Top Five: TOTU's Biggest Controversies

 It's the last day for 2012, and I plan on going out the only way I know how -- by highlighting all the crazy madness that goes on around this joint. Over the past twelve months tons of whacky shenanigans have gone down, ranging from stories involving some ultimate shade to haters doing what they do best. Now let's start off with the best, the better, and the worst of the year.

5. Blood On The Dancefloor Battles Rumors

For starters, this October goth-glam group Blood on the Dance Floor experienced a bit of prejudice when it came to some items from their past. In a removed post from Buzznet whom were given the exclusive premier of their new video to, they bashed the band and lead singer Dahvie's past.

Universal Conquest Awards: The 2012 Winners

The time has finally come! The polls have been down for a couple of days, but getting anything done over the Christmas holidays is nearly impossible. Finally, after a bit of help from a friend and resourcefulness on my own end,  the UCAs have come to a close. The winners are below, but first, I would like to take the time to be a little sentimental and sappy.

This year, I exceeded my goals not only once, but twice. Last year, I only received around 150 votes. This goes to show you how far things have come over the past year. This time around, my goal was to have at least two hundred votes for Song of the Year -- and I doubled it. Thanks to you, the readers and the artists who Facebook, tweeted, and called up their relatives (yes, it happened), the song of the year category alone got over 400 votes, and if you were to tally up all the votes from all the categories, TOTU scored over 1,000 votes. I cannot express how grateful I am for  your continued support and love.

Now for the winners -- some of them may surprise you.

Ke$ha Goes Under Fire For Song Lyrics

I'm not usually one for drama (stop laughing, I'm not joking here!), but when it involves my bitch Ke$ha, you know I gotta put my two cents in. It seems there has been a bit of controversy surrounding her lately, and this time it isn't exactly in her favor. As an "Animal" -- both in the sense that I am a human being and a Ke-dollarsign-ha fan -- I feel my opinion is valid. Also did I mention I love talking about her?

Despite the song coming out long before the recent tragic events of the recent school shooting in Connecticut, the media is still blasting Ke$ha's lyrics in her hit single "Die Young." Things are getting so out of control to the point to where radio stations are pulling the song from rotation, as well as denying any requests for it. But why? The answer lies in some of the lyrics being misinterpreted.

The lyrics "Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young" actually contribute to the theme of the song, which is living life to the fullest and not having any regrets. It is a bit of an unfortunate series of events that this tragedy happened so close to the release (other bands have songs with similar lyrics, such as Aqua, but are not being harped due to the age of the material).

To add to the mayhem, Kesha apparently tweeted on the subject, which has since been deleted, and said that she was forced to sing the lyrics. Although she didn't specify who forced her, it was clear that she did have a heavy influence in writing the words to this track, as she had boasted in many interviews beforehand about how proud she was of the outcome of the track. To clear things up, she has released an official statement on her Facebook Fanpage.

"After such a tragic event I was feeling a lot of emotion and sadness when I said I was forced to sing some of the lyrics to Die Young. Forced is not the right word. I did have some concerns about the phrase "die young" in the chorus when we were writing the lyrics especially because so many of my fans are young and that's one reason why I wrote so many versions of this song. But the point of the song is the importance of living every day to the fullest and staying young at heart, and these are things I truly believe."

It's obvious to anyone that actually takes the time to read anything anywhere that this was not intentional. The real question is if she should have her song pulled from the stations. There are issues with sensitivity to the families of the victims, and she doesn't seem to want to step on anybody's toes, but if the fans want to hear the song, where should the line be drawn? 

I personally am divided on the situation. On one side, I think the song is an extremely positive message that was simply misunderstood due to it's bold use of the almost taboo word "die". On the other hand, I can see how it could be offensive, especially since the children who were victimized certainly were not able to live life to the fullest due to being taken at such a young age. I guess it is best to put this behind us all, let the families mourn in private, and move on to the next Ke$ha song. 

What do you guys think?

April Kae Releases Debut Video

Remember how I couldn't get over how talented Ms. April Kae was? Well she's not stopping any time soon. With her second single fresh out of the gate, she's decided to go ahead and drop the video for her first one, "The Writings On The Wall", and it definitely proves something -- she's just as gorgeous as she is talented. Check it.




The fact that this video hasn't blown up astounds me. This video may not be groundbreaking, but it is a solid track, and it is on par with similar artists such as Colbie Caillet. The video is incredibly well produced for an indie artist, and further prove that she is not fooling around with a career in music.

The best part of the video, in my humble opinion, are those of her driving around in her Jeep. They show off a bit of her fun side, while the rest of the video is pretty serious. It could have probably done without the green screen bits that stick out pretty bad due to their extreme difference from the rest of the light and beautiful video.

As I said before, this video needs a few more (thousand) views to it, so I decided to do my part. Check it out. Let me know what you think. I'll definitely be keeping up with April! You can buy the song on iTunes, too.

Giulietta Releases Video For "Z.O.M.B.I.E."

It's here, guys. It's finally here. Do you know how long I've been waiting for this? I've been bugging Ms. Giulietta for months that she should do a video for my favorite track from her "911: Code Pink" album, "Z.O.M.B.I.E." and she has finally delivered. Are you ready for this?



The video is pretty basic, actually. The past few videos she has put out have been much more low key than the over the top looks and actions from the earlier videos off this album. Instead, much like "@2AM", this video is much less extravagant and much more "current Giulietta" -- a hard ass chick who isn't one to be messed with.

Although I do really like the fancy-smancey look of the older videos, there is one thing that this piece has over the others, as well as a lot of videos I've noticed lately, is that the guest rapper is actually present in the video. As a matter of fact, Mick Stillz was the director of the video. It's nice to see an artist follow through with their collaboration for once.

The video features several different versions of Giulietta at various stages of "zombification" singing along to the song. Eventually, Mick shows up, only to be drug away and infected with the same disease. His rap part, in the context of the video, felt a bit awkward and out of place, but it was a bit too late to change things by the time they started planning and filming. 

The song is up for free download on her official SoundCloud page.

Top Ten: GaoSalad's Favorite Albums Ever (Part Two)

So last Sunday I dropped the bomb on you (baby) by telling you some of my rather shocking favorite albums of all time. Some of them I know aren't the greatest, but I just can't help myself. Pop music is an addiction -- but not all of these bad boys are of the pop variety. Prepare for the shock and awe of my Top Five(ish) albums EVER! Well for now. It will probably change next week. Or maybe I had a brain fart. Anyway, commence the listing!

05. The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You

See! I told you that it wouldn't be all pop! The Sounds are basically my generation's Blondie, only without the massive fame and street cred. Their lead singer, Maja, was featured in that Snakes On A Plane Song that Cobra Starship did before they turned to crap, and from there I stumbled upon this album. As a matter of fact, all of their albums are really well done. The first two, this being one of them, were more rock focused, while the last two have really mellowed out. The only reason I chose this album, as well as placed it so high on the list, is due to me knowing every word to every song on this CD. Yes, people, I have my nostalgia goggles on right now. Bite me.

Adam Barta Releases New Song With Jersey Shore's Angelina

Yup. You heard right. Remember that so-called feud a while back? Well that is a thing of the past. In actuality, while they may have disagreed on the topic of gay marriage, Adam is more than just a "gay guy" and Angelina is more that just a "bitch." They are indeed friends and had been planning on a project together for quite some time now. And finally, it has come to fruition. Get into "Serendipity."

