No rest for the weary. Nicki Minaj, who just blazed Kanye West’s new single “Monster” last week, is ready for some solo time in the spotlight starting with her upcoming performance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. According to ONTD, Ms. Minaj will perform a “live mash-up” of her single “Your Love” during the VMA pre-show, which airs at 8pm (est) on Sept 12th.
The site is also reporting that on Tuesday, September 7th, MTV and Nicki Minaj will hold a Twitter contest where 10 lucky fans will win a front-row spot to watch her VMA Pre-Show performance. For more information on the contest, follow both @NickiMinaj and @MTVTJ. Winners will be announced on Friday, September 10th.
Check out Ms. Minaj’s VMA promo spot in case you missed it. It’s actually mind-blowing if you think about how many songs she’s been on, how much press she’s racked up, all without her album being released. Why bother at this rate? Just keep blazing guest spots and make your paper girl!
AllAccess is reporting that Rihanna will release a brand new single to radio on September 14, entitled “Only Girl (In The World).”
Yesterday, RiRi, who just commandeered her Twitter channel from her label, also dropped some clues in a tweet to Ryan Seacrest that a new song was on the way.
Junip, the Sweden-based rock trio – fronted by acclaimed singer-songwriter José González – debuted Fields (Sept 14) on NPR’s ‘First Listen’
yesterday.
Junip was formed in the late ’90s by drummer Elias Araya, the afforementioned José González, and organ and moog player Tobias Winterkorn. Fields ends a five year drought since the band last released an album.
Between now and September 14th you can hear the album in its entirety on NPR’s website. I highly recommend checking out the full album or at the very least a few front-runner favorites in “Sweet and Bitter,” and “Without You.”
Junip will be bringing their intimate atmospherics back stateside in the Fall. The
complete tour schedule is after the cut.
There are times when I kick myself for not knowing every little thing that happens in NYC. This is once of those times! Sara Bareilles apparently played an exclusive show at Rockwood Music Hall here in NYC on August 4th. Lucky for us, Baeble Music was in the house.
According to Baeble, Ms. Bareilles played to a crowd of contest winners and fans alike at the cozy Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1. Be sure to check out the performance footage of the singer and her band performing “King of Anything” and “Uncharted” off her upcoming album Kaleidoscope Heart (Sept. 7) as well as previous hits “Love Song” and “Gravity” from her debut album Little Voice.
From Sweden to Iceland. TRT favorite Robyn pays homage to Björk at this year’s Polar Music Prize awards show by performing her 1995 hit “Hyperballad” in front of a full orchestra. Robyn does the track justice, with Björk looking on and dare I say even getting a little teary-eyed?
Hot on the heels of last week’s free Sufjan Stevens EP comes news of a new album, The Age of Adz, to be released on October 12. According to the Asthmatic Kitty announcement, don’t expect the new songs to sound anything like All Delighted People.
Does the name Tamar Kaprelian ring a bell? Well, if it doesn’t (yet), it soon will as the twenty-two year old singer-songwriter is poised for breakout success with her debut album Sinner or Saint.
While the catchy lead single “New Day,” about overcoming struggle by finding the positive points to grow from in negative situations, was the perfect introductory Ms. Kaprelian, it’s songs like “Raining in Paradise” that truly showcases the singer’s songwriting talents.
The self-taught pianist began writing when she was fourteen years old and credits musicians ranging from Paul McCartney and Billy Joel to Alicia Keys and John Mayer for shaping her love of music. Though, her closest peer (at the moment) would have to be Sara Bareilles whose sound comes to mind after hearing Ms. Kaprelian’s delectably charming “Delicate Soul” and the cautionary tale “Should’ve Known Better.”
There are moments in life where you remember exactly where you are, what you were doing, and how you felt when something tragic happens. For me, one of those days occurred on August 25, 2001 — exactly nine years ago today — when I had just moved into my dorm room to begin my junior year of college. I had spent the day unpacking with my roommates and just got my laptop hooked up to the internet when I came across a news alert on AOL’s homepage. It said singer Aaliyah Dana Haughtonhad died in a plane crash in the Bahamas. Immediately, I assumed it was a internet hoax, but then I saw the footage plastered across TV.
The young singer who had redefined R&B/Hip-Hop in the late 90′s with her sultry tomboy style was taken from this earth at the tender age of 22. When I see ladies like Beyonce or Alicia Keys, young singers turned actresses, I can’t help but reminded of Aaliyah, a true triple threat, whose potential was cut short way too soon.
Take a moment of silence to remember Aaliyah. We’ll never know what might have been, but we will always remember what was. Thanks for touching our lives through art, albeit, for a brief time.
Katy Perry celebrated the release of her sophomore album, Teenage Dream, with a live concert event, which was broadcast online at CBS.com.
Ms. Perry clad in a trademark skimpy and glittery dress opened the show with “Hot n’ Cold,” one of her many hook-friendly singles off her debut album One of the Boys. After exchanging pleasantries with her fans, she launched into “Kissed a Girl,” which took the audience a moment to recognize it as a result of her re-arranging the intro with a sultry, jazz-infused sound. While I dug the new arrangement, thankfully, Ms. Perry segued into the original version for her die-hard fans sake – proving familiarity is a good thing sometimes.
Now, much is made (and has been made over the years) of “pop stars” who pre-record vocals and lip-sync, so I have to go ahead and give Ms. Perry props for singing live throughout the entire energetic set, though it’s sad that we’ve come to a point in music where mediocracy is an acceptable standard. Throughout the set, Ms. Perry’s pitch was completely off, which made it pretty much unbearable to listen through. Such was the case on the stripped down rendition of “Thinking of You,” which featured Ms. Perry on acoustic guitar with minimal band backing. If anything, she should’ve nailed the ballad vocally, but struggled through it. All things considered, her songs are confectionery greatness after post-production, but live — the girl is a mess.
Well, this is a pairing we just didn’t see coming. According to Rap-Up.com, Jay-Zand U2 will team up for a five-date tour down under to celebrate the launch of Live Nation Australia.
The tour will kick off at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on November 25th and make stops in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney. The final performance will take place at Perth’s Subiaco Oval and mark’s the first time U2 has played in Perth since 1998.
According to U2.com, tickets in all 5 cities there will be tickets available from $39.90, with general admission floor tickets available at $99.90. Additional reserved seat tickets also available starting at $99.90. Not too shabby to see Jay-Z and U2 share a bill for under $100 in my opinion!
We started as a three friends having conversations about music during lunches together at the office. Since then we have expanded to seven members, including a Chi-town native, and the conversations have gotten bigger and better. The Round Table has grown into a casual setting where music aficionados can gather to discuss all things music. Topics include (but not limited to) artists and bands, new music releases, concerts, recording industry news and concerns, and the occasional nugget of entertainment gossip. We have tastes that cover the entire music spectrum and love to share them (and our opinions) with each other. We are The Round Table! Come join the conversation!
Junip
