23 Dec

Posted at 19:01h in Music, Throwback
0 Likes

If you’ve been on the internet in the last 24 hours, then you’ve probably come across Britney Spears’ viral post that has (unfortunately) earned her some ridicule. Oh Britney.

Ms. Spears has never been known for her vocals, but one thing we can’t deny is that she has more than a few good songs in her catalog. One of such songs is her holiday tune, “My Only Wish (This Year),” which was released in November 2000 as part of Jive Records’ compilation album, Platinum Christmas.

We can all agree that Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the last addition to the holiday canon. However, if we were going to make room for one more, I’d vote for “My Only Wish (This Year).” Co-written by Spears, Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, and co-produced by the latter two, the song is quite naked in its attempt to mimic Carey’s classic. Admittedly, it doesn’t quite measure up, but it is a solid track offers all the things I want from a modern holiday ditty.

Unfortunately, “My Only Wish (This Year)” never got a visual treatment (which is a crime), so in the meantime, we’ll have to use our imagination. Happy holidays!


20 Dec

Posted at 22:28h in Music
0 Likes

For the third year in a row, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” tops the Billboard Hot 100, knocking Adele off the throne. The song rules the global chart for another week.

This makes “All I Want for Christmas Is You” the first song to rule the list in three separate chart runs and the third song to rule four different times — its reign was interrupted by Taylor Swift last year. 24kGoldn & iann dior’s “Mood” and Drake’s “Nice for What” both rose to the top four times apiece.

With “AIWFCIY” spending a sixth non-consecutive week at No. 1, MC now has five songs that have ruled the Hot 100 for six weeks or more, breaking her longstanding tie with Boyz II Men, Usher and Drake. And with an 85th cumulative week at No. 1, Mariah extends her record as the artist with the most weeks at the throne. The runner-up (Rihanna) has spent 60 cumulative weeks at No. 1.

16 Dec

Posted at 22:03h in Music, Throwback
0 Likes

Most of the TBT entries on this website are old songs I have a long-standing relationship with, but every now and then, I post an old song that is totally new to me. Today is one of those days.

I was deep in my new wave bag this week when I stumbled upon “Secret” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and I fell in love instantly. It had all the things I tend to look for in a good song, and I proceeded to listen to it at least 10 times in a row.

Released in ‘85 as the second single from the group’s sixth LP, Crush, “Secret” is sung from the perspective of an admirer who is keeping his feelings for his crush a secret. It’s not entirely clear why, which leaves the secretiveness open to interpretation. The song is nearly four minutes of synth-y goodness with layered, airy, somewhat solemn vocals.

“You make me sad as you make me glad” is one of the lines in the second verse, and in a way, it perfectly describes how this song will make you feel. Click play and thank me later.

16 Dec

Posted at 17:03h in Podcast
0 Likes

No Hipsters Pod just reached a milestone — 50 episodes! Can you believe it?!

Belles & Whistles founder Alexis Garner stopped by to discuss the journey so far as well as some trending news. And for the first time, we were joined by an audience!

09 Dec

Posted at 21:36h in Music, Throwback
0 Likes

TLC is, first and foremost, an R&B group. However, on FanMail, they dipped into their rock bag to give us a gem called “Unpretty.”

Released as the album’s second single, “Unpretty” is a song about self-love in the face of a society that doesn’t miss an opportunity to tell you how imperfect you are. The song was first written as a poem by T-Boz while she was watching an episode of Ricki Lake where women on the show were being derided for their looks. The poem was handed to Dallas Austin, who put the lyrics to a melody and made the executive decision to produce a song that was alternative rock yet R&B-ish.

“Unpretty” would become TLC’s fourth and final No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

09 Dec

Posted at 18:40h in Television
0 Likes

Jussie Smollett has been found guilty of five out of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report to the police. A disorderly conduct charge for a false police report is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

In January 2019, Smollett reported a hate crime where supposed attackers assaulted him while calling him racist and homophobic slurs. The supposed attackers turned out to be Abel Osundairo and Ola Osundairo, two brothers who had worked with #Smollett on #Empire. They would later tell authorities that the actor paid them $3,500 to stage the incident.

08 Dec

Posted at 00:52h in Television
0 Likes

Jussie Smollett took the stand for the second day in his trial and accused the Osundairo Brothers — who he allegedly paid to attack him as part of a hoax — of trying to extort him of $2 million. He says Abel and Ola Osundairo told him they’d recant their previous statements — and basically accept hate crime charges — if he paid them $1 million each.

Seems legit.

06 Dec

Posted at 18:33h in Television
0 Likes

While taking the stand earlier today in his false police report trail, Jussie Smollett claimed that he had a sexual relationship with Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo, one of the two brothers he allegedly paid to “attack” him. According to TMZ, Smollett said he met Osundairo at a gay club and later made out and masturbated with him at a Chicago bathhouse, where they also did coke and weed together.

When asked why he didn’t call the police after the “attack,” Smollett reportedly said, “Because I am a Black man in America and I do not trust police.”

05 Dec

Posted at 15:09h in Television
0 Likes

When it rains, it pours.

A former “junior colleague” came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Chris Cuomo just days before CNN fired him for helping his brother, Andrew Cuomo, respond to allegations of his own. The accuser is represented by attorney Debra Katz.

In a statement made through a spokesperson, Chris has denied these allegations, which come just months after former ABC executive producer Shelley Ross wrote a New York Times op-ed where she accused the former CNN prime time host of groping her 16 years ago.