Yup. Adam is at it again. Fresh off the heels of an Octomom frenzy -- doing both a song with her ("Sexy Party") and a tribute song to her ("I Need A Doctor") -- Adam has once again called upon one of his celebrity friends to release a song with. This time it is the most notorious bitch to reality television since Omarosa, that girl from The Apprentice that everyone hated. "What is the result with a reality star singing?" you may ask me. The answer is not a complete disaster.

I'm not saying that I expected the song to be a train wreck. I don't think either of them would have let something slip out, let alone be up for purchase, that was too rancid to hear. What I meant was that when people think of reality TV stars releasing music, they often think of certain Real Housewives or Farrah from Teen Mom. The leap from being on TV to having talent is a bit too far for many. Even Angelina fell short with her first attempt "I'm Hot", but this time her voice sounds better and her ego is much more deflated.

For this attempt Angelina sounds far more confident in her voice, and over all the track sounds far more polished. As for Adam, this is another step in the right direction as far as becoming more polished. As much as I love "I Need A Doctor," I fully admit that it wasn't the most perfect thing to come out of pop music in the past. Majik Boys did a great job of providing a sugary beat to match the sweet lyrics that both singers serve up.

Is "Serendipity" going to change the face of pop music? Probably not. Will it change your opinion of Angelina? Maybe. Will it spice up your music library? Hell yes it will! As a matter of fact, the track is up for purchase on iTunes. Getchu some.

Colette Carr Drops Her F16 Video

Colette has been pretty good at coming through with her promises. It may have taken her a while to get "Skitszo" off the ground, but it still happened. And now we are seeing the other things she promised come to life, such as the new music videos that we've been so patiently waiting for. This time we finally get to see "F16" realized, and it's pretty awesome.




This video shows us a much softer side to Colette, which isn't too surprising given that the song is about a more sensitive topic than we usually hear. The main portions of the song, those being sang on the plane, show cCarr as a much more mature, yet vulnerable looking version of herself when compared to other videos she's put out like "Primo" and "Like I Got A Gun." I have to say this look really does her well, even if it does clash with the rapped verses a bit.

The best parts of the video, however, are when she is standing in the post-apocalyptic wasteland with the helmet and goggles. This look is probably the most "Colette" look for the video, even with her much more flexible style she's had recently.

The video doesn't have a lot of story line to it, but not many videos outside of fifteen minute pointless Gaga videos do any more. This video is the perfect realization of what the song is about -- a girl who has been burned one too many times by the same guy. This video certainly has me excited for what's next from this ever-budding artist.

You can grab the track on her debut EP "Skitszo Part One" on iTunes. Just one more month until part two is released!

Sorry I Missed It - Luciana And Betty White "I'm Still Hot"

Sometimes I can be so oblivious to the most amazing things ever. Sure, I knew about the song at the time it came out last year, but I didn't have enough time to check it out. I figured it was just another trashy pop track featuring another aged TV star. Then it hit me -- Betty White isn't some aged TV star. Betty White is still hot, and she will never be any less so.




To be honest, I'd never heard of Luciana before. She is British, and apparently has had some minor hits over seas. I guess it's forgivable that I wasn't familiar with her. As a matter of fact, I don't think anybody was. Everyone was tuning in to see Betty White (and her obviously Not-Her stunt double that does break dancing in a white wig). Not tryna hate, but it's true.

That's not to say the she has no credit in the video and song. Luciana sounds good, and she looks even better. She's serving us some Holly Valentine level sexiness, which can be hard to accomplish. The song probably serves as her comeback, letting the world know that she isn't some washed up singer, either, and she's "still hot". She must be pretty hot if she's managed to wrangle Deadmau5 and Benny Benassi for her new EP.

I love that Betty White had a great sense of humor in the video. From the beginning where she upstages Luciana with her superior beat to Golden Girls references to the over abundance of cheesecake, this video is all about Betty. And this video -- this very video -- is why I thank the stars every day that the internet exists. It's like... and everything burrito.

You can buy the song on iTunes, but you probably have already seeing as I'm the last person on the planet to see this one!

Merry X-Mas From Dragonette (In Text Form)

We all know how much I love Dragonette. I can hardly shut up about them, but I never expected to see them release a Christmas song. Thankfully, it barely resembles the usual overly fake joyful "Christmas Spirit" that most other artists releasing X-Mas themed tracks is. This track may sound like it fits in with the season, but when you listen to the lyrics, you may be in for a bit of a shock.




That's right. This song is one of the first songs billed exclusively as a Christmas track to drop the F-Bomb. Leave it to Dragonette to pull this out of their asses. And you question why I love them so? The song is all about getting a generic "Merry X-Mas" text from an ex that she went through a rough break up with and having to deal with all the crappy memories it brings back. It is certainly relatable.

All in all the song makes for an amusing holiday track. It beckons on fonder years when groups like Aqua released almost parody sounding X-Mas songs, making me finally able to stomach this cursed holiday for once. I think I may actually use the response she uses in the song to everyone that wishes me a "merry X-Mas" -- "Thanks a lot; F**k you."

You can snag a copy of the song on iTunes to celebrate your holiday in style!

And today I learned that even Canadians celebrate Christmas. What a world!

Top Ten: GaoSalad's Favorite Albums Ever (Part One)

The time has come for a list so amazing and massive that it not only must surpass the standard countdown of five, but must also be split into two parts! This post is the first piece of a two part special to kick off the return of the ever popular "Top Five" articles that have been among the most fun and most popular recurring articles on the site! I did my best to think of what I find to be the best albums of all time, and it really did take a lot of thinking. Some of these may catch you off guard, and others you may see coming from a mile away.

Actually, in all honesty I kind of hate doing "Top Five Favorite" posts, because I always feel like I'm forgetting something glaringly obvious. I took about a week to brainstorm and compile this list, so I'm hoping that it reflects me accurately. Some of the picks may be seen through nostalgia goggles, but others are far too fresh for that. The dates range from earlier this year to two decades before I was born. There's no limits and no ass kissing this time -- it's just simply GaoSalad's Top Ten Favorite Albums Ever (Part One)!

10. Scissor Sisters - Magic Hour

How could a LGBT themed music site make a list of top albums and not include the one that spawned the biggest gay anthem of the decade? "Let's Have A Kiki" has become a massive hit for the band in the gay community, and it has placed the group back at the top where they belong. I didn't  choose the album for this song -- at least not entirely. The entire album is amazing from start to finish. I admit it did take a while to grow on me, but once I realized the full brilliance of the piece, it became a permanent part of my musical library. Every single track on the album is relatable for myself, from heatbreak, to longing, to wanting to break free from restrictions. Why so low on the list? Well you'll just have to keep scrolling to see the awesomeness that is the rest of my favorites.

(The 9-6 under the cut!)

Kieran Strange Wishes You A Merry (Undead) Christmas

Call me Scooge, but I hate Christmas. It is probably my least favorite holiday. Not because I hate getting presents or spending time with those I care about, but because it makes artists thinks they can be lazy. Year after year I see different artists release the same old, tired, rehashed X-Mas songs. Every once in a long ass time, however, an artist comes along and releases a holiday track that doesn't suck. Thank God for Kieran Strange.




