Mary J. Blige’s Burger King Commercial – VIDEO

Everyone is losing their Schlitz over Mary J. Blige in a Burger King commercial. People are clutching their pearls and gasping, “A black woman singing about chicken is ESCANDALO!”

It made it waves on tv and was yanked from Youtube and every crevice of the internet. Burger King issued a statement that they pulled the ad due to a “licensing issue.” The fast food chain is attempting to give itself a makeover with new décor and new menu items that won’t turn your business end into a Slip n’ Slide for greasy fried pink slime. Jay Leno, Salma Hayek, David Beckham all joined Blige in the burger pimpery, but Mary was the only one who seemed to make waves singing about chicken.

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Number 1 Video of 2010 – Video

With over 48 million views, what’s the number 1 video of the year on YouTube? Well, hide your kids, hide your wife, here it is – It’s Antoine Dodson of Alabama lashing out after the attempted rape of his sister. The clip is set to music and pitch-corrected in a process called auto-tuning. It has sold thousands of copies on iTunes.

A parody of Kesha’s “Tik Tok” is at second place, and a 13-year-old’s cover version of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” came in third and led to a record contract for Greyson Chance, an Oklahoma middle schooler. A group of animated fruits came in at fourth, while an ad for Old Spice rounded out the top five.

Click here for a list of the top 15 celebrity single moms.

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Images Via: WENN.com

Introducing Sunny Singer-Songwriter Alyssa Bernal

When multiplatinum artist and producer Pharrell Williams is so anxious to get in touch with someone that he contacts their high school to try and track them down, you know that there is something special happening. When that happened to singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation Alyssa Bernal, the teenager was shocked. “They didn’t know who Pharrell was! They just thought it was some shady guy trying to get a hold of me,” laughs Alyssa. Her mother finally spotted his MySpace message and 24 hours later, she and Alyssa were on a plane from their home in San Antonio, TX to meet Pharrell and Interscope Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine in Los Angeles. “Finding a new talent like Alyssa is so exciting to me,” says Pharrell. “There are a lot of young singers out there who can carry a tune, but Alyssa is the real deal. She is a true musician with an incredible voice.”

Once signed to Star Trak, Alyssa met with her dream producer, Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, Train). Terefe’s schedule was fully booked for the next few months, but after an hour-long meeting with the young singer, he agreed to work with her – starting immediately. Alyssa and her mother moved to London for seven weeks to record her debut album, “In Love Again For The First Time.” Terefe helped develop Alyssa’s naturally sunny sound, enlivening her pop sensibility with notes of funk and soul. First single “Cali Cali Cali” is available on iTunes now, and is the perfect example of Alyssa’s sunny yet substantive style. Visit AlyssaBernal.com to watch her DIY video of the track and stay tuned to the site for updates on her debut!

Click here to listen to on of the girls of “Vampire Diaries” singing a Paula Abdul classic!

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Images Via: TotalAssault

Bush Wipes Hand on Clinton – Video

Ladies and gentleman…the former President of the United States…

While in Haiti former President George Bush was shaking hands with the survivors and refugees in Port Au Prince. After coming in contact with several people, Bush wiped his hand on Bill Clinton.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this wipe and run wasn’t followed by George stating: “I was told there was going to be a Chuck E. Cheese here.”

Artist Interview – Matt Dragstrem

Chicago Tour from Matt Dragstrem on Vimeo.

A little while ago we featured an article on Matt Dragstrem, an up-and-coming songwriter, who is rapidly gaining recognition with his melodic songs paired with simplistic, yet compelling lyrics. Having just released a behind the scenes video from his most recent tour throughout the Chicago and Nashville areas, Dragstrem is being deemed as an audience favorite and hailed as the new talent in town to write with by respected Nashville songwriters. He is currently in the process of recording for his upcoming full-length album, after receiving great reviews on the release of his EP “Heritage.” Recently, we’ve had the chance to throw out a couple of questions for Matt about things such as his influences and what he hopes are for the upcoming year. Our mini-interview is below. Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite places to have played?

Rockwood Music Hall in New York City has always been one of my favorite places to play. There’s such a great energy in that little hall. Everyone is straight up crazy and I love it. The audience at Rockwood typically sing and often scream my songs much louder than me. Another favorite of mine is the Elbo Room in Chicago. It’s my home town hang out. I love seeing the familiar faces.

What is one of your most bizarre fan encounters?

Well I have a lot of fans from Ireland and England who email telling me all the time how much they love my record. Not really a bizarre encounter but a cool thought that people from overseas are jamming my record. Id love to play over there soon.

Who are some of your inspirations?

I would say my current inspirations: (sifting through iPod) I have Jay-Z’s new record, One Republic’s, John Mayer’s, and the new Norah Jones. But my biggest influence stylistically are Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald primarily for there approach on singing. These two sing behind the beat and add a little improve to every performance without being forced.

Where do you get your song inspirations from, lyrically speaking?

I am a very in the moment kind of writer. I don’t plan on writing about someone or something specifically that day. I think if you’re honest with yourself in the moment and how you are really feeling about a situation the words (and melody) flow easily. So to answer your question the inspiration in my writing comes from a real place. A side note, when I write don’t know if it’ll be a pop, ballad, or country song. You can’t plan songs out like that but you can focus on creating something great.

What are some of your passions outside of music?

Lately I’ve been obsessing over vintage Ford and Chevrolet trucks. I might cave-in and buy one soon here. Im a fan of road trips and redvines (hopefully at the same time). I’m also crazy about Great Danes though I’m not sure how that beast will fit in the truck.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing?

