Blog Archive

Jana Kramer


Click to watch Jana Kramer, Love.

Martina McBride


Click to watch Martina McBride, Come See About Me.

Lindsay Ell


Click to watch Lindsay Ell, Trippin' On Us.

Labels

Music Video (1918) Pop (534) R and B (378) Pop Rock (241) Dance-pop (169) Alternative Rock (168) Country (166) Hip hop (150) Synthpop (130) Soul (129) Electropop (128) Indie pop (104) American Idol (75) Rock (75) Dance (67) Indie Rock (65) Folk (48) Electronic (45) House (45) Folk Rock (40) Pop Punk (40) Movie Trailer (39) Album (32) New Wave (32) Electro House (31) Soft Rock (27) Acoustic (26) Dance Pop (26) Hard Rock (26) Alternative (25) Drama (21) Dubstep (21) Electro Pop (21) Baroque Pop (20) Blue-eyed soul (20) Alternative Hip Hop (19) Blues (16) Eurodance (16) Folk Pop (16) Jazz (16) Reggae (16) Warner Bros (15) Electro (14) Adult contemporary (12) Alternative Metal (12) Ballad (12) DVD (11) Acoustic Rock (9) Classical (8) TV series (8) Bluegrass (6) Urban (4)

Cassadee Pope


Click for more on Cassadee Pope: Frame By Frame.

Rob Thomas Debuted His "Someday" Music Video On VH1.com

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, September 30, 2009 0 comments

The long awaited newest music video for Rob Thomas' latest Single "Someday" just debuted and is premiering right now on VH1.com website. This is such an amazing and inspiring video set on the streets of New York City.
"Someday" is one of the singles appearing in Rob Thomas' sophomore solo studio project "Cradlesong" which has been is stores since June, and made its debut on the US charts at No.3 selling 122,000 copies. The proper magazine article added that "Someday" is a power ballad with a tinkling piano introduction reminiscent of 80's band Damn Yankees. In support of the album, Rob is currently hitting the road, starting from September to February next year. Fans can visit his MySpace to check complete details about his upcoming shows.
The music video is directed by Alan Ferguson and start shooting in July. The video features Rob Thomas and other vocalist of band 'Matchbox 20' wandering through a massive "hope parade" in Manhattan, New York City. "The coolest part was just filming the parade," Rob told Entertainment Weekly about the shooting process. "We had a lot of fans come down, and we dressed them all up and had a bunch of gigantic floats flying around."
Rob Thomas, the lead singer of 'Matchbox 20', is the complete package, charming, hilarious and talented beyond reason. He is also one hell of a live performer. Rob treats his fans to a real show when they come out and see him. Please keep your eyes peeled for promo spots for NBC's new season of "The Biggest Loser." The commercials feature Rob Thomas' "Someday" and will be airing on NBC in the near future!

Breaking Benjamin Set To Release Fourth Album "Dear Agony"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, September 29, 2009 0 comments

Bruce Willis’ latest film "Surrogates" wanderings into the sci-fi realms had a rough first weekend. It took in only $15 million and fails to steal the crown for a distant 2nd place. However the film support band, Breaking Benjamin is about begin their business with releasing new album today. The American rock band was formed in 1998 by vocalist Benjamin Burnley and quickly garnered a strong local following in their home state of Pennsylvania. Their music is most often classed as alternative rock or post-grunge, and have also been classified as alternative metal. They have released three albums, and are set to release their upcoming 4th studio album "Dear Agony" today.
The first single "I Will Not Bow" from new album was released for sale on September 1. It was released to the radio and the band's MySpace page on August 11, instead of the planned date, August 17 due to a leak by their hometown radio station, WBSX. This single is also be featured on the soundtrack for the Bruce Willi's new film "Surrogates" with the music video containing scenes from the movie. The song was not written specifically for the film, but according to drummer Chad Szeliga, "Ben sent a few songs to our record label, Hollywood Records," which is owned by Disney, who then decided they "wanted a Breaking Benjamin song for this movie." The song has also reached No.5 on Billboard Rock Songs chart.
The music video for "I Will Not Bow" was released to the band's Myspace on August 21. The video was shot at the World Trade Center building 7, but has no connection or significant meaning having to do with the 9/11 events as stated by Aaron Fink in his Point interview on August 13. The video was directed by Rich Lee who has also directed for Evanescence. Lee chose the location feeling it was an eerie location to film. The video features several shots of singer Ben Burnley walking down a hallway singing into a microphone, as well as shots of the band performing together, and scenes from the movie. There is also a girl who goes onto an elevator, and comes up to the same floor the band is on. She sits down on a couch in front of a set of TVs, all of them either showing scenes from the movie, or the band playing. Towards the end of the video, the members of the band collapse, dropping their instruments, as does the girl. The video then goes to Burnley strapped into one of the chairs from the movie, during which he sits up and takes his mask off.

Within Temptation Posts New Music Video For "Utopia" Online

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, September 28, 2009 1 comments

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band, Within Temptation will release a new live album, "An Acoustic Night At The Theatre" on October 30 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and November 2 in the rest of Europe. According to the rock band, the new acoustic live CD will feature many of their biggest hits, played live and acoustic during seated tour last year. "These were very special concerts, as we added an acoustic set to our live show, making our show more intimate," the group says. "Besides this we used film projections emphasizing the great theatre ambiance."
The band was founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. The new live album will also contain a brand new first single on it, entitled "Utopia", which is a duet between Sharon, and a new guest vocals from British singer Chris Jones, who was also a guest vocalist on Armin van Buuren’s album "Imagine", performing on the track "Going Wrong." The single will be released on October 23. The single will also contain "Restless", recorded live at Within Temptation's 2007 show in Eindhoven, Holland.
Within Temptation has now posted a music video for the song "Utopia" on their official YouTube channel today. The video shows a man walking around a city and witnesses a lot of people doing bad things, such as a man stealing a blind woman's wallet and a prostitute being picked up by an older man. He also saves a child from almost being hit by a car when his mother wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. The band is also seen performing in a run down building.

