Creative Arts Emmy Recap

Hello everyone! In case you were unaware, last night was the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony (it will be broadcast on Reelz Channel later this week), and there were some big winners and shockers that could indicate what next Sunday's Primetime Emmys ceremony could bring. Let's check it out.

First, the big categories of the night were the guest acting categories. Kathy Bates took home the Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Two and a Half Men. Personally, I had her ranked fifth, and I'm surprised she won, but I guess I shouldn't be. Bates is a well-respected actress who has never won an Emmy, and voters may have wanted to reward her (which means her chances for winning a Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Harry's Law aren't as great anymore). I really thought Melissa McCarthy had this one in the bag, and if not her, then Maya Rudolph, another SNL guest host. SNL didn't go home empty-handed in the guest acting categories, however: Jimmy Fallon picked up an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting the SNL Christmas episode. He was my number one pick, so yay for me! Fallon's win here continues Saturday Night Live's hot streak in these categories; an SNL guest has won one of these categories since 2009. On the drama side of things, Jeremy Davies took home the award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Justified. I had him ranked third, thinking one of the actors from The Good Wife would take home the prize, but (just as in the comedy category), the show was rewarded in another capacity: in one of the night's biggest surprises, Martha Plimpton took home the Emmy for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role on The Good Wife. While I had her ranked third, I'm thrilled she picked up this award, finally earning some Emmy recognition (and I guess this makes up for her snub in the Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category this year).

In other news, the night's big winner was HBO's Game of Thrones, which picked up six awards, including Art Direction, Costumes, and Special Visual Effects. While that may be a good thing for the show heading to the primetime ceremony (where it is nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series), remember that last year's Creative Arts winner, Boardwalk Empire, only picked up one extra award at the primetime ceremony. Still, keep an eye out on Game of Thrones for some potential upsets! Frozen Planet, Great Expectations, and Saturday Night Live followed close behind with four wins each. Boardwalk Empire picked up three wins, while Downton Abbey and Homeland each won two Emmys. Surprisingly, the two frontrunners for Best Drama Series (Mad Men and Breaking Bad) were shut-out of the Creative Arts Emmys, a first for Mad Men. I smell a serious chance of an upset in this category!

Out of the Best Comedy Series nominees, only three shows picked up one award (Girls, Modern Family, and Curb Your Enthusiasm), which doesn't really help make predicting this category easier. Two and a Half Men was the only comedy to pick up multiple awards but I'm thinking that won't make much of a change when it comes to Jon Cryer's nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. CBS comedies had a great showing this year: in addition to Men's two wins, 2 Broke Girls and How I Met Your Mother also picked up an Emmy each (HIMYM picks up it's second Emmy for Best Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Series). CBS picked up thirteen awards, but HBO led the pack with 17. Check back later this week for more pre-Emmy hype as we count down to Sunday's ceremony!

Evan

Song of the Week - September 14th - Lolita by The Veronicas

Although a lot of my week has been consumed by First Listens for Carly Rae Jepsen and Pink, I have had time to fit in other music, specifically this week's pick for Song of the Week. I found this band after the success of their first big US single, Untouched, and I really fell in love with their second studio album, Hook Me Up. It should come as no surprise that I was extremely happy when I saw The Veronicas were planning to release new music this year, and this week, I finally got a first taste. I was unaware that this song had been out for a few weeks now, but I'm still really excited to show off my pick for Song of the Week...

Lolita by The Veronicas

This lead single from the girls' new album, Life on Mars (expected in 2013), is very futuristic and a bit of a departure from their previous sound, but that's completely okay. The beginning bars remind me of Ellie Goulding's Lights, but the song quickly heads in a different direction. Jessica and Lisa (yes, neither of them are named Veronica) sound really clean on the song, and the throbbing beat is sure to make this song a hit on the dance floor. The build-up to the pounding chorus breakdown is awesome, and you can't not at least tap your foot along to the song. The dubstep breakdown is awesome and very creepy, especially with lyrics like "Always stay close to me/Don't think of living/And I promise I will keep our secret." My favorite line is right before the big blow-up of the chorus: "You're my possession, I'm your obsession, don't tell me never, I'll love you forever." See, kinda creepy, right? It's just a fun song that might be taken as being slightly obsessive with a loved one - it's like a dance-rock answer to Call Me Maybe. Give the song a spin and let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Evan

First Listen: The Truth About Love by Pink

In addition to Carly Rae Jepsen's album Kiss, Pink's The Truth About Love also leaked on Tuesday. So what does the album sound like? What are the standout tracks? Find out below!

