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Kamis, 22 September 2011

See 'The X Factor's' Dexter Haygood Party Like It's 1984

This, people. THIS!!!
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/realityrocks__31/realityrocks-76892241-1316746663_thumb.jpg?ymnmYsFDZ1f5I0cyIn case you are confused and have no idea who Dexter Haygood or Xavion are, the former is the 49-year-old, homeless-yet-fabulous, Memphis funk-rocker who auditioned for "The X Factor" this week and bizarrely, against all odds, made it through. And Xavion is the Prince-ly band he fronted in the '80s, a band that put out one glam/disco/rock/soul/new wave/whatever album in the awesome year of 1984.
That album was awesomely titled Burnin' Hot, its lead single was equally awesomely called "Eat Your Heart Out," and the band toured with the awesome Hall & Oates. Twenty-seven years later, Dexter looks about the same, and even appears to be rocking the same space-funkateer wardrobe.
And that is why Dexter Haygood is awesome. So Team Dexter for the win on "The X(avion) Factor." He's my type:


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Tony Bennett apologises for suggesting US provoked 9/11

Tony Bennett in 2011
Tony Bennett … 'I am so grateful to be an American.' Photograph: Picture Perfect/Rex Features
Tony Bennett has apologised for his comments in a recent radio interview, where he blamed US foreign policy for the 9/11 attacks. "I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country," he wrote. "I am so grateful to be an American."
The 85-year-old singer made headlines for his remarks earlier this week, during a conversation with Howard Stern. "Two wrongs don't make a right," he said at the time, referring to the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. "They flew the plane in, but we caused it. Because we were bombing them, and they told us to stop … Who are the terrorists? Are we the terrorists, or are they the terrorists?"
Bennett has now issued a "clarification" on his Facebook page, underlining his patriotism and pacifism. "As a second world war veteran, I was proud to fight to protect our values, which have made America the greatest country on the planet," he wrote. "There is simply no excuse for terrorism and the murder of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the 9/11 attacks on our country."
"My life experiences – ranging from the Battle of the Bulge to marching with Martin Luther King – made me a lifelong humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behaviour."
Bennett's new album, Duets II, was released on Tuesday.
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Avril Lavigne 'scared for her life' before London gig

Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne was forced to cut her set short after losing her voice during her London concert date.

The singer arrived on stage 40 minutes late to last night's 'Black Star' tour date at the Hammersmith Apollo following "mechanical difficulties". Her voice then cracked during closing song 'Complicated', leaving the crowd to sing the track.

Lavigne later tweeted that she was having "one of those days", adding: "I had a bad situation right before the show that made me scared for my life - then I lost my voice tonight.

"I feel super sad but I want to thank my fans for understanding and always being there for me. I love u all more then u know xoxoxo."

She later confirmed on her Facebook page that a "security breach" delayed her arrival, adding: "Shortly before my show tonight, there was a breach in security and now the police are handling [it]".

Lavigne played 14 of her hits during the show, including 'Sk8ter Boy', 'Girlfriend' and 'I'm With You'. She also covered 'Fix You' by Coldplay, who she described as "one of my favourite bands of all time".

She is due to play her second London date this evening before a single date at Manchester's O2 Apollo.

> Avril Lavigne: 'I've started work on new pop album

The setlist for Avril Lavigne's 'Black Star' show appears below:

'Black Star'
'What The Hell'
'Smile'
'He Wasn't'
'Airplanes' (B.o.B and Hayley Williams cover)
'My Happy Ending'
'Give Me What I Want'
'Alice'
When You're Gone'
'Fix You' (Coldplay cover)
'Wish You Were Here'
'Girlfriend'
'Don't Tell Me'
'I'm With You'
'Complicated'

Watch the music video for Avril Lavigne's new single 'Wish You Were Here' below:
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Rabu, 21 September 2011

Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera's 'Jagger' Atop Hot 100 For Third Week

http://www.billboard.com/photos/stylus/1140209-the-voice-christina-aguilera-maroon-5-617-409.jpg 
As previously reported, the Billboard Hot 100's splashiest headline this week comes courtesy of Tony Bennett, who becomes the oldest living artist ever to appear on the tally. His duet with Amy Winehouse, "Body and Soul," enters the chart at No. 87, lifting the 85-year-old past then-84-year-old George Burns (in 1980) for the esteemed honor.