Taio Cruz Scores His First UK No.1 With "Break Your Heart"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, September 27, 2009 0 comments

It's anyone's guess how Taio Cruz finds the time to fulfill his own musical endeavors. Having already written hits for Will Young and Tinchy Stryder, he's now rumored to be working on material for Leona, Kylie and Cheryl Cole. Still, 18 months after releasing his breakthrough album "Departure", the 26-year-old is back with the first offering, the latest single "Break Your Heart" from his forthcoming sophomore album "Rokstarr," just pipped Madonna to the top of the UK charts this week! Making it Cruz's first ever No.1 hit.
Cruz is a UK born and raised musician, who is the son of a Nigerian lawyer and Brazilian mother. He has been on the music scene for a couple of years, and pivotal in turning British teenagers on to homegrown R&B and electrotinged pop. Some have called him the 'British Ne-Yo' mainly because of his singing, songwriting and music production ability. The years he spent as a songwriter in New York and Atlanta after leaving college, writing for the likes of Pussycat Dolls, and recording a version of Umbrella before Rihanna did, have obviously influenced his outlook as well as his music. Since 2009, Cruz has been working on his follow up album which although originally title T.W.O. (This Way Out) has now been confirmed to be called "Rokstarr" which is scheduled for release on October 12 through R.E.D Inc. The album's lead single "Break Your Heart" was written and produced by Cruz and Fraser T. Smith and released on September 14, and it has extended his reign over the UK singles chart, notching up a second week at No.1.
Striking while the Europop iron is still red hot, "Break Your Heart" is an urban club banger that lands somewhere between a softer Tinchy and a more melodic Akon. This might not be hugely original, but it's clear why Cruz has become one of the hottest collaborators of the moment. BBC chart blog gave the song a positive review says "Taio Cruz has done the unthinkable. The unimaginable. The unbelievable. He has officially created the Most Arrogant Song of 2009, despite the HUGE competition".
Cruz has uncovered a music video for his new single "Break Your Heart", which was shot in Miami in the first two weeks of August and completed in Spain. In the video, he canoodles with bikini-clad models while making a fuss of his inability to be faithful. "Hey, I’m not like the guy I play in my video," Cruz says. "Sometimes girls send me pictures of their boobies. It would be rude of me not to accept them."

Vedera's Lead Single "Satisfy" Off New Album "Stages" EP

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, September 26, 2009 0 comments

At once aggressive, atmospheric, and emotionally forceful, Vedera are a four-piece indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, who have made a name for themselves through a pair of small-label recordings and plenty of touring. The band was formed in 2004 by singer, guitarist and pianist Kristen May and lead guitarist Brian Little, worked together in a band called Red Authentic, and joined forces with bassist Jason Douglas and drummer Drew Little.
Kristen May was raised in a musical family, so she was influenced by her mom's Joni Mitchell and Carole King records while also exploring Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana, the bands her brother was into. May got her first guitar at age 17 and began penning her own songs. Brian Little and May knew each other in high school and started a band together after dropping out of college. In 2003, high-school friend Jason Douglas was asked to join the outfit along with Little's younger brother Drew. The group was named Veda, in part for "Vedha," a Hindu word meaning "sacred writings" and in part for Vada, the character played by Anna Chulmsky in the 1991 film My Girl. The new band quickly went into the studio and released its first EP, "This Broken City," though Second Nature Recordings, a Kansas City-based independent label. A year later, Vedera released their first full-length album, "The Weight of an Empty Room," but shortly afterward the band changed its name from 'Veda' to 'Vedera' to avoid legal action after learning another act was using the same name. Vedera wasted little time establishing the new moniker, re-releasing "The Weight of an Empty Room" and logging more road work, co-headlining a tour with Dear and the Headlights.
Vedera is now ready to take on the world with their forthcoming second and major-label debut album, "Stages." "We're a family and we're very devoted to this life and to our music," May says. "We try to be as honest as we can and put everything we have out there with as much conviction as possible." According to a recent blog on the group's Myspace page, "Stages" will be available on iTunes on October 6, and is produced by Mike Flynn and Warren Huart (The Fray, Augustana). Rough cuts of "Back to the Middle," "Satisfy," "Forgive You," and "Taking Chances" have been made available on the band's MySpace page.
Satisfied now? The first single "Satisfy" explores a question which we all see ourselves asking at some point in our time: Is there anything left in the world that will satisfy me? The answer is yes, and it lies within the lyrics. Vedera has a strong voice which is sure to entertain and it cuts away from those cookie cutter artists. I heard them for the first time, and Kristen has a beautiful voice!

"Surrogates" With Bruce Willis Arrives In Theaters Today

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, September 25, 2009 1 comments

Bruce Willis is back to his action hero roots, and Disney is aiming to hunt down the top spot this weekend to challenge "Cloudy" with the opening of 54-year-old star Willis starring "Surrogates," the biggest budget film of the year for Disney Studios' adult-oriented Touchstone label, which previously released romantic comedies "The Proposal" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic." The $80-million sci-fi thriller blockbuster is adapted from the Top Shelf graphic novel of the same name by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele in 2005, a rough mystery about technological addiction.
Following a six-year absence, the director Jonathan Mostow is back in theaters with a much smaller property and a fraction of his "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" price tag, which made more than $430 million worldwide. Mr. Mostow is no stranger to filming cyborgs, his film is a clever blend of familiar elements and more inventive fare, including the unique premise and some quirky effects.
Welcome to the future! How do you save humanity when the only thing that's real is you? "Surrogates" is set in the not-so-distant future, where human beings stay at home and send robots out into the world as their surrogates in daily life. Desperate to avoid the perils of everyday living, humanity has turned virtual reality into actual reality. When the genius creator of the surrogates is murdered, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) is forced to leave the safety of his own home for the first time in years and survive in the real world. Like most of the world's population, Greer has two halves: His better-looking surrogate is controlled by his stay-at-home, somewhat grizzled, real self. The Stepford-pretty robots have helped eliminate crime and racism, but things get complicated when surrogates begin dying and their hosts being dying too.
So "Surrogates" is meant as pure science fiction, right? Wrong. The filmmakers and futurists behind the movie say they're aiming for an only slightly enhanced version of present-day trends. The film has a solid and pretty original premise, a well-chosen cast and the special effects are top-notch and the visual look of the film is excellent.

Lady Antebellum Debut Music Video "Need You Now" OnLine

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, September 24, 2009 0 comments

Lady Antebellum proved why they are one of the quickest-rising acts in the business by adding fuel to their already white-hot career. The trio have already gone back into the recording studio and are hard at work their sophomore album with Capitol Nashville, which is expected for a November 2009 release. They're giving the country crowd a snippet of what is to come with the brand new lead-off single and title track "Need You Now". The music video for the single is burning up and world premieres on YouTube September 15, just before they heading to Canada for touring with headliner Keith Urban. They are becoming the first country music video to debut in the popular site's Featured Video section.
The video was shot in Toronto in late August, and directed by David McClister, who does a fine job of playing up the possibility. Scott and Kelley act as ex-lovers laden with romantic feelings that have yet to fade as they try to move on with life without one another. Both parties are haunted by memories of happier times together and wonder if the other person is as miserable as they are now and if thoughts of them ever cross their mind. Then, during a late night filled with unbearable loneliness and the assistance of a little liquid courage, they reach out to one another and confess how desperately they need each other right now. The clip is one the players immersed themselves in, "We really wanted this video to be a little more dramatic and stylized than anything we've done before," explains lead vocalist Hillary Scott. "It was an exhausting shoot physically and emotionally, because we worked through the night and just poured every ounce of ourselves into our characters. It's a passionate song, and we wanted the video to be just as passionate."
The tune of "Need You Now" also starts off with a similar midtempo catchy melody groove to the trio's first-ever No.1, "I Run to You," which has snagged two CMA nominations for "Group of the Year" and "Single of the Year." Lady Antebellum certainly has the whole package: a clearly-defined sound, well-written songs, a strong fanbase, and plenty of promotion. "Need You Now" is a sure sign of good things to come. Although it's still early in the tracking game, "Need You Now" has quickly become the fastest rising single of their career to date, cracking into Billboard's Hot Country Songs #15. The passionate track also staked its claim on iTunes' Top 10 country songs chart the day it was released and has since sold over 100,000 digital downloads. Billboard Magazine says that "Lady Antebellum has lived up to its promise and then some," and that the lead single "packs a powerful punch."

Flipsyde's 2nd Single 'A Change' From Album "State of Survival"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, September 23, 2009 0 comments

Flipsyde is a rap/R&B/rock band from Oakland, California. The band consists of singer/guitarist Steve Knight, guitarist Dave Lopez, rapper Jinho "the Piper" Ferreira, and recently singer Chantelle Paige. Flipsyde's single, "Someday" was chosen as NBC's theme song for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games held in Torino, Italy, and once again, their song "Champion" was chosen as the theme for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Recently it was announced through their MySpace that they had started touring with Akon, promoting their second studio album, "State of Survival," produced by Akon and Konvict Muzik, and set to be released in 2009. Based on ChantelleDaily.com, that unfortunately the album "State of Survival" is also the last album with Cherrytree Records (Lable mate), after Flipsyde’s mgt informed them that they were on a list of possible “drops” at Interscope, and it likely that they won’t be touring next month as planned, but they will remain friends who continue to support each other! This is going to be a shock to many friends and fans, but lets just remember that Flipsyde have had an amazing time working and touring together and will carry on supporting each other. Lets wish the guys the best of luck for the future and thank them for there amazing talent and for sharing there music with us.
I would like to share with you Flipsyde's single "A Change," which is the second official single off "State Of Survival" and was released on August 15. The song is written by Flipsyde and Red One. It’s also produced by Red One. To be honest, "A Change" sounds like any other pop song with very less signs of the original Flipsyde. Nevertheless, Steve and Piper save "A Change" from being a below average affair. The music video for song was shot in East LA in an old juvenille correction facility on June 17. In the video, the members of Flipsyde refurbish an old classroom for use. It's a powerful message to affect change in your local community. They are great spirits and the shoot was really inspiring. The video was exclusively premiered on Cherrytree Records site July 10.

Three Days Grace Debut New Album "Life Starts Now" Today

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, September 22, 2009 0 comments

The Canadian rock band, 'Three Days Grace' is gearing up to release their the third studio album, "Life Starts Now", is set to hit stores today via Jive Records. Nothing says "rockstar" like a smashed guitar. Three Days Grace want to give their fans a piece of the rockstar experience – an actual guitar fragment, hand-shattered by the band themselves.
The Canadian rockers also known as '3DG' or 'TDG' with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, bassist Brad Walst, and lead guitarist Barry Stock, who has built a dedicated and ever-growing fanbase over the course of two Platinum albums before, and years of touring in North America. Since their 1992 formation, they have had multiple smash hit singles on Rock radio and videos that have received extensive play on Fuse, MTV2, and VH1. In 2007, the band was declared number one rock artist of the year by Billboard, and was the number four artist in airplay in Canada that same year.
Follow up to theirs 2006 release "One-X," the band returned to the studio this year with producer Howard Benson, who had worked with them on their previous releases. Recorded at studios in Vancouver and L.A. since March to craft what will surely be their most accomplished album to date. The lead vocalist Adam Gontier is saying will be "the best Three Days Grace record to date," according to a post on his MySpace Page. This eagerly anticipated release is certain to please longtime followers while getting Three Days Grace even more attention from Rock music fans everywhere. Three Days Grace have planned a tour of the U.S. and Canada encompassing the latter part of 2009 and supporting "Life Starts Now."

Owl City Takes All Charm Out Of Synthpop On "Ocean Eyes"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, September 21, 2009 0 comments

Well, honestly I just found out this great CD and found myself entertained throughout whole CD and its fantastic and I love all of 12 tracks by heart, have to say this is one of the best ever! Believe it or not, Owl City is a state of mind, not a place, like a bird-lover's destination, nor is even a band. It's only one man, Adam Young, a 23-year-old from Minnesota who is influences are disco and European electronic music and started making music on PC in his parents' basement from early 2007. 1980s synthpop and New Wave music is also heard in Owl City's sound. I've quickly become a fan of Owl City now. So you'll just have to believe me when I say that this is the band you have been waiting for.
What started out as a project in the basement with a mike and synthesizer turned into a self-recorded and released EP and eventually a deal with the Universal label, which issued his major label debut (his sophomore album), "Ocean Eyes" in July 14(digital), and September 1(physical). Owl City's dreamy synth-pop soon became an online phenomenon. The synthpop artist Young's songs have been played almost 48 million times on the Owl City MySpace page. Now MySpace users apparently love his music, which has millions of listens. As of yesterday, the up-and-coming artist Young's Owl City album ranked No. 14 on iTunes, sandwiched between Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Black Eyed Peas. The lead song "Fireflies" was an instant success and chosen as the Single of the Week by iTunes. This led to a huge success as the song was downloaded over 650,000 times and helped the album peak at #2 on the store. The building on the cover is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
The album "Ocean Eyes" features guest vocals by Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen, and is a collection of every thing he can do well, and synth pop gems that will delight the most hardened and discerning of musical fanatics. Like new urban contemporaries lights, Young's music is primarily synth based, dreamy and atmospheric, and MySpace into the most breathtaking aural waterfall. There’s no doubt that the album is all very cutesy and sugary in it’s lyrically content. All in all, the album is a success with catchy hooks, great loops and some serious harmonizing. It is the perfect summer album, but it’s doubtful the songs will remain on playlists for longer than that because this album only finds the happy in life. The video for "Fireflies" directed by Steve Hoover, features Young playing the song on his synthesizer in a toy-filled bedroom, where most of the toys come to life.