1. Are We All We Are - This song's got an awesome rock-alt vibe going on, a bit of a different direction for Pink, but it sounds really freaking cool. The lyrics are pretty awesome, and the "Are we all we are?" chant is instant earworm. It's a really different album intro and I'm interested to see if it sets the pace for the album.

2. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - Everyone knows it already, so I'll just say it's good, dance-y, but I don't love it like I've loved previous Pink songs. That's all I have to say about that.

3. Try - I think this song is really beautiful. It's mid-tempo, I guess I would say, and it's not a "smack you across the face" kind of hit, but I think it'll gain alot of popularity, if not for the beautiful lyrics. Pink sounds really good, these are the kind of songs she excels at. This is the next single off the album, and I could see it doing really well, even if it's not your typical hit song.

4. Just Give Me a Reason - This is Pink's duet with Nate Reuss, the lead singer of fun. and as a fan, I was really excited to hear this one. It doesn't disappoint. You can tell Nate definitely had something to do with the songwriting process, because there's a fun. flavor in this song. Both Pink's and Nate's vocals are amazing here, both are hitting notes in a different stratosphere. I feel like the song could've been a little more "produced," but in it's current state, it's a very subtle track.

5. True Love - I think this song is a riot. It's basically about hating someone so much, you love them. It's got a fun beat and Pink's delivery is at it's best here, because she's being sarcastic and mean. The chorus is really catchy, "I really hate you so much, I think it must be true love." A potential radio single.

6. How Come You're Not Here - The first thing you can recognize about this song is that it's got an infectious driving beat. Pink's being a mean, crude, and scorned lover, asking a lover if he's not with her because he's dead. It's fun, but I'm not sure I like it better than the similar True Love.

7. Slut Like You - Pardon the blunt title. This one is kind of crazy! It's got an instant, "get up and dance" beat, and Pink is delivering these lines with vocal command. The chorus hits and it's absolutely insane! There's a lot of "woo-hoo"-ing, and I'm not certain I love it or not. The rap breakdown is good, and the song overall is actually pretty good, I just don't know if I really like the chorus all that much. I still think it could be a radio single, although there will have to be much editing done to the lyrics (multiple uses of multiple bad words).

8. The Truth About Love - This song feels half-baked: the vocals, the production, even the lyrics. I was waiting for the song to go somewhere, and it didn't. It's just okay, for me.

9. Beam Me Up - A beautiful, understated song. On an album that has mostly been full of thumping beats, biting lyrics, and crazy vocal delivery, this song takes a step back. Just guitars, strings, and piano and Pink's light voice, and you've got a really good song. The subject matter is about seeing someone who has (I'm assuming) passed away, and Pink begging to "beam me up" to be with that person again. It's incredibly understated when it could've been a big power ballad but I almost like it better this way.

10. Walk of Shame - This song is pretty funny! It's about exactly what the title insinuates, and it's a song that, really, only Pink could pull off. It's got a driving beat and Pink is in her zone, it could go to radio.

11. Here Comes the Weekend - Here's another song that kinda disappoints. The song starts off good, but it stays there, never really building. Pink's vocal delivery is just okay on this one. Eminem comes in for a verse and it's...fine? The beat is toe-tap worthy, though. I'm not too keen on it.

12. Where Did the Beat Go? - This one's got a dark beat that separates it from the rest of the album, and it's pretty cool. Lyrically, it's heavy, and Pink's delivery shows that. It's good.

13. The Great Escape - I really, really like this song. Pink is talking about suicide and ending your life, and it's highly personal. She sounds absolutely beautiful, and when the harmonies kick in, the song starts soaring, and the instrumentation builds till the end. It's a hauntingly beautiful song, a great way to close the album. One of my favorites, for sure.

Overall, the album is kinda half and half for me. Some songs are really good and others are just kinda there. I was surprised that there weren't more ballads, because I think that's where Pink really succeeds. Still, she's got some good future hits on here.

