VH1 Divas Performances

The line-up makes me still giggle.



Jennifer Hudson & Stevie Wonder Duet



Leona Lewis - Happy



Jordin Sparks - S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)



Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone



Adele - Hometown Glory

VH1 Divas Official Poster

The poster is as bad as the line-up. Shit. Remember when VH1 Divas actually featured divas? The good old times.

SELF Magazine Adresses Kelly Clarkson Cover Criticism

The latest SELF cover caused some trouble in several Internet message boards because of retouching Kelly Clarkson's body although she always claims to be confident with her body.

Now editor Lucy Danziger wrote the following on her blog:

Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best.

But in the sense that Kelly is the picture of confidence, and she truly is, then I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand.

This is a lame excuse especially since they obviously did not only photoshopped her body but also her face which looks strange on the cover. I'm aware of the fact every published picture gets photoshopped but there's no need in making her look fake. It's not like she's an ugly girl but the altered face doesn't make her more beautiful.

Source

Kelly Clarkson Interview with SiriusXM

It's a really good and fun watch.

Kelly Clarkson Shoots Back at Weight Critics

Over the past few months, Kelly Clarkson's weight has been a hot topic for critical bloggers. But the outspoken singer – who has said "Of course celebrities have cellulite!" – doesn't let the body bullies get her down.

"When people talk about my weight, I'm like, 'You seem to have a problem with it; I don't. I'm fine!'," Clarkson, 27, tells the September issue of Self.

She also notes, "My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more."

These days, the play part means golf ("I love it!") as well as Crossfit workouts. "It's like bootcamp!" she says of the regimen that includes sit-ups, squats and running. "You never work out more than 35 minutes, but it's so intense … It makes me feel like G.I. Jane. It's very empowering. I feel like I can whup ass!"

Indeed, Clarkson's motivation for exercising isn't to lose weight. "I do it totally for my psyche," she explains. "I'm much better when those endorphins are going. It's a release. And I also love food, so there's a payoff!"

The Texas native admits she still eats chicken-fried steak, but also has days when she prefers salads. "I love healthy stuff and junk an equal amount," she tells the magazine. "Whatever I'm craving, I go for it."

Her secret to losing weight, in fact, is to not go on a diet: "For me, it's the times when I'm not paying attention that I end up losing weight. But I'm never trying to lose weight – or gain it. I'm just being!"

Source

I seriously gained more respect for Miss Kelly Clarkson. It's great how she keeps living her life without following the trends in Hollywood.

Go ahead, Kelly! You're first and foremost a singer, not a model.

Ryan Tedder Talks Already Gone/Halo Issue

From his myspace (the post has been deleted but everything that is once on the Internet stays on the Internet).

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 9:29 AM

Kelly Clarkson "Already Gone" and Beyoncé "Halo" issue

Hey everyone, Ryan here. So.....i'm in Europe on vacation with my wife yesterday when I get a flurry of emails with links to gossip sites and media outlets saying "Kelly clarkson throws producer Ryan Tedder under the bus re: Already Gone" etc etc etc... Alleging that I copied myself or "pulled a fast one" on Kelly Clarkson. This couldn't be farther from the truth and the whole thing is absurd....however, I need to actually read what the hell is going on, make a call or 2, and be fully informed of it, then I assure you I will have a proper, respectful response. I don't take allegations of this nature lightly- ESPECIALLY when it's in regards to artists I respect and admire. Nor do I let things like this go unaddressed. So, give me a minute, and I'll tell u whatsup and what really happened, or in this case, "didn't" happen.

Regards-

Ryan Tedder

TMZ posted this:

Now, Tedder is firing back at Clarkson with the following statement:

"Already Gone" is one of the best song I've written or produced since "Bleeding Love" and stands tall on it's own merits apart from "Halo".

They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, & lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyoncé into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful & absurd.


I think when people hear "Already Gone" they will hear what I hear-one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write.

I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions.

In my opinion Tedder thinks we are stupid. I feel like I can sing "Halo" to the instrumental of "Already Gone".

Video: Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone

The video is ok. Nothing too exciting at all.

More interesting is the controverse this song causes:

If you’ve been listening to the radio lately, it’s possible you’ve heard the soaring strains of Already Gone, the newest single off All I Ever Wanted. It’s very likely that you thought you’d heard the epic song before, albeit in a slightly different form. Kelly Clarkson collaborated with Ryan Tedder on the track, a dramatic ballad driven by a pounding heartbeat, twinkly piano and swooping strings. Unbeknownst to Clarkson, Tedder used suspiciously similar elements when he produced another recent mega-hit, Beyonce’s Halo.

“Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else,” Clarkson begins, gritting her teeth. “He’s from Oklahoma, I’m from Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences. We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called Halo. Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”

The palpably frustrated Clarkson claims she “fought and fought” to try and prevent her label from releasing Already Gone as her third single, out of respect for Beyonce.

“In the end, they’re releasing it without my consent,” she sighs. “It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but.… You know, you learn.”

Source

I think Kelly is right and it is even greater that she actually stands up and speaks her mind. Since Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" and OneRepublic's "Aplogize" it seems as if every artist is nearly forced to work with Tedder in order to release an epic sounding ballad. I also love Ryan Tedder productions but it's slowly getting on my nerves as well that once again every female singer sounds the same.

Jordin Sparks album "Battlefield" released today

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is releasing her sophomore album "Battlefield" today.

The album is decent with beautiful vocals yet I miss some certain signature that makes Jordin Sparks unique.
"Let It Rain", for instance, reminds me of a song Kelly Clarkson would sing.
The second single "S.O.S." is an uptempo song and brings some variation to the album.
Another outstanding track is "Emergency (911)" which shows the urban side of Sparks.
Nevertheless, Jordin Sparks seems way more comfortable to sing ballads.
The beginning of "The Cure" reminded me of Leona Lewis "Better in Time" with the difference that "Better in Time" is more beautiful in my opinion.

My favorite song off this "Battlefield" is..."Vertigo". Yes, the iTunes pre-order bonus track. You conclude...