Back in 2001, it was almost impossible to miss the buzz that surrounded singer/songwriter Alicia Keys. Sure, much of it was hyperbole: but it was impossible to deny the fact that she was a unique bird in the pop music scene. While the image of a self-sufficient female singer/songwriter/instrumentalist may have been common back in the days, that ideal became less prevalent as we transitioned into the 21st century. Alicia was a throwback, but with a modern edge. The album […]
Posts tagged "Alicia Keys"
Spin Cycle: “I Remember Me” by Jennifer Hudson
To say the last few years in Jennifer Hudson’s life have been a whirlwind would be an understatement. Since coming to prominence during the third season of “American Idol”, Hudson won an Academy Award, released her first album, won a Grammy Award, saw two hit singles spin off from the album (which sold over 3/4 of a million records), was crushed by the shocking murders of her mother, brother and nephew, got married (to a fellow reality show contestant), had […]
Popblerd!’s 2011 Grammy Preview: Rap
Another year, another time to kvetch over the Grammy Award nominations, right? It may be music’s biggest night, but it’s hard to find a Grammy Awards that’s not fraught with controversy and/or boring as hell. The nomination process always results in head scratching decisions, and this year’s are no different. Katy Perry nominated for Album of the Year? Weird. Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance” scratched off of the Record of the Year nominees? Uber-weird. No Lil Wayne nominations? Big Boi passed […]
Dear Grammy…
The Grammy Awards ceremony needs a face-lift, and I propose more awards and more performances by up-and-coming acts.
Chart Stalker!: Billboard Year-End Version
Welcome to the first of two year end editions of Chart Stalker! Why two, you ask? Simple answer-Billboard’s year-end issue comes out before the end of the actual calendar year (to allow for publication time and ad purchasing). Generally speaking, it covers the year from December 1st of the previous year to November 30th of the current year, or thereabouts. Additionally, Billboard calculates it’s rankings by using a formula based on chart position, so where an artist ends up on […]
Eminem, Lady Antebellum Lead Grammy Nominees
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Eminem and Lady Antebellum lead the pack of Grammy nominees. The nominations were announced last night in Los Angeles.
Chart Stalker 8/26/10: There’s Life!!!
Eminem #1, yada yada yada blah blah blah. However, the remainder of the Top 10 on this week’s Billboard album chart gets an almost complete makeover, by virtue of six debuts and a reentry. The only albums in this week’s Top 10 that were also in last week’s Top 10 besides Eminem are Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” (#7) and Justin Bieber’s “My World 2.0” (#8). This week’s Top 10 debuts come from R&B singer Kem (#2), singer-songwriters Ray LaMontagne (#3) […]
Alicia Keys: Singer, Pianist, Wife?, Mother?, Hypocrite!!
So, I try not to get all gossipy with my posts. One thing I’m not, never want to be, and never will be is Perez Hilton. However, the news that singer/songwriter Alicia Keys is engaged to hip-hop artist/producer Swizz Beatz and is pregnant with his child kicks up some dust that I just can’t ignore. What would ordinarily be greeted with a “so what?” or “damn, another fine-ass chick off the market” is really only newsworthy because Swizz Beatz is […]
Um…How the Hell Does Justin Bieber Get Nominated for a BET Award??
Nothing gets my goat quicker than the announcement of award nominations. It seems like the older I get, the more I realize how much awards are based on political considerations and not based on actual talent or even common sense. To wit-the nominations for the BET Awards were announced this week. Most of the nominations go according to what you’d typically expect for a BET-endorsed award show-Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Beyonce are among the key nominees-hell, it seems like they’re […]
Chartstalker 5/13/10: Billboard Gets Godsmacked!
That was fairly innocuous as far as groan-inducing puns go, right? Anyway, Boston-based hard rock band Godsmack lead off the Billboard 200 Album chart this week, selling 117,000 copies of their latest album, “Oracle”. I don’t really have much to say about this development. They’re a pretty popular band so a #1 debut isn’t unexpected. My only real experience with the band was seeing them last summer at Crue Fest (from, like, the second row), and being really impressed by […]