Adele's 'Someone Like You' is Most Performed Karaoke Song in 2012

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Adele has been named the most performed artist at karaoke in 2012. 'Someone Like You' is the most popular song of the year, according to karaoke website Lucky Voice.

The service revealed that out of the 3.1 million songs available, the ballad accounted for 7.4% of all plays this year.

Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' came in second place with 5.4%, followed by One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful' in third.

Adele has three songs in the top ten, with 'Rolling in the Deep' at four, and her version of 'Make You Feel My Love' at six.

Queen, Bon Jovi and Journey also appear in the top ten as the only 'classic' tracks.

Gotye and Kimbra's big-seller 'Somebody That I Used To Know' finishes at number ten.

Adele was recently named the top Billboard artist for a second year running in the US, while her 21 LP was the top album.

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Why America should embrace Fifth Harmony

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It's been quite the hot minute since pop culture has glorified "girl power." At least that's what Simon Cowell thinks. The concept most recognizably takes the form of a young female pop group as it skyrockets to the top of the charts.

Now not since Beyonce decided Destiny had only one child, have we seen the rise of a talented world-famous girl group. That's why Cowell has manufactured one out of five quirky, talented, young vocalists from all over the country who auditioned for the current season of The X Factor. Together, Fifth Harmony are supplying a healthy dose of "girl power," and they best continue whether they win the reality TV singing competition or not.

Unlike the Spice Girls, another set of manufactured girl-empowered pop stars, the Fifth Harmony gals comes off as genuine despite their quickly increasing production value. Their rendition of Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen" was like something you'd see at the VMAs. The dresses, the ballon table, the fairy waiters, everything was bombastically saccharine, reminiscent of Katy Perry's current cotton candy craze, yet it did not feel sticky nor cringe-worthy. In fact, if anything, whereas late 20-something Perry comes off ridiculous wearing cupcakes for bras, Fifth Harmony's princess-inspired performance was the epitome of age-appropriateness, their sweet sixteen.

The new girl group first made their pink-tinged splash performing for Cowell (and Marc Anthony?) at the producer's home. Considering the five girls originally auditioned as solo artists and proved their place in the preliminary sing-offs, it's no surprise their joined-force rendition of "Impossible" showed that behind the cutesy, girly personas were truly powerhouse singers with an affinity for catchy vocal stylings. It was X-Factor fate that these five super talented teens would one day join forces and perform. Perhaps reality TV does have its place as the only stage where stars this big ever come across each other's paths and join to become supernovas. How else would five star-quality singers meet and decide to pursue a recording contract?

Week after week to hear each Fifth Harmony member pull her weight in the vocal department was extremely gratifying, especially being truly discerning about not being enough talent currently on television. Britney Spears didn't deserve the $15 million salary to be an X-Factor judge, and Khloe Kardashian didn't deserve her 15 minutes of fame to play host.

And it's not just their impressive voices that sets them apart from girl group gone by. Fifth Harmony's girlish spark is a refreshing alternative to the current state of female pop star affairs. The last American girl group to gain fame was made up of one hyper-sexualized singer (who also recorded all the background vocals) surrounded by an actual horde of strippers. And as if that wasn't demeaning enough, the Pussycat Dolls inspired copy cats, the Dolls themselves the obviously unoriginal knock-off of the sleazy Vegas burlesque show by the same name, setting up a debased template for how girl groups should be.

In their X-Factor live shows, Fifth Harmony has chosen to perform songs about first love, heartbreak, friendship and... well, girl power. Twice they belted out songs originally performed by X-Factor judge Demi Lovato. In both instances, Lovato confessed the five singers did a better job, as if the songs were written specifically for them. Which makes sense seeing how Disney-fit Fifth Harmony is.

In that sense, Fifth Harmony is modeled more similar to the British girl group tradition, responsible for initiating the girl power wave with the Spice Girls. Unlike Aubrey O'Day and friends, you never saw the members of The Sugarbabes, Girls Aloud or All Saints use a stripper pole in their dance routines. (5h really are the new Girls Aloud!!!!!) More recently, X-Factor UK contestants Little Mix joined this sorority for the squeaky clean but quirky.

In a time when teen girls get promised national attention for getting pregnant rather than for following their dreams, and sex tapes seem to be the fast track to fame, the voices of Fifth Harmony deserve to be loud. We can only hope that, even if they go home next week, they will continue to make music. If only because I want my sisters to grow up knowing that it's not impossible for five talented 16-year-old girls to take over the world, big bows and all.



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Kesha fails with Warrior at Billboard Charts.Taylor Swift slays again

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Ke$ha's new album, "Warrior," failed to reach the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 200 chart, selling only 85,000 copies; as a result, it was lapped by Taylor Swift's "Red." Swift's album sold 167,000 copies, a 22-percent increase over last week.

Wiz Khalifa came in second, moving 141,000 copies of his second studio album, "O.N.I.F.C."

