give the song a little boost up the charts.  This very well could be a grower for me, and if the past is indicative of anything, we'll likely see a swarm of bumpin' dance remixes in the coming months which will likely give the song new life.  "Better Than I Know Myself" serves as the official lead off of Adam Lambert's forthcoming sophomore album, entitled Trespassing, which is due in March on RCA Records.  While Lambert did co-write many of the album's tracks, he also paired up with some of the industry's most talented songwriters and producers, including Pharrell Williams, Benny Blanco, Bonnie McKee, Nile Rogers, Sam Sparro, Bruno Mars, Nikka Costa, BC Jean and more.

UK Adam Lambert fans unfortunately have to wait until March 12th to download the single, but U.S. fans can download it on U.S. iTunes HERE. Check out the video below!

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Britney Spears Unveils Single Artwork, Release Date for 'Hold It Against Me'

SQUEEEEE!!! Looks like we have an OFFICIAL premiere date now for the new Britney Spears single! Shortly after an early demo of new single, "Hold It Against Me" leaked this afternoon Britney Tweeted her 6 million + fans the following:

Not only did Brit Brit unveil the official single artwork (STUNNING) but we have an OFFICIAL date! Tuesday, January 11th! 1-11-11! AMAZING. I cannot wait.  While the demo (featuring singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee on vocals) is decent, Britney's version promises to be bigger and better. According to McKee on her Twitter:

@BonnieMcKee: Well if you haven't heard, the demo of me singing the new Brit song leaked! New version is waay crazier and yes, it has a bridge foolios!!

Getting more excited now. Really jealous of people like Ryan Seacrest who have heard the song already but I guess it won't be too much longer now. Seacrest was treated to a private listening party with Spears' managers Larry Rudolph and Adam Leber, who played the single + one new song (and reportedly, future single) called "III Wanna Go." The two gents also spilled some preliminary details on Spears' new video for "Hold It Against Me," which shoots in two weeks. {SOURCE}

While 1-11-11 used to excite me for another reason (Sky Ferreira) I now have another reason to live until Tuesday. GODNEY!

Check out Britney Spears on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO