She became a feel-good story and internet sensation singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables on TV’s Britain’s Got Talent. Now the unlikely superstar from Scotland, with worldwide sales of 18 million albums, tackles other stage favorites, including stirring duets with Donny Osmond and Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford.
Fans of the popular Edwardian drama will be instantly transported to the fictional Yorkshire country estate, the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants by this soundtrack. Along with sumptuous music by the Chamber Orchestra of London, it includes a stirring version of the theme sung by classical vocalist Mary-Jess.
Kid Rock made his mark with his 1999 rap-rock anthem “Bawitdaba” and he’s been mixing it up stylistically ever since. His seventh album tackles southern rock on the title track, country music on “Midnight Ferry” and hip hop on “Gucci Galore,” in which he gives shout-outs to Hugh Hefner and his ex-wife Pamela Anderson.
The venerable boys of rock are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a coffee table book, two documentaries and this collection of greatest hits. Along with classics like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Emotional Rescue,” the 3-CD set includes new songs “One More Shot” and “Doom & Gloom,” featuring Mick Jagger’s ageless snarl.
She’s pop’s naughty girl. Even Lady Gaga seems demure next to flashy, trashy Ke$ha, who bathes in glitter and loves binge drinking. The “Tik Tok” singer’s sophomore album boasts plenty of irreverence on songs like “Dirty Love,” featuring Iggy Pop. But Ke$ha also shows her vulnerable side, especially on the wistful “Love Into the Light.”
The girl really is on fire. Since releasing her 2009 album, The Element of Freedom, Keys became a wife, a mother, began co-managing her career, produced her first Broadway play, directed her first short film, executive-produced a TV movie, designed her own shoe line and launched a storytelling app for children. If that wasn’t enough, the “Empire State of Mind” singer, who has sold over 35 million albums and won 14 Grammy Awards, completed a new CD, her most personal to date. “This is me stepping into my complete womanhood,” says Keys, “my journey to becoming fearless.” Girl on Fire is indeed fearless. Featuring deeply autobiographical songs like “Brand New Me” and the title track, which incl...
One of the world’s biggest bands proves its enduring appeal with this engaging CD/DVD package. Compiled from its Mylo Xyloto tour at England’s Glastonbury Festival and in Paris and Montreal, it features Chris Martin dueting with Rihanna on “Princess of China” and 30,000 fans singing along to hits like “Fix You” and “Hurts Like Heaven.”
How lucky is the number seven? That may be the question Rihanna is asking as she releases her seventh album in seven years. Already, the Barbadian-born singer is pop’s most bankable star, with 60 million singles, 25 million albums, fashion lines, perfumes and a ubiquitous social media presence. To promote her new album, she performed seven concerts in seven countries in seven days. But Rihanna hasn’t been lucky in love, tragically becoming an assault victim at the hands of former boyfriend Chris Brown. She makes no excuses for that relationship, as shown by the album’s title, and even features the singer on “Nobody’s Business,” a widely criticized choice. But not all of Unapologetic deals wi...
Now in the midst of her second residency show at Caesars Palace, Dion is Las Vegas’ biggest attraction since Elvis Presley. But that hasn’t stopped the Canadian superstar from recording two new albums: one in English, one in French. Water and a Flame, a collection of songs from her Vegas show and several new tracks, will be released next year. Sans attendre, her first French album since 2007’s D’elles, is now available. Dion’s new CD will translate to listeners in any language. She sings with a passion sometimes only hinted at on her English albums. The mid-tempo “Parlez à mon père is a highlight, sung with a palpable emotion. Other standout tracks include duets with Quebec singer-songwriter...
The Canadian quartet has performed for Her Majesty the Queen and shared stages with Céline Dion and Sir Paul McCartney. Now Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Remigio Pereira and Fraser Walters continue their classical-pop crossover moves on their sophisticated sophomore CD, covering everything from Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” to Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma.”
