filed under: Amy Winehouse, Anastacia, Dallas Austin, Gabriella Cilmi, Greg Kurstin, Little Boots, Noisettes, Shingai Shoniwa, Xenomania
Move over, Little Boots–there’s a new space-age disco diva in town.
Gabriella Cilmi, the 18-year old Aussie songstress responsible for last year’s “Sweet About Me” has returned to Earth. Well, sort of.
“On A Mission” is a hectic, intergalactic neo-disco rave, where Cilmi’s raspy vocals (a kind of crossbreed between Anastacia, the Noisettes‘ Shingai Shoniwa and Amy Winehouse) are tacked onto a glitzy, ’80′s synthesized beat. Add a spritz of Little Boots’ geometric fixation and a dash of low budget ’50′s sci-fi camp, and there you have it: Cilmi 2.0.
The young singer’s sophomore album Ten is due out on March 22, with production credits from the likes of Xenomania, Greg Kurstin, and Dallas Austin. Odds of brilliance? You do the math.
My thoughts on the new Anastacia single, “I Can Feel You” are best described in emoticon form.
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:’(
Why aren’t they telling us the truth? This is a demo from 2001′s Freak of Nature, isn’t it?
Ever since Taio Cruz offhandedly mentioned Anastacia on the tail end of his rundown of current projects in this article, I immediately jumped onto researching the latest on Anastacia’s latest. As it turns out, quite a bit’s been going on! Heading over to her official site now leads to a new splash page:
It’s true…I’m back! At a new label, with a new team and some new songs I’m very excited about and I can’t wait for all of you to hear!
I’ve been in the studio writing and recording with some incredibly talented producers, like Ne-Yo, The Heavyweights, Sam & Louis, Lester Mendez, JR Rotem and many others and am now putting the finishing touches on the new album.
I’ll be coming back to my European home-away-from-home this fall for the album release and then around the world shortly afterwards! Hope to see you all soon!
Love, Anastacia
P.S – Click here to join my mailing list and you’ll be the first to know when my new website is finished!
Plus a whole new logo, which is simplistic and ‘iconic.’ Okay, and a little bit Euro-pop star 2008. See logos for such acts as: Annie, Girls Aloud, Dannii Minogue, The Saturdays, etc.
The true questions lay unanswered: Is this American girl ever returning to America? What has become of the rose-tinted glasses? And will Celine Dion be on board for another earth shattering duet?! I’m not alone in saying I’ll be waiting with bated breath.

Alright, taking this show from the East to the West, I’m moving on to an artist that will never be given due credit, even though she may have one of the best voices you’ve never heard. Anastacia is from America. More specifically, Chicago (The Windy City, don’tchaknow?). You’d never guess it now, but she made it big by appearing on a pre-Idol type of talent show called The Cut on MTV back in 1999, where she didn’t even win (second place). However, she still landed a deal. Besides a handful of club songs that every gay knows from birth (I’m pretty sure you’re born with them, but maybe it’s Maybelline) such as “I’m Outta Love,” she’s only famous in Europe. Figures. I actually discredited her for ages because her album cover art and her general appearance made her seem a bit like a hoochie mama, Britney rip-off. What, me judgmental? When I finally gave her a listen for whatever reason, I was absolutely blown away. And also excited that I found a true belter that could also be a sexy mama (CELINE, I don’t mean that you’re not sexy too, WAIT!! Sing for me. SING FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.) But I swear, her voice is up there with the best. It’s just darker.
Anastacia’s voice is the stronger, better version of that of Megan McCauley, if you’ve seen her on Perez’s blog. It’s deeper than you would ever imagine, and I have to admit, I had to replay “Left Outside Alone” about three times before I accepted that the song was not off pitch. Her songs are often rockish with a tinge of pop soul. Anastacia refers to her songs as “sprock,” which I believe sounds more like a Soviet satellite. They’re also often tinged with whiff of lady empowerment, which is always my weakness. Down with the man, am I right?
Her album from 2004, the self-titled Anastacia, is one of my favorites still. It’s full of gems, including “Left Outside Alone,” “Sick and Tired,” and “Heavy on my Heart.” Right now, she’s been on musical break after being diagnosed and recovering from a breast cancer diagnosis, which is in remission. She is said to be returning to the music scene soon. In fact, checking her Wiki, it appears that she’ll be holding a press conference any day now to confirm the new album! For now, her music shouldn’t be ignored any longer, so take advantage of these. Can you tell that I’m not home to upload the tracks?
“Heavy On My Heart,” a heart-wrenching ballad (2005).
“I’m Outta Love” The one all you gays already know. If you knew this and you weren’t gay, you’re gay (1999).
“Left Outside Alone” Fucking AMAZING angry song (2004).
And finally…it’s a duet with Celine, singing “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC during the Divas special in Las Vegas. And if Celine + Air Guitar Solo + Interpretive Dance + Midriffs + COWBELL isn’t the best thing you’ve ever heard in your life, you’re probably better off not reading this blog. P.S. Does anyone else think Celine is the spitting image of Kathy Griffin in this performance?
Please be sure to buy Anastacia’s self-titled third album,Anastacia at Amazon.








