realitymunches

American Idol 11: Auditions #5 in Galveston

2012-01-28T10:51:00.004+08:00

Kristina Osorio - 'One & Only' by Adele
Ergh, I wish she didn't stop!

Ramiro Garcia - 'Amazing Grace'
Aww, what a sweet story. Whoever said disabilities would stop you from dreaming what you want to achieve? A little Chris Medina in him huh?

Skylar Laine - 'Hell On Heels'
Country girl with a grocery business run by the family. Great country voice.

Bailey Brown - 'Bed Of Roses'
She was in the same group as controversial alumnus Antonella Barba back in Season 6. She looks like she fits into Lakoda Rayne perfectly.

Cortez Shaw - 'Someone Like You' by Adele
Didn't like his interpretation of it. He sang it well, but I felt the emotion for the song wasn't there.

American Idol 11 - Auditions #4 in Aspen

2012-01-26T21:42:00.003+08:00

Haley Smith - 'Tell Me Something Good' by Chaka Khan
I don't know a lot about the '70s, but she channels a Joni Mitchell vibe. And YES, the judges said she sounded like Joni Mitchell! HAHA SPOT ON. Loving this girl already.

Shelby Tweten - 'Temporary Home' by Carrie Underwood
She doesn't have the most amazing voice, but for a girl with bipolar disorder and depression at such a young age, this came across very heartfelt and emotional.

Jenni Schick - 'Heartbreaker' by Pat Benatar
Siao char bor who is more obsessed with kissing Steven Tyler rather than getting into the next round of auditions.

Curtis Grey, Richie Law
Curtis has a fantastic tone, Richie Law sounds exactly like Scotty McCreery, Devan Jones looks like Nnenna from ANTM, Mathenne Trego does good at the vocal drills but you still need to look good on TV.

Angie Zeiderman - Show Tune & Blue Bayou
Interesting showtunes girl. No one thought she could sing initially, but boy she delivered on the second number.

American Idol 11 - Auditions #3 in San Diego

2012-01-25T11:22:00.002+08:00

Aubree Dieckmeyer - 'Feeling Good' by Michael Buble
America's Next Top Model does pretty good. Delivers a very delicate interpretaation.

Kyle Crews - 'Angel Of Mine'
The judges discovered an unexpectedly good voice. Too bad it doesn't really fit his looks?

Ali Shields - 'Like A Star'
Absolutely insane. But very entertaining. Like a crazed out Natasha Bedingfield.

Ashley Robles - 'I Will Always Love You' by Whiney Houston
A filipino who sounds pretty powerful.

Jane Carrey - 'Something To Talk About'
Jim Carrey's daughter is pretty boring. Average voice, average looks, just not an average dad.
Jason Hamlin - 'Midnight Special' and 'Folsom Prison'

2012: Soundmunches #3

2012-01-21T22:57:00.003+08:00

Emeli Sande - Next To Me
Ed Sheeran - Drunk

Santigold - Big Mouth
Far East Movement - Jello (Feat. Rye Rye)

Stooshe - Love Me (feat. Travie McCoy)
Justice - ON'N'ON

Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe

American Idol 11 - Auditions #2 in Pittsburgh

2012-01-20T23:00:00.005+08:00

Heejun Han, Hallie Day, and Reed Grimm

Heejun Han - 'How Am I Supposed To Live'
I don't particularly like his higher register, but hey he's pretty amazing for a quirky Asian dude.

Hallie Day - 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor
Her name makes you want to go on a vacation. Powerful voice, but there doesn't seem to be a dynamism to her voice.

Erika Van Pelt - 'Will You Still Love Me'
She's like a mellow, alto-ish Mariah - one who will definitely do well in the country genre. Could probably join the leagues of Christina Perri, Lady Antebellum?

Reed Grimm - Theme Song from 'Family Matters'
A very unpredictable yet captivating performance. He gotta keep this innovation going on in the next few auditions though!

Creighton Fraker - 'Original' & 'Who's Loving You'
He's quite a personality, and really sounds like Jamiroquai. Hideous outfit though.

Travis Orlando - 'Isn't She Lovely' by Stevie Wonder
Enjoyed his audition last year MUCH MORE. He looked much more comfortable last time around, this year he just comes across pretty desperate, though he definitely encountered much more hardship since 2011.

Samantha Novacek - 'We Never Loved At All'
Good voice, but her sister is ridiculously annoying. No idea why she had to do that.

Eben Franckewitz - 'Ain't No Sunshine'
What? He sang like 4 lines?! Can't believe that got him in - the whole Vienna Boy's Choir should've joined the auditions.

American Idol 11 - Auditions #1

2012-01-19T19:00:00.006+08:00

Outstanding acts today: Colton & Schyler Dixon, Phillip Phillips

Watch the episode here.

Phillip Phillips - 'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder & 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson
He is an improved Casey Abrams with MUCH BETTER looks. He's probably going to be my Paul McDonald this season.

Schyler Dixon - 'Breakeven' by The Script
Colton Dixon - 'Permanent' by David Cook
I recall Colton failing to make the final cut last season, and I was rooting for him too. This sibling duo is simply amazing, both of them possess such heartwrenching tonal qualities.

Shannon Magrane - 'Something's Got A Hold On Me' by Etta James
At only 15, this girl has a great jazz vibe in her. For those who find this song familiar, Flo Rida adapted it in 'Good Feeling', and Avicii as well in 'Levels'.

Brittany Kerr - 'Spoilt' by Joss Stone
Her beauty instantly sends her to Hollywood. Great bluesy feel she's got there.

Lauren Mink - 'Country Strong' by Gwyneth Paltrow
She is such a good-hearted person, and her voice is so pure and beautiful.

Amy Brumfield - 'Superwoman' by Alicia Keys
Loving her raspy voice and inspirational life story.

Gabi Carrubba - 'Sunday Morning' by Maroon 5
A champion tap dancer who makes an effort to switch up the original arrangement, and does it beautifully.

Ashlee Altise - 'Come Together' by The Beatles
Siaocharbor who invents a new dance called Joy Hopping. Such a bubbly personality with a great voice to boot.

Project Runway All-Stars: Episode 1

2012-01-17T22:55:00.006+08:00

Watch the episode here.

It's an All-Star special this season, and some of the most popular designers in the history of Project Runway are back! Mondo's fashion sense gets even more hideous, Mila reminds me of Edna Mode from The Incredibles, Rami looks very muscular now, April's presence is absolutely boring, Jerell is really obnoxious, and Elisa still makes spitmarks on almost everything she possesses.

When Angela Lindvall, the host filling in for Heidi this season, walked into the room, a distinct "Who the hell are you?" look crossed the faces of a few of the contestants.

For this challenge, each designer got $100 to shop at the 99-cent store to create a look inspired by the looks they tried out on their models earlier.

Instead of the warm and avuncular Tim Gunn, All-Stars heads in the opposite direction, with Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Coles replacing him. She is fierce, not Tyra-fierce, but fierce-fierce.

Also, instead of the permanent judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, this season introduces us to Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman, co-founder of Marchesa.

HIGHEST

Jerrell
Jerrell's flowing dress made out of scarves and placemats was lovely, but it didn't push the boundaries. Great detailing in the back!

Mondo
Amazing dress aesthetically, and this was a push of the envelope on Mondo's part, because he didn't go for loud and clashing prints. From far, no one could tell this was constructed from trash bags, electrical tape, and plastic cowboy hats.

WINNER

Rami
Both Rami's inspiration dress and unconventional dress were inspired and impeccably constructed. This type of stunning design is what was missing last season. For his runway look, Rami did the opposite of drape and created a sturdy, architectural dress that called to mind a robot-maid or a deconstructed plaid couch or something Lady Gaga would wear to lounge around the house. Very editorial.

LOWEST

Gordana
Gordana's unconventional dress was just like her inspiration dress, though this time around it looks cheaper. This piece was too much to handle.

Sweet P
This was just boring, and she didn't even try something adventurous by diving straight for wash cloth at the 99 cent store. Clearly a lack of vision.

OUT

Elisa
This was ridiculous, and she did herself in by opening her mouth. Consumers like clothes that tell a story immediately, not ones that need to be explained.

2012: Soundmunches #2

2012-01-16T21:53:00.004+08:00

Arctic Monkeys - Black Treacle
Death Cab For Cutie - Underneath the Sycamore

Foster The People - Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)
Cher Lloyd - Want U Back (feat. Astro)

Scissor Sisters vs Krystal Pepsy - Shady Love
Snow Patrol - In The End

One Direction - One Thing
Gabrille Aplin - My Home

New Videos:
Pixie Lott - Kiss The Stars
Dev - Dancing Shoes
Mike Posner - Looks Like Sex
DJ Fresh - Hot Right Now
Natalia Kills - Kill My Boyfriend
The Maccabees - Pelican

New Music:
Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up
Emeli Sande - Next To Me
Goldfrapp - Melancholy Sky
Jessie J - Laserlight (feat. David Guetta)

Best Of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#1 - #20)

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000+08:00

1) Adele - Rolling In The Deep [Video Link]
At only 22, Adele sings with the authority and sense of life experience of a 40 year old. When she wails, "We could have had it all...rolling in the deep," you feel every ounce of pain and loss with her. However, it is not a pain that has left her frail or defenseless. In fact, the entire song sounds as if she is gathering strength to do something about the pain, and the palpable feel of impending doom becomes chilling by the song's end.

Co-songwriter and producer Paul Epworth, who has worked recently with the likes of Cee Lo Green and Florence and the Machine, provides a perfect backdrop for Adele's vocals on "Rolling In the Deep." Martial beats, pounding piano chords, and chanting backing singers all seem to just gradually ratchet forward and follow the emotion in the lead line. A broken down handclapping bridge is positively spooky. I’m just proud to see her progress so far since the ‘Chasing Pavements’ days.

2) Lady Gaga - Born This Way [Video Link]
Musically, there would be no "Born This Way" without Madonna's "Express Yourself" and "Vogue." However, this is no copy or retread. It is Lady Gaga's music brought to the next obvious level, and she knows how to take us with her in a full hands in the air party frenzy.

"Born This Way" is filled with bumper sticker worthy slogans that do not feel kitschy or trite. "I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes." "Don't be a drag, just be a queen." "I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!" True enough, these statements have swept into mainstream pop culture.

3) Adele - Someone Like You [Video Link]
The story of the failed relationship that inspired Adele's album 21 has been widely covered and publicized. She was in love with an older man age 30 and thought they would get married. However, that turned out to not be the case and they endured a bitter breakup. When she received the news that he was engaged to another woman, she wrote "Someone Like You." It is her attempt to write something positive in the wake of the breakup. There is the sound of some healing beginning here, but the song is also heartbreaking.

The piano melody is gorgeous and combined with Adele's heartfelt reading of her words, the effect is highly emotional. She apologizes for re-entering the life of the past love with hopes that she is not forgotten while wishing him all the best. Emotions are laid bare with some hope for true, lasting love in the future, but Adele sings that it will be in the arms of someone like the lover she lost.

4) Rihanna - We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) [Video Link]
'We Found Love' is a club-ready number that, courtesy of Scottish DJ/producer/singer Calvin Harris, remains a classy affair. RiRi does manage to forgo her boozy and bondage tendencies this time out. "We found love in a hopeless place," she admits wistfully over shimmering synths, before Harris cuts loose on the lyric-less, exhilarating chorus.

5) Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger [Video Link]
A song that pays homage to a musical legend is often labeled a cynical ploy for an easy hit; even more so when it's a duet by singers who front a reality show and haven't bothered the charts for a while. That said, when it involves the eye-pleasing Adam Levine and long-time diva Christina Aguilera honouring something as iconic yet frivolous as Mick Jagger's stage moves, it's hard not to be taken in.

It's even trickier when the song is this addictive. "Take me by the tongue and I'll know you/ Kiss me till you're drunk and I'll show you," Levine insists over a funky, finger-clicking bassline and an irresistible whistle hook that immediately burrows deep into the recesses of your brain. "If I share my secret/ You're gonna have to keep it," Xtina says on her short, sweet and perfectly-formed cameo.

6) Britney Spears - Till The World Ends [Video Link]
From the schoolgirl ensemble, to her darker, head shaving days, to her eventual rise back to the top, Britney has become an expert in keeping the pop world waiting with bated breath. The hawkish sirens and swizzling bassline production that opens ''Till The World Ends' unquestionably has Dr Luke written all over it. "Watch me move/ When I lose, I lose it hard," Britney asserts in seductive verses built around a ludicrously catchy chorus-chant. The result is her most uplifting, comfortable and confident number since 'Stronger', which, for longtime Britney fans, is the comeback we've all been waiting for.

7) Ed Sheeran - The A Team [Video Link]
In an age where a star is born in a matter of weeks, we were beginning to think that the traditional path to success of hard graft and persistence had been wiped out. Thankfully, Ed Sheeran proved otherwise with his first mainstream release, 'The A Team'. His intelligent lyrics and softer-than-cream-cheese vocals that set him apart from the pack. The true story of a homeless drug addict who will "go mad for a couple grams" and whose face is "crumbling like pastries", Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics.

8) Nicki Minaj - Super Bass [Video Link]
"Super Bass" carries a light, breezy tone that makes it a perfect summer song. There is a jaunty, bouncing opening figure followed by extended rapping that shows off her vocal talents. However, it is when that chorus kicks in that "Super Bass" is lifted to the status of outstanding pop song. Minaj doesn't simply rap the words with rhythmic power. She manages to masterfully manipulate the mood and the meaning of the words through shifts in emphasis, intonation and phrasing.

9) Lady Gaga - Marry The Night [Video Link]
"That record is about my husband, New York," Lady Gaga declared when recently speaking about her new single 'Marry The Night'. It's no secret that Mother Monster has a loyal passion for her home city, so it was only a matter of time before she penned an ode to her one true love. "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life/ I'm a warrior queen, live passionately, tonight," GaGa calls out over a suitably grand introduction of deistic bells and rumbling techno synths. Defiant and epic, the track feeds into Gaga's cult-focused fan base like a prophet calling upon their disciples.

10) Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks [Video Link]
Songwriter, producer and band leader Mark Foster says that the words to "Pumped Up Kicks" were written to draw attention to gun violence among youth and Columbine style disasters. It only takes seconds for that nimble bass line to kick in which drives "Pumped Up Kicks" relentlessly forward. Then the talk box vocals join with a story about "Robert" and the gun he found in his dad's closet. Just when all is sounding ominous, the hand clapping chorus erupts. It sounds chirpy in a sun-drenched slacker style, but in those occasional gaps and spaces in the mix your mind goes back to the need to run "faster than my bullet." What can the listener really do except dance and sing along?

11) LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem [Video Link]
"Party Rock Anthem" comes complete with its own accompanying dance, the Melbourne shuffle, which has been a part of club culture since the 1980s but is experiencing a rebirth in popularity. The music video for "Party Rock Anthem" amusingly presents a world in which no one can seem to stop shuffling. This track is pure pop party music that took the world by storm in 2011.

12) Jessie J - Price Tag (feat. B.o.B) [Video Link]
First time out she was doing it like a dude. This time around, she's doing it like Natasha Bedingfield, albeit with a hipper guest rapper and more vocal charisma. Truth be told, 'Price Tag' does come off a little bit corny, but thanks in no small part to Jessie's spunky likability, it's still the best sun-dappled, midtempo head-nodder since Miley's 'Party In The USA' - a tune which she coincidentally had a hand in writing.

13) Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor (feat. Pitbull) [Video Link]
Jennifer Lopez recruited RedOne and Pitbull this time around for her first single on new label Island. Built around a 'Lambada' sample, 'On The Floor' is a Latin-tinged electro-housey party tune that can very well land itself on a Black Eyed Peas record. The result is the antithesis of classy, and while it may not be particularly original, it is one club stomper that has made the charts.

14) Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory [Video Link]
At its heart "The Edge of Glory" is a simple, straightforward rock power ballad with a major kick. There is a poignant story behind "The Edge of Glory" about Lady Gaga and her father coping with the impending death of her grandfather. Once again very personal life experiences have generated pop magic for Lady Gaga. She utilizes the power of classic rock via a big saxophone solo from the late Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

15) Beyonce - Run The World (Girls) [Video Link]
Earthy beats, hypnotising hooks and militant drums pound relentlessly as Queen B declares it's "GRLZ who run this mutha". The uber-trendy Major Lazer 'Pon De Floor' sample is free to roam as it sees fit, adding up to an aggressive, head-spinning and ferocious club stomper.

16) Coldplay - Paradise [Video Link]
The looping, hi-gloss beats and swooping strings certainly suggest that Coldplay has struck a fine balance between commercial success and critical acclaim, reminiscent of Timbaland and Ryan Tedder's 'Apologise'. The chant-along chorus and "para-para paradise" hook do a great job at filling large arenas.

17) Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All [Video Link]
Kelly Clarkson remains uncompromised on 'Mr Know It All' - the lead single from her fifth studio set Stronger. It’s certainly not the standard Kelly album trailer; substituting fast 'n' furious rawk guitars for a weighty piano riff - though her sentiments remain the same. "You think that you know me/ That's why I'm leaving you lonely," she tells her pompous and puffed-up beau, before insisting: "You don't know a thing about me."

18) Florence & The Machine - Shake It Out [Video Link]
“Shake It Out” is like Florence Welch’s version of Katy Perry’s “Firework”; it’s an anthemic pop song, bursting with as much hope and positivity as it is with catchy hooks and danceable beats. The enormous tribal drums that have become a Florence staple are present in the production, as well as a tambourine and a pious organ for that massive, Godly effect. The vocals are the standout, though, with Flo delivering another truly astonishing performance.

19) P!nk - F***'in Perfect [Video Link]
With his recent smash hits working with Katy Perry and Britney Spears, it does look like Max Martin is the route to a mainstream manufactured sound. However, this song is more distinctly Pink than it is anything else. The lyrics of "F**kin' Perfect" insist that we all remember, even in the bad times, we are perfect. The point of the music video is to shake up viewers in order to force them to see a problem that needs to be addressed.

20) Katy Perry - E.T [Video Link]
"E.T." is a strong effort at showing some versatility. It is a more adult sound for both Perry and producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. The metaphor of sex with an extra terrestrial is potent lyrically, and added verses by Kanye West add an interesting perspective turning the song into a tense duet about an intense sexual encounter.

21) Florence and the Machine - What The Water Gave Me
22) Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
23) David Guetta - Without You (feat. Usher)
24) Lady Gaga - Judas
25) Lady Gaga - You And I
26) Rihanna - California King Bed
27) Beyonce - Best Thing I Never Had
28) Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
29) Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (TGIF)
30) Bad Meets Evil - Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars)
31) Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me
32) Demi Lovato - Skyscraper
33) Florence And The Machine - No Light, No Light
34) Adele - Set Fire To The Rain
35) Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend
36) Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (feat. Rizzle Kicks)
37) Will Young - Jealousy
38) Jessie J - Who You Are
39) Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts
40) Adele - Rumour Has It

41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House
46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… (feat. Sabi)
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games
53) Rihanna - S & M
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull)
55) Birdy - Skinny Love
56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark
57) The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum
60) Adele - Turning Tables

61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight

81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline

Best Of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#21 - #40)

2011-12-24T09:42:00.000+08:00

21) Florence & The Machine - What The Water Gave Me [Video Link]
Taking the title from a surrealist painting by Frida Kahlo and lyrical inspiration from the suicide of Virginia Woolf (‘pockets full of stones’), Florence Welch delivers ethereal vocals and the ghost of British folk-rock with such soulful power. Her chosen collaborators are Eg White on songwriting (Chasing Pavements) and Paul Epworth on production (Rolling In The Deep).

22) Bruno Mars - It Will Rain [Video Link]
Bruno Mars plaintively requests, "If you ever leave me baby, leave some morphine at my door..." Clearly, he is talking about true romantic pain here. He touches on the concept that it will rain every single day if a treasured relationship comes to an end. This may not be his most emotional piece (Grenade), but should be a huge pop single from the Twilight OST.

23) David Guetta - Without You (feat. Usher) [Video Link]
Usher has the flair of selling both romantic balladry and uptempo dance music in one, and he does it best on this track. Other than this track and ‘Titanium’ however, the songs from Guetta’s sophomore album ‘Nothing But The Beat’ are starting to feel more like production numbers from a star-studded TV special instead of like someone was concentrating on creating a truly memorable, durable pop record.

24) Lady Gaga - Judas [Video Link]
It takes a lot to be offended by a song before you've even heard it, but such was the case among Christian extremists when Lady Gaga released the lyrics to 'Judas' a couple of months ago. Proclaiming her love for a man who betrayed one of the world's most iconic religious figures was undoubtedly risky, but rather than gasping in dismay, what was produced was a RedOne-helmed, 'Bad Romance'-style sledge hammering beat with a sick bassline.

25) Lady Gaga - You & I [Video Link]

Naturally the track has undergone some minor sprucing in the studio, but the sentiment behind it remains as clear as ever. "You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, ooh/ I'll give up anything again to be your baby doll," she confesses about her on-off lover Luc Carl over a hi-gloss country-meets-'80s rawk melody. This track is truly a torchy, retro-classic, all-American power ballad built for the masses.

26) Rihanna - California King Bed [Video Link]
Opening with gentle acoustic strumming, ‘California King Bed’ tells the heart-wrenching story of the demise of a once-great relationship. Though ‘California King Bed’ follows a routine pop ballad arrangement, the song is a nice change of pace for the Barbadian hitmaker. As much as we love Rihanna’s dance club hits, it’s refreshing to hear a song built around her impressive voice.

27) Beyonce - Best Thing I Never Had [Video Link]
This is the Beyonce millions of fans the world over loved when they made "Irreplaceable" and "Halo" into mega-hits. She is the powerful woman assertive in words but with a softer, distinctively feminine side represented by the beautiful piano accompaniment. Babyface lends his songwriting talents here, while Symbolyc One, producer behind Kanye West’s ‘Power’, works on production.

28) Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song [Video Link]
Bruno Mars is clearly a man of many musical moods. His first hit "Just the Way You Are" was a sweet, almost fawning, love tribute. He followed that with "Grenade," one of the most direct and cutting break-up songs in recent memory. Now he backs away from any relationship concerns to relax with friends and celebrate a day of leisure.

29) Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) [Video Link]
The unmistakable musical stamps of producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin are all over this song. Musically, it is relentlessly perky and upbeat, and there is a dose of cheerleader rock in the bridge that leads into a saxophone solo and a reprise of the chorus. She has some clever lyrics in this too, whether it is mentioning Ke$ha's ever-present glitter or detailing just what a mess the Friday night was, if only it could really be remembered.

30) Bad Meets Evil - Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars) [Video Link]

"Lighters" kicks off with the warm, pleasing vocals of Bruno Mars celebrating living out one's life dreams with validation from a sea of admirers represented by the concert tradition of lighters in the air. It is followed by a confident and amusing Eminem rap in which he asks us to forgive his cockiness while he dismisses any haters that would argue with his status as the world's top rapper. Indeed, Eminem can remain powerfully engaging to pop audiences while losing none of the visceral impact of his best raps.

31) Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me [Video Link]
The current fashionable trend among top female solo pop singers is the uplifting self-esteem anthem. Katy Perry's "Firework," Pink's "Raise Your Glass," and even Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" all fall firmly in that category. However, Britney stays true to herself and doesn’t jump on the bandwagon, for "Hold It Against Me" is purely about lust and seduction on the dance floor. There is also a thrilling dub step breakdown that takes us all straight into a contemporary, progressive dance club.

32) Demi Lovato - Skyscraper [Video Link]
"Skyscraper" is a complete change of pace from the current dominance of upbeat party tunes on the pop music landscape. This is a song of survival in the face of events that amount to efforts to "tear me down." However, the audio pictures painted by words like "You can break everything I am / Like I'm made of glass," coupled with Demi Lovato's bravura vocal performance, turn this into something truly special.

33) Florence & The Machine - No Light, No Light [Video Link]
On "No Light, No Light," Florence + the Machine exudes strength through pulsating tribal drums, a choir-led chorus, and a brash bridge of electronica. A dramatic opening note on the single ushers in a drum crescendo, followed by a "Like A Prayer"-style interlude. Lyrically, Florence Welch is on her knees, begging her lover not to go and poignantly declaring, "It's so easy to say it to a crowd, but it's so hard, my love, to say it to you out loud."

34) Adele - Set Fire To The Rain [Video Link]
"It was dark and I was over/ Until you kissed my lips and saved me," Adele admits over a gloomy piano riff, before launching into a hands-in-the-air chorus. "I set fire to the rain/ and I threw us into the flames," she belts with growly vocals against cinematic strings. Rounding out with a suitably breathtaking blast from her impressive pipes and the result is classic.

35) Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend [Video Link]
"Call Your Girlfriend" is deceptively simple, a buzzing rhythm, a few of banks of synths, a killer chord change, and Robyn sagely dishing out breakup advice to her new boyfriend. Unlike on other breakup tracks, nothing is truly ending on "Call Your Girlfriend", it's only changing, and with Robyn as the observer gently guiding each party into a hopeful tomorrow.

36) Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (feat. Rizzle Kicks) [Video Link]
"I don't wanna go home/ Cause when you hold me like this/ You know my heart skips, skips a beat," Murs confesses over a ska-flecked melody, reggae beats and the cheeky vocal twang that grabbed Simon Cowell's attention first time out - while a skit from street-rapping duo Rizzle Kicks ensures the whole thing remains child and chart-friendly.

37) Will Young - Jealousy [Video Link]
"It feels like jealousy/ And it feels like I can't breathe," he confesses over a sad-pop disco beat and rousing piano chords helmed by electro-pop connoisseur Richard X. The tale of lusting for an otherwise engaged man, things steadily crescendo by the final chorus with a stirring, growly vocal as he laments: "I'm tired of waiting/ I'm tired of thinking".

38) Jessie J - Who You Are [Video Link]
Jessie J has an amazing voice, but unfortunately she suffers from the Aguilera Syndrome - she is an over singer. However, it worked for her in ‘Who You Are’. The ballad is very inspirational as she sings “Don’t lose who you are/In the blur of the stars/Seeing is deceiving/Dreaming is believing/It’s ok not to be okay” and she begs for the person she is singing to not to lose who they are and just be true to who you are.

39) Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts [Video Link]
"Jar of Hearts" is an autobiographical song for Christina Perri, recalling an ex-boyfriend who wanted to reconnect after a tough breakup, and the pain of that struggle comes across loud and clear from the opening line, "No I can't take one more step towards you / cause all that's waiting is regret." There have been countless "you did me wrong" songs through the history of pop music, but identifying a serial dater as a collector of broken hearts is one of the more unique ways of displaying both hurt and frustration.

40) Adele - Rumour Has It [Video Link]
This is the vengeful, pounding flip side of "Rolling in the Deep": Adele steals her man back from the other woman, then dumps him just for laughs, over the perfect number of funky hand claps.

41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House
46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… (feat. Sabi)
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games
53) Rihanna - S & M
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull)
55) Birdy - Skinny Love
56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark
57) The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum
60) Adele - Turning Tables

61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight

81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline

Best of Music 2011: The Winners

2011-12-23T22:21:00.003+08:00

Album Of The Year
Winner: Adele - 21
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Best New Artist
Winner: Ed Sheeran
Anna Calvi
Foster The People
James Blake
Jessie J
Nicola Roberts

Best Male Artist
Winner: Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Enrique Iglesias
Example
James Morrison

Best Female Artist
Winner: Lady Gaga
Adele
Beyonce
Britney Spears
Katy Perry
Rihanna

Best Male Pop Vocal
Winner: James Morrison - I Won't Let You Go
Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
David Cook - The Last Goodbye
Ed Sheeran - The A Team
Will Young - Jealousy

Best Female Pop Vocal
Winner: Adele - Someone Like You
Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts
Demi Lovato - Skyscraper
Jessie J - Who You Are
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
P!nk - F***in' Perfect

Best Rock Song
Winner: Coldplay - Paradise
Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
Paramore - Monster
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness

Best Alternative Song
Winner: Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
Florence & The Machine - What The Water Gave Me
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
M83 - Midnight City
Rachael Yamagata - Starlight

Best Dance Recording
Winner: Rihanna - We Found Love
Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)
Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
Lady Gaga - Judas
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Winner: Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger
Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
Cobra Starship & Sabi - You Make Me Feel...
Coldplay & Rihanna - Princess of China
James Morrison & Jessie J - Up
Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Winner: Bad Meets Evil - Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars)
David Guetta - Where Them Girls At (feat. Nicki Minaj & Flo Rida)
Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer)
Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)

2012: Soundmunches #2

2011-12-23T22:09:00.005+08:00

Rihanna - You Da One
Lana Del Rey - Off To The Races

Jessie J - Domino
Sunday Girl - Where Is My Mind

Lady Gaga - Stuck On Fuckin' You
Britney Spears - Strangest Love
Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe

X Factor US: Live Finals Results

2011-12-23T10:30:00.005+08:00

Top 12 Medley - 'The Edge of Glory'
Melanie Amaro - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Chris Rene - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Josh Krajcik - Please Come Home Tonight

Justin Bieber and Drew - 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'
Leona Lewis - 'Run'
50 Cent & Astro - 'Wait Until Tonight' & 'In Da Club'
Pitbull & Ne-Yo & Marcus Canty - 'Give Me Everything' & 'International Love'
3rd place: Chris Rene

Melanie Amaro & Josh Krajcik - Heroes
Winner of X Factor US Announced!

US X Factor (Live Finals #1)

2011-12-22T20:49:00.005+08:00

Melanie Amaro - 'Listen' by Beyonce
W.I.N. Totally win. Epic. A++

Chris Rene - 'Young Homie' (Original Composition)
Performing this for the third time definitely doesn't help showcase his versatility, but I appreciate how this song narrates his life story, and his journey in this competition. He's vocally at his best here too, and this might miraculously tide him through to the Final Two. A

Josh Krajcik - 'At Last' by Etta James
This was by far his best performance. He did his own thing, stayed true to himself, and delivered a passionate piece. A

Melanie Amaro & R. Kelly - 'I Believe I Can Fly'
Of all duets, this was the only one that made sense, and put the contestant at an advantage. She wasn't at an advantage though, when the key was more suited to fit his range. This was what I call a Grand Final performance. A-

Josh Krajcik & Alanis Morissette - 'Uninvited'
So damn ecstatic when Alanis appeared onstage. Josh fumbled at 2:46, and he totally lacked chemistry with her. Her album's out next summer YAY! To be honest, I was more excited for her than Josh. B+

Chris Rene & Avril Lavigne - 'Complicated'
I anticipated this to be a major disaster. Once again, I love the guest star ten times more than the participant, so I was rather frustrated with Chris destroying the first few verses of the song in front of the original artist. B

2012: Soundmunches #1

2011-12-22T07:43:00.003+08:00

David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia)
Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf

Dry The River - Weights & Measures
Willy Moon - I Wanna Be Your Man

The Vaccines - Norgaard
Mona - Shooting The Moon

SBTRKT - Wildfire
Bombay Bicycle Club - Leave It
Adam Lambert - Better Than I Know Myself
Willow Smith - Fireball (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Noah & The Whale - Give It All Back
Javier Colon - As Long As We Got Love
Ren Harvieu - Through The Night
Lianne La Havas - No Room For Doubt (feat. Willy Mason)

X Factor US (Semi-Finals Results)

2011-12-21T18:12:00.008+08:00

Group Performance - 'Shout' by Tears for Fears & 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet
Total Cher Lloyd rip-off.

Florence & The Machine - Spectrum
Nicole Scherzinger - Pretty
One's amazing, one's a disaster.

Top 4 Results (Part I & II)

Contestants discuss their favourite and least favourite performances
Final Contestant Interviews: Chris Rene, Melanie Amaro, Josh Krajcik

Survivor: South Pacific (Season Finale)

2011-12-21T18:01:00.004+08:00

Link to the finale.

The final redemption duel was a showdown between Ozzy and Brandon. The duel is just about holding onto a pole, and whoever stays on it longer wins.

OZZY WINS THE FINAL DUEL. Christine won the first five duels and Ozzy won the last six.

Brandon goes out thinking he won because he had a one-on-one chat with God on the island. Again, I don't like Survivor castaways who think that way, because the truth is that he lost. And now Ozzy rejoins the tribe to play for real.

Coach claims he wants to take Ozzy to the end and will try his hardest to protect him. Ozzy wants to take Coach to the end, mostly because Ozzy knows he'll beat anyone at the end. For that same reason, Ozzy is very suspicious of Coach's honesty about wanting to keep him.

The First Immunity Challenge: They must balance a board with one arm while building a huge house of cards with the other.

OZZY WINS IMMUNITY. He may not be able to outwit them, but he sure can outplay them.

The First Tribal Council: Ozzy clearly loves his position. Rick becomes the target because Coach delivers the most ridiculous theory ever that Rick is the biggest threat to win the game. I don't get how that is possible. I don't think the members of the jury even know who Rick is. Meanwhile, Ozzy correctly points out that Sophie is the sleeper threat, and she really showed her true colors during this latest challenge.

Sophie's argument is that she's the best competitor while Ricks argument is that he's worthless. Doesn't surprise anyone that Rick was voted out. Rick also makes it clear he has no respect for Coach and won't vote for him to win since he now thinks the honesty and integrity stuff is nonsense.

The Final Immunity Challenge: Ozzy's only strategy is to win the last challenge to make the finale. He admits he has no back-up plans. The last challenge is a giant obstacle course where they need to grab five puzzle bags and then put it together. Ozzy takes an early lead and never gives it up during the first part. But when it comes to the puzzles, Sophie steps it up.

SOPHIE WINS IMMUNITY.

She beat three athletic guys and this marks her third individual immunity win. At this point, the million dollar prize is pretty much hers.

The Final Tribal Council: Well, Ozzy's plan didn't work out, and since his only real plan was winning immunity, he's screwed and he knows it. Coach even dubs Sophie the new Dragon Slayer, since Ozzy was the dragon.

OZZY IS VOTED OUT.

Albert has no chance of winning, so it's just between Coach and Sophie, and they agree with me, except Albert who is delusional because he thinks he truly deserves to win.

The Jury

Albert's Opening Statement: He plays up the "social experiment" angle and panders to Brandon by talking about how a higher power brought them all together on the island.

Sophie's Opening Statement: She explains that she outplayed in challenges and outwitted with her alliance and social game. Now that's a speech to win Survivor.

Coach's Opening Statement: He talks about compassion and respect and plays up the concept of redemption and family.

Ozzy's Question: He calls Sophie a privileged, pretentious brat and Albert a useless and lucky guy. He essentially says Coach deserves to win just because they're both returning players. Coach then explains that he's sad he had to break his word at times.

Jim's Question: He wants to know why Coach and Sophie don't deserve to win, and Albert loses him immediately by throwing Jim a suck-up compliment. Albert's only argument is that he made stronger bonds to the jury.

Dawn's Question: She wants to know why Sophie chose to be in her alliance, and she explains that she chose to work with Coach because he's like a young girl who cares less about the game and more about integrity.

Rick's Question: He gets Coach to apologize for stabbing him in the back. He also points out that Albert's using God to get Brandon's immunity necklace was B.S.

Brandon's Question: Like Rick, he wants to know why Coach voted against him even though he swore on God that he wouldn't. Then he demands a "Yes or No" answer from Albert about whether he knew Brandon was going home. Albert obfuscates a lot until weakly saying "No."

Whitney's Question: Albert is sleazy, Coach used Christianity to instill fear and Sophie was condescending. Sophie explains that her stand-offishness is just how she is.

Edna's Question: She points out that using religion to manipulate and dupe people is as old as time, so no one should be surprised. Love her to bits.

Keith's Question: He wants to know if Coach had any intention of using his immunity idol. Sophie uses the opportunity to reveal the truth about how they staged the discovery of the idol, totally throwing Coach under the bus to Brandon.

Cochran's Question: He's the typical fanboy for Coach, except for the fact that all his talk of "honor" is just a big, fat lie. Coach tries to escape doing bad things all season under the guise of honor by apologizing. He pretty much says he's no good at this game.

Final Verdict:

Sophie 5 [Jim, Rick, Dawn, Keith, Whitney] - Coach 4 [Ozzy, Cochran, Brandon and Edna] - Albert 0

SOPHIE CLARKE WINS!

She totally deserves it. She flew under the radar but still played hard, won more individual immunity challenges than anyone and did a great job.

Best of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#41 - #60)

2011-12-15T20:33:00.000+08:00

41) Katy Perry - The One That Got Away [Video Link]
42) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go [Video Link]
43) Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna) [Video Link]
44) David Guetta - Titanium (feat. Sia) [Video Link]
45) Ed Sheeran - Lego House [Video Link]

46) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell [Video Link]
47) Nicki Minaj & Rihanna - Fly [Video Link]
48) Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) [Video Link]
49) Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall [Video Link]
50) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie [Video Link]

51) Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me [Video Link]
52) Lana Del Rey - Video Games [Video Link]
53) Rihanna - S & M [Video Link]
54) Enrique Iglesias - I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull) [Video Link]

55) Birdy - Skinny Love [Video Link]

56) Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark [Video Link]
57) The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness [Video Link]
58) Foster The People - Helena Beat [Video Link]
59) Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum [Video Link]
60) Adele - Turning Tables [Video Link]

Archives

61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande)
66) The Wanted - Glad You Came
67) Avicii - Levels
68) Beyonce - Countdown
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
71) James Morrison feat. Jessie J - Up
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
74) M83 - Midnight City
75) Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (feat. Robyn)
76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive
78) Lykke Li - Get Some
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight

81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline

X Factor US: Top 4 (Viewer's Choice & Song for the Final)

2011-12-15T19:58:00.004+08:00

Melanie Amaro - 'Feeling Good' by Michael Buble
Wahpiang, the nuances that she conquered in this performance are insane. Last note indeed was standing-ovation worthy. She just outdoes herself week after week, and I don't see the other 3 guys being able to take the $5 million contract from her. A+

Josh Krajcik - 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen
'Hallelujah' is very much an overplayed performance piece, but I was thrilled to hear him perform this. It was not as breathtaking as I anticipated it to be, but still a very good job. A

Chris Rene - 'No One' by Alicia Keys
It's true, he hasn't got the best voice in this competition, but what he has is the spirit and the soul. Not many recording artists these days have amazing vocals, but they are able to brand themselves, and that's what make them successful. Dark horse indeed. A-

Melanie Amaro - Hero
Ahh, why did the audience give her this song?!?! SO BORING. It was vocally competent for sure though. A-

Josh Krajcik - 'Come Together' by The Beatles
This was DEFINITELY better than 'Dirty Diana' 2 weeks ago. Still, I'd rather see his delicate side than this. B+

Chris Rene - 'Fly' by Sugar Ray
This was a good song choice for him - very feel-good, and he connected with the audience well. Not one of his best though. B+

Marcus Canty - 'Careless Whisper' Wham!
He really shouldn't have stayed for one more week. Really shouldn't. This is an absolute joke. We're living in 2011, not 1941. No idea how the 3 judges other than Simon saw it as a good performance. B

Marcus Canty - 'I'll Make Love To You' by Boyz II Men
Vocally horrendous. Not the least bit refreshing and current. This is cliche written all over the screen. B-

Survivor: South Pacific (Then There Were Five)

2011-12-15T19:55:00.003+08:00

It's OZZY vs EDNA at Redemption Island. It's another puzzle challenge, forcing the players to complete a slide puzzle for a hatchet, then stack cubes so that no color repeats on any of the four sides of the puzzle. Ozzy lives for another day, and he would stir a major upset if he goes on winning EVERY SINGLE CHALLENGE TILL THE LAST ONE.

Albert wants Sophie out. He approaches Coach, asking for confirmation on Sophie, but Coach likes Sophie. She's smart, she's savvy, and Coach believes that Brandon would garner more jury votes. Then Brandon walked over, and pissed Coach off even more. Coach tells Brandon that he's being a bully, and he's acting like a real ... a real HANTZ. It hurt Brandon's feelings. Brandon requests that they hug it out.

For the immunity challenge, there will be lots of rope climbing and puzzle assembling. The winner gets pizza, soda, and garlic bread! Cut to the chase, Brandon wins, shares his reward with Rick, like whuuut?!

As Brandon and Rick enjoy pizza, Sophie and Coach agree that Albert should go. He's getting annoying and way too strategic. Sophie goes "to smell the pizza" and they all agree on Albert, too. Brandon doesn't like him because he doesn't tell the truth, and Rick knew it was BS when Albert said "me and you to the end."

"I think Albert's a swell guy, but the Bible says that when you sin, your sins will be shouted from the rooftops," Brandon says. And Brandon will be the one to get to that rooftop first. He confronts Albert about the final three talk, and Albert outright lies about agreeing to take Rick to the end. Sophie just watches silently, until she pushes Albert down a bit more. Albert scrambled so hard, and made a final effort to win Brandon back over.

"I feel like your heart is closed to me, man," Albert says, appealing to Brandon's sensitive, forgiving nature. I'm not a Brandon fan, but I don't like to see someone take advantage of Brandon like this. Brandon decides to stick with Albert, because he has had a forgiving change of heart. He offers Albert his immunity necklace, if he needs to. OMG BRANDON HOW NAIVE CAN YOU BE.

Brandon appealed to Coach with forgiveness. Coach is struggling, because this has never been such a moral, religious game until this season. "I honestly believe this is what God wants us to do," Brandon tells Coach. "No, this is what God wants you to do," Coach corrects him. Coach agrees to go pray, and ask God what to do if Brandon gives Albert the immunity necklace.

At tribal council, Brandon immediately gives Albert his necklace. Like, within the first minute of tribal council. Everyone on the jury looks surprised. Like Jesus, Brandon sacrificed himself for Albert's sins.

"Albert said he would give him back the necklace if he thought he was in trouble," Rick points out. And Albert is in a really bad position, because Brandon IS in trouble, but Albert will not do so because he is Albert.

Two votes Brandon, Two votes Sophie. And the final vote goes to ... BRANDON. It was the Lord's will, I guess.

"It's God's will. Go win redemption," Coach says, hugging Brandon. LOL.

2011: Soundmunches #60

2011-12-15T09:34:00.004+08:00

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Cher Lloyd - Dub On The Track (feat. Mic Righteous, Dot Rotten & Ghetts)

Fun. - We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)
Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

The Cataracs - Sunrise (feat. Dev)
will.i.am - T.H.E (The Hardest Ever) feat. Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger

Gym Class Heroes - Ass Back Home (Feat. Neon Hitch)
Panic! At The Disco - Let's Kill Tonight

The Amazing Race 19 - Go Out & Get It Done! (Season Finale)

2011-12-12T21:21:00.004+08:00

Watch the episode here.

The finale boils down to 3 couples: a dating couple, an engaged couple, and a married couple.

Jeremy and Sandy won the last leg, so they are first to depart Panama City for Atlanta, Georgia. Marcus and Amani are from Atlanta, so they have an advantage. Marcus is making his final football analogies: They are going to the Superbowl and have a home field advantage.

At Atlanta, the teams head for the taxis, and Ernie and Cindy have trouble finding someone who knows where the Atlanta Learning Center is. Jeremy demands that their driver show him a full tank of gas, which is a new one. Then Sandy insists that he not tell any other cab drivers where they're going. Good plan.

Teams arrive at FlightSafety International for a flight simulator challenge. They will learn a flight simulator and then land their "aircraft." The women all co-captained, quickly learning how to be a backseat plane captain. Cindy and Ernie's plane was going so slow it would have fallen out of the sky, so they have to start over. Marcus and Amani have a bumpy landing and have to do it over again, as Jeremy mastered the landing and they got their next clue.

Jeremy and Sandy head to "The Dump," The former residence of the author of Gone With the Wind. They will receive a clue from a woman in a hoop skirt. Ernie and Cindy land their second time, declaring it "whack," and Amani and Marcus have to go a third time. Any advantage they may have had from living in Atlanta may have been lost, after their third botched landing. Definitely after their fourth.

Jeremy and Sandy ask a guy, who refers them to The Dump, which is also the name of a discount furniture store. He thinks it is "one of those old Home Depot stores." They have to know that can't be it, though, it's not a residence, but they stupidly search the area for a cluebox. NOT DESERVING OF THE MILLION.

Ernie and Cindy call themselves "A+ students" of the race, referring to Jeremy and Sandy and Amani and Marcus as C students. Then Marcus, a definite C student of flight, failed to land the plane again.

Ernie and Cindy get their Road Block, which tells them to type their next clue on a typewriter. Ernie volunteers, then realizes it's a typing challenge, causing him and Cindy both to curse. But Jeremy and Sandy are still at the wrong Dump and Amani and Marcus are still in the LearJet, so Ernie is doing OK, and gets it done relatively quickly too.

The numbers in the message are incredibly cryptic. 44 - 715 - 74 direct the teams to Hank Aaron's (#44) Home Run record (715 runs), in the year 1974 at Turner Field. Ernie and Cindy head for a hotel to ask a concierge, and Sandy decides it's her turn to type.

Marcus finally landed the simulation! Everyone vomit with relief. Amani comforts Marcus by continuing his Superbowl football analogy.

Google sends Ernie and Cindy to Turner Field. There, the teams will face an agonizing mental map challenge. There's a giant map of the world in front of them, and they'll have to physically map out the race in a harness, with a teammate screaming instructions. They are not allowed to use notes.

Cindy is first up to the map, and must run a red rope through the carabiner of each country, in order. The map isn't even labeled, so you have to know your geography. This is a great challenge for Cindy, who loves to study and will invariably ace at mapping out the entire season's destinations. Their clue sends them to Swan House for the Pit Stop and the finish line. Cindy gets it done in lightning speed, and it was at this moment that I knew WE WERE HAVING AN ASIAN WINNER YAY.

Jeremy and Sandy hit the map next, but forgot Indonesia. Ernie and Cindy are stuck in traffic. Jeremy and Sandy remember Indonesia, and quickly clip it together. They're heading to The Swan House, and the cab driver fetching Ernie and Cindy is still having his GPS re-calculated.

Eventually, Ernie and Cindy bust through the gate first, to supportive but resentful eliminated teams. Jeremy and Sandy finish second, and Amani and Marcus came in third.

Best of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#61 - #80)

2011-12-12T12:29:00.000+08:00

61) LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It [Video Link]
62) Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That) [Video Link]
63) Gym Class Heroes (feat. Adam Levine) - Stereo Hearts [Video Link]
64) Cher Lloyd & Mike Posner - With Ur Love [Video Link]
65) Professor Green - Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sande) [Video Link]

66) The Wanted - Glad You Came [Video Link]
67) Avicii - Levels [Video Link]
68) Beyonce - Countdown [Video Link]
69) The Band Perry - If I Die Young [Video Link]
70) Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love [Video Link]

71) James Morrison (feat. Jessie J) - Up [Video Link]
72) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy [Video Link]
73) Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) [Video Link]
74) M83 - Midnight City [Video Link]
75) Rye Rye (feat. Robyn) - Never Will Be Mine [Video Link]

76) Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know [Video Link]
77) Marina & The Diamonds - Radioactive [Video Link]
78) Lykke Li - Get Some [Video Link]
79) Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist [Video Link]
80) Rachel Yamagata - Starlight [Video Link]

Archives (#81-#100)
81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey)
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever
86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp
87) Leona Lewis - Collide
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower
89) Britney Spears - Criminal
90) James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go
91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
92) Example - Stay Awake
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten
97) Birdy - People Help The People
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
100) Bjork - Crystalline

UK X FACTOR: LIVE FINALS (FINAL 2 + RESULTS)

2011-12-12T09:31:00.006+08:00

COLDPLAY - CHARLIE BROWN & PARADISE!
Westlife - What About Now

CONTESTANTS' FAVOURITE
Marcus Collins' 'Higher & Higher' VS Little Mix's 'Don't Let Go'
I love Marcus' backup choir. He chose the right number to perform, because this is his signature style - that gospel-meets-doowop feel. Great vocals, and I am impressed by how he always doesn't get swallowed by the big productions.

AHH, Little Mix made the right choice! I love how they made this En Vogue track into their own. They are like how confident now?! The Saturdays are gonna shiver in their seats now haha. Destiny's Child with an urban edge huh! Tulisa's rallying cheer super passionate.

XMAS SPECIAL
Marcus Collins' 'Last Christmas' VS Little Mix's 'Silent Night'

This is totally a random category put to waste! I get it that Little Mix wanted it to be a strong acapella showing for them, but I think Perrie's voice is not really suited for that. I'd give Round 2 to Marcus, he made everything feel Christmasy. It's cute that the girls had their names written on their sweaters (Jade, Jessie, Leigh-Anne, Perrie).

WINNER'S SINGLE
Marcus Collins and Little Mix perform 'Cannonball'

Bad choice for Marcus. He lacks that breathiness and mystery in his voice which Damien Rice delivers with in this number. He soars on those high notes though! Louis Walsh's description is hilarious: "If I was looking for the perfect pop star and fed everything into a computer, I'd get Marcus Collins".

But oh boy, Little Mix got it in the bag. That was pretty brilliant.

Finalists (AND GOLDIE) lip-synch 'We Found Love' & 'Party Rock Anthem' & 'On The Floor', 'Moves Like Jagger', 'The Edge of Glory'
RESULTS REVEALED (Plus winning act perform their winners' single here)

UK X Factor: LIVE FINALS

2011-12-11T09:25:00.004+08:00

Finalists perform Take That's 'Greatest Day'
Little Mix - 'You Got The Love' popularized by Florence & The Machine

UK X Factor's Main Youtube channel always scares me with their video titles. 'Little Mix head back home'... I THOUGHT THEY WERE OUT. Thankfully, it literally meant Little Mix going back to their hometown. Little Mix have quadruple the number of hometowns and alma maters to go back to, so technically that should garner them 4 times the amount of votes. They really have come so far, from the moment they got voted off as soloists, to Tulisa forming them back together... I really would want for them to win.

Haha, so cute of them to have that quick girly ra-ra moment before kicking into Welchness. The hard thing about groups is that they have to co-ordinate really well, and it's made worse on such a big stage. The transition between singers may not be the best, but I really like Perrie belting those notes! Staging was very 'Fight For This Love' too. A-

Amelia Lily - 'Ain't No Other Man' by Christina Aguilera
Thankfully, she doesn't perform this on US X Factor, because LA Reid would be like, 'WHO SANG THIS?!' Ooh, she looked like Christina Aguilera in the past when she appeared onstage! Pretty, slim, and in a bubblegum pink fairy dress! She lacks that growl to make the performance an electrifying one. By performing a song by a US singer though, it means she is the one with the most international appeal. A-

Marcus Collins - 'Hey Ya!' by OutKast
I'd have loved to see Johnny Robinson's expressions had he made it into the final. He'd be going OHHH MYYYY GAWDDDD wherever he goes. A brilliant song choice for Marcus - it was groovy, fun, and vocally challenging all at the same time. Great crowd pleaser which puts him in good stead for final 2. The only problem was the falsettoes, which I felt didn't really bring out his strengths well. A-

JLS VS. One Direction - 'Makes Me Wanna' & 'What Makes You Beautiful'

Leona Lewis - 'Hurt'
After realizing 'Collide' is a major bomb, she performs a ballad! Like 'Run', she begins her song on a super low (almost inaudible) key. This was quite a snoozefest though, never expected I'd say that to Leona.

Kelly Rowland & Amelia Lily - 'River Deep, Mountain High' by Tina Turner
So, the act which Kelly originally eliminated in favour of Sophie, Janet, and Misha, IS IN THE FINALS. Yes, Kelly, I understand the frustrations you might be going through. Out of the 3, they definitely had the best song choice. Brilliant chemistry between the two! They absolutely owned it. A+

Marcus Collins & Gary Barlow (Mentor) - 'She's Always A Woman' by Billy Joel
Gary Barlow does a great job at letting Marcus shine on this number. Loved this performance so much. A

Little Mix & Tulisa (Mentor) - 'Empire State Of Mind' and 'If I Ain't Got You'
Woah, Tulisa actually is pretty good huh! Is she just really tall, or are the Little Mixers really short lol? Good mash-up, but if only they had danced! That'd be mindblowing. A-

RESULTS
So happy for the 1st act that got through!

ANTM All-Stars: All-Star Finale

2011-12-09T15:37:00.002+08:00

Each of the final three girls explains why she deserves the sympathy vote. Lisa overcame extreme mental, physical and sexual abuse as a child, and drug addiction as an adult. Angelea grew up poor and in the ghetto. Everyone thinks Allison is weird and her dad died.

Next, it was time for the Covergirl Print Ad and commercial.

Lisa's gold and green eyeshadow make her eyelids look like they're covered in iguana skin, but Jay thinks she looks "absolutely breathtaking in the shadow blast." The hardest part for her is the line "Oh, yeah!" Probably because nobody has ever looked at a Covergirl product and exclaimed, "Oh, yeah!" Maybe if they'd written the line as "Well, OK," she could have been more believable.

Allison is draped in blue and purple, and for what seems the fifth or 800th time this season, she can't perform because her massive eyes are too sensitive to the light. This game is Allison's to win, but having functional eyes is sort of an important element. But Allison redeems herself with her sweet, composed reading of the Covergirl script.

Angelea, dressed in blinding fuchsia, thinks she'd be the best Covergirl because she's "real." (What, and Lisa and Allison are cyborgs?)

Vogue Italia Photo Shoot

Then it's time to pretend that this show cares about fashion, so the stylist bleaches Allison's eyebrows, and immediately everyone's like "OMG HIGH FASHION!" Each girl takes turns posing in a white bikini on a Greek beach while waves crash around her.

Michael Cinco Runway Show

The runway is apparently going to be very "THEATRICAL," which Angelea correctly interprets as being a test of "everything they've learned so far."

The runway show is supposed to depict "the transformation from mortal to immortal," and it's actually less of a runway and more of an "American Gladiators" challenge course. Blinded by their masks, the girls (dressed as mere mortals) must first swim across a pool and then get sucked into a grey vaccuum hose of metamorphosis or something. Lisa can't see when she's swimming and runs into the side-wall. Stupid mortal.

After they enter the tube, they have to run away, while some other girl runs in and replaces them, dressed as a goddess. Then they run back out and get lifted up into the air by a harness?

As if this whole affair needed to be more confusing, when each finalist walks the runway, her "POT LEDOM" THEME SONG plays. So Lisa, dressed as a Greek goddess, jams down the runway while her Ke$ha-esque lyrics scream, "I be like whooooa." It's an unsettling mixture, but the audience seems to enjoy it. Angelea dances and waves her arms in self-celebration as she stomps down the runway to the song that she wrote. Anyone still want to say that this girl lacks confidence? The only song that actually sounds halfway normal on the runway is Allison's, but she almost gets literally blown away.

After the runway show, Angelea looks sad.

EMERGENCY JUDGING PANEL

Nigel has some news that is bound to please the court: Angelea has retroactively disqualified herself from the competition. Apparently, Angelea got DQ'ed for "not keeping the final 3 a secret" on Facebook or something. Accidental social media suicide. "Dislike."

Tyra then goes on to say: "In the interest of fairness," the judges thought it best to reshoot the entire final judging panel without Angelea. Which begs the question: Is that... because... Angelea... originally... won?

Allison's Runway Critique: Nigel says she looked lovely under the water, but her walk was still her weak point. "I definitely wish it could have been more graceful," says Allison.

Lisa's Runway Critique: Lisa was a "mess" in the water, says Nigel, but she "worked it" on the runway, says Andre. The audience loved her performance.

Allison's Covergirl Commercial Critique: Nigel says she's "really beautiful," and even though her eyes are closed, he can hear her "talking through her eyes." Andre wishes her articulation had been more "snappy." Tyra gives a demonstration in on-camera "exaggeration," as if she doesn't do that every minute of her life.

Lisa's Covergirl Commercial Critique: She didn't seem like Lisa, say the panel. "I feel like you were 50% of Lisa. Where's Lisa? Where's daring?" wonders Tyra.

Allison's Covergirl Print Ad Critique: They don't like her "vacant" expression and don't know what she's selling.

Lisa's Covergirl Print Ad Critique: Only one of her eyes is showing, but "all you need is one eye," says Nigel. She looks fun and edgy and alluring, "like a fortune teller," says Tyra.

So, after the compare and contrast deliberation, the winner is revealed, via the motion editorial which was filmed a couple weeks ago. Allison and Lisa each hold up their masks (what is with this show and masks?), and the girl who removes her mask is LISA.

That means she won, right? Even the girls seem confused, and the general lack of excitement is palpable. It's almost like they filmed this whole scene months after neither of them cared anymore, and a producer prepped each of them for who would win before it happened.

Jingle Bell Ball 2011 - Highlights

2011-12-08T21:50:00.000+08:00

Rihanna – We Found Love
Rihanna – California King Bed

Rihanna – Only Girl (In The World)
Rihanna – S & M

Rihanna – What’s My Name?
Olly Murs – Heart Skips A Beat

Ed Sheeran – The A Team (loved the end.)
Ed Sheeran – Lego House

Marcus Canty. Oh, I mean Jason Derulo – Don’t Wanna Go Home
The Saturdays – All Fired Up
The Wanted – Gold Forever
One Direction – One Thing
Emeli Sande – Heaven
Pixie Lott – All About Tonight

Survivor: South Pacific (Edna's Last Stand)

2011-12-08T18:16:00.000+08:00

At Redemption Island:
Cochran: "Do you think I stand a chance beating you at the duel?"
Ozzy to Cochran: "You have a chance..."
Ozzy to Cameras: “he doesn’t stand a chance.”

Back at Te Tuna, Brandon asks the tribe to gather to pray before their meal, and Edna excuses herself because, as she notes passive-aggressively, "I'm not part of this tribe." Girl's got her business suit on and she is getting SERIOUS. She will not be treated like a second-class citizen.

Edna is on the prowl, and she is after Brandon, "some nineteen-year old high school dropout, who has advertised that he's crazy." Just then, the crazy nineteen-year old shouts, "SPRINT TREE MAIL!" to the camp. They all get to watch videos from home on a Sprint device.

Despite all the support Cochran was getting from Upolu, he still lost out to Redemption veteran Ozzy. Ozzy then gets to pick 3 people to spend time with their loved ones, and he strategically picked ABC: Albert, Brendon and Coach.

At Redemption, Coach promises Ozzy a Final 3 spot. On the other side, Brendon’s father is acting like a Russell Hantz, telling him not to play a game of integrity, and instead, use all means to win the million.

Immunity challenge involved some sabotaging of teammates, where they took turns flipping over puzzle pieces to squeeze others out. Nothing much happens, safe from Brendon overtly describing his attempts to make Edna lose the challenge.

Back at camp, Brandon, sitting in a tree laughing about how he could not possibly be more HONEST, doesn't seem worried. Sophie, this whole time, has just been calculating who the jury will hate and who they will love. They will not love Brandon.

Brandon tells Edna he didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but Edna is off the deep end feeling victimized. This woman has gone nuts and I love it. Edna has a proposition for Albert, Coach, and Sophie. She asks them to think about what honor and integrity mean to them, and compare that to Brandon's absolutely looney behavior.

Edna asks Coach to play the idol for her, to which he says no, because without the idol, they would vote him off. With her last dying breath in this game, Edna approaches Albert and Sophie. She lies to them, saying that Coach is in on the plan 100%. She’s so desperate, someone give in to her already!

At tribal council, Edna did a good job spitting fire, and Brandon did a good job making himself look even worse. Nevertheless, Edna gets voted off (HELLO COACH, no game-changing move?!), making this episode another boring one.

The Amazing Race 19 - We Are Charlie Chaplin

2011-12-08T17:05:00.004+08:00

The remaining 4 teams dressed as characters from The Adventures of Tintin, and must figure out that they are detectives from the series and find a guy holding a dog.

Andy & Tommy think they are Charlie Chaplin, which is rather amusing. Their mistake didn’t cost them much though, as all teams make their way to Panama City at the same time. Andy & Tommy arrive first, and they sign up for the first tattoo appointment for the next morning. The rest take the subsequent slots at 20-minute intervals.

The tattoos send them to the San Francisco Bay Towers in Panama City. The roadblock then required a team member to walk a tightrope across the two towers. Sandy is scared of heights, but Jeremy has done 6 road blocks and she has only done 5, so it's her turn.

The next clue sends teams to a bust of Ferdinand De Lesseps. The cab drivers discuss directions among themselves, meaning that all the cab drivers will know how to get there now.

The detour was between Filet or Sole. For Filet, they have to deliver seafood to different vendors around the market, and Sole requires teams to make a pair of sandals. Andy and Tommy, Jeremy and Sandy, and Ernie and Cindy choose to make sandals. Amani and Marcus opt to deliver fish.

It turns out Andy and Tommy are also, of course, good at making sandals. Their clue sends them to Cathedral Square, where a group of dancers has the Pit Stop location embedded in their necklaces and one of their dresses.

Andy and Tommy arrive at the dancers first, but hastily decide that "Balboa," which is the name of the money around their necks, is the location of the Pit Stop. They ask their cab driver if he knows Balboa, to which he says yes and starts driving. They feel horribly confident, as their driver drives them further and further away.

As a man at the Visitor's Center tells them there's a Balboa statue, Andy and Tommy start to get a sneaking suspicion that they've made a mistake. Their suspicion is confirmed as they drive by the statue and Phil is not there. Ernie and Cindy also determine that it must be Balboa, but Jeremy and Sandy notice the right building carved into the longest part of the necklace. Jeremy draws it and shows it to his cab driver, who recognizes it.

Jeremy and Sandy's cab driver tells the other three where they're going, in an act of helpfulness, but also betrayal. He doesn't know that this is The Amazing Race, he probably just thinks these are six to eight lovely tourists working together on a scavenger hunt.

The cab drivers all worked together to take their teams to the right spot, you know, the spot they didn't figure out on their own. Apparently Andy and Tommy's cab driver is not in on the holy trinity of Panama City cabbies, so they figure it out on their own after returning to the clue spot and reading the writing on the dress. Unfair, but that’s life.

Jeremy and Sandy check in first, Ernie and Cindy finish second, and Amani and Marcus hit the mat in third, thereby getting the Andy and Tommy eliminated. STUNNED.

X Factor US: Top 5 (Club Hits & Contestants' Choice)

2011-12-08T15:25:00.004+08:00

Melanie Amaro - 'When You Believe' by Whitney Houston
I knew this would be magical. Not so magical when she sucked up to Simon... again. What a pristine and heartfelt delivery. A

Marcus Canty - 'Ain't Nobody' by Chaka Khan
I never liked Marcus, I always did not fancy his Fantasia-meets-Ne-Yo voice, but this song choice and staging suited him so perfectly. This was very impressive, because he was charming and was able to make a Chaka Khan song so manly. A

Josh Krajcik - 'Something' by The Beatles
This saved him for the night. Paula couldn't find adjectives, so she said adjectives can't describe his performance. Simon's comeback at Nicole was BRILLIANT. His critique summed it the best: 'Adele doesn't need any props, nor do you'. That's the way to go for Josh. He shouldn't have done Rihanna ergh. A

Chris Rene - 'Where Do We Go From Here' (Own Composition)
This was a HUGE RISK. I love the verse and the pre-verse, didn't fancy the lack of a lyric in the chorus. Nevertheless, this was a great unplugged version of the music that he would produce in future. A

Chris Rene - 'Live Your Life' by T.I & Rihanna
His song choices are really very smart and personal. Yes, he really can't sing very well, but it's his personal stories and charisma that inspire people, and I guess that's what brings in the dollars in the music industry. His confidence is very admirable too. A-

Melanie Amaro - 'Someone Like You' by Adele
I really don't appreciate how one of my favourite songs of the year got degraded into a generic club hit. The starting of her performance resembled the awkwardness when Leona Lewis delivered 'Collide' on stage. It was good that she heated things up at the end of it, but I agreed with Paula that it was a tad too short. A-

Rachel Crow - 'Nothin' On You' by B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
Wait a minute, isn't Rachel barred from entering clubs? She's like 14? That aside, the lyrics didn't really fit well with her personality, but Rachel was so smart to point out that it was directed to Nicole and Paula. I liked the jazzy clubbing feel she delivered though, but this genre was definitely her niche. B+

Marcus Canty - 'Song For You' by Donny Hathaway
It's super disturbing in the VT when Paula and Nicole were OBVIOUSLY biased towards Marcus. This was moving and honest, but admittedly it is slightly too safe. LOL at LA Reid's Mohammad Ali reference. B+

Rachel Crow - 'Music & Me' by Michael Jackson
I thought this was not too pleasing on the ear - it was like this screechy voice pounding on my ear incessantly. I actually like her more after she finishes her performances. She is really super mature though. B+

Josh Krajcik - 'We Found Love' by Rihanna
I was prepared for the worst, simply because Josh and Dance are very disparate entities (what more, Josh and Rihanna), but oh boy, the Viva La Vida strings arrangement at the start was just genius. It started off very good, but things slowly got monotonous. B

Best of Music 2011: TOP 100 SONGS (#81 - #100)

2011-12-08T12:14:00.006+08:00

81) Pitbull - Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer) [Video Link]
82) Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey) [Video Link]
83) Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough [Video Link]
84) Kanye West & Jay-Z - Otis [Video Link]
85) Kelly Rowland - Down For Whatever [Video Link]

86) Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - The Lady Is A Tramp [Video Link]
87) Leona Lewis - Collide [Video Link]
88) Radiohead - Lotus Flower [Video Link]
89) Britney Spears - Criminal [Video Link]
90) James Morrison - I Won't Let You Go [Video Link]

91) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close [Video Link]
92) Example - Stay Awake [Video Link]
93) The Saturdays - My Heart Takes Over [Video Link]
94) Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are [Video Link]
95) Feist - How Come You Never Go There [Video Link]

96) Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten [Video Link]
97) Birdy - People Help The People [Video Link]
98) Matt Cardle - Starlight [Video Link]
99) Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair [Video Link]
100) Bjork - Crystalline [Video Link]

X Factor 2011 UK - Semi-Finals

2011-12-04T10:43:00.004+08:00

Misha B - 'F***in' Perfect'
I know this is going to be her last performance, so it was certainly an emotional piece for her as well. I loved the breaking down of the bridge, it was super cool. This woman needs to go to the Final, really. A

Little Mix - 'If I Were A Boy'
Perrie is really very powerful. This was a great song for them - showcased all their strengths. They are just super cool, and I'm so happy they have made it so far. A

Amelia Lily - 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'
Rumour has it that the remaining 3 other contestants are not liking this girl much, because she didn't take the conventional route to get to the semi-finals. From this performance, I was really impressed with her. She was spot on with her vocals, she looked amazing, and her stage presence was whoa. A

Marcus Collins - 'Can You Feel It'
Wait, didn't Rachel Crow sing this earlier this week? What's so nice about this song?! I think it's very easy to become a trainwreck, but ok, Marcus did fine, albeit some cracks in the high notes. I'm not very sure if this was a good song to get into the final. A good display of showmanship nevertheless. A-

Misha B - 'Dancing In The Street'
After being placed in the Bottom 2 for the third time last week, it's obvious she is not garnering public votes. I really liked her since the start of the competition, and I still do. She was so comfortable in it, hence I really want to see her in the final - it doesn't matter if she gets third, I just want her to have the chance to perform as much as she can. A-

Marcus Collins - 'My Girl'
Taufik Batisah sang this, eee... He definitely had the swag, but what's with the baseball outfit?! He's hardly so chill on stage, so this comes as a surprise, and it worked to his advantage. A-

Amelia Lily - 'I'm With You'
I don't like her delivery on this at all. The way she phrases some sentences are pretty kiddish, and the key was lower than Avril's, so I'm really not impressed by this. I don't understand what the judges see in this. B

Little Mix - 'You Keep Me Hanging On'
OMG, red hair girl forgot her lyrics. This was not one of their best performances. Perrie, as Gary points out, is really the strongest vocalist in the group, but there's no need to ostracize the other 3. This song is the 'Song of Death' in Idol history, so I have no idea why they chose it. B

Best of Music 2011: Album of the Year

2011-12-02T19:54:00.000+08:00

Adele - 21
In contrast to the folk-based songs of the first album 19, 21 beefs up the rhythmic drive and the drama of the arrangements, and definitely serves as an artistic leap in both production and songwriting.

For Adele, this was also a "coming-of-age record". Where 19 marked the turbulent swan song to a teenage life, 21 introduces the realities of adult life, where grown-up responsibilities collide with heartache and emotional scars run deep, and that is what makes it one of the best 'break-up' albums ever.

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Coldplay seems more eager to please in this fifth studio album. There is certainly a deftness with which Coldplay weave the electronics around their sound, thereby adding a bit of freshness to a formulaic sound". The choruses are bigger, the textures are grander, and the tracks get more optimistic.

The mood is adventurous and the sound is luxuriously colourful, with Martin's hook-laden piano lines being overlaid with sparkling guitar motifs and driven along by simple, direct beats. Music this uplifting, this inspirational, belongs among the stars.

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
“Bigger and bolder than 2009's excellent Lungs, Ceremonials doles out a heavy-handed mix of Brit-pop-infused soul anthems and ballads that fuse the bluesy, despair of Adele with the ornate, gothic melodrama of Kate Bush.”

Indeed, the steady hand of Paul Epworth on production has helped Florence to take the winning formula of her distinctive vocals and melodies, the twinkling harps and thundering drums, and augment it with string arrangements, subtle electro touches, and gospel choirs.

Lady Gaga - Born This Way
This album is a marvellous record as it sees Lady Gaga putting imagination back into pop. Excess is Gaga's riskiest musical gamble, but it's also her greatest weapon, and Born This Way relentlessly bludgeons listeners' pleasure centres.

The album’s sprawl shows off the breadth of her talent, her composing sensibilities, and her considerable dexterity at delivering the basics.

ANTM All-Stars: Tyson Beckford

2011-12-02T18:28:00.003+08:00

Watch the episode here.

The 4 remaining contestants had to partake in a blogging challenge, which involved taking photos and blogging about a place in Crete, Greece, that inspires them. Their blog posts will then be judged by editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani.

Angelea wins the blog-off, and her prize is a trip back to Greece someday. She gloats while literally wearing her other prize, the Best Blogger Golden Greek Goddess crown. ONE BLOG POST AND SHE GETS A FREAKING CROWN.

Tyra then got them to film a motiona editorial for her novel, Model Land, which is apparently New York Times best-selling. Plot: There's this magical modeling school at the top of a mountain, and there's an awkward girl with a disgusting, borderline-scatological name, "Tookie De La Creme" and the book is about all her magical body-image adventures and fashion-obsessed dreams.

It was absolute chaos, with the models filming ten million scenes in 2 days. There's a scene where Lisa stands in an ancient doorway and caresses a plastic babydoll, because "IN THE BOOK, TOOKIE'S MOTHER IS OBSESSED WITH A DOLL." Tyra is the worst at making her own book sound not-terrible. Then Laura rifles through the trash (sorry, girl, your dignity's not in there). Because one character is "IN LOVE WITH WHIPPED CREAM," Tyra forces Laura to orally service a spray-can.

Allison then poses as Catwoman. I like her gigantic sequined cat-shaped bike helmet, it really screams "TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AS A PROFESSIONAL MODEL."

Next, Angelea accesses her real, deep-seated insecurities and gives a convincing performance as a woman in love with a ladder. But the ladder doesn't love her back, so she cries about it.

Tyson Beckford came to help out in the 2nd day of the photo shoot.

Critiques:

Angelea: Her running looked stupid and hilarious, but the part where she was crying about her ladder was really special.

Laura: She seemed self-conscious and "engaged" the camera too much. But the judges liked her mini-episode of "My Strange Addiction" about being addicted to whipped cream.

Allison: She squinted too much because the sun was shining in her face. She needs to train her huge, satelitte-dish eyes to become less sensitive, or maybe she's just not cut out for this biz.

Lisa: "You went Keanu Reeves on me," says Tyson -- but he means her Matrix-style moves, not that she actually can't act. BUT WHAT SHE CAN DO IS GROWL! Boy, Lisa growls a lot. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. Do "good" and "bad" even exist in this dimension?

Best Motion Editorialing (Finalist #1): Lisa. Apparently the growling was a good thing.
Runner-Up (Finalist #2): Angelea. The unmodeliest models are KILLING IT.
Bottom Two: Allison and Laura
Eliminated: Laura

Survivor: South Pacific (Final 7)

2011-12-01T22:07:00.003+08:00

With the rest of Savaii gone (excluding Cochran), it's time for the power tribe to start turning on itself.

Cochran approaches The Family and asks for one more Tribal Council. For his birthday. Sophie's response? "Screw you." But Coach wants to keep Cochran around. Sophie says she feels "as indebted to Cochran as I do to Edna," which means no promises to either of them.

The duel between Ozzy/Dawn/Whitney at Redemption Island involved dish-stacking. Quite obviously, Ozzy snags it and stays alive, in the hopes of exterminating Upolu members.

Meanwhile, back at camp, Edna is desperately doing laundry. Albert, so proud of what he said last time, mentions again how it's not "out-clean, out-gather, out-organize."

Rick has something to say! Apparently, this whole time, Rick has been calling Albert "Prince Albert," (maybe in his head?). Rick will stay silent no more!

For this immunity challenge, they will toss sandbags and use a slingshot. The winner gets immunity and a spa day. The final round boiled down to Albert, Rick, and Sophie, with Prince Albert enjoying the spa day.

He gets to choose one more person to join him. Who from The Family will he choose? The Father, Coach. Albert gives his reward away in lieu of a food reward later down the line, and he gives it to Cochran, whose "birthday" is coming up (he totally fakes it, as his real birthday was 6 months ago). This will surely only solidify the growing bond between Coachran.

Coach declares that he will fight for his young warrior, Cochran, even if it means sacrificing his young virgin, Edna. After his massage, Cochran sits down with Albert to take the temperature of the tribe. Albert tells Cochran that he would be ecstatic to see him go farther in the game than Rick. Someone told Albert about the "Prince Albert" comment.

Cochran tells Edna about the plan to oust Rick, and Edna is delighted. They like each other, because they have so much in common, like their physiques and undying devotion to Coach. But will Coach be swayed by their option?

At tribal council, Edna has her moment as number 6, and then Brandon pipes up. "Tonight, my vote is for Cochran, and the next night, my vote is for Edna." What a way to stick to the plan as loudly as possible! Coach says Brandon's steadfastness is both a blessing and a curse, which brings Brandon, inexplicably, to tears.

This opens up a glorious door for Cochran:

"Brandon has revealed that he's probably not the best person to be in a strategic partnership with, because talking strategy with Brandon is like talking to you about shirts that aren't blue," Cochran says to Jeff. Oh my god, perfection. Jeff is clearly trying to point out that Brandon is a loose cannon and a liability and they should vote him out.

Cochran gets voted off in a 5-2 vote, which makes me ecstatic to see him in a redemption duel with Ozzy.

US X Factor: Top 7 perform Michael Jackson

2011-12-01T15:14:00.004+08:00

Astro - 'Black Or White'
Astro's no longer using BEATS headphones! Due to some contractual terms, he was forced to don on much uncooler Sony headphones. Sad. That aside, this was my FAVOURITE ASTRO PERFORMANCE. Loved the part where he talked about the only colours he sees that being of those on Crayola. He's really super ingenious. A

Melanie Amaro - 'Earth Song'
Haley Reinhart smashed it last time on Idol, so she's definitely pressured to impress Simon. She blew everyone away with that performance. This was superbly classy and poised, though I don't see it being as inventive as it should be. A-

Drew - 'Billie Jean'
She is indeed the US version of Janet Devlin. She is good, her performance today was very haunting and original, but I'm afraid that is all she is going to offer in this competition. And yes, why is she just given just a chair, especially on MJ week? Once again, very controversial arguments between the judges post-Drew performance, but for this week, she rocked those vocals. A-

Chris Rene - 'I'll Be There'
It's interesting how I initially liked Chris way more than Astro. However, as the show progressed, I've come to appreciate Astro's talent, and I'm starting to realize Chris is not at all a strong vocalist, and his rapping isn't half as good as Astro's. He probably has more of a groove than Astro, but that's about it.

Rachel Crow - 'Can You Feel It'
Her hair's at its most explosive today. She was pitchy at parts, and there was something holding her back, hence I didn't really feel it too. An amazing pristine delivery of a MJ classic from her would have worked brilliantly. B+

Marcus Canty - 'Pretty Young Thing'
This was a strong showing from him, and he embodied the MJ spirit the best. The backflip was quite extra though, it was verging on gimmicky. He definitely could have been vocally stronger. B+

Josh Krajcik - 'Dirty Diana'
What an awkward song choice for him, he probably can't get all down and dirty, so why give him such a song?! The production drowned him certainly, and the girls were way too distracting for anyone to even pay attention to his vocals. This was ten steps back from his previous 'Wild Horses' performance, because this is not him at all. I have no idea why the judges liked it (siding with Simon). B

2011: 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards - The Nominees

2011-12-01T13:25:00.007+08:00

Album of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Album

'21' by Adele
'Born This Way' by Lady Gaga
'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' by Bruno Mars
'Loud' by Rihanna
Album of the Year nominee: 'Wasting Light' by Foo Fighters
Best Pop Vocal Album nominee: 'The Lady Killer' by Cee Lo Green

4 tracks are in the running for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. I am very glad to see Rihanna and Gaga's albums being nominated. Foo Fighters does not come as a shock considering how many have named it the best rock album of 2011. Album-wise, Bruno Mars should be replaced with Coldplay, Florence, Beyonce, or even Lykke Li. An Adele or Gaga victory would be very nice.

Record of the Year & Song of The Year

'Rolling In The Deep' by Adele
'Holocene' by Bon Iver
'Grenade' by Bruno Mars
'The Cave' by Mumford & Sons
Record of the Year nominee: 'Firework' by Katy Perry
Song of the Year nominee: 'All Of The Lights' by Kanye West

4 tracks are in the running for both Record and Song of the Year, and I really don't see a fundamental difference behind it. Mumford & Sons definitely a surprise in this category. Bon Iver's probably there to lend some 'critical acclaim' points. Adele has to win this. Music dies if Katy pulls off a victory. Kanye's nomination is great! I really like that song, although isn't it a bit 2010?

Best New Artist

The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

It's surprising to see the new generation David Guetta (ie Skrillex) in the running. Nicki Minaj should be taking this award, because country music (ie The Band Perry) and rappers who can't sing (ie J. Cole) bore me. Bon Iver is definitely very credible, but I'm afraid he hasn't garnered even mainstream appeal. We'll see what the voters are looking out for. I mean, I've been through one 'Esperanza Spalding' shock win, we don't need another. (P.S What about Foster The People?!?! They got robbed!!)

Best Pop Solo Performance

'Someone Like You' by Adele
'You And I' by Lady Gaga
'Grenade' by Bruno Mars'
'Firework' by Katy Perry
'F***in' Perfect' by P!nk

Oh please, Adele for the win. It's just unjustifiable for anyone else stealing it away from her.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

'Body And Soul' by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
'Moves Like Jagger' by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera
'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster The People
'Paradise' by Coldplay
'Dearest' by The Black Keys

Wow, 'Moves Like Jagger' sure is the hot favourite, with FTP's track very close behind. 'Paradise' is very much in its infancy, so I doubt they'll get it. However, if the Grammys decide to honour the artist who recently passed away, this might be the time to do so!

Best Dance Recording

'Raise Your Weapon' by Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
'Barbra Streisand' by Duck Sauce
'Sunshine' by David Guetta & Avicii
'Call Your Girlfriend' by Robyn
'Scary Monster & Nice Sprites' by Skrillex
'Save The World' by Swedish House Mafia

Too many extreme-dance tracks. Where's Beyonce, Britney, Gaga, LMFAO, Rihanna, and J Lo?!?! I took the time to link the more unknown tracks to the mainstream world (pardon my ignorance, there's a cap to my music library) for your listening pleasure. Way to go for Robyn though, who's nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album for 'Body Talk Pt 3' as well! It would be an amazing breakthrough for her if she snags it.

Best Rock Performance & Best Rock Song

'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall' by Coldplay
'Down by the Water' by The Decemberists
'Walk' by Foo Fighters
'The Cave' by Mumford & Sons
'Lotus Flower' by Radiohead

Once again, I don't see why there are 2 categories if both categories comprise of the exact same nominees. Since 'The Cave' is in the running for Song and Record of the Year, I guess it's a no-brainer who's winning this subcategory. Yay for Coldplay though!

Best Alternative Music Album

'Bon Iver' by Bon Iver
'Codes & Keys' by Death Cab For Cutie
'Torches' by Foster The People
'Circuital' by My Morning Jacket
'The King of Limbs' by Radiohead

Foster The People please, I have been listening their album over and over again. DCFC's album isn't as stellar as their past few, but Radiohead and Bon Iver are definitely the hot favourites in this category.

Best Rap Performance

'Look At Me Now' by Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes**
'Otis' by Jay-Z and Kanye West**
'The Show Goes On' by Lupe Fiasco**
'Moment 4 Life' by Nicki Minaj & Drake
'Black And Yellow' by Wiz Khalifa**

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

'Party' by Beyonce and Andre 3000
'I'm On One' by DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne
'I Need A Doctor' by Dr. Dre, Eminem and Skylar Grey**
'Motivation' by Kelly Rowland and Lil' Wayne
'What's My Name' by Rihanna & Drake
'All Of The Lights' by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and Fergie**

**Indicates those in the running for Best Rap Song as well

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Danger Mouse
Paul Epworth (Foster The People, Adele)
The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Far East Movement, Bad Meets Evil)
Ryan Tedder (Gavin DeGraw, Adele, Beyonce, Colbie Caillat, Jennifer Hudson)
Butch Vig (Foo Fighters)

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

'Cinema' by Benny Benassi, Skrillex remix
'Collide' by Leona Lewis, Afrojack remix
'End of Line' by Daft Punk, Photek remix
'Only Girl (In The World') by Rihanna, Rosabel Club remix
'Rope' by Foo Fighters, Deadmau5 remix

2011: Soundmunches #59

2011-12-01T10:42:00.005+08:00

Flo Rida - Good Feeling
Beyonce - Dance For You

Nicola Roberts - Yo-Yo
Robin Thicke - Love After War

Avicii - Levels
Katherine McPhee - Beautiful (SMASH: preview)

The Sing-Off 3: The Finals

2011-11-29T23:19:00.005+08:00

ROUND 1

Pentatonix - 'Without You' by David Guetta
Goodness, this was the worst Pentatonix performance. What nonsense is this? I know they know they have definitely won, but this isn't the way to screw up the final week. C

Urban Method - 'Stereo Hearts' by Adam Levine ft. Gym Class Heroes
Another epic trainwreck. What's wrong with the finale?! Aren't finales supposed to showcase the contestants' best? This is nothing less different from The Top 16. C

Dartmouth Aires - 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' by Meatloaf
Never liked it when the lead sings, because he gives these lecherous, creepy looks. I thought they delivered the least worst performance out of the 3 for Round 1. B-

ROUND 2
Pentatonix & Nick Lachey - 'Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)' by 98 Degrees
Haha, it was great to see Lachey perform again! Such a 98 Degrees classic! I think the two bassists weren't being tapped on as much as they did in the past few weeks. I enjoyed the last few parts when Kristin just rattled on with the words. B+

Urban Method & Sara Bareilles - 'Gonna Get Over You' by Sara Bareilles
HILARIOUS to see Sara Bareilles executing the choreo steps! She is definitely sporting though! They backed her up well enough to make it not feel excessively awkward. B

Dartmouth Aires & Ben Folds - 'Not The Same' by Ben Folds
It was sweet to see the two acts whose niche is in showmanship take the same stage. Don't really know Ben Folds pieces well, but this was sweet. B+

GIRLS from the TOP 10 GROUPS - 'You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman' by Aretha Franklin
Definitely the best performance of the night. A lot of soulful voices in the bunch.

GUYS from the TOP 10 GROUPS - 'Born To Run' by Bruce Springsteen
I still like Scott Hoying's (lead vocalist of Pentatonix) the most. He has that vocal quality that I like so much.

VERDICT
WINNER: PENTATONIX
SECOND: DARTMOUTH AIRES
THIRD: URBAN METHOD

The Amazing Race 19 - Release the Brake!

2011-11-28T22:06:00.002+08:00

The leg continues with the teams heading to the Ford Proving Grounds in Belgium. Bill and Cathi came in last, but were glad not to be eliminated.

Ernie and Cindy didn't get lost and they were to first to hit the Road Block. For this challenge, they get to speed around in a Ford Mustang. They have to speed around, navigate a course, and then do a double donut! All the guys cleared the Road Block for obvious reasons. Jeremy caught up to Ernie, but the latter pulled away after many spending many attempts to do the slalom course.

In Gent, teams had to choose between Water or Waffles for the Detour. They will either build a raft and search for two halves of a clue, or assemble a waffle stand and make 18 waffles. Cindy/Ernie & Sandy/Jeremy do the waffles, while the rest take the alternative. Ernie and Cindy did great on the waffles, while Jeremy and Sandy couldn't get it right. They still managed to stay ahead of Bill and Cathi though.

At the next location in Muur, teams will release hundreds of homing pigeons and meet them at the next address for their clue. Andy and Tommy are first to their pigeons, and receive a tiny bird leg-sized photo clue directing them to the Atomium for their next Pit Stop. Jeremy and Sandy find their birds next. Ernie and Cindy are lost and arguing.

Andy and Tommy check in first and they each get a new, customized Ford Mustang, so the jealousy in Andy's heart was completely dissolved after that. It's ridiculous, the prizes they have won for themselves. Ernie and Cindy finally find their pigeons, and Amani and Marcus are struggling, too.

Jeremy and Sandy check in second, followed by Ernie and Cindy in third. Amani and Marcus rallied to finish in fourth. Bill and Cathi unfortunately could not escape elimination. I love the both of them - such fighting spirit.

X Factor UK: Live Shows #8 (Final 5)

2011-11-27T09:32:00.004+08:00

Marcus Collins - 'Lately' by Stevie Wonder
I've never seen him belt those notes before! This week was great for him. He showed off his fun and entertaining side in his firsta number, and his vocal prowess and emotion in the second. A+

Misha B - 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' by Cyndi Lauper
YAYYY!! MISHA IS BACK!! I AM SMILING AGAIN!! This is why I'm a Misha fan and not a Janet fan. She knows her style, and she always does something to reinnovate and excite and the audiences. She's a confident woman working the stage, one who shows the public what she's made of. Ahh, amazing. A

Marcus Collins - 'I'm Your Man' by Wham!
This is what songs about 'Guilty Pleasures' are supposed to be! I love when he does his signature 'Here we go now!' part. Great staging, great controlled vocals - I would really love a Misha-Marcus final 2. He certainly tries to garner slightly more votes with the shirt lifting, but he doesn't even need that, because the crowd already loves him. A

Little Mix - 'Beautiful' by Christina Aguilera
The blonde girl is superb in her vocals. This was so powerful and emotional - such conviction. One of the best Little Mix pieces. A

Amelia Lily - 'China In Your Hand' by T'Pau
I thought it was Pixie Lott on stage. How is this song a guilty pleasure?! It has an authentically 80s' feel, hence I felt she should have switched it up? Nevertheless, this is a great vocal, and the judges are contented with the way she delivered it. A-

Amelia Lily - 'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson
Aww, she doesn't do the original bridge melody. She is a good vocalist, but the issue I have with her is that she always try to sound like the original artist, and she doesn't really switch things up a lot. B+

Misha B - 'Killing Me Softly' by The Fugees and Roberta Flack
This may come off slightly boring, but it was a very difficult piece to sing, and it showed off her vocal acrobatics very well! It's super disturbing that the audience are not raving as much during the critiques. B+

Janet Devlin - 'Under The Bridge' by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
It was interesting to know RHCP is her musical hero - so different styles lol. Yes, it was slightly better than MMMBop. Gary points it out right: You either hate her guts for not thinking out-of-the-box, or you love her for being true to herself. However, being true to yourself doesn't mean you have to deliver uninspired performances. The recurring image of her ghostly face on the golden frame is disturbing. Louis Walsh has said 'It's all about the voice' about 30 times. B+

Little Mix - 'Baby' by Justin Bieber
I was rather perturbed by the fact that they chose to sing 'Baby'. Luckily for Jade, they switched it up with Diana Ross' classic. It was a slight waste of a song to perform though - didn't step up much from last week. B+

Janet Devlin - 'MMMBop' by Hanson
OMG, what a great song choice, but she screwed up the second sentence and spoilt it immediately! What's more, she screws up the verse after the chorus! TRAINWRECK. Seriously, I think it's time this girl gets sent home. What a talent, but she just screws it up week after week. Sigh. B-

Best of Music 2011: Best Female Artist

2011-11-24T22:54:00.001+08:00

Adele
2011 hits: 'Rolling In The Deep', 'Someone Like You', 'Set Fire To The Rain', 'Rumour Has It', 'Turning Tables'

