Carrie Underwood Debuts "Temporary Home"

Five-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood, fresh from earning her fifth Grammy trophy last Sunday, has yet another huge hit with the country crooner's heartfelt new single, "Temporary Home," Tuesday, the powerful video companion to the ballad track debut on iTunes with a two-day (February 2 and 3) exclusive for purchase and download. The powerful video for "Temporary Home" will make its television debut Today on both GAC and CMT.
"Temporary Home," written by Zac Maloy, Luke Laird and co-written by the American Idol alum, is the second smash taken from Underwood's third Platinum-certified studio album "Play On." It comes out following lead single "Cowboy Casanova" and was showcased live by the 26-year-old on a November 2009 episode of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien". A music video, made from a live performance from CMT's "Invitation Only", was originally released to promote this single, before a real one was made. The song with fully-invested emotion provides a glimpse at the person behind the artist.
Underwood's videos have consistently been major fan-favorites, and the new melancholy video for "Temporary Home" witnesses the 2010 winner of Grammys' Best Country Collaboration with vocals gave a tear-jerking performance. A little kid is sent to a foster home, a mother searches for work in the cold, and Underwood is crying and sitting on the back seat of a cab on her way to the hospital to visit her ailing on-screen grandfather in the most depressing dialogue-break to come in the middle of a music video. In a touching moment, she and the old man reveal how they care about each other. As touching as the video is, we're a little annoyed that Underwood sings exactly what is happening on the screen. Yes, country songs are known to tell stories, and the story of "Temporary Home" is what we see on-screen. As a result, "Temporary Home" has a very dull emotional affect and Underwood's vocal is beautifully delicate, and the downtempo pace of the song grants a welcome reprieve for her typically bombastic production.
The reviews of the song have been favorable. Billboard gave a positive review saying that "Hope reverberates through the scenarios as each character senses that life on Earth is but a temporary trial. Vocally, she has never sounded more heartfelt and compelling. 'Temporary Home' is a powerful song that's stirring but not preachy, and Underwood's performance is sure to resonate strongly with listeners." The recently-engaged singer is expected to belt out the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl XLIV pre-game show at the Sun Life Stadium in South Florida on this coming up Sunday!

Akon Charity Single "Oh Africa" With Keri Hilson

Much attention has been paid to artists doing charity work for Haiti — as it should be — but the Grammy nominees, Senagal-born rapper Akon and American singer Keri Hilson go in front of the lens to shoot the music video for their charity single "Oh Africa" and has been premiered on last Sunday night in coincidence with the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards with proceeds going to benefit underprivileged African youth in the motherland, including Akon's Konfidence Foundation. The track has been available for download on iTunes immediately after Grammy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Africa" is recorded for new Pepsi football TV commercial for the brand's worldwide campaign "Refresh Your World," which is based on enabling youth to make a positive change in the world. The Gil Green directed clip featuring Akon's performance with his collaborator Hilson, unite on wax for the third time, follows "Change Me" and "Mic Check," go colorful with African paint theme, it showcases vibrantly-colored African visuals with the South African Soweto Gospel Choir on vocals with 16 aspiring young musicians from around the world who won the chance to appear.
The bright, multi-colored video also features football players who make cameo appearances in the music video for "Oh Africa." It's a pairing that would strike fear into the hearts of the most solid Premier League back four. Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba have teamed up - off the football pitch - to help raise money for underprivileged African youths.
"The whole aura of it is so fun, the color, the painting and the drums," R&B star Akon commented on the video shoot. "It brings out all the cultural parts of Africa you can ever think of and it doesn't even seem like a video, it seems more like a work of art that just happens to be a video. I hope you enjoy the look behind the scenes." Akon has also been known to extend his generosity to his fellow artists. Predictably, the song is heavy on treacle without saying much, but that doesn't prevent this from becoming sort of uplifting.

