THE CIVIL WARS IN TORONTO PROMOTING "BARTON HOLLOW"

The Civil Wars in Toronto - April 2012

Formed in 2009, success has come quick for The Civil Wars - comprised of Singer/Songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White, who met in 2008 in Nashville at a Songwriting Camp for then-unknown Country Group Gloriana.  Together they have formed a sultry Sound which both borders a little on Folk, a bit on the Country while also still remaining accessible enough to be Pop.  Williams and White are unique in that they complement one another so perfectly that it not only can be heard on-record, but also seen and felt in-person.

The Civil Wars recently received a huge profile boost in a collaboration with six-time GRAMMY Winner Taylor Swift on the Track Safe & Sound from 2012's highest-grossing Film, The Hunger Games.  Earlier this year, the Duo won two GRAMMYs themselves for Best Folk Album with their debut Disc Barton Hollow and also Best Country Duo/Group Performance for that Album's Title Track.

Doing a round of Press today in Toronto which included a visit to CTV's Canada AM, the Duo also made a stop midday at The Edge, dropping-in for a quick Performance - meeting Fans and signing a few Autographs.  Believe it or not, the beautiful and barely-showing Williams actually is seven-months-pregnant, expecting a Baby with Husband Nate Yetton, whom she co-founded Sensibility Music together with in 2008. The Company manages, records, markets and licenses Music, with The Civil Wars being represented currently under the name.

Check out The Civil Wars' stunning new Single, Billie Jean below ...and yes, that would be a Cover Version of the King of Pop's Hit:

ADELE SWEEPS THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

Adele at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Making a triumphant return to the stage after recovering from her Throat Surgery last fall, fave Brit Siren Adele had the audience cheering and clapping at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards performing an eagerly-awaited rendition of Song of the Year/Record of the Year Winner, Rolling in the Deep. Tears were visible in her eyes following her performance as she stood and took-in a standing ovation.

Prior to this evening, Adele had collected two GRAMMY Awards in 2009 including the coveted Best New Artist.  Although many see that Award as somewhat of a career curse, she clearly is an exception garnering six more GRAMMYs to her name tonight, including top honours with her Disc 21 in the category Album of the Year.  Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Diana Ross handed the Award to the tearful 23-year-old, who thanked her Mother first and foremost even though she wasn't in attendance.

Foo Fighters also fared exceptionally well, winning six Awards tonight for their work on latest Disc, Wasting Light.  Since forming in 1994, the Band led by David Grohl have earned a whopping an impressive eleven GRAMMYs.

85-year-old Jazz Legend Tony Bennett was presented tonight with two additional GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Body and Soul (ft. Amy Winehouse) and also his U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Duets II for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.   Although not televised, Bennett had Winehouse's Parents join him on-stage to accept the Award on-stage.  Bennett now has now won a total 16 GRAMMYs in his celebrated Career.  Both he and Carrie Underwood presented Best New Artist to Wisconsin's own Bon Iver.  Lead Singer Justin Vernon currently is seeing Canadian Singer/Songwriter Kathleen Edwards.

CÉLINE DION CELEBRATES RELEASE OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3-D"

Céline Dion, Family, Belle & The Beast - January 2012

To celebrate the release of Disney Classic Beauty and the Beast 3-D, Céline Dion had a couple old Pals backstage over the weekend at The Colosseum in Caesar's Place Las Vegas. Dion in 1991 had lent her powerful vocals to its two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Theme Song together with Peabo Bryson.  The Song went on to win GRAMMY Awards for both Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1993.

Dion had her Family and Husband René all pose for a rare Photo Op. Seen between Céline and René (left to right) are Nelson, René-Charles and Eddy.  Adorable!

Walt Disney Motion Pictures releases Beauty and the Beast 3-D on Friday, January 13, 2012.

(Photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc./Jerry Metellus)

54TH GRAMMY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Bruno Mars at 2011 GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!

