DEMI Lovato

Two years after hitting us with her breakthrough album "Unbroken", with the amazing single hits like "Skyscraper" and "Give Your Heart a Break", it has been quite a journey for Lovato. Being a judge on X-Factor, has made her becoming one of the most recognizable figure last year. With her accomplishments and her courageous story on staying strong and be the inspiration, she has returned to the music scene with another hit album, simply titled "DEMI".

Don't judge the book by its cover. Don't judge the album from the simple title and artwork. In fact, this album is packed with a lot of songs that scream Top 40 hit. The album also showcases her grown vocal chops on several songs and broaden her musical range for the fans to listen. Take a hear on the lead single "Heart Attack", the angsty pop song with EDM influences taking defences on falling in love that also made it as her first top 10 hit on Billboard Hot 100, after "Skyscraper" did in 2011. The live performances of the song has also got me at hello. She is one of the most talented woman in the industry. Kelly Clarkson and Pink must have been so proud.

The second single, " Made in the USA" is one of the catchiest tracks in this album. Lovato sings on how their love was "Made is the US". In contrasr to the first lead single, she sings on protecting her love and no matter what people say, she wants him back. Fierce! The vocal chops isn't as angsty as the lead single, but I would really hoped for another top 10 hit for her. She can really hit the notes so confidently in every songs, and her control is unbelievably powerful. That's the way to do it, Demi!

I like all of the songs in this album, but there are some songs that I think will be a big hit from this album. Here's my top 5 list of songs that should be released as next singles:

5. Neon Lights
Neon Lights is one of the generic love songs that will be a surefire hit for Demi. Although I dislike the same old dance music monotone sound that dominates the song, I feel that the vocals really stand out and the song runs in the same vein as in her 2011 song "Unbroken". Definite contender but not my most favo.

4. Never Been Hurt
This song stucks on repeat in my playlist because Demi soars in this track. The strong Pop Rock and EDM songs may remind us of "Heart Attack" 2.0, but I think it's that formula that makes Demi rocks. With a nice Music Video and Live, I wouldn't complain if this is a bigger hit than Heart Attack.

3. In Case
This is one of the ballads that I can relate with. The simplicity of the melodies and making Demi stands out in vocals. As much as we want Demi be the rocka chick. Maybe she should consider this as the fall release, just in case.

2. Really Don't Care
People has been talking about this collabo for quite some time. I personally like it, but not too crazy on it. But I can say that this song as a potential to be a summer hit. I wish that Cher would sing a little bit more in this track, then it'd be perfect. I imagine this music video will be a lot of "balls, balloons and paints" which equals a lot of fun. I would really be crazy if Demi would play dressing up for the music video.

1. Nightingale
This song screams Tinkerbell soundtrack to me. Which is GREAT. I've been trying to search for the "Gift of a Friend 2.0". Expect the same theme but different story. I would really love Demi to take creative control on the music video. if not, let's just apply the song as the soundtrack for Tinkerbell or Avatar 2.0. I hate this high quality song to be wasted on just being an album track. The climax part with choir added more goosebumps to the song. Like this!!!!

Her album is available NOW!!! Go grab it and listen to the amazing songs yall!!

LIPS Rate: 4,5 LIPS!!!

Cody Simpson HOT-ness new song "Pretty Brown Eyes" summer splash!!

I recently got an email from one of my blog readers on how I never do a review on guy artists. Well, I have been thinking about it since 2 weeks ago (pardon me for the late post) and here's why. I have been so into girl singers because most of the girls really bring it to the table, and no offence to the guys, I really think that male singers are getting drowned by the overloads of these girl scout singers. Probably due to that reason and many more... I did my soul searching, google googling and puff!! I have an eye on this male. Sounds nasty, but here's the thing! I hated him before because I thought he would be just anotha-justin wannabe trying to let the girls melting, but I absolutely LOVE the way he does it now on his new song, which, I must say... It is Cody Simpson's way. FINALLY!! The song is titled "Pretty Brown Eyes", which has hit digital media now.