Still, other news infuses this week's chart.

Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger," featuring Christina Aguilera, spends a third week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, roaring to the No. 1 spot on Radio Songs and holding atop Digital Songs.

"Jagger" blasts 5-1 on Radio Songs with a 14% gain to 123 million all-format audience impressions, according to Nielsen BDS. The song marks Maroon 5's first No. 1 on the chart, passing the twin No. 5 peaks of "This Love" and "She Will Be Loved" in 2004. Aguilera celebrates her third time singing on the country's most-heard song: her debut pop smash "Genie in a Bottle" reigned for three weeks in 1999 and "Lady Marmalade," with Lil' Kim, Mya and P!nk, led for six frames in 2001.


The 5-1 vault of "Jagger" on Radio Songs is the greatest since Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" bounded 6-1 on the Nov. 28, 2009, chart.

"Jagger" leads Digital Songs for a fourth frame with 221,000 downloads sold (up 1%), according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Former Hot 100 No. 1 "Someone Like You" by Adele holds at No. 2 for a second week with Airplay Gainer honors. The ballad jumps into the Radio Songs top 10 (13-9), surging by 37% to 84 million. The track is the Greatest Gainer on Pop Songs (16-13) and Adult Contemporary (14-13), while bulleting at No. 4 on Triple A, No. 5 on Adult Pop Songs and No. 27 on Rock Songs.


Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" holds at No. 3 on the Hot 100 for a fourth week. The song pushes 10-8 on Radio Songs (90 million, up 11%) and remains at No. 3 on Digital Songs (186,000, down 4%).

LMFAO's former six-week No. 1 - and Billboard's official song of the summer - "Party Rock Anthem," featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock (4-4) and Gym Class Heroes' "Stereo Hearts," featuring Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine (6-5), round out the Hot 100's top five. The latter song advances 5-4 on Digital Songs (144,000, down 1%) and 16-14 on Radio Songs (63 million, up 9%).

Bad Meets Evil's "Lighters," featuring Bruno Mars, slips 5-6 on the Hot 100 and Cobra Starship's "You Make Me Feel...," featuring Sabi, lifts 11-7 after reaching a previous high point of No. 8 two weeks ago. "Feel" flies to its new peak thanks to gains in digital sales (130,000, up 2%) and airplay (60 million, up 10%).

Closing out the Hot 100's top 10 are Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink to That)" (10-8); Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" (7-9); and, Lady Gaga's "You and I" (8-10).

Outside the Hot 100's top tier, David Guetta's "Without You," featuring Usher, claims Digital Gainer accolades, charging 23-15. It roars 18-10 on Digital Songs, increasing by 71% to 104,000.

In addition to Bennett's bow with Winehouse, five other songs enter the Hot 100, led by Coldplay's "Paradise" at No. 16. The follow-up to the No. 14-peaking "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" opens as the band's third-highest debut, following "Speed of Sound" (No. 8, 2005) and "Viva La Vida" (No. 15, 2008).

"Paradise," the second single from the band's fifth studio album, "Mylo Xyloto," due Oct. 24, begins on Digital Songs at No. 6 (139,000). Radio is already supporting the song, as it launches on the Triple A adult alternative chart at No. 11 and Alternative Songs at No. 24. "Paradise" goes to pop and adult pop radio Oct. 3.

All charts, including the Hot 100, Digital Songs and Radio Songs, will be refreshed tomorrow (Sept. 22) on Billboard.com.
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Duets From Heck!

It struck me last night--while the Emmys ceremony was apparently on TV--that I was not being deliberately obtuse or contrary by instead preferring to listen to the complete discography of Kiki Dee--or at least as much of it as I could muster--than watch a show celebrating humans I was barely familiar with!
Indeed, hearing the strangely attractive Ms. Dee exchange promises with her good friend Elton John that she would not go breakin' his heart--bless them both--filled me with an unexpected warmth and excitement that, dare I suggest, I might not feel watching an episode or two of Glee!
Still, on the drive to work this morning, I saw a dead squirrel on the side of the road and two people arguing in the car next to mine! The marine layer was thick over Santa Monica, and for a moment, quite profoundly, I wondered how many years I had left on this earth!
Then some jerk in a Subaru cut me off and the guy behind me couldn't keep his hand off his horn!
It was then I decided to write my blog this evening and focus on life's most positive aspects! And indeed, I'd just been to Costco two days earlier!