Well in the beginning Genesis 1 (bad joke) but really in fall 2007 when i started writing songs i didn’t have a focus on my sound. I really played and wrote songs for fun because some of my friends liked what i did. But now after touring, writing, and recording my music has naturally developed into a organic pop sound. And while my voice is more ‘organic’ I’ve always desired to write big songs. Songs that could reach people everywhere.

What are your hopes for the upcoming year?

Well ill share a few things that are going down this year. I’m working on a new EP as we speak. Ive actually got a friend coming over to overdub vocals in a few moments. The EP is going to be sick and have been youtubing my progress on my page (youtube.com/mattofthedrag). I have hopes to write for other people’s records as well, to be touring, and just to be mad busy with what i love to do. Writing, playing, and eating redvines.

New Music Friday – Justin Bierber

An old soul is the last thing you would expect to find inside 15 year old Justin Bieber, but all it takes is one listen to the new artist to realize that he is years ahead of his manufactured pop-star peers. After posting dozens of homemade videos on YouTube in 2007, where Bieber put his spin on songs from artists like Usher, Ne-Yo, and Stevie Wonder, Bierber racked up over 10,000,000 views from nothing more than word of mouth.

Per Billboard:

“I entered a local singing competition called Stratford Idol. The other people in the competition had been taking singing lessons and had vocal coaches. I wasn’t taking it too seriously at the time, I would just sing around the house. I was only 12 and I got second place.” In an effort to share his victory with his loved ones, Justin began posting his performance footage online. “I put my singing videos from the competition on YouTube so that my friends and family could watch them,” he says. “But it turned out that other people liked them and they started subscribing to them. That’s how my manager found me. He saw me on YouTube and contacted my family and now I’m signed!”

The videos caught the attention of former So So Def marketing executive Scooter Braun, who helped Bieber score an impromptu audition with R&B star Usher. Impressed by what he saw, Usher and Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid quickly signed Bieber to a recording contract. Bieber released the single “One Time” about one of Justin’s favorite topics, puppy love, and his album “My World” was released in September. I think we may just have another Jessie McCartney on our hands – Only this one is cutie! You can check out the video for “One Time” above – the song is catchy!

Backstreet Boys Brian Litrell Diagnosed With Swine Flu

The Backstreet Boys were forced to cancel a meet and greet in NYC after member Brian Littrell was diagnosed with the swine flu. A rep for the band told the press that the remaining boybanders – Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and AJ McLean – have all met with a doctor and so far are okay. The boys and their touring party, who had just returned to the states from Tokyo, have been prescribed Tamiflu as a preventive measure.

Per Backstreet Boys:

“We were really looking forward to spending time with our closest fans and friends in NYC and take part of PINKTOBER, an unbelievable and important program” Littrell says. “I hope we can come back soon and do everything we can to help.”

Littrell made a special YouTube message for his fans to break the news to them and to apologize that the band had to cancel their upcoming appearances. The sickness also forced the cancellation of the groups CBS Early Show performance this morning, where they were scheduled to perform their new single, “Straight Through My Heart.” The intimate performance at PC Richards has also been cancelled and rescheduled for a later date. The groups new album “This Is Us” drops today and they had a whole bunch in-store and TV appearances lined up to promote it. The rest of the promotional schedule for this week has not been determined.

Poor guy looks awful! Hope you feel better soon!

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Images Via: wenn.com

Chris Brown Sued For Another Alledged Beating

Chris Brown likes it rough. Not only is the singer/sometimes supposed actor still in hot water over allegedly (I can’t believe I still have to preface with that word) beating up on his one time girlfriend, Rihanna, he is now being sued for using a photog as a punching bag.

According to the paparazzo, he was shooting some pics of Brown back in March at an LA Fitness center when Brown’s bodyguards spotted him and told him to stop. As he was trying to leave, one of the center’s employees blocked the exit and that’s when the beat-down commenced.

Via TMZ:

“The photog says he then fell down a stairwell, which allowed the bodyguards to catch up with him — where they, ‘picked him up by his shorts and physically assaulted him.’”

This comes only one day after Brown posted a YouTube video of himself with his friend, um, BowWow (no longer, Lil’) claiming that he “isn’t a monster.”

All I got from this video is that Bow Wow’s job is merely to repeat everything Brown says, and that Brown really thinks you should buy his next album. Only the classiest singers head to YouTube for promotion, right?

Britney Spears Tampon Video Surfaces

Britney Spears sneezes wrong and the world hears about it. So I am guessing her lady bits have a vendetta against the singer. I would too considering the caliber of hood-rats her banjingo has hosted. Last month she suffered a wardrobe malfunction in Tampa which caused her to air out to the entire audience: “My p**sy is hanging out!” (Click HERE for the photos and video of that disaster.)

It appears as though Spears’ tampon string was hanging out during a live performance from her “Circus” tour. While singing “Boys,” a bit of white string is visible at her crotch and it is unclear if it is a bit of frayed string from her military costume or something else. The video is now making it’s way through the net dubbed as “The Britney Spears Tampon Video.”

Lets give the benefit of doubt and say she’s smuggling a bomb and the fuse was hanging out.

Susan Boyle Cry Me a River – Video

[Susan Boyle Singing Cry Me a River Video]

Susan Boyle is taking the world by a vocal storm. The Scottish born 47 year old showed up on “Britain’s Got Talent” to sing for her supper. Taking the stage everyone immediately disregarded the average woman who wanted to be the next Elaine Paige. Snide comments and laughter began to rumble through the audience.

Then she opened her mouth and unleashed a stunning performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables.” It is a gorgeous song that takes gumption and a stellar set of vocals to nail. Boyle stunned the crowds and made them justifiably eat their words. Now an audio of her Susan singing “Cry Me a River” has surfaced.

[Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent Video]

This woman can sing! It’s also a humbling lesson that we should be so quick to judge someone.