AMAZY MUSIC AWARDS: TOP 20 SINGLES; 5 THROUGH 1

HERE WE ARE!!! The top 5 singles of 2012 are finally here. In case you missed them, here are Parts I, II or III. Here we have a newbie, the third single by a pouty princess, more BOYS!!!(and GAY ones, at that) and two ladies who are absolute legends and Queens of pop, one making her third appearance on the top 20 this year. It's been a pretty fun, sassy year in pop music and these songs are some of the absolute sweetest pieces of pop perfection ever! Thanks for reading and watching. Love ya!!
5. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
4. Born to Die - Lana Del Rey

3. Let's Have a Kiki - Scissor Sisters

2. Girl Gone Wild - Madonna

1. Timebomb - Kylie Minogue

WHO HAD 3 CONSECUTIVE CHRISTMAS #1'S IN THE UK? THE SPICE GIRLS. THAT'S WHO

In the UK it's a big, BIG freakin' deal to have a #1 song on the charts on Christmas. Record sales tend to peak during this time of year, so to be at the top of the charts is some big-ass business. The supreme UK girls group, Spice Girls, were able to achieve this goal not one, not two, but THREE years in a row in the late 90s. Remember the good ol' days when the Scary, Sporty, Posh, Baby and Ginger were everywhere? Well, I thought they were good. SCREW YOU! Anyway, the Girls were nailing it during the late 90s so today, since I'm in a rare holiday spirit, I'm bringing you their three (non-holiday themed of course) #1 singles from 96 (2 Become 1), 97 (Too Much) and 98 (Goodbye). All ballads? You big softies!! Yay!! Girl Power. Happy Holidays!

AMAZY MUSIC AWARDS 2012: TOP 20 SINGLES; 10 THROUGH 6

Oh, boy. We are getting close now!! Top 10, people. Here are my #10 through 6 fave songs of 2012. We have not just ladies this time...THERE'S A LADY-BOY TOO!! Along with the legend, a famous sibling, a pop princess and a country princess as well! Watch and agree. In case you missed, here are Part I and II.
10. Glamazon - RuPaul

9. Turn Up The Radio - Madonna

8. Losing You - Solange
7. Wide Awake - Katy Perry

6. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

AMAZY MUSIC AWARDS 2012: TOP 20 SINGLES: 15 - 11

In this, our second post of the top 20 of 2012, we are gonna see a classic girl group, a bluesy chanteuse, my fave electro group of all time, a ballsy beyotch with possibly the best video of the year and a legend of all legends. Again, you will see a bunch of ladies, and don't you complain about it or there will be hell to pay. Now watch and blindly agree.

15. Blue Jeans - Lana Del Rey

14. Now or Never - Bananarama

13. Melancholy Sky - Goldfrapp

12. Try - Pink

11. Give Me All Your Luvin - Madonna

MADONNA RULES 2012 BILLBOARD READERS' POLL

Well, well, well. Looks like I'm not the only one still bowing down to the Queen of Pop. Madonna has once again proven her staying power by dominating the 2012 Billboard Readers' Poll. Our First Lady of Everything took home top honors in four categories: Best Tour (43% of the votes), Favorite Billboard 200 No. 1 album (MDNA with 12%), Favorite TV Performance (Super Bowl halftime show with 38%) and finally 2012 MVP (26%). WORK IT, MADGE!! She also walked away with Most Memorable Feud (with Lady Gaga), although that one doesn't really matter. Here is what Billboard had to say.

"Madonna's achievements included earning the most votes for favorite Billboard 200 No. 1 album with her chart topping MDNA; winning the Best Tour crown for her MDNA trek, which grossed more money than any other run this year, according to Billboard Boxscore; nabbing favorite TV performance for her Super Bowl halftime show extravaganza last February; and even winning the most memorable feud for her war of words with Lady Gaga. For that incredible year, Madonna was handed the MVP crown from last year's winner, Britney Spears; in doing so, she topped Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj, who came in send, third and fourth in voting, respectively."

Not too bad for a woman in her 30th year of ruling the world. Congrats to Madonna and her fans (myself included). Other winners included Lana Del Rey for Best Newcomer, Adele for Favorite Hot 100 #1 (Set Fire to the Rain), PSY for Favorite Music Video (you know), No Doubt for Best Comeback, and Whitney Houston's death was noticed as Most Shocking Moment.

AMAZY MUSIC AWARDS 2012: TOP 20 SINGLES; 20 THROUGH 16

Girls, girls, girls... 2012 was a big year for the ladies in music (again). I love the ladies...in music. Here is the first installment of four for my top 20 favorite songs of 2012. Here we have a breathy newcomer, a reunited girl group, a hot mess, a classy new mom and an American Idol. Watch and love and stay tuned tomorrow for #'s 15 through 11.




20. National Anthem - Lana Del Rey
19. Something New - Girls Aloud
18. Where Have You Been - Rihanna
17. Catch My Breath - Kelly Clarkson
16. Skyfall

MILEY CYRUS PERFORMS REBEL YELL AT VH1 DIVAS LIVE

While saying the word "diva" in the same sentence as some of the ladies who performed at this year's VH1 Divas Live concert makes my stomach drop out of my anus (Keri Hilson, Demi Lavato, Jordin Sparks??), I have to give props where props are due. Former Disney queen Miley Cyrus did a pretty great version of Billy Idol's classic 80s head-banger Rebel Yell. With full breast and crotch grabbing choreo, Miley gave us her best Idol with a cropped blonde 'do and plenty of leather. Respect! Check out the performance below.

