Lisa Loeb: Truthfully (Live)

This past year has been quite the successful year for singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb, from frivolous news about her creating and selling her own line of her stylish eye glasses (which have been synonymous with her image since she hit it big in the music world with her 1994 classic "Stay (I Missed You)"), to perhaps more exciting news for her personal life, marrying music coordinator for the Conan O'Brien Show, Rory Hershkovitz, in January 2009 and giving birth to the couples first child, a daughter they named Lyla Rose Loeb Hershkovitz in November of last year.

Back in 2005, Lisa had her own reality show entitled "Number 1 Single", which gave a look at her life trying to find a nice Jewish man to fall in love with and have a family. The show ended after one season and she had not yet met the man of her dreams, but now she has. Mazel Tov to the happy couple.

Above is a live performance of her song "Truthfully" from her 1997 album "Firecracker" that she did at a New York City gig back in 2008. Lisa still remains the only Artist ever, to have a number 1 single on the billboard Hot 100 chart before being signed to a record label. Congrats on that too girl.

Margaret Cho: The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

No story, I just love her lol.

P!NK: The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

Much like Lady Gaga, I find P!NK to be one of those few musicians whom I can watch endlessly in interviews because she is so fascinating and ballsy. The thing I especially like about her is that she doesn't put up a false demeanor (I think Gaga sometimes does), she sits there and speaks up and is honest no matter the situation and I just love that. Watch the interview above with my husband, George Stroumboulopoulos on his talk show "The Hour" to see what I mean. (Greatest talk show ever if you ask me).

Kathy Griffin: The View (Interview June 2010)

OMG! This may be the best thing I've seen on a talk show in awhile. Self proclaimed D-list celebrity and outrageous stand up comic, Kathy Griffin, was on the talk show "The View" this morning to promote the season premiere of the 6th season of her Emmy Winning reality show "My Life On The D-List". While having fun chatting it up with co-hosts Joy Behar, Sherri Sheppard (both comics themselves) and some chicky from One Life to Live who was filling in as special guest host, it seemed as if the fourth co-host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, was in a tiff and not really open to giving Kathy so much as the time of day.

Being as rude as to literally yawn and stretch while Griffin was talking, Hasselbeck who is famously known for being a right winged "dingbat" (a polite way of saying Uptight Republican Bitch) shot a line at Kathy that basically implied that she wasn't funny and proved her disdain for her. Quick witted Kathy naturally fired back no problem saying "This moment is what I live for, so Bring It!", which means of course we can all expect to be hearing about this incident in her next set of stand up shows. Kathy also tweeted about it this afternoon, stating "The most unlikely person just MADE MY DAY. Please tell me you saw The View today." Take a look at the interview below and witness Hasselbeck's unprofessionality as a talk show host (and the birth of a new act for Kathy). I really think Elisabeth should be reprimanded for her behaviour.

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True Blood: Ultimate Fan Experience Cast Interview

Based on the collection of novels by Charlaine Harris and set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, the HBO series "True Blood" centres around Sookie Stackhouse (played by Oscar winner Anna Paquin) a telepathic waitress who finds herself falling in love with a vampire named Bill Compton (played by Paquin's real life fiancee, Stephen Moyer) and dealing with the difficulties that seems to come with that relationship from both sides of society (Vamps & Humans).

Much has happened in the series in it's short 2 season run, and with the premiere of the third season airing only two days ago, it looks like we're in for another wild ride with the addition of new supernatural beings and more relationships starting and being torn apart. Before the premiere episode, the principal cast sat down for a Q&A of fan questions and revealed their feelings on their characters and where the show has been thus far. Take a look.

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Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna News + The Art Teacher (Live)

I really shouldn't have been surprised by the news that singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright had written and composed his very own Opera, because his music (despite being labelled a brand of folk/pop) has always slightly bordered on classical. But still I found myself quite impressed this evening as I tuned in to watch his documentary "Prima Donna: The Story Of An Opera" which chronicled his journey from conception to the opening night in Manchester, England.

After performing Prima Donna in Manchester he moved his production to the London stage, and now the production has returned to his native land and is being presented as part of Toronto's Luminato Festival.

The Opera is about a day in the life of an aging opera singer, anxiously preparing for her comeback in 1970s Paris, who falls in love with a journalist. Watch the interview above to get the scoop from Rufus, and below I have included one of my favorite Rufus songs (among many) just because I think his music is mesmerizing.

Court Yard Hounds: Interview + The Coast (Live On The View)

Two thirds of the Grammy winning country group "The Dixie Chicks", sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire, have formed a country folk duo and recently released their first album under the monocre "Court Yard Hounds". The sister act has confirmed that they are in no way leaving the Dixie Chicks for good. In fact, the chicks will be appearing as special guests on The Eagles summer tour while Court Yard Hounds will also be making frequent appearances on the Lilith Fair tour. They stated that fellow Chick and lead vocalist, Natalie Maines, was not quite ready to return to the recording studio to record their fifth album but the sisters were itching to perform once again. They decided to record some of the songs that Emily had been writing on her own over the past few years during her divorce from husband Charlie Robison, and thus, the Court Yard Hounds were born.

The album features Emily on lead vocals while sister Martie provides harmonies and of course spices up the tracks with her amazing fiddle playing. Robison's voice is a bit reminiscent of one of their mentors, Sheryl Crow, and the album is a stunning achievement for their first time out the gate.

