Celine Dion
by Bradley Stern
filed under: Celine Dion, MuuMuse Excluusive, Nadine Coyle

On September 16, MuuMuse and GUMBO NYC teamed up for #GUMBOPOP, an artist showcase/dance party featuring performances by Chris Salvatore, Neon Hitch, and the flaw-free goddess herself: Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud!

But before Coyle took to the stage early Saturday morning, she took a seat (and took off her shades!) backstage for a sit-down chat with me before her performance, which you can now watch above.

Queen Nadine and I chit-chatted all about her latest solo moves–from her work with Dave Aude, to “Don Julio”–the brand new tequila-inspired track she premiered onstage later that night–as well as Excluusively revealing an incredible career coup to MuuMuse: She’s writing for Celine Dion‘s upcoming comeback record! M-A-J-O-R!

For a semi-unedited version of our interview (sounds dirty, isn’t) with even more juicy details–including tales of Fashion Week and her dinner with Perez Hilton and Tyra Banks–check out the extended interview here.

It’s always a pleasure to chat with Mizz Nadine. She’s so sweet and completely genuine…and hilarious too!

Thanks again, Nadine!

Many thanks to Nadine Coyle, Thomas Martin, Canal Room, 42Below Vodka, Gild Hall Hotel, The Six Pack, Platinum Salon at Hotel on Rivington, Limo Nerd, Nicholas Ruiz and Ben Harvey & Casey Fitzpatrick of GUMBO NYC for making this night possible!


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Celine Dion, Charice, Introduucing..., Jordin Sparks, MuuMuse Excluusive

2334 Introduucing...Charice!

Meet Filipino singer and YouTube sensation, Charice.

With a voice that brings to mind the greatest of the greats (no really, think Celine Dion), the young artist has the potential to become a reigning diva in the industry…and she’s not even 18 yet. Don’t believe me about her singing ability? Check out her EPK.

Her debut single, “Pyramid (ft. Iyaz)” has already begun infiltrating Top 40 radio, which you can now hear below. It’s a pretty little mid-tempo melody, sort of like something you’d expect from the likes of Jojo (it strongly recalls “Too Little Too Late”) or Jordin Sparks. Nothing revolutionary of course, but a solid way to start a career nonetheless.

For me, part of what makes Charice so intriguing–apart from her phenomenal voice–is her ethnicity.

As I’ve discussed before, the presence of Asian artists in the American mainstream pop scene is next to non-existent.

Given that Japan is the second largest music market in the world (not to mention the steadily growing markets in Korea and China), it’s always shocking to watch major superstars from overseas fail time and time again in their attempts to crossover to the American market–let alone the astounding lack of Asian American presence from within our own country!

The fact that there’s a new, incredibly talented contender with the potential to diversify the playing field and represent a vastly underrepresented sector of American society on the mainstream level? Now that’s something to get excited about.

Charice’s debut album will be released on May 11 on 143/Reprise Records.

Click here to preview and download “Pyramid (ft. Iyaz)” on iTunes.


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Kesha, Mary J Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Pink, T-Pain, Video Premiere

Look: I’m not an asshole. Not a heartless one anyway. If you can, I believe you should donate to the Haiti crisis, a disaster of the most immense and terrifying proportions.

That being said, so is the superstar remake of “We Are The World,” recorded as a charity single for Haiti.

I mean, for the love of GOD…to start off the track with Justin Beebop? The Jonas Brothers? Miley Cyrus?! What is this, J-14 and Friends?

I’m surprised K$$$ didn’t come swinging in with a bottle of jack to spit up a few lines before returning to her (RECORD LABEL MANUFACTURED AND ENDORSED) whimsical lifestyle of coke and excess.

Thanks be to Barbra Streisand for providing the hands-down LOLZ of the Century Award with her hilariously over-the-top emoting at the microphone (and uncanny resemblance to my 12th grade English teacher).

Shockingly, Celine manages to bottle up her crazy to a respectable degree for this video, though I suspect it has more to do with her lack of screen-time than her actual ability to subdue the inner dancing panda bear in her ear tempting her to break into the funky chicken at any moment.

As the song goes on it becomes even harder to swallow, as with the directorial decision to crop an awkward looking Janet Jackson next to her late brother as she sadly (and/or weirdly) mouths along to the chorus. Tacky? Why, that would be far too kind of a description.

Oh, and then the rapping. Dear God, the RAPPING.

Also, I love the fact that during Kanye West‘s 15 seconds of fame in the song, it looks as though Nicole Scherzinger keeps trying to sing her line, only to be repeatedly interrupted by the ego himself time and time again. LITERALLY PRICELESS.

Extra credit and love goes out to Pink, M.J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson for maintaining the natural class and dignity that this project really needed.

In the aftermath of this video, only one question remains: What would Michael say?


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Anastacia, Celine Dion, Taio Cruz

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:

Hello My Fan-ily!anastacia Time Keeps Running Away

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.

anastaciagif2 Time Keeps Running AwayThe 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.


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Celine Dion, Kate Ryan

c57b76483cb09e26fbd7c6c897705b68 Falling To The Floor
I’ve always held a morbid fascination with Kate Ryan. She packs a pretty powerful voice, considering her songs are rather run-of-the-mill pop productions. But ever since I heard “Je T’adore” in Eurovision two years ago, I’ve been hooked to every release. She’s sort of like a mini-Celine with her mannerisms, if Celine was a bit sluttier and blonde. Though it wasn’t the greatest song in the world, she simply sang the fuck out of it. It’s also one of those leech like songs that refuses to leave your brain, no matter how hard you may try. Check out the music video below.

And here we are once again, this time in acoustic form.

Anyway, Kate is back with a new single “Elle Ella L’a”, a cover of a famous song by France Gall. I haven’t heard of it of course, but I can see it’s immediate ’80′s cheese gloriousness factor already. I’m eagerly awaiting Kate’s version in full, so for now we can listen to the original.


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Celine Dion

Must. Stop. Thinking.
I can’t stop blinking today. Well, that’s not even slightly accurate. I can’t stop blinking consciously. It’s driving me mad…it’s been hours of thinking about blinking. I’m not sure how to fix it, but I know that I’m slowly traveling a path of obsessive compulsion and taped eyelids. Help?

Speaking of eyeballs, Celine Dion has a new single that came out just yesterday, called “Eyes On Me.” I know the bitch be crazy, but I can’t have my pop stars any other way. Either they’re absolute space cadets, or I’m simply unentertained. “Eyes On Me” is a seductive, almost sexy song. I can’t actually call it sexy because it’s Celine, and…well. I just, it’s not a visual I’m comfortable with. Tinged with middle-eastern sounds, the song makes you want to belly dance all around the room. And possibly chicken dance. Who let Celine out? Jesus did.

DL: Celine Dion – Eyes On Me

Credit: Fotolog

Buy Celine’s album Taking Chances Must. Stop. Thinking. at Amazon.
And you, what do you think?


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Anastacia, Celine Dion, Evanescence, Megan McCauley

anastacia06bkb3 Dont Let the Rose Tinted Glasses Fool You!
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 Dont Let the Rose Tinted Glasses Fool You! at Amazon.


by Bradley Stern
filed under: Celine Dion

THIS VIDEO IS PERFECTION. THAT. IS. ALL.

Warning: You’ll spit up. Even if you’re not drinking anything. Proceed.

And you, what do you think?