The Australian teen heart throb is doing what I think a lot of singers will follow. A breezy pop music that will booze up your summer with beach-inspired tracks and really modern simple sounds are the influence that has brought this short yet appropriate track a nod to the higher chart listing. Cody sings her way to the girl he already eyes, and get flirtatious with the blunt lyrics such "Hey there, pretty brown eyes. Whatcha doin' later tonight? Would you mind if I spent time with you?... ". Ladies... come on! pretty hottie like Cody is doing that with you, would you resist?

Oh, yes. another treat from this cute pop summer jam is the visual. Don't expect anything dirty because he's just playing and having a good time in the pool. I guess you know what I mean. A pool party with no shirt on, yes! Bikinis, yes! Cody courting the ladies, yes! sun bathing, yes indeed. It's everything summer is all about. I don't know about you, but Cody is a teenage hottie with a charisma that I never know does exist in him (sorry fans, I just knew!)

Without further ado, I suggest you go download the song, and if you wanna check on him, I mean his music video via YouTube, click below and enjoy the track... and summer...

Another treat for you is one of Cody's acoustic songs, which I also like... titled "Awake All Night"

Britt Nicole, The Gold Inspired Belle

Another day, another star has debuted and rising on my hot song playlist. And apparently, this girl has made me a stan with a song that is not her released single yet. Interesting, but that's what music so artistically miraculous. The essence of her music is young, contemporary, current and inspiring. Hella welcome! Introducing the amazing Britt Nicole.

Well, she is new-not-so-new in this industry when she has started her musical journey since 2004. With three albums on her biography, she is surely not a rookie when it comes to Christian Contemporary Music. What makes her different from the other CCM artist is that the songs is not completely about worshipping God with blunt lyrics. Instead, she used storylines, metaphors and scenarios while keeping the beats very current and top 40 friendly which make us wanting to empathize on the situations and make us believe that God is there to help us through. Brilliant!! I don't know about you but it surely does me the favor!

Keeping the positive vibe ala Delta Goodrem, she really won my vote with her latest album, "Gold", spawning 4 great singles so far, including the hit "Gold", which has been a successful mainstream single of her career yet. But what makes me like this album besides the creative vibe is how pop and current this album sounds, which kinda different in what I had in mind on how christian albums sound. Every song in this album is great, but I am going to review my most favorite tracks off this killa album.

Gold, is the opening track, glowing positivity on how "you're worth more than gold" and you shouldn't be ashamed to "wear your crown, you're a king, you're a queen inside and out". This track reminded me of Pink's "Fuckin' Perfect", Katy Perry's "Firework", even Cindy Lauper's "True Color". This song gives me chills on how inspiring this song will be on today's bullying crimes on students that is increasing every day. This song totally will help those who feel down and unworthy due to their insecurities and makes them inspired to be proud of their flaws and inspire people to make the flaws awesome.

Breakthrough, is my favorite track from the album. The song is probably her experimental track yet, which mixing pop sounds with dubstep and EDM sounding. I may compare this song to Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble", which I think this song is MORE EDGIER. The Dubstep breakdown is really SLAY!! A must HAVE track!! The lyrics are telling us to break through from the fear and inscurities and make a change from inside. Inspiring and current. Like it like it!!

Stand, is one of the standout tracks as well with big inspiring chorus that leans more on being faithful and believe to stand up even when you're down because you believe in God's plan and He won't just leave you. I see this song a big top 10 on the Christian charts, with an angelic music video. The song reminds me a little bit of Halo, and Already Gone. A good reference to a song that also makes me push the repeat button.

The Sun Is Rising, is a song that makes me believe in the light the shines us every day and be thankful. This song screams positivity and gives you a good feeling of believing in God's presence, and that tomorrow is and will be a better day when you look "beyond the clouds". I like it how she sings it so light and no gimmicks in this big ballad track.