My favorite tracks: Are We All We Are, Try, Just Give Me a Reason, The Great Escape

First Listen: Kiss by Carly Rae Jepsen

With so much great music coming out this fall, I decided to do a "First Listen" column for this fall's most anticipated albums. CDs generally tend to be leaked before they are officially released, but Interscope Records managed to keep a good lid on Carly Rae Jepsen's new (not debut!) album, Kiss. The album, however, leaked yesterday, just three days short of it's release in Japan, and is currently making its way around the Web. Of course, I jumped on the opportunity to take a first listen, so below is a track-by-track review of the album. As an overview, if you're a 90's kid, love bubblegum pop, and you want to be taken back to the days of boy bands and teenage divas, this is probably the album for you. It's got a very cool, retro sound, which is what kind of separates Carly Rae from other stars of today. Here's the track-by-track:

1. Tiny Little Bows - This song should be a clear indication of what the album is going to sound like, and it definitely delivers on that promise. With heavy beats, Carly's signature whispery voice, and a dance-easy feel, it's the perfect way to get the album started. I get an island-y kind of feel at some points, and it's a lot of fun. On first listen, I didn't pick up on the lyrics right away, although Carly did release an acoustic version of this song a while back, and the lyrics seem to have definitely changed since then. This song is a grower, for sure. I don't know if it would ever be a future single, but it's a fun track to get the album started.

2. This Kiss - Carly's newest single, this song has the light airy catchiness that made Call Me Maybe such a big hit. It starts off with dancehall synths that are very 80's/90's, and it kicks right into a bubblegum chorus: "This kiss is something I can't resist, your lips are undeniable. This kiss is something I can't risk, your heart is unreliable." And why is Carly's man "unreliable?" Oh yeah, because it's a song about cheating, whoops. Yep, the song deals with Carly's feelings about another man, despite the fact that they are both in relationships. It's rumored to be about her new boyfriend Matthew Koma, who also co-wrote the song. Tricky, tricky, Carly!

3. Call Me Maybe - I think we can all agree we don't need to analyze this song, right? Okay, good.

4. Curiosity - For anyone who may not have known, this song was originally a part of Carly's Curiosity EP that was released in Canada in February. The song, in it's original context, was just a basic guitar and voice piece, and it was really great. Here, the song has been reworked to fit the pop/dance feeling of the album. As a fan of the original, I'm not sure how I feel about this new version. It's certainly easier to dance to, but I liked the simple version. Still, it's still just as catchy, and everyone loves a good key change, right? I certainly do. The song could be a future single, but seeing as how it was already released as a single in Canada earlier this year, it's kind of unlikely.

5. Good Time - Another Carly Rae song we can skip right over, right? This song is instantly catchy and it fits right in on the album.

6. More Than a Memory - This song reminds me of The One That Got Away by Katy Perry, but don't worry, that's a good thing. In fact, on this album of dance-pop, it's a welcome addition. The song is a more-than-mid-tempo ballad about saving a relationship that is falling apart. Carly sounds great here and the song is still very danceable. It's one of my favorites on the whole album. I could see it being a radio single, especially if the "Carly Rae only makes stupid pop music about flirting" thing kicks in.

7. Turn Me Up - The song starts off good...builds....and then it hits the chorus and you cannot stop dancing! While it's vocally the least challenging song on the album, methinks, it's still a really great one to dance to, especially since it's the first song on the album that doesn't have Carly head over heels in love. In fact, it's the opposite! It's all about going out after a fight with your loved one. It's got an awesome beat and easy lyrics that'll be great to shout over the throbbing beats. It reminds me of Don't Wake Me Up by Chris Brown, just a little tiny bit. Don't crucify me! I can definitely see this one being a radio single.

8. Hurt So Good - Ultimate. Bubblegum. Pop. And I love it. From the very second this song starts, you are guaranteed to at least start tapping your foot. It's got an insanely addictive beat and the chorus is instantly memorable. Lyrically, it's in the vein of Call Me Maybe, crushing on a faraway person of interest. It's definitely near the top of my favorites list, and I'm thinking it'll definitely be a single.

9. Beautiful - This is the much-anticipated duet with Justin Bieber. Surprisingly, it sounds nothing like the rest of the album, because the duet was recorded to be a part of Carly's Curiosity EP (although it then begs the question why Curiosity had to be changed to be more dance-pop, but I won't get into that!). Still, it's a nice song and a big change of pace from the rest of the album. Both Carly and Justin sound good, although the big problem here is that the chorus sounds eerily similar to One Direction's big hit. "What makes you so beautiful is you don't know how beautiful you are to me" vs. "You don't know you're beautiful, that's what makes you beautiful." Yeah, exactly! Even though it's the Bieber song, I really hope this doesn't get released as a single.

10. Tonight I'm Getting Over You - My favorite track on the album. It's different from every other track because it sounds more modern, but I really love it. It starts off pretty tame and builds up to the explosive chorus, which will have you chanting "Tonight, I'm getting over you!" It'll be a club hit and I'm thinking it'll definitely be an anthem for the year. Premature? Maybe. But the song is definitely going to be a hit, I think. There's no reason it shouldn't be. It's a different sound and a different message for Carly (kinda like Turn Me Up), but I love it.

