The X Factor Prize!

Melanie Amaro, winner of the first season of the X Factor USA, won 5 MILLION DOLLARS - but that's NOT ALL!  Here is a sneak peak into the filming of her PEPSI SUPERBOWL COMMERCIAL with ELTON JOHN!! 

And what is she singing...Aretha Franklin/Ottis Redding's RESPECT - with a modern day twist!  Enjoy (and drink some PEPSI while you're at it!)

Battle of the Songs: Parachute

The song Parachute, written by Ingrid Michaelson for Cheryl Cole was a top 5 hit for the UK Girls Aloud star.  But in 2010, Michaelson decided to take on her own song and record it for herself.  So now with both of the songs out for release, which is better?  Yes, the lyrics are the same, but the singers and the production are very different.  Michaelson's is over produced (with annoying harmonies), even though Michaelson's voice doesn't need it.  Her version is also a bit nasally and rushed.  The song fits Cole's voice much better, and her version has more of a POP feel, than Indie feel.  I would never recommend a song writer to record herself singing a song she wrote for someone else (especially when it has been extremely successful!) and releasing it because most people will compare versions.  Because the song was written for Cheryl Cole, it probably didn't make much sense to record it for herself.  For most people though, they don't even realize Michaelson wrote it, and it will probably stay that way. 

Cheryl Cole's Music Video

 Ingrid Michaelson's Music Video

More Little Mix!

After seeing some tweets from Little Mix, I thought about one of my favorite performances from them during the UK X Factor season - this performance was a special one because they got to perform with their incredibly talented mentor, Tulisa.  Below is the video where they sing a medley of "I Ain't Got You" and "Empire State of Mind."

American Idol Critques

I've decided to LIVE blog about American Idol, but once the LIVE rounds come around.  It's hard to blog while they flash through 5 contestants at once, so I'll also have more to critique when they get on the IDOL stage.

So..stay tuned soon for the AKPrO critique of each of the finalist's song choices, performances, costumes, choreography (doubt there is any of that), staging, and more!

Will the finalists be as versatile, diverse, exciting, original, creative, controversial, and eclectic as the Final 12 on the X Factor USA?!

Only time will tell if Season 11 of AI can produce a bona fide star.

It's refreshing to see ....

LITTLE MIX perform at the National Television Awards (NTAs) in the UK! 

If you didn't already know, they were the first group (and yes...girl group) to win the UK X Factor last season, and are working on their debut album.  Their first released winners single "Cannibal" shot to number 1 in it's first week! 

I'm excited to finally see a girl band, after years without the Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, and Girls Aloud (well...GA was only in the UK) get some notice and take up the void in the music charts for a girl group.  I anticipate huge success for these 4 talented girls, who each have their own style, personality, and tone qualities that make the group dynamic and interesting.  

This performance is their signature cover, "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue.

My TV Guilty Pleasure: Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best

Everyone has TV shows that they probably don't admit (upfront at least) that they watch - and this usually happens with reality TV.  I watch a lot of TV and am not embarrassed by any of it...but I wouldn't start a conversation talking about the Kardashian's walking through NYC or Nene throwing a tantrum on a vacation.

But this post isn't about KKTNY or RHOAtl, but it's about "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best".  This show caught me off guard last season, because somehow I was clicking the remote and saw Joan on TV.  At that moment, I was brushing my teeth and just let the TV stay on the "We" network.  Within 5 minutes of Joan Rivers on a TV show, I was HOOKED.  And by hooked, I mean that I watched the 4 episode marathon that they were showing from the episodes I had missed - and I watched every single one.  I had never laughed so hard in my entire life.  There is this undeniable comedic factor that Joan has (obviously, she is a comedienne), but it is more than that.  It's the true relationships in her life between her daughter, grandson, family, and friends that really creates an environment where a family is trying to figure out how to live together.

The clip below comes from one of the funniest moments of last season as Joan wants Melissa to photograph nude for a project she was offered.  Joan attempts to take a nude picture of Melissa to show her that she has a fantastic body to show off, and she will be able to pay for her son's college education with the money she'd receive from doing the shoot. But...did Joan get a successful shot?!

