Canadian Singer/Songwriter Esthero Signs with Universal Music Canada; First Single Due June 5th

It brings me great pleasure to announce that Canadian singer/songwriter Esthero is BACK with a new single, album AND record label.  Esthero's SNAPPY new single, entitled "Never Gonna Let You Go," was serviced to radio on May 31st and will be available to download on June 5th, along with "remixes for you to dance yer butt off to," according to the talented singer/songwriter via her Facebook page.  SCORE! I'm still jamming along to Esthero's "Fastlane" and "O.G. Bitch," so the prospect of some new bangin' mixes has me all hot and bothered!

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Hot Video Alert: Monica & Brandy - It All Belongs To Me

R&B sensations Monica & Brandy have paired up for a new duet, "It All Belongs To Me," making it their first collaboration since "The Boy Is Mine" 14 years ago. The girls released the single, penned and produced by Rico Love, Earl Hood and Eric Goudy II, on February 10th 2012.  The Chris Robinson-directed video premiered on VH1 March 5th, borrowing elements from female-centric girl power films like Thelma & Louise and Waiting To Exhale.  In other words, Monica and Brandy are two women scorned, driven to exact revenge on the man that did them wrong.  

While the video for "It All Belongs To Me" (BELOW) features some pretty powerful imagery (including the two stars looking absolutely fierce), the song is lacking something for me.  I don't know about you, but there's just something not kosher about incorporating pop culture references like Facebook and MacBooks into a song.  When you include imagery into a video that's one thing - that's product placement, but when you infuse those references into the lyrical framework of the song, that dilutes it all down to dribble for me.  You just fixate on those references and the songwriter's intent is clouded. That was my experience anyway.

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New Music Blogs!

These blogs aren't necessarily brand new, but they are new to me! I found them while perusing We Are Pop Slags, fast becoming one of my new favorite music blogs. Thanks to these new blog-finds, I've learned quite a few interesting pop music bits. Hears the rundown.

Photos come from Artists' official websites/MySpace pages

The Prophet - Hip Hop/R&B Blog:

• New Brandy Single - "Fall"
• New John Legend Single - "Quickly" featuring Brandy
• New Kelis Music Surfaces - Two songs produced by Diplo
• Kid Kudi Performs "Day N' Nite" on Carson Daly
• New Christina Milian album/single news

Photos come from artists' official websites/MySpace pages

Toya's World - R&B Blog:

• New sneak peak of Ciara's new single, "Love Sex Magic," featuring Justin Timberlake
• New LeToya Luckett (formerly of Destiny's Child) single, "She Ain't Sh** On Me"
• X-Factor Winner, Alexandra Burke working with Akon & Pharrell
• Electrik Red showcases album artwork for debut album, How To Be a Lady: Volume 1
• New Rihanna album expected by the end of the year (WOW!)
• New Leona Lewis album scheduled for Fall (working with Ryan Tedder & Guy Chambers, among others)

Photos come from Artists' Official Websites/MySpace pages

This Must Be... Pop! (formerly Dirrrty Pop) - Pop Music Blog:

• Emma Bunton collaborating with producer/songwriter Max Martin (Kelly Clarkson, Sugababes, Britney Spears) on new material
  

All of this news exciting! I'm particularly excited about the new Kelis, Leona and Emma Bunton. I, like Jessica over on This Must Be... Pop! am a bit surprised that Emma is working with Max Martin. I admittedly purchased Emma's last album and was HUGELY dissapointed. I enjoyed the 60s throwback vibe that Free Me had goin' for it, but I was hoping she's change things up on her next effort. No...she kept up with that whole sound and produced a boring album. This collaboration could be hot...or it could be a hot mess. I'm bettin' on the former!

Check out these other music bloggers when you get a chance!

Brandy - Right Here (Departed) - Remix News!

One of my favorite songs right now is Brandy's new single "Right Here (Departed)," as I've talked about before. Until recently, I hadn't heard about any plans for official remixes commissioned for this song but sure enough, there are mixes floating out there by UK remixers Paul Emanuel & Seamus Haji and Moto & Blanco. How awesome is this. Brandy always sounds good on the dancefloor. I have the dance mix-packed maxis for both "Talk About Our Love" and "Who Is She 2 U" and love a majority of the mixes. Hopefully these guys will be released in some sort of official capacity.

In other news, I finally got a new computer (and went broke in the process) which is so much faster. I've been offline for a few days now and it felt like an eternity! - Photo Via Brandy's Official Site

I'm Back!

Wow. It's been since June since I've last posted? Really? Insanity! Lots going on I guess. It's also a lot of work maintaining a blog! I've started a blog about lighting as well at work. Check it out! Anyway...back to the music.

There sure has been a lot happening with music since the last post. For one thing...the Jennifer Hudson album is due out tomorrow! I don't know yet if I'll buy it or not. I've heard clips of several tracks and I was hoping for more uptempo jams...not so heavy on the ballads. But I guess it makes sense, given Hudson's range.