 
Tony Bennett: Duets II (Columbia)  I think most people would agree: As talented as Tony Bennett may be, as distinguished as his recorded catalog is now that he's in his 85th year--there's always been something...missing. Call it what you will--an essential spark, that little something extra that would catapult him to god-among-men status, a hit record--but I'm absolutely convinced he's finally found the answer! And that, of course, would come via this marvelous series of duets with singers the like of Lady Gaga, Michael BublĂ©, Faith Hill and vocal powerhouse Queen Latifah, who apparently also stars in movies on occasion! Though Bennett may be mixed up a little too loudly on the Latifah track--what the heck, she is the Queen!--I'm convinced he's brought us something here at the very least on the same level as his early hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"! I'm also convinced that taxing the rich will put me out of work, evolution is a "quaint" theory, and my unhealthy preoccupation with actress Kat Dennings could lead to unfortunate legal entanglements! Buy this today!
The Lady Is A Tramp - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

 
Tori Amos: Night Of Hunters (Deutsche Grammophon)  It's not often that entrancing songstresses offer up a "21st century song cycle inspired by select classical pieces spanning the last 400 years"--well, if you disregard that last Ke$ha album--but here's the always appealing Ms. Amos, artful as ever, skirting the bounds of tradition and offering up a fascinating disc that she says features a female protagonist in the midst of apparent relationship problems! Imagine that! Eminently listenable, soothing and jarring at the same time, and centering on a fascinatingly long recitation about a fellow named John Johnson--who comes from Wisconsin, and works in a lumber yard there--the album is essential listening for all of us who enjoy making mincemeat pies and fruitcakes in preparation for the coming holiday season! Not into that? Well, the Chili Peppers album kind of rocks!
Carry - Tori Amos

 
Gavin DeGraw: Sweeter (J Records)  Call it what you will, but there has always been something special about singer Gavin DeGraw! And I think I finally found out exactly what it is! Staring at the fabulous cover pic on his new album, it suddenly struck me that he's a dead ringer for actor Danny Aiello--who's acting career of course peaked with Madonna's marvelous "Papa Don't Preach" video--and that he wears some of the finest hats in the business! His fourth album, Sweeter--like all of his past work--is entirely inedible, so don't be fooled by desperate record companies and their attempts to sell you things that may not live up to their hype! Still...what a hat!
Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw

 
Ivy: All Hours (Nettwerk)  I've been a long-term fan of Ivy, and I'm pleased to announce their latest set--their first new album in six years--offers up the same quirkily appealing, melodic but strangely somber pop music that has made them an entirely distinctive proposition! The trio--featuring vocalist Dominique Durand, and other dudes Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger--are slightly less subtle than usual here, relying on machine-generated beats more than they have in the past, but the meat of the songs, generally sung by Durand and addressed to some unnamed party, remains thematically consistent, dandy, and better than you'd generally expect in these days of Taylor Swift, reality TV, and five-dollar cups of coffee! Plus, the album cover makes them look like superheroes! I'd buy this and probably take it home and listen to it!
Distant Lights - Ivy

SuperHeavy: Superheavy (Universal Republic)  While a part of me says, "C'mon you've got to be kidding" about this project--which teams Mick Jagger with Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R. Rahman--I'm detached enough from all of life to simply step back, let it play, enjoy the rhythms, and, every once in a while, say, "Hey, that guy singing there sounds just like Mick Jagger! Cool!" As Stones-related projects go, this beats Jamming With Edward, most of Keith Richards' albums, and maybe even Monkey Grip! Bottom line: this sounds like one big party, and the last time Jagger was involved in that sort of thing, it was called "Sing This All Together (See What Happens)" and drugs were being glorified! Sadly missing: Carly Simon! I want to play this right now!
Miracle Worker - SuperHeavy