Get More: Miley Cyrus, VH1 Divas 2012, VH1 DIVAS, Miley Cyrus, VH1 DIVAS Photos, Tune In Live Sunday Dec. 16 9/8c at VH1

MADONNA FRIDAY: JUMP

First of all, I must preface this by saying this is my fave Madonna song of all time.... and that is not easy for me to pick, girl! Jump was the fourth and final single released from Madge's amazy Confessions on a Dance Floor album and was released on October 31, 2006. Time flies. Written by Stuart Price and Joe Henry (who is Madonna's brother-in-law, by the way), the song is about empowerment and has a crazy upbeat, clubby vibe to it. Jump was often compared to Madonna's big, dancable 80s hits. It became her 37th No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and her 7th No. 1 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart (the one that REALLY matters), #1 on the Hot Dance Airplay chart and was also a highlight of the Confessions tour with the dancers jumping off platforms and swinging through an aparatus set up in the middle of the stage. I absolutely worship this song. I cannot gym without it. Enjoy the jaunty, lively video for Jump and I dare you not to shake your ass to it. I DARE YOU! FINE! I'll include the concert clip too. Happy?

FIRST PROMO FOR TINA FEY & AMY POEHLER HOSTING THE GOLDEN GLOBES

WOOHOO!! This is gonna be a fun night, I do declare! Funny (est) ladies Tina Fey and Amy Poehlor are hosting this year's Golden Globe Awards and we are, I'm sure, in for a treat. The two ladies are showing us what they got in the first promo for the show. Both ladies are nominated in the category of Best Actress in a Television Musical or Comedy. I hope they both win!! (that's not happening) But anyhoo, watch and laugh and prepare to pee yourself on the night of the Golden Globes, Sunday, January 13th.

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

AND here are the nominees for the 2012 Golden Globe Awards:

Best Picture, Drama:
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy:
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Moonrise Kindgom
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director:
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Best Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Jack Black, Bernie
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Ewan MCGregor, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy
Emily Blunt, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Maggie Smith, Quartet
Meryl Streep, Hope Springs

Best Actress, Drama
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marian Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea

Best Supporting Actress: 
Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy

Best Supporting Actor:
Alan Arkin, Argo
Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Best Screenplay:
Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
Tony Kushner, Lincoln
David O’Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Chris Terrio, Argo

Foreign Language Film:
Amour
A Royal Affair
The Intouchables
Kon-Tiki
Rust and Bone

Best Television Drama: 
Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Homeland
The Newsroom

Best Television Comedy or Musical:
The Big Bang Theory
Episodes
Girls
Modern Family
Smash

Best Actress, Television Drama:
Connie Briton, Nashville
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Juliana Margulies, The Good Wife

Best Actor, Television Drama:
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damien Lewis, Homeland

Best Actress, Television Comedy or Musical:
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Actor, Television Comedy or Musical:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Best Supporting Actress, Television:
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Asylum
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Best Supporting Actor, Television:
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Ed Harris, Game Change
Danny Huston, Magic City
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Miniseries or Television Movie:
Game Change
The Girl
Hatfields & McCoys
The Hour
Political Animals

Best Actor, Miniseries or Television Movie:
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys

Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock

Woody Harrelson, Game Change

Toby Jones, The Girl

Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn

Best Actress, Miniseries or Television Movie:
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum

Sienna Miller, The Girl

Julianne Moore, Game Change

Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals

SOLANGE PREFORMS LIVE ON JIMMY FALLON

Solange can perform her smooth sounds live, if you'd like. She did just that recently on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, cooing her single Losing You. Heavenly sounds from our girl. Doesn't she look faboosh too? She does. Don't forget to get your butt over to iTunes and buy Solange's True EP, packed with seven excellent songs. I mean it. I can see you and I'll know if you don't do it. I'm like a sexy gay Santa Claus. Now, watch and sway, gurl.

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: MORE THAN PHYSICAL - BANANARAMA

Bananarama started off as scruffy little street urchins; messy hair, homemade fashion and big bows on their heads, but with the release of their third album, True Confessions, the girls decided to sex it up a little bit. First came their cover of Venus, which hit #1 in America, and then came the second single, their most overtly sexual yet, More Than Physical. H-O-T! The track, produced by mega-producers Stock, Aitken, Waterman (SAW), was all whispers and come-ons set to a burning disco beat. The video has the girls, looking goo-ood, surrounded by half naked dancers. I mean..... Even though the single didn't exactly burn up the American Hot 100 (#73) it did hit #5 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It is one of my fave 80s tracks of all time and def one of my top Bananarama songs. I LOVE THESE GIRLS!! Without further adieu, here is the Humpday Sexy Song, More Than Physical.