Amazing Life, takes us back to the 80s party era. When you think a party song with a title like this screams sex and all, think again. The song is pure fun and all about boosting confidence and feel comfortable in a positive life. Clever lyrics like "I wanna drink from drops of sunshine" surely wants you to move and sway on the outdoor/beach/park parties and the song is very teenage appropriate. I think we got another songs that doesn't inspire the kids to "do it" on songs and still stuck with the "la-a-a-a-a-ife" hook, so catchy that you won't barely noticed after drinking pomegranate juice.

Overall, this album is full of inspired and motivational tracks that can lift your day. Teens, if you're bored from listening to the old school inspirational songs, this album fits you to just blast your speakers and see things a lot happier. At least to me, it works!!

LIP Rate: 4 LIPS!!!
Favorite Tracks : Breakthrough, Gold, Stand, The Sun Is Rising, Amazing Life

Oh, btw... here is the music video for the single "Gold" which has hit top 20 on iTunes. Enjoy new music and kiss to artistic!!

NUDEsic Review: Two Eleven, Brandy Norwood

This week is full of my favorite songs and albums on my playlist. Well, one of the reasons that I want to show you guys the NUDEsic Reviews on songs that doesn't necesssarily the Hot 100 Billboard hit, or top 40 on the radio right now across the world, but the music that can interpolate feelings, happy or sad and making us, the listeners are more into the stories of the songs. And one of the albums that has been on my top R&B list for now is the legendary, Brandy Norwood's "Two Eleven". Have you heard about her? She is one of the royal R&B queens, aka the Vocal Bible, praised by most critics for the outstanding vocals and her trademark layered vocals that has been an inspiration for the new generation of singers.

After a series of  downturns, she came back hard on the latest new album, Two Eleven. The new album boasts on coming back to her old sound, the traditional R&B sound that made her a star on the 90's, but still keeping it current with mixing dance and contemporary sound. The lead single, "Put It Down" is one of the proof that this new album has been a new-old sound to keep her relevant as one of the R&B divas today. Collaborating on popular acts like Chris Brown, sampling Lykke Li on the track "Let Me Go", Rico Love, Bangladesh, Sean Garrett and many more, she kept it real class and sassy on this album, which is much more interesting as she finally showed more choreo on her performances. 

My favorites from this album, is the second single, "Wildest Dreams", in which she told us how she handled her past bad experiences that took that as a stepping stone in finding her man and how that wasn't in her wildest dreams. The sassy midtempo is also a throwback to her old sound, circa Afrodisiac and Full Moon, which is a love. "Without You" is one of my favorite as well, because it has a soulful tale about longing for the one she loves that she can't live without his boo. The album is mostly filled with sickest beats so far, like "Slower" and "No Such Thing as Too Late", which reminds us of Kelly Rowland's "Motivation". "Scared of Beautiful" is truly of the higlights, not only because it is written by Frank Ocean, but also Brandy's vocals are very raw and inspiring, over the mellow beats.

With many critical acclaims on this album, but sadly it doesn't project so well on the charts, which is a shame that the solid R&B album that managed to debut on top of R&B Albums for a week, with 65,000 copies on its first week. However, she is Brandy after all. So, just watch her in concert to get amazed by the talented lady.

Lips Rate: 4 LIPSS!!!

Must-Checkouts: "Wildest Dreams", "Put It Down", "Scared of Beautiful", "Wish Your Love Away", "Without You".

Check out her performances via YouTube below:

Put It Down (Featuring Chris Brown) MV:

Wildest Dreams MV:

NUDE by Arnandt: NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Men...

NUDE by Arnandt: NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Men...: Her album has been on my playlist for quite a while now, but I have yet to see this young girl with a great soulful jazzy voice ruling ...

NUDESic Review: Hello... My Name Is... Bridgit Mendler

Her album has been on my playlist for quite a while now, but I have yet to see this young girl with a great soulful jazzy voice ruling the charts again after bombarding the charts with the hippy uptempo "Ready or Not"   a few months ago. The lead single is just a preview on what her debut album sounds like, and "Hello... My Name Is..." by Bridgit Mendler is so much more diverse than that.

