John Mayer Confesses To Being Half of My Heart

PEOPLE has the exclusive premiere of John Mayer's "Half Of My Heart" official music video, where a tux-clad Mayer sings and strums about not being able to "stop loving you with half of my heart" after apparently leaving his bride at the altar. "Half of My Heart" is third single taken from his "Battle Studies" album released in 2009 and was certified gold in the US. This song, in which Mayer confesses to being half-hearted in a relationship, is a collaboration with Country-Pop star Taylor Swift, but she does not appear in the video. Mayer seems to be back to his playboy-lover image.
"Half of My Heart" features more of a pop rock sound than Mayer's previous music. His previous albums explored blues and acoustic rock, especially in his 2006 album "Continuum." It also has a carefree, sing-along sound to it. Mayer told MTV News that the idea for the song came to Mayer in a dream. "I woke up with the song in my head called 'Half of My Heart,'" he recalled. "And the idea is that it's this real sort of updated — not that it needs to be updated — sort of Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks thing."
The lyrics of the song are sung by both Mayer and Swift; Swift sings with Mayer in the chorus and in the song's bridge. The lyrics are about the duo, with half of their hearts saying they should continue to love each other, although the other half says they are not each other's true love, and cannot keep loving each other. Mayer "tweeted" about wanting to record the song with Swift in March 2009: "Waking up to this song idea that won't leave my head. 3 days straight now. That means it's good enough to finish," he wrote "It's called 'Half of My Heart' and I want to sing it with Taylor Swift. She would make a killer Stevie Nicks in contrast to my Tom Petty of a song."
In an interview shown on television called Mayer: On the Record with Fuse (which only aired on the Fuse channel), Mayer's interviewer asked why the singer chose Swift to duet with, since she was only nineteen years old, and Mayer was 32. He responded by saying that he was not putting her on the album just to sell more copies for die-hard fans of Taylor Swift that might just get the album for that song.

Trey Songz Debuts "Already Taken" (Step Up 3D)

Chiseled R&B heartthrob Trey Songz, is back again with yet another video, unveiled the Official music video on 106 & Park for "Already Taken," a single featured on the soundtrack to the dance flick "Step Up 3D," hitting theaters August 6. The soundtrack, produced by Polow Da Don is due on July 20, will also feature songs by T-Pain, Sean Paul, Flo Rida and B.o.B. You can listen to "Already Taken" now by tuning into AOL Radio's New R&B First station.
The song "Already Taken" is a love mid-tempo ballad with a crackling drum beat, then builds steam about not wanting to be a player anymore and being faithful, regardless of the circumstances. This song is a little different from Songz's past tracks, as he seems to be slowly leaving the raunchy sexual sound that helped blow him up this past year to making more romantic, sensual ballads. The song is catchy and should get a lot of play since it always seems like the "Step Up" franchise delivers great compilation soundtracks.
Songz is singing a new tune. While we've grown accustomed to watching him enjoy the single life, the R&B playboy is taking himself off the market for Mrs. Right for his lifestyle. This time he's letting all the ladies know that he's "Already Taken" leaving his playas ways behind even "if you throwing him the booty." The video features scenes from the upcoming movie and features his beautiful ex-girlfriend of two years, Helen Gedlu.
"Step Up 3D" is the upcoming third installment in the "Step Up" franchise once again promises plenty of dance moves and an underlying romance to drive the story. The first dance movie to be shot in 3-D, this teen-focused drama stars a bunch of relatively unknown young actors, but then again, so did the first two, which still managed to outperform box-office predictions. Unlike the previous versions, which followed high-school students, this one seems centered on a tight-knit group of New York's street dancers, including Luke (Rick Malambri) and Natalie (Sharni Vinson), team up with NYU freshman Moose (Adam Sevani), and find themselves pitted against the world’s best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever.

I Blame Coco Premiered Follow-up "Self Machine"

