We had the kind of night where morning comes too soon..

20 years ago, on this very same week, Pop Icon and Queen of Everything Relevant Janet Jackson’s 5th studio album ‘janet.’ (pronounced janet, period) was released. Of course, as they say, the rest was history, as an unsuspecting world watched in awe as Janet transcended all boundaries to unveil a masterpiece that would blaze a trail for generations to follow. EVERYTHING else was rendered irrelevant. Madonna’s ‘Erotica‘ released 7 months ago was comparatively basic. Many, many unmentionable fantasies were fulfilled when Janet posed topless for the album cover as well as Rolling Stone magazine with a pair of hands (belonging to her then husband Rene Elizondo) cupping her super-ample bosom. And many a musical career was birthed, including that of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and Ciara – all from one album.

By the end of the week, the brazenly ambitious album launched at # 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart – the first album by a female artist to do so in the Nielsen SoundScan era. During the same week, the album’s first single, ‘That’s The Way Love Goes‘ was in the middle of an 8-week run at # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Flaws? None found in 20 + years. You mad?

The album was a jaw-dropping transformation for Janet Jackson, who transformed from a Jackson youngin to a triumphant sex-charged pop-goddess who was ready to take no prisoners in the game.

Through spoken word interludes, Janet embraced her womanhood, and her agenda was clear – I have breasts, DEAL WITH IT.

20 years down the line, musical references from ‘janet.’ have begun popping up all over the place lately – from Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Poetic Justice‘ (sampling the classic baby-making jam ‘Anytime, Anyplace‘), to How To Dress Well’s cover of the Academy Award nominated Billboard # 1 ‘Again‘, to Moon Boot’s ‘Sugar‘ (sampling the epic ‘If‘), British Singer MNEK’s cover of ‘That’s The Way Love Goes‘ – the list goes on. Everyone from Rolling Stone to Billboard Magazine to the best blogs out there including Idolator have been paying their tributes to a legendary album that has clearly stood the test of time, 20 years after its release.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of an album that spawned 6 top 10 singles (including 2 Billboard # 1′s), 21 million in worldwide album sales, a Grammy Award, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination – today we give a shout-out to a trail blazing, genre bending, pioneering album that changed the face of music forever.

So without further ado,

DROP YOUR CLOTHES AND GET NAKED.

With the sex-drenched refrain ‘Like a moth to a flame burned by the fire, my love is blind can’t you see my desire‘, Janet Jackson launches into the biggest hit of her career in the US, a silky smooth flirt-fest that can set any house-party on fire – as depicted in the Rene Elizondo-directed golden-hued video featuring a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez cozying up to choreographer Omar Lopez looking all cool right next to Janet, who, incidentally sports abs that desperately deserve the Nobel Prize or something. THOSE ABS DAMN IT!

The Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis/ Janet Jackson production is a supreme baby-making extravaganza – incorporating Jam and Lewis’ smooth Minneapolis sound with Janet’s slinky soul drenched vocals. As Janet sensually coos ‘Don’t mind if I light candles, I’d like to watch us play, baby I’ve got on what you like…‘, it’s really, REALLY hard not to think about getting it on y’all.

Easily, iconic.

Check out the legendary ‘That’s The Way Love Goes‘ right here :

Throwback Tuesday : Janet Jackson’s ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’ is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

Time to check out what’s going on over at the other side of the pond y’all!

British icon Rod Stewart makes a triumphant return to the penthouse of the Official UK Top 40 Albums Chart this week as ‘Time‘, the legend’s first studio album of new material in almost two decades, arrives at # 1, taking his total of chart-topping albums in the UK to eight!

The maestro thus sets a new record for the longest gap between chart-topping albums in the UK, beating Tom Jones. Stewart last topped the charts in 1979 with ‘Greatest Hits Volume 1‘.

Stewart thus blocks 20-year-old singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin from the # 1 spot with her highly anticipated début album ‘English Rain‘, which settles in at # 2. Not too bad at all for a début effort, especially since Aplin already has a # 1 single in the form of the lush cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘The Power Of Love‘ which topped the charts last year.

Over at the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, Daft Punk literally slays any competition whatsoever, as ‘Get Lucky‘, the first single off their brand new album ‘Random Access Memories‘ (releasing tomorrow in the UK), tops the chart for a 4th consecutive week, selling over 114,000 units this week (100,000 plus sales for a 4th week in a row as well – insane!) to take its total sales in the UK to over 606,000 units in just a month. ‘Get Lucky‘ featuring Pharrell and Nile Rodgers thus overtakes Justin Timberlake’s ‘Mirrors‘ as the second highest selling single of 2013, barely 19,000 copies behind Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ ‘Thrift Shop‘ featuring Wanz, the highest selling single of 2013 in the UK.

The top 10 singles in the UK this week are :

1. Get Lucky – Daft Punk feat. Pharrell and Nile Rodgers

2. Let Her Go – Passenger

3. Heart Attack – Demi Lovato

4. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore And Ryan Lewis

5. Waiting All Night – Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre

6. Blackout – Wretch 32 feat. Shakka

7. So Good To Me – Chris Malinchak

8. This Is What It Feels Like – Armin Van Buuren feat. Guthrie

9. Play Hard – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo/Akon

10. Endorphins – Sub Focus feat. Alex Clare

The top 10 albums in the UK this week are :

1. Time – Rod Stewart

2. English Rain – Gabrielle Aplin

3. Modern Vampires Of The City – Vampire Weekend

4. The Shocking Miss Emerald – Caro Emerald

5. Home – Rudimental

6. A – Agnetha Falkskog

7. All The Little Lights – Passenger

8. Our Version Of Events – Emeli Sande

9. To Be Loved – Michael Buble

10. Les Miserables (OST) – Various

Rod Stewart, Daft Punk Dominate UK Top 40 is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

Another summer, another Jennifer Lopez-Pitbull dance-floor extravaganza. Not that anybody’s complaining – when it ain’t broke, don’t fix it right?

After roaring back to the top of the charts with 2011′s ‘On The Floor‘ – easily one of the biggest hits of her career – Jennifer Lopez has maintained a steady presence on the upper regions of the global charts with a steady string of hits. With a little help from Pitbull yet again, the diva premieres the brand new video for the first single ‘Live It Up‘ from her upcoming 8th studio album, after literally breaking it down with a live performance of the song and receiving a standing ovation on the season finale of American Idol Season 476,569 last night.

The Jessy Terrero-directed clip for the club-banger has basically EVERYTHING in it. Looking all shades of sexy, and at 43 years young, Jennifer Lopez reminds us that when it comes to snatched wigs, her collection just about SLAYS everybody else’s! Lots of glamour shots, partying in Miami, and of course some fierce choreography – J.Lo and Pitbull usher in summer with style! I’m feeling it, and I love the song already.

Check out Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Live It Up‘ featuring Pitbull right here :

Video Premiere : Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Live It Up’ Featuring Pitbull is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

‘Dreams can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence, and a belief in our right and our responsibility to be equal members of society.’

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there’s no one quite like Miss Janet Damita Jo Jackson (Al Mana), Miss Jackson if ya nasTAYY!!

Icon, legend, singer, actor, producer, dancer, author – the list goes on!

With over 150 million records sold, over 3 decades of ground-breaking music, videos, choreography and chart-domination, every music award under her belt, a discography beyond compare – Janet Jackson remains one of the highest selling artists in the history of contemporary music, and of course, one of THE most respected.

As Miss Jackson turns an unbelievable 47 years old today, I take this opportunity to thank the living legend and her music, which has helped a gazillion fans (including me) to follow their heart, dare to dream their dreams, and eventually succeed in living the life they have always desired.

Happy Birthday Janet! Your music continues to inspire me in every possible way. Through thick and thin, through darkness and light, through sorrow and happiness – thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me realize I’m special!

Happy 47th Birthday Miss Janet Jackson! is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

Country royalties Lady Antebellum earn their 3rd consecutive # 1 album as ‘Golden‘, the band’s 4th studio offering arrives straight at the penthouse of the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, selling an excess of 167,000 units this week in the US.

The trio previously topped the charts with ‘Own The Night‘ in 2011 and  ’Need You Now‘  in 2010 – both Grammy winners and platinum-plus sellers.

‘Golden‘ is followed by a strong début of the original soundtrack to the Baz Luhrmann film ‘The Great Gatsby‘. Boasting of new songs by heavyweights like Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Jay Z, Sia among others, the album soars in at # 2 with sales of 137,000 copies this week in the US. Definitely one of my fave albums of the year so far!

Another country trio barges into the top 10 with their sophomore effort, as Pistol Annies, featuring country mega-star Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, arrive at # 5 with ‘Annie Up‘. The album is a follow-up to their successful Gold-certified # 5 peaking début effort ‘Hell On Heels‘ released in 2011.

Over at the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, Macklemore And Ryan Lewis hold on to the # 1 spot for a second week with ‘Can’t Hold Us‘ featuring Ray Dalton.

Pop chanteuse Selena Gomez makes some major moves on the Hot 100 as ‘Come And Get It‘, Selena’s brand new single from her upcoming studio album ‘Stars Dance‘ becomes her first top 10 hit on the charts soaring from # 14 to # 6 this week, after 11 previously charting singles missed out on the top 10.

Goddess Mariah Carey owns the highest début on the Hot 100 this week, as ‘#Beautiful‘, the diva’s new single featuring Miguel previewing her upcoming 13th studio album, soars in at # 24 this week, easily becoming Carey’s biggest hit in almost 4 years since ‘Obsessed‘ peaked at # 6 in 2009.

The Billboard Top 10 Singles this week are :

1. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton

2. Just Give Me A Reason – Pink feat. Nate Ruess

3. Mirrors – Justin Timberlake

4. When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars

5. Stay – Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko

6. Come And Get It – Selena Gomez

7. Thrift Shop – Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

8. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

9. I Love It – Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX

10. Cruise – Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly

The Billboard Top 10 Albums this week are :

1. Golden – Lady Antebellum

2. The Great Gatsby OST – Various

3. Now 46 – Various

4. To Be Loved – Michael Buble

5. Annie Up – Pistol Annies

6. The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake

7. Time – Rod Stewart

8. Life On A Rock – Kenny Chesney

9. Based On A True Story – Blake Shelton

10. Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars

Lady Antebellum Tops Billboard 200, Pistol Annies, ‘The Great Gatsby’ OST Debuts Within Top 10! is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

24-year-old Texas-based country newbie Kacey Musgraves might very well be the woman with an edge in all the right places this year.

Her major label début (she’s released 3 prior albums independently) ‘Same Trailer, Different Park‘  (released on March 19th, 2013) has critics raving about her forthright, rather detached, yet honest songwriting abilities – shades of Miranda Lambert meets Aimee Mann right there on the very first listen.

The charts and fans have been more than receptive of Musgraves – ‘Same Trailer, Different Park‘ blasted straight to # 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart as well as # 2 on the Billboard 200 on the week of its release, and the buzz following the album release seems to be well justified. Possibly cuz Musgraves demonstrates ample crossover potential along the lines of Taylor Swift – of course with rather shrewd songwriting skills ( I don’t see Taylor Swift endorsing gay relationships like Musgraves in the ballsy ‘Follow Your Arrow‘).

The album is a well-balanced package – generous doses of cynicism blending in with stories of mundane small-town life, love stories and hypocrisy, it’s all there.

Out of the many beauties scattered across the album, the one song which has managed to literally EAT MY HEAD is the completely sublime and lush ‘Keep It To Yourself‘ – a gentle yet firm nod to an ex who wants to make it work again.

Musgraves’ plaintive voice works wonders for the song, a subtle vulnerability comes across in the lovelorn number where she asks her ex to keep his feelings to himself – after he realizes what he has lost. It’s the melody and the overall tone of the song which works for me – the sensitivity weaves its way through the song. It’s melancholy at it’s best – it makes you reminisce of a love gone by.

‘You heard from your friends
That I’m doing okay
And you’re thinking, maybe you made a mistake
And you want me to know
But I don’t wanna know
How you’re feeling’

She softly croons after the starting strains of the song – effectively putting her ex in his place before she launches into the soul-drenched chorus.

There’s nothing sassy or nasty about the song – rather a Taylor Swift template would be an effective way to describe it. But it’s how the song proceeds and finally ends that sets it apart – an honest picture of solitude. The pain is palpable – and the fact that she’s moved on is evident.

‘Keep it to yourself
If you think that you still love me
Put it on a shelf
If you’re looking for someone
Make it someone else
When you’re drunk
And it’s late
And you’re missing me like hell
Keep it to yourself’

I hope this one’s the next single after the Gold-certified ‘Merry Go ‘Round‘.

Check out ‘Keep It To Yourself‘ right here, and if you enjoy music by Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies and a bunch of forthright country vocalists making some major waves lately, ‘Same Trailer, Different Park‘ is an album you should definitely check out.

Here’s a live version of the song as well, Kacey’s ample vocal prowess is well displayed in this one.

Stuck In My Head : Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Keep It To Yourself’ is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

YASSSS!

Back in 2011, when I wrote a post on Dutch Jazz chanteuse Caro Emerald (she had just begun her chart-slayage back then with her debut extravaganza ‘Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor‘), I predicted that the smokey-voiced vocalist would be making some major moves very soon indeed.

TA-DAH!

Following the # 4 peaking Platinum-certified success of ‘Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor‘ – her million selling 2010 debut extravaganza (and one of zomgtalk’s top 50 albums of 2011, Caro Emerald makes a triumphant return with her seductive blend of Jazz, Samba and Contemporary Pop as the singer’s sophomore album ‘The Shocking Miss Emerald‘ blasts in at # 1 on the UK Top 40 Albums Chart!

The cleverly crafted package of irresistible melodies zooms ahead of East London drum’n'bass band Rudimental’s debut album ‘Home‘, which proved to be a fierce competition for Emerald, owing to multiple # 1 singles spawned earlier. ‘Home‘ arrives at # 2 this week.

Over at the UK Top 40 Singles Chart, Daft Punk locks the # 1 spot for a third week in a row with ‘Get Lucky‘, selling a massive 123,000 units this week. The single almost touches the half a million mark within just 3 weeks, selling over 100,000 copies each week since its release.

The top 10 singles in the UK this week are :

1. Get Lucky – Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

2. So Good To Me – Chris Malinchak

3. Let Her Go – Passenger

4. Waiting All Night – Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre

5. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Dalton

6. This Is What It Feels Like – Armin Van Buuren feat. T Guthrie

7. Play Hard – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo/Akon

8. I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding

9. That Power – Will.I.Am feat. Justin Bieber

10. Just Give Me A Reason – Pink feat. Nate Ruess

The top 10 albums in the UK this week are :

1. The Shocking Miss Emerald – Caro Emerald

2. Home – Rudimental

3. Didn’t It Rain – Hugh Laurie

4. To Be Loved – Michael Buble

5. The Minutes – Alison Moyet

6. The Truth About Love – Pink

7. Golden – Lady Antebellum

8. All The Little Lights – Passenger

9. Our Version Of Events – Emeli Sande

10. Bad Blood – Bastille

Caro Emerald’s ‘The Shocking Miss Emerald’ Blasts In At # 1 On The UK Top 40 is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

Well, who knew? (reference!)

Pop-rock extravaganza Alecia Moore aka Pink – undoubtedly an icon in the making – began her decade-plus long slay-age in the year 2000 with an utterly seamless contemporary r’n'b-drenched pop/dance début effort titled ‘Can’t Take Me Home‘ – an album that sounds approximately nothing like the rest of Pink’s flawless discography.

Hard to believe, right? Especially when you browse through her relentless onslaught of rock-laced top 10 singles that she’s unveiled on a yearly basis after the tables turned following the release of her multi-platinum sophomore smash ‘Missundaztood‘ in 2001, as Pink gracefully transcended to become a bad-ass rock-pop vixen from your regular pop chanteuse.

With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, four Billboard # 1 singles, three Grammy’s, five MTV VMA’s, Pink has truly been one of the most under-appreciated and under-rated artists of the past decade – and I feel she’s finally receiving her dues with her 6th studio album ‘The Truth About Love‘  becoming her first Billboard # 1 album, and radio hungrily devouring every song she’s released from the album.

It’s time to throw some glitter in the air (reference!) and give it up for the album that started it all for the pop chameleon – and from ‘Can’t Take Me Home‘, it’s time to give a much needed shout-out to the thoroughly immaculate ‘Most Girls‘ – my fave single from the album!

Initially viewed as one of the many pop princesses saturating the scene, it was Pink’s vocal chops that set her apart. Pink could do a Mary J Blige and  Janis Joplin with ample ease, while her moves made Janet Jackson proud (the living legend admitted to being a Pink fan when she was honored by Pink who recreated ‘Miss You Much‘ during MTV Icon) – and both these skills were demonstrated generously for ‘Most Girls‘.

‘Most Girls‘, the bangin’ second single from ‘Can’t Take Me Home‘, became her second consecutive top 10 hit (and her first top 5 single) both in the US and the UK, following the runaway success of ‘There You Go‘, the song which heralded her arrival on the charts.

The song, an ode to the singer’s quest for real love, oozed enough sass for people to stand up and take notice of Pink, instead of writing her off as a one-hit-wonder.

‘Most girls want a man with mean green…‘, she growls over an addictive mid-tempo groove.

While Britney and Christina were easily in command of the teen-pop brigade dominating the charts, Pink’s forthright style landed a knock-out punch on radio and set her apart – and L.A. Reid and Babyface crafted a radio-friendly, playful and savvy sound which propelled the singer to staggering new heights. It also helped that Dave Meyers was the man behind the first 3 clips of her career, including the slick visual for ‘Most Girls‘.

Of course, she later decided to ditch what her label made her do, and blazed a trail for others (including her contemporaries) to follow.

‘Most Girls‘ peaked at # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and # 5 in the UK Top 40, while ‘Can’t Take Me Home‘ went on to be certified double platinum in the US, selling around 5 million units worldwide.

Check out the classic ‘Most Girls‘ right here :

Throwback Tuesday : Pink’s ‘Most Girls’ is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

Songstress supreme Sia has just unveiled a song WHICH SHE HAS SUNG HERSELF instead of Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce and every other pop vocalist worth their pipes.

Hallelujah.

Not that I dislike the aforementioned ladies’ vocal capabilities, it’s just that have y’all heard Sia? I mean really heard her belt it out? If not,

Euthanize yourselves.

And then go pick up the soundtrack of ‘Eclipse‘ (of the Twilight saga) and play the song ‘My Love‘ sung flawlessly by Sia – ample evidence of the woman’s vocal chops that easily give our divas a run for their wigs.

Thankfully Ms Furler has decided to bestow upon her fans a gorgeous new ballad (a lot along the lines of ‘My Love‘ actually) for the soundtrack of the new Baz Luhrmann film ‘The Great Gatsby‘ – which is slowly shaping up to be THE most highly anticipated soundtrack of the year.

‘Kill And Run‘, co-written by Chris Braide, is a lush ballad that explores Sia’s insane vocal prowess, allowing her to soar over a stunning orchestra and reaching a chill-inducing crescendo.

Sheer brilliance!

Should we expect a follow-up to 2010′s ‘We Are Born‘ finally Sia?

Check out ‘Kill And Run‘ right here :

Song Premiere : Sia’s ‘Kill And Run’ From ‘The Great Gatsby’ OST is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com

YASSSS!!

Baby-making music alert y’all. Soul chanteuse Alicia Keys is in the mood for some serious love-making, and neo-soul icon Maxwell has decided to help her around a bit, sexy falsetto in tow.

One of my fave songs from Alicia’s thoroughly free of flaw Billboard # 1 peaking 5th studio album ‘Girl On Fire‘ gets the sensual video treatment it deserves – and I couldn’t have been happier with the clip!

Chris Robinson directs the seductive clip for ‘Fire We Make‘, the third official single to be released from ‘Girl On Fire‘, and the song marks the much awaited return of one of the trail-blazing pioneers of neo-soul, Maxwell, looking better than he had in ages!

Shot in New Orleans, the video features the romantic escapades of Alicia and Maxwell – keeping it simple yet sensual, with a throwback vibe.

Check out the soul-drenched affair right here :

Video Premiere : Alicia Keys’ ‘Fire We Make’ Featuring Maxwell! is a post from: ZOMGTalk.com