Brava!!...Encore!!...Now "Take A Bow."

Platinum is apparently not enough for the bajan sensation Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Irrespective of Rihanna's huge success from her last album Good Girl Gone Bad, she is still hungry for more. Never mind the fact that the said album has gone platinum in the USA, double platinum in the UK and triple platinum in Canada, the green eyed songstress has decided to re-release the fore-mentioned album, due in stores May 27.

In order to ensure success, Rihanna has once again teamed up with her label mate Ne-Yo and Stargate, who wrote and produced the new single "Take A Bow" respectively. This keyboard driven mid-tempo track is a shove off to a past lover; it utilizes sarcasm and a metaphoric comparison to a theater performance. Rihanna repeatedly praises her ex, "a standing ovation...very entertaining...go on and take a bow", for cheating.

Though Take a Bow indubitably pales in comparison to Umbrella, which reportedly sold 1.5 million units on iTunes, you may find yourself rocking and singing along after the second listen. One thing for sure is that Rihanna is here to stay and promises to rock the pop world for years to come.

Don't Wake Me from This Beautiful Nightmare

Once again the mezzo-soprano diva Beyoncé Knowles has delivered another hit. With the futuristic/techno sounds you would expect from Timbaland and B's melodious vocals, "Beautiful Nightmare" promises to be a hit. The song is rumored to be her first single off of her upcoming third solo album. The hypnotic beat coerces you to nod your head and move your shoulders while the lyrics reach out and take hold; as you are reminded of that special someone who has you so sprung that you can't even tell if it's "sweet dreams or beautiful nightmares," but then again you don't care just as long as you have them.

Though one cannot say unequivocally that this song was produced by Timbaland it sorta reeks of his midas touch. Moreover, he is said to be a producer on the said album due out later this year. With such a magnificent combination we can all expect another chart topping album from the ever sensational Beyoncé.

E=MC²: NOT JUST PHYSICS

It is the eve of the release of Mariah Carey's 11th LP E=MC² and what can one feel but happiness to have Mimi back. It has been three years since her astounding comeback with the magnanimous Emancipation of Mimi album and again she is showing us her ability to compete and win in this evolving and increasingly paltry music world (whether you look at that as a compliment is entirely up to you).

Carey's first single off her new album is "every geeks dream" the playful and flirty Touch My Body. On April 3rd this single became her 18th number one single on the Billboard Top 100 making the songstress the artiste with the second most number ones in history surpassing Elvis Presley and just two number ones away from tying with The Beatles. This is indeed an accomplishment of which all Mariah fans are proud, the question now becomes when and not if Carey will surpass the Beatles and become the biggest hit-maker ever to walk the planet. It is with eagerness that we await her next few singles - to see if E=MC² will usher in the era of a new number one single holder on the charts. E=MC² features collaborations with Jermaine Dupri, Junior Gong (Damian Marley), Young Jeezy and of course T-Pain (kinda cliche isn't he?).

Carey says that E=MC² stands for the Emancipation of Mimi squared, speaking to her surpassing her previous album in further pursuit of freedom. Although dissociating it from Einstein's theory of relativity, I must say, MC does represent Energy in ways Einstein could only dream. MC is a musical elitist representing excitement and epic entertainment. Her vocal range and soulful tunes have an indelible mark on music and will continue to move us for years to come.

Are you feeling the LOVE...in this club???

It has been four years and finally Usher Raymond IV is back. After the unprecedented success of the Confessions' album one wonders if Usher will ever be able to produce another album of that calibre. His first single off his fifth LP (Here I Stand) titled Love In This Club featuring Young Jeezy is already breaking records, being the third highest gainer to number 1 in Billboard Chart's History. The song jumped 50 spots to take the number 1 position on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart on March 15, 2008. The song is currently ranked number 5 on the Billboard charts.


The "Love In This Club" music video premiered earlier this week featuring appearances by Polow Da Don (the producer of the track), Keri Hilson (as Usher's love interest), Diddy, Robin Thicke and Kanye West. The video, Usher stated on Bet's 106 & Park on April 8th, is "a prelude of what is to come",with his album Here I Stand to tell his story from being a player to being in a relationship and trying to make that relationship work.


The video itself is not particularly spectacular. In fact for a song that talks about wanting to "make love in this club" the video is completely tame, not that I am an advocate for "loose" videos. However the video does leave the viewer wondering what will happen next...partially because enough hasn't happened yet. Usher jokingly warned all the listeners to this song, especially in the club, that he isn't responsible for what this song might make you feel like doing right there on the dance floor. So if you really feeling the love in this club remember to use protection!