Grammys 2009 Hi-lites

The Grammy Awards was full of a whole lotta drama when it was announced moments prior to the telecast that Chris Brown pulled out of the show for allegedly being accused of making a felony domestic battery against a female victim, who many sources are confirming to be Chris's significant other Rihanna, who was also scheduled to perform. The two were nominated for multiple awards, yet neither showed up. In Rihanna's place, Justin Timberlake & Al Green gave an impromptu performance. Rihanna was to also perform "Live Your Life" with T.I. but it was J.T. who accompanied the rapper with his vocal performance on their next single "Dead And Gone":

Another dramatic moment of the evening belonged to American Idol 2003 alum Jennifer Hudson who finally won a Grammy award for best R&B album and gave an emotional performance which alluded to the tragic murders of her family members this past year.

Of the four British ladies nominated for multiple awards this year -- Duffy, Estelle, Adele, and Leona Lewis -- it was only Leona, the mainstream breakthrough artist of the past year, who left empty-handed. Adele won the "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for her song "Chasing Pavements", Duffy won "Best Pop Vocal Album" (Rockferry), and Estelle won for her collaboration with Kanye West on "American Boy".

For the rock awards, Coldplay racked up three wins for Best Rock Album (Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends), Song of the Year for "Viva La Vida", and Best Pop Vocal Group Performance. Radiohead's In Rainbows won Best Alternative Album while John Mayer has proven to have the best singing chops in two categories: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Say" and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Gravity", both from his '06 album Continuum.

Friss Zene fave Katy Perry performed "I Kissed A Girl" and it garnered very mixed reviews.

Oh well. At least she successfully channeled the spirit of Carmen Miranda as a lovely vision in fruit.

The Giant Leap (Year) Post! Featuring Ferras, Ashlee, and Jon

Introducing...

Ferras - Hollywood's Not America

Ferras is a piano-playing singer-songwriter. His single "Hollwood's Not America" was chosen to be the exit song for the 2008 season of American Idol and is the first single off his debut album Aliens & Rainbows which comes out on April 1st. The song itself is a sweet, sweeping emotional ballad in the vein of its Idol exit predecessors "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter and Daughtry's "Home". It is certain that we'll be hearing this song a lot in the spring.

DL HERE
PRE-ORDER Aliens & Rainbows on Amazon.com

Watch the VIDEO:

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Speaking of American Idol, my interest in this year's competition grew after discovering Filipino-American contestant Ramiele Malubay. The 20-year-old is a sushi restaurant worker from Miramar, Florida. She's been touted as the next Jasmine Trias. Although both are female Pinays, I think the two cannot be compared. And what was up with Ryan saying Jasmine found success in "her native Philippines"? Last time I checked, she was a first-generation Fil-Am born and raised in Hawaii. That would be like saying Carly Smithson is from "her native Ireland". Oh wait...she is from Ireland. Anyway, Ramiele would like to one-up Jasmine and become the "first Filipino American Idol". Here is her audition video followed by her performance this week for "Don't Leave Me This Way".

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Ashlee Simpson feat. Tom Higgenson - Little Miss Obsessive

In preparation for her third album Bittersweet World, Ashlee Simpson is releasing her second single "Little Miss Obsessive" featuring Plain White T's frontman Tom Higgenson. Ashlee doesn't really prove anything vocally but it's catchy and probably has the staying power that "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" failed to have.

DL HERE

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Didn't catch the Academy Awards last Sunday? Well Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the stars of the movie Once performed and won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly", trumping over the three nominated songs from Enchanted.

Here's the daper Jon McLaughlin (sans piano) during his live performance for "So Close". Being that it was his first nationally televised perforance, you could tell nerves overtook him during the first part of the song. He did, however, produce a memorable breakthrough performance.

Jon McLaughlin to perform at the Academy Awards tonight!

Piano man Jon McLaughlin will perform at tonight's Academy Awards show! He will perform "So Close", the Oscar-nominated song by composer Alan Menken for the Disney film Enchanted. McLaughlin also had appeared in the movie during the ball scene. Enchanted has three entrants in the "Best Original Song" category, and "So Close" the only contemporary stand-alone composition, apart from the more theatrical numbers.

