KATY PERRY MAKES DEBUT HAS "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" HOST

Katy Perry on SNL

Katy Perry debuted a new Blonde Bob on her first-ever appearance on Saturday Night Live as Host. Careful not to spread herself too thin, Musical Guest responsibilities were delegated to Swedish Pop Queen Robyn.

Even though Perry's Skits weren't overly ambitious, she did ably deliver what was required of her in a variety of Roles including the highlight which had her playing Pippa Middleton, telling off Queen Victoria and King Phillip, calling them "Geysers", for pressuring Sister Kate to make a Baby. Perry's British Accent was quite spot-on undoubtedly due to the help of Funnyman Husband Russell Brand, just in Toronto on Thursday.

Another Skit had her playing herself on a Finnish Talk Show with Kristen Wiig playing Host and making Perry uncomfortable as Clips were shown every time she answered a question.  One could see that she was able to relax more  by her final Skit opposite a noticeably-slimmer Horatio Sanz, a Stranger she falls in love with based on all the similarities they share including their love for Singer, Jewel.  They even shared a full-on Kiss!

Matt Damon and Val Kilmer also made a quick appearances on the Episode in a Musical SNL Digital Short done in the spirit of The Muppets, along with Andy Samberg and Perry.

Matt Damon, Val Kilmer, Katy Perry & Andy Samberg

Meanwhile, Robyn wowed the Audience with renditions of Grammy-nominated Call Your Girlfriend and also Dancing on my Own.   In the former, she even pulled-out some Hand-Jives and a Summersault.  Pretty snazzy.

NEW MUSIC: KAY - MY NAME IS KAY

KAY

Who knew that Nova Scotia would birth one of 2011’s hottest names in Pop Music? KAY is on the verge of something big and she is now at work now on her debut Album through Universal Music, working with the likes of Ryan Tedder (Adele, OneRepublic, Beyoncé), Danja (Britney, Mariah), DJ Tiësto and Steve Aoki. All huge names who wouldn’t lend their names unless there was a clear and present indication of talent and potential.

Now residing in Los Angeles after brief stays in London and Vancouver, this Teaser has just been gifted to us. My Name is KAY is a Tedder production which is one-part The Ting Tings, one-part Robyn and all parts Fun. I’ve heard the Tiësto collaboration Work Hard, Play Hard too and it seems that she has a bit of a depth and range in her repertoire.

Preview the track in full below:

I definitely want more! Follow KAY on Twitter here.

(Photo credit/Audio content: Universal Music)

NATALIA KILLS IN TORONTO - PICS, VIDEO & AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY

Natalia Kills & Mr. Will-W.

British import Natalia Kills has been burning-up the Blogs over the past year and she is now on the verge of Stardom with her debut Album Perfectionist slated for a release shortly.  I caught up with the Actress/Singer/Songwriter out and about on her Press Tour in Toronto earlier today, before her performances tonight on MuchMusic's NML and an opening stint on Swedish sensation Robyn's show at the Sound Academy.  Signed to The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am music group, in partnership with Akon's Kon Live, Interscope  and Cherrytree Records, the support is there for this label mate of Lady Gaga.

Her debut single Mirrors, a finely crafted piece of dark Electropop is now beginning to pick-up in terms of Airplay in Canada and today Kills visited Top 40 Outlets like Z103.5, KISS 92.5 and PROUD FM 103.9 to promote the track.

The pint-sized Songstress was styled immaculately, dressed in Leather Pants and a Faux Fur Jacket. Her Hair was perfect with neatly-trimmed Bangs; her Make-up eye-catching with mismatching faux Lashes.  "Check out her shoes", her Publicist from Universal Music pointed out to me and so I did, snapping a quick shot of her D-Squareds in their Spine-heeled glory.  The Girl likes to have fun.

Genuinely surprised at the sight of Fans in Toronto, Natalia Kills should enjoy the peace and quiet now as industry insiders are tipping her hotly as the next big thing alongside another British import, Jessie J., who also is launching her career stateside this year.  Kills despite the edgy stage pseudonym was extremely sweet in-person, confirming for me that Perfectionist will be hitting stores at the end of March even still with no official confirmation from her Label. 

ROBYN JOINS KATY PERRY ON "CALIFORNIA DREAMS" TOUR

Katy Perry at eTalk Live

Great news, Katy Perry Fans! Those of you planning to see her California Dreams Tour which lands in Toronto on June 30, 2011 at Air Canada Centre, just may be getting an extra treat!  

Swedish Pop sensation Robyn who seems to be getting love everywhere but North America on wide scale, will be opening for Perry at select dates throughout the Tour.  You're getting two shows for the price of one as I've seen both Perry and Robyn live and they're both wonderful.  Really sweet Girls who love their Fans.