KSM Debut "Read Between the Lines" Album & Music Video

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, September 20, 2009 0 comments

It’s been awhile since the music scene has had an all female band–not one of those prissy, just-stand-there-and-look-cute bands but one that could sing, dance and play their own instruments. Then in walks Walt Disney Records' KSM.
KSM, the all-female pop band formed in 2006, consisting of members Sophia Melon, Kate Cabebe, Shae Padilla, Katie Cecil, and Shelby Cobra, and got their big break as proteges of the Go-Go's, one of the top female rock bands of all time. The name "KSM" comes from the fact all of the group members' first names begin with 'K' or 'S', and the group decided to add an 'M' for music.
Coming off several months of glowing non-stop buzz, the all-female teen rock quintet KSM has been building momentum for the impending release of their debut album "Read Between the Lines" on September 22, and includes popping tunes like "I Want You To Want Me" and "Don't Rain on My Parade." Written and produced by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, who have worked on the "High School Musical" projects, recorded and performed entirely by KSM. The debut album is available as a free download on iTunes the week from September 15 and has been selected for this week's highly coveted iTunes "Single of the Week".
Though the album marks the band's recording debut, KSM has already become enormously popular across the country, having played in front of 500,000 fans. Not only have they had more than a million plays on MySpace, KSM recently wrapped up a summer tour with Demi Lovato (they previously opened for Jonas Brothers and Honor Society on select dates). The lead singer Shelby says, "Being all girl, all teen, we're usually pre-judged. People don't expect that much, but we usually convince the audience that we're a legit rock band, not just a 'chick band'".
The teen rock quintet have also officially released a music video for the title track of their debut album "Read Between the Lines". The video is simple in its form with the five-piece rocking out the performance in a neon-lit stage. Enjoy!

Alicia Keys Unveiled Her New Single "Doesn't Mean Anything"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, September 19, 2009 0 comments

Alicia Keys is back and ready to overtake radio and the industry with a brand-new song, "Doesn't Mean Anything" from her in-progress fourth studio album has arrived in full audio stream, being unveiled on the singer's official YouTube site Tuesday. The song reportedly was supposed to hit radio airwaves on September 30, but Alicia chose to give it an online debut earlier than the schedule apparently to avoid leak. This sounds like what we've come to expect from Alicia Keys which is nothing short of excellence. The song was written and produced by Keys and longtime collaborator Kerry Brothers, Jr. This will sound great on the radio this fall with its gorgeous gradual escalation of intensity.
Keys plays the piano to evoke a powerful mood that only she can, which leads to the striking first line, "Used to dream of being a millionaire, without a care." The gorgeous piano ballad new single features Keys longing for a missing love over a mid-tempo production, which is a cross between Keys' Grammy-nominated hits "No One" and "If I Ain't Got You," except tinged with heartbreak and regret instead of all-powerful devotion, is set to be the lead single from her forthcoming, as-yet-untitled new album, slated for a November release. The single, on the other hand, will be available for download on iTunes on September 22.
Keys has already garnered the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide and achieved just about every notable accolade a musician can, but when the singer/songwriter speaks about her new single, "Doesn't Mean Anything," she sounds as excited as a newcomer. "The song just lifts you up and takes you somewhere on this journey."

"Bright Star": A Poet's Love Story Comes To Theaters Today

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, September 18, 2009 2 comments

More than 15 years after directing "The Piano," the Oscar winning writer Jane Campion is back in top creative form with a chaste love story in "Bright Star," to be limited release today, only at San Francisco bay area theaters.
Initially, "Bright Star" appears to be adapted from the best book Jane Austen never wrote. But it’s an original work, based on the three-year real-life love affair between 19th-century English romantic poet John Keats(Britain's Ben Whishaw) who believes in "the holiness of the heart's affections" and the love of his life, Fanny Brawne(Australia's Abbie Cornish), the exuberant girl next door, whose deep, passionate affair never gets beyond hand-holding and stolen kisses, before the poet died from tuberculosis at age 25. Both make this chaste relationship burn like fire.
More admirable than emotionally affecting with its gorgeously framed shots and superb craftsmanship, "Bright Star" is a thing of beauty, beautiful in the rarest of ways. The heartwrenching emotion in this movie was unlike any other. Passions that are too formidable to control, and too dangerous to let loose -- these are the themes that drive Jane Campion's work. She went far beyond the usual "I am deeply in love; Now I am sad" and truly captured human idiosyncrasy as she delved into the illogical, irrational minds of two young and suddenly in love individuals. This film perfectly embodied how a simple, real, profound story should be told.
In the sensual and womanly-wise period drama "Bright Star" is the most generic historical romance ever put to film, or at least it feels like it. The movie is an ode to poetry and love, and indeed lyrical, in the best sense. The New Zealand-born filmmaker has performed her own feat of romantic imagination, and her beautiful high-strung romance "Bright Star" has a rhythm all its own, and unequivocally celebrates the joys of poetry. It may not be a joy forever, but it will do until the next joy comes along.

VH1 Divas Returns Tonight With Paula Abdul And Six Divas

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, September 17, 2009 1 comments

More than a decade after its inception, the concerts VH1 Divas aired annually from 1998 to 2004 to benefit the Save the Music Foundation featuring some of the most talented female artists in the history of popular music. After five year hiatus the show will officially bring back the legendary as big as ever, the headlining divas this year are identified as, British vocalists Adele and Leona Lewis, former American Idol Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson, and teen star Miley Cyrus will follow in the footsteps of chart queen, like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. For the first time ever, these leading ladies at the top of their musical game will feature a night of unforgettable performances together, airing live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York tonight at 9pm ET only on VH1. The fabulous Paula Abdul is also set to join as Host for the evening. She is keeping the focus on her future projects, not past ones. Fresh from the news of her defection from American Idol, and has landed a gig on VH1 Divas special.
In addition to individual performances by the Divas, the show will also feature a lineup of incredible duets. India.Arie will sing with Adele, Stevie Wonder will sing with Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride will sing with Jordin Sparks, Melissa Etheridge will sing with Kelly Clarkson, Cyndi Lauper will sing with Leona Lewis, and Sheryl Crow will sing with Miley Cyrus.
With a new crop of fresh! Young! Talented! Divas! Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus are set to raise the roof on BAM tonight! What defines a diva? her strength, say with these six ultimate ladies, "VH1 Divas 2009" is gearing up to be an unforgettable night of girl-power at its best for sure!