11. Guitar String/Wedding Ring - I'll start by saying the song is kinda cheesy. "If you cut a piece of guitar string, I would wear it like it's a wedding ring?" Really? But that doesn't mean you won't be chanting those lines during the song. It has a real 70's/80's feel, a little different from the other songs, but I still really like it. The lyrics are passable and the beat is good. I don't think it'll be a single, but it's still fun.

12. Your Heart is a Muscle - The one and only true ballad on the album, and it's pretty good. Carly's whispery voice works pretty good, and even though "your heart is a muscle" is kind of lame, it's still fun to sing along to. It's a slow jam, but it's a good song nonetheless. Won't be a single though.

Deluxe tracks:

13. Drive - This song is okay compared to the other songs on the album, and it starts to get to a point where if there is no distinctive element to these songs, they fade in the background. That's the case here.

14. Wrong Feels So Right - The song has a club beat and it's a little promiscuous, but it's very dance-y and fun. I can understand why it's a deluxe track, because it doesn't really fit with the rest of the album.

15. Sweetie - Sounds kinda like the track right before, but I like this one a little more. The actual music here is just a little more prominent, and the chorus is catchy. It's got that Carly Rae charm.

The American version has a sixteenth track, Almost Said It, but that song has apparently not leaked. However, a track from the Japanese version, I Know You Have a Girlfriend, has apparently leaked, but I haven't found it. Still, there is more than enough to enjoy here!

My favorite tracks: Tonight I'm Getting Over You, Hurt So Good, More Than a Memory, Turn Me Up

Have you listened? What songs are you loving right now? Let me know in the comments section below!

Evan

The Voice Premiere Week Recap

I know, I know, I'm a little late here, but I thought I needed to give you guys my rundown of this first week of The Voice. It's my favorite reality competition on TV and I'm so glad it's back! At least for the Blind Auditions, I'll only be able to briefly go over each contestant and the judges' reactions and things like that because, if you've seen the episodes, you know that each episode is jam-packed with lots of auditions. I've included my favorite performances, though, so if you didn't get to watch, you can check those out! So, let's get started!

Episode 1
Terry: The first contestant of the season is a Scottish man living in Los Angeles who's stuck in the 80's (yep, you heard me right). He's singing "Baba O'Reilly" and he sounds pretty good. For a rock kind of guy, he's got a very clean voice with a hint of an edge. Adam and Cee-Lo fight for Terry, but he ends up as the first member of TEAM BLAKE, where I think he'll be a solid contender.

De'Borah: Immediately one of the most quirky contestants The Voice has ever seen, this daughter of a preacher man (and preacher woman!) bursts on the scene and pops with the audience. Her unique personality is matched by her interesting voice and a stage presence that is very...energetic, let's say! Her rendition of "Hey, Soul Sister" is enough to get Cee-Lo and Christina's attention, and after some deliberation, De'Borah becomes TEAM XTINA's first draft pick, where she could find some success.

Gracia: Yes, I'll admit, just like everyone else, all I saw at first was a little country girl who could sing and look pretty. Then, Gracia admitted that she can yodel. And man, can she! Her performance of "I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is aided tremendously by the yodeling, and she's not a half bad singer too. Adam, Cee-Lo, and Blake turn around for her. Adam tries to woo her over by saying it's the best country performance they've ever seen on the show (RAELYNN SHADE!), but she ends up becoming the token blonde for TEAM BLAKE, but she has the potential to go far in this competition.

Garrett: At first, I'm cheering for Garrett because he's a New Jersey native and he's got a sad backstory (his father passed away and is his biggest inspiration), but when he starts his rendition of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?", it's clear that he's not ready for the show, not yet. While he has a cool rasp, he has trouble with note control and stability, but the judges are very supportive of him and encourage him to keep on working (take that American Idol and The X Factor!), thus providing the first Kleenex moment of season three, as the audience cheers as teary-eyed Garrett exits the stage.

Devyn: The one thing I (and the judges) noticed immediately about Devyn is her beauty, and if she goes far enough into this contest, don't think that won't work in her favor. Anyway, Devyn is taking a major risk, performing a Christina Aguilera original in front of her. Her performance of "Ain't No Other Man" is pretty good, with impressive vocal runs and a bit of a breathy quality that might be an advantage if she ever gets to try out a ballad. Adam, Christina and Blake pound their buttons for this knockout, but it's pretty obvious that she's meant for TEAM XTINA, and that's where she ends up. If she can get better, she's a definite threat.

Bryan: One of this episode's highlights, Bryan comes on the scene as the son of Ray De La Paz, a famous Spanish singer, but Bryan refuses to use his dad's connections to get him success in the music industry. It doesn't matter because he won't need them anyway. His performance of "It Will Rain," an otherwise plain song, was awesome! He brought a new edge to the performance and sounded really, really good. Apparently, everyone else thought the same thing: all four judges turned around! But who gets to have this performer on their team? TEAM ADAM picks up it's first member, and he's already a frontrunner for this competition.

Daniel: Surprise! You thought you were done with Daniel Rosa from last season? Think again! Remember him? He sang Neon Trees' Animal, was just okay, and asked the judges for feedback, and now he's back this season, better than ever (or so he thinks). And he is better. But I'm still not that impressed by him. His take on "Somebody That I Used to Know" is unique, but his phrasing and pronunciation is still...off-putting, at least to me. Plus, for me, that song was already performed at its' best on The Voice by Lindsey Pavao last season. Still, it's enough to turn around Cee-Lo and Blake, and they, along with Adam and Xtina, recognize our old friend and are very happy to see him! Now he'll make it, how great! But what team is he gonna pick? He goes for his best choice, TEAM CEE-LO, but we'll see how far he makes it.

Anita: One of the most disappointing moments of the episode for me was this performance. After all the hype about Anita's background (she graduated for Berkley, a prestigious musical performance school), I was highly underwhelmed by her first performance of "No Woman, No Cry." Yes, I said first. After no judges turned around, Anita managed to coax them to let her try an a capella version, knowing she wouldn't be on a team anyway, and unfortunately, that is the version that she should've sang to begin with, because the judges really like it. The judges urge her to come back next season, and methinks this is not the end of Anita!

Joe: Joe, a member from alternative band Artist vs. Poet (who I've heard of before, go me!), is here because the lead singer of the band jumped ship, the record label lost interest, and Joe couldn't hold the band together. Adam and Blake like his performance of "Gives You Hell" enough to turn around, and, being a singer in a band before, Joe says he has to pick TEAM ADAM, which is a great fit for him. If molded correctly, he could be a big player this season.

Jessica: This North Carolina native is as country as country gets, so I'm very excited for her performance of "Son of a Preacher Man." However, the performance lacks...something. No one turns around, unfortunately, because I think Jessica could've been molded into something better, but the judges tell her to come back, she says she definitely will, and Xtina wipes away her tears with a big hug. Poor Jessica!

Next, we see three failed performances that aren't really worth mentioning.

Trevin: Finally, we get to the best part of not only this episode, but probably the whole week, and maybe even the whole season. In the pre-performance package, we learn that Trevin is an eighteen year old singer stuck in the Bronx, where violence is a part of living. He's very soft-spoken and humble, and you kinda just wanna give him a big hug. His performance begins and within ten seconds, Xtina slams her button, and it's not hard to see why. To put it plain, this kid can sing. He's just got raw talent that can't be taught. His lyrical understanding, vocal runs, and vibratto, everything is just so fine tuned and for eighteen years old, what an accomplishment! Blake and Cee-Lo aren't very far behind Xtina, and as Trevin hits the final note of his song, Blake is on his feet, screaming at Adam, who does not push his button (mostly because he knows he probably won't be picked as Trevin's couch). My favorite moment is the very end of the performance when Xtina rises to her feet, jaw on the floor, pointing right at Trevin, with a face that reads "Ho-ly...CRAP!" As the judges bicker over why they're better for Trevin, he remains humble and honored, but by the end, he's picked TEAM CEE-LO, and I'm kinda glad...because now Cee-Lo may finally have a winner. A side note: his family and friends' reactions were the best I think I've ever seen. I love them...so much.

Episode 2
Adriana: The second episode starts with Adriana, a very pretty singer with a tragic past. She details a hostage situation from her childhood that she says inspired her to start singing. Her performance of "Domino" is really good, with great stage energy (and really, stage energy is essential unless your voice is out-of-this-world incredible). Even though it was a little pitchy, all four coaches heard something they liked, and the battle for Adriana begins. Christina comes out guns blazing, while Cee-Lo uses his creepy uncle flirting skills to try and woo her. It works in the favor of TEAM XTINA, who picks up a solid contender.