As a bonus, many of you Glee Fans will be happy to know that Lea Michele will be singing a cover of Perry's Firework on the upcoming February 8, 2011 episode of the Golden Globe-winning Series. 

  

For a complete list of California Dreams Tour dates, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

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.

ROBYN - BODY TALK REVIEW

Resisting the three separately-released installments of Robyn's Body Talk has been a bit of a battle for me, but I waited and it paid off as Universal Music is now releasing the best selections from each disc, on one complete album. And is it ever worth it!

I love Robyn and despite my honest opinion being that Parts 1-3 of Body Talk were hindered by  too much filler and unnecessary Mixes, this Disc gives us only the best and what we have here is a Tour-de-Force Collection even stronger than the Swede's excellent self-titled 2008 re-introduction to North American audiences.

Robyn has mastered the art of Dance Floor-ready Electro Pop, hitting all key marks including melody, hook and the irresistible seduction of Melancholy. Dancing On My Own, Indestructible and Time Machine are Pop Gems and it is a shame that the first two never caught-on with mainstream audiences in North America.   

Fembot, I have always been fond of with its witty futurism and along with U Should Know Better (ft. Snoop Dogg), crosses the boundaries of Urban and Alternative - a rare feat only few contemporaries like M.I.A. have been able to achieve.  Robyn though, has done it with continual critical acclaim and the undying loyalty of her Fans.  Call Your Girlfriend is unique in that it is a Break-Up Song she has written for her new love interest's Girlfriend.  And since Robyn does it so nicely, how can you blame her for the bit of Homewreckery?

ROBYN BODYTALK PT. 1 SIGNED CD GIVEAWAY

Our friends at Celebuzz and Swedish Pop Icon Robyn are teaming up to give away one free signed copy of her forthcoming album Body Talk Pt. 1, out June 15, 2010.  To qualify for a win, all you have to do is take a photo of you dancing by yourself along with a brief explanation. Click here for details.  Good luck, Peaches!

REVIEW: ROBYN - BODY TALK PT. 1

I’m disappointed to say that Robyn’s long-awaited return, Body Talk Pt. 1 isn’t quite what I was hoping for. The eight-track album, the first of three to come this year, has a few hidden gems like Fembot and gleefully sombre lead single Dancing On My Own, previewed here earlier. The collection otherwise lacks any real coherency, concept or flow, which we got a full serving of on unforgettable 2005 masteriece Robyn. Fans instead are given offerings here which otherwise wouldn’t make the cut on a full studio-length album, dispresed over the span of multiple discs.  I am of course being quick to comment not having heard the second and third discs in the set in all fairness.

My impression is that tracks like Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do, the quieter Hang With Me and lone Swedish track Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa, although appreciable in their minimalism, all sound like they belong on separate albums. Above this, Body Talk Pt. 1 gives an impression of incompletion based on its lacking complexity, failing to bring out the ferocity Robyn is capable of. Not even the fantastic duo Röyksopp could salvage the disc with their collaboration None of Dem where it is apparent that Sweden’s Lady of Pop is tired; the track takes flight beautifully though after the 3:20 mark “taking her far away from here”.

NEW MUSIC: ROBYN - DANCING ON MY OWN

After much anticipation, I must say that the new Robyn single is beyond rewarding.  Sweden's Lady of Pop impresses with Dancing on my Own, the confirmed first single from her first of three albums to be released this year, Body Talk Part 1.  It's like a happier sounding antithesis to Kleerup-produced With Every Heartbeat, but lyrically similar to Be Mine, watching a past love from the sidelines with someone new.

Body Talk Part 1 hit stores in North American June 15, 2010 and one day prior in Europe.  I may just have to forgive Robyn for stealing my album title, after all!

Preview Dancing on my Own in full below (audio content owned by Universal Music):

NEW MUSIC: ROBYN - FEMBOT

"I've got news for you.

Fembots have feelings too."

My favourite Swede is back and you can expect 2010 to be a big year for Robyn following the great success of her last self-titled effort.  It was recently announced that she will be releasing a total three albums this year alone and she just posted a taste of what's to come with this fun track Fembot, which picks up where she left off with her last album.  The production reminds me very much of Britney Spears' hit Piece of Me, which Robyn co-wrote and sang back-up vocals on.

As is the case with music in this day and age, label budget is very much dependent on numbers, so remember to visit Robyn's official website to stream this track and show your support.

In the meantime you can listen to a stream of Robyn's Fembot below (audio content owned by Cherrytree Records/Universal Music):