So...let's talk about some of my favorite singles our right now - both Stateside and abroad.


Britney Spears - Womanizer

The one thing I keep hearing people say about this, Britney's new comeback single off her upcoming album Circus, it's how it's repetitive, yet addictive. One girl on Ryan Seacrest's radio show compared her to Rihanna (saying she was NOT a fan) however I couldn't agree more. While yes, both Rihanna & Britney have limited vocal talent (without the assistance of electronic vocal manipulation and pitch control devices, this song is quite irristable. With the inevitable barage of remixes that are sure to be forthcoming, this is sure to at least top the club charts. Thank God Brit Brit is back in full form.

Writers: Nikesha Briscoe, Rafael Akinyem

Producers: The Outsyders

Radio Release Date: September 26, 2008(Worldwide Radio)

Digital Release Date: October 7, 2008

Sugababes - Girls

While initially, this song took some time to grow on me, I wound up really starting to dig it once I saw the video. The girls look hot and I enjoy most of the remixes - particularly the Funkerman remix. It's a fun up-tempo dance/club track mixed with a little bit of an urban vibe. Can't wait for their new album, Catfights & Spotlights, due out on October 20th in the UK.

Writers: Allen Toussaint, Amelle Berrabah, Keisha Buchanan, Heidi Range

Producers: Si Helbert and Melvin Kuiters

Release Dates: September 20, 2008 (digital)/October 6, 2008 (physical)

Will Young - Changes

I've loved Will Young for a while. Not really watching him on Pop Idol, I do have two of his older albums and a couple of his singles. Not only does he have a sweet, soulful voice, but he's pretty cute too! Oh...and he was in one of my favorite movies, "Mrs. Henderson Presents." His new single is kind of mid-tempo/ballad-like but I don't mind that at all. I like the musicality of it and I'm just glad that he's back doing music! Of course, first single 'Changes' already has some remixes and I'm hoping some more get commissioned for other album tracks. I'm also excited that Freemasons (UK Dance group) have produced some tracks (or one track?) on the album. Can't wait!

Writers: Will Young, Francis 'Eg' White

Producers: ??

Release Date: September 15, 2008 (digital & physical)


Little Jackie - The World Should Revolve Around Me

Little Jackie is made up of singer Imani Coppola and DJ/Producer Adam Pallin. This song is hot. Hot, hot, hot. Again, it was a song that took some time to grow on me. I wasn't sold initially. I thought it was...nothing special. The video didn't sell it for me either...it was just a matter of rinse and repeat. I kept listening to it as it randomly came up on my iPod and saw them on Conan O'Brien one night. Awesome live. I loved it ever since. Wideboys have remixed it too...not half bad.

Writers: ??

Producers: ??

Release Dates: August 25, 2008 (UK)

Bryn Christopher - Smilin'

Bryn Christopher is a young singer from the UK who had a song featured at the end of Season 4 of Greys Anatomy. 'The Quest' was a ballad...not too bad...a little too sweet for me. I'm generally NOT a fan of ballads. This single is way more up-tempo and fun. The video is a bit oddball but Bryn is a cutie and he has an interesting/good voice. He opened for Amy Winehouse in the UK through June 2007. Looking forward to hearing more out of him in the coming months!

Writers: ??

Producers: ??

Release Dates: August 31, 2008 (UK)

Robin Thicke - Magic

I've loved Robin Thicke (son of Alan Thicke) since he called himself 'THICKE' and released his album 'Cherry Blue Skies.' Good stuff has come since then and he's now kind of a big deal. 'Blue Eyed Soul' is what they call his style of R&B...and he's damn good looking too which doesn't hurt. I got his first disc when I was writing reviews for the Indiana Daily Student and at that time, I had no idea who he was. Magic Touch is actually a remix of album single 'Magic', with added vocals from Mary J. Blige. Both are good. Moto Blanco has turned it up on the remix.

Writer/Producer: Robin Thicke

Release Date: May 20, 2008 (U.S.)

Anastacia - I Can Feel You

Anatacia! Welcome back! It seems like it's been a whole eternity since your last record. She sounds (and looks) amazing. Ditching her signature shades, joining up with Universal Records, her new single is a definitely a smart mid-tempo jam. I can't wait for her new album, Heavy Rotation, due out at the end of October in Europe.

Writers: Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony

Producer: Chuck Harmony

Release Dates: September 12, 2008 (digital download)/October 13, 2008 (physical)

Brandy - Right Here (Departed)

Finally, Brandy is back as well. After some personal drama and legal troubles, she's back on a new label (Epic) and she looks and sounds better than ever. AGAIN, this song took some time for me to like it...and once I saw the BEAUTIFUL video, I fell in love. I can't wait to hear more from this superstar and wish her the best of luck!

Writers: Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Victoria Horn, Rodney Jerkins, Erika Nuri, David "DQ" Quiñones

Producer: Rodney Jerkins

Release Dates: August 13, 2008 (US)