"Warrior" also represents a big drop off from Ke$ha's first LP, "Animal." That album debuted at No. 1 in an admittedly dead stretch of January 2012, but nonetheless moved 152,000 units.

The newer album represented a sonic shift for Ke$ha, who reunited with not only hit-makers like Dr. Luke but also worked with rockers like The Black Keys' Patrick Carney and The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne. The singer also told The Huffington Post that th music represents her present state of mind. "I write about my life in my music and I have very little filter so basically it would be impossible for me to separate my music and the rest of my life," Ke$ha said. "My music is a representation of my life and vice-versa."

Swift's "Red" sold 1.2 million copies in its first week, easily outpacing all the competition. Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" popped Swift out of the top slot last week, but the young country-lite singer reclaimed the spot in this week's tepid field.

Other chart notes, via Billboard: Bruno Mars overcame Britney Spears (with will.i.am.) and Rihanna on the singles chart as his "Locked Out of
Heaven" outsold "Scream & Shout" and "Diamonds."

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Jessie Ware Interview with Village Voice

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Aaliyah and Sade-Inspired Jessie Ware Brings Her "British Electronic Soul Music" To Town

Okay, so how would you describe Jessie Ware's sound to an inquiring mind?
It's British, electronic soul music. That's how I would describe it.

Which artists had a strong influence on you in your younger years? I know that you're a big fan of '90s R&B...
Girl groups like TLC, SWV and Destiny's Child, I loved what they were doing and it was really good fun. They didn't take themselves too seriously, they were flirtatious and it was great music. Lauryn Hill, too. I was mad about The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill album, it was an album that really stuck with me and I'd play it and knew all the words. I used to watch loads of MTV Base when I was younger: Lucy Pearl, Montell Jordan, Jon B, those guys were on all the time. And so much JLo, so much Jennifer Lopez [laughs]. I watched that all the time and pretended that I was in the videos.

What are your thoughts on R&B today, though? It's definitely not what it used to be...
I feel like it's getting there. People like Frank Ocean and Miguel are amazing and exciting new R&B stars, and I really liked Usher's "Climax" song with Diplo. There's still good R&B music out there. I also like a girl called Rochelle Jordan, she's really cool.

Would you like to work with anyone you've just listed there?
Yeah, most definitely. I'm a bit worried Frank Ocean's going to issue some kind of restraining order on me [laughs]. I just love his vibe. I think Miguel's amazing, he sounds like Marvin Gaye. The-Dream, that song "Yamaha" he made, I never stop playing it. Oh, and the Weeknd is so cool! The whole crew that he has around him is wicked. His producer, Illangelo, makes some really exciting stuff.

Speaking of producers, you've worked with some of the most innovative bass music producers out there, SBTRKT and Julio Bashmore being just a few of them. Do you have your ear on anyone else right now?
I'd like to work with Disclosure again, because I just think they're great. I think Perseus is really good. He changed "Night Light" from being this over-the-top ballad to this cute R&B duet between me and my producer using our backing vocals. Also Todd "The God" Edwards, he did a remix for me -- which I'm so, so happy about. I never get to go clubbing anymore [laughs]. 

You're releasing your If You Never Gonna Move EP just for your fans in America, so what can they expect from it when it's released on Cherrytree Records in January?
There will be a song off the album on there, and then some extras. I just think it's quite a fun way to start the year in America. They can expect a lot of me talking about love and exploring how to make an album -- there's loads of genres in there. I've got so many influences in there, so I've tried to combine them all into a big melting pot and hope it works. There are a few songs you can listen to when you're dancing, too [laughs].

And what kind of show do you have planned for your sold out show at The Box in New York City tonight?
I've heard The Box is quite small and I've heard it's quite a raunchy place. It's got willies everywhere, apparently [laughs]. I'm going to pretend I'm a jazz singer because I like the idea of an intimate venue. I'm not going to sing jazz [laughs], but I guess we'll just continue to do what we've been doing.

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The Spice Girls Emma Bunton,Melanie C and Geri Halliwell cover DAILY MAIL Weekend Magazine

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Uk Sensation Marina And The Diamonds lands her music on The Today Show+ Magazine cover

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Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

BEHIND THE 'WEDDING BELLS'


Marina on the cover of Irish magazine Kiss

lol @ Willie Geist calling her album 'Electrica' Heart.

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Nicole Scherzinger leaving Uk X Factor and Cheryl Cole in talks to a comeback

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"Tulisa, Gary, and Nicole are set to leave -
with Cheryl Cole retaking her rightful place."

NICOLE Scherzinger has dealt X Factor bosses a hammer blow — by threatening to quit the show and reboot her own pop career.

A showbiz insider said: “Nicole has proved really popular with viewers – men want to be with her and women want to be her."

The former Pussycat Doll, 34, said that getting two of her acts — James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas — into the final would be the perfect exit strategy. She said: “I’m really glad I did the show. I don’t know if I’ll come back next year. End on a high, right?”

