HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JODY WATLEY!

Jody Watley, fashion icon/singer/dancer and all around bad ass, is 56 today. I know. It's not possible. Jody may have had her heyday in the 80s, but this girl has kept it moving ever since. Aside from her six top 10 hits in the US, Jody also won the coveted Best New Artist Grammy in 1988. Suck on that, Breakfast Club, Terence Trent Darby, Cutting Crew and Swing Out Sister. She started out as a dancer on Soul Train, was noticed by show creator Don Cornelius and put into the group Shalamar. After several R&B/crossover hits with the group, Jody went solo and the rest, as they say, is HERstory. Though Jody never hit #1 on the Hot 100 (GASP!!) she did manage to seven #1 hits on the Billboard Dance chart, the last one being in 2007 with a cover of Chic's I Want Your Love. Undeniably fashion forward, sexy, lithe and sassy, Jody Watley is still rocking it out. Happy birthday, girl. Here are some of her biggest and best, including her 2006 cover of Madonna's Borderline.

TAYLOR SWIFT OVERWHELMED BY MADONNA CROWNING HER A "PRINCESS OF POP"

Taylor knows an honor when she receives one!! In a recent interview with Australian presenter Richard Wilkins Madonna was asked about the current crop of up-and-coming pop ladies and, Madonna being the Queen of course, he asked her opinion about several of them including Katy Perry, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and others. Madonna's reply?

"It's good to have princesses [of pop]. It means there's lots of pretty dresses around. I like Taylor Swift. I think she writes some really catchy pop songs. I can't get them out of my head."

Well Swift got wind of the conversation and apparently was very happy. She tumblr'd up a storm and was as adorable as you would expect. She quoted Madonna and added, "Thanks now I'm dead". Ha!! And added the hashtags #HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THIS #BE COOL TAYLOR STOP BEING EMBARRASSING. It's good to see a princess that appreciates her Queen. Here is a totally random mashup of Madonna's Celebration and Taylor's Love Story. Kinda cute, y'all! Listen.

MADONNA FRIDAY: FROZEN (LIVE: DROWNED WORLD TOUR)

Madonna is the perfect antidote for a cold day!! This Madonna Friday I bring you an amazing performance of her song Frozen, live from the Drowned Word Tour. Madonna's Drowned World Tour in 2001 was her fifth world tour and was in support of both her Ray of Light and Music albums. It experimented with many themes including cyber-punk, cowgirl, Spanish, ghetto and the theme she is embodying in this section, Geisha. The tour went on to become the highest grossing tour of 2001 by a solo artist, earning $76.8 million from only 47 shows in North America and Europe. And Madonna's remained the fiercest bitch in all the world. DUH! Frozen is, of course, one of Madonna's most recognizable ballads and marked a change in her sound and image upon its release. Now grab a warm beverage, hunker down and warm up with Frozen. Happy Madonna Friday!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: EXPOSÉ

Guess what group in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 was the first to have four top 10 hits from their debut album? The Beatles? No. The Rolling Stones? No. Fleetwood Mac? No. You might be surprised to know it was Miami-based girl group who tore up the charts from 1987 to 1993, Exposé. Yes, the three girls from Florida sort of harmonized their way to international fame with their freestyle pop tunes, including their #1 hit Seasons Change. Though the group went through several lineup changes before hitting it big, the most famous and successful configuration was Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado and Gioia Bruno. These ladies produced two top 40 albums, and 7 top 10 hits in the US before Bruno had to leave due to a throat tumor. After being replaced by Kelly Moneymaker, the group came back with one more album and another top 10 hit. After that, they lost steam. Boo. The band was dropped after a period of inactivity by their label and each member went their separate ways, having varying degrees of success in the music business. Bruno recovered her throat tumor during this period and recorded some solo material as well. Finally in 2006 the most successful lineup of Curless, Jurado and Bruno reformed and they have been touring and even released a new dance version of their 1987 hit Point of No Return. The ladies continue to tour to this day. Here are some of the highlights of the short of eventful career, including one pretty impressive live Grammy performance, of one of the most memorable pop acts from the 80s, Exposé. Enjoy this Throwback Thursday, y'all! This is some MAJOR 80s fashion too.

HAPPY MONDAY SONG: STIR IT UP - PATTI LABELLE

A hot song for a cold day. GIRL!!! Ms. Patti was turning it OUT in the 80s. Stir It Up was her second single released form the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack (the first being New Attitude). It is upbeat, joyous and Patti, as usual, blows the roof of that mo'fo'. I mean, when she lets loose at the end of this song, it is pure brilliance. Try not to dance to this song. If you succeed, you are soulless. Just saying. Enjoy and get happy on this Monday!!!

