slansky is: Sam Lansky
member since September 2012
slansky's Posts
There was nothing about Mariah Carey‘s performance on Good Morning America this morning that went according to plan — and yet, somehow, it’s probably her greatest appearance ever. Such is the way with Mariah Carey, a walking camp classic, the diva to end all divas.
As Mimi, joined by her collaborator Miguel, took the stage, everything seemed to go horribly wrong, and perfectly right. More »
Fact: Your body is Ciara‘s party, and vice-versa. Additional fact: This behind-the-scenes footage of Ciara’s body having a body party shooting the video for “Body Party” in an Atlanta mansion is your party. Let’s get it started.
See Ciara get her makeup done! See Ciara dance and prowl and slink! See Ciara eat turkey bacon! See Ciara wear all black everything! Meet her stylist, director, makeup artist, hair stylist, and some fierce video vixens! Hear “Body Party” on repeat for five minutes! More »
Jessie J has been teasing her comeback with new single “Wild,” assisted by Big Sean and Dizzee Rascal — but that rap flavor is scarce in the clip of the chanteuse performing the track live, posted to her YouTube channel this week. Rocking a shaved head and big hoops (Essex, brah!), Jessie’s vocals are on point as she belts out the song’s chorus: “If this is a dream, won’t open my eyes / Am I asleep? No, I’m alive / I just can’t believe that this is my life / In my fantasy, we’re running wild.” More »
Hey, Rowland Stones! (Did you know that’s what Kelly Rowland calls her fans? Isn’t that the most amazing thing in the entire world? Forget all those obvious fanbase monikers like “Little Monsters” and “Lovatics” — 2013 is all about the Rowland Stones.) There’s good news and bad news: The good news is that K-Row is headed to the judges’ panel on The X Factor, where she’ll be providing “Kisses Down Low” glamour on a whole new platform; the bad news is that her new judging gig will force the songbird to cancel her upcoming tour with The-Dream. More »
Dan Black has been away for a minute — the London-by-way-of-Paris electropop crooner made a major splash a few years back with tracks like “Symphonies” and a plum spot opening for Robyn and Kelis on their All Hearts tour — but he’s spent the last few years holed up in Paris working on his sophomore LP.
Now, the fruits of that labor surface in the form of a lush, sparkling collaboration between Black and his former tourmate Kelis, a single titled “Hearts.” More »
Call it the millionth reason Loreen is the Swedish chanteuse to beat: Her new single “We Got the Power” is blisteringly great, penned by Ester Dean (all of your favorite Rihanna songs) and produced by Patrik Berger (Robyn‘s “Dancing On My Own,” Icona Pop‘s “I Love It” and Charli XCX‘s “You’re the One,” among others).
But a song that sounds like a lost Pat Benatar classic blasted into space isn’t good enough for Loreen — she had to go and direct the video herself. She directed it herself! And it’s great: Elegant in its simplicity and lovingly rendered, trading a real narrative for a lot of nicely evocative shots. More »
The stars might be blind, but Birdman isn’t — to Paris Hilton‘s raw talent! (It took me an hour to come up with that opening line.)
The rapper-turned-Cash Money Records co-founder opened up to The Los Angeles Times about signing the vocally gifted chanteuse: “Controversy and all of that, it works for your benefit,” he said. “[Her Cash Money deal] being so talked about shows the strength of her popularity. I’m very excited. I’m very appreciative that she’s part of the team. She’s very talented, and a beautiful young woman.” More »
Blue Ivy Carter is a grown woman! Yes, the adorable tot is assuming directorial duties, if the new picture Beyonce posted to her Tumblr last night is anything to go by. Who run the world? Blue Ivy, and literally nobody else, because Blue Ivy is more powerful than her mind can even comprehend.
Showing the 45-year-old toddler seated in a white chair monogrammed with “BIC,” sporting a pink tee (hopefully House of Dereon, hand-woven by LaTavia Roberson) and a white tutu, the photo doesn’t give us much new information about what Blue Ivy is up to. Is she working on a new album? Directing her latest music video? Launching a fragrance line? Sabotaging Kelly Rowland‘s career? Rendering your faves irrelevant? Probably all of the above, honestly. More »
The Saturdays‘ weird-amazing new single “Gentleman” isn’t necessarily my very favorite effort from the British girl group — although it is one of their most interesting tracks to date — but the just-premiered video is a nice complement to the song, as much as it looks like a Desperate Housewives promo from a few years back. (There was one that used Jennifer Lopez‘s “Mile In My Shoes” that this echoes for me. Hopefully I’m not the only person in the world who remembers that. Right, guys? Right.)
Following the girls in sexy ensembles as they garden, hang up laundry, and generally get domestic, the concept fits the song effectively. A gentleman needs a lady, okay? More »
Hey, it’s the Teen Choice Awards — you know, the annual ceremony where extraordinary achievements in politics, science and literature are recognized! Ha, no it’s not. It’s an awards show with a category called “Choice Smile.” Sorry, haters.
Anyway, the nominations are out, and it’s pretty much the usual suspects — in the music categories, Taylor Swift takes the lead with three nods (for Choice Female Artist, Choice Female Country Artist and Choice Smile), while Justin Bieber has two (Choice Male Artist and Choice Male Hottie, obvi).