Nicole has emerged as the most popular judge on this year’s panel and her departure would be another nail in the coffin of the ailing ITV1 show. However, Nicole, who has a new album in the pipeline, is keen to go back on tour.

She said: “This year has changed my life. As an artist, it’s put into perspective what I want, how to go about it.

“People have made me so comfortable and I have to thank you.”

There were reports earlier in the series that Simon Cowell was eager to poach Mel B from the Australian version of the show after a successful guest judging stint.

Reports suggest that besides Scherzinger, the only judge Cowell wants to see return to the show is pal Louis Walsh.

“Tulisa has lost her touch this year and her heart doesn’t seem to be in it, while Gary has a new album and touring commitments with Take That,”the source said.

It has previously been reported that Cowell is intending to return to the UK version of the show next year, and that negotiations are at an advanced level with Cheryl Cole on her return.

The X Factor has lost millions of viewers in the UK this year, and is down almost 10 million on its peak in 2009.

Liverpool singer Christopher Maloney has seen his odds slashed with the bookies as millions have been placed on him to win the competition.

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2013 Grammy Nominee Kelly Clarkson beams in London with Happiness-Interview videos

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Kelly Clarkson flashes a smile for the camera as she arrives at the ITV Studios in London on Wednesday, December 5. The singer is currently overseas on a promo tour for her current release, Greatest Hits: Chapter One. Clarkson filmed an appearance on the talk show Loose Women the morning before the nominees for the 2013 Grammys were announced, adding 3 more nominations to her list of accomplishments. Her album Stronger is up for Best Pop Vocal Album, while the smash title track is up for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance (as well Song of the Year for songwriters Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin and Ali Tamposi).

Loose Women Interview


Performing "Because of You" and slaying it as usual


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Pop Star Rihanna will help to find The next fashion Designer

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LOS ANGELES—December 5, 2012—Style Media today announced the search for America’s next groundbreaking designer with its first competition series, “Styled to Rock,” executive produced by and starring multi-Grammy Award winner and fashion icon Rihanna. Slated to premiere in 2013, the hour-long 10-episode series will give 12 up-and-coming designers, hand-picked by Rihanna, the opportunity of a lifetime – to create unique fashion pieces for A-list celebrity talent. The stakes will be high as these budding designers vie for the title of America’s next trendsetting designer.

“Rihanna is a trailblazer, a trendsetter and the epitome of style. She has a powerful and unique point-of-view that transcends every aspect of pop culture, including fashion, and is a leading creative force,” said Salaam Coleman Smith, President, Style Media. “On the heels of our successful network rebrand, ‘Styled to Rock’ and Style’s new partnership with Rihanna will reinvent the fashion competition genre, fueling our viewers insatiable appetite for all things style.”

Rihanna is inviting innovative designers who believe that they represent the future of fashion to sign up to be considered for the new competition series at Style’s website, StyleNetwork.com/StyledtoRock.

“Fashion has always played an integral part in my life and career,” said Rihanna. “I am so excited to partner with Style Network and share my creative insight with these 12 designers and give them this opportunity to showcase their work.’

The series launches with a nationwide search on StyleNetwork.com for cutting-edge designers looking to take their craft to the next level. Rihanna will personally select the 12 designers who will compete for the coveted opportunity to dress some of the biggest names in entertainment. To help the designers reach their ultimate artistic potential, Rihanna will enlist the guidance of top experts from the fashion industry to serve as mentors. Each week, challenges will push the designers to their creative limits when they are tasked with styling an A-list star. Each week’s celebrity guest will determine which designer best achieves their vision – and advances to the next week of competition. Faced with the threat of elimination, the remaining designers must meet with the mentors to discuss where they fell short and ultimately who will be sent home. In the end, one designer will be named the winner of “Styled to Rock.”

Rihanna has taken the music, entertainment and fashion industry by storm. An accomplished performer, she has sold 41 million albums worldwide and 150 million digital tracks worldwide making her the top-selling digital artist of all time. Her seventh album, “Unapologetic” gave the singer her first number one album on the Billboard 200 album chart. In addition, she has achieved 12 number-one singles and won six Grammy Awards. In 2012 she took her talents to the silver screen with her big screen debut in “Battleship.” Rihanna was recently crowned the most-likeable star on Facebook.com with 63 million ‘friends’ on the site, more than any other celebrity. In addition, she has created a fashion empire with the successful launches of her fragrances Reb’l Fleur, Rebelle and Nude as well as two capsule collections under the Armani umbrella and a collection with River Island for their spring/summer 2013 collection.

“Styled to Rock” is executive produced by Robyn Rihanna Fenty and is produced by Shed Media US, Overbrook Entertainment and Marcy Media Films. Nick Emmerson and Dan Peirson of Shed Media US, James Lassiter of Overbook Entertainment and Jay Brown of Marcy Media Films also serve as executive producers. Sarah Weidman and Merah Chung executive produce the series for Style.

For updates on “Styled to Rock” visit StyleNetwork.com, follow @StyleNetwork on Twitter and like Style on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StyleNetwork.

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