Congratulations to two of my Favourites Adele and Bruno Mars, who are both nominated for six GRAMMY Awards as announced at the GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! held earlier tonight at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Foo Fighters also receives six nods this year. If you ask me, six is not enough for Adele who should sweep in some of the more major categories like Song, Record and Album of the Year.

Leading the Nominees this year is Kanye West for his work on Disc My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, with seven nominations.  West's Solo Disc however, failed to garner a nomination for Album of the Year.

Lady Gaga surprisingly only received one nomination for Album of the Year with Born this Way and meanwhile Taylor Swift, a GRAMMY Darling, also only received two nominations with her Track Mean which is up for Country Song and Solo Performance.

The coveted Best New Artist category is an interesting one this year pitting commercially-successful Nicki Minaj against Bon Iver, The Band Perry, Skillrex and J. Cole.

The 54th GRAMMY Awards will take place on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Read more on this year's Nominees here.

(Photo credit: GRAMMY.COM)

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II REVIEW

Tony Bennett - Duets II

Mr. Tony Bennett's Epic Opus 2011, aka Duets II brings together some of the most unlikely collaborations - a true testament to the Crooner's influence on so many of the Vocalists who have sold out Arenas and won Grammys after him. At 85 years of age, Bennett recently became the oldest living Artist to have achieved the distinction of debuting atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart and he did it with some help from his Friends. Some really famous and talented Friends.

Jam-packed with 17 Classics, Duets II isn't necessarily about breaking new ground or necessarily about High Art. It's about celebrating an Icon and how Bennett's Voice and Music have inspired others and also connecting a new Audience who grew-up not having had Jazz Music on their radars. The phrasing, the range, the stylization - there is only one Tony Bennett and this Collection pays tribute to that front and center.

There are some fabulous moments on the Disc like the fun and flirtatious The Lady is a Tramp (ft. Lady Gaga), One for my Baby (ft. John Mayer), a perfect reunion in Blue Velvet (ft. k.d. lang), Don't Get Around Much Anymore (ft. Michael Bublé) ...obviously, Yesterday I Heard the Rain (ft. Alejandro Sanz) and perhaps a true showcase that he's (and she's) definitely still got it, How Do You Keep the Music Playing (ft. Aretha Franklin).

LADY ANTEBELLUM FRONTMAN CHARLES KELLEY IN TORONTO FOR JUNO AWARDS | AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY

Charles Kelley & Mr. Will-W.

Lady Antebellum Frontman Charles Kelley flew in from Nashville today along with his Wife, Publicist Cassie McConnell. Arriving cool and casual in a Ball Cap and Jeans, the incredibly tall and attractive Singer/Songwriter was all smiles in delivering love to Fans, including myself asking me, "Are you going to the show tomorrow?".  Of course I'll be there at the Red Carpet to soak in the fun!

Despite Fans asking McConnell to take a Photo, she was much shier in declining to be photographed.

Kelley will be representing his five-time Grammy-winning trio this weekend at the Juno Awards. He was spotted at EMI's Pre-Juno Bash at the Masonic Temple this evening and tomorrow evening will be presenting an Award at the Air Canada Centre festivities.

Enjoy some more Photos of Kelley out and about in Toronto below:

WATCH LADY GAGA'S "BORN THIS WAY" 2011 GRAMMYS PERFORMANCE

Lady Gaga arrives on 2011 Grammys Red Carpet

Re-live the brilliance/oddness of Lady Gaga's 2011 Grammy rendition of Born this Way below:

2011 GRAMMYS RECAP

Lady Gaga at the 2011 Grammys

The Grammys tonight were all about Lady Gaga and her egg-hatching and eye-catching debut performance of Born this Way.  It is reported that a Prop malfunction had occurred during her Red Carpet arrival, preventing her from making a planned grand entrance for the Paparazzi out of a Cocoon/Egg-like structure, as she was carried-in by scantily-clad Men and Women.  Gaga went on to win Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Bad Romance and also Best Pop Vocal Album for The Fame Monster.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance went to newcomer Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are.