Casey: In what is sure to be a running joke this whole season, the next contestant's name is Casey Muessigmann (pronounced Musicman). HA! How funny! For a second. The Iowa native (wait, last name Musicman and he's from Iowa? Ten points if you understand what I'm getting at!) starts and Blake nearly jumps out of his seat. Yay for country music! Of course, Blake hits his button, but (surprise!) Cee-Lo joins him. Not that he needs to worry: Casey says his whole reason for coming on the show was to make country music on TEAM BLAKE. We'll see how long The Music Man (who is not Harold Hill) sticks around.

Aquile: Yes, that's a name, and yes, he's got a voice. When he was younger, he got his jaw wired shut after breaking his jaw and taught himself how to play the guitar. He sings a unique and original rendition of "Your Song" and it attracts Adam, Cee-Lo, and Christina. He's definitely got a cool voice, but I think a coach's opinion will only make him better Speaking of coaches, who is Aquile's? In a kind of surprising twist, TEAM XTINA gains a new member, but Xtina showed last season that she is open to variety (her final two were Lindsey Pavao and Chris Mann, hello!), so Aquile can go far.

The next four performances are all passes, although Ryan Fogerty gets a bit of a showcase (only because he's LeAnn Rimes' tour manager), but he's not impressive. Next!

Mackenzie: Young contestant Mackenzie has a truly tragic backstory (his might take the cake this season). He was put into an induced coma last year after suffering from congestive heart failure, but he made it out alive in time for Super Bowl Sunday 2012. Of course, fans will remember that the Season 2 launch of The Voice aired behind the big game, and Mackenzie's dad suggested he try out for the show. They looked up auditions that night, and now Mackenzie has made it! He's doing a rendition of "Pumped Up Kicks," which sounds awesome. His voice is really unique, and everyone loves it, specifically Cee-Lo, who is the only judge to turn around and thus, Mackenzie is automatically TEAM CEE-LO, and this Harry Potter-Justin Bieber hybrid looks to be a real competitor.

Julio: The final competitor of Night 2 is Julio, a mariachi singer who is doing something no one has ever done before on The Voice: singing an entire song in Spanish! Chris Mann did almost the same thing last season (he sang in Italian, and didn't sing the whole song in a foreign language). Still, Julio's "La Bamba" is fun, and I think Blake turns around because it's different, but he's joined by Cee-Lo, who was sold by the last note, which was very good, I'll admit. But in one of the biggest WTF moments of the season, Julio decides to go TEAM BLAKE. I mean...sure. I'll be curious to see what he does beyond this point.



Episode 3
Samuel: From the start, I like Samuel's look. That's why I'm a little surprised when he starts singing. He's singing "Redemption Song" and it's definitely got a Jamaican swag to it that I wasn't expecting. Still, he sounds really good and I like it alot. Apparently, so do three out of the four judges. While Xtina and Cee-Lo try to put up a fight for the youngster, Samuel decides to join TEAM ADAM, which I think was probably his best choice.

Chris: This was a story of a bad, baaaad song choice. "Glad You Came" is fun to dance to, but not impressive to sing to. You kinda feel bad for the kid (he used to be in a boy band with Jesse McCartney, but he went under the radar, ready to reemerge), but his vocals on the song are kinda rough. He's certainly an impressive dancer, and sometimes that can mess with a performer's vocals. And this show is called The VOICE! Anyway, no more Chris, or the three competitors behind him for that matter.

Nelly's Echo: In depth artist name aside, Nelly is originally from Nigeria where he had to flee as a kid due to civil unrest. He now resides in Maryland and is ready to share his voice with America, since music helped him cope with his situation. His rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine" is pretty good, and it gets Adam and Xtina to turn around, which makes for some funny banter between these two bickerers. Still, Nelly decides to go with TEAM XTINA.

2 Steel Girls: We finally have our first duo of Season 3. Notoriously, duos have had bad luck on this show: Elenowen from Season 1 and The Line from Season 2 were both shockingly eliminated during the Battle Rounds after really strong Blind Auditions. Can 2 Steel Girls break the curse? Well, it's too soon to tell. But based on their song, "Before He Cheats," I'm thinking they'll definitely need some help from their coach to help solidify their sound if they want a chance at getting far in this competition. Speaking of which, who is their coach? Although Cee-Lo made a good case, the girls picked TEAM BLAKE.

Lisa, MarissaAnne, and Loren: These three made it, but I barely heard enough of them to make an opinion about their voices. The one thing to note here is that MarissaAnne is only fifteen. She and Lisa end up on TEAM XTINA, while Loren becomes a member of TEAM ADAM. The whole purpose of this segment was to show how everyone was passing over Cee-Lo, who pressed his button for all three girls. But that doesn't last long...

Domo: America, get ready to meet the contestant you'll love to hate. Domo comes on the scene, popping and locking, thinking she's the best thing since sliced bread and her you-know-what don't stink. She calls herself the "Lady GaGa of China" because, you know, that's every little girl's dream. I'm ready for a trainwreck when she sings, mainly because I don't wanna see this girl on my TV screen. Unfortunately, she's got some talent, singing "Don't Cha" and Cee-Lo picks up on it immediately (fun fact: Cee-Lo wrote that song. Altogether now: "WHAAAAAT?!"). She struts her stuff for him, and he clearly loves it. After leading the crowd with a chant, "When I say DO, you say MO!", she officially becomes a member of TEAM CEE-LO, and I'm pretty sure this girl is this season's Erin Martin, possibly worse.

Nicole: The night's best performance comes from soft-spoken Nicole, a self-described hippie who lives in a community of hammocks and blankets (I kid you not). Still, Nicole says her true passion is music and she didn't sing in public until very recently. For her Blind Audition, she'll be singing "Hallelujah" and she sounds just gorgeous. She's really got a good voice on her. Apparently, everyone thinks so, as all four judges turn around. First Adam, then Cee-Lo, Christina, and finally, Blake. While the judges deliberate who she is best for, Nicole admits she was originally going to pick Blake, but the power of the first push has something over her, and she becomes a highlight for TEAM ADAM.

Who were your favorites of premiere week? For me, I'm looking forward to hearing from Bryan, Joe, Trevin, Mackenzie, and Nicole. Let me know who you like in the comments section below!

Evan

Billboard Hot 100 Update - Week of September 22nd

Taylor Swift is never, ever, ever giving up the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. After sliding one spot last week to #2, country's princess is back on top for a third week with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. According to Billboard, the song's third week at #1 makes it the longest stay at the top for a country song in 32 years, since Kenny Rogers' Lady claimed the top spot for six weeks. Of course, there is much debate about whether the song is really considered "country," but Billboard apparently thinks so. Swift was aided by a closing performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which certainly helped her keep atop the Digital Songs chart for a fourth week and also helped her #10-#7 rise on Radio Songs. Will the song be able to make it four weeks on top? Not if Maroon 5 have anything to say about it! Their single One More Night lifts one more spot #3-#2 after a #13-#11 push on Radio Songs, but a #2-#3 slip on Digital Songs. If the song can get another big push at radio next week, it's a threat for the top slot. Last week's #1, Whistle by Flo Rida, drops 2 spots to #3 despite a #3-#2 climb on Radio Songs. fun.'s Some Nights hits a new high, climbing one spot to #4. The song is hoping to climb higher and maybe even match the performance of the band's star-making single We Are Young. The rise comes at a price for Ellie Goulding, whose breakout US single Lights falls one spot to #5.

Pink has the VMAs to thank for the giant leap for her single Blow Me (One Last Kiss). After spending the past few weeks outside the Top 10 and falling, her performance fueled sales and airplay for the song and it jumps back into the top tier from #11 to #6. With her new album coming out next week, Pink could spend a little more quality time at the top. Even though he was absent from this year's VMAs, Justin Bieber must have been on the mind of everyone since his new single As Long As You Love Me jumped back into the race to the top, leaping #9-#7, a new peak for the song. Of course, for every jump, there must be a fall, and this time, Neon Trees, Owl City, and Carly Rae Jepsen are the victims. Neon Trees, jumping into the Top 10 last week at #6, fall two spots to #8, while Owl City and Carly Rae's duet, Good Time, take a step back #8-#9 after a few weeks of steady rises. However, the biggest success story of the charts is saved for a newcomer at #10. And who is it? Alex Clare and his single Too Close. After being featured on Fox's TV dance competition So You Think You Can Dance?, the song's sales flew, an #11-#6 raise on Digital Songs, and a #15-#10 jump on the Hot 100. Pretty impressive, I say.