N-Dubz: My New Music Obsession

If you didn't already know, I am a huge fan of UK music artists: Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole, Tinie Tempah, Jessie J...and MANY MORE.  But this post is dedicated to my new obsession, which is N-Dubz, a Hip-Hop/R&B trio composed of Tulisa, Dappy, and Fazer.  While they are all trying to make their own solo debut albums, they still started out as a group, and there is no Hip-Hop group in the market as talented as these 3 artists!  I found out about N-Dubz when Tulisa joined the UK X Factor as one of the new judges for Season 8.  I listned to most of their Greatest Hits, and was HOOKED!  I listen in the shower, while preparing meals, in between commercials...name the place, and I've probably been jamming to N-Dubz.  My point here is that I am always looking for talent I've never seen and they have truly caught my eye (and ears!). 

This song they are performing below is called "Strong Again" and it is only one of the dozens of hits that N-Dubz has had in the UK. 

Enjoy!

Who has the X Factor?

KARMIN has the X Factor!  This video just shows how talented BOTH Nick and Amy are and how they both have such great chemistry (Yes...it does help that they are engaged!)  It also helps that they have personality (that interest factor) to make fans and the people want to know more about them.  Karmin is always innovative and now have started their debut efforts with LA Reid and Epic Records.   It is rumored that their debut album will be released this April 2012!  If you haven't heard their first single, check it out below: "Crash Your Party."

Nielson Ratings

As you will soon find out if you read my blog, I am an avid TV watcher/fanatic and am a very loyal viewer/commentator on TV.  Although I knew the information below before finding it on YouTube, there are always questions to why there isn't a more efficient way to measure data from all TV's as to get a more accurate picture as to what the nation is watching.  Either way, because TV networks and advertisers use these ratings and have no other choice than to trust them, this is how advertisers will spend their $$$ on spots during a show.  I always wonder how many people are really watching a show like American Idol, even if the "random sample" of data had calculated it to be 21 million (with a 7.4 rating in 18-49).  Hopefully with better technology in the future, there will be a more accurate picture as to what people are watching, and for advertisers and marketers to spend their money in the most efficient way as possible.

 

The UK Music Scene

For those of you who are not aware, there is a HUGE music scene in the UK and most Americans never get to hear any of it.  Music acts like N-Dubz, JLS, Alexandra Burke, Labrinth, Pixie Lott, Cheryl Cole, Little Mix, and more you may have never heard of are consistently taking over the charts in the UK.  Each of these acts has HUGE potential to make their way to the USA and release their music.  But what most American's don't realize, is that this is very difficult - especially since in 2006 Leona Lewis was the first British act in over 20 years to come to the USA and debut a single ("Bleeding Love") to No. 1 on the HOT 100!

You may think it is iTunes fault for not releasing tracks from Cheryl Cole's 2 albums or any of JLS' 3 albums, but it is not that simple.  In order to have music released in the USA, the UK artist must be signed to an American record label (joint venture).  For example, Leona Lewis was signed to RCA Records (USA) with a partnership with Syco Records (UK) so that her music could be released in America.

Some successful UK acts that you may be familiar with and have made the transition to the USA have included Adele, Jessie J, the Spice Girls, Tinie Tempah, Natasha Bedingfield, Taio Cruz, and a handful more.  While this list may seem long, it is no where near the amount of American artists that are heard on the radio everyday.

Some exciting UK releases (from former UK X-Factor contestants) in America for 2012 that have been confirmed:

One Direction - "Up All Night" release date: March 20 (Columbia/Syco)
Rebecca Ferguson - "Heaven" release date: ? (Columbia/Syco)
Cher Lloyd - "Sticks + Stones" release date: ? (EPIC Records/Syco)

AKPrO Song of the Day

Jessie J's "Domino" will get the honor of being the AKPrO Song of the Day for my first Music Blog entry!

Welcome

Welcome to the new Blog! I am in the process of learning how to design/focus my blog, but I am sure I will be up and running very soon!

- AKPrO

:-)