The track listing for the album is,

1) Skyline
2) The Coast
3) Delight (Something New Under The Sun)
4) See You In The Spring
5) Ain't No Son
6) Fairytale
7) I Miss You
8) Gracefully
9) April's Love
10) Then Again
11) It Didn't Make A Sound
12) Fear Of Wasted Time

I-tunes Deluxe Edition Bonus Songs

13) Well Behaved
14) Straw Cage

Watch the interview and performance of their first single above and go purchase their self-titled debut album now if you like what you hear.

Brandy: Long Distance (Music Video)

This is one of my favorite songs from Brandy's 2008 album "Human" and little did I know, it was the second single. Absolutely lovely. I've always loved her layered vocals and this song is the perfect showcase for that.

En Vogue: The Return Of The Funky Divas (A&E Private Sessions)

Awhile back (I mean years ago, when I first started writing this blog) I wrote about the last time the original girls of En Vogue tried to reunite, which ultimately led to only two live tv performances, a hand full of concerts and a guest spot on the song "So What The Fuss" by Stevie Wonder. It wasn't long into that reunion before Dawn Robinson left the group for the second time due to differences with management and was replaced by Rhona Bennett. But now it's OFFICIAL!!!!! The four original members of the group, Cindy Herron Braggs, Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, and Maxine Jones are working on new music and their record label, "Rufftown Records", has confirmed that as of right now their first single from their new album (for which a title has not been shared with the public) will be released on September 1st of this year and the group has confirmed their plans for a world tour to support the album. To hear the news from the girls themselves and see them perform some of their biggest hits to date, watch their spotlight interview on A&E's Private Sessions below. Enjoy!

Part 1: Free Your Mind


Part 2: Interview 1


Part 3: My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)


Part 4: Interview 2


Part 5: Hold On


Part 6: Interview 3


Part 7: Don't Let Go (Love)


Part 8: Interview 4


Part 9: Interview 5

Chris Papaioannou: Agapa Me (Live)

I got permission from my boyfriend to include one of his performance video's on my blog since nobody looks or even really remembers that I have a blog (I write the posts as if thousands of people are reading them, but lets face it, it's just me) and I have to say that out of all of his video's, this has to be my favorite one that I've watched so far. I'll probably add more soon though. He's such a passionate performer and I'm quite envious of that.

Love this song (ain't he hot?!?! Yes, I think so!)

Madonna: Celebration (Music Video) + Lola News

Though I eventually began to like Madonna's last studio album "Hard Candy" (which I initially hated and still do to a certain extent), I was more pleased with the couple of new tracks that accompanied her latest greatest Hits collection "Celebration", including the title track above. I just miss her ballads. Is it too much to ask of her to throw in a few ballads now and then? Anyways, the video is very simple and basic and features not only her latest boytoy Jesus Luz (as the DJ), but also her now 13 year old daughter, Lourdes (aka Lola) who performs an impressive backflip near the end of the video when amongst the group of dancers.

Lola has been making a bit of a name for herself in the past few months. Not only have she and her Mother designed a line of clothing called "Material Girl" for Macy's department store, but she will also be featured (by herself) as the cover girl for the July issue of European Magazine "Quality". Well done!

Lola had previously been offered work in the public eye when she was offered the role of Lily in the big screen adaptation of the Sue Monk Kidd novel "The Secret Life Of Bees". She declined the role at the time because Madonna felt she was still too young. The role went instead to Dakota Fanning. Great film!

She & Him: In The Sun (Music Video)

Actress Zooey Deschanel and her good pal and musical collaborator M. Ward have teamed up once again to bring us their new collection "Volume 2", after the stunning success of their first release (appropriately titled) "Volume 1". The album is another great blend of 50's and 60's inspired folk pop tracks with a few great cover songs thrown in for good measure.

The track listing for the album goes like this,

1) Thieves
2) In The Sun
3) Don't Look Back
4) Ridin' In My Car
5) Lingering Still
6) Me And You
7) Gonna Get Along Without You Now
8) Home
9) I'm Gonna Make It Better
10) Sing
11) Over It Over Again
12) Brand New Shoes
13) If You Can't Sleep

The first single from the album is (obviously) In The Sun which features backing vocals by indie group Tilly & The Wall. Zooey said of writing the song,

"I originally composed it with a classic jazz chord progression—with a little chromatic step—and it was slower. But we got in the studio and Matt [Ward asked], 'Why don't we put a Bee Gees beat on it?' And it totally came to life in a way I didn't expect."

Check out the video above and if you like what you hear, go purchase the album. I'm sad I'll be missing the She & Him concert tomorrow night here in Toronto, but I saw them on tour for the last album so I guess I can't complain really.

Lady Gaga: Alejandro (Music Video)

Just released today, this is the brand new video from our beloved Lady Gaga. Comparisons have already been made to some of Madonna's earlier works but that is of course to be expected. The video (directed by photographer Steven Klein, who has also worked closely with our dear Queen of Pop), is a stark contrast from the flashy and colorful world of her previous video for Telephone. Sepia tones, homoerotic and even religious imagery are what you have to look forward to when you watch this militaristic romp which Gaga explains is 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.”

Enjoy!