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What Artist (Living or Dead) Would You Want to See on Tour?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:30:29 -0800

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band recently played the final show of their tour in Buffalo, but is it the last time we'll see ever them? Springsteen sure made it sound like a goodbye saying, "The E Street Band has come thousands of miles tonight to be here one last time - for a little while." I'm wondering exactly what "a little while" means . . . Was this possibly their swan song?! I would've loved to have been there. They reportedly played for three and a half hours, so I'm sure it was an epic show.

It got me thinking about all of the acts I'd like to catch someday before they go the way of the E Street Band - and a few I wish I could see (at least in a dream world), e.g. Neutral Milk Hotel before they split, the original Weezer lineup, and the most obvious, The Beatles.

So chime in and tell me: which artists (living or dead) would you want to see on tour?

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:17 -0800

Welcome to a very special Monday edition of What to Download! Instead of Tuesday, all the hot music releases are happening today. In addition to the dance-floor-ready releases I've handpicked below, Shakira's She Wolf also dropped today.

Good girl gone bad makes good: Rihanna has had a tough year, but if her release of Rated R is any indication, she's ready to pick herself up and be back on top - of the charts, at least. Considering her last album gave us modern classic "Umbrella," I've been trying to sniff out this year's mega-hit. "Hard" probably comes the closest, but while it's catchy, this isn't a candy-coated pop musing. Sounding weary but more mature, Rihanna brings a darkness with her singles, particularly on "Wait Your Turn," probably my favorite on the album. Speaking of dark, "Russian Roulette," a stirring ballad, conjures up gun metaphors for love. Its heaviness, along with the album's, may or may not translate to chart success, but it's a tough, brave declaration that Rihanna isn't going anywhere.

Feel the fame all over again:The Fame Monster is the re-issue of Lady Gaga's debut album The Fame, but has enough new tracks on it to justify all the buzz around it. You'd have to be fighting it pretty hard to not have heard "Bad Romance" - the track and its great hook are exactly what I like to hear from Gaga. But I think the real winner here is going to be "Telephone" - featuring the only diva fierce enough to go head to head with Gaga: Beyonce. If you still need more fuel for your dance party, play "Monster" a few times and you'll be spinning around your room in no time.

See one more new release when you read more.

Worship your glam idol: Kris Allen may have won American Idol, but Adam Lambert is your rock king. For Your Entertainment is as glittery and fun as its crazy cover promises. I've been loving the bouncy, sexy title track since Lambert performed it in his scandalous AMA performance. Swaggering glam rock track "Strut" is more of the same fun, and the fabulously '80s "Music Again" features the capable vocalist hitting high notes like a modern Freddie Mercury.

The Top 10 Moments of the 2009 American Music Awards

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:00:57 -0800

The American Music Awards promised us big-name musical acts, and it delivered. I was there for every moment from the red carpet to the press room to the closing performance (a very jaw-dropping routine by Adam Lambert). Taylor Swift dominated the honors, and I've already shared the full list of winners; now, I'm here to bring you all of the other highlights from the evening - including the stuff you didn't see. Ready? Let's begin!

View Slideshow ›

A Conversation With Diddy

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:03 -0800

Rapper and mogul Diddy was in San Francisco last week promoting Cîroc, his vodka brand. I was lucky enough to sit down with the musician, and we chatted about entertaining. Not surprisingly, he consumes a lot of Cîroc and his signature drink is a Cîroc and lemonade - say it fast and it sounds like a lyric in one of his songs, "ci-rocking lemonade." To find out what the Diddy had to say, read more.

PartySugar: What’s new with Cîroc?
Diddy: The newest thing with Cîroc is our success. Our success and our appeal. The sales went up 1,000 percent and just the appeal is becoming more recognizable to the consumer.

PS: Aren't you coming out with some new flavors?
D: Yeah. In the world of Cîroc, one of the biggest differences is the flavors. Red Berry and coconut. Now most flavors, to be honest, in the vodka industry, most flavors just haven’t been done right. They taste like cough syrup. I went down with the innovation team, and I was like, whatever we do I want to make sure that this doesn’t taste like cough syrup.
And then also make something that really tastes like what it says. If it says coconut, let’s make sure it tastes like coconut. If it says red berry, let’s make sure it tastes like red berry.

PS: Do you ever cook?
D: I cook breakfast.

PS: What music do you recommend for cooking?
D: Music for cooking? Marvin Gaye’s always good for cooking.

PS: What are your guilty pleasure foods?
D: I would probably say jello. Strawberry jello.

PS: If you had to drink one type of alcohol for the rest of your life what would it be?
D: Vodka. Cîroc.

PS: Besides yourself, who are some celebrities that know how to entertain/host a good party?
D: I never seen anybody do it how I do.

PS: What was the first alcoholic drink you ever drank?
D: Peach schnapps and orange juice, before I was enabled.

PS: What do you think will be the next big thing in cocktails?
D: Jello shots.

Stay tuned for Diddy's tips for hosting the ultimate party!

Announcing the Winners: 2009 American Music Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:42:17 -0800

The American Music Awards show is over, and I've got your full list of who earned trophies. Following her big CMA wins, Taylor Swift dominated in the female categories, taking home AMAs for favorite artist in both pop and country categories as well as the top honor of them all: Artist of the Year.