"Formulaic at its best!", is what I gotta say for this album, because:

First, the album follows a formula that was inspired by Lily Allen, Cher Lloyd, Kesha and even a little funky Joss Stone and still poppy ala Natasha Bedingfield as well. At first listen, I was already hooked on every song on the album. Even though, the songs are mostly had the same feel, but they didn't bore you at all. It's just keeps on getting warm in the ear, and you just had that feel good vibe coming from the Natasha inspired sound.

Second, the theme of this album represents her really well on how her life is a rollercoaster when it comes to being a rising star on the Disney Channel's "Good Luck Charlie" which earned her the title one of the Disney's sweethearts and also trying to balance her love life, fun times and also coming out as a real musician. But unlike Miley Cyrus, she took a new path on giving different by doing a pop jazz album that showcases her soulful voice in a good pop-ish way. Good, but not sounding too forced at the same time.

Third, aside from her charming personality, good looks and her awesomely good voice, the quirkiness of this album that was really got me into this album more and more. She took the song to the next level on the instruments that made the songs really different one to another. On songs like "Love Will Tell Us Where To Go" which had a japan inspired feel to it, "Blonde" that has a tingly beat reminiscing young Lenka and Lily Allen, and the rap-talk-sing "Hurricane" reminded me of Cher Lloyd mixed Natasha, which came out in a good and unique way. Watch it Pixie Lott, because we have a new contender here.

I am not saying that she didn't have the effort of being Bridgit, but her debut album is really speaking for itself on what kinda artist she wants to be. Although I would like her to do a breakout experimental sophomore album, and more British feel because I could see her success in Europe. If she ever wanted to do Adele-ish ballad mixed with Solange quirktastic beats, I would be blessed by God.. Amen!!

Check-OUTS: "Hurricane", "Blonde", "Top of the World", "Love Will Tell Us Where To Go", "Ready or Not", "The Fall Song"

KISS Rate: 4 LIPSSS!!!

Check out her live performances via Youtube here:

Ready or Not

Blonde (Live)

Hurricane, the next single here:

NUDESIC REVIEW: SHINEE YO WAY TO "DREAM GIRL"!!

The boys are back!! After waiting for quite sometime since their last combeack with "Sherlock" two years ago, it is finally safe for me to stay that SHINee, aka my FAVORITE Male Group is back and slays!!! They have unveiled their newest offering with the uptempo "Dream Girl", which I absolutely loove!! First of all, I must say that the boys really have grown up to be five handsome guys indeed. Then, I love them some throwback to their debut album sound, mixing it up with the current sound that is out right now. Generic, well  I must say that their debut album is much better, but hey... no offense! this five already matured guys have proved to be slaying the music charts and their "artistic quirky fabulous" music video made me a bigger stan.

I love Taemin's growth in this album era. Finally he can get his "man" swag but you can't fool yourself by looking at his beauty as a flower boy, even though he already styled it up so manly this era. Key is Key, the diva of the group never fails to surprise me with the quirkiness and the fantastic style that a lot of stars need to be taken note of. Minho took that charisma to another level. The rapping part never fails, but the singing part made me stop and blink because seriously, I need to watch their live to really make sure that this lovely boy's singing has been stronger (I knew Amber from f(x) is a rapper dubbed singer too, wonder how was she in dresses and long hair when they made their comeback soon). Onew made a cute style that was never cuter than Rillakuma, you just wanna hug him and go to bed. Jonghyun kept his body on shape and fell a little shortly dissapointed this time, because the other boys were stepping it up so much. I just think that he needed that "Umph" in Lucifer that made him shining bright like a flashy expensive car. A burgundy hair would look good on him, I think. Well, his singing slayed me through though so I could let it slide. 

