It was a great year for Pop Music in 2013. DJ Earworm recaps it best and in what is becoming an annual Pop Tradition, the San Francisco-based Mash-up Artist has just unveiled his United State of Pop 2013 Megamix. And he never disappoints! Although a bit less energetic and a bit darker than previous year’s, this is definitely among his best.
The Mix includes Billboard Magazine‘s Year-End Top 25 Songs and this year we have:
Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc – Wake Me Up
Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man
Capital Cities – Safe & Sound
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams – Get Lucky
Eminem feat. Rihanna – The Monster
Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly – Cruise
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Imagine Dragons – Demons
Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail
Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Katy Perry – Roar
Lady Gaga – Applause
Lorde – Royals
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – Can’t Hold Us
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – Thrift Shop
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
OneRepublic – Counting Stars
P!nk feat. Nate Ruess – Just Give Me A Reason
Rihanna – Stay
Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell & T.I. – Blurred Lines
Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin – Don’t You Worry Child
Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
Will.I.Am feat. Britney Spears – Scream And Shout
Check it out in full below:
Held at Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, the American Music Awards brought-out the biggest names in Music! And when we say big, we mean huge! The likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Rihanna, Lady Antebellum, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Ke$ha, Imagine Dragons and several, several more. Pitbull had the distinction of hosting the Awards this year. Created in 1973 by Dick Clark, the Awards give Music Lovers and the general Public a chance the decide who wins.
Taylor Swift was the night’s big Winner, winning her 14th AMA tonight including the coveted Artist of the Year Award, her third time winning the Title. Earlier in the evening, she won Favourite Album, Country and Favourite Female Artist, Country.
Lady Gaga ft. R. Kelly wowed audiences with a Marilyn Monroe and JFK-inspired rendition of Do What U Want, while Miley Cyrus had the Audience oddly-mesmerized with her Wrecking Ball Performance with a Space Kitten and Lasers projected behind her. On the verge of a Comeback, TLC had Lil Mama join them onstage for a delivery of their Hit Waterfalls. Is this perhaps a sign of things to come? She certainly fits the voided “L” in TLC.
Much of the Talent looked highly presentable, opting for flattering cuts and proper coverage. The Winners on the Carpet included Miley Cyrus who wore a sophisticated white Versus Versace Pantsuit, Katy Perry who looked cute in an Oscar de la Renta Dress with polka dots and roses – veering more and more towards the demure of late, while Swift looked super-cute in a sparkly and leggy gold Julien MacDonald Mini-Dress. A golden-tanned Nicole Richie was stunning in a hip-revealing, white Emilio Pucci Dress, while Lady Gaga was the clear winner in a violet Versace number, arriving on a white costume horse, navigated by scantily clad men.
At the young age of 25, Rihanna had the distinction of winning the first-ever AMA Icon Award, presented to her by her Mother, Monica. The Mother told her celebrated Daughter, “Tonight I applaud and admire you for being so strong, so positive, so humble and so focussed. I mean it’s amazing how you manage to take good from all your experiences.”.
Below are this year’s Winners:
Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock
Justin Timberlake
Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B
Rihanna
Favorite Album, Country
Taylor Swift/Red
Favorite Album, Rap/Hip-Hop
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis/The Heist
Favorite Artist, Alternative Rock
Imagine Dragons
Favorite Artist, Latin
Marc Anthony
Favorite Album, Pop/Rock
One Direction/Take Me Home
New Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B
Justin Timberlake
Single of the Year
Cruise by Florida Georgia Line, featuring Nelly
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Pop/Rock
One Direction
Favorite Male Artist, Country
Luke Bryan
Favorite Female Artist, Country
Taylor Swift
Favorite Artist, Rap/Hip-Hop
Jay Z
Lil Wayne
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Favorite Album, Soul/R&B
Justin Timberlake/The 20/20 Experience
Favorite Artist, Electronic Dance Music
Avicii
See some of the best Performances from the Evening:
A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera – Say Something
Lady Gaga ft. R. Kelly – Do What U Want
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Rihanna – Diamonds
Katy Perry – Unconditionally
TLC ft. Lil Mama – Waterfalls
Visit the official American Music Awards Website here.
The Grammy Awards are set to take place Sunday, February 9, 2014.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
They don’t come much more down-to-earth than these two Guys and Toronto gave two of its favourite Canadians a welcome return home at Scotiabank Theatre tonight. Writer/first-time Director Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express) and Funnyman Seth Rogen both hail originally from Vancouver but have found widespread success south of the Border.
The Duo who have long been Friends and Collaborators, are in-town to promote highly-touted Comedy This is The End, boasting an A-List Cast of Hollywood Heavyweights starring as themselves including: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Craig Robinson, Emma Watson, Channing Tatum, Rihanna and several, several more. Set around a wild Party at Franco‘s House, This is the End suddenly places these Celebrities amidst a sudden Apocalypse. Faced with the challenges of having to ration what limited supplies are left in his home, they find their Friendships tested to every possible limit. Tempers flare, daggers are thrown and the laughs are infinite.
Walking an intimate Red Carpet tonight with a few select Media Outlets, the order of the day was Work as both Rogen and Goldberg plowed through a series of Interviews, opting to stay-in for Dinner at the Theatre. They even treated Fans to a Q&A following the Advance Screening, fielding questions from Fans ranging from the Backstreet Boys’ surprise involvement in the Finale to the difficulties of shopping their Script originally. “I wish I could say it was really hard to get the Backstreet Boys, but it wasn’t that hard!”, laughs Rogen. “We released a scene in December and the Backstreet Boys had heard about the Movie and had seen a Trailer for it. Evidently, it was Movie they were excited for and we were all losing our minds!”.
On the challenges the Duo faced shopping their Script, Rogen told the Audience, “We do this thing every time we write a Script thinking we’ve re-invented the wheel, and then we put it out to sell and nobody wants to buy it!”. “We even had all six major Movie Stars attached to it and because the idea we all are playing ourselves, people were terrified”, he says. “I think it’s never been done before and Movie Studios hate to be the first one to do something. It’s happened enough times that whatever scares them, ultimately they will embrace and love in the end!”.
I captured some Clips of Rogen & Goldberg at tonight’s Screening. Watch below:
Rogen was nice enough to sign a Photo which one of my Readers will win! Simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook to enter. Share on Facebook with your Friends and double those chances! All are welcome to enter. Good luck.
Sony Pictures releases the hilarious This is the End on Friday, June 12, 2013.
Brace yourselves for one of this Summer’s funniest Surprises!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
The 2013 Billboard Music Awards were held in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand tonight and winning top honours tonight was Taylor Swift with a total eight awards including Top Artist and Billboard Hot 200 Album with her Disc, Red. Poking fun at herself, Swift accepted her Award, stating, “you’re the longest and best relationship I’ve ever had!”.
Not to be outshone, Rihanna and Gotye both picked-up four awards each – the former doing extremely well in the R&B Categories winning Top Album, Song and Artist, while also nabbing Top Radio Songs Artist. Gotye was victorious in the categories: Hot 100 Song, Rock Song, Radio Song and Streaming Song (Audio) based on the strength of his Smash with Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know.
Two Pop Legends were honoured also in Prince and Madonna. The former not only performing tonight a Medley which included Let’s Go Crazy, received the Icon Award for his lasting career which has seen ten Diamond Albums and 30 Top 40 Hits. The latter, whom we spotted in New York City last week at the Met Gala, won Top Touring Artist for her MDNA Tour.
Canada’s Carly Rae Jepsen even was recognized with the Award for Top Digital Song with Call Me Maybe.
Although the evening was highlighted by some dazzling performances from the likes of Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Pitbull, it was Miguel who stirred-up the most controversy apparently kicking two female Fans when crowdsurfing into the audience during his performance of Adorn.
Click here for a complete list of Winners.
More amazing Photos over at Zimbio!
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Beyond excited! I’m packing-up and heading out to New York City for a few days to capture the Festivities at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which always has been a dream of mine to experience. Like the rest of us I won’t be inside, but still I’ll be admiring the Fashion from the outside and sure to snap lots of Photos and hopefully meet some of my Idols! The theme this year is Punk and hosting is Rooney Mara, while Beyoncé will act as Honourary Chair.
Things will be a bit quiet for the next couple days, but be sure to check back upon my return for what surely will be lots of excitement! Expected this year are the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Rihanna, Florence Welch, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lawrence, Cara Delevingne, Kanye West and several, several more.
If you’d like to join-in on the fun at watch the Met Gala Red Carpet, be sure to stream it live 7:00 PM EST on Monday, May 6, 2013. Click here to Vogue‘s Live Streaming.
See you when I’m back! I’ll be uploading Photos on my Instagram and Twitter in the interim, so check there for the latest!
(Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Collective Concerts and Mr. Will Wong want to give Toronto Readers a chance to win Passes to see Mercury Prize-winning, BRIT Award-nominated Act The xx. After gaining widespread exposure recently in these parts producing for Drake, getting sampled by Rihanna and even remixing for Adele, this Electronic-Indie Pop Trio now are touring in support of their Club-inspired latest Disc, Coexist.
The xx will be touring with Supporting Act Grizzly Bear in Toronto on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at TD Echo Beach and we’re taking Readers to the Show for free!
To enter, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before May 1, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/thexx @MRWILLW wants me to #win Passes to see #THExx live in #Toronto on 6/6/13! #concert #giveaway
Good luck!
