Earlier this evening, the Associated Press confirmed that Whitney Houston died at age 48.

Whitney’s death is no more or less tragic than that of any one person’s struggle with addiction, but the fact that she was and forever will be a musical icon made her own inner demons as universally known as her music. As with Amy Winehouse‘s untimely death last year, Whitney’s passing is a tragic reminder that addiction is a disease and that no one–not even a legend–can survive chronic self-destructive behavior without help.

Ultimately however, Whitney’s legacy will extend far beyond the tragedy of her demise.

By numbers alone she reigns supreme, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. She shattered records constantly, from becoming the first female in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, to becoming the only artist to notch seven consecutive #1 singles. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, she’s the most heavily awarded musical artist in history, including 6 Grammys, 22 American Music Awards and 30 Billboard Awards.

She touched millions across the world with her music, which has only continued to impact pop culture: Britney, Lady Gaga, Beyonce–all of our favorite contemporary pop stars credit Whitney as one of the key inspirations for their own careers.

The songs she sang–”I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Greatest Love Of All”–aren’t just memorable pop songs, but classic anthems that will go down in history as the most defining records of all time. How often do we watch as an Idol or X Factor contestant gets brutally dismissed after failing to pull off a Whitney song? It’s because no one does or will do it better than Whitney.

It was her voice–that voice–which made Whitney Houston truly larger than life, whether found in the joyful revelry of her uptempo dance tracks or the devastating, crushing depth displayed on her power ballads. She was, quite simply, the best.

Rest in peace, Whitney.

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)

If you’re looking for Sasha Fierce, don’t bother: She’s gone.

Well, not entirely–she’s certainly still there twerking her hips above the militant beat of “Run The World (Girls)” and the frenzied horn-filled club bounce of “Countdown,” but for the most part, the divalicious alter ego of one of the world’s greatest entertainers has (temporarily?) stepped a stiletto to the side for the majority of her fourth studio album, 4–allowing the record to remain a decidedly Beyoncé experience.

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On Saturday night, Lady Gaga sat spread eagle atop a delivery table on the stage of Saturday Night Live, belting out “Born This Way” while grasping her very pregnant prosthetic belly before flooding the delivery table with goo and glitter.

“My water just broke,” the 25-year-old superstar tweeted late on Sunday night. And today, on May 23, Born This Way, Gaga’s second studio album, was born to the world.

I don’t write reviews, but I can if you’d like…

Earlier today, Lady Gaga launched GagaVille, the much-hyped extension to Zynga’s life-ruining, Facebook feed-spamming time killer, FarmVille.

Featuring all new Gaga-licious items and exclusive giveaways, the launch kicked off with the release of upcoming Born This Way track, “Marry the Night.”

To avoid the shame of asking Bertha, the 57-year old receptionist at work, if you could log-in to her FarmVille account for a hot minute because doesn’t she have papers to file anyway or something, click below to hear the song in full.

(Courtesy of Ali’s Blog.)

Whitney Houston in space. Amazing song, no?

Born This Way will be released on May 23. (iTunes)

It’s been a minute since we last heard from indie-pop teen darling Sky Ferreira, whose debut album was left hopelessly hanging in the lurch after the tepid response to lead US single, “Obsession.”

Luckily the burgeoning songstress is still giving it a go with the release of one of my all time favorite Ferreira tracks: “Sex Rules,” penned by the almighty Billy Steinberg, the scribe behind some of pop’s most iconic numbers including Madonna‘s “Like A Virgin,” Whitney Houston‘s “So Emotional,” and The Bangles‘ “Eternal Flame.”

The track is unsurprisingly sublime–a squeaky, skittering electro-pop track filled with naughty come-ons and smart, cutting lyricism bound to push at least a few buttons: “It’s a complicated blend of tenderness and aggression / That’s what gets me off, that is my obsession,” Ferreira playfully tempts above the smacking beat, her Lolita shtick on full blast.

“Sex Rules” is the lead single from Ferreira’s upcoming As If EP, due for release on March 22. The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Sex Rules
2. Traces
3. Haters Anonymous
4. 99 Tears
5. 108

You can also hear samples of the EP right here. To no one’s surprise, it certainly sounds like As If is shaping up to be a phenomenal release (how genuinely cool is “Haters Anonymous”?!)–I absolutely cannot wait to hear this in full!

“Sex Rules” will also serve as the official campaign theme for CK One, in which Ferreira will star in a series of ads alongside icy-electro R&B goddess, Cassie (!!!). You can watch a teaser of the two pop princesses disrobing and gyrating in a sexy-yet-disinterested manner.

With any luck, Ferreira should spark some serious interest this time around. It’s certainly about time.

“Sex Rules” was released on March 1. (iTunes)

So since I’ve been bumping Real Housewives of Atlanta star/former Xscape member Kandi Burruss‘ new record Kandi Koated for some time now, I’m thinking it’s high time for a Muusing.

Although I admittedly fell asleep listening to the album for the first time during a train ride into New York last week, I’ve since discovered that Kandi Koated is a pretty slammin’ record when experienced consciously, complete with its fair share of tasty, R&B-coated (sorry, “Kandi Koated”) confections to nosh on.

(That the album cover looks exactly like the layout of MuuMuse is only an added bonus.)

There’s the inspirational anthems for the single ladies and baby mamas (“Superwoman”), the boner jamz (“I Want You,” “Give It To You”), devastation ballads (“How Could You…Feel My Pain”) and of course, more than a few cautionary tales about no good, triflin’ men. I mean…the woman co-wrote TLC‘s “No Scrubs.”

One such fable comes in the form of Kandi’s first single, “Leave U,” a velvety smooth, lusciously cooed ultimatum: “You got to keep it up to keep me around,” Kandi warns.

Along with the original version of the song comes this: The dance remix, a distinctly late ’90′s club-tinged take on the single. “SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES,” as the e-mail blast urges. Think Whitney Houston‘s “It’s Not Right (But It’s Okay)” remix, but…you know, not Whitney.

While I wouldn’t necessarily call this one a full-on wig snatcher (we’ll leave Kim Z. to do the dirty work in that department), it’s certainly a groove, as well as a genuinely pleasant tribute to old school R&B jams.

DL: Kandi – Leave U (Dance Remix)

Kandi Koated was released on December 14. (iTunes)

Nadine Coyle has an insatiable ego.

After rejecting a major label bid war in favor of an exclusive distribution deal at Tesco, reportedly declining an X Factor performance invite, and forgoing all contact with her (former) Girls Aloud band members for almost a year, Nadine Coyle has made it a point throughout the entire recording and promotional process of her new-found solo career that she’s going to produce and promote the music her own way—and she doesn’t need your help, thank you very much.

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