COCO LEE WEDS CANADIAN BUSINESSMAN BRUCE ROCKOWITZ

CoCo Lee, Bruce Rockowitz & Ne-Yo

Congratulations to one of Asia's biggest Superstars CoCo Lee, who just wedded Canadian Billionaire Businessman Bruce Rockowitz.  Festivities took place in Hong Kong at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kowloon.  Lee, a Singer-Songwriter who was raised in San Francisco and is based out of Taiwan, met Rockowitz in Hong Kong eight years ago.  For those who were wondering, Vera Wang custom-designed her Wedding Dress.

The lavish Ceremony, witnessed by 300 of the Couple's Friends and Family,  was followed by a lavish Reception where guests dined on Italian fare including Wagyu Beef Cheek & Sole, Burrata Cheese Ravioli, Tiramisu, Vanilla Panna Cotta and much more. A private Jewish Ceremony also took place yesterday.

Although there was much extravagance at the Rockowitz-Lee Wedding, the Entertainment perhaps was the biggest thing they had in-store.  Major Stars Bruno Mars, The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo performed before the intimate audience, with Lee joining them on-stage at points.  It is said also that Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez (some are saying Beyoncé too!) were flown-in privately for the occasion too... still awaiting Photos to confirm this. All this rang-in at a whopping total $20 million US!

ALBUM REVIEW: JESSIE J - WHO YOU ARE

Although the first taste she gave us with Do It Like a Dude wasn’t a good indicator what she’s all about, UK import Jessie J (née Jessica Cornish) definitely has a word or two of advice for us on her debut, Who You Are. In fact, the 23 year-old Singer/Songwriter Londoner’s feel-good vibe has already infiltrated airwaves Stateside. If you loved Miley Cyrus’ Party in the U.S.A. – and I know many of you do – chances are, you’re already a Fan of her work without even realizing it.

Expectations admittedly are high and although this debut Disc is a mixed bag of Songs, the raw talent Jessie J possesses is v. present. If not this Album, she is on the verge of something spectacular. Her vocal tone, range and styling are clear proof of the legacy which the likes of Beyoncé, Fergie and Alicia Keys have left on this generation of young Divas, but furthermore she really pulls out every single trick and bit of inspiration she has within her on Who You Are. There is nothing understated about Jessie J – she goes all-out because she can.

I have not been shy about expressing my love for Dr. Luke-produced hit Price Tag (ft. B.o.B.) which despite repeating a vibe heard on Hits like No One (Alicia Keys) and Where is the Love (The Black Eyed Peas), I cannot deny its standalone appeal. It is a proper introduction to the uplifting vibe she truly wants to deliver. Sunny tracks like L.O.V.E. and Stand Up promote positivity and teach us Pop Listeners a lesson or two on Reggae - her way.

HAPPY WORLD AIDS DAY

Jennifer Hudson 

Happy World AIDS Day!  Wait. That's inappropriate isn't it? According a 2009 Report from the United Nations, it is estimated that 33.3 million people around the World are infected with HIV/AIDS and that is no laughing matter.  Although globally fewer people overall are dying of AIDS due to advancements in Medicine since the 1990s which slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS, there still is a steady increase in the number of people living with HIV around the World.

Some of our favourite Celebrities have teamed together to raise money for Children in Africa who are infected with AIDS. Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Bronson Pelletier, Usher, Lady Gaga and many more have staged their own Digital Deaths today, which means that until they raise $1 million from their Fans via Text Message Donations, there will be no more online communication between them and their Fans through Social Utilities like Facebook and Twitter.  And to think Hudson just lost all that weight and can't even enjoy it now!

Click here for details on how to donate to and learn about the cause. It's easy to donate and even my favourite Starbucks has created their own World AIDS Day initiative where $0.05 from each Hand-Crafted Beverage (made at the Bar) sold today will be donated to the Global Fund.

(Photo credit: BuyLife.Org)

ALICIA KEYS, JENNIFER HUDSON AND WHITNEY HOUSTON AT 2010 BLACK BALL

Best photo ever. Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City hosted the Keep a Child Alive's annual Black Ball this past weekend, raising money for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The event raised a stellar $2.4 million and in attendance were many amazing artists like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston. One lucky photographer got this amazing shot of a v. slim Hudson, Keys and Houston together. So much strength and glamour all in one glance. I cannot handle it!