Cheryl Cole Premiered Her 3rd Clip "Parachute"

Last Sunday, Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge, up for Best Single at the Brit Awards, Cheryl Cole is back with yet another sure-fire smash fantastic new video for her upcoming new single "Parachute" is now scheduled to be the third single as a solo artist, follows up the title track from her debut UK solo album "3 Words" which featured last night's big Grammy winner will.i.am on vocals. The grand premiere of the video took place on Channel 4 at 12:20pm, immediately following Hollyoaks. The Girls Aloud star debuted "Parachute" on her Night In show on ITV1 last December with a Latin dance routine performed with Derek Hough. (See picture)
If her first two videos didn't already solidify Cole as a full-fledged pop star in her own right, "Parachute" surely will. This is truly a piece of art, recalling the best moments of the past decade of Kylie Minogue's videography and the fierce poise and style of fellow girl grouper Victoria Beckham. As usual, British pop singer looks gorgeous, moody lighting, sharp choreography and absolutely stunning and performed a Latin dance with Derek Hough, a professional champion of Dancing with the Stars in the music video. Evocative lighting, melodramatic dance routine, pitch perfect 1930s screen queen styling, and shoulderpads that show she means business. And about time too!
The song "Parachute" that MuuMuse called "the album's most accessible track with marching drum beat and a twinkling mid-tempo piano melody," was written by Ingrid Michaelson and Marshall Altman, and was produced by Syience and Will.i.am. The physical CD will be out on March 15. Cole states that "Parachute" one of the more "left-of-field sounding" tracks from the "3 Words" album and that it was "unique". Some critics commented on "Parachute" was mainly positive. Tom Ewing of The Guardian said that the song was "an austere take on modern pop that gives Cole's voice the space it needs" and Louise McCudden of In The News said that, despite having "possibly the most lyrically mundane chorus [she had] ever heard", "Parachute" is a "well-calculated song" that gets stuck in the listener's head.

Danny Gokey's "My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me"

The second runner-up of 'American Idol' season 8 Danny Gokey has released his first ever music video last Tuesday in support his upcoming debut single "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" off Gokey's forthcoming RCA debut album "My Best Days" which is aimed for March 2 U.S. release. It replaces song "It's Only" which was previously unveiled prior to the single, I posted on November 10, 2009.
Clearly excited about all of his 2010 projects, Gokey told fans "Good morning! If you haven't seen it yet you can still check out my new music video. I hope it helps make your day go better... I'm so happy." Gokey is singing the song in an abandoned warehouse in the video. "I love this song for what it stands for," so said Gokey when commenting on the track. "I don't live in the past. I live in the 'now'... in the future... and in the dreams that I have. I know that my best days really are ahead of me."
The song shares those songs' sense of self-awareness and the result is a believable, earnest effort that's bland and entirely forgettable. In fact, the song finds Gokey stripped of everything but his clean-cut, positive image. However, the most glaring omission from the song is its lack of narrative, the backbone of country music that pulls listeners from beginning to end. Save its dreadful bridge, the only image Gokey paints is one of glowing candles on a birthday's cake, leaving only a string of vaguely uplifting clichés like "age ain't nothing but a number" in its wake.
The 29-year-old's soulful voice and incredible outlook on life, despite the sudden loss of his young wife, moved everyone who heard his voice and his story. Gokey was the darling of American Idol's Season 8, finishing third but leaving with a dedicated fan base who fell in love with the worship leader with his heart on his sleeve. After Idol, he's launched a career into the country/pop music genre.
Gokey is at a crossroads, both literally and lyrically. Like other reality show finalists, he must find his niche in an over-saturated market without alienating the fans he picked up through the television airwaves. And while he was originally billed as a contemporary Christian singer with a built-in inspirational message, he is attempting to channel that momentum into the country music world Carrie Underwood, Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler and Kristy Lee Cook have each made their own, to varying degrees of success. The video will be added to the GAC Top 20 Country Countdown voting ballot today, starting about 10 am ET.