REVIEW: LES MISÉRABLES

OMG! I was the luckiest boy in the world last night because my wonderful husband was able to get us two passes to the world premiere of Les Misérables (Les Miz) at the Ziegfeld and its after-party!!! Thrills!!! Look at me. I'm famous!!! First of all, I L-O-V-E seeing movies at the Ziegfeld theatre. It's just so New York, ya know? The experience started with a few words from director Tom Hooper and then he introduced the cast in attendance: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Daniel Huttlestone and Isabelle Allen. Then the lights dimmed and the film began. I won't ruin too much of the film for you, but the opening shot alone was breathtaking. Hugh Jackman, as long suffering Jean Valjean, looking ragged and angry, holds your attention with his amazing presence from the very get-go. His singing is great and he is über-committed in his intention. I will admit it was nice once they cleaned him up and let him be hot Hugh that we all know and love. That's just the slut in me I guess. Russell Crowe's Javert is well acted if not well sung, but after awhile (and with the exception of Stars) you sort of settle into his delivery. Girlfriend is giving you intensity too. I thought that mole was gonna pop right off his face a couple of times. Things really get real when Anne Hathaway finally hits the screen as Fantine. Her one-shot take on I Dreamed a Dream, lying in filth after being raped, giving up hope right in front of your eyes, is so moving and so stunning she is sure to have Oscar gold this year. It is one of the most special moments in movie musicals ever. We soon are transported to the inn run by Thenardiér and his wife played by hilariously Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. They really make the roles their own and add a little improv to stir up the movie magic. Helena Bonham Carter was basically born to play this type of weird, bawdy character, so it's no surprise she nails it. There we meet young Cossette, played by Isabelle Allen, singing Castle on a Cloud. She is every bit the angel you need her to be; all giant eyes and a halo of blond locks. Adorable! I must say though, the real heart of the movie is when the perfection-in-a-bonnett Amanda Seyfried starts to sing In My Life as Cosette, then is joined by Eddie Redmayne's Marius (sigh) for A Heart Full of Love with Eponine, played beautifully by Samantha Barks, who then sings the showstopper On My Own right after. It's a powerful cinematic one-two-three punch that had me covered in chills and crying like a little beyotch. I think all three of these actors could easily be nominated for various awards this season and deservedly so. Eddie Redmayne has a surprisingly strong voice and is just so dreamy it's ridiculous and, I swear to all that is gay, Samantha Barks' waist in smaller than her arm. I swear. Just wait and see for yourself. I really can't say too much else about the movie because there are little things that change from the show, but I will say that, for the most part, it's a thrilling theatrical experience and I WILL be seeing it again. It is very, very long though and there were a couple of places that I felt could have been sped through a little quicker, but all in all Les Miz is a holiday home run. The movie musical is alive and well and evolving and the direction by Tom Hooper is quite an achievement IMHO. So get ready in a couple of weeks and go see Les Miz. You know, with the unwashed masses. I've already seen it.

RUPAUL TO GUEST STAR ON HAPPY ENDINGS. MY LIFE CAN END HAPPY

RuPaul, the greatest drag queen in history, the star and host of the greatest competition show of all time, RuPaul's Drag Race, and all around wonderful human being is going to guest star on the funniest show on television, Happy Endings!! Ru is reportedly set to play the longtime hairdresser of sisters Alex and Jane and there is going to be a storyline involving gay character Max. A-MAH-ZING! I certainly hope he gets some screen time with Penny! Penny is the new Karen. To get you in the Ru-mood, here is a supercut of RuPaul's saying one of her many catchphrases over the past seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race: "DON'T F**K IT UP". Don't worry, it's bleeped.

CYNDI LAUPER AND ADAM LAMBERT DUET ON MAD WORLD

H-E-A-V-E-N!!! Pop legend Cyndi Lauper recently had a benefit concert here in NYC for her True Colors campaign and joined Adam Lambert on stage for a cover of the classic Tears for Fears track from 1982 Mad World. This song helped launch Adam into stardom when he sang it on American Idol, and the two of them make absolute magic performing it together. Swoon!! Cyndi and her True Colors organization have worked tirelessly for years to help LGBT youth and the community, so it's wonderful to see this getting so much publicity. She is a true star and a one-of-a-kind talent. Watch and love.

4th ANNUAL AMAZY MUSIC AWARDS: TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2012

I can't believe it's been four years since I started doing my little blog. What a fun time it's been and what fun I've had sharing my musings with all the little people in the world. Music has always been very, very important to me. Growing up it was my only escape out of my little Texas town into the life that I knew I wanted one day. Pop culture and music are my jam, y'all!!! Now, onward with my faves of 2012. It hasn't been a stellar year in albums, as far as I'm concerned, but when it was good, it was really good. These are the albums that caught and kept my attention this year from 10 to 1.  I tried to give my reasons, as best I could, why these albums made it to the top of my worlds this year. I hope they are well stated. Read it. My list, as usual, is pretty heavy with ladies, but it's an eclectic group of ladies at least! Right? I guess. Hope you enjoyed some of them too. If you didn't I guess you have a lot to learn about music, so pay attention. ;)

10. A Million Lights - Cheryl Cole. The British babe kicked it back up a notch from her 2010 effort Messy Little Raindrops and delivered an album full of potenial (yet inexplicabley unreleased) hits. Her voice seemed to improve, her choice of songs VASTLY imporoved and she even delivered one song, Mechanics of the Heart, that will be on my playlist for years to come. Release that song! Give us the happy ending we need, Cheryl! The first single, Call My Name, was the fastest selling UK single of 2012. Not too bad, Cheryl. Under the Sun, the title track and the Lana Del Rey penned Ghetto Baby were all standout tracks on the A Million Lights. Cole is currently back with Girls Aloud (who you might hear about later on in the month on this blog) touring, but hopefully we'll get another great album next year. Keep 'em coming, chippy!