MADONNA FRIDAY: LONG LOST GEM, GAMBLER

The oft forgotten OTHER song from the Vision Quest Soundtrack, Gambler was the second single released from the movie by Madonna, after Crazy for You. The song was never released as a single in the US, but the video was released to MTV to promote the film and Madonna performed it on her Virgin Tour, which is the first video I included in this post. Gambler was written by Madonna herself and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez, her frequent collaborator and off-and-on boyfriend at that time. The song WAS released in other countries and became a top 10 hit in the UK (#4), Australia (#10), Ireland (#3) and Italy (#3) and other territories. Why wasn't Gambler released in the US at the height of the Madonna mania you ask? Well, Madonna was under contract with Warner's Sire label and the soundtrack was under Geffen records. While Crazy for You was allowed to be released by Sire, they asked that Gambler be held back in the US so as not to interfere with singles from her then-current Like a Virgin album. And that, my friends, is how the music industry works sometimes. I know I listened to the shiz out of this song on my little cassette player. Anyway, here is a forgotten classic by the one and only Madonna, Gambler. Enjoy your Madonna Friday!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: SPICE GIRLS

I mean.....COME ON!! You know you loved Spice Girls. If you were anywhere between the age of 0 and 100 in the late 90s you probably knew all the words to Wannabe by heart....and didn't want to admit it. I happily, loudly admitted it in my best Cockney accent to anyone who would listen. The Spice Girls were put together by a producer in the beginning, but quickly and with plenty of girl power the five ladies took control of their career and their destiny to become the biggest selling girl group of all time. With the release of only three studio albums, Spice Girls have sold over 85 MILLION ALBUMS worldwide. That's insane! And considering they were smart enough to get a writing credit on their songs, these ladies, their kids and their grandkids will all be living quite comfortably. The Girls first 6 singles rocketed to the top of the UK chart and they had 9 #1 singles altogether, including three consecutive coveted Christmas #1's, with just two singles missing the top spot in the UK. WERQ! The ladies have all had various levels of success in solo careers, but very few acts will ever reach the popularity, however brief, of Spice Girls. Here are some of my (and probably your) favorite Spice Girl videos. Throwback Thursday just got spicy!!

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA BUNTON. FREE ME

It's time to get sexy and today we do it by saying happy bday to Baby Spice herself, Emma Bunton. Baby is 39!!! What? That can't be right!!! (#old) Emma has a particularly sexy single that she released a few years ago that will make you wanna get with her friends (see what I did there?) called Free Me. It's like a James Bond theme on Viagra. Is that redundant? The song was released in 2003 and hit #5 on the UK charts and #4, in remix form, on the US Dance charts. Not too bad, Baby. Anyway, Emma looks particularly fetching in this sexy, beach-themed romp. Check out Free Me below and hump your favorite spice today. From your cabinet, not one of the girls, you savage.

MADONNA ANNOUNCES FULL TRACK LIST FOR REBEL HEART

After giving her fans an early Xmas gift by pre-releasing six songs from Rebel Heart, Madonna today announcd the full track listing of her upcoming album that will be released in March. Here are all 19 songs. Pre-order Rebel Heart now and get the first six tracks immediately. You won't regret it, I promise!!


01. Living For Love
02. Devil Pray
03. Ghosttown
04. Unapologetic Bitch
05. Illuminati
06. Bitch I'm Madonna (ft. Nicki Minaj)
07. Hold Tight
08. Joan of Arc
09. Iconic (ft. Chance The Rapper & Mike Tyson)
10. HeartBreakCity
11. Body Shop
12. Holy Water
13. Inside Out
14. Wash All Over Me
15. Best Night
16. Veni Vedi Vici (ft. Nas)
17. S.E.X.
18. Messiah
19. Rebel Heart

NEW MUSIC: GIORGIO MORODER FT. KYLIE MINOGUE - RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

Legendary producer Giorogio Moroder (Donna Summer, Irene Cara, Blondie) is coming back with a new album this year called 74 is the New 24. Clever. The first single from that upcoming project is a dico-fied ditty with none other than Kylie Minogue herself. Who better to sing on a dance track than one of the sexiest modern day disco divas? It's a tasty confection that will have you shaking your groove thing. Take a listen to Right Here, Right Now and try not to move to it. You can get the song on iTunes. There's no release date yet for 74 is the New 24.