The video starts off with a well deserved content advisory, letting the kiddies know exactly what they are in for. Kieran doesn't joke around when it comes to zombies. It's srs bidness. The song is actually very amusing, taking a Nightmare Before Christmas approach to the holiday season. Gone is your traditional "Santa Claus is coming to town" and in its place is a zombie freaking apocalypse.

The video is what brings the whole project together. In between cuts of her and her band playing a live set in a small venue are zombies descending upon her, causing her to have to pick up anything she can find to fight back. Initially she grabs a shot gun, but when that runs out of bullets, she has to go for more practical things -- like candy canes.

This is why I love Kieran. She has that fun attitude towards all of her projects, and nothing is ever too serious. She always comes out, guns blazing (sometimes literally) sporting some crazy pink hair and ready to take things on. "Merry Undead Christmas" is no exception to this rule, as the entire video puts a fun spin on X-mas. I mean, how can you go wrong with a zombie Santa?

The song is also up on BandCamp, if you are in love with the track as much as I am. Screw tradition, this year I'm goin' zombie hunting this season!

Punk Band The Antics Release Debut EP

It's a little known fact that I am a huge fan of punk music. I don't really get to a chance to talk about it, well because punk music seems to be a dying trend. Sure there are some hybrid groups out there, but nobody really had captured the feel of punk music like the good old days -- until I came across The Antics. I've found a new love in The Antics' "Running Faster".

The New Jersey band has made their debut EP, which by the way has enough tracks to technically be a full album, and are now ready to finally release their three years of work onto the world. The entire album calls back to an earlier era of rock music, when punk was king, and bands like The Runaways, The Ramones, and The Sex Pistols were everywhere. Thankfully someone the genre is not completely dead, and with groups like The Antics and Cherri Bomb, I'm able to blog about another one of my passions.

Each of the songs on the album has it's own flavor and context, keeping things running smoothly. The only real downside is that most of the tracks come in at under three minutes (most averaging around 2:30), meaning that the experience goes by pretty quickly. This includes the albums most notable track, the lead in song "Touch The Sky".

What really makes me connect with the group is the distinct production on the vocals. While not exactly "low quality" sounding, they do have that retro-tinge to them, making them sound like they were recorded, or at least altered to sound like they were recorded in a live or more acoustic setting. They don't sound polished, but that is the point. It was the style of rock back in the day, and it's refreshing to hear someone actually do a throwback to the old styles, straying from the traditional over-produced rock of today's likings.

The band's activities can be tracked through their ever growing Facebook fanpage. Their debut EP "Running Faster" is available on iTunes.

Interview: Wendy Ho Brings The Ho-lidays To St. Louis

Her name is Wendy Ho and she's a ho. This comedienne is known far and wide for her classy tracks such as "Yes I'm A Ho", "Bitch I Stole Yo Purse" and "Poop Noodle" (my personal favorite), and now she's coming to a town near you! Well, that is, if you live in the greater St. Louis area. She will be making a live appearance at Just John in St. Louis's "The Grove" December 7th starting at 9:00 PM. Lucky for me I'm an attention hog and got her to answer a few questions for me. And for the first time ever, I got some fan questions sent in, with some pretty hilarious results!

Drag Race Five Meet The Queens - GaoSalad Edition

It's that time of year again, hunties. Time for us to watch the casting interviews for the new queens for RuPaul's Drag Race and read them from top to bottom. I am a little late to the game this year, but I wanted to be sure I knew exactly what I wanted. Sometimes I get bitchy, other times I get reminiscent, but I promise that there will be no more Shangela-in-a-box jokes. Wait, I can't make that promise. Anyway, check out my opinions on the fourteen queens for season five!

Alaska
Ok, I'm not trying to throw shade (I know this bitch is pretty popular) but does anybody else find it really suspicious that she's tried out for Drag Race year after year and failed each time, yet her boyfriend becomes an icon and suddenly she's loved by thousands? Hmmm. Anyway, as for the interview, Alaska comes off sounding batshit insane talking about being an alien. She didn't look near as busted as some of the queens last season, but she's a bit too cray cray for my liking. Who knows, maybe she will surprise me.

Alyssa Edwards
The one everyone is calling a Theresa look alike from Real Housewives of Jersey Shore, and I can see why, Alyssa impresses with her looks from the get-go. Let's hope she's a whole lot less crazy than Theresa. This girl may look like a Jersey girl, but she's straight out of Texas. She spends most of her time talking about her family, making her interview a bit boring to most people. Hey, at least she looks fierce doing so.

Coco Montrese
This one reminds me of Dida a lot -- not the Dida I initially hated, but the Dida I came to love over the course of season four. This girl is serving some fish on a platter. She was very intense without being over the top while talking about herself, which made me really like her. She mentions liking to sing, which means we can expect a single from her coming out asap. She has a catchphrase "Oh no, its a compliment." apparently, and she likes to go bald. Bitch, lemme see that wigless look!

Detox
We all know her as Willam's friend, but who really is Detox? Her makeup is atrocious in this, and her dress is not flattering to her what so ever. She also is a bit over the top crazy, which is starting to concern me here. She also says she's high fashion, which I haven't seen as of yet. She is very self centered, which could end her up being one of my favorites, but I am not feeling this interview what so ever.

Honey Mahogany
Finally a queen from San Fran! It's about damn time. Too bad the first wasn't Mama Pollo. She looks gorgeous and has some amazing hair in this look. She says her name comes from the makeup she wore when she first started, which is kind of amusing. She talks about how different the SF queens are from the rest of the world, which is true, but she seems pretty unique. She even gives us a taste of her singing voice -- to which she's already announced her debut single. Damn and the show ain't even started yet!

Lineysha Sparx
Our first Puerto Rican queen of the season! These bitches always look fierce, but as shown last season, Ru isn't giving any of them free passes. Her English is pretty bad -- like Yara level bad. The entire interview was hard to understand, but I'm not sure if it was her English, or if I was distracted by how amazing she looked. She better go far in this competition, because she looks fierce and I can't wait to see more of her looks.

Penny Tration
This girl won the fan pick for the show, otherwise I'm not sure she would have made the cut. It looks like they were going for pur fish this season, and that is far from what she is serving us. Her makeup looks bad, her hair looks bad, and I'm just not feeling it. She claims to be the big funny one, but I wasn't laughing. It's a shame.

Ivy Winters
This was one of my top picks based on the photos released prior to the interviews. She's not too camp and not to fish looking, and t hat colorful dress is giving me everything. Her laugh is a bit annoying. I am really feeling her, but I'm not sure how far she will go in the competition, especially with some of the bigger names in the show already. She does have being a costume designer going for her though, that is if they go back to the season three sewing madness challenges.

Jade Jolie
This queen is named Jade Jolie (no relation). Her name is from Mortal Kombat. Let me do a double take. From afar she looks cute, but up close, she doesn't look as polished. Her voice sounds like she may be related to Tatiana, which is not a good thing. She talks A LOT, which got on my nerves by the end of the two minute interview. Not sure if I can stand to see her for a full hour.