Other big Winners tonight include Canadians Arcade Fire for Album of the Year, The Suburbs.  The Award is considered the most coveted of all.  Michael Bublé also represented Canada well in winning Best Traditional Male Pop Vocal Album for Crazy Love and Neil Young finally nabbed his first Grammy for Best Rock Song with Angry World. Our Justin Bieber didn't fare so well as Best New Artist, losing out to Esperanza Spalding.

REVIEW: ADELE - 21

Sometimes an Artist just has to get hurt to record an amazing Album and that is the case with British Singer/Songwriter Adele's sophomore effort, 21. And does it ever hurt so good. It is quite astounding how polished a product the Set is compared to the double Grammy winner's debut from 2008, 19, and all it took was a bit more of a budget and the masterful production of some helping hands like Rick Rubin (Josh Groban, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Paul Epworth (Florence & The Machine), Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks), Fraser T. Smith (Cee Lo) and Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic). 21 is an immaculately-produced collection of songs which deliver truly on the promise shown in being awarded a Critics' Choice Award at The Brits before even releasing a full-length album.

The Disc captures perfectly the emotions one might experience post-breakup - that endless fluctuating between angst, lust, revenge and ultimately forgiveness. First single Rolling in the Deep soars high with its big Chorus, with Adele reflecting upon what could've been if it weren't for his "playing her.... to the beat". Adele leaves things open-ended for a brief moment, but quickly clarifies what happened  exactly in this love-gone-wrong, revealing on the gritty track Rumour Has It, that there might have been a bit of a wandering eye in this older Man with a taste for younger Women. Produced by Tedder, Adele manages successfully to maintain control of the track, refusing to let it sound like every other hit he has produced in recent memory. Turning Tables, also co-written by Tedder, is much in the same vein as Adele's earlier Hometown Glory with its euphoric piano arpeggios, strings and a mood darkened by her examining those hard feelings she still harbours which have in effect strengthened her.

21 features a strong selection of Ballads, tugging insistently on the heartstrings. Wilson adds a bit of Country flare to the album's most gorgeous ballad Don't You Remember, a likely candidate as a follow-up single with its crossover potential to a Stateside audience. The same could be said about Someone Like You, another winning collaboration with Wilson which appears late.

EMINEM, KATY PERRY, BRUNO MARS AND LADY GAGA AMONG NOMINEES FOR 53RD GRAMMYS

Bruno Mars at Kool Haus,
November 2010

A big congratulations goes out to my Boy Bruno Mars who exceeded all expectations with a total seven Grammy nominations, as announced last night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.  Although he was ommited from the category of Best New Artist seeing that his album Doo-Wops & Hooligans was released just after the September 30, 2010 qualifying deadline, he more than made-up ground.  Mars scored nominations for Record of the Year for his collaboration with B.o.B. Nothin' on You, his Writing on Cee Lo's Forget You and his own singing on Best Male Pop Vocal for Just the Way You Are.  He also performed a quiet Acoustic version of that number one smash hit early on in last night's televised Concert.

Eminem was King of the Night with a total eleven nominations, including nods in the Grammys' most coveted categories: Record, Album and Song of the Year for both his album Recovery and mega-hit Love the Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna).  Rihanna also scored a nomination for Best Dance Recording with chart-topper Only Girl (in the World).

Other notable nominees include Country Act Lady Antebellum, which gained a lot of recognition with their Ballad Need You Now.  The group garnered six nominations also for Record, Album and Song of the Year alongside Rapper Jay-Z, who also had the distinction of six nods including Record of the Year for Empire State of Mind (ft. Alicia Keys).  Lady Gaga too received six nominations including Album of the Year with The Fame Monster, although what  arguably could be considered its biggest track Bad Romance, failed to receive nominations for Record and Song of the Year. 

Katy Perry who performed too at the Grammy Nominations Concert raised a few eyebrows when it was learned that her hits California Gurls and Teenage Dream, both among 2010's biggest hits, were overlooked for Record and Song of the Year.  Her album Teenage Dream however, earned a nomination for Album of the Year despite mixed reviews.  She is a strong contender for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for that album's title track.