Nelly Furtado Reveals Her Latin Makeover With "Mi Plan" Album

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, September 16, 2009 0 comments

Nelly Furtado has a little suprise for her fans. After appearing as a presenter at the VMAs Sunday night, the portuguese-canadian singer branched out and fulfilled her dream of making her first full-length Spanish-language album, "Mi Plan"(Spanish for "My Plan") yesterday internationally. The 30-year-old Furtado has sold more than 18 million albums so far and is one of the most recognized artists worldwide. "Mi Plan" is her 4th studio album and 3rd direction shift, is a collection of love songs and more than daring, requited or wishing they were "Being happy is my only plan." Switching languages hasn't changed her pop knack, Furtado has embraced her Latin roots, and the Latino music market. The album's first single, "Manos al Aire," (Hands in the Air), recently hit No. 1 on Billboard's Latin radio chart.
Like fellow Anglo-Latin crossover stars Shakira and Christina Aguilera, Furtado knows the value of keeping all her demographics happy. her musical career has been filled with drastic changes. Mainstream music might traditionally stick to formula but that has never dissuaded Furtado from stirring up her own special recipes. Beneath her toothsomely pretty melodies, there has always been something charmingly off-kilter about Furtado, after making the leap from folk-pop songbird that marked her 2000 debut "Whoa, Nelly!" with Grammy-winning hit "I am Like a Bird," to electro-pop diva with her colossal success 2006 album "Loose", she has decided to change her stripes yet again, has put out an album of supremely catchy, indulging her love of Latin pop-rock with "Mi Plan," her first LP sung entirely in Spanish, a language she said she learned as a teen, record filled with famous Latino guest stars.
Furtado is trying to cross over in a direction many artists don't ordinarily take. It's seems like a natural progression for her, an artist often noted for diversity in her sound. She has a ways to go, then, although her singing on "Mi Plan" is more openly emotive than ever accentuated by her telenovela-style videos and her strikingly monochrome attire. Her subject matter is moving on as well. Spanish is not Furtado's first language. In fact, the Grammy-winner says she is only "50-60%" fluent en Espanol, so her linguistic gymnastics are a gutsy move. They were also omething of a happy accident. The star discloses "I can be a little more dramatic than I can be in an English song, I'm not a natural dancer, it takes a lot of effort for me to learn all that choreography, and the last album was definitely a learning experience. I get to feel like a brand new artist again, it feels cool and it's really hard to reinvent yourself after 10 years doing it."

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" Claw Their Way Onto DVD&Blu-Ray

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, September 15, 2009 0 comments

With so many dark titles on their way, there must have been a full moon when this week's releases were scheduled. Marvel’s merry mutants are coming home and slashing its way into video stores today, with the release of the live-action film "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and two more sets of the classic 1990s animated X-Men series. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" was the first big blockbuster of the summer, and directed by Gavin Hood, and stars Hugh Jackman as the title character, along with Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Taylor Kitsch, and Ryan Reynolds. The Buena Vista animated version of Logan can be found in X-Men Vols. 3 and 4 continue to collect the popular Fox Kids series.
Fox came up with an ingenious way to make more money off its "X-Men" property — spin off not just another film, but another franchise. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," the 4th installment of the X-Men film series am\nd the 8th-best-grossing film of the year so far, Hugh Jackman returns as the clawed mutant wolverine, who makes a shocking discovery about his family bloodline, and gains a brother in the process. Flash forward to find the mutant siblings battling side by side through two world wars and Vietnam.
DVD extras include two commentary tracks, a interview with Wolverine creators Stan Lee and Len Wein, a featurette on the making of the movie and deleted and alternate scenes. The Blu-ray has all those extras and more, including a look at the helicopter chase sequence, a trivia track and 10 character chronicles.

Mark Knopfler Hopes To 'Get Lucky' With New Album

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, September 14, 2009 0 comments

Mark Knopfler, the 60-year-old guitar god and former frontman of the British rock band Dire Straits has announced the tracklisting for his new solo album, "Get Lucky," which is being released today in Europe and tomorrow in the US with three configurations (Standard/Limited/Deluxe).
The Scottish musician with a "Golden Heart" did it again! "Get Lucky" is the sixth solo studio album from the legendary musician and follows 2007's highly successful "Kill To Get Crimson," which Rolling Stone heralded as 'a gem' and USA Today described as, "...yet another unpretentious showcase for his unmistakable gifts as a musician, tunesmith and storyteller."
Recorded at Knopfler's award-winning British Grove Studios in West London, and was co-produced with longtime collaborators, engineer Chuck Ainlay and keyboardist Guy Fletcher and featured Richard Bennett, Danny Cummings, John McCusker, Matt Rollings and Glenn Worf. The 11-track album explores a lifetime of musical roots exemplified by the title track. "The first itinerant person I ever met would sing in soul bands in winter, then work part-time in fairgrounds or 'go pick fruit down south' when the weather turned warm," explains Knopfler. "I was about 15 years old, stuck in school and envious. "Get Lucky" came from him and other traveling characters I went on to meet in places I'd find myself working short-term, like farms, warehouses, building sites, before I got lucky with my songs."
It's very difficult to review this album strictly on its guitar aspects. There is a familiar mellowness to his album. He injects an easygoing, campfire vibe into the 11 songs on "Get Lucky." Throughout "Get Lucky," Mr. Knopfler draws on Celtic music traditions for melodic inspiration. The strains of flute, fiddle and whistle that characterize the genre do not fall gently on every ear. His signature finger-picking style is on display throughout and it's even more distinctive and recognizable than his singing voice. This is one you'll take out and enjoy like and with old wine for years to come. According to Knopfler's official web site, he'll begin his tour in support of "Get Lucky" sometime in 2010.

Beyoncé, GaGa Lead 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Tonight

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, September 13, 2009 0 comments

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), lived up to its wild, unpredictable reputation tonight as it returned to New York after a two-year absence, hosted by British comedian Russell Brand, is taking place live from Radio City Music Hall. Hollywood's hottest music stars have hit the red carpet in their glitz and glamour for the VMAs. When VMA blast off tonight, you'll once again get to see hot performances, big celebrities and unpredictable moments all in one place, and brought together the biggest names in music, TV, film and sports. The MTV VMA were established at the end of the summer of 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year.
It's not clear if moving back to New York has brought a renewed cultural relevance to the MTV VMA but before the first commercial break to the 2009 event tonight, VMA icon Madonna opened the dance show and introduced the emotional and heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson. MTV has lined up performances by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Pink, Taylor Swift, Nelly Furtado, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and Muse. Always controversial, Brand pushed the envelope as he had fun with a slew of new stars and charmed the ladies.
Those who manage to grab moonmen at this year's VMA have been unveiled one by one as gala ceremony of the event was kicked off tonight. With Beyoncé and Lady GaGa coming into the evening with a leading nine nominations apiece, it set up a flashy battle between the divas in eight different categories. But the first award given to the 19-year-old country music singer Taylor Swift which was nearly hijacked by Kanye West who acted most like a diva, charging the stage to complain as Taylor Swift accepted her award for BEST FEMALE VIDEO over Beyoncé. That Taylor vs. Kanye was the most significant battle of the night was a surprise.
Beyoncé Knowles, the “Crazy in Love” songstress was the center of attention as she sporting a cleavage-baring vibrant red dress with massive hoop earrings and black heels. Beyoncé won VIDEO OF THE YEAR and also performed her hit song her hit "Single Ladies."(See video) Accepting Beyoncé's gracious invitation, Swift returned to the stage, hugged the other singer and said to the audience, "Maybe we could try this again?" Kanye West apologizes for Swift outburst on his blog later. The dance queen Lady GaGa was named BEST NEW ARTIST. The 23-year-old "Poker Face" diva and the recording artist was nothing short of outstanding as she took the stage for a memorable and dramatic rendition of her latest hit "Paparazzi." Other winners include: BEST POP VIDEO: Britney Spears(Womaniser), BEST ROCK VIDEO: Green Day(21 Guns), BEST MALE VIDEO: T.I.(Live Your Life), BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO: Eminem(We Made You), BEST VIDEO THAT SHOULD HAVE WON A MOONMAN: Beastie Boys(Sabotage), BEST BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO: Matt and Kim(Lessons Learned).
Still, the show isn't about honoring the best in music as it is about promotion. So big chunks of the show were given to showing trailers for upcoming films. This is something that routinely happened on the MTV Movie Awards, but now it's taken over the VMAs as well. At least one of them is about the upcoming Michael Jackson pre-concert footage, so it sort of fit with the rest of the sort of theme.