9. The Truth About Love - Pink. Kicking off with a #1 song in Blow Me (One Last Kiss) and becoming Pink's first album to hit #1 in the US, The Truth About Love is definitely one of the most charasmatic, entertaining, balls-to-the-wall albums of the year. Pink hasn't always been an album artist to me (with the exception of the spectacular Missundaztood) but The Truth About Love is chock full of catchy hooks and great lyrics that keep you listening from start to finish. The remarkable Try, with its absolutely stunning video, and the fun True Love (ft. Lily Rose Cooper) are classic pop songs and sure to be staples of her shows from now on. Pink is back and she is more bad-ass and better than ever.

8. Halcyon - Ellie Goulding. It took about a year for her first US single Lights to reach the top 10, but Ellie Goulding didn't wanna wait to release new music. Halcyon is spirited, dark, moody, weird and wonderful. Her angelic voice, which I could easily mistake for Dolly Parton in its upper register, is glorious on the single Anything Could Happen, the album highlight Only You, and pretty much any other song you happen to drop into on this record. She's not afraid to sound different from what's on the radio these days, and it pays off. Halcyon deserves a lot of praise and hopefully a lot of sales too. Here's to the next Annie Lennox!

7. Dedicated - Wilson Phillips. Some things just get better with age. This is proven in two ways on the excellent album Dedicated by Wilson Phillips. Chynna, Wendy and Carnie, those singing starlets of the early 90s, are getting better and the songs of their parents, The Mamas & The Papas and The Beach Boys, are aging better than Sharon Stone.... AND THAT IS SOME FINE AGING THERE, GURL!! Stunning harmonies, great arrangements and that wonderful sound they make when they sing together blend for a magical bit of nostalgia and glee. Their acapella take on Good Vibrations alone is enough to make you buy this record, and it's just the tip of the iceberg. Don't EVEN get me started on God Only Knows. Just don't. The ol' gals still got it.

6. True EP - Solange. I love surprises!! When I saw that Solange, Beyonce's little sister, had a new EP coming out I really thought nothing of it. Then I saw the video for Losing You, the first single. I loved the video but was OBSESSED with the song. I immediately got the EP and the rest is, as they say, history. Solange mentioned she was inspired by Janet Jackson's 80s and 90s albums with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and it shows. The sweet harmonies, a la Janet's Come Back To Me or That's the Way Love Goes, abound on this seven song set. It's cooler than cool and right up there with the best of her big sister. Check out my fave track, Don't Let Me Down, if you get a chance. It's a killer! One of the smoothest sets of 2012. And watch your be-ack, Beyonce!

5. Magic Hour - Scissor Sisters. The Scissor Sisters haven't really hit the nail on the head, album-wise, since their debut in 2004. Not that they don't know how to write a tune. They are arguably some of the best purveyors of pop working. Their whole game changed this year with the amazingly poppy Magic Hour. Jake Shears and company served up some straight up, mainstream fare along with some underground club gems that had the masses dancing and even showed up on Glee! Only the Horses, Keep Your Shoes On and Let's Have a Kiki are killer dance tracks, and Inevitable and Year of Living Dangerously are hauntingly gorgeous, lush songs that will keep you swooning along to their luxurious grooves. I would say that the Sisters are revving up for a resurgence, but they did just announce they were going on a haitus. Not for too long, fellas! Let's keep it going while it's hot! Cuz we're coming over.

4. Warrior - Ke$ha. Irresistabley brash, rude and fun is the only way to sum up both Ke$ha and her sophmore album Warrior. From the clubbified opening title track to the trashy glam of Gold Trans Am, Ke$ha hits all the right notes to keep you partying. Even the most subdued songs on the album, Thinking of You and Warrior, rock in their own way. Her dutet with punk legend Iggy Pop, Dirty Love, NEEDS a video, y'all! First single, Die Young, is currently sitting at #3 on the Hot 100 behind snoozer Diamonds by Rihanna (Spoiler alert: Rihanna is not on this list) and second single C'mon is on it's way up the charts now. Here is hoping that possibly the best Ke$ha track ever, Supernatural, gets a release. Things are off to a slow start supposedly for this album, but I seee an up-tick in the future. Rock on, Ke$ha!

3. Red - Taylor Swift. Another surprise! I have never, ever (pun intended) bought a Taylor Swift album before, but the pure joy of first single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together made me a believer. Turns out, the girl can write a tune or two. Red is one of the most even, enjoyable albums of the year delivering hook after hook and is so fat with hits it's ridunculous! Taylor's many past relationships (cough...slut...cough) have given her tons of ammo for funny, thoughtful and sometimes biting lyrics. The title song is pure magic and 22 reminds us that, yes, Taylor, you are 22. Bitch. Since I am apparently the last person on the planet to jump on the Taylor Swift bandwagon I won't bore you with any more details about the album except that I love it. There. I said it. Now shut up.

2. Born to Die: Paradise Edition - Lana Del Rey. Because of, or perhaps despite, all the hype I bought Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die. I subsequently listened to it almost every day for this entire year. Born to Die and its Paradise Edition are full of smart, sassy, gorgeous songs. Has she proven herself as a performer yet? No, not really. BUT she has more than proven herself as a singer/songwriter with a unique sound and point of view, not afraid of controversy. There is simply not even one throw-away track on this entire album. The strings, the audible pout, the self-proclaimed "Gangster Nancy Sinatra" has made her mark on teh music business in a very short period of time. Now what will she do with that foot hold? That remains to be seen, but 2012 was a stellar start.