Katy Perry's Wide Awake and Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe fall out of the Top 10 for the first time this summer/early fall, to #11 and #12, respectively. Both tracks had great runs, however, and Perry can take a bit of a break now. Jepsen, however, is just getting started! She just released her new single, This Kiss, this week, so we'll see if that song can catch some chart success. Maroon 5's Payphone, David Guetta and Sia's Titanium, and Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know all fall one spot, #12-#13, #13-#14, and #14-15, respectively. Taylor Swift's newest song Ronan made an impressive debut on the chart this week. Following the live debut performance on Friday night, Swift's sales skyrocketed to a #2 peak on Digital Songs and a fantastic #16 debut on the Hot 100. The song's performance on the Digital Songs chart also indicates the first time two country songs have occupied the first two spots on the chart. Of course, next week will be the song's first full week on the charts, but we'll see if it can keep up the momentum. Demi Lovato falls one spot from #16-#17 with Give Your Heart a Break. Meanwhile, Kanye West's Mercy and Nicki Minaj's Pound the Alarm each jump one spot, #19-#18 and #20-#19, a good sign for the latter. Rihanna falls two more spots to #20 with Where Have You Been, but if reports are to be believed, she'll be back in the game soon with a brand new single due to drop Monday, September 17th. Homegirl just never takes a break!

Cher Lloyd takes a tumble from #17-#21, and it doesn't look like the song is going to climb much higher than it's #12 peak, but she's already released her second US single, With Ur Love, so we'll see if that song can go a little higher. Three songs hit new peaks in the #21-#30 range: Hunter Hayes' Wanted at #23, Chris Brown's Don't Wake Me Up at #24, and Carrie Underwood's Blown Away at #28. Train take a step up from #32-#31 with the mariachi-infused 50 Ways to Say Goodbye, hopefully the song can climb higher (look, if Drive By could do it, this song certainly can). The Lumineers' sweetly catchy Ho Hey jumps two spots to a new peak of #35. Alicia Keys' new single Girl on Fire debuts at #37, aided by a VMA performance featuring Nicki Minaj and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas (no, she didn't sing, she performed a routine, DUH!). Frank Ocean's VMA performance also got him a ridiculously huge jump on the Hot 100 this week, from #78-#39, with Digital Gainer honors. Can the song go any higher? We'll find out soon enough. Also making a huge jump is It's Time, although that's largely based on Imagine Dragons' album release last week, but it goes #63-#49.

Ne-Yo jumps another eight spots, #58-#50, with Let Me Love You. David Guetta's song with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne, I Can Only Imagine, jumps four spots #64-#60. The sudden explosion of PSY's Gangnam Style music video benefited the song, which has a Hot 100 debut at #64. The song is climbing up iTunes as it gets more and more (maybe unneeded?) exposure, so maybe it'll go higher next week. Karmin also see another big jump from #89-#77 with their second single, Hello, and the song is only going to go higher! Due to it's use in a prominent Taco Bell commercial, Passion Pit's addictive Take a Walk jumps #99-#87, so maybe it'll see some radio airplay (after all, radio has been especially nice to alt music this year).  That's all for this week. But before you leave, stop by the comments section and tell me what songs you are currently loving!

Evan

Song of the Week - September 9th - Ronan by Taylor Swift

Songs have a certain way of tugging at the heart strings. A song can make us remember a particularly happy or sad moment in our lives. Sometimes, we can get so attached to a song - the lyrics, melody, its meaning - that it brings a tear to our eyes. Needless to say, my pick for Song of the Week is certain to bring one, if not a stream, of these aforementioned tears, and is sure to relate to everyone who listens in some capacity. My pick for Song of the Week is...

Ronan by Taylor Swift

Swift released this ballad on Friday night at the multi-network Stand Up to Cancer event, and the song immediately went to #1 on iTunes. It's not hard to see why. Swift was inspired to write this song after reading the blog of Maya Thompson, an Arizona mother who lost her four year old son, Ronan, in 2011 to neuroblastoma, a cancer commonly found in young children. Using words and memories from Thompson's blog, Swift wrote this heartbreaking tribute to the young victim and credited Maya as a co-writer on the song. She premiered it on Stand Up to Cancer in a moving performance that brought many in the audience and Swift herself to tears. Certainly, the song has struck a chord with audiences throughout the country. Even those who have never personally been affected by childhood cancer can't help but grieve for the Thompsons as Swift croons "Come on baby with me/We're gonna fly away from here/Out of this curtained room/And this hospital grey, we'll disappear/You were my best four years." Admittedly, the song moved this blogger to shed a tear. All of the proceeds of the song's sales with go to childhood cancer research. The song was, originally, not planned on being on the tracklist for Swift's upcoming album, Red, but sources say her label is looking to add the track at the last minute. Please take a listen to the song and purchase it on iTunes, it's a painless $1.29 that could help save a child's life.

Evan