Jinkx Monsoon
She may not look super polished like the rest of these fishy bitches, but she is truly funny -- like Pandora Boxx level funny. She's also got some Tammie level crazy going on, too, but not insane. I love the character she has put on, and if she goes home first all hell will break loose. Can we get a camp queen to the end for once? She could be the one to take it there. Get ready bitches, cause it's Monsoon Season!

Roxxxy Andrews
That bitch has a lot of x's in her name. She has some of the biggest hair I've ever seen! She makes it quite clear she doesn't do porn, which is questionable to say the least. She has a good sense of humor, and has a good flare for accessories. I definitely want to see more of her.

Monica Beverly Hillz
I know a queen named Beverly Hillz already, so this girl is going to need to impress to get on my good side -- to which she doesn't. She looks busted, and has the worst piercing combo I've ever seen. Her dress is bad and her hair is bad. This one is probably my least favorite queen for this season, especially since she is calling other queens busted. That being said, given the results of last season, having the most busted girls stay so long, I expect her to go far.

Serena Chacha
Gotta give love to a gal who accepted my friend request on Facebook! Holla! In the face she reminds me of Ongina. I'm not digging the hair, but I love the androgyny of her outfit, and the fact that shes one of the few queens not wearing a breast plate. She seems very personable, and the small outtake towards the end where she asks if she was doing the interview right was hysterical. Definitely one of my top picks!

Vivienne Pinay
My favorite queen based on the pictures was the last to get an interview (they are alphabetical, at least). I always fall in love with the Asian queens. She seems like one of the most polished girls this seasons, and she comes across as a very nice person. She says she's not been doing drag long, but this girl ain't no Shangela. She also confesses that she is very inspired by Juju, which is pretty obvious, too. 

New Videos for Raja and Pandora Boxx

It wouldn't be me if I weren't late to the party on something. In yet another attempt to push back my ever-late story on the Drag Race Season Five girls, I'm bringing you some new-news, and some not-so-new-news. First up we have RPDR Season Three winner Raja, finally releasing the music video for her latest single "Sublime" -- and just as I was giving up hope that it would ever turn up.




The video has a very Gaga-esque intro, making the already four minute long song into an eight minute venture. The entire beginning sequence is a set up to give the viewer the idea that Raja is coming home at the crack of dawn after a very long night of drag and partying. I'm told the video is very relatable for those who have performed in drag. Once the music kicks in, Drag Raja confronts Regular Raja in a series of overlapping half-see through shots that makes the video a bit of a headache to watch.

While I like "Sublime" much more as a song over her first single "Diamond Crowned Queen", the video just isn't as charming. I guess I wasn't the target audience for this one, but I really didn't like the editing that went on. Her looks, both 'half baked' and 'full drag' were quite well executed, as I don't think Raja has ever been anything less than perfect in her life.

Next up we have Pandora Boxx with the video for her single "I Wanna Have Some Fun" featuring TimPermanent.




This one is a bit of a mixed bag. I love that the video captures Pandora's humor perfectly. It is a step up from the video for "Cooter" (but maybe a step down from "Nice Car!"), but I just can't get into this song. It's not funny enough to be a true Pandora song. Yes, I know it's a cover, but it just felt like filler while we waited for "Nice Car!" to come out -- and since it's already out, video and all, I don't see the need for this video, really. Also, can someone teach that boy TimPermanent to lip sync? He was barely moving his lips!

On a side note, Shawn from the Drag Race pit crew is becoming quite the video ho. Him being in this video also brings to light the question of just how long she's had this video on deck waiting to go. Shawn is missing his stomach tattoos that were present during the filming of Drag Race All Stars. Estimating that the show was filmed this past summer (as the voting for the cast was done in March), that means that this video would have to have been done for literally half a year. Either that or my math is off.

Shawn's still hot.

The 2012 UCAs - You Betta Vote!

It is that time again. December (although it is still a few hours away) is the official month for the Universal Conquest Awards. Every year TOTU honors the people that have been featured all year long by choosing the best of the best for various awards. This year we have expanded the voting to every category, meaning you, the reader, are in 100% control of the outcome. Who is your favorite? Click the link at the top of the page (or just here) and pick your favorites!

The official categories and nominees are as listed below. Who are your favorites?

Album of the Year
Express Non-Stop - Alphabeat
Spin Me Ever After - Side FX
Magic Hour - Scissor Sisters
Night Wave - Hyper Crush
911: Code Pink - Giulietta


EP of the Year
The SOPA Opera EP - Vincent Did It (Frankmusik)
Queens - XELLE
Pleiades - Quigley
Adamantine Heart - Kieran Strange
Supersonique - Jada


Best Drag Song
How Embarrassing - Pollo Del Mar
Bext XXXcessory - Manila Luzon
Sublime - Raja
Chow Down - Willam, Detox, and Vicky Vox
Love Pinata - Tammie Brown

Best Debut
Holly Elle - Infinitude
Tokyo Black - Steal The Night
Pob - Greatest Hits Volume One
Belmont Lights - Telegraphs
Di'zain - Play The Game

Best Lyric
"I'm a gladiator in a thong." - Kwanza Jones [Supercharged]
"Nice car - Shame about your penis!" Pandora Boxx [Nice Car! (Shame About Your Penis)]
"Tag me!" Kat Graham [Put Your Graffiti On Me]
"This record hotter than ten bitches in a hot tub" Nadia Oh [Slapper (Ayye)
"This city can't live without me." Dragonette [Live In This City]

Video Review - Kwanza Jones "Supercharged"

It has been soooo long since I've done a video review. Lately, there either haven't been videos that have really caught my eye with their visuals or story, or I have been incredibly lazy and just announced when the videos come out. It's your choice depending on how well you think of me, ya know? Anyway, a video finally has come forth that I really love, and I think it's about time to bring back my old style of reviewing music videos -- lots of pictures with cheap ass jokes! Check out Supercharged!

RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - The Grand Finale

Thank Jesus this ride is finally over. Can we get to season five already? I'm ready for me some new bitches. These girls do make an impression, though. Believe me. Let's take a moment and find out who wins this!

Spoiler alert!

Song of the Week - This Too Will Pass

Yes, children. It's time for Mason Black to arrive on the scene again. Mason has been around just about as long as TOTU has (Ok, maybe a little longer), and he's been a constant supporter of mine, and vice versa, since. His new single is out, and you bet your ass I'm choosing it as Song of the Week -- even if it is country!

Now, don't go and think that I'm only picking this song because Mason is a friend of mine. Sure, I probably wouldn't have found the song had I not known him, but that doesn't discredit the track in any way. The song is still very "Mason", in that it is raw and real, two things that have drawn me to everything he's written so far. The style a song is sang or written in should hold no barrings on the emotional impact it truly has.

The song is a smooth mix of country and blue grass styles of music, leaving Black a chance to let his real country accent shine through. The lyrics chronicle the very personal challenges he has faced in his life. The song has a positive message to it, however, because as the title states, bad times don't last forever, and "this too will pass."

You can grab the track on iTunes.

Brit Pop Singer Pob Releases Free EP

It's been a while since I've heard anything out of Pob. He has been working diligently on his new material, and he finally resurfaced earlier this week to let his fans have it -- and he's giving it out for free. Let's take a quick look at Pob's debut EP "Greatest Hits: Volume One".