1. MDNA - Madonna. DUH! Let's face facts. Madonna was, is and will always be the Queen of Pop. Her track record speaks for itself and this, her 12th studio album, is no exception when it comes to pop perfection. Madonna worked once again with William Orbit and newcomers Martin Solveig and Benny Benassi to create some of the best dance tunes she's done since Confessions on a Dance Floor and some of her most thought provoking lyrics since Ray of Light. If only Addicted had been released as a single it would have been my favorite single of 2012 BY FAR! The album did deliver the Madonna video we have been waiting for since Vogue, Girl Gone Wild. Back was the naughty, man-eating Madge we all crave and worship. Turn Up the Radio is Madonna's brightest single since Cherish and Falling Free is her most intimate moment since Nothing Fails. Of course, there is plenty of sass to distribute, including the HBIC song with Nicki Minaj I Don't Give A and the darkest song the Queen has ever made, Gang Bang. That shit is D-A-R-K, y'all! There is not any sign of a slow down from our lady and her tour more than showed evidence of that. MDNA is as addictive as the drug it psudeo-takes its name from and that is why it's my #1 album of 2012. I have spoken.

Stay tuned for the three-part run down of the top 15 singles of 2012 coming next soon.

MADONNA FRIDAY: HUNG UP

How do you make an already perfect artist...um..... perfectER? Add ABBA! That's exactly what Madonna did in October 2005 when she unleashed her monster first single from her album Confessions on a Dance Floor, Hung Up. Pumping up the elements of all that was right with disco, Madonna sampled ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) to perfect effect, hitting #1 in 45 countries and entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the song hitting #1 in the most countries. The song tied Madonna with Elvis Presley as the artist with the most top 10 hits, that being 36!!! (Madonna surpassed Elvis with 4 Minutes and Give Me All Your Luvin). FYI: Hung Up was Madonna's first single to be released to iTunes. The music video, directed by genius David LaChapelle, had a documentary look to it and showed kids from London, Paris, New York, L.A., Shanghai and Tokyo (Madonna's dancers and dancers from LaChapelle's film "Rize") all coming together in a nightclub to dance and celebrate with Madonna. Parts of the video, like Madge dancing in the studio in a pink leotard in the beginning, are inspired by Saturday Night Fever. Madonna, 46 at the time, was looking better than ever and kept up with the "kids" in the video like the Queen she is. Anyhoo, here is Hung Up. Enjoy and remember, "time goes by so slowly for those who wait."[source]

Madonna - New Music - More Music Videos

AND THE GRAMMY NOMINEES ARE...

....eh. I am underwhelmed by the crop this year, quite frankly. I own ONE of the album of the year nominees. How is that possible? Anyhoo, here is the list of categories I give a crap about (my picks in italics) and for the full list go HERE.

Album of the Year
Black Keys, El Camino
Fun., Some Nights
Mumford & Sons, Babel
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
Jack White, Blunderbuss

Song of the Year
Ed Sheeran, The A Team
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
Miguel, Adorn
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, We Are Young

Record of the Year
Black Keys, Lonely Boy
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, We Are Young
Gotye feat. Kimbra, Somebody That I Used to Know
Frank Ocean, Thinkin Bout You
Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Pop Vocal Album
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
Fun., Some Nights
Maroon 5, Overexposed
P!nk, The Truth About Love

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Steve Aoki, Wonderland
The Chemical Brothers, Don’t Think
Deadmau5, Album Title Goes Here
Kaskade, Fire & Ice
Skrillex, Bangarang

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: SAMANTHA FOX - TOUCH ME

From topless model to international pop star, that was the path 16-year-old British trampy gal Samantha Fox took in the mid-80s. Starting off with the skin pics, Sam then got a record deal and by age 20 had her first international hit with Touch Me (I Want Your Body). The song reached #2 in Australia,  #3 in the UK, #4 in the US and #1 in Canada, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland and charted within the top 10 in many other countries as well. Not bad! The lyrics for the song really rebelled against the uptight 80s norm, "Like a tramp in the night, I was begging for you, to treat my body like you wanted to". Oh, my! Samantha went on to have numberous hits both in the US and overseas, but Touch Me will always be her signature song. It's a good one too! I love a good slut. Here is the Humpday Sexy Song, Touch Me (I Want Your Body) by Samantha Fox. Now hump I say!

FLASHBACK: A-HA

There were literally billions (okay, not literally) of pop bands and singers that had huge hits in the US during the 80s and then just faded away. Some faded away completely and some retained that success in a big way in other parts of the world. One that kept a following abroad was the uber-hot Norwegian trio A-ha. There massive 1985 hit Take On Me from their debut album Hunting High and Low is without a doubt one of the most famous and recognizable songs of all time. The video was also a groundbreaker, using state-of-the-art special FX to put us in another world and brought the music video to the level of an art form. They were even nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. Although their success continued in the rest of the world, where the band have sold 36 million albums world wide, released 9 albums (their last being 2009's Foot of the Mountain, recorded the theme to the 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights, and still look SO HOT I WANT TO DIE(see attached then/now photo), their success in the US was limited to two very unique and memorable hits. Take On Me hit #1 on the US Hot 100 in October of 1985 and the follow up, The Sun Always Shines on TV (which is my FAVE), hit #20 a few months later. Both songs are dramatic, hit some amazing high notes, and are quintessentially 80s. I'm not ashamed to say that both of these tunes have a permanent place on my iPhone playlists. The boys did their farewell tour in 2010 and released a greatest hits compilation, 25, that year as well. All you need to be immortalized is that one hit though, and they got a good one. Watch the videos for Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV below. Good stuff, boys. And yes, I'm a sucker for a hot Norwegian. WHOO!! DRAMA!