Appearances
Performs 'Someone Like You' at the O2 Arena (Link)
Performs 'Rolling In The Deep' at Jools Holland (Link)
Performs 'Turning Tables' at The Royal Albert Hall (Link)
Performs 'Set Fire To The Rain' on The Graham Norton Show (Link)
Performs 'Rumour Has It' at the iTunes Festival (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Won 3 American Music Awards: Favourite Adult Contemporary Artist, Pop/Rock Female Artist, and Pop/Rock Album
Won for Best UK Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards
Won 2 Q Awards for Best Track ('Rolling In The Deep') and Best Female Artist

Beyonce
2011 hits: 'Run The World (Girls)', 'Best Thing I Never Had', 'Countdown', '1 + 1', 'Love On Top', 'Party'

Appearances
Performs 'Run The World (Girls)' at The Billboard Awards (Link)
Performs 'Best Thing I Never Had' at Glastonbury (Link)
Performs '1+1' on American Idol (Link)
Performs 'Countdown' on The Jimmy Fallon Show (Link)
Performs 'Love On Top' at the Video Music Awards (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Won the Millenium Award at the Billboard Music Awards
Won Favourite Female Artist for Soul/R&B at the American Music Awards

Britney Spears
2011 hits: 'Hold It Against Me', 'Till The World Ends', 'I Wanna Go', 'Criminal'

Appearances
Performs 'Hold It Against Me' on Good Morning America (Link)
Performs 'Till The World Ends' on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Link)
Performs 'I Wanna Go' at HP Pavilion at San Jose, California (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Won 4 Billboard Mid-Year Awards, including Favourite Hot 100 No. 1 Song for 'Hold It Against Me', and Favourite Billboard 200 No. 1 Album
Won 2 MTV Video Music Awards (Best Pop Video for 'Till The World Ends' and MTV Video Vanguard Award)
Won Best North American Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards

Katy Perry
2011 hits: 'E.T', 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)', 'The One That Got Away'

Appearances
Performs 'E.T' on American Idol (Link)
Performs 'The One That Got Away' on X Factor (Link)
Performs 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)' at Milan for the California Dreams Tour (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Nominated for 4 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 'Teenage Dream'
Won Best Live Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards

Lady Gaga
2011 hits: 'Born This Way', 'Judas', 'The Edge of Glory', 'You And I', 'Marry The Night'

Appearances
Performs 'Born This Way' and 'Marry The Night' at the Children In Need Charity Concert (Link)
Performs 'The Edge of Glory' on American Idol (Link)
Performs 'You And I' on The View (Link)
Performs 'Judas' on Saturday Night Live (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Won 3 Grammys (Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Short Form Music Video for 'Bad Romance')
Won 4 MTV Europe Music Awards, including Best Female, Best Song & Video for 'Born This Way'
Won 3 Billboard Music Awards (Top Pop Artist, Top Dance Artist, Top Electronic/Dance Album)

Rihanna
2011 hits: 'S&M', 'California King Bed', 'Man Down', 'Cheers (Drink To That), 'We Found Love', 'You Da One'

Appearances
Performs 'S&M' at the BRIT Awards (Link)
Performs 'California King Bed' on American Idol (Link)
Performs 'Cheers (Drink To That)' at V Festival (Link)
Performs 'We Found Love' on US X Factor (Link)

Achievements in 2011
Won Favourite Soul/R&B Album for 'Loud!' at the American Music Awards
Won Best International Female Artist at the BRIT Awards
Won Best Dance Recording at the Grammys for 'Only Girl (In The World)'

X Factor US: Live Shows (Top 9 Results)

2011-11-24T19:51:00.005+08:00

Group Performance - 'So What' and 'Raise Your Glass'

Guest Performances
Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)
Bruno Mars - It Will Rain

Sing-Off for Survival (2nd and 3rd lowest vote-getters)
Marcus Canty - 'You Lost Me' by Christina Aguilera (Whoa not bad. Sia must be happy!)
LeRoy Bell - 'Don't Let Me Down' by The Beatles (Whoa even better.)

Eliminations
Immediate Elimination for lowest vote-getter (DREW vs LAKODA RAYNE) and elimination for Sing-Off (MARCUS CANTY vs LEROY BELL)

X Factor US: Live Shows (Top 9 - Thanksgiving Special)

2011-11-23T14:56:00.009+08:00

Josh Krajcik - 'Wild Horses' by The Rolling Stones
After this performance, it's official that he's the one to beat. He showed a totally different side of him, and this was just Grammy-winning. What a true musician. A+

LeRoy Bell - 'Angel' by Sarah McLachlan
This was so heartfelt and amazing. I am extremely proud of him. I love this song, and he made it even more special. A+

Steve Jones: It felt like a song you were singing for your mum
LeRoy Bell: I was... for my mum.
Steve Jones - Worst US Show Host Ever.

Melanie Amaro - 'The World's Greatest' by R. Kelly
Melanie takes this moment to thank God. She looks gorgeous with make-up, and totally channels Mariah when she performs all these spiritual pieces. This was certainly uplifting, although her mum must be chided because her daughter didn't really thank her lol. She was super emotional though, so cute, but I was like 'oh no will she say something wrong'? A

Rachel Crow - 'I Believe' by Yolanda Adams
Oh goodness, she manages to hit notes she's never hit before. The confetti pouring on her seemed as though she just won the show. It was a very touching backstory about her adoption too. Even Nicole can't hit those notes. A

Astro - 'Show Me What You Got' by Jay-Z
I always wonder when does he catch his breath during his performances. He already labelled his fans Astronauts. Smart huh. I'm definitely on Team Astro, as long as he doesn't behave like a nutcase during Results Show. He is a creative genius, and it's great that he mended his ways from last week. A

Drew - 'Skyscraper' by Demi Lovato
Aww besties for life, so sweet haha! She chose an incredibly tough song to sing (I mean it's one of realitymunches' Best Female Pop Vocal nomination haha). It's good to see her put her own flavour into the track, but I mean, Demi kills it! She did a good job though! I'm very proud of Drew when she stood up for herself. Drew: 1 - LA Reid: 0. A

WHAT IS LA REID TALKING?! "She's doing songs that are for 40" SO WHAT? DEMI LOVATO IS 40?! OMG. Drew just got a million more votes because of the rubbish LA Reid said.

Marcus Canty - 'Mama' by Boyz II Men
Aww, the VC about him and his mum was so touching - made me actually like him more as a person. I felt the performance got increasingly over-sentimental though, so much so he cracked a couple of times. A very sweet and endearing story though - definitely gonna garner him some votes. Besides, he aced the Thanksgiving theme. A

Chris Rene - 'Let It Be' by The Beatles / 'Young Homie' (Original Composition)
He tells about his rehabilitation process in his VC, and his dedication and determination certainly inspires everyone. Thank goodness he had his original composition for the performance, because his Beatles rendition was pretty bad. A-

Lakoda Rayne - 'You Belong With Me' by Taylor Swift
4 Taylor Swifts. Not cool. Their song choice destroyed all the emotions that were built up during the intro video. In all honesty, they were good - it's what they will be doing if they were to get into the music industry. Rhythmix is trashing them by a mile though. B+

Best of Music 2011: Best Male Artist

2011-11-22T14:22:00.003+08:00

Bruno Mars
2011 hits: "The Lazy Song", "It Will Rain", "Marry You", "Lighters"

Appearances
- Performs 'Runaway Baby' on UK X Factor (Link)
- Performs 'It Will Rain' on The Ellen Show (Link)

Achievements
- American Music Awards 2011: Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist
- Grammys 2011: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for 'Just The Way You Are'
- Europe Music Awards 2011: Best New Act

Ed Sheeran
2011 hits: "The A Team", "You Need Me, I Don't Need You", "Lego House"

Appearances
- Performs 'The A Team' on Glastonbury 2011 & Jools Holland (Link 1, Link 2)
- Covers Bon Iver's 'Skinny Love' (Link)

Achievements
- Q Awards: Best Breakthrough Artist
- UK Festival Awards: Best Breakthrough Artist

Enrique Iglesias
2011 hits: "Dirty Dancer","I Like How It Feels"

Appearances
- Performs "I Like How It Feels" and "Tonight I'm Lovin' You" at the American Music Awards (Link)
- Performs 'Dirty Dancer' on X Factor France (Link)

Achievements
- Billboard Music Awards: Best Latin Album for "Euphoria"
- Europe Music Awards: Nominated for Best World Stage Performance

Example
2011 hits: "Changed The Way You Kissed Me", "Stay Awake", "Natural Disaster"

Appearances
- Performs 'Stay Awake' and 'Kickstarts' at V Festival 2011 (Link 1 & Link 2)
- Performs 'Changed The Way You Kissed Me' at Capital Summertime Ball 2011 (Link)

Achievements
- #1 on the UK Album Charts, with 2 #1 singles
- Nominated for 4 awards at the Urban Music Awards: Best Male Artist, Artist of the Year, Best Dance Act, and Best Album for 'Won't Go Quietly'

James Morrison
2011 hits: "I Won't Let You Go", "Right By Your Side", "Up", 'Slave To The Music"

Appearances
- Performs 'Up' with Jessie J at BBC Children In Need Rocks Manchester (Link)
- Performs 'Right By Your Side' at iTunes Festival (Link)

Achievements
- Third studio album, 'The Awakening' debuts at #1 in the UK

Best of Music 2011: Best Rock Song

2011-11-21T14:53:00.000+08:00

Coldplay - Paradise (Video Link)
"The looping, hi-gloss beats and swooping strings is somewhat reminiscent of Timbaland and Ryan Tedder's 'Apologize'; while the chant-along chorus and the "para-para paradise" hook certainly could foresee a packed arena chorusing to it. The track may lack the emotion of 'Clocks' or 'Violet Hill', but Coldplay's poppiest outing to date still packs a weighty punch." - ViewTVDerby

Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten (Video Link)
"The song itself sounds a little disjointed on first listen, starting off with ‘Vlad The Impaler’ style verses before opening up into a stretched-out chorus which wouldn’t seem out of place soundtracking the next James Bond film. It proves to be a bit of a grower though, as more listens reveal those textures and nuances that make Kasabian so exciting and unpredictable." - Allnoise UK

Paramore - Monster (Video Link)
‘Monster’ is the group’s first song since the December departure of founding members Josh and Zac Farro, and it’s almost as if the remaining band members feel they have something to prove. Accompanied by heavy guitars, Hayley Williams sings: “I’ll stop the whole world, I’ll stop the whole world / From turning into a monster, eating us alive / Don’t you ever wonder how we survive? / Well now that you’re gone, the world is ours.” The lyrics could be a veiled reference to the less-than-amicable departure of the Farro brothers.

Radiohead - Lotus Flower (Video Link)
"Lotus Flower has the trademark Radiohead sound all over it. The slow but steady drum beats and other worldly sounds are a dream to listen to. The soft, almost mumbling vocals go perfectly with the strange beats. It is a treat to hear new material after 2007's industry changing, In Rainbows. The video however seems unnecessarily out there with Thom Yorke dancing like he has just popped some pills." - Popculture

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (Video Link)
"This track signals that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back with their rock and funk commitments intact, and it introduces us to new lead guitar player Josh Klinghoffer. The lyrics hint at a range of sexual adventures of "Rain Dance Maggie" while the Red Hot Chili Peppers go for a slightly raunchy, funky feel for this first single from the I'm With You album." - Top40.about.com

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness (Video Link)
"Their first new single in five years is a corker, all dry-as-a-bone guitar riffs, stop-start drums and Casablancas's mumbled croon sounding reassuringly familiar. It also features not one but two brilliant choruses, a great line about how "everyone's been singing the same song for 10 years" and some additional backing vocals on the chorus that will sound amazing in a sun-dappled field come festival season." - Guardian UK

X Factor UK: Live Shows #7 (Final 6)

2011-11-20T09:21:00.004+08:00

Marcus Collins - Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson
OMG Rebecca Ferguson and Marcus have the same ack-cents! That was incredible, he changed it up! So much positive energy haha, loved the staging and the choir backing his performance. A+

Little Mix - Set It Off by En Vogue
Whoa, I really liked this! Solid harmonies, amazing look, incredible cohesion! Like a pro! Seriously, this was a damn strong showing. A+

Misha B - I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston
I seriously want her to win. Argh. She looks like Jennifer Hudson today! Super risky for her to attempt the Whitney classic, but she pulled it off. GO MISHA GO! A

Janet Devlin - Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer
She looks stunning today. I thought it was a good song choice for her, because it wasn't too draggy till it verged on boring. She should have switched something up during the bridge though! A-

Amelia Lily - Think by Aretha Franklin
The thing about Amelia is that she might deliver rather entertaining performances, but I don't see a strong identity. I wouldn't know the music she'll be producing. As of now though, she looks set to go far. Why in the world does Tulisa not know an Aretha classic LOL? A-

Craig Colton - License To Kill by Bob Dylan
Somebody is looking pretty professional huh! Strong vocals today from him, but there wasn't Craig stamped on this number. B+

ANTM All-Stars: Exploring Greece

2011-11-19T10:56:00.003+08:00

This week, the models had to pose as Greek Goddesses participating in the Olympics LOL. I'm ignoring the challenge portion this week because a) Angelea was just being a brat; b) Miss Jay looked hideous, and c) Allison was critiqued amongst the final 5 to have the least potential of becoming an all-star, while Laura had the most potential... like what?!

Laura: "Absolutely stunning!" says Nigel. He loved how she powered through her mask and tried a lot of things. Once again, Andre hates on the legs: Her knee poking through the dress bothers him. Maybe his Louis slippers are on too tight.

Allison: Tyra loves that it's high fashion and awkward. Andre HATES that her back heel is sinking into the ground. How DARE her stiletto adhere to gravity!

Lisa: Tyra once again loves that it's high fashion. Andre, still foot-fixated, thinks her toes don't have enough tension.

Angelea: "Which sport were you?" Tyra asks. "Pit shot?" Angelea trys again. SO CLOSE. Maybe you'll get it on the 50th try! Angelea's shot works, but Nigel says a lot of her film was "stilted." Tyra says Angelea's eyes were "dead," and that the photo was saved by her "reaching" ... in both senses of the word, really.

Dominique: Andre says, "Sweetie, I think you're beautiful... BUT." That's never a good thing. After the ominous "but," he says Dominique looks like a princess, and her leg is weak.

Best Photo: Laura
Runner-up: Allison
Stuck in the Middle: Lisa
Bottom Two: Dominique and Angelea

So the season's most epic feud (more like tepid feud) all comes down to this.

Eliminated: Dominique

I definitely thought Angelea was headed for elimination because she could potentially bomb that hypothetical Angelina Jolie interview which Tyra conjured. Dominique's photo wasn't that bad, and she's been more consistent than Angelea, but personality beats performance.

2011: Soundmunches #58

2011-11-18T22:16:00.005+08:00

Florence + The Machine - No Light, No Light
Dia Frampton - The Broken Ones

The Fray - Heartbeat
Tanya Lacey - Letter To My Ex

Marlon Roudette - Riding Home
Selena Gomez & The Scene - Hit The Lights

Survivor: South Pacific - Running The Show

2011-11-17T19:10:00.004+08:00

The 3-way Redemption Island challenge is an endurance one, where Ozzy, Jim and Keith have to hold poles on the tops of their hands. The two people who leave become the first and second members of the jury. Obviously, despite having no love from the Te Tuna tribe, Ozzy sends Keith and Jim packing. The first two jury members want Ozzy to win, so he's in a good place.

For the immunity challenge, the tribe members had to traverse teeter totters with bowls of rice on their heads. Yes, Rick is in the challenge too. Anybody knows who Rick is? Sophie carries an almost overflowing bowl to the basket and wins immunity. Jeff promises a twist at Tribal Council.

Everyone fears the twist could be a double elimination leading to another immunity challenge. Dawn is pretty sure she's going home, but still hopeful. She and Whitney caucus and appeals to Albert to turn the game around. Albert wants to get rid of Edna to move Cochran up the ladder and gain favor with Whitney and Dawn, potential jury members. Albert says that Cochran is definitely seventh, but he's thinking about actually PLAYING the game by taking a big risk. Then they approach Sophie.

Sophie takes it all in and evaluates things. It is time to be strategic and use those two free votes. But Coach knows that Albert is playing for jury votes. He decides this is unacceptable. If Albert dissents, it is "instant death."

At Tribal Council, Coach says that he worries, stresses, believes, and trusts. He also claims not to be the leader of the tribe. What I want to know is where Rick's head is at in all this. He has literally not said a word this entire episode. What's going on underneath that cowboy hat, Rick? Are you the one who spelled a woman's name, "DON"?

Dawn gets voted off first, and Te Tuna goes straight to another immunity challenge. Whitney knows it's all or nothing. However, Sophie outsmarted everyone and received immunity AGAIN. That means Whitney says buh-bye.