KATY PERRY AT GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT

Katy Perry at Grammy Nominations Concert Rehearsal

Go Katy!  We're all rooting for you!  Perry is seen above rehearsing at Club Nokia in Los Angeles for her performance on tonight's Grammy Nominations Concert, to air on CBS at 10:00 PM EST.  Expect many nominations for the Teenage Dream herself.

Check here throughout the night for an updated list of Nominees.

The 53rd Grammy Awards will be held at Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Feburary 13, 2011, airing at 8 PM EST on CBS.

(Photo credit: Grammy.Com/WireImage)

INTERVIEW: SARA BAREILLES | PHOTOS FROM TORONTO CONCERT AT THE PHOENIX

Sara Bareilles in Toronto
at The Phoenix

In less than three years, Sara Bareilles (pronounced Ba-rell-is) quickly has become a household name around the world with her brand of musical sunshine.  Her debut single Love Song was one of the biggest songs of 2008, garnering Grammy nominations for Best Pop Song and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It also reached number one on the Canadian Billboard Hot 100, U.S. Billboard Pop 100 and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Charts.  Not bad for a first try.

Now touring in support of her Billboard Hot 200 Chart-topping sophomore album Kaleidoscope Heart, Bareilles made her fourth visit to Toronto today and sat down to chat with Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven, also answering a few questions from readers.

Sara, thank you so much for making time to chat with us today. In addition to us being huge supporters of your Music, your label Sony Music has been equally supportive of us, offering our readers a chance to see you tonight at The Phoenix, in addition to a Giveaway of your new album.  Getting a chance to speak with you just takes the Cake.

LADY GAGA CANDID PHOTO

A candid moment with Lady Gaga taken backstage at Staples Centre the moment she found out she won her Grammys. This picture was posted on her Twitter page. "All the hundreds of songs I wrote, the thousands of shows, the fans, all the blood and tears flashing instantly", she says.  This photo was taken by a member of her design team, "Dada" Williams from The Haus of Gaga. Better stock up on those Kleenex, Gaga.  I have a feeling there are many, many more to come in your career!

THE GRAMMYS: A QUICK RECAP

As predicted, Beyoncé cleaned up at tonight's Grammy Awards at Los Angeles' Staples Centre.  Picking up an astounding six Grammys including the important Best Female Pop Vocal and Song of the Year categories for Halo and Single Ladies respectively.  And deservedly so.  People are often quick to express their displeasure with her, but the fact remains that she is a legend at the top of her game.  I mean Lady Gaga is fantastic, but Beyoncé does it time and again based on sheer talent alone and this needs to be respected.

Taylor Swift should be extremely proud of herself right now, winning the evening's most coveted award, Album of the Year in addition to three other awards.  A humble Swift also was victorious in the category of Best Country Album, although the public really should understand why it is she isn't  quite ready for a Best Female Pop Vocal award after hearing her extremely flat performances of new single Today Was a Fairytale and You Belong With Me (featuring Stevie Nicks). Alas, I won't be too harsh on her because when I was her age, I didn't even have a fraction of the talent she has.

Lady Gaga fans are all ecstatic having set  Twitter afire, in making her a hot trending topic this evening.  Gaga, despite not being eligible for the Best New Artist award, still won Best Electronic Album and Best Dance Recording. This should come as no surprise really, seeing how she has done wonders again for dance pop music's presence on the mainstream charts.  She arrived on the red carpet tonight with bright yellow highlights in her hair, looking like an assignment from the Space unit of a grade school Science class, once again making her the center of attention.  More importantly her theatrical performance featured a very strong vocal tonight in a medley of Poker Face and Speechless (featuring Elton John), the latter which I swear she keeps performing just to prove that she can really play the piano.  Superb.

Enjoy these red carpet pictures from the Associated Press, Wired Images and Getty Images. Glee's Lea Michele, I must say, knows glamour.  She's looked fantastic at every award show she's been invited to this season. And doesn't Jason Mraz look just effortlessly handsome?