The Jayhawks: Mockingbird Time (Rounder)  In my spare time, I often make delicate decisions about what does and what does not constitute actual "country music"--it sort of comes with the gig here--and I have to say that, upon listening to this album today, Mockingbird Time is absolutely not country music! What it is, however, is one of the year's better albums--the long-lived group's first with this line-up since 1995's Tomorrow The Green Grass--and the sort of thing that, had it been released on a small indie label in 1974 or so, would have cemented the Jayhawks' reputation as one of the finest bands going: great songs, well-played, well-sung, and crossing nearly every genre imaginable. Unlike most of my rock crit pals, most of whom are much shorter than I am, I have been long bored by that whole Son Volt/Wilco thingie and find this album, years after the fact, immensely more appealing! Perhaps it's time we rewrite rock history, get a few cups of coffee, and discuss that whole Nirvana thing! I mean, can you believe that guy's hair?
She Walks In So Many Ways - The Jayhawks
 
S.C.U.M.: Again Into Eyes (Mute)  A part of me wonders about the overall worth of seeing the acronym S.C.U.M. and instantly thinking "Society For Cutting Up Men"--like, shouldn't I have been reading The Brothers Karamazov that week? I mean, heck--my own kid has, and I've never touched it--but who cares? This great debut, apparently the product of some sibling of hip Brit band the Horrors, is subtle, sophisticated, mature-sounding and completely into showing the bare back of some English babe, and I think we're all of us--each and every one--in agreement that that's a good idea! Immensely more listenable than the new Gavin DeGraw album and--between you and me--boasting a much hotter cover! Bingo!
 
Jim Capaldi: Dear Mr. Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story (Interscope)  If I told you that a month ago I spent a complete week listening to the full solo discography of former Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi--and that the late musician's works have been lovingly compiled here in this unexpectedly rich boxed set--would you even believe me? But Capaldi, always overshadowed as a vocalist by his vastly talented bandmate Steve Winwood, had a highly credible career as a singer prior to Traffic's late ‘60s formation, and since his first solo album, 1972's Oh How We Danced, produced a consistent string of excellent solo works that this 4-CD set artfully contextualizes. Though he received his fair share of accolades for his work in Traffic, the music on display here deserves similar critical reappraisal.  Good stuff indeed!
Dear Mr. Fantasy - Traffic

Leslie West: Unusual Suspects (Provogue)  Though he was in the news earlier this year due to some serious health problems, "problems" are about the last thing that may be on your mind after hearing this return to form by guitarist Leslie West--once of highly-lauded Mountain--whose musical skills have not been diminished one iota. Featuring an impressive cast of guest musicians, including Billy Gibbons, Slash, Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde and Joe Bonamassa, Unusual Suspects is a well-played collection of originals, covers, and heartfelt, expressive rock ‘n roll. Let's all be grateful he's still around making it!
Mud Flap Momma - Leslie West (feat. Slash)

 
Demi Lovato: Unbroken (Hollywood) Word is that zesty young singer Lovato dubbed her new album Unbroken after spending a harrowing night determining her name was an anagram for Avoid Motel, Violate Mod, Load Motive, Metal Ovoid, A Devil Moot, and Avoid Me Lot! Hey, that happened to me once!
All Night Long - Demi Lovato (feat. Missy Elliott and Timbaland)
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'The Sing-Off' Is Back - Now With Extra Cheese!


Following the surprise success of "The Voice" this year, NBC decided to expand its other vocal competition, the voices-only "Sing-Off" (which used to be just a two-week lark, a bit of fluffy Christmastime filler squeezed in between "Rudolph" and "Frosty" specials), into a full-fledged, fall-season series this year. And NBC really upped the ante, opening up the competition to a whopping 16 a cappella groups, hyping the show almost as much as it has the inescapable "Whitney," and adding a new judge, sweet songstress Sara Bareilles. (I was very happy to see Sara replace flaky former judge Nicole Scherzinger, who recently departed to go ruin "The X Factor," but host Nick Lachey may have been exaggerating just a little when he ravingly called Sara "one of the biggest recording artists in the business." Calm down, Nick.) "I feel like in the first two seasons we introduced a cappella music to America, and they loved it, and now we see people coming out of the woodwork and pushing it into the future," super-awesome returning judge Ben Folds declared with a similar amount of hyperbole at the start of Monday night's Season 3 "Sing-Off" premiere.