Well, their latest full album will be released in two versions though, the first "Chapter 1. Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of You" has been released now, while the second version "Chapter 2. Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of Me"  will not be out until April.  So, to wait for the next single, let's enjoy the glam of the new Music Video of Dream Girl via Youtube below:

And the Dance Version here:

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Never forget you were in order to stay strong on who you are and who you want to be in the future. Time will catch up and it would be too late to regret later" - Gary Arnandt

Stay on Strong Rihanna!!

Put on your best dress and sing like it's your last stage. Work it like Rihanna. That is my way of saying my love to the gorgeous Ri-Ri when she performed the latest beautiful live rendition of her new single "Stay" lifted from her seventh album in seven years, "Unapologetic". You have done the amazeballs job singing it so hurtful and touchingly and I just wanna cry listening to this heartfelt mellow track.

It was a simple and classic performance, just a simple piano and drums, and she sang it so painful, raw and full of emotion. She was one of the standouts in the Grammys, for me. I felt this era came across a little bit slow but sure for Rihanna. And the tribute to the Bob Marley on the other hand, Happy to the max!! I am in love with reggae a lot more now.

Now, I really wish that she could put up a new album this year with a new hair and very well prepared like her red album "Loud" because I totally into that album as much as "Good Girl Gone Bad", not really much on "Talk That Talk" and "Unapologetic" continues to grow on me (I love "Mother Mary" now as my currently. All hail Rihanna ship and let's sail to a bigger and better masterpiece!!

Check out the two amazing performances via Youtube below:

and here is the Bob Marley Tribute performance:

Super Bowl BADASS!!! BEYOND BEYONCE

photo courtesy from Google

All right. Screw that haters out there who said she lipsynced the whole anthem on the Inauguration, because she made it up LIVE on the very big stage. I am talking none other than my IDOL of all my life. miss baddie bey herself, Beyonce. Yea baby! BEYOND-CE!!!

Now it all began when the news in 2011 that she would go performing on the Super Bowl made me into a madhouse. That even doubles the craziness when a rumor virus began to spread on a reunion of the Destiny's Child, the group that Beyonce was in as a leader disbanded back in 2005. Boy I kept on searching for every truth on the great Google, only to found out that the members "declined" that for the time being. But I wasn't really buying into it, because i thought they hid something and I was right.

February 3rd marked one of my craziest moments in 2013. They say this year, the year of the water snake, will be full of surprises and unexpected events. And as much as I expect the expected Beyonce performances that she never disappointing  she made me looked straight to TV, not blinking (a little overreacted) and opened my mouth and stood up while dancing in front of my laptop. Only the one, and the power of Bey! Beyonce opened the Super Bowl Half-Time Show with an astounding 14 minute opening show, presented her SIXTEEN YEARS of career in that little time and boy, she made everyone WOW-ed from head to toe!

Let me get my thing first. When I first saw Beyonce on TV was back in 2004, when there was her performing "Naughty Girl" on stage. From that moment, the Britney Spears obsession of mine left and enter the Bey Virus. I knew she would be a big icon, when I told my friends at school and they didn't know who Beyonce was. Noted, I was 14, now 22.

Now, back to her. A sexy confident pose in the beginnig, standing on a stage that looked like it was made for her history making moment, which it was. She perfomed a snippet of "Love on Top", before then strutted in "Crazy in Love" (who would forget those oh-oh bootylicious shake? LOL). She went tribal on the revamped not so new choreography for "End of Time". I've always loved that Tribal feel on that song till today. Dirty Wine on "Baby Boy" to wind yo way and Poof!! Surprise! Destiny's Child formed a "Charlie's Angels" pose and yes we could handle it because we missed those girls performing. She went shouting "where my ring at?" on "Single Ladies" and finished the performance on the rock sounding "Halo", a soaring climax to that historical moment.

Don't just read the review. Watch the full perfomance on Youtube below:

Kiss the rate. 5 LIPSS!!!
Whaddaya think???