Holy Smokin’ Diamonds, Ri-Ri!

Rihanna’s “Diamonds” now has a video, y’all, and it’s a dramatic one.

There’s singer rollin’ of – that kind of rolling – and smokin’ the rocks. Imagery of earth, wind, water, and fire, and of some end-of-the-world scenario

Loving the von Trier vibe it’s going on.

The allusion to and illusion of a Chris Brown cameo?

Not so much.

Girlfriend looks gorge in the clip, though. As usual.

Photo: Mashable.com.

Keane’s Shining Moment

Keane are back – and their new video is giving me the chills.

Well...not really, but the band is going for a horror-movie homage thing, and, in a way, it’s a good, fun visual for the sound of their latest single, “Disconnected,” off their latest album, Strangeland. Click here to check it out.

Are you getting that Shining vibe?

Anyway, the video was shot in a real haunted house in Barcelona and co-directed by Spanish directors Juan Antonio Bayona and Sergio G. Sanchez, the helmers of the 2007 horror movie The Orphanage.

Photo: Billboard.com.

The Return of the GDW

Stevie Nicks is back on the scene with some new material, and I love it.

The Gold Dust Woman’s latest solo album, In Your Dreams (her first in forever), will be released on May 3.

The CD is available for pre-order and all pre orders come with a download of Nicks’ new single, “Secret Love,” for which I’ve already fallen.

Photo: RockALittle.com.

I Shall Deny

The Pussycat Dolls’ “I Hate This Part”….

I shall deny it until I’m blue in the face that I like this song.

Having said this, they’re part of the reason I’m dying to go see Britney Spears next month. They’re opening for the pop tart.

Photo: Music-Video.com.ua.

I Give Up

The Jonas Brothers were the musical guests on last night’s Saturday Night Live, and I’m not ashamed to say they got themselves a new fan.

Click here to see them perform “A Little Bit Longer.”

Resisting them was as futile as resisting the charms of Facebook. I’m hooked.

Photo: SodaHead.com.

More, Robin. More!

I did it for “Magic,” I did it for “The Sweetest Love,” and now I’m doing it for “Dreamworld.”

I give you Robin Thicke’s latest video:



Btw and FYI: Thicke told The Miami Herald last fall that “Dreamworld,” a song in he talks about racism, “came about because my wife [actress Paula Patton] and I were talking about the situation she faces being an African-American woman in society and in Hollywood, and the opportunities and the playing fields not being leveled.

“In that conversation, we just started talking about what our dream world would be – that includes me and her walking in Mississippi without anybody looking at us.”

Well, it’s a gorgeous song, and guess who’s gonna look for you on tour with Jennifer Hudson this spring.

That’s right. Me.

Gaga For This Lady

South Beach hipsters were in the zone last week because someone by the name of Lady GaGa was scheduled to perform at a party at the Miss Sixty store on Lincoln Road.

“I’m sorry – Lady who?” I asked.

“Uh – you don’t know Lady GaGa?” they said.

“No, I don’t,” I said. “Do you know how to say ‘I’m a tool’ in French?” (Alright, I didn’t say that, but the look I shot their way definitely did.)

I know Lady GaGa now, though, and I kind of like her. She’s making me want to “Just Dance” – and wish I hadn’t left the party before she went on.

Photo: Interscope.com.

When You Try Your Best But You Don’t Succeed

According to the New York Daily News, Coldplay’s free Madison Square Garden show last night left a few in the audience…well, cold.

“Coldplay [were] gingerly finding [their] way through the new material, and through a whole new show as well,” said the newspaper’s music critic. “[Frontman Chris] Martin had trouble finding the right chords for one song, and forgot the lyrics to another (‘Fix You,’ ironically)…Such gaffs and hesitancies were hardly the most disappointing aspects of the evening.”

Here’s to hoping the band can pull it together by the time they hit the road for their summer-fall tour.

They will – right?

They better do by the time they hit South Florida in November….

Photo: NYDailyNews.com.

Update: This hiccup and mixed-to-negative buzz on the Internet aside, Coldplay still got it going on. Their Viva La Vida sold 721,000 copies on its first week out.

Just a Girl

Madonna may have called “Ur So Gay” her “favorite song right now” in May, but Katy Perry has been a favorite singer-songwriter to many for quite a while.

The tell-off song, in which – and this is a brilliant line – Perry tells her boyfriend she hopes he hangs himself with his H&M scarf, has been available since November.

For the record, I don’t think “Ur So Gay” is homophobic. I think it’s hilarious. She’s just telling off a boyfriend for being so prissy.

Perry’s first official single “I Kissed a Girl” is burning up radio (and risking overplay, IMHO), but that just goes to show everyone irreverence is It, It, It when it comes to music – and who doesn’t like that.

Her album One of the Boys features a bunch tracks ready to follow suit, such as “If You Can Afford Me” and “Hot ’N Cold” (co-writer Max Martin, who has worked with Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson, has a fruit basket coming his way).

A dead ringer for actress Zooey Deschanel, Perry has style, she has flair, and she can sing and write, but she’s not just a girl. She’s just, period.

Photo: BandWebBlogs.com.

I’m Onto M’s Game

The summer solstice got me thinking: Does Madonna have a Song of Summer in Hard Candy’s “Spanish Lesson,” after all?

I gotta say I’ve dismissed the track as a rather silly one in the past, but it’s playful and quite cheeky – just like the Queen of Pop.

I’m just going to say it: “Yo soy loco” for “Spanish Lesson.”

Photo: DailyMail.co.uk.

Captain Sparro

Australia has produced another (sexy) artist to be aware of, and his name is Sam Sparro.

Funky and irreverent – Google his images and see how he styles himself (hipsters, meet your new idol) – the Aussie’s self-titled album, in stores on June 24, features what ModernTonic.com calls “old school jams like ‘Hot Mess,’ a Goldfrappian glam-slam (U.K. smash ‘Black & Gold’), even an eco-conscious skit (‘Recycle It’).”

I just listened to “Black & Gold” – and I likey. I likey a lot.

The dance revolution just got another force on the floor. And he’s a keeper.

Photo: LASplash.com.

Robyn Hits the Sweet Spot

Madonna’s going on a world tour this summer – and she’s taking Robyn with her when she goes.

Music’s It Girl – her self-titled latest is in stores now (get it, get it) – will open select European dates of the Queen of Pop’s hot-ticket “Sticky & Sweet Tour,” beginning on Aug. 26 in Nice, France.

“Having been a fan of Madonna since I was a little girl, I’m very excited about sharing a stage with her and playing to her audiences,” the Swedish pop singer-songwriter said. “I’m thrilled.”

For a taste of Robyn’s live sound, click here and check her out doing it “Cobrastyle.”

Photo: ShowClix.com.

Give Me That Sunday School Answer

You better don’t.

You better go and celebrate Kelly Clarkson’s artistic integrity and buy a copy or two – you know, one to give away – of her latest, My December, which hit shelves today.

And while you’re at it, pick up a copy of Mandy Moore’s Wild Hope, too, because now she’s ready…now she’s ready…now she’s ready to be extraordinary.

If you don’t, you really are going to have to try and make it all OK.

Photo: BN.com.

Superstar!

I may not have gotten my “Happy Ending,” after all – and that is quite alright – but I got something better: I got to see Mika perform his has-to-become-a-hit song of the same name last night, and that was just great.

The Londoner, who is as cute and fun and sexy and talented as can be, finally hit the smallish Studio A in Miami stage at 11 p.m. – a full three hours later than billed (after a lengthy sound check and an opening act) – but the second he did I knew the wait had been well worth it.

I had a blast and half.

He sounded so good, and unlike other performers, he went above and beyond the call of up-and-coming-artist duty to connect with his audience.

His splendid one-hour show was tight and vibrant, as were his bright green American Apparel briefs.

Get your mind off the gutter – I wish. You could see them because he was jumpin’, jumpin’.

The highlights of the night, for me, were the aforementioned “Happy Ending,” “My Interpretation,” and his bona fide hit “Grace Kelly,” natch.

Concerts like this one are filled with energy, and Mika had a full supply of it last night. It was everything I needed and wanted and so much more. I really hope he never changes and that he only gets better because he truly is an original.

Photo: MikaSounds.com/uk.

Makes Me Cry

I’d forgotten all about Dido’s “Here With Me,” but now I’ve remembered it.

And since I did, I looked around to see if I could find information on any new material.

I’m glad to report that Dido’s third album is scheduled to hit stores in September.

Photo: RollingStone.com.

It’s Freaky and I like It

Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love” may be burning up the air waves, but there’s a song off his FutureSex/LoveSounds that I just knew he had to release as a single (and video): “LoveStoned.”

I think this song is sooo much fun. It’s got a great pulsating hook, it’s kind of old school, and I looove how it slows down toward the end.

Hot damn!

Photo: Men.Style.com.

It’s Raining / Ooh Baby It’s Raining

How much am I into Rihanna’s “Umbrella”?

I know radio’s going to like, overplay it to death, but I’m glad I’m already liking the song because I soon won’t for a while, but I then will again…eventually. Yeah, that’s how it works.

Because, “When the sun shines, we’ll shine together / Told you I'll be here forever / Said I'll always be a friend / Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end / Now that it's raining more than ever / Know that we'll still have each other / You can stand under my umbrella / You can stand under my umbrella / (Ella ella eh eh eh).”

MTV did the singer a service when they had her performed at its Movie Awards last night, a.k.a. the event that Paris Hilton attended before her early jail check-in. (Check out who took buckets of Golden Popcorn home here.)

Derivative Tina Landon choreography aside, the performance, which featured Jay-Z, was a get-up-on-your-feet highlight for the show. Just ask Hairspray’s Amanda Bynes – could she have been any cuter?

Of course, I loved Sarah Silverman’s hosting shtick. I mean, I ate it up. But I didn’t love how MTV didn’t even try to add a little more music to the show. They only had two performers, instead of the usual three. What the frak?

Which brings me to the night’s other performer – Amy Winehouse. Confession time: I’ve had her Back to Black for a couple of months now, and I was like, no, no, no. I have been resisting fully liking her, but this is changing for good: Get me a sweater because I am embracing this Hot Mess. Not doing so is futile.

Photo: E! Online.

Simply Irresistible, Pt. 16

Scottish band Travis released their new album earlier this month, but it wasn’t until yesterday that I found out about it. Thank you, Ellen DeGeneres, for booking them on your show.

I’ve read very mixed reviews of their new album, The Boy with No Name, but after hearing them perform “Selfish Jean,” I think Travis may have shot to the top of my Summer Want List.

They are, after all, the grandfathers, if you will, of bands such as Coldplay and Keane. I have a couple of their singles, but never got around purchasing a full CD. It just might be time to finally do so, for they are, indeed, rather enjoyable.

Photo: BN.com.