The UK band I Blame Coco have just released the music video for their second single "Self Machine," from their finest long-playing debut album "The Constant" is due for release in September. I like the moody, angsty and really fitting how I am feeling today. "Self Machine" is an electronic/alternative mix with a killer melody, ding ding, an instant winner.
I Blame Coco are a five-piece fronted by one Coco Sumner who is, for better or worse, the daughter of Sting and his wife actress/producer Trudie Styler. The burgeoning talent, just 19-year-old at the moment, has been diligently plucking away at her debut record for the past five years now. Ironically though, there's hardly anything constant about it, given that slaving over those mega lyrics and the shape of the sound, she apparently scrapped it all in the autumn of last year and re-wrote it to her own, exact specifications.
The 19-year-old Londoner has been a simmering, growing presence on the capital's music scene for the best part of a year, and she and her band released their first single, "Caeser" in February, a track that featured vocals from Scandinavian pop nymph Robyn. Impressively, the Italy-born singer and her band have been signed to Island Records on a six-album deal.
The follow up single "Self Machine," will be released on July 12, is a nice piece of alt-pop, but it feels a little creepy since Sumner looks and sounds exactly like her father. The blaring, 80's-inspired beats of the song sparkle with shades of producer's pop sensibility, yet Sumner's deeper voice suggests something far darker: "I saw the mirror staring back at me, and it told me I'm a self machine," Sumner croons, sounding appropriately lonely as she tackles the personal void missing in today's digital age. It was lush, quiet, soft and introspective, then out burst the official single, and it's an up-tempo winner with a driving beat and a terrific acrobatic arrangement. The result is nothing short of alt-disco brilliance.
Sumner takes the idea of the global online community to its extravagant conclusion and imagines herself in a robot state to a thumping electro-rock sound-bed. From the press release: "Self Machine" is a soaring dystopian disco anthem and a dose of heartfelt, creative electro pop at its finest, and the video is no different. Directed by Alex Smith at Warp Films, (the man behind Coldplay's "Yellow" and Manic Street Preacher's "Empty Souls") it was shot at an old derelict swimming pool in an abandoned college in Oxfordshire, giving it an almost 'post apocalyptic' feel. The video is very high fashion, a bit magical, and quite beautifully shot all around.

Michelle Branch & Timbaland Make A "Getaway"

Ever feel like you need to add some colour into your life and "Getaway" from the ordinary? Grammy-winner Michelle Branch and R&B/Hip-Hop producer Timbaland teamed up with MINI Cooper's new Countryman car to create this video inspired by the idea of getting away. The 26-year-old singer, best known for having a string of pop hits in the early 2000s, including "Everywhere," "All You Wanted," and "Breathe" before ditching pop to go country in the now defunct duo The Wreckers. She's been inching toward a comeback since late, last year.

"Getaway" is an upbeat song about wanting to escape from life's stressors for awhile and is expected to appear in Branch's upcoming solo studio album "Everything Comes and Goes," and it apparently the car inspired Branch to write "Getaway." "I saw the new car and I was inspired to write a song about getting away and getting out from the everyday confinements of life. Sometimes the fix for that is taking a road trip, so I worked on an exciting project with Timbaland and he produced the track with me."
The music video sees Branch hooking up with Timbaland in studio. The country, pop/rock singer is laying her vocal and strumming her guitar in the recording booth, while the rapper/producer is sitting behind the mixing table. "I love Michelle Branch, I love what she does," Tim said of his newest collaborator. "What I did was take her beautiful soft voice on my grungy, hard beats. Country meets Timbo." The excitement for the project is mutual. "I was so excited [to work with Timbaland]," Branch said. "My favorite part about music is when you can cross genres and try something new... We're very proud of it."
Branch's compelling new album for Warner Nashville has been long in the making and well worth the wait. "Everything Comes And Goes" is a breakthrough effort once and for all establishing Branch as a significant, grown up talent in her own right. It's a deeply personal statement of purpose from a singer-songwriter who's already experienced success in a variety of formats over the course of nearly a decade as a recording artist. Yet for all that she has already accomplished in her life. The resulting album offers the powerful, emotional and ultimately life-affirming sound of a gifted singer-songwriter who left some pieces of her heart behind, but found some new pieces along the way too. "I never consider what an album's about while I’m recording it," Branch says finally. "But in the end, I guess that 'Everything Comes And Goes' is really a record about passion--about wanting it, about losing it and then finding it all over again."

Lady Gaga Unleashed New Video For "Alejandro"

One-woman army Lady Gaga has just unleashed a new music video on her Youtube channel for her latest eagerly anticipated single "Alejandro," treating fans with dark, provocative scenes some of which make reference to Madonna's "Vogue," the another epic and self-indulgent near nine-minute-long journey will definitely draw comparisons between her and Madonna. She even looks a little like Madonna in it, sporting a platinum blond wig a black blazer suit and a machine gun bra. It sees the singer baring a cold heart, which presumably belongs to Alejandro.
"Alejandro" is the 3rd single from Gaga's 2nd studio album "The Fame Mons†er." It was co-written by Gaga with RedOne, it is composed as a mid-tempo Europop song with an uplifting melody and disco influences, where Gaga sings in a non-English accent about bidding farewell to her lovers. The song went to US radio on April 20 and was released internationally as a digital download in May. Every song in the album represents a 'fear' of some 'monster.' This song, in the words of Gaga represents 'The fear of men monster.' It has a very laid back Spanish feel to it, the music is definitely reminiscent of Madonna's "La isla Bonita." Though the lyrics are very different. The video was directed by the legendary photographer Steven Klein, who has worked with Madonna told Rolling Stones. "She likes epics. It fits her personality. We combined dance, narrative and attributes of surrealism. The process was to express Gaga's desire to reveal her heart and bear her soul."
The 24-year-old pop performer recently told the press her video was about "the purity of my friendships with my gay friends, and how I've been unable to find that with a straight man in my life. It's a celebration and an admiration of gay love—it confesses my envy of the courage and bravery they require to be together. In the video I'm pining for the love of my gay friends—but they just don't want me to be with them." Hence the shirtless men with bowl cuts dancing around in high heels and underwear that concludes with Gaga doing a little Bob Fosse-esque dance and stripping for them in a giant orgy. Throughout the video, she's encircled by an army of choreographed, chiseled dancers writhing around her body in a protective way. Like always, Gaga is dressed to provoke and wears a red leather nun's habit, the dancing and costumes are great as well. All melds to make the video play out like a visual love letter to Madonna's early '90s "Blond Ambition" era.
I think Gaga is still one of the hardest working singers and songwriters out there today and she goes above and beyond to bring not only extravagant shows but great songs, lyrics and passion to the music business. With the "Fame Monster" continually throwing creative punches like this, the only question viewers can ask themselves now is where can Gaga possibly go next? Pretty sure she'll enjoy the challenge. Gaga will be touring the US this summer in her "Monster Ball" tour, kicking off July 1 in Boston. I'm not going to waste your time talking about the video, and enjoy this creative expression of "dark" art.

