Ever since Ivy Bl–sorry, Blue Ivy, or is it Ivy Blue? Oh, thanks Gwennie P.–it’s Blue Ivy Carter–made her debut unto the world via the Unholy Union between Illuminati Queen and Devil Incarnate Beysus and Jay-Z, the same question has fallen from the lips of every man, woman and child worldwide:

Is legendary songstress Blu Cantrell responsible for the naming of this bey-beybeh?

The rumors have now officially been put to an end, because the “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)” chanteuse has just taken to Twitter to address the merciless questioning:

Yet although the Cantrell confusion has subsided, the search for a culprit is not yet over: Calls to additional suspects, including “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” hitmakers Eiffel 65, Crayola, and Blue of Blue’s Clues were not immediately returned.

The answer will come. For now, please…BREATHE.

As we all know by now, Beyonce‘s been churning out singles from 4 in radio, remix and video form for the entire year.

It’s been a bit exhausting, and at this point, I’m fairly certain that the entire album’s been released in one way or another. Well, except for MY FAVORITE SONG ON THE ALBUM OBVIOUSLY: “I Miss You.” (UGH! Give it some love already, Bey!)

Nevertheless, “End of Time” is one of the best songs off of King B’s fourth studio package, and the diva’s just gone ahead and unleashed a whole bunch of official remixes onto her SoundCloud.

The Wideboys mix gives the song a nuts o’clock wailing alarm call, while the Wawa take provides a reliable club thumpa-thump. Better still is the Manny Lehman “Labor of Love” remix, which gives the song a slightly ‘millennial banga’ re-rub (think Jennifer Lopez‘s “Waiting For Tonight” green laser lights). But far and away the best remix of the bunch is the Redtop remix–which is basically from another planet. (Or rather, from yesteryear.)

As my friend David described it, the Redtop mix of “End of Time” is “like a Madonna record from 1987.” Truly! Once those classic synths come shooting into the speakers, don’t be surprised if you hear “And you can dance…for inspiration” echoing in the distance. But the throwback track isn’t just a touch of Madge–it’s a glorious Jackson 5-meets-Whitney Houston jubilee of flashing lights, blaring horns and funky rhythms that’ll make you want to throw on your mom’s best sequined number and go sashaying right down to the grocery store in full glam mode. (Caution: Don’t actually do that.)

So check out all the official remixes streaming below, and get ready to get into the groove just in time for the New Year!

End Of Time Remixes by Beyoncé

4 was released on June 28. (iTunes)

There’s no way around it: 2011 was an astoundingly good year in pop music.

Not since the 2007 reign of Kylie‘s X, Britney‘s Blackout, Rihanna‘s Good Girl Gone Bad and Girl’s Aloud‘s Tangled Up has there been such a strong showing in pop: We found love in the most hopeless of places, hung onto a moment and danced to the beat of our drums ’til the world ended (well, until next year anyway.)

As per usual, I’ve hemmed and hawed over a final ranking for my favorite records released over the past year. Although I wasn’t initially going to rank them numerically (YAY–everybody wins!), I ultimately realized that was just a cop-out.

Nonetheless, every album featured on this list deserves to be on included on everyone’s iPods and Spotify/iTunes libraries (or, dare I say it, in your CD players), because they’re all beautiful in their way.

Now, I present my Top 25 Albums of 2011. And if you’re not satisfied with the ranking? Please…don’t hold it against me.

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Okay, so I think I’ve written this line about once every hour at this point, but…Beyoncé‘s got a new video out!

Yes! After releasing a barrage of videos from her fourth studio album 4 in the past few weeks–from “1+1″ to “Countdown” to “Love On Top,” Bey is unleashing yet another for “Party,” the one she shot a few months ago featuring cameos by J. Cole, Kelly Rowland and even lil’ sister Solange. So what’s the deal? Well, it’s a party. Duh!

And this time, we’re going cunnnntry! Dancing around in a trailer with tin foil all up in her hurr, King B’s going the opposite of glam and getting down with everyday folk in the neighborhood. No couture gowns and sophisticated looks here! Just electric pink lipstick and tacky yellow fur coats. It’s a reg’lar celebration, thus forcing us all to suspend our disbelief and pretend that Bey isn’t actually sitting down on a Swarovski-encrusted director’s seat while Jay-Z fans her with palm fronds between takes.

Look, I know it’s easy to go in on Lady Beysus lately: She’s feverishly whipping out singles and videos like she’s starving for a hit and possibly faking the size of her beyby bump for attention (and/or forcing one of the many ex-Destiny’s Child members to carry a child to term for her), but…I like the video! I think it’s fun! And colorful! Special? Not really. But cute? I think so!