Leona Lewis Gets "Happy" With New Single

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, September 12, 2009 0 comments

British 24-year-old songstress Leona Lewis has every reason to be "Happy." The brand new lead single from the winner of Britain's X Factor is from her sophomore album, “Echo”, a powerful follow-up to her 2008 triple Grammy nominated album. Like her debut single "Bleeding Love," "Happy" is a ballad that showcases Lewis' strong set of pipes, and the piano build-up fills the song with strong emotion. Massive! Huge!! Monster comeback single!!!
Co-written by Ryan Tedder of One Republic and Evan Bogart, the duo was also behind Lewis's break-through hit, "Bleeding Love." "Happy" is a song about a failing relationship headlines with the lyrics 'I Just Want to be Happy' as the chorus speaks of letting go..., has hit the Internet with positive reviews so far, Digital Spy has had positive things to say about the single, calling it a "strong lead single that sounds like a number one, and a powerful and moving song." "Happy" is sure to be another hit for Lewis. A tune about going after happiness no matter the cost, Lewis belts out the notes with ease. It's the type of song that will sound brilliant live, so hopefully it's on the set-list when Lewis performs at Divas Live! on VH1.
Lewis has now emerged as a fully-fledged diva. Her 2007 "Spirit" made of her an international star and not just yet another winner of a televised singing competition. In 2009, her powerful voice has often drawn comparisons with Whitney Houston. Lewis has said that she is feeling nervous about the release of her new single, in an interview with the Daily Mail, said, "The vocal was totally spontaneous. I sang it as soon as we finished writing. Sometimes it's better not to over-think things." "Happy" will be available via iTunes on September 15 and will start hitting the radio waves September 21. The album "Echo" is co-produced by Simon Cowell and Clive Davis, will be released on November 17.

Jay-Z Slams "Answers The Call" Concert To Benefit 9/11

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, September 11, 2009 0 comments

September the 11th, 2009 will go down in history as the date of one of the most legendary hip-hop shows of all time. It's Hova's homecoming: Brooklyn born rapper Jay-Z's "Blueprint 3" is available everywhere today (it was hustled out Tuesday, but lagged on some outlets), and tonight Jay-Z will be giving a "Answer The Call" memorial benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, for New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, streamed and uninterrupted on music cable channel Fuse at 9p.m. live from NYC. All 20,000 tickets sold out within a matter of minutes on Tuesday morning.
In a way, Jay-Z's music will always be connected to 9/11, as the first original Blueprint album was released on the exact date as the tragedy, therefore it seems quite fitting that he will be performing for the cause. Jay-Z said "I'm just humbled by the experience," exactly what he will perform at the event is currently unknown, but he will perform some classics and some tracks from his latest album "The Blueprint 3".
Jay-Z’s 9/11 benefit concert turns into all-star marathon with his wife Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna, John Mayer, Diddy and Mary J Blige came together tonight to pay tribute to fallen police and firefighters of 9/11. Supported by a 10-piece band, the rapper brought a distinct energy to the show, and made a point to acknowledge the tragedy they were benefiting throughout the night. His performance embraced the spirit of New York. Please click "Fuse TV" on my blog's top menu for more details.

Video Premiere: Jordin Sparks | "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, September 10, 2009 0 comments

Jordin Sparks, the 19-year-old American Idol alum has released the music video to her latest and very infectious hit dance track "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)", the 2nd single off her sophomore album "Battlefield".
"S.O.S." is an uptempo electropop song that contains a sample of "Let The Music Play" by Shannon. It combine 1980’s synths with modern techno-dance beats. Sparks is out to the club and hitting the dance floor along with a bunch of clubbers. She explained why she decided to go in a dancer direction with this song: "I'll always be the ballad girl from American Idol, but I wanted to try something new, though not so far that people wouldn't believe me." The video was directed by Chris Robinson and shot in L.A. on August 10, and was released exclusively to MeetMark.com the website for the makeup company yesterday. Sparks is being praised for showing a side she has never before embraced, stepping out of her usual comfort zone as she stated.
With its potent and *snap snap* send off, the song is filled with charisma and perhaps the attitude and staying power that alongside Sparks’ pipes will allow her to be a prominent force in the music industry. Sparks is the younger, more demure, innocent-esque winner out of all the girls. Kelly Clarkson is the rock chick, Fantasia is the R&B/Lifetime girl, and Carrie Underwood is the country star which leaves Sparks to be the younger face of American Idol female pop music.
The song has some pretty great remixes out there already, and the song is going to be released to US radio on September 29, with loads of promotion while she tours with Britney Spears and will appears on the VH1 Divas special on September 17. The legendary live concert event will also feature voices like Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Hudson, and hosted by Paula Abdul. Sparks is looking forward to the next round of Grammy nominations, she’d love to do some acting (especially on Broadway), and someday, say 10 or 12 years from now, have "a significant other, but ultimately, I just want to be happy" she said.

