The Sugababes have officially cracked.

In a press release printed on their official website today, the ‘Babes announced that Amelle Berrabah will take three weeks off at a private health clinic to combat ‘severe nervous exhaustion”:

For the next 3 weeks, Amelle will be staying at a private health clinic in Europe where she will be able to rest and recuperate under expert supervision. We’re expecting her to return to work in full health by the beginning of November.

Does this actually leave enough time to promote Sweet 7? Is Amelle still going to be in the band, or is this one massive PR spin? Will Heidi and Jade will go on as the power duo to beat Booty Luv and Mini Viva?

In a related story, Keisha Buchanan was last seen running down an alley in lower London clutching a voodoo doll in hand with a print-out of Amelle’s face attached, shouting “IT WORKED. IT ACTUALLY WORKED!” before breaking into a long bout of maniacal laughter.

Photo courtesy of LadyGaga.com.

Here are the official dates of The Monster Ball Tour, Lady Gaga‘s next North American tour:

November 27 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – The Bell Center
November 28 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Center
November 29 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – Scotiabank Place
December 01 – Boston, MA – Wang Center
December 02 – Boston, MA – Wang Center
December 03 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna
December 09 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
December 10 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
December 13 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic
December 18 – Las Vegas, NV – TBD
December 19 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Sports Arena
December 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre
December 29 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theater
December 31 – Miami, FL – Knight Center
January 03 – Orlando, FL – The Hard Rock
January 07 – St. Louis, MO – The Fox
January 08 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
January 09 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
January 12 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theater
January 16 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata
January 20 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
January 21 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

Chances are I’ll be attending one of these concerts.

And this is the very, very good single cover for “Bad Romance,” which will impact radio beginning on Monday:

Photo courtesy of Lady-Gaga.net.

You’ll notice I have nothing clever to say about any of this. This is because Lady Gaga is doing everything right.

Well, okay…not everything. This post made me laugh. A lot.

MuuMuse is giving away ONE FOR LACK OF A BETTER NAME CD AND POSTER! To enter, send a blank e-mail to deadmau5@muumuse.com. One winner will be selected at random in one week (10/22) and notified immediately. Don’t wait–enter now! USA residents only please.

For Lack of a Better Name is Deadmau5‘s second studio album, a follow-up to his 2008 award-winning success, Random Album Title.

While Mr. Mouse, a Canadian house DJ, might be best known ’round these parts as one half of the collaboration behind Kaskade‘s genius “Move For Me,” he’s also an accomplished solo artist in his own right, spawning several Juno and Beatport Award wins, as well as a Grammy nomination for his remix of Morgan Page‘s “The Longest Road” in 2009.

“Ghosts ‘N Stuff,” the first single (and very first video for Deadmau5!), provides all the right “Stuff” to get into the Halloween swing of things: Mix some Hi-NRG organ synths, a pumping bass and a ~spooky~ vocal delivery thanks to Rob Swire, and you’ve got yourself a hit–not to mention the makings of a ridiculous music video.

Ever want to know what a night out on the town in the afterlife looks like? Check it out above–I think you’ll find a deeper appreciation ifor what a day in the life of Lindsay Lohan would be like after viewing.

The album is streaming in full at Deadmau5′s MySpace.

Purchase For Lack of a Better Name on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

Well, so much for an album full of manufactured R&B pop.

“3 Words,” the next single and title track off of Cheryl Cole‘s debut solo album, is just about the antithesis of lead single, “Fight For This Love.” Complimented by a throbbing pulse and guitar strum devoid of form, “3 Words” is mesmerizing in its listlessness; a brave choice for second single (or any single for that matter).

“It was those three words that saved my life,” Cole coos as the track shifts form throughout, transforming from a guitar strum into a lulling piano melody, only to later give way to a harder synthesized break.

Stylistically, “3 Words” unlike anything Cheryl or Will.I.Am have released, nor is it anything similar to what’s currently being played on the radio. It doesn’t fall under a genre, it’s unconventional. Sure, there are some truly dire lyrical moments (“I said ‘I L-O-V-E Y-O-U, I am so into you, girl. She said ‘M-E T-O-O’”), but the lazy delivery style by both Cole and Will.i.Am smartly veils their poetic shortcomings.

Even if the rest of Cole’s debut is filled with Rihanna rejects and embarrassing faux-rapping, “3 Words” has already defied my expectations enough to make the album worth purchasing. The only drawback is that it’s Will.i.Am singing those lines with Chezza. Otherwise, it’s almost brilliant.

You ready for it? Well, come and get it.

First thoughts, in this exact order: OMG, OMG, HOT. HOT. JANET‘S “FEEDBACK.” ARE THOSE BARCODES? SHE LOOKS GREAT. FIERCE. HOT. WHAT IF IT’S A BIT LIKE “SINGLE LADIES”? HOT, IT’S LIKE OLD SCHOOL BRIT. OMG, etc. etc.

Here we go, according to Universal Japan:

Disc 1
01. Bad Romance (Produced by RedOne)
02. Alejandro (Produced by RedOne)
03. Monster (Produced by RedOne)
04. So Happy I Could Die (Produced by RedOne)
05. Speechless (Produced by Ron Fair)
06. Dancing In The Dark (Produced by Fernando Garibay)
07. Telephone (Produced by Rodney Jerkins)
08. Teeth (Produced by Teddy Riley)

Disc 2
01. Just Dance
02. LoveGame
03. Paparazzi
05. Poker Face
05. I Like It Rough
06. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
07. Starstruck (Featuring Space Cowboy & Flo Rida)
08. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
09. The Fame
10. Money Honey
11. Boys Boys Boys
12. Paper Gansta
13. Brown Eyes
14. Summerboy
15. Disco Heaven (International bonus track)
16. Again Again (UK Edition bonus track)
17. Retro, Dance, Freak (Japanese Edition bonus track)

Poor Gaga fans…looks like the original CD is staying in its original form. Even the layout of the bonus tracks remains the same! So much for those rumored acoustic tracks…and my dashed dreams of hearing mastered versions of “Rock Show” and “Shake Ur Kitty.”

As for the new, there’s a whole lot more RedOne than I was anticipating, so start warming up your lips for some more “Muh muh muh muh” moments. “So Happy I Could Die” is enough of a LOLZ-worthy track title as it is (watch out for lyrics about crying at the sight of beautiful things).

Meanwhile, “Telephone” is almost certainly the same rumored Rodney Jerkins track from Britney‘s Circus sessions that never made the light of day. I’m happy to finally be hearing the song, though I wish it were in the Spears form. Perhaps we’ll get a leak sometime soon?

Thanks to Lady-Gaga.net for catching the scoop!

Let’s play a love/hate game, baby, love/hate…

Image courtesy of Billboard.com

YAY!

Congratulations to Britney for DEBUTING at NUMBER ONE on the Billboard Hot 100–her THIRD #1 in America!

This is a massive accomplishment and, excluding the assorted Idol singles sung by winners from previous years, hasn’t been achieved since Lauryn Hill‘s “(Doo Wop) That Thing” debuted at #1 in 1998.

What a way to celebrate The Singles Collection.

1, 2, 3!!!