X Factor US: Top 10 (Rock Week)

2011-11-17T18:40:00.006+08:00

Josh Krajcik - 'The Pretender'
I love this song, and Nicole goes absolutely maniac. This was an incredible transformation for Josh, who evolved from his sultry reserved persona, to a very gruffy ruff-n-tuff hard rocker. A

Rachel Crow - 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction'
Why did Simon choose 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' for her? Lyrically, it was wrong because it sounded like she was eager to have sex. She had great stage presence though - a crowd pleaser for sure. This time around, she was not pretentious, and portrayed herself as a young and vibrant artist. A-

Astro - 'I'll Be Missing You'
He is really an incredible talent. The lyrics he come up with are of such a high calibre - at least he's not talking about taking drugs, and going to jail. He is definitely a hard worker and a mature teenager who is in it to win it. A-

Marcus Canty - 'Piece of My Heart'
He wears a very bling outfit for the Janis Joplin classic. He certainly demonstrated some swagger, showing a different side of him. Great showmanship. A-

Chris Rene - 'No Woman, No Cry'
What a performance! A very refreshing and inventive performance from him. He delivered with a very laidback, reggae feel, and certainly established himself as a brand. When Simon critiqued his performance as a non-rock one, LA Reid challenged Simon to give Drew a pop number during Pop Week LOL. B+

Drew - 'With Or Without You'
This was so much better than 'Fix You', although it was pretty much the same genre she was touching base with last week. The other judges were getting fussy about the irrelevance of the song to this week's theme, but who cares, she made it her own. The numerous repetitions of 'with or without you' annoyed me slightly though. B+

Melanie Amaro - 'Everybody Hurts'
She did a good job at this stripped down acoustic version and had great vocal control, but nothing revolutionary to rave about for this performance. B+

Lakoda Rayne - 'Go Your Own Way'
A strong delivery from them finally. It was good to see them having fun, and it was good that we finally know their names (how subtle was it for their names to flash BIG AND BOLD behind their silhouettes). Country Rock is definitely a smart genre for them to tackle. B+

LeRoy Bell - 'We've Got Tonight'
I preferred the acoustic beginning much more than the clutter that followed suit. It's true that he does not seem to want this as much as the rest, and the performance came off rather unoriginal. What's more, it is Rock Week and he should have done something new. Nevertheless, he delivered with much passion. B

Stacy Francis - 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now'
She screwed up last week after taking a risk to perform an uptempo number. This week, she delivers a rather messy performance. Sometimes, I don't know if she's hitting the notes correctly - I just hear a lot of screaming, it was very over-the-top it became pitchless. B-

The Sing-Off 3: The Final Five

2011-11-16T10:22:00.007+08:00

Pentatonix - 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye
Win. Work of art.

Pentatonix - 'OMG' by Usher
I love all their dance moves and how they incorporate the most random noises into something so addictive. The male lead's not necessarily the strongest, but their dynamics are so multi-faceted despite the small group size.

Vocal Point - 'Every Little Step' by Bobby Brown
They stepped it up! Loved the 'break-it-down' part, with some very incredible showmanship! So groovy and hip.

Afro-Blue - 'We Belong Together' by Mariah Carey
Aww, haven't heard this song in years. This wasn't too jazzy to not be able to comprehend, so I quite liked it.

Urban Method - 'It's Your Thing' by The Isley Brothers
Don't know this song, but the 3 girls were amazing. The guys' beatboxings were very impressive too.

Dartmouth Aires - 'Midnight Train To Georgia' by Gladys Knight
It's good they got the strongest soloist to perform this number. Soulful and heartfelt.

Urban Method - 'Knock You Down' by Keri Hilson
I don't really like the lead's alto range, but the rapper seemed to complement the piece pretty well, so that gave some credit to the performance. Nice bass.

Afro-Blue - 'Best Of My Love' by The Emotions
Motown-ish. Not particularly exciting, but decent enough to keep them in the competition.

Dartmouth Aires - 'Ignition' by R Kelly
It was a fun number, but I don't find them particularly distinctive. Great showmanship, but song arrangement can't put them on par with other acts - they're pretty one dimensional. Perhaps the Queen performance last week was a fluke.

Vocal Point - 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' by The Temptations
Compared to their very inventive Bobby Brown performance, this wasn't serenading well with me. Very cliched and unoriginal.

Eliminated: Vocal Point

The Amazing Race - Super Shady (Copenhagen, Denmark)

2011-11-14T19:05:00.006+08:00

Watch the episode here.

All teams fly to Copenhagen, Denmark, where they will drive to Vor Freslers Kirke bell tower. The Double U-Turn is back in hopes that someone will take advantage of it this time.

Laurence and Zac manages to book a flight that will land them at Copenhagen at 8:30 pm. The rest of the teams will arrive at 11:00 pm or 10:35 pm. Amani and Marcus figure no one will get a sooner flight, so they just sit back and get something to eat.

From the top of the bell tower, teams must look for two flags pointing them toward the Frederiksborg Slot. 400 steps is a lot of steps. Some teams are more careful than others. Bill and Cathi catch the second flag, along with Ernie and Cindy. Jeremy and Sandy find a castle called "Rosenberg Slot" and decide to go there. WRONG.

For the Road Block, the teams must dress in period costume and learn three dances from the Renaissance. The dance is complicated, and will undoubtedly frustrate Laurence somehow, even though Zac is doing the challenge. Ernie completes the roadblock first and he and Cindy proceed to Friland Museet. It is not going well for Zac, who is trying to use only his left feet to dance.

Detour: "All Hopped Up" or "All Churned Out." All Hopped Up has team members leading rabbits through a jumping course they set up without knocking anything over. It is the cutest thing you have ever seen on this show, next to Bill and Cathi of course. For "All Churned Out" the teams will make butter.

Ernie and Cindy make their butter just right, then head to the Double U-Turn at the windmill. Cindy insists they U-Turn Bill and Cathi, who are right on their tails. "Sorry guys, we need a win," she explains to the iPad image of Bill and Cathi. Ernie and Cindy head to Havet Ship for the Pit Stop.

Bill and Cathi decide to use the other U-Turn on Laurence and Zac. Sandy and Amani are dancing, staying focused with Marcus's football analogies. Jeremy and Sandy resolve not to get lost on their way to the Detour. But they do, and Jeremy blames Sandy for not telling him they're going North. lol.

Ernie and Cindy finish in first place, and Cindy got that win they "needed." They're going to Fiji. Why didn't anyone U-Turn Andy and Tommy? Laurence and Zac discover they have been U-Turned, and Laurence does not respond well. He'll probably be so pissed at the rabbit if it runs into one of the obstacles. He wisely chose Speckles, a champion of a rabbit, who helped Bill and Cathi whiz through their U-turn.

Bill and Cathi check in second, followed by Andy and Tommy in third. Bill and Cathi admit that the U-Turn was "like kicking your mother and father to the curb." Laurence and Zac finish, and question their direction back toward Copenhagen. Laurence gets stuck in traffic, and speeds along on the shoulder.

Jeremy and Sandy manage to get ahead of Laurence and Zac, and check in fifth. The Double U-Turn claims Laurence and Zac as its victims.

2011: Soundmunches #57

2011-11-13T11:37:00.003+08:00

Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
Matt Cardle - Starlight

Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
Little Boots - Shake

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
Melanie C - Weak

One Direction - Gotta Be You
The Wanted - Warzone

Taio Cruz - Troublemaker
Madonna - Give Me All Your Love
Jessie J - Laser Light (with David Guetta)
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Drake - Take Care (feat. Rihanna)
Paramore - Hello Cold World
Daughtry - Renegade

X Factor UK: Live Shows #6 (GAGA vs QUEEN)

2011-11-13T11:01:00.005+08:00

Misha B - Born This Way (Lady Gaga)

OOH, loved this rendition. It's like urban meets gospel. Seriously, she's a star already. Win. (She fumbled at 3:29 right?) A

Little Mix - Radio Gaga / Telephone (Queen and Lady Gaga)

So much fun, found it very creative of them to intertwine both songs. I love the blonde girl taking the lead of 'Telephone'. Favourite part was when they when 'Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh'. So many memorable portions in this single performance! Gary Barlow is officially cuckoo - how in the world is this predictable? Look at your Craig Colton please. A

COMEBACK CONTESTANT: Amelia Lily - The Show Must Go On (Queen)

I always thought she was robbed of a spot, but hello, if I were Sophie I would be 'WHY IN THE WORLD DID I TRY TO EVEN FIGHT FOR A SPOT IN THE TOP 12?' Obviously not much preparation was made for the performance - overly-simple props. But boy, this 17-year-old (YES 17) is just blowing it out of the water with that vocal! She shouldn't roll her tongue in her mouth too much though - not too classy. A-

Marcus Collins - Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)

YES, his performances are so much influenced by Bruno Mars, now that he mentioned it. He and Misha are two people who think about the concept of their performances so well. Tactical critique, lol much Gary? Who was the one who was being tactically critical of Janet? A-

Craig Colton - Paparazzi (Lady Gaga)

I liked this! Not too wannabe, and you could see the conviction and earnestness in his eyes and voice. It's true that this is the best performance of his thus far. A-

Janet Devlin - Somebody To Love (Queen)

Yeah, yeah, Gary, it's so predictable and boring, but she owned it. It's great to see her in the comfort zone, because that's where she's comfortable (DUH) and she really should not deviate from such genres of music. B+

Kitty Brucknell - Don't Stop Me Now (Queen)

I've come to conclude I don't particularly like her voice, though I still am a fan of Kitty herself and her personality and showmanship. She's really up against some strong contenders, so it wouldn't be surprising to see her leave tomorrow. B

X Factor UK: Live Shows #4 (Floor Fillers Week)

2011-11-06T10:23:00.006+08:00

Marcus Collins - Reet Petite
This was much fun! It was so very possible for such a song choice to be corny, but he made it so professional and bouncy! Very impressive, he certainly reinvents himself every single week. A

Misha B - Proud Mary
I just smile when she performs. She looks amazing, she sounds amazing! AHH! Absolute class! A

Craig Colton - Heaven
This was actually pretty impressive! I especially liked the transition from the ballad to the synthesizer portion, and back to the cooldown phase. For once, I actually liked a Craig Colton performance. A-

Little Mix - Don't Stop The Music
Ooh, so futuristic! Great styling and stage presence. This group has got a long way to go! A-

The Risk - A Night To Remember
This was one of the most cohesive The Risk performances. Meeting JLS definitely served as a wake-up call for them. It's true, Charlie's the best singer, he should get a little more of the spotlight huh. A-

Kitty Brucknell - Like A Prayer
Another spectacular performance from this woman! She better not have the least votes this week, or I'll be pissed! (though it's very probable oh wells.) B+

Janet Devlin - I Want You Back
Oh no, she felt so uncomfortable. It was really refreshing to see her do something different, but it's not good if you forgot your lyrics (see 2:28)! This didn't compliment her vocals at all, and I don't think it's a good risk to take considering the double elimination tomorrow. B

Johnny Robinson - Hung Up / You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
This week is a little off for Johnny. He doesn't feel comfortable, although I thought he would OWN this genre. B-

Frankie Cocozza - I Gotta Feeling
LOL the first 4 words and he was off-pitch. It was great that he was given a song with only 1 note to sing - because that is what he is solely capable of. It felt like he was still in rehearsals. Even Gary didn't give him a standing ovation. A week of self-destruction. Very harsh of Louis Walsh to say he'll never be anything. But obviously he's pissed with Kelly, who's 'playing to the cameras' HAHA. The judging panel is obviously Tulisa & Louis VS Kelly & Gary. This might get some backlash, and he might not end up in the bottom 3. C+

Best of Music 2011: Best New Artist

2011-11-05T22:53:00.020+08:00

Ed Sheeran
Prior to mainstream fame, Ed Sheeran gigged incessantly and immersed himself in London's thriving grime scene, collaborating with Wiley and Wretch 32. He independently released five EPs and signed to Asylum/Atlantic records at the start of the year.

Upon release, + debuted atop of the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales exceeding 102,000 copies. Media interest surrounding + was fuelled significantly by its two preceding singles—"The A Team" and "You Need Me, I Don't Need You"—which peaked at number three and number four on the UK Singles Chart respectively. A third single, "Lego House", has also been released.

Jessie J

Having been dubbed BBC's Sound of 2011, and winning the Brit Awards' Critic Choice, Jessica Cornish has certainly made waves in the R&B/pop/hip-hop scene. She may have injured her tendons and, as a result, had to sit on a gilded throne as a result this year, but her amazing vocals (Adele describes her voice as 'illegal', because the things she can do with her voice are 'criminal') set her apart from her other British female counterparts.

Her debut single, "Do It Like a Dude", was released in November 2010 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Charts. Follow-up single "Price Tag" reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand, and reached the top 10 in nineteen other countries. Her other singles include 'Nobody's Perfect', 'Who You Are' and 'Who's Laughing Now'. She has also collaborated with David Guetta ('Repeat') & James Morrison ('Up').

Anna Calvi
Anna Calvi is a Domino Records' rising star who has been making waves on the circuit. She may be small, but she rocks the stage with her telecaster and red Vox Amp. Her musical style has been compared to artists like Jimi Hendrix and PJ Harvey, while at the same time accompanying her own distinct operatic-like vocals. Calvi has been nominated for the Mercury Prize, BBC's Sound of 2011, as well as the UK Festival Award.

Her first single 'Jezebel' is a cover of the Edith Piaf track and is a great introduction to the dramatic sound and voice of Anna Calvi, with its rolling rhythm reminiscent of 'Conquest' by the White Stripes. Other released singles include 'Blackout', 'Desire', and 'Suzanne and I'.

Birdy
Birdy got her big break when she won the Open Mic UK in the national music competition for singers and solo artists. The album features the 15-year-old's unique interpretation of songs by Bon Iver ("Skinny Love"), Cherry Ghost ("People Help The People"), Phoenix, The National, The Postal Service and The xx ("Shelter"). She has cited Paolo Nutini, Lykke Li, and Adele as some of her musical influences.

When she was due to perform on Radio 1’s Live Lounge, for instance, she decided at the last minute to change from the track she’s been rehearsing to perform a spine-tingling version of Ed Sheeran’s "The A Team". Her instincts were proved right: with over 400,000 viewings, it made her the second most viewed UK artist on YouTube.

Foster The People
Best known for their summer hit "Pumped Up Kids", Mark Foster, Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink, three friends from LA, have come good on the Hype Machine buzz that surrounded their debut EP with their first full length album, Torches, which was released back in May of this year.

Their hook heavy West Coast sound is, according to Foster, completely indebted to The Beach Boys. From the aforementioned "Pumped Up Kids" to the boogie swagger of "Call It What You Want" and the 50s-indie "Houdini", it is one diverse collection of pop perfection.

James Blake
22-year-old James Blake has established himself as a forward-thinker and producer in the realm of dub step, gently ushering his version of it past club doors and onto mainstream UK dance floors and airwaves. Blake’s voice floats between the sensual, the sad and solitude. Between 2009-2010, he has dropped four EPs upon the masses: Air & Lack Thereof, The Bells Sketch, CMYK and Klavierwerke; each EP a varied take on his electro-based theme. It was in 2010 that he released his full-length album.

His icy cover of Feist’s "Limit to Your Love" is so haunting that you may actually feel his pain because the dude sounds like he is a ghost drowning in it. Other outstanding tracks include "The Wilhelm Scream', 'Measurements', and 'Lindisfarne'.

Best of Music 2011: Best Female Pop Vocal

2011-11-04T17:40:00.001+08:00

Adele - Someone Like You (Video Link)
Sometimes, pop music can still break your heart. Never has romantic pain been so utterly beautiful. The piano melody is gorgeous and combined with Adele's heartfelt reading of her words, the effect is highly emotional. This track is definitely a highlight of her sophomore effort, 21, and let's just hope she recovers from her illness asap.

Christina Perri - Jar Of Hearts (Video Link)
Christina Perri was launched into the global spotlight after her debut single appeared on So You Think You Can Dance in the US, before being immortalised by Rachel Berry in the last series of Glee. "Who do you think you are/ Running around leaving scars?", she asks with lump-in-the-throat-like emotion over sweeping gothic strings and tolling piano chords; warning her serial heartbreaker of an ex to stay away for good.

Demi Lovato - Skyscraper (Video Link)
Lovato's breathy/raspy/crying-out vocals, the instrumentation and inspirational lyrics are what make this track so special. The song "sports the simultaneously fragile but resilient feel of collaborator Kerli's work while being guided with the surefire mainstream pop hand of veteran Toby Gad. Indeed, Demi Lovato looks serious about being not only a Disney teen idol but also a true pop artist.

Jessie J - Who You Are (Video Link)
I fell in love with this track ever since she performed it in the Boombox Series at the subway station in new York. This is her 'Hometown Glory', in that she has the equal conviction, raw emotion and sensitivies as Adele's piece. This song is a "self-empowerment dirge" and certainly shares some resemblence with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".

Lana Del Rey - Video Games (Video Link)
Lana Del Rey boldly sums up her music and day-to-day style as "gangsta Nancy Sinatra". It's certainly an accurate description of her debut single, which combines a near-identical vocal with her own fascination for the tragically glamorous. This is an old-glamour doom-pop ballad that unashamedly lays its feelings on the line, and we might just be looking at Adele's successor.

P!nk - F***in' Perfect (Video Link)
'F**kin Perfect', the second single from her Best Of compilation, Greatest Hits… So Far!!!, sees P!nk wrapping a message of sod-the-haters self-acceptance, delivered in an extremely sincere manner. The track was inspired by hubbie Carey Hart, in a radio-humping pop-rock package courtesy of Max Martin.

Best of Music 2011: Best Alternative Song

2011-11-04T17:18:00.020+08:00

Death Cab For Cutie - You Are A Tourist (Video Link)
The first single from DCFC's seventh album “Codes and Keys” sees them take on an even more relaxed approach to their music. The lyrics, the delicate guitar riffs, the drums - everything is pieced together beautifully. Frontman Ben Gibbard plays the role of a self-help guru on this number: "When there's a burning in your heart. . . . /Build it bigger than the sun/Let it grow," he sings. The advice floats over a buoyant yet muscular groove, and ringing guitars push toward the arena-friendly rock of Coldplay and U2.

Florence and the Machine - Shake It Out (Video Link)
If genre-hopping was an Olympic event, we'd put good money on Florence Welch picking up the gold medal. "I've been a fool and I've been blind/ I can never leave the past behind," she confesses alongside a melody which includes organs, earthy drums and bells amongst its instrumental lineup. "Shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah!" she belts over crashing symbols and glittery synths on the chorus; the result, a good ol'-fashioned knees-up of a song that would fill those big concert arenas so well.

Florence and the Machine - What The Water Gave Me (Video Link)
The song "opens softly, with Welch cooing slightly spooky pastoral poetry ("Time, it took us to where the water was"). The powerful concept, the "explosion" of musical joy in the closing minutes, Welch's engaging, ethereal vocals and the haunting words are what makes this another hit. For the final two minutes of the song restraint is abandoned and Florence and the Machine unleash something that sounds simply like revelatory joy.