FREE DOWNLOAD: WILL-W. - HOLLYWOOD ENDING (AARON PAETSCH CLUB MIX)

Fresh off the mixing boards is an extended club cut of my new single Hollywood Ending, produced by up-and-coming Canadian producer/DJ Aaron Paetsch.  Already getting heavy airplay on popular stations like Toronto's PROUD-FM, the single is also slated for a big premiere on Billboard Magazine veteran editor Larry Flick's radio show on Sirius OutQ (Sirius Radio).  I'm offering it free to you as a Holiday gift!

If you wish to own a digital copy of the super-sleek Hollywood Ending (Aaron Paetsch Radio Edit), it is now available at Amazon.com and the following iTunes stores: Canada, US, UK, Australia, Italy, Spain, Japan, Denmark and Germany.

Blogger Arjan Writes, who is an official correspondent at the upcoming Grammys, has called the track a "stomper" and "straight up dance floor fix".  EQ raved also that it is "a wonder of a track".   [Download it here]  and exclusively off [Arjan Writes.Com].  Enjoy!

xDr. Will

UPDATE 1/6/10: THANK YOU FOR MAKING HOLLYWOOD ENDING (AARON PAETSCH RADIO EDIT) MY BEST SELLING TRACK TO DATE!!! KEEP DOWNLOADING!!

GRAMMY NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

So the Grammy nominees were announced last night at Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles and Beyoncé leads the pack with a jaw-dropping ten nominations (This pic to the left, to the left is one of many I got from her I Am... Tour). Teen country pop sensation Taylor Swift gets plenty of respect this year also with eight nominations also, while urban acts The Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Kanye West received six nominations each. Personal favourite Lady Gaga received five nominations alongside Jay-Z and David Guetta. Perhaps Lady Gaga's greatest chance at winning will come in the Best Electronic/Dance Album category, although she does face some stiff competition in Pet Shop Boys' Yes and Guetta's One Love.

I must say that I am very pleased that pop acts are in the running for top-tier awards this year like Record of the Year and Album of the Year, whereas in previous years it seemed as though rock, jazz, country or soul albums garnered more respect. Also, there is more of a female-male balance among the nominees this year and that is always good to see.

Canada also should be very proud of its rising star Drake, formerly of Degrassi: The Next Generation, scoring two nominations in the rap categories alone based on his EP So Far Gone. And even Britney Spears got a nod for Womanizer in the Best Dance Recording category.

Although my taste often borders on that of a 17 year-old girl, I have to put on my fourty five year-old heterosexual Caucasian male cap when thinking from the pespective of Grammy voters. My picks are as follows:

Record Of The Year

Use Somebody

Kings Of Leon

Jacquire King & Angelo Petraglia, producers; Jacquire King, engineer/mixer[RCA Records]

AN OPEN LETTER TO PEREZ HILTON RE: LADY GAGA SNUB

Dear Perez,

You are a legend amongst bloggers and nobody can take that away from you ever. I have great respect for your work ethic and your opinion, but sometimes I read your postings and just scratch my freshly Aveda-conditioned head. Case in point, I read your entry this morning on my Blackberry regarding Lady Gaga’s “ridiculous” snubbing in the Best New Artist category at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Upon looking into this further, I found that the cut-off date for 2009 Grammy Awards consideration was September 30, 2008. Lady Gaga’s debut The Fame we know, was released November 15, 2008 in the U.S. So yes, I do see your point in why she should be considered eligible, but how is her ineligibility a fault of The Grammys? Rules are rules.

Should you not instead be blaming Lady Gaga’s connections for not being more cognizant of the guidelines? That is their job after all, is it not? They had no issue submitting debut single Just Dance for a nomination in the Best Dance Recording category last year. It is due to this previous nomination that she has been voided of Best New Artist eligibility. So my question to you is, how would it be fair to new artists who actually made their debuts "legitimately" during the 2010 Grammys qualification period, seeing that Lady Gaga essentially had almost a year’s head start on them?