This time around Pob has perfected his sound, and is ready to go full force. The EP may only be three tracks long, but it is more than enough for Pob to prove his worth. No more is he the boy band clean cut boy you thought you knew. He has gone the way of Justin Timberlake and shed his musical past to make way for a darker, dirty-pop sound.

When I first saw this EP, I was expecting it to be much lighter than it was. I was delightfully surprised to find that it fleshed out the darker side of pop music, along the same vein as  Simon Curtis. Even his cover of Beyonce's "Best Thing I Never Had" felt much more sinister than it's more soulful source material. The best of the three is the one bringing up the rear. "Scavengers", a collaboration between Pob and a Manchester based band called Kleino, focuses more on a hard techno/borderline dubstep beat. It is the most polished of the three, and will hopefully be his next single.

I've been following Pob for a while now, and I have got to say it's been great seeing him grow as an artist. This EP is a big step up from "Shout It Out Loud" and "I'm The One." He's been working on music for a while now, and titling something "Volume One" usually (but hilariously enough not always) means there is certainly going to be a "Volume Two", meaning that he has even more delicious pop music up his sleeve. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

For now you can get his EP for free on BandCamp. Or if you are feeling generous, or aren't a completely awful person, you can donate any amount of money you wish.

MYPHNH(BS) - Tokyo Black "Steal The Night"

Black Friday is always a killer. Moreso this year than any before, I was completely exhausted when I got home. Instead of updating my blog, I got on Facebook like the lazy bitch I am at heart. Upon hovering about, I found myself another "black" that was much more appealing (damn that sounds racist, doesn't it?) -- much more dancey that this Black Friday I'd suffered through. And her name is Tokyo Black. This is Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should).




Let me just say that both this video and song are everything to me right now. I have no idea how I hadn't known about her sooner, and why she hasn't exploded everywhere. The song is very much a dance-pop track, tinged with that extremely New York sound that comes packaged with many arits from the area (not that it's a bad thing!). I've had this song on repeat for a little over a day now, and I don't plan on letting up any time soon.

What is amazing about Tokyo herself is that she came out publicly as a transgendered woman. Being an avid member of the LGBT community, I know that often the "T" in "LGBT" is overlooked. The fact that she is putting out music, performing, and going harder than any other new artist I've seen in a long time all the while identifying herself as transgendered is brave and commendable. Let me also say that I was completely sold on the song, under the assumption that she was a drag queen, so this wasn't a gimmick for me.

The song's lyrics seem to be about Tokyo herself, as she was once homeless on the streets of New York, but has since climbed her way back up to the top and is now a respected recording artist in New England, and is expanding her music to conventions and other countries. I'm definitely excited to hear more from her. Tokyo Black's debut album was due out this year, but we all know in the world of independent recording, setbacks happen, so I will keep waiting patiently.

In the meantime, grab her debut single off of iTunes.

Electrovamp Post Hot Video For "Hands Up"

It's been a long time in the making, but my girls Kally and Tammy have finally put out the official video for their latest single Hands Up. As promised, Mr. Cahill has made a guest appearance, making the video feel that much more complete. Check out the new video below.




In the video, the dynamic sister duo shows up to kidnap Keenan from his boring class that is doing nothing but put him to sleep. And what do they do to entertain him? They party of course. What esle would a couple of hot young girls straight from the UK do?

Joking aside, it is so refreshing to see a group follow through on a featuring part. I know that funds are tight all around, but when a video doesn't have the featured artist in it, it turns out to be a bit of a let down. They not only had Keenan in the video, they put him front and center, making much of the video about him, and for that I applaud the girls. The video also proves that the two are back and really mean business this time.

Electrovamp are still working on their debut album. They've told me that they want it to be nothing less than perfect, so I guess the extensive amount of time it's taken is excusable. They've managed to keep me interested all these years, so what's a little while longer?

You can get your copy of the track on iTunes.

RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - Dynamic Drag Duos

I'm late again! Please forgive me. At least I'm still keeping at it. I had a moment of weakness, wondering if reviewing this half-season was even worth it, and you know what? The show lifted my spirits higher than ever. This is truly one of the best episodes ever. You know what would have made it better? Manila Luzon.

Note: I wrote my review as I was watching the episode for the first time.

Song of the Week - I Need A Doctor

Adam Barta is back again with a new track. No more is he going to release just one song a year. This guy is ready to start churning and turning it out, and he's got some great up-and-coming talent at his side this time around. It's time for "I Need A Doctor" by Adam Barta and L.A. Kid.

This song is written by Adam himself with beats made custom by KC Styles, and the entire reason it was crafted was for Adam to pay tribute to his close and dear friend Nadya "Octomom" Suleman. This queen of controversy has recently entered rehab for her anxiety problems, and the song is a reflection on the more personal side that Barta has seen of Suleman... But don't let that make you think the song is some slow boring ballad. This is Adam Barta we are talking about, after all. It's gotta be dance.

Joining Adam on this track is Chris Snail, assuming the name LA Kid, for a rap bit towards the end of the song. He already started making a name for himself by starring on the Sony reality tv series "Mommy XXX", but this song showcases his full talent as he rolls off a rap quick enough to give Nicki Minaj a run for her money.

Adam released a statement to go along with the track, which truly sums up my feelings towards the track:

"The words will speak for themselves and people will have to listen VERY carefully to really interpret what it is saying. I wanted Nadya to know that I love her so much by writing this just for her, because to me, music can cure the soul. This chronicles the struggles and triumphs she has endured recently. The world will be her oyster when she is done and we may be back in the studio to work on new music together, or we may focus on performing "Sexy Party" like everyone has been waiting to see."

The track is already climbing both the dance and all inclusive iTunes charts. Buy it up and make sure this song hits the top.

And The Rest Of The Drag Race Season Five Cast

I waited another day just so I didn't clog up the blog with posts about the show one after another. Either that or I'm really lazy, just take which ever excuse you like the best. For your entertainment I've compiled a list of the queens. Without Logo announcing their names, only revealing pictures, the job became a bit harder than I expected for it to. Unfortunately one of the queens (#7) I couldn't match a name for. If you know who it is, please let me know and I'll update ASAP.

Here they are:

Alyssa Edwards

 

 

 

Vivienne Pinay

Jinkx

Penny Tration

Alaska [Thunderfuck]

Monica Beverly Hillz

Ivy Winters

Coco Montrese

There you have it. Let me know if I misspelled or mis-named a queen. Social media isn't always the most reliable. And no, I'm not picking my top dog until I see an episode or two... or maybe until I see the promo they are posting tomorrow. Anyway, these fishy ladies better werk if they want to make their way into my heart.

Five RuPaul's Drag Race Season Five Queens Announced!

Yes, hunty. You heard right. They are already announcing the cast of Drag Race Season Five. Who the hell even cares about All Stars any more. Gimme dem new ladies, please. This photo set is all about being a goddess, and damn do they look the part. Logo is doing a multi-day event called the Scavenger HUNT-y, wherein they are using all their social media (Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram) to get their point across. Sneaky, no?

Well if you are too lazy to go to each of these sites, and believe me it's exhausting work, I've done the hard part for you and compiled them here. I searched through many-a-comments to find the names of these queens, too, as Logo doesn't seem to have announced the official names just yet. Luckily, there are some super sleuths out there... or maybe just people supporting their friends and faves. Check it out.