But in the end, despite its rather cool judges, it was still the same old cheesy "Sing-Off," complete with matchy-matchy Century 21 blazers, Huxtable sweaters, Gleeks galore, and Nick Lachey. Seriously, this episode was so cheesy, it should've been shot in Wisconsin. In a Cheeto's factory. Not that that was an entirely bad thing, mind you. "The Sing-Off" has always had its own untouched-by-time, Lawrence Welkian charm, and I don't really know if a hyper-modernized, "hipper" version of this hokey little talent show would work, or if I'd even want NBC to try. It's probably best to leave the edginess to "The Voice," and let "The Sing-Off" Season 3 launch with an Up With People singalong of Pink's "F***in' Perfect" with the F-word conveniently, G-ratedly excised for the whole family to enjoy.


As for the biggest update to the show, Sara did a fine job her first time out, seeming utterly delighted (if slightly flustered) to be there and always coming across as approachable and adorable--instead of relying on desperately flirty one-liners and come-hither stares to hold the audience's attention, like her predecessor Scherzinger did. (When Sara did occasionally offer a critique that inadvertently seemed like a double-entendre, like when she told one all-male group they were a "super-tight package," she in fact blushed like a schoolgirl. Cute!) But just like the last two seasons, the real reason to watch "The Sing-Off" was Ben Folds--one of the finest judges working in reality TV today or, come to think of it, EVER. While he's never trafficked in the cutthroat criticism and snotty snark that has made other reality judges like Simon Cowell so popular, gentle Ben has always told it like it is in his own warm and humorous manner, and this season's "Sing-Off" premiere was no exception. On Monday evening, Ben made oddball references to Irish pub brawlers, toothless forest loggers, and washing machines, yet he still managed to give America a Music 101 lesson about chromatics and modulation and such. Ben is just the best.
But which a cappella group is the best in America? Of that, I am not so sure. On this week's premiere episode, eight of the 16 teams vying for that title gave it a go, and while the judges (Ben, Sara, and Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman) seemed impressed by all of the groups, I was a bit disappointed. Yes, there were plenty of stellar singers in the bunch, but where was the quirky creativity of my favorites from past seasons, the Whiffenpoofs and Beelzebubs? Considering all the hype this year, I was hoping for something more--those "groups from the future" that Ben bragged about. Oh well. Maybe there will be more unique options next week. Until then, here's what Season 3 has to work with...
The Yellowjackets - The Yellowjackets, founded in 1956 at the University of Rochester, are obviously one of the token old-school, dyed-in-the-rugby-wool college teams of the season, from their traditional vocal arrangements to, well, their traditional yellow jackets. Really, the only thing that made these guys seem remotely interesting or cool was their pre-performance footage of them visiting poor children in Kenya. Inspired by that experience, the YJs performed the World Cup anthem "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan, but I wasn't quite waving my own flag for them. The boys had tons of good energy and team spirit (when they whipped out red and green pennants for the final chorus, that was a nice touch), but their sluggish vocal arrangements and old-fashioned image bogged down their performance. However, the judges loved the 'Jackets. Shawn called them "ridiculous," and he meant that in a good way. "That was powerful! I felt that you believed the music and what you sang," Shawn said. Ben said, "It was a group effort, and the choir part of it really made you feel the chorus"--although he did gripe a little about the group's confusingly fluctuating tempos. And Sara mused, "I look at your faces, and it's really emotional. I see a brotherhood here." But she too cited some imperfections, saying she would have liked "more intricate counterpoints in the arrangements." I agree: Even by the conservative standards of a show like "The Sing-Off," the Yellowjackets were a bit too staid for me.

Fannin Family - Okay, then the Fannin Family came along, and suddenly the Yellowjackets seemed like the Ramones. The Fannins actually might be the dorkiest of all the dorky groups to ever grace the "Sing-Off" stage. Basically, imagine if the Duggars formed a singing group, and that those Duggars lived in Hortonville, Wisconsin (a town which may in fact be home to at least one cheese factory). I think there were about eight Fannins, they all looked alike and definitely sounded alike, and they all drove around in a "FanVan" that was not nearly as nifty as the Partridge Family bus. Fourteen-year-old Maria, the youngest Fannin and the lead singer of the group, was actually really impressive, with a nice smoky tone during her performance of Selena Gomez's "Who Says," but her brothers and sisters were not up to her standard. All three judges raved about Maria's vocals, but Ben complained that the lack of multiple gene pools to cull from had caused these modern-day Von Trapps' overall sound to get muddy, and that brother Chris was singing out of his range. ("You can't help it if your parents didn't sprout a bass," Ben amusingly pointed out.) Shawn said they had "harmony quirks here and there," which was his nice way of saying they were pitchy. Sara was the most positive, saying that the group had "something very wholesome and innocent, and that's refreshing." Maybe so, but I was not a huge Fannin fan. Maria really should consider dumping her siblings and going solo.