This is a big deal for McLaughlin, because he is still little known in the industry. This appearance will offer him great exposure and hopefully new fans.

Weeks ago, the award show faced a cancellation threat due to the Writer's strike, but negotiations resulted in a deal and the Oscars are finally set to air on ABC.

I don't get into these movie-themed awards very often, and only if there was a particular film I really liked that I have an interest. Aside from Jon, I am paying particular attention to Juno's potential success tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed Juno's quirk, wit, and unique treatment of teenage pregnancy, a once-upon-a-time taboo subject. I mean, who does not love a movie that features a hamburger phone, a dude who puts deodorant on his inner thighs, and jems like the expletive-inspired "Phuket, Thailand" and "You should've gone to China, you know, 'cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know, they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events."

Take a peak at Ellen Page (nominated for best actress for her role as Juno McGuff) and Michael Cera (love interest Paulie Bleeker) playing a cover of The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You":

2008 Grammy Awards - The Predictions!

The 50th annual Grammy Awards are tonight! To get in on the festivities, here's a list of nominees (general, pop, rock, alt) of who I want to, or predict will, win in bold.

Record of the Year
"Irreplaceable" - Beyonce
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
"Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
"What Goes Around Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Rihanna has great chances in this category with her well-produced and inescapable worldwide hit that defined the industry in 2007.

Album of the Year
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
These Days - Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock
Graduation - Kanye West
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Admittingly, I have not listened to all these albums in their entirety, but Kanye's Graduation is full of hits and sold over 2 million albums in the US since dropping the album against 50 Cent's effort in September.

Song of the Year(a.k.a. "The Songwriters' Award")
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
"Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
"Like A Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
"Umbrella" - Rihanna

PWT frontman Tom Higgenson deserves the nod for a song Maroon 5's Adam Levine confessed to wishing he wrote the song himself.

Best New Artist
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse

Paramore is arguably one of the best new bands of the year. Alt-rock has slowly made its pressence known in the mainstream and a win here would be welcomed.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
"Candyman" - Christina Aguilera
"1234" - Feist
"Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie
"Say It Right" - Nelly Furtado
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Pop being the operative word, Fergie's mid-tempo hit pleasantly surprised many who wondered if the female Black Eyed pea could actually sing. Oh, and the answer is yes, she can.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"Everything" - Michael Bublé
"Belief" - John Mayer
"Dance Tonight" - Paul McCartney
"Amazing" - Seal
"What Goes Around Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake

It's a toss-up between Bublé and Mayer for the win. I commend John for his anti-war message in "Belief" but in terms of overall appeal, "Everything" sells it.

Best Pop Vocal by a Duo/Group
"(You Want To) Make A Memory" - Bon Jovi
"Home" - Daughtry
"Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5
"Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
"Window in the Skies" - U2

A very competitive category, Daughtry's song had a massive popularity last year during the spring and early summer. Vocal-wise, this trumps Plain White T's and Maroon 5.

Best Pop Collabo
"Steppin' Out" - Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera
"Beautiful Liar" - Beyonce & Shakira
"Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" - Robert Plant & Alison Krause
"The Sweet Escape" - Gwen Stefani & Akonm
"Give It To Me" - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

It's the year of superproducer Timbaland. Let's give it to him.

Best Pop Vocal Album
Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
The Reminder - Feist
It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Maroon 5's 2007 album has a string of up-tempo jams but will most likely lose to that critically-praised "Rehab" singer.

Other Winner Predictions
Best Rock Peformance (Group): "It's Not Over - Daughtry
Best Hard Rock Performance: "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
Best Rock Song: It's Not Over - Daughtry
Best Rock Album: Daughtry - Daughtry
Best Alternative Music Album: Alright, Still - Lily Allen
Best Female R&B Vocal: "No One" - Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Vocal: "Because of You" - Ne-Yo
Best R&B Vocal (Group): "Hate That I Love You" - Rihanna feat. Ne-Yo
Best R&B Song: "No One" - Alicia Keys
Best Dance Recording: "Don't Stop The Music" - Rihanna
Best (Short Form) Music Video: "1234" - Feist

Alicia Keys, the Foo Fighters, Beyonce, Fergie, Feist, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Amy Winehouse and Kanye West are expected to perform. Be sure to catch the show and the performances tonight on CBS!