THE NUMBER ONE SONG 20 YEARS AGO TODAY WAS...

...I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Wow! That was 20 years ago? How time flies. We have recently lost our beloved Whitney way too soon, but back in 1992 her fame was on the rise still. After a record seven #1 hits in a row and countless albums sold already, Whitney Houston released what would become her signature song in 1992. I Will Always Love You, written and also taken to #1 by Dolly Parton in 1974, was the first single released off of The Bodygaurd soundtrack. The soundtrack went on to become one of the best selling albums of all time (45 million worldwide) and the single spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's a classic many times over and one of the most unforgettable vocal performances of all time. Here is the #1 song 20 years ago today, I Will Always Love You by the incomparable Whitney Houston.

SALLY FIELD DISCUSSES HER GAY SON WITH OPRAH. LOVE HER!

Two-time Academy awarding winning actress and all around great gay Sally Field is opening up to Oprah about her gay son, Sam Greisman, on Oprah's Next Chapter. These are words every parent, not just parents of gay kids, should hear and listen to very carefully. What a great mom Sally must be. Just this little bit of the interview got me choked up. I'm so easy! Ha. Listen and learn.

RECENT MUSIC REVIEWS ALL IN ONE PLACE FOR YOU

Here are the new music reviews I did recently in a tidy little post. Click on the link and enjoy.

KE$HA

SOLANGE

RIHANNA

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

MADONNA FRIDAY: DON'T TELL ME

Madonna was on a hot streak with the release of her No. 1 album and single Music, and her success continued with Don't Tell Me. The closest Madonna will ever get to a country song, Madonna wrote the song with her brother-in-law Joe Henry (married to her sister Melanie). He had recorded the song for his 2001 album Scar. She and Mirwais took the song and rearranged it and the rest is history. For the video, Madonna took the cowboy theme of the pictures on her Music album and created a high-tech, country linedance inspired video with some sexy boys in tow. The single was another huge success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the top 10 for eight weeks. The single has sold 4.5 million copies to date. One of my personal faves, this song got me through some really tough times when I was in a place I didn't want to be. I listened to it every morning on my way to work and it never failed to lift my spirits. Here's Don't Tell Me.
Madonna - Don't Tell Me by Madonna-Official

REVIEW: KE$HA - WARRIOR (DELUXE EDITION). KE$HA GROWS UP....JUST ENOUGH

Nobody is going to say Ke$ha is this generation's Joni Mitchell -- especially Joni Mitchell I'm sure -- but after listening to her new album Warrior they WILL be saying that this bitch know how to write a freakin' pop song. Not unlike her first effort Animal and it's companion EP Cannibal, Warrior is practically busting open with hits. First single Die Young is just the tip of the erection iceberg and doesn't even come close to the smash potential of the dancefloor epic Supernatural or the ubër-skanky Gold Trans Am, the latter with a sweet guitar lick that sounds like I Love Rock and Roll, You and I and Rock Me Amadeus had a slutty baby with Mutt Lange. But for all the bombast, Ke$ha actually puts in some legit softness on this collection. Wherever You Are is a sweet ode to teen love with a hook just as awesome as our usual drunken Ke$ha fare. Wonderland is a country-tinged, wistful, dreamy song and Love Into The Light samples Phil Collins In The Air Tonight to GREAT effect. Don't worry, there are also PLENTY of party-hard hot messes on Warrior to slam a shot to left for ya. The title track is an empowering dance jam, Thinking of You is a kiss-off masterpiece, Crazy Kids is a perfect sequel to We R Who We R. There's even a duet with Iggy Pop called Dirty Love!!! Out-trash that, whores! Of course, if you want ALL 16 songs, you are gonna have to buy the Deluxe edition because Last Goodbye, Gold Trans Am, Out Alive and Past Lives are all exclusively on that one. They are worth it though, so shell it out. In conclusion, if you already love you some Ke$ha you are going to be very happy, and if you don't...you may change your mind. Give it a try. Here is the video for first single Die Young. Go be a skank.

DOLLY PARTON ON STEPHEN COLBERT. 'NUF SAID.

Dolly Parton is an American treasure and an entertainment ICON and Stephen Colbert gets it. He's been in love with Dolly "since 1974" and it shows. They even sing Love Is Like a Butterfly together!! So cute. AND it proves that a REAL singer can sing with anyone and make it sound great. The first clip is the interview and the second is the song. Love love love!!

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

NEW VIDEO: WILL.I.AM ft. BRITNEY SPEARS - SCREAM AND SHOUT

I'm not sure this actually qualifies as a song, but the video is pretty. Here is the clip for the new single Scream and Shout. Do with it what you will. I'm not thrilled. Total waste of a perfectly good Britney. Why is she lipsyncing someone else's British accent though?

THIS OPTICAL ILLUSION WILL BLOW YOUR FREAKIN' MIND!!!

I don't need to say anything. Just watch.

NEW(ISH) VIDEO: FLORRIE - SHOT YOU DOWN

Love Florrie but have never really blogged about her on here. She is a producer, singer, songwriter, drummer and model. The girl's got spunk! Here is the single from her latest EP, Late, called Shot You Down. She's so talented and crazy pretty.