Even if all the smilin’, posin’ and gigglin’ with her friends is just straight up fakery, I’m still having a good time with Beysus. I want to be at this party! Well, mostly so I can meet K. Rowland and ask her to choreograph a dance to “Work (Freemasons Remix)” with me. But still!

4 was released on June 28. (iTunes)

It’s another day, and you know what that means…it’s time for another Beyoncé video!

Yes, King B may be busy preparing for the arrival of Baybeysus (and/or scouring the market for a more reliable prosthetic bump while LeToya Luckett secretly carries her child–my own personal theory, don’t mind me), but she’s always got time to release something new from her June release, 4.

Not even one week after unveiling the fierce, quirky video for “Countdown,” the diva is already back with the video for “Love On Top,” an utterly adorable addition to the ever-growing Knowles videography.

Backed by a group of male back-up singer/dancers, the bouncing beauty works a few choice pieces to a slightly abbreviated edit of the song–from a fully decorated army cap to a snazzy suit jacket a la her 2011 VMA performance–all while delivering pure Temptations Motown realness with a cute, well choreographed mic routine.

It’s simple, sweet, and–of course, as Beysus yells “Cut!” and strolls off-camera in the last few seconds of the clip–strictly all business. Gotta love it!

4 was released on June 28. (iTunes)

YES, MAMA. YASSSS.

Behold the newly unleashed video for “Countdown,” Beyoncé‘s thir-fou-fifth (?) single off of her latest studio album, 4.

Oh, killin’ me softly is right! Serving pure Aubrey Hepburn Funny Face realness with a short cropped ‘do and a tight black turtleneck, “Countdown” is one of Bey’s most slay-worthy videos in–well, since “Run The World (Girls).”

This time around, it’s a return to the cheeky, low-budget vibe of the B’Day Video Anthology (a la “Kitty Kat”) and a nod to the ferociousness of the I Am…Sasha Fierce collection. Do you see all those ponytail grabs? Ooh, girl!

Throughout the colorful clip, set in a dancer-filled studio, Bey shuffles though at least two dozen different looks and styles–shirts, shoes and weaves a-plenty (Someone call Aqua, ’cause she’s a Barbie girl!). The superstar keeps it cute and quirky while still commanding that spectacularly fierce ballroom vogue choreography she’s mastered, making sure every pop chick in the industry continues to fasten their wigs on a nightly basis.

Though she’s got nothing let to prove, Beysus still manages to prove plenty in the brand new clip for “Countdown”: She doesn’t need a mega-budget to command the spotlight, every single move she makes is .GIF-worthy, and a bey-bey on the way isn’t going to stop Queen Bey from getting down to bid-ness. Got it?

Thoroughly loving this one, King B! Hoping it’s a big hit for you!

“Countdown” was released to radio on October 4. (iTunes)

She’s already released “Run The World (Girls),” “Best Thing I Never Had” and “1+1″ (as well as their accompanying videos), submitted and then quickly removed her 2011 VMA smash “Love On Top” (which managed to debut at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100) to radio, filmed a video for “Party” in August with Kelly Rowland–and now, Beyoncé‘s releasing yet another single off of 4: “Countdown.”

If you do the math (the “1+1,” if you will), that means Bey’s basically released half her album in less than four months.

According to AllAccess, the Shea Taylor/Cainon Lamb-produced track (which samples Boyz II Men‘s “Uhh Ahh”) will be added to radio on October 4.

“Countdown” is one of the most well-received tracks off of her otherwise not-so-commercial (but MuuMuse Approved) record, so it certainly seems like a wise choice for Team Knowles. But with a Behbehysus on the way, will King B still be capable of delivering a flawless high-energy performance to promote the rowdy uptempo? Or will she resort to some other shenanigans in order to launch the track, like the world’s first ever mother-child sonogram duet?

Can’t say for sure quite yet, but it does beg the question…

BEYSUS, Y U SO CRAY?

She’s had killer live performances on American Idol, The Billboard Music Awards, the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, among many others. But Beyoncé has not been able to secure her usual chart domination with the singles she’s released from her latest album, 4.

The record is to her what My December was to Kelly Clarkson or what Rated R was to Rihanna: a significantly less commercially mainstream compilation of vulnerable songs that serve more as aural diaries than club-banging monster-hits.

Beyoncé’s willingness to share her innermost feelings on 4 isn’t just limited to the lyrics. The music videos she’s released thus far from the record have been layered with intricate stories that remove the dance floor diva mask of “Single Ladies” and replace it with an artist on the brink of full emotional exposure. The latest and strongest offering? The just-released video for the album’s stirring opening track, “1+1.”

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