Afro-Blue - This was the first group to really grab my attention, and one of my favorites of the night. The jazz-influenced Howard University students brought the funk to "The Sing-Off," as their cover of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" had a cool, scatty vibe to it--just the right balance of modern and traditional that the show needs this all-important season. Self-described "music nerd" Ben loved this groovy group, praising them for "making jazzy stuff sound accessible instead of freaking people out." Sara told them, "You guys show a lot of promise for a lot of versatility. I can't wait to see what you do next!" Shawn rattled off a list of buzzwords from his notes--"class, style, slick, smooth, effortless, fun"--and told lead vocalist Christie, "Your voice feels like warm butter on grits." Time to kiss the grits, people, because Afro-Blue's sound is pretty yummy.

Delilah - This was another group with serious potential...and the "Sing-Off" pedigree to impress longtime viewers. Consisting mostly of veterans from past "Sing-Off" groups--including Noteworthy, Voices Of Lee, Eleventh Hour, and last year's totally robbed and awesomely named Pitchslapped--this all-girl group certainly looked like pop stars (their hotpants and miniskirts added a little bit of needed glamour and sex appeal to this otherwise tame show). But as supportive Sara, who gave them a standing ovation, pointed out: "You're more than just a bunch of beautiful women choosing to sing together. You guys are just the kickass a cappella group!" Delilah's cover of Bruno Mars's "Grenade" was explosive (no pun intended), especially when titanic-lung'd leader Amy sang a solo. "Amy, what boyfriend did you channel to sing that? I believe that cut through my darn heart. It was strong, and it was sexy," Shawn raved. And Ben worded it best, as he almost always does, when he told them: "There's no novelty to this. An all-female group, or one person, or a bunch of toothless loggers can all pull music off, if you put your head to it." These girls sure are easier on the eyes than toothless loggers, and that probably will only help their cause, but thankfully, their voices are just as pretty. And I think together they'll be stronger than they were in their past respective "Sing-Off" groups.

Urban Method - All right, here's when a bit of novelty came into play. This Denver group made a big to-do about the fact that they are the first "Sing-Off" contenders to have a rapper in their mix, claiming to be "edgy" and "on the street" and christening their hybrid sound "rap-a-pella." But I think the rapping kind of hurt them, simply because they chose to cover a RAP SONG. If they'd sung, say, an Adele or Kings Of Leon tune and then added some freestyling to it, that would have been cool. But by doing Eminem and Rihanna's "Love The Way You Lie," not a very outside-the-box song choice, they came across as just some copycat act. (Marshall Mathers is tough to top, you know.) Shawn loved what Urban Method had to offer, saying their sound reminded him of his childhood days of rapping on Philly's streets, and declaring, "I'm glad that someone was actually smart enough to do it on 'The Sing-Off'; I consider it cool!" Sara was impressed by their star quality and theatrical tendencies. Ben liked the fact that the group was put together by a recording studio owner, explaining: "The producer aspect is really important; sometimes a great band comes along that really is informed by the studio." But I want to see more inspired and creative song interpretations, not just rap remakes, from these guys before I make up my mind about them.

Cat's Pajamas - These fellas dubbed themselves the "hippest of the hip, the coolest of the cool." Um, no. Untrue. But these former cruise-ship crooners were certainly the most professional of the bunch: Currently taking up residence in Branson, Missouri, the family-friendly entertainment capital of the country, these sharp-suited showboaters currently play 200 concerts a year for America's tourists. Their showbiz experience showed--they had oodles of confidence, their voices blended seamlessly, and they looked like they'd spent a good chunk of their Branson earnings on their shiny suits. But there was something soulless and not all that wonderful about their "Some Kind Of Wonderful" performance. Ben advised them, "The next step is to take risks and be more vulnerable--the artsy part. There is an art covering other people's songs. How powerful would it be if you put part of yourself in the song?" Ben's fellow judges seemed similarly unmoved. Said Shawn: "You guys are definitely entertainers...but again, how does it translate to the listener?" And Sara said, "I want to see versatility here. I want to see what you guys look like in jeans and T-shirts--and I don’t mean that in a weird way. You're just so slick!" These cats were definitely on the "Sing-Off" fence.