REVIEW: SOLANGE - TRUE

Wow! I was not expecting this. A couple months ago Beyoncé's baby sister released a song and video that I thought was really hip and stylish and catchy called Losing You. Loved it right away, but thought it was a fluke. I've heard Solange before and seen some decent stuff from her, but when you are living in the shadow of Beyoncé, it's easy to get overlooked. Well Solange's new EP, True, produced by Solange and Dev Hynes, is as good as anything Beyonce has put out recently and has an air of coolness and ease that many cookie-cutter artists of today would kill for...and even Bey herself. From the single Losing You to the last track, Bad Girls, we are treated to a breezy, funky, sexy throw-back styled good time. Sweet vocals that often remind me of Jody Watley's 80s heyday (not to mention her look in the Losing You video below being a dead-on Jody twin) fill the hooky melodies on songs like the girl-group inspired Some Things Never Seem to F**king Work and ubér-smooth Locked in the Closets. The funky sadness of Lovers in the Parking Lot segues into the deep bass funk and yearning vocals on Don't Let Me Down. Looks Good with Trouble could easily be a classic Janet Jackson track when the cooing starts off and then the voice drips like so much sex all over the rest of the track. The final track, Bad Girls (Verdine Version), is another sway-along winner and closes out the set on the perfect note. Sweet, soulful and sexy, Solange may have just found her breakthrough here. Let's hope it gets some attention. Watch out, Beyoncé. (not really, but I just wanted to sound brave) Watch the excellent video for Losing You below. It's light and funny in parts, but very, very stylish. Get to iTunes now.

REVIEW: RIHANNA - UNAPOLOGETIC

For an album called Unapologetic, I sure felt like I'd been wronged by listening to it. I love Rihanna. She has had some of the best singles of the past decade and an astounding run of the charts thus far in her career. She is already tied for 3rd among women with the most #1 singles on the Hot 100 (11) with Whitney Houston and she's only been charting since 2005. Remarkable. Her albums are not always strong, but they ALWAYS contain singles that are obvious chart hits. 2011's Talk That Talk was her best album since the under-appreciated Rated R. Unapologetic does not have a single obvious hit on it. The first song on the record, Fresh Off the Runway, is one of the most irritating, jarring songs I have ever heard. It seems to strive to make an impression through "shocking" use of the F word and annoying repetition. What is this? Not cute, RiRi. The first single, Diamonds, is interesting in that it's a little something different from Rihanna. The song, currently sitting at #2 on the Hot 100, is atmospheric and smooth and THE standout on the album. Take the good where you can get it on this one. Numb (ft. Eminem) is clunky and drones along like a dying sloth for the full three-and-a-half years minutes that it lasts. It's not good, people. Loveeee Song (ft. Future) is a song that could have been saved with a better duet partner. I don't know who Future is, but if this is the future I hope the Mayans were right. His "voice" (or the computer that generates his "voice") should not be allowed to be recorded under any circumstances. Jump references Ginuwine's Pony. That's all I'll say about that. Right Now (ft. David Guetta) at least has a little life to it, which automatically makes it different from most of the album, but it is painfully generic and sounds like a Nicki Minaj reject from her last (not great) album. She also teams up with former assailant Chris "The Fist" Brown on a song called Ain't Nobody's Business which I absolutely refuse to acknowledge with a review. And just for the record, it's EVERBODY'S business because he decided to beat up another famous person. Here is one good thing!!!! There is a song on Unapologetic that I kinda like. Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary is actually an interesting, heartfelt sounding song that I'm sure will never see the light of day, much like her best work on Rated R. Sad. The rest of the album is pretty boring and it pains me to say so. I know this review is much more negative than I would normally put on the blog, but I just had to vent my frustration with this album. If Rihanna is going to continue her album-a-year pattern, she's gotta put quality on an even par with quantity. Skip this one if you are not a completionist. Sadly, I am. Maybe some of these tracks will grow on me. Oh, wait. THIS JUST IN: They won't.

REVIEW: CHRISTINA AGUILERA - LOTUS

Christina Aguilera has had a hard time of it in the past couple of years. 2010 was when we last heard from Xtina musically on her own and it was not a good year. Her album, Bionic, was an embarrassingly bad failure and her film Burlesque and its soundtrack did not exactly burn up the charts or the critics. While I enjoyed the HIGH camp of the movie and soundtrack, I will agree that Bionic was less than stellar. So, two years to gather herself, get on a popular music competition show and struggle with her weight and haters finds Ms. Aguilera defiant and determined to make her mark on the pop landscape once again. Lotus, her latest effort, should get her back in the game, if her former fans give it a chance. The first single, Your Body, was a little...well...."eh" is a word that comes to mind. It peaked at #34 on the Hot 100, but did get attention for its rather lurid lyrics ("love" replaced the expletive of the original lyric "all I wanna do is f**k your body" for radio). Your Body is not typical of the rest of the songs on Lotus and is certainly not one of its standout tracks. That honor goes to the amazingly catchy, begging-for-release Red Hot Kinda Love. Why this was not the lead single is beyond me, but I digress. It is bouncy, fun, free and everything a pop song should be. Lotus actually has quite a few strong pop tracks (Army of Me, Make the World Move and Let There Be Love are all radio ready) and a surprisingly Imogene Heap-esque opener, Lotus Intro, that finds Xtina is a no-riffing zone for once. Kinda nice and smooth and a nice change of pace from her hitting 1,000 notes when only one is needed. I guess we all kinda love her for that, right? Aguilera even dips her hand into the world of country, dueting with The Voice co-judge Blake Shelton on Just a Fool, which, in her defense, is just as "country" as most country artists these days. Now, the weakness of Lotus lies where most of her weakness had lied in her last couple of projects: The sappy-ass ballads. Yeesh! Enough with the gloopy, Hallmark lyrics already. These songs could have been left on the cutting room floor. Sing For Me, Blank Page, Best of Me and Light Up the Sky are exactly the type of songs that their title infers. You could practically write the song yourself by reading its name. Ugh. You're better than that, Christina. There are other moments that bring out that sassy little bitch we love, like the "F-you" of Circles (lyric: "spin around in circles on my middle finger" and it actually ends with the words "motherf**ker") and the military drummer Cease Fire. Overall the album is a step in the right direction from the Genie in a bottle of old, but the dime-a-dozen balladry is not going to get her any closer to the ever more elusive teen fan base you need to make money these days. Find some good songwriters to try something a little different, girl. That being said, the first six tracks in a row will keep you moving and are worth the price of admission to this ride. I like.