HAPPY MONDAY SONG (ON A TUESDAY): GOLDFRAPP - ALIVE

I was off work, so today is my Monday. There. Goldfrapp sing a lot of pretty deep songs, but when they cut loose they produce some of the most joyous, happy sounds you can imagine. Alive was a single from their amazing 2010 album Head First, which drew heavily from 80s synth pop. Alive sounds like a perfect mashup of Billy Joel and Xanadu era Olivia Newton John. That is pretty much orgasmic for yours truly. Of course, being Goldfrapp, they had to put their own spin on the sound with a darker video. It's like Dracula meets Dancersize. Twisted!! Ha. Anyway, enjoy the wonderfully happy Alive and have a great Monday. [photo]

MADONNA FRIDAY: MADONNA LIVE AT UNCLE SAM'S ON LONG ISLAND, 1983. FULL 25 MINUTE SHOW!!

WHAT? This is just on youtube! Here is a full 25 minute show that Madonna did on Long Island in 1983 at Uncle Sam's Club. The set features songs from the Madonna album, starting with Physical Attraction and ending with Burning Up.  Madonna dances, sings and charms the crowd into a frenzy. What a treat!!!! This is obviously after her first album had started gaining traction because the crowd is shouting out requests (which of course she ignores and does what she wants "..and I know you're going to like it), but clearly before Madonna was a superstar. I mean, she's playing a club on Long Island, y'all. We all start somewhere. The quality isn't too great, but it gets better as the show goes along and the sound is fine. Enjoy and Happy Madonna Friday.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: EURYTHMICS

What can I possibly say about Eurythmics, the UK synth/rock sensation, that hasn't already been said. They are icons. They are flawless. They are everything. Before Annie Lennox set out on her stellar solo career, she and her partner/sometimes lover Dave Stewart's musical child, Eurythmics, set the charts on fire around the world. They have sold an estimated 75 million albums worldwide, won an three Ivor Novella awards, a Grammy, a BRIT and have been inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Their influence is apparent in almost any artist since their 80s pinnacle and their songs are classics of pop. They became famous with their stark, cold synth sound laid under Lennox' beautiful, emotional alto and then switched gears to a more rock sound in the mid-80s. They ventured between the two sounds, adding elements of electronic and acoustic in between, with subsequent albums. I just want to share some of my fave videos of Eurythmics today, of which there are MANY. Brilliant, innovative and iconic, these are Eurythmics. I'm starting with their rare, first single from the underrated first album, In the Garden, Never Gonna Cry Again, and taking you through each album with my fave videos. Enjoy.

LANA DEL REY GETS SCREWED OUT OF AN OSCAR NOM AGAIN. BOO.

Good thing Lana Del Rey has all that money to keep her warm, otherwise she'd be shivering in a pool of her own tears this morning. The songstress was thought to be a shoe-in for a Best Original Song nomination at the Oscars this year, but alas, just like last year, she has been snubbed. Boo, Oscars!! Last year she should have been nominated for Young and Beautiful from The Great Gatsby, but NOOOoooOOOooo!!! Now this year her stirring contribution of the title song to Time Burton's Big Eyes has been passed over. COME ONE, ACADEMY!!! Let her feel her oats!! I'm sure the Oscar will end up in the hands of Golden Globe winners Common and John Legend for their weird song from Selma, but Lana was ROBBED, I SAY!! I hope that her Golden Globes dress didn't ruin her chances. You can check out all the Oscar nominations HERE if you are interested, but since Lana's not on it, what's the fucking point? Am I right, ladies? Listen to the luscious Big Eyes below.

FIVE NEW REMIXES OF MADONNA'S LIVING FOR LOVE

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: NEW MUSIC: TOVE LO - TALKING BODY

(Slightly NSFW due to language and partial nudity) I'm seriously obsessed with this song, this girl and her album, Queen of the Clouds. Talking Body is the fantastic follow up to Tove Lo's top 10 hit Habits (Stay High) and it's wonderfully sexy. "If you love me right, we f*ck for life" gets right to the point, doesn't it? Watch the video below and love it or you're crazy. It's my new jam, y'all!!! If you don't have Queen of the Clouds get it now on iTunes.

MADONNA FRIDAY: FEVER

Madonna rarely does covers. She doesn't have to. She's Madonna. For her 1992 album Erotica, she was not intending on doing a cover but while working on a song called Goodbye to Innocence (which later surfaced on the charity record Just Say Roe) Madonna started singing the lyrics to Fever, the classic song by Peggy Lee, over the track. She liked it, and the rest is history. Though never released as a single in the US, appearing only as a B-side for Bad Girl, the song was a massive club hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song was the highest debuting song from Erotica in the UK, charting it's first week at #6. The video for the song shows Madonna is various costumes and features a remixed version, not the album version. The most famous performance of the song is from Madonna's Girlie Show Tour and I will show it today -- you're so lucky to have me -- along with the amazy video. Yay me!! Enjoy the hot track from Erotica, Fever.