Lineysha Sparx

Serena ChaCha

Detox

Roxxxy Andrews

Jade Jolie

There you have it, ladies. I'll definitely scoop up tomorrow's batch of queens too. We already have one familiar face -- Detox is a good friend of Willam's, appearing in her Chow Down video that went crazy viral earlier this year. Who else do you expect to see? Five bucks says Alaska is on the next season.

Or Shangela.

Will that joke ever get old?

Moses Releases Sexy Follow-Up Single "I Always Say Goodbye"

Finally Moses is back. His debut album may have been pushed back, but with yet another amazing single up to the plate, I think that can easily be forgiven. This time around, he's released another top notch video that once again puts other indie videos to shame. Check out Moses's "I Always Say Goodbye".



 This video may not be as dark and brooding as "I'm Your Man" the video still fares well, and shows us a different face for Moses than the initial introduction. This time around we get to see him in the light in all his beauty, as well as see him get a pretty wet (giggity). Unfortunately he gets pretty up and close with a lady friend, discouraging our more homo-erotic tendencies here at TOTU.

Once again proving that Moses is one of the most addictive up-and-coming musical talents from New England, his video already is nearing 450,000 views in just two months. I guess that means he isn't a one-viral-hit-wonder, right? The music is very much Europop, which makes since since he is European after all.

This is another solid hit written by Zach Adam, proving that this man can do no wrong. He is the writing genius behind a great deal of XELLE, and is working with several other talents, including Phi Phi O'Hara (who's debut is still yet to see light of day outside of live performances). Now, how do I go about getting him to write some music for me?

You can buy the track on iTunes, and I highly recommend you do!

Album Review - Colette Carr "Skitszo Pt. 1"

Dear baby Jesus it is beyond time that Colette Carr has released her debut album. Following in the steps of label-mate Robyn (but with a twist of course), she is releasing it in pieces in order to get the material out to the fans as quickly as possible. Part one may only be four tracks, but it will leave a lasting impact on you, whether you are a long time fan, or just trying to figure out who the hell this crazy girl is!

RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - All Star Girl Groups

Ugh. Manila is gone. Why am I even watching this show any more? I guess I love me some Chad and the shade from Yarlexis can be fun, but the real reason I came back into this game was to see Manila get the crown she deserves. Oh well. We must continue on, regardless of who goes home.

Song of the Week - Supercharged

I have been waiting oh, so patiently for this single to come out. The song has been up online for weeks now as she's been pushing it to be played on radio stations across the country, but the official release had been just out of our grasp until now. Behold in wonder and amazement - "Supercharged" by the beautiful Kwanza Jones.

"I'm a gladiator in a thong. Applaud when I come on." This may very well be the best lyrics of all time. No, seriously. Just walk up to someone and shout this at them. Watch the reaction. Regardless, the song is still very catchy, and I have been obsessed with this track for countless weeks. You guys know I love me a good girl-power pop track, and this song takes it to the next level. "Supercharged" goes far beyond "Time To Go", which itself was a benchmark.

What I really love about this song is that it balances talent with having fun. She is able to show that she can really sing, and even break down a rap segment, but it's not overly serious. There are a few vocal effects thrown in to get the listener more into it's electro-pop vibe, adding to the more fun side of the song. Even it's lyrics bounce back and forth between serious and funny, keeping it from swaying too far in one direction.

This song may be coming into the game a bit late, but it is definitely one of the best songs of 2012. It justifies all the setbacks that have happened along the way, as well as the lengthy gap in between "Time To Go" and this track (although we did get to hear much of Vicious, another track from the album).

You can buy the song for a dollar on her official BandCamp page, or if you are feeling generous you can give her more. The track is not yet on iTunes. Be sure and check back later in the week for another "Supercharged" surprise.

Sorry I Missed It - Daniel Robinson "Deep River"

I've been really good at missing stuff lately, haven't I? I can't be up on the news all the time, I guess, especially in such a hectic time as the Holidays. What? He came out with this in June? Oh, well I was probably drunk busy, too. Regardless, Daniel Robinson has got talent.

Just because you may not have heard of Mr. Daniel Robinson doesn't mean he hasn't been around the block before. He actually has gained notoriety lately due to his huge success in the John Lennon writing competition, taking the grand prize in the Electronic division. It's easy to tell why, once you give him a listen. His music is not only fun to listen to, but very polished. Not to mention being selected from thousands of submissions from around the world is pretty impressive on it's own.

This American-gone-Canadian singer released a new track called "Deep River" earlier this year, and what do you know -- I missed it. This song has a bit more of a rock edge to it than stuff he'd released previously, but only slightly. The song is still very electronic. What makes this song really stand out for me is it's slower beat. Most artists of this genre seem unwilling to release a slower-paced single. Daniel has opted for just that, focusing much more on his lyrics and voice than getting caught up in a high BPM count.

The sound is very much Owl City inspired, but with stronger vocals and a bit more passion put into the performances. He has a strong foundation to move off of, and if "Deep River" is the future of his music, I want to be kept in the loop on this one. The song is the lead single from his upcoming EP that has yet to be titled (as far as I know).

What's impressive is that he is out there winning competitions and writing at such a young age. This guy is only twenty! He's younger than I am! That just goes to show you that age really isn't nothin' but a number. That gives me hope that someday really soon I'll be able to release my very own EP.

I decided on a title for it, by the way.

If you want to check out his music, you can preview and buy his new single on iTunes.

Interview: Producer Jared Jones On Manila Luzon and Latrice Royale's "The Chop"

I keep telling myself that I won't overload my site with RuPaul's Drag Race posts, but how can I resist talking about Manila? Sure, she may have gone home, and yes, I have next to no reason to continue watching the season, but who the hell cares? She's released a new song! Thanks to my relentless social-media whoring, I've finally made a few connections, and what do you know -- My friend Jared Jones, the famed Drag Race Remix King, dropped by to give me the scoop on "The Chop".

RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - Queens Behaving Badly

I may be a day late, but at least I still got it in. It's been a long week, and Drag Race was exactly what I needed to calm my nerves -- well at least until the end of it. No spoilers up here, though. You'll have to click the link for the full article to see who went home, and just how insanely pissed I got because of it!

Song of the Week - The Mother We Share

I'mma be honest with you guys. I know next to nothing about this group outside of their Facebook page, but damn this song is addicting! It's like crack. Not that I'd know or anything.

First off, let me say that I am well aware that this song has been out for nearly a year, Let me follow that up by saying "shut up, the rules say it has to be available in the US." The length of time a song has been out elsewhere is pretty irrelevant. Regardless, I think the world is already convinced that this is the best song of all time ever. No, really. Go ahead and look up a review on the track real quick. I'll just wait here.

See? I told you. Everyone loves it.

But why is the song so good? I honestly can't pinpoint it myself. The song is so light and easy feeling, but still manages to have the synths and melodies that we crave in music today. Even the vocals sound similar to something you would hear on the radio these days, but it still manages to be a sound of it's own. I could go on and on about how mysteriously awesome this song is, but you probably just want the iTunes link already.

Here it is. The remix is pretty rad, too.