MY FAVE SONG ON CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S NEW ALBUM: RED HOT KINDA LOVE

JUST LISTEN AND LOVE...

MADONNA FRIDAY: MASHUP - GIRL GONE WILD, GET OUTTA MY WAY

Madonna and Kylie. Enough said. Love this or else....

JUST BECAUSE: MADONNA REMIX - LIKE A VIRGIN (MIGHTY MOUSE RE-WORK)

Happy Saturday morning, folks. Now.....DANCE YOUR AZZ OFF!!!

MADONNA FRIDAY: LO QUE SIENTE LA MUJER (LIVE)

Madonna often likes to change things up a little bit in concert, so for her 2001 Drowned World Tour, Madonna took her hit What It Feels Like For a Girl and did it in Spanish, Lo Que Seinte La Mujer. She also remixed it and made it a sexy, tango affair. HOT!!! She never disappoints, that Madge. WIFLFAG hit #23 on the Hot 100 in the Spring of 2001. The video, directed by then-husband Guy Ritchie, was banned from MTV for being too violent, so of course Madge released it to the public and made a killing, becoming the biggest selling DVD single of 2001. Ha. Suck on that, MTV. Of course, the song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play. Duh. Anyhoo.....watch and love and translate.

NEW VIDEO: RIHANNA - DIAMONDS

Rihanna's video for her single Diamonds is finally here. The song was released September 27th and currently sits at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, so I'd say it's just about time, girl! Anyway, the song has not grown on me much over the past month and change, but the video is beautifully shot, if confusing. Rihanna has Cassie's haircut, rolls some weed diamonds and smokes them, floats in water, watches a horse come back to life(what?), wanders through the desert, reverse-trashes a hotel room and attends some post-apocalyptic street riot. You know, a day in the life. At least Fist Chris Brown isn't in it. Ugh. RiRi's new album, Unapologetic (I cannot with that title) drops November 19th.

NEW KE$HA VIDEO: DIE YOUNG

Someone has been working out! Ke$ha's new video for her single Die Young, currently #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, show a little more skin than the singer is used to. To be fair, for most of her last album she was shaped like the lovechild of Spongebob Squarepants and a box of wine, but I digress. She in SHAPE now and showing it off. The video portrays Ms. Dollar Sign as a leader of a cult, presumably in Mexico, who is gathering her followers for the end of times. I like it! Ke$ha is finding her sexy side I guess. Check out the clip and jam along, bitches.

NEW LANA DEL REY: BEL AIR

Another dreamy track by Lana Del Rey!! Bel Air is another track from Lana's new EP, Paradise, set to be unleashed next Tuedsay, November 13th. Accompanied by a simple, smokey video, Bel Air is has a soft piano and Del Rey's trademark velvety vocals. So far it sounds like the songs on Paradise are sticking close to those on Born to Die, and that is fine by me. Can't wait hear the rest of the EP's 8 tracks (9 if you by the deluxe edition). Hardly an EP, but whattayagonnado?? Well, you could buy it as the Born to Die: The Paradise Edition, in case you hadn't picked up Lana's original LP. It's amazy. Enjoy Bel Air.

BEST UNRELEASED SONGS OF 2012

In my humble, and usually correct, opinion, these are the best unreleased songs of 2012. A lot of artists and labels chose to release singles from albums this year that made no sense to me whatsoever, or at least in comparison with these unreleased gems it was weird. Here are some real good tunes that I wish would have gotten their due. Now these are just songs from albums released this year. Don't get me started on Adele, fDeluxe, Nicola Roberts or Lady Gaga from last year, girl!! Cuz' I will go ON! Okay. Settle in, listen and thank me later.

Mechanics of The Heart - Cheryl Cole

Inevitable - Scissor Sisters

Woman Down - Alanis Morissette

This Is What Makes Us Girls - Lana Del Rey

Only You - Ellie Goulding

I'm Addicted - Madonna

True Love - Pink (ft. Lily Cooper Rose)

God Only Knows - Wilson Phillips

JUST BECAUSE: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

FORWARD

HELP MAKE MARRIAGE EQUALITY HAPPEN FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME!!!

• ** Sign up to make calls at www.20MillionMore.org *** Now you can make calls from your kitchen or couch for marriage equality this fall! Starting Nov.3 and every day through Nov. 6 you can help the marriage equality fights in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington by making calls to these states to help supporters get out and vote in this critical election! All you need is a computer, internet, and a way to make phone calls (land line, mobile, computer, etc.). Sign up TODAY at www.20MillionMore.org This effort is being coordinated in cooperation with the four state campaigns as well as the over 50 local and national partners of the Campaign for 20 Million More Visit the 20 Milliion More Facebook page.