Gym Class Heroes Premiere New Single “Stereo Hearts” Featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5

Summer hit alert! Gym Class Heroes are back and they're bringing a little summer jam with them. Their new single is called Stereo Hearts and it features Adam Levine of Maroon 5. This is the first single taken from Gym Class Heroes' upcoming album, entitled The Papercut Chronicles II.

Stereo Hearts is a radio-friendly, head-nodding, summery track and it will do well in the charts. It's a no brainer.

(As usual, I'm putting up several links, hopefully they won't get taken down from YouTube.)

Bad Meets Evil Debut New Video Featuring Eminem and Royce Da 5′9″: 'Fast Lane'

The Detroit duo Bad Meets Evil which basically consists of Eminem and Royce Da 5′9″ have debuted their new video for the song Fast Lane. The duo will launch their new EP next week.

Katy Perry Drops 'Last Friday Night' Video Teaser

Katy Perry goes 80's on the nerdy cover for her new single, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.). and the video takes the same direction. The singer has released a teaser for Last Friday Night, the 5th single taken from the Teenage Dream album.

In other Katy Perry news, she was recently spotted doing a photo shoot for Rolling Stone magazine with photographer Terry Richardson. Click here to see the photos.

Shakira Premieres New Video: 'Rabiosa'

Shakira goes brunette....and blonde....and pole dancing in her new video for the song Rabiosa. The merengue-flavored track is a collaboration with Pitbull and it's the 3rd single taken from the album Sale el Sol.  

Watch:

Rihanna Kicks Off 'Loud' World Tour In Baltimore, US - Photos

Rihanna kicks off her 'Loud' world tour with a concert in Baltimore, MD, U.S.

The North American leg of her tour will go on throughout the summer, while the European leg will begin in late September and end on December 22.

Check out photos of Rihanna's concert in Baltimore:

photos from neonlimelight.com

Joss Stone Previews New Album Due Out Next Month

Joss Stone will return next month with a new album, called 'LP1', her first release since leaving EMI Records and going independent. The album is produced by Dave Stewart from Eurythmics and is due out on July 26 (US & Rest of World) and August 1st (UK).

From the official press release:

"Joss Stone recently established her own label, Stone'd Records, hence the title of the first album to come out on the label, LP1, which is released in partnership with Surfdog. This is the first album Joss has recorded with total creative freedom. She co-wrote and co-produced it with Eurythmics co-founder, Dave Stewart. Together they immersed themselves into a rock n' soul musical odyssey in Nashville, Tennessee.

"This is the most fun I've ever had making a record with Crazy Dave Stewart at the helm, and yes the players in Nashville are unbelievable!!!" says Joss Stone. "This album captures a specific moment in time that was spontaneous and full of creativity."

"Joss can sing with the ferocity of a lioness and dynamically switch to the most delicate whisper in the same phrase," says Dave Stewart. "She is always honest and full of real emotion. It is an honor to work alongside a true artist who understands so much at such a young age."

Joss Stone has posted a sneak peek on YouTube, featuring footage of her recording and performing several tracks:

Lenny Kravitz To Launch New Single 'Stand' Next Week - Teaser

Lenny Kravitz is back with new material. His brand new single is called Stand and will debut on U.S. radio on Monday, June 6, 2011. Stand is the first single taken from Lenny's upcoming album, entitled 'Black and White America', to be released on August 30, 2011.

Listen to the single teaser and scroll down for the single's cover art:

Florence + The Machine Debut New Video 'Not Fade Away'

While we're waiting for Florence + The Machine's new album, here's a little something that might make the waiting sweeter, because waiting is so bitter (making rhymes is not my thing, I just had too much to drink).

Florence + The Machine have launched a new video for the cover song Not Fade Away, taken from the upcoming Buddy Holly tribute album. Nineteen artists, including Cee Lo Green, Kid Rock, Paul McCartney, Fiona Apple and Florence + The Machine, have recorded cover songs for the album 'Rave on Buddy Holly', to honor the rock and roll legend. The tribute collection will drop on June 28, two months before what would have been Holly’s 75th birthday.

