Song of the Moment: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

I know I've alluded to my mild dislike of Katy Perry in the past, however this has never had anything to do with her music.  It's more to do with the way she promotes herself - I don't really buy the whole 'wink wink nudge nudge' aspect of her out of place ridiculously sexualized image (see the 'California Gurls' video) - and the way she comes across in interviews has always seemed a bit.... dense.  I'm also not a fan of the way she used and then dropped the gay community during much of the promotion for her first album 'One of the Boys'.

As I said though; her music (specifically her singles) is usually top quality pop music and new single 'Teenage Dream' is no exception.  The title track from her forthcoming second album is a delicious mix of radio friendly 80's guitar riffs and pop hooks about the joys of falling in love - it's almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  In fact, 'Teenage Dream' and previous single 'California Gurls' have lead me to believe that Perry's new disc may well be THE pop album of 2010.  We shall see when it's released next month, but until then enjoy 'Teenage Dream' below.

Only in America (or Nazi Germany)

Yesterday the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) forced an American teenager's local school district to award her $35,000 (£22,000) in damages following her school's decision to ban her bringing a female date to her prom, and enforcing a rule that only male students could wear a tuxedo to the event in Fulton, Itawamba.

For those unfamiliar to the story, Constance McMillen (who was barely 17 at the time) was intending to attend every school students right of passage - her high school prom.  The problem came when McMillen, an openly gay young woman, made it clear her intentions were to bring another female student as her date and wear a tuxedo; news got back to the school board who subsequently barred any student from bringing a date of the same gender and any female student from wearing a tux.  When Constance (rightfully) made a fuss about the issue, the school district decided to cancel the prom; turning the poor girl in to enemy number one amongst her fellow students.  However at the time, the ACLU stepped in and demanded the event be reinstated, which it was.

Then, as if she hadn't been through enough, the school secretly and unbeknownst to McMillan, held two separate proms on the same night.  Of course all the 'normal' students got to attend the main event, whilst Constance and ten other 'undesirable' students were taken to a different location - segregated from the other students like they were carrying the plague.  Naturally, she knew what had happened as soon as she turned up and once again the ACLU stepped in and took the school district to court, resulting in yesterday's monetary settlement.

I really can't imagine anything more degrading and offensive to put a teenage girl through; whoever made these series of ridiculous and extremely offensive decisions needs to be fired.  All she wanted to do was dress how she wanted and bring the person she wanted to her special night, yet somehow by just being herself and living her life the way she wanted, others who should have known better turned it in to something terrible.  Thank goodness I live in a country and went to a school where I could be who I wanted and only had to deal with the narrow point of view of other students, not of the people there to protect us.

You Know You've Made It When....

You get turned in to a Russian Doll.

Following the fan-made Lady GaGa Barbie dolls we featured last week, some company in Asia have decided to start manufacturing these completely amazing unofficial GaGa 'nesting' dolls.

I'm slightly disappointed at the lack of hair bow....

Music Video: Nicki Minaj - Your Love

I'm counting down the weeks until Minaj releases her as-yet-untitled debut album, until then enjoy her latest solo music video for the so-so track 'Your Love'.

Queen of the universe

The 2011 edition of the Guinness book of Records has certified pop icon Madonna as the biggest selling female artist ever, with 200 million records sold worldwide and another 75 million sold in the US.

It's hardly a shock - there is nobody alive in the entertainment industry today who works harder than Madonna.  Her influence both musically and culturally is far reaching; from  Lady GaGa's music and videos to her own charity work in Malawi, even after nearly 30 years since she débuted her first single 'Everybody' to the world, Madonna is still at the top of her game.  And she's not slowing down.  This summer she begins shooting her first motion picture 'W.E.' across Europe and New York and is rumoured to be releasing her 12th studio album at the end of 2010.

Bring on the next 30 years.

J.L.S.U.S.A.

Have you ever seen such hetrosexual men?

To your left is the front cover for the US version of JLS's début album.  The amount of make-up, plucking, waxing, preening and photoshoping all make this photo a true piece of art.

Expect the music to be as fake, generic and lifeless as the cover.

She's still dancing on her own....

Amazing.

Lindsay Lohan enters jail

Earlier today actress celebrity Lindsay Lohan entered in to a 90 day jail sentence due to violation of the terms of her probation following a DUI conviction in 2008.