"The Beatles: Rock Band" Makes Worldwide Debut Today

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, September 9, 2009 0 comments

It's 09-09-09 and it might as well be the universe's Official Beatles Day. 45 years after Beatlemania hope to get back to where they once belonged. A new wave of Beatlemania(John, Paul, George and Ringo) swept around the world today as the Fab Four's digitally re-mastered CD albums with the entire original Beatles catalogue, and a new video game "The Beatles: Rock Band" were released simultaneously today! Five million albums have been shipped to stores across the world, and fans will be wailing on plastic instruments all day in an effort to travel back in time and live out their fantasies of becoming musical legends, and the stores are having an all-day long Beatles party!
Apple and EMI Music announced that the Beatles' entire back catalogue was reissued following an extensive digital remastering process that lasted four years at London's Abbey Road Studios. Each Beatles CD is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos.
The music video game "The Beatles: Rock Band" was developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games, distributed by Electronic Arts, and PS3/Xbox360/Wii standalone music game that features 45 songs from throughout The Beatles' extraordinary music, career and legacy. It's the 3rd major console release in the Rock Band music video game series. It has been highly praised by the press, being considered one of the best music video games to date. Many critics felt that the game would benefit from more songs and that experienced players will not find the game very challenging.
The generation gap appears to be both smaller and larger than ever. In Japan, eager Beatles fans flooded in all day to the HMV music store in the downtown Ginza shopping district, said a store manager Kozo Shimoda. On what has been dubbed "Beatles Day", retailers confident that fans would snap up the re-polished recordings and propel The Beatles back to the top of the charts. The Beatles' music still holds up, and it will continue to hold up until the end of time.

"90210/Melrose Place" Remake Debuts Tonight On The CW

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Tuesday, September 8, 2009 0 comments

The fall season officially begins this evening when scripted shows make their return to the small screen. The major networks don’t get their start this week, but the CW , youth-obsessed junior network is kicking the season off tonight with premiere back to back, the 90210's 2nd season at 8pm, followed by Aaron Spelling's widely anticipated series "Melrose Place" at 9pm., the spin-offs of the iconic 1990s show, 17 years after the original premiered in 1992 and I know you're pumped to check it out.
It all started when the CW had a surprise hit last season in "90210," its new-millennium version of the Aaron Spelling classic "Beverly Hills 90210." premiered last fall. So naturally, the junior network, desperate for another hit, has ordered an updating of that series' popular spin-off "Melrose Place", which is the 5th series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise, and it's an updated version of the 1990s FOX prime time drama "Melrose Place", featuring a group of young adults living in a West Hollywood Spanish-style apartment complex with pool at 4616 Melrose Place. Tonight's pilot episode will show you a new generation of young professionals try to make their way through life and deal with obtaining their own personal goals, drives, and desires, both amongst themselves and others. Same address, but new generation, and a whole new level of OMG!
The first Melrose Place always seemed like a wobbly drunk—it weaved in and out of melodrama and generally seemed like the tipsy victim of its own excesses. The new series, on the other hand, is sharply written, stocked with hot and talented young things and generally looks fantastic—the whole package hangs together fabulously and instantly sucks you into the soapy goodness. Watch the pilot straight through, and we promise that after that hour you will want to know more about what happens to these people. "Melrose Place" was so hot in the 90’s! Can the "Melrose Place" remake be as big as the series the first time around? With some critics praising Melrose and others giving the reincarnation a big thumbs down. Entertainment Weekly just named their #1 Must Watch of the Week.

Marie Digby Offers "Breathing Underwater" On Amazon MP3

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Monday, September 7, 2009 0 comments

Marié Digby's brand new sophomore album "Breathing Underwater" comes out today, and available exclusively at Amazon MP3 for the low price of $2.99 today only! It was released in Japan on June 24, and will be released on September 15 everywhere. If you live in the Los Angeles area, there's her album release party/show at the Roxy on Sunset Boulevard on Sept 22nd. The new album includes 13 tracks and 4 bonus tracks for Japan. Its first single is "Avalanche" and was released in US on iTunes on April 28. Its second single is "Symphony" and was released in US on iTunes on June 2. A music video for "Feel" is being aired in Japan and was released by Hollywood Records Japanese distributer, Avex Trax. One critic in Japan said Digby's voice, "delivers the wind of the spring."
Marié Digby was born April 16, 1983, whose mother is Japanese and father is Irish American. She began writing songs during high school in Los Angeles. After completing her sophomore year as a philosophy major at the UC Berkeley, she came out into the public eye when she won the 2004 Pantene Pro-Voice competition with her song "Miss Invisible". She is perhaps best known for her acoustic cover version of Rihanna's No. 1 hit "Umbrella", which attracted attention on YouTube in 2007. The song was subsequently played on the radio station STAR 98.7, was featured on the third season opening episode of the MTV show The Hills. Digby has released three studio albums, including one Japanese cover album. These albums have spawned seven singles overall.
Digby is recognized on YouTube for her simple popular music covers, which include Linkin Park, The Game, Rihanna, Maroon 5, and Nelly Furtado, as well as her original compositions. She has over 170,000 subscribers and her channel has been viewed over 4 million times. As of May 2009, she is the 11th most subscribed musician on YouTube, ahead of names like Chris Brown, Taylor Swift and Tay Zonday.

Howie Day Released New Video For "Be There" EP

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Sunday, September 6, 2009 0 comments

Howie Day is out with the music video to his new single "Be There", the first release from singer’s third full length album "Sound the Alarm", will release in stores September 8th via Epic Records. Howie Day has released his "Be There" EP in May, introducing his new album, featuring 3 new songs: "Be There", "40 Hours", and "Counting On Me". These tracks are now available on iTunes. "Be There", produced by Kevin Griffin, Mike Flynn, and Warren Huart, will be serviced to radio as the first single from the album.
Howard Kern "Howie" Day was born January 15, 1981 and raised in Bangor, Maine. Beginning his career as a solo artist in the late 1990s, and became known for his extensive touring and in-concert use of samplers and effects pedals in order to accompany himself. The music genre of Pop self-financed and self-released his first album, "Australia" in 2000. The follow up album "Stop All The World Now" was certified gold in early 2005. His most successful to date, and the hit "She Says" became Epic Records’ first platinum single, eventually selling 1.5 million downloads.

Tokio Hotel Premiere Video For Epic "Automatic" Online

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Saturday, September 5, 2009 0 comments

After months of nightmares, arguments and chauffeured drives around Hollywood, Tokio Hotel, the German pop rock band, founded in 2001 by singer Bill Kaulitz, guitarist Tom Kaulitz, drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing, finally gave fans a first full taste of the band's much-anticipated forthcoming LP, "Humanoid" album, the follow-up to their 2007 debut Scream, and premiering the video for the lead single, the soaring "Automatic," produced by David Josh, on their Website late Thursday, and will be released digitally on September 22, while the album “Humanoid” is scheduled to be released across the US on October 6, and understandably, the boys from the Germany’s hottest musical export are already preparing to take over the music scene here with their new tracks. Until that happens, though, fans here will have to make due with the new video for their first single "Automatic".
The music video was directed by Craig Wessels and filmed over three days in the desert of South Africa. The plot of brand-new sci-fi themed video is a simple legendary tale, all kinds of epic, featuring the band racing across windswept plains in classic muscle cars, just like the message of the song. It shows the band members driving cars and performing on a stage in the desert, while a sub-plot deals with with computer generated "Transformers 4" inspired robots. "Automatic" is the most moving robot story since Wall-E.

