You’re welcome to pick up the phone and call the head of programming for Yahoo. I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you. I’ll even get a quote sent your way if you’d like.

As for Chinese Democracy, I pointed out that you were INCORRECT about health of the current single at radio, then EXPLAINED why. I don’t think you’re stupid and I DO explain myself in the comments. You make it your job to know this stuff, so know it. Your buddies at FNX can probably lend you their Mediabase password.

@music666: Yes, I educated myself on radio charts and how they’re constructed (which honestly, I think is something a lot of people can use, since the whole up/down movement is what most people use as their only gauge) after that incident. But I do think that Guns’ label has to be more invested in a long-term thing now, since the short-term sales/positive exposure of “CD” was really not all that high. I think you’d agree with that assessment, no? Anyway, I have Mediabase access through other outlets, and yeah, I need to use it more. But you’re always welcome to e-mail me and disabuse me of other incorrect assumptions you think I might have. I really do want to learn, because as another guru in a slightly different discipline writes, “nobody knows anything.” And I think I make that known with most of the things I write.

You have a few options to achieve the desired look:

1) You may notice that it bears a slight resemblance to a look sported by

. This affect was achieved by starting with a layer of matte red lipstick covered with Cookie Puss Liquid Sparkle in Red Devil. Liquid Sparkle is like, glitter in some kind of weird suspension that you can brush all over your person to achieve glam rock perfection. Be forewarned, however, that it will leave your lips rather … dry, but it LASTS if you sip everything through a straw and avoid moistening your lips in any way.

2) For a more glossy and moist (and slightly less over-the-top-drag-queeny option), head to your nearest Mac counter and ask for some Ruby Woo lipstick (or any other colour that suits you) and DazzleGlass in Miss Dynamite. Layer the DazzleGlass over the lipstick — voila! You are Clarkson-as-Lolita-ified.

And I guess we’ll have to wait and see about “Chinese Democracy,” although given that at the time you said that the label wanted instant success with it I guess you’ll have to wait and see as well. (“Better” seems to be doing OK on the rock charts and the album had a bit of a sales rebound last week, too. So maybe I’m wrong! I’m pretty much always ready to admit that, honestly, unless someone takes a “you’re stupid but I’m not going to tell you why” tone in their arguments.)

Compare the obvious ironic hyperrealism in Kelly’s cover to Perry’s vapid look and the random use of FunFontPack1996.

As for the music: it will probably be better than anything off My December, but will not reach the heights of “Since U Been Gone.” Despite this, everyone will brand it a “disappointment.” Wheeee!

In a perfect world Promo reps wouldn’t be able to influence radio, but this is not a perfect world. No label support = no airplay = no sales. There were plenty of hits to play at that time, no PD needed to deal with the politics of RCA’s “artist gone rogue”. “Never Again” was a huge hit for Yahoo Music, one of the few outlets that receives almost no pressure from the majors.

If my comments are “troll-y” then so are your posts. It’s your blog, you can say whatever you want. But it’s my comment so the same rules apply. It will probably come as no surprise that I don’t exactly hold bloggers in high regard. “Those who can’t, criticize”. I’ll cop to that.

As for my Chinese Democracy comment, you were just plain wrong.

The only thing I could possibly say in Kelly’s defense (if by some strange twist of fate she’s actually into the image presented here): Could she be venturing into “persona” territory? Like Christina’s notorious “Dirrty” girl, this might be Kelly’s attempt at a little role-play. It’s not like she can’t be ‘herself’ again with the next track.

OK, that’s all I got. Other than digging the pic on an aesthetic level (I’ve always had a penchant for those ’70s disco girlie covers), if this is the label’s way of STILL making Kelly pay for nipping at the hand of Clive Davis, well, that just sucks. Ms. Clarkson has suffered enough for that indiscretion. The failed album, the crapped-out tour, the endless press talking about the Davis feud…

giggle.

Pulp single cover-esque? Possibly.
Roxy Music album cover-esque? Certainly.
Bad pun? absolutely.
That is one shiny-ass lollipop.

Well, at least she’s not talking into a watermelon like Katy Perry’s last single cover.