As she entered the courthouse, a fan in the crowd of paparazzi threw glitter over Lohan.  There's something slightly poignant about this picture that I just can't put my finger on - she's certainly not looked this glamorous for a long time.

So I saw 'Inception' last night and.....

....it's superb!

One of the most anticipated films of 2010, 'Inception' lives up to the hype; delivering jaw dropping special effects, a complex, gripping and practically flawless storyline as well as multi-layered, well thought-out characters.  Leonardo DiCaprio continues to prove he is one of the best actors of his generation, although his character's back-story in 'Inception' is very similar to that of his character in 'Shutter Island'.  Other notable performances were from Ellen Page, who has never actually been in a bad film and Joseph Gordon-Levitt who finally gets to display what a great actor he is in a mass-appeal feature.

There really aren't many flaws in 'Inception' apart from one or two not-very-noticeable holes in the plot and the fact the technology used by the characters to enter the dreams is never properly explained - which, with the already complex plot, is probably a good thing.  The storyline is nowhere near as hard to understand as some would have you believe, but it will have you trying to fully understand it after leaving the cinema (and I'm sure this is the intention of the films creators).

In case you hadn't guessed, I couldn't recommend 'Inception' enough.  Even if you're not up for watching a film you have to think about, 'Inception' is worth watching for the special effects and cinematography alone - it is a stunningly beautiful film as well as superbly written and acted.  Even if I was in to such things, I'd give it five stars, but I'm not so I won't.  Just go see it!

Song of the Moment: Miley Cyrus - Take Me Along

And just like that - Miley Cyrus goes from tween starlet to full-on proper pop artist.

The daughter of Billy Ray has broken free of the squeaky clean Disney-friendly image established by her starring role in 'Hannah Montana', with her third album 'Can't be Tamed'.  It's the obvious next step in the life of a pop princess; build up a clean virginal image, then take off most of your clothes and sing about more 'mature' subjects (see Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera etc.)  The decent dance-pop lead title single and it's accompanying video ruffled quite a few feathers with it's Britney-esque 'provocative' outfits and sexy dance-routines, setting the tone that carries on through 'Can't be Tamed' of breaking free and rebelion.  Well, as rebellious as Cyrus can be - she is, after all, still signed to Disney owned record label Hollywood Records and has one last series of 'Hannah Montana' to film.

Today's track is one of the only exceptions to that theme; the rock-pop ballad 'Take Me Along'.  It's 'Don't Stop Believing'-like intro and emotional delivery make it Miley's most mature effort to date.  With lyrics expressing the confusion and hurt of a love lost, it's likely to appeal to her core audience and if it receives single treatment it may be the breakthrough single Cyrus has yet to really have.  Enjoy the track below.

Coming Soon: Amy Winehouse's third album

After a two year hiatus from touring and recording, controversial singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse has announced that her third studio album will be released in the coming months.  She told the Metro newspaper that "the album will be six months at most.  It's going to be very much the same as my second album" which is good news for Winehouse fans who've had to wait five years since the release of her mega-selling breakthrough album 'Back to Black' - which has gone on to become an all-time classic and garnered Winehouse critical acclaim and multiple awards around the world.

That album also began a downward spiral for Amy, who by all accounts has succumb to all the trappings of fame; a failed marriage, drug and alcohol abuse as well as rumoured eating disorders and self harming.  She couldn't even go to the Grammys in 2008 to collect her 5 awards as her US visa was denied following charges of cannabis possession in the UK.  Winehouse suffered more embarrassment that year when she was caught smoking crack on video tape which was sold to a national newspaper.

Amy and her record label will be hoping a third album will erase memories of any previous bad publicity and re-establish her as a major recording artist, but can she top the amazing 'Back to Black?  Hits like 'Rehab' 'You Know I'm No Good' and 'Love is a Losing Game' have defined Winehouse's career and set in motion a major change within the music industry towards that style of music.  With hit-maker Mark Ronson on board, things do look hopeful for the project, but it remains to be seen whether it will live up to its predecessor or be a sad attempt to mimic that albums success.

They can't be tamed

On the left is 17-year-old Miley Cyrus in her latest music video for her single 'Can't be Tamed'.

On the right is Jordan Katie Price 'performing' her new single 'Free to Love Again' on GMTV this week.

I can't decide who's more inappropriately dressed.