Florence + The Machine's version of Not Fade Away is the lead single from the Buddy Holly tribute album (cover art pictured below).

Take That Premiere New Video 'Love Love'

British group Take That have premiered their new video for the single Love Love. The track is the official single for the new X-Men movie, entitled X-Men: First Class.

Love Love is also included on Take That's upcoming EP, called "Progressed", that will feature eight previously unreleased tracks.

What I don't understand is why Robbie Williams doesn't get to sing ANY verse in this track, especially since it's right up his alley.

Coldplay Premiere New Single 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall'

Coldplay have just revealed their new single, entitled Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall. Here's what drummer Will Champion wrote on the band's official website:

"Dear friends,
We're about to play a bunch of summer festivals so it's as good a time as any to put out a new song. 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' will be available from download stores on Friday 3rd June, except in the UK where it'll be released on the stroke of midnight between Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June."

Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, which samples Peter Allen's 1976 tune I Go To Rio, is the first single to be taken from Coldplay's soon-to-be released new album, as of yet untitled. Now, if you're wondering why this song reminds you of U2, especially that guitar, it's because Coldplay's upcoming album is produced by Brian Eno, U2's longtime collaborator. It's a change of sound for Coldplay, but it's still them. It's big, summery and uplifting, and the colorful graffiti-themed artwork and promo photos are perfect for it.

Listen to Coldplay's Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall and scroll down for the single's cover art and promotional photos.

Photographs: Sarah Lee
Courtesy of coldplay.com

Beyonce Premieres New Single 'Best Thing I Never Had'

Beyonce premiered her new single entitled Best Thing I Never Had. This is the 2nd single taken from her upcoming album, after Run The World (Girls). After the initial confusion regarding her next single (the leaked song End Of Time and the promotional ballad 1+1 for iTunes), Beyonce officially revealed the new song.  

Beyonce's new album, called 4, will be launched on June 28. The track Best Thing I Never Had was written by Babyface and Beyonce.

Rihanna Premieres New Video: 'Man Down'

Rihanna has just premiered her new video for the single Man Down, the 5th track taken from her Loud album. The video was directed by Rihanna's longtime collaborator, Anthony Mandler. (Click here to read single review.)

Scroll down to watch a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot.



Behind the scenes:

Kings Of Leon Premiere New Video: 'Back Down South"

Kings Of Leon have just premiered their new video for the single Back Down South. This is the 3rd international single taken from the album 'Come Around Sundown'.

Watch:

Kylie Minogue To Release New Single 'Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)'

Kylie Minogue is releasing a new single called Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love), which is the fourth and final single from her Aphrodite album.

The single will be getting a digital and physical release, in the form of a remix package.

Listen:

Rihanna: Man Down Single Review

Rihanna will follow her California King Bed ballad with Man Down, another single taken from her multi-platinum album Loud. Man Down is already being played by radio stations and the video will follow very shorty. The reggae-flavored track tells the story of a woman who shots down a man and is seeking some forgiveness for her actions. Here's what director Anthony Mandler had to say about the video:

“We’ve done 16 videos together; they’re not all tough,” Mandler said when asked about what fans can expect from the new clip. "What we’re coming with next … is certainly gonna flip peoples' minds with ‘Man Down.’ 

“We shot the video in Jamaica and it’s my favorite song she’s ever recorded, so I was really excited to get involved,” he said. “And it’s just one of those songs that demands a strong narrative and visual, and let’s just say she let me go all the way. So I think you can expect something that’s dramatic and shocking and intense and emotional and uplifting and enlightening.”

Man Down sees Rihanna go back to her Caribbean roots, which is nice, and leave the 'safe' pop/dance territory for a while. Doing so and releasing a track in a music genre that is not 'IN' at the moment (and it's been put on shelf for too long) is a rather bold move, but Rihanna has a solid fan base right now and plenty of star power to carry this song on top of the charts, even if it's a reggae number.

It also happens that this is one of the best tracks on her Loud album; matter of fact it's one of the best songs Rihanna has ever recorded. The slightly offbeat lyrics and the raw production both work here and the 'double' chorus (Rum pu-pu-pum/Oh mama mama) is catchy and already a favorite with the fans. I personally wouldn't mind at all if Rihanna went back to chill reggae vibes more often and released more summery, Caribbean-flavored songs.