Besides Ms. Swift, there were plenty of others who triumphed, like country act Gloriana, who pulled off a shocker of an upset with Breakthrough Artist over Lady Gaga. (Even Gloriana poked fun at the win, asking the audience to raise a show of hands if they didn't know who they are.) Michael Jackson won four posthumous honors, and his brother Jermaine took the stage with family members to accept on his behalf. I'll be going over all of the highlights from the show tomorrow - including some of my red carpet coverage and notes from the press room - so check back then! For now, be sure to vote on Fab's fashion polls and Bella's beauty polls from the night's looks.

To see the full list of winners from the evening, just read more.

POP OR ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Michael Jackson

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP
The Black Eyed Peas

FAVORITE ALBUM
Michael Jackson, Number Ones

COUNTRY MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Keith Urban

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP
Rascal Flatts

FAVORITE ALBUM
Taylor Swift, Fearless

RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Jay-Z

FAVORITE BAND, DUO, OR GROUP
Black Eyed Peas

FAVORITE ALBUM
Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Michael Jackson

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Beyonce

FAVORITE ALBUM
Michael Jackson, Number Ones

SOUNDTRACKS

FAVORITE ALBUM
The Twilight Soundtrack

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Green Day

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

LATIN MUSIC

FAVORITE ARTIST
Aventura

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

FAVORITE ARTIST
Mary Mary

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Gloriana

INTERNATIONAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Whitney Houston

TV Tonight: The American Music Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:30:36 -0800

This has been a huge year for music so far: Taylor Swift has won every trophy imaginable, Whitney Houston is staging her comeback, and Michael Jackson is still topping the charts, even after his death. Perhaps that's why tonight's American Music Awards sounds even better than in the past - and I'll be at the show to bring you all of the exciting moments!

Let's go over what to expect from the evening. First off, the performances. There are so many big-name acts I honestly can't choose which is my favorite. Janet Jackson is opening the first eight minutes, but The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Rihanna, and Carrie Underwood are taking the stage, too, among others. (I cannot wait to see what over-the-top spectacle Gaga has up her bedazzled sleeve!) As for the awards, everyone will be watching to see if Michael Jackson earns a posthumous statue; he's up for five categories, bested only by Taylor Swift who is in the running for six.

Check back for my coverage on all the winners, or follow me on Twitter where I'll be sending regular red carpet sightings. The show starts at 8/7c on ABC - are you tuning in?

Jason Segel Asks Disease-Free Concertgoers to Call Him

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:01 -0800

Jason Segel became friends with the Swell Season - the duo behind the music in Once - when he sent them wine in an LA restaurant. So last night when the band played in LA, the members asked him to write and sing a song for his audience. "Advice?" he asked. "Give as much personal information as possible," they said. And so he did, by giving out his phone number and asking disease-free ladies who liked what they saw in Forgetting Sarah Marshall to give him a ring. So I did! The number rang a few times and went to a voicemail with Jason asking callers to email him. You know what? Forget it, Jason Segel.

Do You Enjoy Music During Your Thanksgiving Meal?

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:45:48 -0800

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

Time for more Tuesday entertainment! I've already shared a few new DVD releases to give your movie library a shot in the arm, but now, let's amp up your iPod. Big-name albums hit shelves today, so be sure to read up on these three. (And if you want to see your own music reviews featured on Buzz, submit them in the Music Review Group in the community!)

Fan-pleasing pop: American Idol fans rejoice: you've said that you're interested in post-AI albums, and now Kris Allen's anticipated self-titled debut is finally here. The song selections started a bit bland for me, but Allen picks up momentum with "The Truth" and the soft but moving ballad "Bring it Back." Both songs get needed oomph from orchestral accompaniment to create a sweeping sound that's sure to make Allen aficionados swoon. As for the rest of the album, it's predictable, but likable, much like the singer himself.

Why the sad face? Listening to John Mayer's latest, Battle Studies, you've got to wonder who ripped his heart out - Jessica Simpson? Jennifer Aniston? Every song is about a hurt guy who doesn't want to love again. Sensitive crooning isn't anything new to Mayer, but this time, it feels like mundane easy listening. I long for the days of "No Such Thing" when we had a more upbeat Mayer, or the Mayer who can riff on the guitar like nobody's business. But we don't really get either here. Still, it's worth noting his collaboration with Taylor Swift on "Half of My Heart," and my personal fave, "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye."

See one more release when you read more.

Diva in training: Leona Lewis burst onto the scene two years ago with "Bleeding Love," and now she returns with her sophomore follow-up to Spirit, Echo. Lewis hits the high notes - and she'll once again draw comparisons to Mariah Carey - but the lyrics don't always pack the same punch, and they often feel like recycled love musings. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see Lewis branch out of her usual comfort zone with the dance track "Outta My Head" and "Can't Breathe," which goes heavier on the R&B. If you've seen those Precious promos, you've heard another song from the album, "Happy," but it was recently announced that Lewis will be providing the title track for the film Avatar, so listen for her voice to show up there, too.

Buzz-Worthy Video: Comedian Christmas Carol

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:30:48 -0800

Is it too early for a holiday music video? Not when it's one starring a host of comedians like Patton Oswalt, Paul F. Tompkins, Weird Al Yankovic, and Rob Huebel, plus many more. Even Mary Lynn Rajskub pops up for a verse or two!

The song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", was originally written in the '80s for a group of celeb musicians, but this one is very different, and very tongue-in-cheek. Just take the, um, "special appearance" by Thomas Lennon and Ed Helms.

For a holiday chuckle, watch the video when you read more.