If Mariah Carey approves, I do too. Check-out this amazing performance from American Idol Contestant Candice Glover of The Cure‘s 1989 Hit Lovesong. Although covered prior by the likes of Adele and Tori Amos, Glover offers a fresh take with some innovative runs. All four Judges were on their feet and Keith Urban bowed to the 23-year-old Singer from South Carolina.  Could there be any greater honour than having glitter tossed at you by Carey?

Watch the Performance including Glitterbomb below:

2013’s first massive Blockbuster comes in the shape of Oz The Great and Powerful and with its release right before us, accompanying this Prequel to The Wizard of Oz  is a powerful Promotional Single performed by none other than Mariah Carey. Making a Track worthy of that Film’s iconic legacy was by no means an easy task. It actually is the result of several great Musical Minds, including Carey herself, Mega-Producers Stargate (Rihanna, Ne-Yo), Simone Porter, Lindsey Ray and Canada’s own Justin Gray, whom I had the pleasure of chatting with about the making of what  could be a Contender at next year’s Oscars in the Category for Original Song, won recently by Adele for Skyfall. I mean by name association itself, James Franco‘s Oscar/Oz Character already has the prestigious Award written allover it, right?

Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, success certainly didn’t just come over tonight for 17-time JUNO Award Winner Gray.  14 years into his successful career, he finally has the chance to write with a Megastar like Carey, absolutely shocked to be gifted the opportunity.  “We never in a dream world considered Mariah Carey would do it” he says, “She interpreted what we had started with and turned it into Almost Home, a beautiful piece of Art and Pop Music.”.

This is not to say that Gray has worked with a roster of Unknowns all this time.  After moving to London, England with his Wife, he padded his lofty Résumé working with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), before deciding ultimately to relocate to Los Angeles in 2007.  He recalls, “I sorta thought  to myself I really wanna be in L.A. and I’ve been coming here quite a bit.  Finally I convinced my Wife, telling her ‘Let’s try it and see what happens!'”.  Since then, he hasn’t looked back and appears to be on the verge of what looks to be a Career Pinnacle.

On working with Carey, Gray silences the Diva rumours, telling me she definitely takes a hands-on approach with  Writing, stating “She was very involved. Unfortunately the way that everybody’s schedule aligned, it was hard for all involved to be in the same place at the same time. She was in New York, shooting Idol, she was super busy and we were all busy.”.   Being on two coasts, I ask logistically how Almost Home was composed and he explains, “We would collaborate often via E-mail, through her Management sending MP3s and Lyrics back and forth.  She would cut Vocals and send it back.  Although I wish we were always in a room together, it really still was a very equal Collaboration.”.

Being physically in the U.S. hasn’t severed Gray‘s roots with his native Canada.  His memories of growing-up here are fond ones with him listening to an eclectic mix of Top 40 Radio, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and  Buddy Holly, the latter thanks to his1950s-obsessed Father.   In addition to playing an instrumental role in 98°‘s Comeback this year penning their upcoming Single, we also can expect to hear new work with Enrique Iglesias and John Legend,  plus Canadian Talent including Victoria Duffield, whom we chat with last year.  He tells us also to look out for Island/Def Jam emerging Artist Smokey Jones, whom he is working with closely.

Listen to my complete interview with Gray below:

See the brand new Video for Almost Home below:

Almost Home is available now on iTunes.  Buy it here.

Oz The Great and Powerful is in theatres Friday, March 8, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Justin Gray/Universal Music/Warner Music Canada)

After much teasing, finally  we  get the full stream of Mariah Carey‘s new Single, Almost Home – the Theme Song to Oz The Great and Powerful, co-written and produced by Norwegian Duo Stargate, who are responsible for  Beyoncé, Ne-Yo and Rihanna‘s biggest Hits.

As a die-hard Fan of Mariah‘s, my complete CD and Deluxe Editions Collection dating back to her 1990 Debut, I am rather pleased with the results. The Track sounds fresh and maybe even somewhat reminiscent of Katy Perry‘s Wide Awake – this is exactly the direction Mariah needed to head, versus the tired-sounding misfire of a Single that was Triumphant (Get ‘Em), released last August, failing to crack the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart. We’re getting a more relaxed version of Mariah, less concerned with Vocal Tricks and focused entirely on evoking an experience.

Listen to Almost Home below:

Cover Art below:

In addition to her gig on American Idol, 2013 is shaping to be a big year for Mariah, who stars in Lee Daniels’ The Butler (Precious, The Paperboy), while a 14th Studio Disc is set to be released this Spring.

Oz The Great and Powerful hits theatres March 8, 2013. Almost Home will be released next Tuesday. We’re almost there!

Buy Almost Home on iTunes here.

Mariah also is on Instagram.  Follow her here!

(Photo credit/audio content: Universal Music)

The Premiere for Oz The Great and Powerful was held last night at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles and its Stars Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Rachel Weisz and James Franco were a vision of elegance. Franco, who plays the role of Oz in this Prequel to The Wizard of Oz,  was seen rising into the sky in a Balloon! Friends of the Cast and Director Sam Raimi also came out and showed their support, walking the Yellow Brick Road, including Tobey Maguire and Donald Faison.

For the Fashion-savvy, Williams wore Prada, Weisz was in Victoria Beckham, Kunis donned Dolce & Gabbana, while Franco had on Gucci.

See more Photos from the Premiere:

In other news also, Mariah Carey Tweeted out the Official Artwork for her new Single, the Theme Song to Oz The Great and Powerful, Almost Home also below:

The Track will be released next Tuesday, February, 19, 2013.

Also see this brand new Featurette aout the Costumes and Make-up of Oz The Great and Powerful:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures releases Oz the Great and Powerful on March 8, 2013.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Jon Shearer)

Dream come true! Mariah Carey has announced that she has recorded the Theme Song to Disney‘s upcoming Blockbuster Oz The Great and Powerful.  The Song titled Almost Home, is a Collaboration between Carey, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, Simone Porter and Norwegian Mega-Producers Stargate, who are responsible for some of Rihanna and Ne-Yo‘s biggest Hits.

On Almost Home, Carey says  “It’s a feel-good record, evoking the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love.”

Iconic Photographer David LaChapelle will be directing the Video of the Song after collaborating together for 2011’s Loverboy Video.  He is calling this new Video, “A Duet between Mariah and the Movie”.  That quote pretty much just made me die.

Almost Home will be released on February 19, 2013, making these next 13 days the longest ever.  Cannot wait!

Oz the Great and Powerful hits theatres March 8, 2013.  Missed its Super Bowl TV Spot? See it here.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

It’s that time of the year again! How can you not love Jimmy Fallon, let alone Jimmy Fallon together with Mariah Carey? The charismatic late-night TV Personality invited Mariah Carey on his Show to perform together with The Roots, a lo-fi version of All I Want for Christmas is You.  Kids. Xyolophone. Recorder. Banjo.  Hand Drums. And is that a Hair Pick I see? So absolutely charming! These Fallon Videos are guaranteed to be an American Cultural Institution.

Watch the Video below:

(Photo/video credit: NBC)