It's also nice to see Bob Marley's legacy live on - I can't help but think of Marley's I Shot The Sheriff due to the same lyrical content, 'the murder tale' - and Rihanna paying tribute to the legendary reggae artist who is actually one of her favorite musicians ever.

Here's what others had to say about Man Down:

Emily Mackay of NME commented that the album's experiments feel more organic, its tone better paced because of the Caribbean-tinged anthem for doomed youth of "Man Down".

Jon Pareles of The New York Times said that Rihanna plays up her West Indian accent in the electro-reggae of “Man Down” about shooting a lover in a moment of passion.

Entertainment Weekly writer Leah Greenblatt said that "Man Down" burrows neck-deep in island rhythms.

James Skinner of BBC Online viewed "Man Down" as a Caribbean rhythm, where Rihanna relays a break-up as murder metaphor in thick Barbadian patois.

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine named the song the album's biggest highlight, a full-fledged reggae tune about a woman who shoots a man. He praised the song saying that Rihanna is surprisingly agile in this genre and is one of her finest, most confident vocal performances to date.

Man Down video will premiere on Tuesday, May 31.

Alicia Keys For W Magazine June 2011

Alicia Keys looks great in her latest photo spread for W Magazine, June 2011. Scroll down for photos and interview excerpts:

Alexander McQueen wool jacket, Ellen Christine hat, Versace ring

It's been 10 years since her landmark album, Songs In A Minor, and the career-defining hit single Fallin. Alicia Keys was 20 years old back in 2001 when her debut album was released: “I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew,” says Alicia Keys. “We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn’t want to be all dressed up, all made up—I wanted to be myself, which hadn’t been done before.”

To celebrate Songs in A Minor’s 10th anniversary, Keys has assembled a deluxe edition featuring early demos, alternate takes, and live recordings from the era, including a classical medley and a sultry cover of “Light My Fire.” The package documents the five-year life of the landmark project, which covered most of the singer’s adolescence.

Keys recalls the struggle that she went through back then, as a young, unknown artist, to remain true to her own style and sound and the frustration she felt at being pushed, over and over, toward a more conventional style: “I was a young girl with very strong ideas but no experience,” she says. “I just knew that everything else I was doing was wrong—that all the suggestions weren’t what was in my mind, they weren’t what it was meant to be.”

“How terrible would it have been if I had come out with some watered-down version of who I am?” she says. “People fell in love with the real me, and I still feel blessed that that was how the journey began.”

By Alan Light
Photographs by Mario Sorrenti 

Courtesy of W Magazine

Rihanna For Cosmopolitan Magazine July 2011

Rihanna covers the July 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. The singer will begin her Loud tour in about a week and she's about to launch a new video for the single Man Down (review coming soon).

Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

Kylie Minogue Covers InStyle Australia June 2011

Kylie Minogue is a triple cover girl for InStyle Australia, gracing 3 different covers. The June 2011 issue pays homage to InStyle’s premier awards that celebrate Australian Women of Achievement held on May 11th. The InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards honour Australia’s most inspirational and innovative women, across multiple fields, including fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and the arts.

The June 2011 issue honors Kylie's win in the “Business Category” for her host of business ventures and international success.

Courtesy of InStyle

(via sassisamblog.com)

Beyonce Premieres New Song '1+1'

Beyonce has just premiered a new song called 1+1 from her upcoming album with a performance on American Idol’s season finale on Wednesday (May 25) and she said it was her favorite track from the album.

The song is now available to download on iTunes and the album is available for pre-order, to be released on June 28.

Beyonce's performance on American Idol:

Taylor Swift Debuts New Videos: 'Mean' And 'The Story Of Us'

Taylor Swift is releasing 2 new singles from her multi-platinum album Speak Now. The songs are called Mean, which will be sent to country radio, and The Story Of Us that will attempt for pop appeal. Watch both videos below:

Mean 




The Story Of Us


The story of us by Taylor Swift from DanaChan on Vimeo.