Kinfolk 9 - These ragtag, rough-around-the-edges chancers provided a direct contrast to the very polished and professional Cat's Pajamas. A collective of struggling L.A. artists trying out a cappella for the first time, they possessed everything the previous group did not--heart, soul, passion, pathos--but none of the gloss. Their performance of OneRepublic's "Secrets" was a little off and far from perfect, but hey, at least it was interesting. And lead vocalist Moi, with his vaguely emo/rocker look, was about as cool as this episode got. "I can see this is very emotional for you guys. I get the sense there is a lot riding on this for you," Sara sympathized. Ben thought the gang needed a little time to get it together technically, but said they showed a lot of raw promise. And Shawn astutely observed, "I can sense the hunger, I can sense the desire, and sometimes you can overshoot. But isn't it amazing that struggle tends to bring out the best in who you are? You can always fix the technical stuff, but you must reserve the feeling and keep that feeling alive." I actually think Kinfolk 9 could be this season's dark horse, if they're given time to grow.

Vocal Point - Another rah-rah college team, these scrubbed-clean Bringham Young University kids aimed to have "the most fun that nine clean-cut Mormon guys can have onstage." Some of their fun was unfortunately spoiled when one of their team members, their baritone, had to miss this first episode to fly home to visit his terminally ill father--but that just gave them a readymade sob story and had the whole audience rooting for them from note one. Their performance of the swing standard "Jump, Jive, An' Wail" was hokey as heck, but definitely good Mormon fun, and they proved they could perform well under adversity. They received a standing ovation--"earned by the high note at the end," noted Ben, who also loved the group's "wicked" basslines. Sara and Shawn were equally enthusiastic, with Sara gushing about "that classic, collegiate doo-wop a cappella that I really love," and Shawn telling them, "You did your thing, you held it down, and you kept us entertained!" It will be interesting to see how Vocal Point fare once their full lineup is back intact.

In the end, the judges had to cut two teams, and I think they totally made the right choice by sending home weakest links the Fannin Family and Cat's Pajamas. (Good first decision, Sara!) The Fannins just had no zip or zing (their lame swan-song choice, "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie, was additional proof of that), and the cookie-cutter Cat's guys will be better off just staying in Branson, to be honest.
So far, my eyes and ears are on Afro-Blue, Delilah, and Kinfolk 9, all of whom have something very unique to offer. But next week we'll get to see the other eight teams, including one that claims to have some sort of electronic/techno shtick (I'm kinda-sorta fantasizing that they'll wear Daft Punk robot helmets to match their blazers). Hopefully that is when things will get really interesting. But as long as Ben Folds is on, I'll be heartily digging into this guilty-pleasure cheese.
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Here's The Beef: Lady Gaga's Meat-Dress Designer Debuts Meat Shirt


Now you too can own a piece of Lady Gaga's controversial VMAs meat dress--sorta. Designer Franc Fernandez, the vision behind Gaga's daring choice-cut couture, has released a limited-edition meat shirt for Little Monsters and extreme fashion fans to enjoy. But don't worry, Morrissey: The shirt is just a fabric print of bloody marbled prime, not fashioned from real butcher scraps like Gaga's infamous dress that was lauded, criticized, and debated the world over.
This gives a new meaning to the term "Beefy T,"  huh?
The meat shirts will be available for purchase at Nicola Formichetti's outrageously reflective pop-up shop in New York while supplies last. At the store, Formachetti--Thierry Mugler creative director and Gaga's celebrated stylist--displays the wardrobe from Gaga's "Paparazzi" performance at the 2010 VMAs and archival vintage Versace pieces that she got free range with, and sells everything from spacey Mugler platforms, deadly studded vests, and to-die-for panda-skull rings.
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