Site News: Announcing the 2012 Universal Conquest Awards Categories

Yup. It's that time again. It's time for my very own awards to be figured up. This time I'm gonna make it a bit different. No, not because I've had time to plan or think things out better (who does that?), but because I'm leaving the whole thing in your hands -- if I can get the voting to work right. That's right. Every category sans the editor's pick will be chosen by you, the reader. Can you handle the pressure?

I can't believe it's already time for the UCAs again! It seems like only yesterday I was rigging carefully selecting and hand picking each category. This time, since I have a much larger viewership, I'm hoping for an even better turn out. That means you betta vote. I mean what does it matter who the next president is when the Song of the Year is on the line?

The setup is going to be similar to last year. Starting December first, all Song of the Week posts are hereby considered in the running for 2013. That means that the song chosen on Monday, December 3 will be in the category for next year. In a similar fashion, the first few selections for the award this year are actually from 2011. It makes sense in my head so just shut up. Anyway, I will compile a list of every Song of the Week from the previous year and put them up for voting for the category of Song of the Year. It's gonna be a lot to choose from, so make your selections wisely. The editor's pick will be chosen by myself only. In the case that my top pick and the winning vote are the same, my second pick will win the category.

As for what you are voting on, things have changed a bit this year. You'll see some old tired and true categories returning as well as some brand spankin' new ones. The categories are as follows:

Song of the Year (Vote)
Song of the Year (Editor's)
Album of the Year
EP of the Year (Because everybody these days is doing EPs!)
Best Drag Song
Best Debut*
Best Lyric**

I'm going to try my best to select the best of the best this year, but after getting a bit of feedback from last year, I must call upon my readers once more. I need you to put your two cents in, giving me options for nominees. What drag queen released the best track this year? Who's EP shined better than the rest? Who was a lyrical genius? Let me know! Any and all help is welcome. Suggestions do not have to be something I've covered over the year (although it is preferred). In order to have the best of the best, I gotta know what the people want.

The deadline to get your nominees to me is Sunday, November 25. You can get in contact with me via email at TakingOverTheUniverseBlog@Gmail.com or better yet, "like" my Fanpage on Facebook and give your favorite artist a shout-out.

*Best Debut must be an artist who released their first official single (or EP/Album if they didn't have a single before) between December 1, 2011 and November 30, 2012.

**Best Lyric must be no longer than two lines. The category is meant to be funny, but serious lyrics are certainly welcome. The song they come from must be released officially between December 1, 2011 and November 30, 2012.

Giulietta Releases Video "@ 2 AM"

It's been a while since I've talked bout Ms. Giulietta. She's been over in Australia, cooking up new ideas no doubt, but also, it seems that she was working on a new video. Almost under my radar (but not quite! Better luck next time!), she released the video for the next single off her latest album entitled "@ 2 AM".



The video can easily be separated into three distinct segments. The first is the most obvious, and the biggest chunk of the video, being the black and white party sequences. They consist of Giulietta and her friends taking to the streets, jamming and dancing along with the song in the dead of night. The second is a shorter segment of her during the night, but in color, so you can see her beautiful red locks. The final, and my favorite, is a handful of segments with her dancing during the day time, with a foggy filter over the camera.

While not as extravagant as "Pixelated" or as intriguing and eye-catching as "Pretty In Pink", the video does what it set out to do -- and that is show that she is still partying no matter what time of the night it is. If there's one thing she knows, it's how to have fun, and she does it in oh so many different ways. While the previous videos she's released showed her serious and edgy side, this video shows the world that she can have fun and be goofy, too (even if there was choreography, which was a nice touch in my opinion).

Unfortunately it seems that Raz B, the guest artist on the track, was not able to make the shoot. This is the second time that she has made a video with a featured artist that wasn't in the video. In her defense she is an independent artist, and flying someone out and budgeting them into a video can get pricey fast. And who knows, maybe it was just a scheduling conflict? Anyhow, the video fares well enough without him, though it would have been interesting to see their chemistry on screen.

Di'zain Release Debut Video "Play The Game"

I've been following Di'zain for months now, waiting silently in the shadows like a fiend in the night. I was waiting for just this moment when they released their debut single and video so I could strike the iron while at it's hottest with my swift writer's motion -- oh damn I'm still caught up in the Halloween spirit. Didn't mean to get dark on you. While I freshen up and take off these fake vampire fangs (two days later) check out their video for "Play The Game".



(Warning: Video is somewhat NSFW because you can see one lady's bewbs through her dress.)

Di'zain, a play on the word "design", is a British group that can be a bit hard to describe. They are sort of pop and sort of rock, but in a sense so mellow you might not even recognize. The vocals are experimental, and the sound makes use of a lot of ambiance and ambiguity. "Play The Game" in particular is a very non-traditional track, with a core in synth pop that spreads outwards into a form of it's own.

The video is a very artistic piece of work, consisting of various images of people in black in white, including the lead singer, moving slowly to the easy-flowing beat. I'm sure there is some kind of deeper meaning to the video (there has to be, right?) but I unfortunately don't get the connect of the songs topic of accepting the rules of the game called love, and the artsy video to go along with it.

It does look awesome, though. And it has a shirtless dude! (Plus one for the homo crowd!)

If you can't get enough of the single, and are tired of hitting repeat on YouTube, the song is free on their official Facebook Page. You can't beat free!

Blood On The Dance Floor Scandal Over Rumors

I've been meaning to cover this group for a while now, and since they are back in the headlines again with not only a new EP and video, but also a startling accusation that is causing uproar in the online fanbase, I finally have the opportunity. Though they are not the type of music I usually cover, I am still a fan, and this story was too much to overlook.

According to the official Blood On The Dance Floor Facebook page, after being given the exclusive story on their new music video for the track "Don't Want To Be Like You", music mega-site Buzznet took the opportunity to call singer Dahvie on rumors of abuse in his past. The article was very short, only a few sentences, but had the pretext warning of:

"Buzznet was unaware of Dahvie's alleged past and while we unknowingly supported the release of this new video we do not  -- in any way condone violence against women."

The comment was obviously there to protect the site and it's writers, but it still felt unneeded, especially since the only allegations against him were over two years ago, and the matters had been settled and done with. In the meantime, the group has released numerous anthems to speak out against abuse, bullying, and violence. Let me clarify: I'm not saying anything can make up for what may or may not have transpired, but I still felt the inclusion of a pretext was unnecessary and detrimental.

Buzznet's original post has since been removed (although Dahvie took a screen cap on his laptop), but another user re-blogged the post, minus the disclaimer.

Dahvie was quick to respond, posting a long message to the fans on Facebook.

"It makes me sad to see what Buzznet did to us today. We gave them our video for Don't Want To Be Like You to post before anyone else and they do this to us. They accuse me of having violence toward women which has never happened, all of my fans know me and know I would never hurt anyone. When my manager called them outraged they were arrogant and disrespected us. I am hurt by the things they'v e said, especially after all of my love and gratitude for my fans, we do not deserve this. I am better than them, I am living my dreams and nobody can take away our love for what we do. These people think they are bigger than the music, and they are nothing without the music. All I can think of right now is the words to Don't Want To Be Like You and what they mean to me. Our new EP came out today and I could not be happier, I love you all, I feel free of people like Buzznet right now. ♥ Dahvie"

While not exactly taking the high road (with the inclusion of the phrase "people like Buzznet", it still shows that he is attempting to move on from the situation and focus on promoting the new material. I, for one, would like to take a moment to focus on how hot Jayy is. That seems like a much more pleasurable topic, doncha think?