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (Video Link)
The track is rooted in a pleasing beat that marches merrily on, gradually joining eerie vocal harmonies. The detached sound of the music gives the song a light and airy vibe, coupled with a slinky groove, misty guitar flange and delicious astral-wimp vocals. Like other tracks from their debut album Torches, this comes across as a catchy, electro-lite dance-pop that fits nicely next to such contemporaries as MGMT.

M83 - Midnight City (Video Link)
From the moment the gristly, grinding metallic synthesizers kick in at the start of “Midnight City,” the song starts getting overridden by a stampede of ferocious live percussion and even heavier synthesizer, a proverbial rocket launch of sound and texture that strikes every note perfectly. Frontman Anthony Gonzalez then blows the song completely wide open, igniting an array of laser beam sound effects, pumping the drums full of adrenaline, and introducing a jaw-dropping saxophone solo that completely steals the show.

Rachel Yamagata - Starlight (Video Link)
On her first two albums, singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata proved she could write a piano ballad with the best of them. If you wanted atmospheric, moody and haunting Yamagata was right up there with the likes of Tori Amos and Fiona Apple on their most somber days.

"In a funny way I think this might be a more commercial record for me in terms of reaching a broader audience because there was no attempt or requirement to be anything but what we felt like doing in the room." That's evident in "Starlight", which to Yamagata, "feels like it should be in some European dance club."

ANTM All-Stars: Game

2011-11-04T16:36:00.003+08:00

Today's episode involved the models filming a viral video. Period.

Allison: "Underwater"
Allison's dreamy, trippy, loose-association lyrics actually work pretty well with the shoot, minus Tyra and Keenan's terrible, unwelcome interludes. It feels a little bit like "before you die, you see..." but in a sweet way? Love the eyes.

Dominique: "Tooch Ya Booty"
She looks like a drag version of J Lo. Too much shameless advertising for Covergirl.

Laura: "Southern Sweet Girl"
Laura sounds like she sung them up a chimney.

Lisa: "I Be Like Whoa!"
Andre "loved it," and felt Lisa was giving Missy Elliott, which is generous, but not as generous as Tyra saying she could "hear this one on the radio"!

Alexandria: "Go, Go, Go..."
Her song is about going, but she NEVER GOES ANYWHERE. She just stands there looking like a sad mannequin from.

Angelea: "I'm Here"
The way she's talking and spastically jerking around in that corset is so tacky.

Shannon: "World Go Round"
She basically did some stringing some cliches together and smiled real big, though the energy level really wasn't there.

Call-out order: Allison, Lisa, Dominique, Laura, Shannon, Angelea
Eliminated: Alexandria

X Factor US: Live Results #2

2011-11-04T15:20:00.008+08:00

Top 12 - 'Without You' by David Guetta and Usher
LEROY SCREWS UP THE LIP-SYNCHING AT 0:48 and they never show him subsequently! HAHAHA. ASTRO SCREWS UP BECAUSE HE CAN'T LIP-SYNCH. HE RAPS.

Outasight - Tonight Is The Night (?!)
So Outasight is the biggest act that they could get for a Live Show Results Night? Goodness.

RESULTS
I always love it when they all just swarm out with their mentors.

Call-Out Order: Marcus Canty, Drew [and the host is damn cui], LeRoy Bell (judges stunned), Astro, Lakoda Rayne (everyone stunned again), Rachel Crow, Chris Rene, Josh Krajcik, Melanie Amaro, Stacy Francis.

Singing for Survival
The Stereo Hogzz - 'Emotions'
InTENsity - My Life Would Suck Without You
Cool mess VS Hot mess.

ELIMINATED: InTENsity (voted off 3-1)

Survivor: South Pacific (Double Agent)

2011-11-03T23:24:00.005+08:00

Back at the Savaii camp, Keith is loving on Ozzy for his integrity and manhood, and skeptical of Cochran who is just a tad weasely. Cochran already pretty much hates these people, and is ready to take on the "role" of hating them in the open.

At the Redemption Duel, Upolu looks surprised to see Ozzy, but they don't know that everybody was acting. Ozzy put on a real show, with a rehearsed monologue though it looked like Sophie and Albert weren't buying it. The deciding Redemption Duel hinges on getting out of that fake bamboo jail cell with a pole. As much as I wanted Christine to win it for the fifth time, she sadly couldn't, and Ozzy comes right back into the game.

Back at camp, Coach and Cochran get some one-on-one time and Coach is actually speaking some truth. Cochran realizes that Coach is smart, and is considering siding with Upolu. In fact, I think he would make great friends with Sophie. They look alike.

Cochran pow-wows with Coach, Sophie, and Albert, and tells them most of the truth about Ozzy and his lack of acting prowess. Cochran tells Brandon that Keith has been the rudest. He also acknowledges that this tribe seems very honest (COUGH BRANDON COUGH.) Cochran returns the immunity idol to Ozzy, as promised.

Dawn approaches Cochran on their way to get the tree mail. She notes that she and Cochran have both been on the outs of Savaii. She cries because she wants to be one of those people who stands up for what she believes in, and she wishes she had stood up for Cochran (Aww...)

At the immunity challenge, in which one man and one woman will receive immunity, the castaways had to hold coconuts between ropes at increasingly disparate distances. Ozzy wins it for the guys, and Dawn wins it for the girls.

Dawn has decided to stay loyal to the tribe, and tells Cochran that it's not right to flip, but obviously he doesn't care. "The only way to break up a tribe is for someone to defect," Jeff says. Cochran, a self-proclaimed student of the game, has never seen two tribes so unified, or equally matched at the merge, but he doesn't do odds, he does SURVIVOR.

At tribal council, Ozzy admits to Upolu that he has the idol. Before the votes are revealed, Ozzy says he will play the immunity idol for Whitney, just as Cochran told Sophie he would. So both Keith and Rick received 6 votes each. DUH, Cochran, having suffered enough bullying under Keith, decides to take revenge and side with Upolu, thereby shocking and pissing off all the former Savaii members.

X Factor US: Live Shows #2

2011-11-03T19:01:00.005+08:00

The Stereo Hogzz - Rhythm Nation
Great staging, great choreo, I actually think they had this in the bag! It wasn't goofy like they usually were - in fact, it had semblence of a Black Eyed Peas performance. Everything was on point. A

Melanie Amaro - Desperado
I watched this last amongst the 12 contestants because I know she would do amazing - and she does. In fact, it was so good I thought it ended so quickly! A

Stacy Francis - Up To The Mountain
She sings as though she doesn't have a peak! Stacy is as powerful as usual, and Simon is absolutely right in trying to mould her into a mainstream kind of church singer. A-

Josh Krajcik - Jar Of Hearts
Craig Colton just did it a couple weeks ago on UK X Factor, and this was better by a mile. The emotion was real. A-

Drew - Just A Dream
The start was so Kitty Brucknell! I thought the track was rather sluggish, and that stifled her to display all she has got. Having said that, her tone was magical. Nicole pointed out something quite cool - Drew can be the next Skylar Grey! A-

Rachel Crow - Walking On Sunshine
Oh, MUCH better than 'Baby' last week. Good that Simon is keeping her young and bubbly. M1 would hire her for their advert for sure. A-

Chris Rene - Superstar
He looks good now, without the beanie wrapped around his head. I prefer it much more when he's in the sing-song mode. It was a fantastic transformation for him though, it'll be great to see him go further than Astro, who is very much a one-trick pony. [Why is his face so red?!] B+

Astro - Hip Hop Hooray / Get Ur Freak On
Astro Boy takes the stage. It's great he comes up with his own lyrical content, but I'll probably be damn bloody bored by his 4th performance I'll be calling him Asshole instead. I mean, NO SINGING?! For goodness sake, this is a singing competition and you don't just go around say HEY HO HEY HO HEY HO for 3 freaking minutes. B+

Marcus Canty - Nothin' On You / Every Little Step
He was so into his vocal gymnastics he missed the beat at the start. I found his dancing all very corny. I just foresee him being swallowed in the industry by all the bigger egos like Usher, Chris Brown and the like. B+

InTENsity - Kids In America / Party Rock Anthem
So, we have Rachel Berry, Jesse from Vocal Adrenaline, Quinn, and a mishmash of everything other Glee character. Oh well, they sure are having fun, but this group just comes across to me as random, or maybe it's me getting mature. B

Lakoda Rayne - Landslide
Santana just owned them all. It's obvious Paula focused on them the least amongst the groups she is mentoring. I still have little idea about their identities and yes, the season concept is retarded. "It's coming from a guy who's from London, England, where there's 1 season." ROFLMAO Paula's geography is like epic fail. B

LeRoy Bell - I'm Already There
He is one passionate guy with a fantastic voice, and the idea behind the song choice was touching, but this performance felt pretty dated. B-

The Sing-Off 3: Top 7 (Halloween Week)

2011-11-02T22:21:00.010+08:00

Dartmouth Aires - Queen [Killer Queen / Bohemian Rhapsody / Somebody To Love]
Ooh, very nice! Bohemian Rhapsody didn't come off too gimmicky. In fact, they seemed rather gospel-ish this time, and I loved the dramatics.

Pentatonix - Britney Spears [Oops I Did It Again / Toxic / Hold It Against Me]
Loved them before, love them now. Their music is just so definitive.

Vocal Point - Elvis Presley [Don't Be Cruel / Can't Help Falling In Love With You / Jailhouse Rock]
This was very old-school, but they did a good job at it. They got 3 great soloists to represent each of the 3 Elvis classics.

Delilah - Alicia Keys [Fallin / A Woman's Worth / If I Ain't Got You]
I love it when they perform ballads, because that's their absolute strength. All their voices are so solid, and the bass seems to have gotten stronger.

Afro-Blue - Janet Jackson [What Have You Done For Me / When I Think Of You / Miss You Much]
They are definitely showcasing their R&B grooves very well in this, though I feel like something's missing, perhaps it's not really connecting with the audience? I like their outfits and choreo though.

Urban Method - Rihanna [What's My Name / Umbrella / Only Girl]
The whole performance was so painful to listen to. Perhaps 'Only Girl' was the only saving grace, but they obviously took inspiration from Mike Tompkins. They barely meshed into one sound. The transitions between songs were terrible too.

ELIMINATED: YellowJackets
I have no idea why they're still using the black guy to sing the leads when he obviously sucks. What's more, they're performing Billy Joel songs, so I couldn't even bothered to watch their performance and THERE, they got eliminated. Good choice.

2011: Soundmunches #56

2011-11-02T21:12:00.003+08:00

Foster The People - Call It What You Want
Birdy - People Help The People

JoJo - Disaster
VV Brown - Children (feat. Chiddy Bang)

David Cook - Fade Into Me
Katy B - Movement

Best of Music 2011: Best Male Pop Vocal

2011-10-31T16:52:00.008+08:00

Bruno Mars - It Will Rain (Song Link)
Bruno Mars's latest single, "It Will Rain," expands on the darker insecurities first seen in the singer's Hot 100 chart-topper "Grenade". The song starts out with a menacing, dissonant crescendo, but resolves in a light simple piano riff that the pop crooner uses frequently. For fans of Mars pitch-perfect vocals and his knack for warbling about women troubles, the man once again delivers.

David Cook - The Last Goodbye (Video Link)
This track, co-written by David Cook and Ryan Tedder, suits the former's vocal range much better than "Light On" did. David Cook's vocal gift is that his voice gives life to lyrics that makes them believable and easy to relate to, and that quality comes across as Cook sings "cause we were everything that's right at the wrong time." The power and impact that he conveys is a quality that a singer with a crystal-clear voice can deliver.

Ed Sheeran - The A Team (Video Link)
Ed Sheeran's intelligent lyrics and delicate vocals set him apart from the group of singer-songwriters-with-guitars. The true story of a homeless drug addict who will "go mad for a couple grams" and whose face is "crumbling like pastries", Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics.

James Morisson - I Won't Let You Go (Video Link)
'I Won't Let You Go' opens to a Coldplay-esque piano riff as he promises to stick with his lass through thick and thin. "Take a little time to hold yourself/ Take a little time to feel around," he insists in his unmistakable gruff tones, before the lilting guitars and gentle piano riff shift gear for the swaying, '60s slow-dance chorus.

Will Young - Jealousy (Video Link)
"I take it all back/ All that I said/ It comes out too fast/ So I just couldn't help the way that I felt," Will Young admits apologetically in the track opening. "It feels like jealousy/ And it feels like I can't breathe," he confesses over a sad-pop disco beat and rousing piano chords helmed by electro-pop connoisseur Richard X. The tale of lusting for an otherwise engaged man, things steadily crescendo by the final chorus with a stirring, growly vocal as he laments: "I'm tired of waiting/ I'm tired of thinking".

Best of Music 2011: Best Dance Recording

2011-10-31T12:54:00.000+08:00

Beyonce - Run The World (Girls) [Video Link]

Earthy beats, hypnotising hooks and militant drums pound relentlessly as Queen B declares it's "Girls who run this mutha" with woman-friendly conviction. This uber-trendy Major Lazer 'Pon De Floor' sample - a staple on the underground scene since 2009 - culminates in an aggressive, head-spinning and ferocious club stomper.

Britney Spears - Till The World Ends [Video Link]
The hawkish sirens and swizzling bassline production that opens ''Til The World Ends' unquestionably has Dr. Luke written all over it. "Watch me move/ When I lose, I lose it hard," she asserts in seductive verses built around a ludicrously catchy chorus-chant. By the middle of the song, we're too busy "dancing until the world ends", and this track certainly is the Britney comeback we have all been awaiting.

Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor [Video Link]
J Lo was on the verge of an irreversible decline in stardom, but things took a turn when she joined the Idol panel. On this number built around a 'Lambada' sample, she recruited RedOne and Pitbull to come up with a Latin-tinged electrohouse party tune. Definitely not the most profound of lyrics, but how can you not remember 'Brazil, Morocco, London to Ibiza, straight to LA, New York, Vegas to Africa!'

Lady Gaga - Judas [Video Link]
Proclaiming her love for a man who betrayed one of the world's most iconic religious figures was undoubtedly risky. "When he comes to me I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs," she sing-speaks over a RedOne-helmed, 'Bad Romance'-style sledge hammering beat with a thumping bassline. What follows is a chorus so blasphemously camp that it's worthy of Eurovision, though it's definitely worth the effort.

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett) [Video Link]
From the shufflin' dance moves, to the hip-thrustings, to even the huge-framed spectacles and the Afro hair, LMFAO have made huge waves in 2011. The catchy vocal hook and the club-ready climax undeniably made this dance track ubiquitous in the summer of 2011.

Rihanna - We Found Love [Video Link]
This is a club-ready number that, courtesy of Scottish DJ/producer/singer Calvin Harris, also remains a classy affair. The lyrics probably has an underlying message for her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, in the line 'We found love in a hopeless place', which she admits wistfully over shimmering synths, before Harris cuts loose on the lyric-less, exhilarating chorus.

X Factor 2011 UK - Live Shows Results #4

2011-10-31T09:36:00.005+08:00

CALL-OUT ORDER
If I was Alexandra Burke, I would've killed myself.

RIDICULOUS RESULTS
Sophie Habibis - Birdy's 'Shelter'
Misha B - King Of Leon's 'Use Somebody'

Nicole Scherzinger - Try With Me
Cher Lloyd - With Ur Love
Verdict - Elimination between Sophie and Misha

X Factor 2011: Halloween Live Show

2011-10-30T09:23:00.005+08:00

Misha B - 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell
Ok, this is my favourite outfit and hairdo of hers. Loved the trick-or-treat rap in the middle. Seriously, this woman better win it. Damn incredible, don't understand why Alexandra Burke was the only judge giving a standing ovation. Just like how Barlow described it, this was out of the stratosphere. A

Kitty Brucknell - 'Sweet Dreams' by The Eurythmics
The theatrics at the start were amazing. Despite so many things going on, she was able to hold her ground, and her vocals this time were at its peak. Damn bloody incredible. A

Janet Devlin - 'Every Breath You Take' by Police
OOH, this was really interesting, because for once, she wasn't endearing, but she looked like she was in it to win it, and she succeeded in making in very haunting! She looked the part, she sounded the part... but somehow I felt something was missing? The bridge sounded very weird because it was so repetitive. A-

Marcus Collins - 'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder
He looks like he just kena boxed in the face. I preferred last week's 'Are You Gonna Go My Way?' more, though this was a high-energy performance too. The staging and his get-up was very Halloween, though, I must say! A-

Little Mix - 'E.T' by Katy Perry
SOUNDS LIKE CORNFLAKES LA THEIR NEW NAME. They really had to step it up with the performance after having such a horrendous name, and they did. B+

Johnny Robinson - 'That Ole Devil Called Love'
This person is just impressing me week after week. It's always interesting to know what he is going to perform, and he is always full of fun. Great! B+

Craig Colton - 'Set Fire To The Rain' by Adele
I bet he was waiting to perform Adele FOR A LONG TIME. Adele is queen already, no one can outdo her, so you probably shouldn't perform her songs for a singing competition, unless you're Jade Richards. Ok, I shall be fair, he was vocally good. B+

Sophie Habibis - 'Bang Bang' by Nancy Sinatra
Where are the fans in the intro video? Ooh, I like this Bang Bang song! And I genuinely think this was her best performance, and I don't care if this is her 4th straight dreary song because I do not expect to see her singing 'Last Friday Night' any time soon. LOVE IT when she just spouted out her feelings when Walsh slammed her. B+

The Risk - 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson
With Ashley deciding to leave the Risk, the remaining 3 members decided to rope in Ashford Campbell from eliminated boyband Nu Vibe. The harmonies were good, and they were comfortable in it - a great comeback considering their shuffle took place only 2days ago. B

Frankie Cocozza - 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' by The Clash
It's great to see him go crazy and wild - he's so in character. He should go now though. The look on Burke's face when he performed was priceless, and she summed it up so well. B