Ayla Brown Released Her Debut Video 'Pick It Up'

American Idol season five semifinalist Ayla Brown has released her first moody black-and-white music video for the lead single, "Pick It Up," off her brand new EP "Circles," which is just released on last Tuesday and now available on iTunes and all digital stores, on her label's official YouTube channel on the same day of the release. The song was co-written by Brown's label-mate Will Makar and Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Leigh Jones. It has a homemade charm about it.
The 21-year-old Brown is the daughter of the recently voted Senator Scott Brown, and it took her father's latest win in Massachusetts Senate Race to actually lift up her post-Idol career for moving up the release date of "Circles" from April to capitalize on her new found fame, the media frenzy whipped up by her father's Senate win. She talked about the whirlwind of her career with Entertainment Weekly: "I feel like it's almost promoting itself in a way after my dad won the election," she says. "When you’re part of an indie label, every little bit of promotion and publicity will help your music career."
The politician's daughter and an aspiring pop singer has found herself back in the spotlight. Her resume is a ticket to the Grand Ole Opry. She's a very nice, young woman with a wholesome reputation. She's originality, talent, smart and poised. She's got a jump shot and is willing to take on the president of the United States in a game of two-on-two. She invites little kids up on stage to sing with her. She's known in these parts as National Anthem Girl because she's sung "Oh, say, can you see" at pretty much every major event in the state. Brown currently plays NCAA basketball for Boston College, where she's a senior, in addition to trying to get her music career off the ground.

Usher Premiered "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"

The Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Usher just premiered his new dancey music video for latest sexy R&B hit, "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" Thursday, January 28 morning via all MTV Network. R&B crooner Usher's taking it back to the basics and still knows how to bust a move in his videos.
Usher is finally getting the ball rolling on his new album. "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" is the proper lead off official single from his upcoming sixth studio album "Raymond v. Raymond," which promises to have the same intimate, detailed, revelatory feeling of the Atlanta singer's breakthrough confessions, by all accounts, is a very personal thing and will hit stores on March 30. It's about temptation, love and lust, and also about distance and the effect it has on all those things. The song was written by longtime Usher collaborator Rico Love, produced by The Runners, and features Rapper Plies. The track is fortified with a hot beat and sexy lyrics.
Usher, the 31-year-old singer and today's top R&B male performers spends a considerable amount of time in the video for "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" making sure you know he can dance way, way better than you. The video has him torn between nightlife and home life, and Usher is subjected to his fair share, mostly from some over-friendly dancers, taking in a meeting and finally ending up home with the special woman in his life, a love interest played by French model Noemie Lenoir, and serving behind the lens is Chris Robinson. One thing's for certain: Distance may make the heart grow fonder, but there are limits to everything. Usher may want to be no place but home, and "Hey Daddy" is proof of that. The good news is Usher is still in top form as a dancer, his voice is still as smooth as silk.

Mariah Carey Premiered "Angels Cry" Feat Ne-Yo

American R&B/pop singer Mariah Carey has premiered music videos in support of her remixed singles "Angels Cry" which officially impacted Rhythmic, Urban and Urban AC radio, featuring fellow Island Def Jam artist Ne-Yo on Wednesday night on VEVO.com. The track is the second single taken from the upcoming thirteenth studio album and second remix album "Angels Advocate," a collection of newly remixed duets with artists performing songs from her current CD "Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel," will be available in stores across U.S. on March 30.
When it rains, it pours Carey's videos. She weathers the storm and sharing screen with her collaborator Ne-Yo, singing in the rain. Apparently, angles only cry when Carey is arching her back in alley while wearing a white tank top. Or at least that's how director and her husband Nick Cannon (aka Mr. Mimi) spins it. But not only does Carey get wet from the rain, in a classy product placement moment, she douses herself and one of her pals in the video with her own M perfume. Ne-Yo maintains his usual suave composure while tinkling away on the piano and offering up one of his trademark spins. The video will debut today on MTV and BET, and all other platforms starting Monday, February 1.
Carey is currently touring to support the second installation of the double-A side combo. The revamped song is supposed to satisfy both markets - Hip Hop and Adult Contemporary. She has kicked it off on January 2 and is going to wrap it up next month on February 26. The tour and remix album are named "Angels Advocate" which is inspired by the song "Angels Cry", originally featured on "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel."