THE 1975 TOUR | Review

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Hey music fans!!  I’m back with another tour review and I’m excited about this one!

My niece introduced me to The 1975 a while back and I really enjoyed listening to them.  For Christmas this past year, her mom and I surprised her with tickets to see them live for the first time.  She was stoked (and so was I!), but had to wait until May 11 for the show. Talk about torture!

Anyway, last night was the show and it was held at Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Downtown Miami.  I’d never been to the venue, but I’d definitely go there again!

If you’re not familiar with The 1975, here’s a bit of info about them:

Hailing from Manchester, U.K., The 1975 is an alternative rock band clearly influenced by a wide range of musical styles.  The band consists of Matt Healy (lead singer and guitarist), George Daniel (drums, backing vocals), Adam Hann (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) and Ross MacDonald (bass, keyboard, backing vocals).  After releasing three EP’s over the course of their musical career, the band released their self-titled debut album, The 1975, in 2013 and their latest album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware, in 2016.

The show started at about 8 pm with Wolf Alice and The Japanese House as opening acts.  The 1975 came out and played non-stop until the very end.  Unfortunately, their drummer (George) was unable to play due to a broken shoulder, but the drummer from one of their opening acts saved the day and did a great job!  The sound at the venue was great, the crowd was energetic and the band seemed to play off of that.  One couple even got engaged during fallingforyou, which was cute.  Even the stage setup was great.  They had huge screens that lit up behind them to cover the entire stage, with their signature rectangles floating above them.  To sum it up, the show was great and I would definitely see them live again.

You can check out the setlist for the Miami show (May 11, 2016) below:

Love Me
UGH!
Heart Out
So Far (It’s Alright)
A Change of Heart
She’s American
Anobrain
Menswear
Loving Someone
Me
fallingforyou
Somebody Else
An Encounter
Robbers
You
Paris
Girls

Encore:

If I Believe You
Chocolate
The Sound
Sex

If you’re thinking of heading out to see them live (DO IT!!!), you can find the rest of their tour dates HERE.

@JTIMBERLAKE RELEASES NEW TRACK ‘CAN’T STOP THE FEELING’

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YES!!!!! New JT music is out!! Justin Timberlake released the first track off of the TROLLS soundtrack on May 6, and it is nothing short of amazing! Since Z100 has dubbed this Justin Timberlake day on the radio, I definitely have my JT Tour shirt on! :::don’t judge:::

The song is fun and the First Listen video is great! It shows the cast dancing around to the track and it just makes you want to get up and dance too!

So check out the video below and let everyone know what you think!

 

 

 

This should be you after watching the video…

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PENTATONIX: World Tour 2016 (Review)

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Hey there music fans!!  I wanted to take the time to talk about an amazing show I saw last night in Sunrise, FL and why it was so amazing!

We got to the BB&T Center to pick up our tickets and found out that our seats had been upgraded. Woot woot!  An up-and-coming artist named AJ opened up and was followed by Us the Duo, who were absolutely amazing!!

Pentatonix (Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Avi Kaplan) came out and showed the crowd why they’re putting a cappella on the map!  Their voices together are insane.  I was actually surprised to see how many loyal fans they seemed to have here in Miami because the fans down here are known to be fickle.  Every song they played was sung right back to them with such enthusiasm, it really made me happy to see.  As a former chorus nerd (& proud), I know how difficult it is to sing a cappella, so to see Pentatonix succeed at the rate they’re succeeding is definitely something to commend. They’re not just singing along to a track someone else made.  They have to lay out an intricate plan for each member to ensure the quality of sound they’re known for.  Definitely not your typical artist, and they deserve a ton of recognition for that. Each member brings something different to the table, and if you think Kevin is just a beatboxer, check him out playing the cello! Incredible!

The vocals were on point, the stage show didn’t overpower the group and the crowd was great.  The only “annoying” part about the show was the workers going around stopping people from taking pictures or videos.  On one hand I get it…you can’t truly experience the show behind your phone, but I like to have a few pictures and videos to relive the memories from the show in the future.  In any case, I managed to get a few pictures before having to put my camera away:

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And this picture was posted by Us the Duo on Twitter following the show.  They came out and performed “If I Ever Fall in Love” with the group and it was nothing short of amazing. Especially when Kevin hit those high notes!!

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It was definitely worth it to check this group out live, and I highly recommend the show for anyone who is a true fan of music and the hard work that goes into it.  This group is so incredibly talented and they really appreciate their fans. One of my favorite moments of the night was seeing how emotional they were.  Scott made a joke about having a sappy moment, but I loved it! They deserve the success they’re achieving, and I’m proud to be a fan. Check out the setlist below, and the dates for the remaining stops on the tour!

SETLIST in Sunrise, FL – April 13, 2016

Cracked
Na Na Na
Cheerleader
Can’t Sleep Love
Evolution of Michael Jackson
Love Yourself/Where Are U Now
If I Ever Fall in Love
Kevin – Cello Solo (Bach)
Radioactive/Say/Papa
No
Misbehavin’
Water
Christus
Aha!
Daft Punk
Rose Gold
New Years Day

ENCORE
Light in the Hallway
Sing

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Pentatonix: Official Site
Twitter: PTX Official

 

Grammy Awards 2016 Review

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VRO Hosts Brancey and Kristin got together to discuss all things Grammy’s. Tune in as they rate the performances and go through the list of winners from the show which aired on Monday, February 15th on CBS.
 
Be sure to comment on who your favorites were!  🙂
 
 
 

 
Grammy Awards 2016 Review
 
 

Twitter: @TheVRO

Facebook: Variety Radio Online

Tumblr: Variety Radio Online

Grease Live: Review

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Hey everyone!  If you’re a fan of the original “Grease,” I’m sure you were tuned in to the live, musical event that aired on Sunday, January 31 on FOX!  Brancey, Keisha and I got together to talk about what we liked, what we didn’t like (and all of Aaron Tveit’s thrusting) and how we thought this event did in comparison to other recent musicals.

In case you’re not familiar with the original production, here’s a quick synopsis:

After enjoying a summer romance, high school students Danny and Sandy are unexpectedly reunited when she transfers to Rydell High. There Sandy must contend with cynical Rizzo and the Pink Ladies in attempt to win Danny’s heart again.

 

So check out our podcast review below, and let us know what you think!


 
Grease Live: Podcast Review

 

***And remember kids…don’t sing and drive (like this guy)! Hahaha!

 

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Zayn Malik’s Debut Solo Single “Pillowtalk” Has Arrived!

IMG_2709It’s the moment all One Direction fans dreaded!  The moment when the 23-year-old would drop his first solo single since leaving One Direction mid-tour in March 2015.

Now, as a woman in her 30’s, I’ve had my share of boy band heartbreaks!  Nsync broke up.  Need I say more?  Ok, maybe I can.  NKOTB split up for years (and got back together so maybe there’s hope for a reunion when they’re in their 40’s Directioners!), Backstreet Boys lost Kevin for a while (and got him back), etc.  It happens, and it stinks, but we saw this happen with Justin Timberlake, didn’t we?  He needed something more than the cookie cutter boy band image, so he went off on his own and he’s done amazingly well!  Don’t get me wrong…I’m still holding out hope for a reunion though…

With Zayn’s debut single, it’s definitely edgier than we’re used to seeing from him.  WAY EDGIER!  I actually really like it…with the exception of knowing that my 11-year-old niece will end up watching it and have a million questions (like why it’s called “Pillowtalk” in the first place lol).  The video was released on January 29, just 2 days after band released their nostalgic video for “History.”  Coincidence?  Quite possibly.

In any case, check out One Direction’s newest video and then check out Zayn’s debut as a solo artist.  Let me know what you think!  Tweet me @kristin0409!

 

 

 

Adele Reveals Release Date & Tracklist for New Album, ’25’

We finally received the news we’ve been waiting for!!

According to her Instagram, Adele is back with a new album, ’25,’ that will be released on November 20!

View this post on Instagram

25 out November 20th

A post shared by Adele (@adele) on

 

Her first single, “Hello,” was released today, October 23, along with the video and tracklist for the new album.  Are you excited yet???

Here is the tracklist for the album*:

1. Hello
2. Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
3. I Miss You
4. When We Were Young
5. Remedy
6. Water Under the Bridge
7. River Lea
8. Love In the Dark
9. Million Years Ago
10. All I Ask
11. Sweetest Devotion

A deluxe version of 25 will be available at Target and will include three bonus tracks

1. Can’t Let Go
2. Lay Me Down
3. Why Do You Love Me

 

So…do yourself a favor and check out the new single, “Hello,” watch the video below, and prepare yourselves for that incredible voice to be back in our music-loving lives!

You can find more information about Adele’s new album, 25, HERE.

 

ARTIST TO WATCH: @Pentatonix

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For some people, a cappella music is an acquired taste.  For others, like myself, I can get lost in it.  As someone who spent middle school and high school in chorus and drama, I know how difficult it is to perform songs a cappella…especially if someone is off!  For Pentatonix, they make it seem so incredibly simple.  Their arrangements and covers of songs are so intricate and flawless.

They won the third season of The Sing-Off and have been working non-stop ever since.  With a chart topping Christmas album, That’s Christmas to Me and a handful of EP’s, we’re finally getting a full-length album with original songs!  Check out their first original song off the new album and also a cover of Where Are U Now below?

 

 

You can find more about Pentatonix by visiting the following links:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Official Site

ARTIST TO WATCH: RAY BOUDREAUX

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Hey there!!

So I have another suggestion for new music!!  If you’re a fan of The Voice (team Blake), you might have heard the name Ray Boudreaux.  If you’re not, and you haven’t…you should!!

Ray is a Louisiana native and has an incredibly soulful voice.  A true talent, in my opinion.  I always find it refreshing to come across an artist who is all about the music, and this one is no exception.

Please check him out and get ready to buy his single, “Even If I Tried” once it’s released! I’ve attached a YouTube video of him singing the song live, so enjoy it!

 

You can find Ray at the links below:

facebook.com/RayBoudreauxOfficial
twitter.com/rayboudreaux
instagram.com/rayboudreaux

 

Hollywood Vampires: A New (Old) Musical Super Group

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Question for all of you…what do Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp have in common???

Answer: They’re all part of a new musical super group called Hollywood Vampires!  Yes, you heard correctly!

It was brought to my attention yesterday that this trio started a cover band, paying tribute to those members who belonged to a drinking club formed in 1972.  Alice Cooper was a founding member of this club that would get together on the Sunset Strip and drink, drink, drink!  Original members included John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz.

On September 11, 2015, Hollywood Vampires released a self-titled album that includes covers belonging to members of the drinking club and two original songs penned by Alice Cooper himself (See track listing below).  The album also features several amazing musicians (Paul McCartney, Slash, Dave Grohl) and a spoken intro by Sir Christopher Lee, which was recorded shortly before his death.

So fire up your Apple Music, Spotify, etc. and give the album a listen!  I mean you can’t really go wrong with Alice Cooper, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Johnny Depp, who happens to be a phenomenal guitarist!  Let me know what you think!

Hollywood Vampires, Hollywood Vampires Track Listing:

1.   “The Last Vampire” (Intro)
2.   “Raise the Dead”
3.   “My Generation”
4.   “Whole Lotta Love”
5.   “I Got a Line”
6.   “Five to One” / “Break on Through”
7.   “One” / “Jump Into the Fire” (Ft. Dave Grohl)
8.   “Come and Get It” (Ft. Paul McCartney)
9.   “Jeepster”
10. “Cold Turkey”
11. ” Manic Depression”
12. “Itchycoo Park”
13. “School’s Out” / “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2” (Ft. Slash)
14. “Dead Drunk Friends”

You can find more information about the super group HERE

How I Lost 3 Hours of my Life…

1Anyone remember when MTV used to actually be Music Television?? You know…where they actually showed music videos, and the majority of their other shows included some sort of music trivia? Gone are those days.

I tweeted out yesterday that I was going to avoid watching the VMA’s last night until MTV starts going back to their roots. Unfortunately though, my niece wanted to watch the show to try and catch a glimpse of 5 Seconds of Summer or One Direction (no such luck for her). Instead, I lost three hours of my life watching a show that was absolutely embarrassing.

It all started with Nicki Minaj basically having sex on stage with her dancers. Watching that performance with an eleven-year-old had me speechless….and not in a good way. Now, if you follow the music industry drama or have social media, you know that Nicki went on a Kanye 2.0 rant on Twitter recently about how people only get nominated for awards if they’re a certain “color” or body type. This sparked comments from Taylor Swift, who apparently took it as a personal attack on her. Now, Nicki Minaj has every right to say what she wants about this topic…anyone does…BUT, it’s not because she’s black and it’s not because of her body type. It’s because of performances like the one she put on last night. Music is no longer about music. It’s about how shocking your performance can be. That being said…I think Taylor Swift is a great artist, and she basically wins at life, but I don’t necessarily think she should be nominated for every single award she could possibly be nominated for. I mean, why in the world is she still winning country awards?? However, Taylor Swift doesn’t talk shit about any other artist, and she’s classy in general. Same with Beyonce. Artists like them focus on their own music and don’t sit there worrying about who’s winning what or who’s going to be the most obscene just to get people talking. Beyonce and Taylor Swift could sit on stage in their pajamas singing Christmas Carols and it would have people talking about how amazing they are. Same with Tori Kelly and The Weeknd last night. Make it about the MUSIC!!!

Bringing the shock factor brings me to another person at the VMA’s last night…Miley Cyrus. Can someone please explain to me WHY she hosted that show last night?? When my niece used to watch Hannah Montana and we’d see interviews with her, she always seemed like a sweet, wholesome girl. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know very well that it was a character she was playing, but even in recent years when she was dating Liam Hemsworth, she had her little edge but was still decent. I respected that she expressed her freedom of speech, but don’t do it just to get people to talk about you. Who admits that anyway?? MTV knew what they were doing when they asked her to host, and judging by her “nip slip,” questionable beef with Nicki Minaj and ridiculous outfits on stage…they got exactly what they wanted from her. Even in her little monologue to open the show she said she hasn’t done anything in her career to warrant hosting an awards show. Got that right!

I’m only 31 years old and I have always been in love with music. I used to really look forward to watching the VMA’s, and now I could honestly care less if they’re on or not. Music is about creativity and expressing yourself through this incredible medium that not all of us get a chance to experience. We experience it through the artist. I’m sorry, but as a lover of music, I would much rather watch a simple and powerful performance with an artist singing live than watch someone pushing a dancer’s face into their crotch and grinding like nobody’s business.

Oh…and for all of you tweeting out that you’ll be voting for Kanye West for President in 2020…please stop. Stop it forever. Kanye West is an amazing artist. There’s no denying that. It’s everything else about Kanye West that makes me want to bang my head on a desk. Again, stop complaining about who’s winning or losing an award. If you would’ve won, someone else would’ve lost! It’s how it goes. You don’t have to agree with it, and sometimes they get it wrong. In fact, a lot of the time they get it wrong! Just like giving him the platform to rant…rant…rant by giving him the video vanguard award last night (which was presented by Taylor Swift). Come on now, MTV. Talk about trying to up the ratings by promoting that the award would be presented by the one person he went up on stage to interrupt because she won over Beyonce. I’m just over it. I WANT MUSIC!!

**Side Note: This was literally me through the parts I watched of this show last night

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I don’t give three shits about who has beef with whom and who said what about whom. I want to hear music. I want to watch their videos. I want to see what they’ve been working on while those of us in the real world are busting our asses 9-5 at a job that gets us nowhere. You have this incredible platform to inspire others and to leave your mark on the industry. Wouldn’t you rather make your career about the actual music instead of having people say, “OMG, did you see how vulgar Nicki Minaj’s performance was at the VMA’s?” or “Wow…so Kanye went on another random rant last night and couldn’t seem to finish a single thought during his speech?” I would rather people talk about how they’re tired of my surprise face when I win an award (Taylor Swift).

Now that I just went on a Kanye 3.0 rant, I think I’ll get back to my job and try to pretend I didn’t watch the show last night. Especially because it lacked Justin Timberlake’s presence. Get it together MTV. Go back to your roots and play some damn music. What you SHOULD’VE done was have Motley Crue on the show to give a farewell performance to the industry. Bring back TRL and other similar shows. If YouTube and Vevo have taken your music video viewers, then please consider changing your name to RTV (Reality Television) because that’s exactly what the channel has become. I don’t care to watch a show about teenagers being pregnant. I truly used to love you, but we need to break up. It’s not me, it’s you.

Thank you and good night. LOL!!

Artist to Watch: @MattMorris – “How Many Hours?”

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Hey everyone!

So, admittedly, I’m one of those people who likes to steer clear of the news due to the immense amount of negativity that seems to be reported lately.  Especially the odd headlines that come out of my lovely state of Florida.  However, it’s hard to ignore the headlines about the amount of black lives that are taken by the hand of white cops.

Now, I’m a white hispanic (who doesn’t look hispanic in the slightest), and racism is one thing that I detest against ANY race.  Why should you be looked at differently because of the color of the skin you were born with?  The color of your skin should NOT determine the treatment you receive from others.  Your actions and behavior should be the deciding factor, and there are shitty people in EVERY race.

With that being said, as today marks the one year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, I heard a song that was released last night via Twitter and SoundCloud by one of my favorite artists, Matt Morris.  You may not be familiar with him (yet), but let me tell you why you should change that.  Matt Morris is mostly known as a producer and songwriter for many well-known artists.  He has also released solo projects on Justin Timberlake’s label, Tennman Records, as the two have been friends since their days on the Mickey Mouse Club.  Matt is honestly one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter because he’s not afraid to speak his mind on so many issues we face today.

So, first and foremost, head over to his Twitter page and hit the ‘Follow’ button, and you can thank me later!  Second, press the play button on the SoundCloud box below to hear “How Many Hours” and then tweet me to let me know what you think!  You can also check out his official site HERE, and Flock of Geese, when it’s completely up and running.  Don’t forget, you can also hear his solo music on iTunes/Apple Music HERE.  😄

It’s sad that a song like this had to be made, and Matt’s words are haunting, but his voice is truly beautiful.  I can’t wait to hear more from him. 🎵

https://soundcloud.com/flockofgeese/how-many-hours

ARTIST TO WATCH: @halsey

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Halsey was introduced to me by my niece and we were lucky enough to see her live when she opened up for Imagine Dragons here in Ft. Lauderdale earlier this month.

Although she doesn’t have a full length album out just yet, never fear…it’s on the way!  Halsey’s first LP, entitled Badlands is set for release on August 28, 2015 and I’m sure it will do extremely well.

Until then, you can check out her Vevo channel and you can also preview some of her previously released singles from her Room 93 EP as well as a few singles from the upcoming LP.

Looking for suggestions?  I’m loving ‘Hold Me Down’, ‘Ghost‘ and ‘New Americana.’  Another song of hers to look out for is called ‘Castle’ which has yet to be release, but it was incredible live.

ALSO…keep an eye out for more tour dates for the Badlands Tour coming soon!

Find her here:

Official Site
Badlands Tour Dates

ARTIST TO WATCH: @XAMBASSADORS

If you think you haven’t heard of this band yet, chances are you’re wrong.  Some of their songs have been featured in video games, commercials, TV show promos and movies.  If, by some odd chance, you haven’t heard said songs, I can guarantee you will soon.

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X Ambassadors consists of members Sam Harris, Casey Harris, Noah Feldshuh (Update: Noah Feldshuh took an indefinite hiatus from the band in 2016) and Adam Levin.  They’re an alternative band from Ithaca, New York who have an amazing, authentic sound to them.  Blending rock, soul and hip hop vibes that create an unconventional sound is what draws you in, and their lyrics get you hooked.  Thankfully (for us), they were discovered by Imagine Dragons lead singer, Dan Reynolds, after he heard an acoustic version of “Unconsolable” on the radio.  What makes them extra unique is that lead singer, Sam, and pianist, Casey, are brothers and Casey was born blind.  This didn’t stop him from living the dream and helping to create this dynamic sound.

Luckily, X Ambassadors recently released their first full album, entitled VHS (track list below) and it definitely doesn’t disappoint.

On a personal note, prior to the release of their album, my eleven year old niece introduced me to their song, Unsteady.  I immediately loved it, but a few weeks later, my dad was diagnosed with end stage liver cancer.  As we sat in hospice waiting for him to stop fighting, I found comfort in the song.  I tweeted about it and found that other fans had similar experiences with the song, and I even got a response from the band showing support for my family and I.  So, not only is their music great to listen to, the band itself is humble enough to show support to those of us who support them!

Here’s the track listing for VHS and you can buy the album on iTunes here:

1. Y2K Time Capsule (Interlude)
2. Renegades
3. Moving Day (Interlude)
4. Unsteady
5. Hang On
6. Gorgeous
7. First Show (Interlude)
8. Fear (feat. Imagine Dragons)
9. Smoke (Interlude)
10. Nervous
11. Low Life (feat. Jamie N Commons)
12. Adam & Noah’s Priorities (Interlude)
13. B.I.G.
14. Feather
15. Superpower
16. Loveless
17. Jungle (feat. Jamie N. Commons)
18. Good News On the Remix (Interlude)
19. Naked
20. VHS Outro (Interlude)

Also, check out this video of an acoustic version of one of my favorite songs on the album:

X Ambassadors Official Site

Xfinity Delivers Ultimate Fan Experience as Lead Sponsor of Taylor Swift’s U.S. Tour

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XFINITY OFFERS TAYLOR SWIFT BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR CONTENT AND EXPERIENCES AS PART OF “THE 1989 WORLD TOUR” SPONSORSHIP

Comcast’s XFINITY Brand Becomes Lead Sponsor of All U.S. Tour Dates

 Customers Get Access to Behind-The-Scenes Videos, Plus Chances to Win Tickets, Meet & Greets, Backstage Tours, and Tour Merchandise

 

Comcast today announced that the company’s Xfinity brand will become the lead sponsor of Taylor Swift’sThe 1989 World Tour, offering its customers benefits such as access to behind-the-scenes video footage from tour rehearsals as well as the chance to meet the seven-time Grammy winner and win backstage tours, tour merchandise and concert tickets.

Xfinity will become the lead sponsor of all U.S. tour dates on The 1989 World Tour, starting on May 20 in Bossier City, LA and ending on October 31 in Tampa, FL.

“Taylor Swift is a global superstar and her fans have an unrivaled passion for everything she touches,” said Todd Arata, VP, Brand Marketing, Comcast Cable. “And now, Xfinity and Taylor Swift are coming together to bring Taylor fans an experience they can’t get anywhere else.”

As a part of the sponsorship, Xfinity will build an unprecedented Xfinity On Demand experience including videos that give viewers a backstage pass to what goes into preparing for each show of The 1989 World Tour. Customers also will get On-Demand access to a curated collection of movies, TV shows and talk show appearances featuring Taylor as well her music videos.

“Throughout the tour we’ll also surprise fans with ticket giveaways, signed merchandise and more,  including a lip sync competition among fans for the chance to meet Taylor herself,” added Arata.

At each U.S. concert venue, Xfinity will host a backstage “vibe room” where select Xfinity customers and concertgoers will have an opportunity to go on backstage tours and attend a meet-and-greet with Taylor. At select tour locations, the brand will also create an “Xfinity Zone,” where concertgoers will have an opportunity to experience the best of Xfinity, including the X1 Entertainment Operating System. Visitors can also have fun with a photo booth that enables fans’ photos to be super-imposed onto backgrounds featuring the singer.

Xfinity is Comcast’s residential service brand and the nation’s largest video and high-speed Internet provider and more information about the Taylor Swift sponsorship can be found at xfinity.com/1989.

 

1989

About Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is the only artist in history to have three albums selling over one million copies in their first week of release (2010’s Speak Now, 2012’s RED and 2014’s 1989), is the all-time leader on RIAA’s digital singles chart, the only artist to have two singles hit No. 1 on Billboards HOT 100 Chart in 2014 and 1989 was the highest selling album of 2014, to date selling over seven million albums worldwide. Taylor, a seven-time GRAMMY winner, is a singer, songwriter and the youngest winner in history of the music industry’s highest honor, the GRAMMY Award for Album of the Year and the inaugural recipient of AMA’s Dick Clark Award for Excellence.

Taylor has an album on Rolling Stone’s prestigious The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time (by women) list, she is Billboard’s youngest-ever Woman of the Year and the only artist to have been awarded this honor twice, Time magazine has named her one the of the 100 Most Influential People in the world and one of only eight candidates for their most prestigious honor, 2014 Person of the Year. Taylor has career record sales of over 40 million albums and more than 130 million song downloads worldwide, and has had singles top the pop and country radio charts around the globe. 1989 sold almost 1.3 million copies in the U.S. in its first week making it the highest selling album release since 2002 and the only album to go platinum in 2014, topping Billboard’s Top 200 charts and iTunes’ sales charts in 97 countries on its release. 1989 has sold seven million copies globally and continues to top Billboard Top 200.  Her current No. 1 single, “Style,” is the third consecutive chart-topping release from 1989.

 

About Comcast Corporation:

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

Artist to Watch: Amber Run – “I Found”

With a true passion for music, I’m always excited to hear new music.

Thankfully, my niece has the same trait and sometimes introduces ME to new artists. She recently introduced me to a new band, Amber Run, based out of the UK. One song in particular that I can’t stop listening to is called “I Found.” It has a sort of haunting sound to it and is beautiful in its simplicity.

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While they don’t have a full length album out just yet (it will be available on April 27, entitled 5AM), they do have two EP’s available on iTunes (track listings below):

Pilot EP

1. Pilot
2. I Found
3. Thank You
4. I Found (Acoustic)

Spark EP

1. Spark (Radio Edit)
2. Heaven
3. Chamber
4. Hide & Seek

You can also check out their website here: Amber Run

Zayn Malik leaves One Direction

I’m pretty certain the internet broke today with the news that Zayn Malik has officially left One Direction. I have a ten year old niece who’s currently on the verge of tears, wondering who will be the one to hit those high notes now.

One would think he’s crazy for leaving such a popular band, but, I mean, can you really blame him? As I said, I have a ten year old niece who I’ve taken to several One Direction shows and they’re actually very good. I love music in general, and I grew up on New Kids on the Block, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, etc. so I understand the appeal these guys have on young girls. After being put together on the X Factor, they were catapulted into stardom and that can’t be easy for everyone to digest so quickly. Going from being a normal, everyday person to someone with millions and millions of fans stalking your every move, using social media to put down your fiance and family, and just not even being able to go to a store without a full security team.

I sure as heck wouldn’t be able to deal with the lack of privacy.

Some people, as with this particular group, are able to handle the fame and lack of privacy easier than others. If you followed One Direction’s history, however, you can tell from the beginning that Zayn wasn’t one who really enjoyed the spotlight. My only question is…what will he be able to do now that he’s left one of the biggest groups in the world at the moment? Go work at a store? How long will his financial savings give him before he really has to figure out a gameplan for the future?

Either way…I strongly suggest steering clear of any pre-teens/teens for the next week or so as they continue to attempt processing this information. I leave you with a picture of one of the most normal guys formerly of One Direction. Now let him live his life in semi-privacy!

Here’s the official announcement from One Direction’s Facebook page:

Zayn leaves 1D

 

6

Don’t Call It a Comeback…No, Seriously…Don’t

Don’t Call It a Comeback…No, Seriously…Don’t

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For those of us who were teenagers in the late 90’s/early 00’s, we were sucked into the vortex that was dubbed the boyband phenomenon. Don’t waste time denying it…it was either *Nsync or Backstreet Boys (or 98* for some). It was a time where we worshipped people who were actually good people, and not the Justin Biebers of today.

While some of these former boy bands have reunited and gone on tour together (New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys…and yes, 98*), those of us on the *Nsync side of the ring are left dreaming about a reunion. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Justin Timberlake fan and I love his solo music, but there’s something so nostalgic about the idea of *Nsync getting together even one last time. I mean, did you SEE their VMA performance on MTV??? Granted, they’re older and less agile, but they’re still *Nsync! They could perform with canes and walkers and I’d still go see them perform, and I know I’m not alone! I also know that I wasn’t alone in the depression that followed said VMA performance when we realized that’s as far as the “*Nsync Reunion” headlines went.

Which brings me to my point. This past Tuesday, *Nsync’s record label released a new album. Said new album not only surprised the fans; it surprised the members of *Nsync as well. (Note: I began to write ‘former members’ and just couldn’t complete the action lol) For a group who hasn’t made music together for over ten years, the fact that this album has sold out on Amazon.com and went straight to the top ten on iTunes is amazing. All of the members of *Nsync have commented on the surprise album except Justin (not really shocked there).

The album, entitled “Essential *Nsync,” is a a mix of old songs, rare songs and never released songs and is definitely worth a listen. See the track list below:

Disc 1:
1. “Here We Go” (Radio Cut)
2. “I Want You Back” (Radio Edit)
3. “Tearin’ Up My Heart” (Original Radio Edit)
4. “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” (Remix)
5. “Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)”
6. “For the Girl Who Has Everything” (Radio Mix)
7. “Are You Gonna Be There”
8. “Music of My Heart” — Featuring Gloria Estefan
9. “Bye Bye Bye”
10. “It’s Gonna Be Me”
11. “This I Promise You” (Radio Edit)
12. “I Thought She Knew”
13. “I Believe in You” — Featuring Joe
14. “If I’m Not the One”
15. “Pop” (Radio Version)
16. “Girlfriend” (The Neptunes Remix) — Featuring Nelly
17. “Gone”
Disc 2:
1. “More Than a Feeling”
2. “Best of My Life”
3. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
4. “Sailing”
5. “Everything I Own”
6. “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” — Featuring Alabama
7. “Somewhere Someday”
8. “Trashin’ the Camp” — Featuring Phil Collins
9. “If Only in Heaven’s Eyes”
10. “You Don’t Have to Be Alone”
11. “On the Line” — Featuring the On the Line All-Stars/Lance Bass/Joey Fatone/Mandy Moore/Christian Burns and True Vibe
12. “That Girl (Will Never Be Mine)”
13. “Falling”
14. “Feel the Love”
15. “Selfish”
16. “See Right Through You”
17. “Believe in Yourself” (TV Version — Sesame Street)

Now, if you’ll excuse me while I crawl back into my nostalgic cave and dream of a future *Nsync reunion tour!

Artist to Watch: Hozier

Artist to Watch: Hozier

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As a lover of music, I’m always excited to find an amazing artist who not many people have heard of. Enter Irish musician, Hozier.

Although you won’t hear his music on mainstream radio stations just yet, I strongly encourage you to check out his EP’s on iTunes. With a full-length album on the way, it’s only a matter of time before Hozier explodes onto the music scene.

Hozier’s music has a very heavy blues influence and pushes the boundary with his lyrical content. He’s a supporter of equal rights and is just a breath of fresh air. He was recently a featured musical guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Please see a list of songs from his previously released EP’s and keep your eyes and ears open for his upcoming self-titled debut album, which will be released on September 22, 2014. You can also find him on Twitter ( @Hozier ).

 

Take Me to Church – EP

1. Take Me to Church

2. Like Real People Do

3. Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene

4. Cherry Wine (Live)

 

From Eden – EP

1. From Eden

2. Work Song

3. Arsonist’s Lullabye

4. To Be Alone (Live)

 

If you’d like to read more about Hozier, please check out the links below:

http://hozier.com

http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/03/qa-hozier-on-gay-rights-sex-good-hair.html

http://deviatemagazine.com/hozier-releases-new-single/