Check out more pictures on Houston's official site.

(Photo credit: WireImage/WhitneyHouston.com)

REVIEW: ALICIA KEYS - THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM

I have tried with considerable effort to get into Alicia Keys' fourth studio effort The Element of Freedom. Having received multiple reader requests to give it a go, I really hate to say it, but I'm just not loving it. And this is coming from someone who has supported all of her releases, which have sold a combined total of 30 million copies worldwide.

Keys pulls back a bit this time around and in terms of sound, she ventures into more of a rock direction compared to her earlier work. There are several '80s/'90s sounds as much of the arrangements center around the piano and Moog keyboards. Her vocals are a little less polished on this album, although there is more a feeling of organic raw emotion as a result of this. Thematically, the album is about a deeply-affecting break-up. Song after song, we hear about Keys' love obsession and having to overcome heartbreak, yet still holding onto her feelings of love for her past lover. This perhaps makes the album a little stagnant.

I will not deny that there are some gorgeous tracks on The Element of Freedom. Doesn't Mean Anything, Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart, Wait 'Til You See My Smile, That's How Strong My Love Is are all beautifully understated and melodically sufficient, but none of these siongs have that signature Keys fire that felt so warm to the touch previously. Remember A Woman's Worth, How Come You Don't Call Me?, Fallin' or You Don't Know My Name? There was passion in that. The Alicia Keys featured on this album is indeed a maturer woman, but she is a fraction of what she was. I'm not even going to comment on the let-down of a collaboration with Beyoncé, Put it in a Love Song.

THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS - A 1.5 MINUTE RECAP

It's been an extremely busy day on the blog from naked Babydaddys to a review about a football film. You cannot criticize me for not trying to branch-out! I'm not going to go into too much detail, but as per multiple requests over Facebook Chat and text messages to my Blackberry, I am going to re-cap for you my highlights of tonight's American Music Awards. No nonsense, just straight to-the-point.

• Janet Jackson opening the show with a mimed medley of hits that included her latest track Make Me (not technically a hit) from her just-released Number Ones compilation. It appears that Jackson is back to the original weight she was at when she released her ground-breaking Control album and I love it. She looks healthy and content.
• Need I mention how amazing Lady Gaga is? Her medley of new hit single Bad Romance and Freddie Mercury-esque ballad Speechless was the highlight of the show. I do think though that her costume would have looked better with claws. I admit I was a little petrified seeing her play on a flame-ignited piano, as it looked as though her wig would get singed at any moment. I'm still trying to figure out what the deal was with the breaking of the empty (fake sugar-glass) Johnny Walker bottles. And yes, I feel truly that she was robbed of the Breakthrough Artist award which went to country band Gloriana. I'm so ready for her Toronto show this Saturday!
• It was amazing seeing Whitney Houston's celebrated performance of I Didn't Know My Own Strength from her I Look To You album. Although her vocals were all over the place, certainly she is getting there slowly but surely....
• Jennifer Lopez was stunning in her mimed performance of new single Louboutins. Yes, she did fall on stage after climbing on-top of her male dancers (as seen in the photo below), but being the consummate professional she is, she made it look deliberate and carried on. It is ironic though that she was wearing a pair of Louboutins and fell in them; product placement gone wrong.
• Although I am not a fan of the track, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' performance of Billboard Hot 100-topping Empire State of Mind was quite enjoyable. The New York, New York intro was a nice touch.
• Shakira is always a pleasure to watch and although I have my doubts about her choice for the second single off She Wolf, her performance of Give It Up To Me was stellar... as usual.
• Rihanna's new album Rated R sucks. She can call it "art" all she wants, but it still sucks. And seeing her perform a track live did not make it suck less.
• Is it just me or does Mary J. Blige's new track I Am sound like a Mariah Carey B-side?
• I love Kelly Clarkson but she really needs to step-up her game. Her performance of single Already Gone was far from engaging.