Watch The xx perform their Single Angels at CBC‘s Studio Q below:
(Photo credit: XL Recordings | Video credit: CBC)
Acclaimed Music Video Director Sophie Muller‘s (Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Shakira) first Video of 2013 happens to be the second Single Stay, from Rihanna‘s latest Disc, Unapologetic. The Track, which Rihanna performed last night at the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards also features the Vocals of hotly-tipped Newcomer Mikky Ekko whom duetted with her last night.
Perhaps it was Label issues or perhaps it was just an awkward fit to have relatively unknown Ekko appear in the Video, but all we see here is a ponderous Rihanna in a bathtub – a couple close calls with the coverage – in all likelihood thinking about Chris Brown.
Watch the Video in full below:
Nashville-based Singer/Songwriter Mikky Ekko is on the verge of something huge and if he looks rather familiar, that would be beacuse he’s featured on Rihanna‘s latest Single, Stay. Ekko, whose birthname is John Sudduth, was introduced to the World last night, duetting with the Barbadian-born Pop Princess at the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards. That Track currently sits at number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100 and you can expect that to improve.
Ekko, just released the Video for his latest Single, Pull Me Down, a beautiful slow-burning Ballad which is at once will appeal to Fans of Gavin DeGraw and Gotye. Insiders already are tipping him as perhaps 2013’s greatest Breakthrough Act and we just may see him next year in-the-running for Best New Artist.
Watch the Video below for Pull Me Down:
(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)
The Music Industry’s Who’s Who gathered at Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight for the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards. Ohio-formed Band The Black Keys came away the Evening’s top Winners with a total four Grammys tonight including Best Rock Album, El Camino and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance with Lonely Boy. Dan Auerbach who comprises one half of the Duo, won Best Producer, Non-Classical also; prior the Band had won three Grammys.
Winning coveted Song of the Year were New York-based Newcomers fun. featuring Janelle Monáe with their Hit Single, We Are Young. Oddsmakers at Ladbrokes nailed it, making the Tune the odds-on choice to win in the Category. The Trio also won Best New Artist.
Australian Sensation Gotye also won big tonight for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with his massive Hit Somebody That I Used to Know (ft. Kimbra), while also taking home Best Alternative Music Album for stateside debut, Making Mirrors. Typically, the Winner of Song of the Year wins Record of the Year, so this was a breaking of the mold.
British Folk Sensations Mumford & Sons won Album of the Year with their Disc Babel and also, Best Long Form Music Video for Big Easy Express. The Disc is also nominated for Album of the Year at the forthcoming BRIT Awards in their native UK.
Although she didn’t win Song of the Year with her hit What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger), a recently-engaged Kelly Clarkson wins her third Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for her 2012 Disc, Stronger. Equally a Powerhouse Vocalist, Adele won her ninth Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with Set Fire to the Rain from former Album of the Year, 21.
Jay-Z and Kanye West as their Duo Watch the Throne won three Grammys for their Collaboration, N***s in Paris for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance and also No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean and The Dream) for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Ocean also won for Best Urban Contemporary Album with his Channel Orange, while Mrs. Carter herself Beyoncé, won Best Traditional R&B Performance with Love on Top. Toronto’s Drake was awarded Best Rap Album for Take Care, his sophomore effort.
American Idol Winner Carrie Underwood added two more Grammys to her collection, winning Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for Blown Away.
Check-out some of the fashion from the Grammys tonight below! Clearly Rihanna was the Belle of the Ball in Azzedine Alaia.
See the full list of Winners here.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fantastic day for Tennis Fans as retired former World #1 Tennis Player Andy Roddick made his way north to Toronto from Dallas for an Exhibition Match this weekend at Air Canada Centre. Here to support her Husband of course is stunning Model/Actress Brookyln Decker who even with v. little Make-up still looked stunning upon arrival this afternoon.
Both Husband and Wife were super-nice to stop for a quick Snap, especially after a really early day. It was charming hearing Roddick call Decker by her Nickname, “Brook” as he called her over to take a Photo. Later in the evening, she joined Celebrity Blogger Jared Eng (Just Jared) and her Battleship Co-Star Rihanna at her 777 Tour Secret Show, held at Danforth Music Hall. See their Backstage Snap here.
Roddick is set for a Match-up against Canada’s Finest, Milos Raonic in the Sport Chek Face-off, set to take place tomorrow night, while Greats Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska are to be pitted against one another on the Undercard. What makes this Event amazing also is that Fans will have a chance to interact with these Champs with two Autograph Signings being held tomorrow. A first is set to take place with Williams, Roddick and Raonic at 12:45 PM, Toronto Eaton Centre Sport Chek, with a second to be held 6:15 PM with all four Players at Air Canada Centre.
Click here for more Information on the Event.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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