"Gamer" Leads New Releases Opening Today In Theatres

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Friday, September 4, 2009 0 comments

Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer movie season. It's historically a sleepy time at the box office, that trend isn't likely to change this year. Hollywood does not save its best for last because that goes against the philosophy of what the summer is for studios. It’s now a few weeks yet until Oscar contenders hit theaters. So it's already off to a lukewarm start, but for those heading out to the theater this weekend, the Lionsgate's "Gamer", a movie abandoned on Labor Day weekend, hopes to break the losing streak of movies inspired by the gaming world. It should be the top draw I picked for you. However, "Gamer" is being launched in a less than advantageous release schedule, will open on Friday without benefit of press screenings with Labor Day releases usually struggling to gather audiences.
In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live. “Gamer” is a high-concept futuristic action thriller set in a near future when gaming and entertainment have evolved into a terrifying new hybrid where human prisoners are forced into deadly combat through mind control. From the co-writers/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who gave us the "Crank" movies, succeeded in creating a kinetic brand of all sensation, all the time post narrative filmmaking, and make hyperactive cinematic freakouts that are both fun to watch and, on their own terms at least, logically cohesive. Gerard Butler stars as Kable, a real-life video game character and an unwilling participant in an online game and the star of a hot new videogame called "Slayers," a controversial form of entertainment that allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies. Under the control of a young gamer, Kable tries to survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and save mankind.
Gerard Butler returns to this high-adrenaline action flick, mans up in the scary cyber reality of Gamer, still looks as ripped as when he starred in "300". And once again, Butler is looking seriously pumped up. The Scottish-born rising star is on top of his game, who have also cheered him in Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla" and the 2001 TV series "Attila," his early breakthrough. But the 39-year-old actor has proven just as appealing to women. He has been labeled a full-fledged sex symbol after performances in the 2007 romance "P.S. I Love You" and this summer's romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth."
Non-stop action from the very start with awesome camera work and a unique story line. This movie takes video gaming to the extreme and makes you wonder if there are any boundaries to what man will do to amuse themselves! Also if you play video games you will enjoy the scenes in "Society" and the characters that are portrayed. This is without doubt a modern day action blockbuster with hints of the 80' and 90's classics. The Dread Central saying "Gamer is a top of the line action/terror trip with more exploding carcasses than the latest installment of Rambo." If you like action and something new go and see this you wont be disappointed! I don’t play video game. It’s not that I don’t enjoy video games, but they’ve just never really been something that was a big part of my life.

Carrie Underwood Rushes Her New Single "Cowboy Casanova"

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Thursday, September 3, 2009 0 comments

Carrie Underwood, the 4-time Grammy Award winner, ACM Entertainer of the Year, and reigning, 3-time CMA, ACM Female Vocalist winner, American Idol’s Season 4 winner turned platinum country cowgirl, has rush-released the title character and the feisty lead-off single "Cowboy Casanova" from her upcoming 3rd album entitled "Play On" to YouTube today, a day after an unfinished rendition leaked online. The single was originally slated to arrive at country radio on September 8th, the leak of a rough, unfinished version of the song prompted a "rushed-to-radio" delivery of the real single last evening, confirmed Underwood's publicist. As a result, the singer has given country radio stations permission to play the tune, "Cowboy Casanova" has become the "unofficial-official" first single from the highly anticipated album.
For this 3rd album "Play On," Underwood has also written material with R&B singer Ne-Yo, who broke the news to his Twitter followers last week. She`s also been writing with pop hitmakers Max Martin and Kara DioGuardi. "Play On" is one of the most anticipated country albums of the fall, which is due for release on November 3rd by Arista Nashville, a week before the country music diva co-hosts the Country Music Awards with Brad Paisley. So far, Underwood has notched sales of more than 10 million records between "Some Hearts" and "Carnival Ride." Along the way, she has consistently broken new ground and earlier this year became the first country artist in history and the only “American Idol” winner ever to achieve 10 #1 singles from their first two albums.
The leading track, "Cowboy Casanova" is a simple story that is expected from a country act. However, it's the deliverance that makes the artist stand out. The new single is traditional country with some heavier backing guitar tracks leading her through the verses. The surprisingly beat-heavy uptempo number is co-written by Underwood, Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Dr. Dre), and Brett James, who helped write her 2005 hit and Grammy-winning smash "Jesus, Take the Wheel", managed to give this song a very catchy upbeat sound even with its decidedly negative message warning women to stay away. The rocking track has Underwood belting out a cautionary tale about a bad boy cowboy "who looks like a cool drink of water, but he's candy-coated misery." The sure-to-be a crossover smash is just a small taste of what is to come. It's a good tune for Underwood to be able to showcase her endless range, and certain to be another hit for her, and will lead suburban country bumpkins onto the dance floor in flocks. It's pretty upbeat rather than the ballads she's so famous for, but she still has that strong voice and personality that come through every time. One of the biggest questions the song raises is whether Taylor Swift's phenomenal success in the last year crossing over from country to pop will enable Carrie Underwood to appeal directly to pop fans as well. The new song will be debuted live for the first time when Underwood returns to the Grand Ole Opry on October 2nd. The official version of the song can be heard on Underwood's website, where it's currently streaming.

Linkin Park's "New Divide" Tops Billboard & UK Rock Chart

Posted by Kevin Z. Rong Wednesday, September 2, 2009 0 comments

As most of you have heard, the song "New Divide" from the rock band, Linkin Park is the theme song and lead single from Michael Bay's film "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." which is now reached #1 for U.S. Billboard's Rock Songs, Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Alternative Songs. The song also reached #1 on the UK Rock Charts.
"New Divide" employs a verse-chorus-verse format, akin to the majority of their first two albums, plus a mechanically-themed breakdown halfway through the second chorus. The backdrop for the song is built on layered, heavy synths and a sharp performance by Rob Bourdon, the band's drummer. Michael Bay said "I love Linkin Park... they really delivered with "New Divide" — it's a great song that perfectly matches the film's intensity." It was featured in the end credits of the film, and released as a single on May 17.
The official music video for "New Divide" was directed by award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, and shot on location at Paramount Studios May 13 and 14. The video features scenes taken from the movie, along with shots of the band inside the Egyptian cave where the bodies of the Dynasty of the Primes, while performing the song. A lot of special effects are also seen and the video is heavily edited in places making use of thermal cameras and using flying food parts as texture around a lot of the thermal imagery. The video premiered on the band's Myspace site on June 11, and released on next day.

Total Pageviews

Stephanie Quayle


Click to watch Stephanie Quayle, Sugar High.

Popular Posts

The Band Perry


Click to watch The Band Perry, Chainsaw.

Taylor Swift


Click to watch Taylor Swift, Red