Shakira' Song 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)'

Anticipation continues to build for the 2012 FIFA World Cup, the premiere international soccer tournament that occurs only every four years. It's set to kick off this Friday, June 11 in and around Johannesburg, South Africa. Though there is no doubt the soccer will be excellent, it'll also be thrilling to hear the music coming out of the month-long tournament. Several artists have created official World Cup anthem songs, including R. Kelly and K'Naan, but Shakira's latest tune "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" is perhaps the best of them all. She just premiered the video for "This time for Africa", better known locally as "Waka Waka," and it's a delightfully colorful affair. Joined by South Africa fusion band Freshlyground and a bevy of dancers, Shakira rolls through the funky, inspirational tune with her usual blend of jittery energy and engaging charm. It also doesn't hurt that she's an excellent dancer, as are the performers who flank her throughout the clip.
It was her first visit to the country and is also an ambassador for the One Goal Education Initiative and wants to visit some schools, the Colombian Pop sensation Shakira will take center stage for the Official World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert (via Billboard) taking place at Orlando Stadium on Thursday, the eve of the opening match of the tournament. "I am looking forward to seeing all the South African artists who will be performing at the Kick-off concert. I especially want to see their dance moves. I am looking forward to stealing some dance moves as well," she said. She will perform alongside homegrown sensation Freshlyground, who she has collaborated with for "Waka Waka," which is Written jointly by Shakira and John Hill, and an adaptation of a traditional soldiers' song named "Zangalewa."
The 33-year-old singer works it out in this new music video, all the excitement on the field is mashed up with frisky dance and performance and shows off the joy on the field when the goal is scored and disappointment when it's failed. The music video also features cameos from such football players as Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, Rafael Marquez, Gerard Pique and Carlos Kameni among others. "The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that's what this song is about," Shakira said in a statement. Her excellent belly dancing moves have made her more popular in the music world.
After achieving superstardom throughout Latin America, Colombian-born Shakira became Latin pop's biggest female crossover artist since Jennifer Lopez. Noted for her aggressive, rock-influenced approach, Shakira maintained an extraordinary degree of creative control over her music, especially for a female artist; she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of her own material, and in the process gained a reputation as one of Latin music's most ambitiously poetic lyricists. Shakira has 2 Grammy awards, 7 Latin Grammy awards and 12 Billboard Latin Music awards to her credit so far. Shakira is now preparing for her upcoming She Wolf Tour around the world which kicks off on September, 21.

Theory Premiered Video For "We'll Be Alright"

Poughkeepsie hip-hop and R&B artist Theory premiered his new official music video on YouTube Friday, for his song "We'll Be Alright." Directed by Jarek Zabczynski and featuring Martina Markota, the video will be the first film project filmed on the Walkway Over the Hudson Railroad Bridge between Poughkeepsie and Highland. Other locations include New Paltz and Kingston.
Raised in Yonkers, N.Y., Theory absorbed the elements of hip-hop by writing poetry and listening to his earlier inspirations, Nas and Jay-Z. Upon that, he developed himself a character that would mold him into the artist he is today. Electrifying multi-fluid styles consisting of sleek hip-hop lyrics with a twist of R&B flavor separated him from most, if not all.
Theory's accomplishments have garnered much attention in New York's upstate scene. Theory's latest single "Swish" recently rose to the No.1 position on WPKF 96.1 KissFM's Total Request Countdown. It was the second time in the history of the station that a local artist managed to achieve such a feat. The first time, was also achieved by Theory with his song: "A Soldier's Heart." Aside from performing at clubs, colleges, and venues, Theory has made quite an impact on the community as he often performs at various charities and fundraisers. He speaks three languages and has traveled the world, performing across Belgium, Spain, France, and the UK. He has also performed alongside artists Cheri Dennis and R&B superstar Ne-Yo.