On the plus side, the song and video are both beautiful and inspirational. We get to see Jayy in a lot less makeup than we are used to, and we get to see a very vulnerable side to Dahvie, making it vastly different from the videos they've put out in the past. 

The new EP "Anthem For The Outcast" is available now on iTunes.

Ru Paul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - Ru Paul's Gaff-In

Has it already been a week? Well I guess it has. It's time for another episode of Ru Paul's Drag Race Team Edition. The most obnoxious twist to a reality competition ever continues to send two girls home per episode, meaning we get to see even less of them this season! Yay us! Anyway, its time for the second installment, where we see the Snatch Game. Oh wait, I mean the Not Snatch Game.

Yes, I will have a picture of Latrilla here every week. It's my site.

Song of the Week - Nice Car! (Shame About Your Penis)

I think this is the first time I've used the word "penis" in a headline before. Oh well. At least I'm not flaunting it or anything, right? It's Pandora Boxx and she's allowed to say what ever the hell she wants. Pandora has been an idol of mine for years now, and she's not slowing down any time soon. Her newest track is sure to have everybody rolling. Check out "Nice Car!"

The song is in that same vein as her first single "Cooter," but features a bit of a different brand of comedy. Instead of longing for lady parts, she's judging your man parts. Yup. Pandora is complaining about how all the guys with nice cars have little wangs. I don't have enough experience to say whether this is true or not, so I'm going to take her word for it. The song features my friend-of-a-friend Shango, who I am very proud of, and glad is getting attention for her hard work now.

What I really like about the song is that Pandora sounds a lot more comfortable with her voice now. This is her third (or fourth if you count the Madonna parody) track she's put out, and she really seems to have the hang of the whole recording thing now. I certainly like her more playful side with "Nice Car", and it offers us a new side to Pandora. Well new-ish.

The song is up on iTunes for grabs. Also check out the video below. I'm sure it's banned from TV, too.

MYPHNH(BS) - April Kae

It's been a while since I've done a segment of Music You Probably Have Never Heard (But Should), mostly because it's been a while since I've found a really great artist that needs more recognition. My mindset was originally set to think of groups or people who had been around for a long while and needed the boost, but what about people who just started? April Kae may only have one single out so far, but you should still keep your eye on her.

April Kae was in the spotlight briefly as she appeared as part of "Hollywood Week" on American Idol's tenth season, but after she left the show, she vanished for a good while. Now, thankfully, she is back with her debut single "The Writings On The Wall". April may not have made it far on her season of Idol, but she is definitely proving herself in the industry today.

The thing about this song is that it deals with a serious topic, moving on from a relationship after everything has ended, but it deals with it in an upbeat manner. Not every song about a serious topic has to be dark and brooding, which is what sets this song apart from the rest. The song also showcases her confidence, not needing a man to be herself. The over all message of the song is that of positivitiy and progressiveness.

The most addicting part of the whole track is April's raw talent. The easiest way to prove that somebody has talent is to watch them from before they have a major record deal. No autotune; no million dollar recording studio; just talent. If they can sound amazing without all the expensive editing and touch-ups, they definitely have what it takes to make it. April has just that -- and all at the young age of 21 (looks like we are both prodigies! There goes my ego again).

Help support this budding artist by buying her debut single "The Writings On The Wall" on iTunes.

Album Review - Xelle "Queens"

It's been a bittersweet week for me. I got to see the beautiful Mimi Imfurst back on TV, but only for a brief moment before she was sent home. Luckily, this gave her the perfect opportunity to release he group XELLE's long anticipated EP "Queens".This has been a long time coming, and I'm glad to finally see the finished product.

New Side FX Video Goes Viral

Today I decided to brace myself for what is to come -- and that is a huge influx of Drag Race related content. With all the reviews, music, and extras coming out over the next month related to Drag Race and queens in general, I decided to take a breather and post about my first passion: Music. Today we have the amazing group Side FX fronted by the beautiful and charming Kim Cameron.


This video is very sexual. It took me by surprise at first, especially when compared to their previous internet sensation "3 Seconds" which was much more tame in regards to sex appeal. This go around, Kim spends a lot of the video showing off her body and lounging in bed with a very sexy man (who I should get more familiar with, no?). Appropriately so, the video made it's debut on Playmates Presents, a talk show on SiriusXM just under two weeks ago.

Almost instantly, the video skyrocketed to over 230,000 views, and now, two weeks later, it is brimming on the edge of 300,000. Being on the Billboard Top 40 numerous times, it wasn't too far of a stretch to see the video get popular, but the numbers alone are still impressive. This is the group's second video to go viral, showing that they are no one-hit-wonder. This is surly not the last video of theirs to explode either, as this is only part one in a line of music videos spanning five installments, creating a full story line with each video featuring another song from their newest album "Spin Me Ever After".  The series, called "Spinning Romance" is being Produced by Parule Basu-Barua of Wide-Eyed Entertainment and directed and edited by Brandon Ruckdashel.

As if this isn't impressive enough, Kim has also announced that the proceeds won't even be her's alone. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kim is donating a portion of the profits from "The Man I Used To Know" to breast cancer research. That means that when you buy the song on iTunes, you are not only getting a great track, but you are also helping out in the grander scheme of things.

RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Recap - It Takes Two

The queens are back! Some for better, and some for worse, but they are back, baby! I really like the way they went about All Stars for this show, in that not all of the contestants are the top placers in their seasons. Instead, they picked those that have made an impact since they left the show including some low placing contestants such as Mimi Imfurst and Tammie Brown. Enough rambling, though, it's time for the race to begin!

(Photo taken from RealityNation.com)

[Note: As All Stars is a mini-season, I won't be devoting a lot of time or energy to this show. Very few screen caps and extras thrown in this go around. Gotta save my energy for Season Five! I'll try to keep up the laughs.]

Song of the Week - Catch My Breath

It's rare that I pick bigger more mainstream artists as the Song of the Week, but my heart has a soft spot for Kelly Clarkson. The first season of American Idol was the only one I watched, and she's the only winner who's really gone on to do something (although a lot of #2s have gone on to be huge). "Catch My Breath" is another solid hit from a solid artist.

Can I start off by saying how gorgeous she looks on the cover of this single? She's been in the spotlight for years upon years now and she always looks amazing. "Catch My Breath" is the lead single off of her upcoming Best Of album, entitled "Greatest Hits - Chapter One". For a "best of" single, this song is very well put together. Most of the time, the new or bonus tracks put on single collections sound like reject tracks from previous albums or terrible demos they had long forgotten. I'm glad to see that Kelly isn't taking a shortcut with this release.

The song is a bit of new ground for Kelly, at least single wise. The song is bumped up to the current state of pop music, incorporating a lot of electro-pop sounds you'd find on the radio. She does retain a lot of her original sound, keeping her same rock-pop image; the style change is a bit more of an update to the new radio-played sound. The lyrics are all girl power but don't go too over the top (ala P!nk), making it a great all-ages track. Basically what I'm saying is this song was bred for radio play -- and I freaking love it.

Buy the song on iTunes!