Posts By Emily Exton

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Move Over, William And Kate: Kanye West And Kim Kardashian’s Baby Is Also Due In July

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's Baby Due in July

Lest a certain Duke and Duchess from across the pond monopolize all of our attention, members of the American Royal Family stopped by morning television to update us on their own reproductive developments. “I’m due in July,” Kim Kardashian announced on Today Tuesday morning, confirming the growing fetus inside of her as well as offering more theories as to when and where she and boyfriend Kanye West conceived (if speculating on bedroom behavior is your kinda thing). After recently taking a “babymoon” to stroll through Parisian shops and discuss their firsborn’s inevitable dopeness, Kanye’s baby mama stopped by Rockefeller Center to talk about everything from her own struggle with fertility issues to her boo’s lack of filter. “He just kinda does what he feels,” Kim explained, when asked about Yeezy’s impromptu announcement made onstage at Revel Resort in the wee hours of New Year’s Eve.”I think once you’re past like the three-month mark you’re pretty safe. So he just kinda goes off of what he feels and he was feeling it that night, I guess.”

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Beyoncé’s “Life Is But A Dream” Trailer: Blue Ivy Meets Her Fans

Beyonce Introduces Blue Ivy To Her Fans In HBO Trailer 2

Life Is But a Dream, the forthcoming HBO documentary written, produced and starring Beyoncé, is the perfect subject to satisfy the needs of any pop culture viewing party during the off weekend between the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards. Suggested party attire includes, but is not limited to: leotards, heels and anything with the Brooklyn Nets logo.

Along with entertainment value, the project is also the 31-year-old superstar’s attempt to slightly debunk the notion of perfection so many photo spreads and carefully calibrated interviews have created, or at the very least get us to believe that famous people have occasional moments of self-doubt and/or eat junk food on camera. Bug-eyed shots of Beyoncé pontificating out loud illustrate the personal testaments that she, too, feels insecure, particularly when forced to conform an ever-expanding, baby vessel into tiny stage ensembles. It is painful, we’re sure, but is it enough to get you to tune in?

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Kenya Moore Adds “Gone With The Wind Fabulous” To Real Housewives Musical Canon

Kenya Moore, the former Miss USA and newest Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member, takes issue with people who question her limitations, and straight up can’t stand those who mix up her pageant title. You see, she’s part of American history, someone your children will soon be learning about in Social Studies once all reports on the effects of Laguna Beach on adolescent development have been presented to the class.

Since she’s already engaged in a massive vacation blow-out and coined her own phrase, soon to be plastered across Bravo merchandise everywhere, the only thing left on her Real Housewives to-do list is record a hit single. And because these things don’t really take flight until they’re brought to life with beefy male backup dancers (see: Danielle Staub‘s live rendition of “Too Close” and Michaele Salahi‘s verison of “Bump It”) Kenya brought the first liiiive performance of the year to Bravo’s Clubhouse on Watch What Happens Live Sunday night. Her outfit was hot and her stage presence was undeniable–such a power stance likely comes from many hours strutting across a stage; her twirl was obviously perfected during her dramatic exit following a shouting match with Portia Stewart–but it all came together for me when she collapsed to the floor in what was either triumph or exhaustion. Performing takes a lot out of you, and we do not know the date of her last spa day.

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Music Seen: Allen Stone’s Take On Retro-Soul Aims To Keep Us Warm All Winter Long

Allen Stone Music Seen

The weather may be dreary, but things are heating up here at VH1, thanks to the voice of January’s You Oughta Know artist, Allen Stone. The deeply soulful singer-songwriter brings a unique spin to everything from accessories to his blonde-haired, blue-eyed stamp on the rhythm & blues, capitalizing on the crave for funky, retro sound that has been so kind to acts like Amy Winehouse, Adele and Bruno Mars in recent years.

Having honed his performance skills before church pews in small town Washington, Stone has experience winning over crowds and is comfortable taking time to preach to the unconverted. Inspired by—and often compared toStevie Wonder, now he’s giving the likes of Miguel and JT a run for their money in the panty-dropping department thanks to his ability to blissfully distract us from everyday stresses with a rich timbre. His is also a warm and inviting sound that welcomes us in a cozy embrace, and encourages to stay put all winter long.

Ace VH1 photographer Lauren Weissler followed Stone throughout his whirlwind day here in New York City just before the holidays, which included which included a festive stop by Big Morning Buzz Live and some quality catch-up time with his cell phone. Check it out below.

Allen Stone Music Seen
Allen Stone Music Seen
Allen Stone Music Seen
Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Rihanna Teaches Us How To Take Better Selfies, Gets Tongue-Tied About Chris Brown

Rihanna Covers Complex

Rihanna has been captured in not one but seven brand spanking new covers for Complex, in celebration of her seventh album, Unapologetic. Of course! How could we forget? That magic number has more than a little significance to her and the other members of the #RihannaPlane. Inside, the February/March cover story presents RiRi as both a perennial chart presence and graduate-level study in social media, thanks to the uncensored sharing of her morning rituals and bedtime companions. Chris Brown is once again a topic of discussion, because he always is where Rihanna is concerned, yet her fearless, intimidating armor proves itself to be penetrable when real emotions surrounding the on-again, off-again and at times, destructive, relationship come into play.

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Adele Wins Her First Golden Globe Award For “Skyfall,” Continues To Be The Best

Adele Wins Golden Globe for "Skyfall"

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual celebration of movies and television is one of the more highly anticipated award shows if only for its at-times curious mixture of talent and free-flowing alcohol. (Glenn Close has had enough!) Last night’s Golden Globe Awards welcomed everyone from the Robyn-loving cast of Girls to Diddy, helping music have almost as large a presence as Ben Affleck’s facial hair did in Argo.

After receiving her first Academy Award nomination last week, Adele made a grand return to the spotlight by attending Hollywood big party on Sunday night. Because, really, it wouldn’t be an award show without her. In a night of confusing outfit choices and even more confounding speeches, the singer picked up her first trophy of the new year for her contribution to Skyfall.

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Justin Timberlake Makes 2013 Better With The Release Of “Suit and Tie” And Plans For A New Album

Justin Timberlake Releases "Suit and Tie"

After tricking us with a Twitter stunt last week, Justin Timberlake dropped his latest musical offering just before midnight on Monday, catching the lingering Golden Globes crowd on Twitter just in time to launch an onslaught of mixed reactions about his decision to make music his priority once again. Like Destiny’s Child‘s latest song “Nuclear”, Timberlake’s new song “Suit and Tie” didn’t instantly grab us and transport us to a world of magical Timbaland beats and inventive blends of pop, R&B and soul, but it is a welcomed return filled with slick grooves and familiar musings on style, sex and having a good time.

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Destiny’s Child Tells Us They Love Us With New Track, “Nuclear”

Destiny's Child Releases New Song "Nuclear"

So much for waiting for the Super Bowl. The first new Destiny’s Child single since 2005 has arrived, ready to remind the world of why they might be considered one of the greatest female groups of all-time or that Beyoncé gets far too many of the solos. “Nuclear” sneakily premiered on Mashable on Friday afternoon, making us cancel any after-work plans in exchange for launching full DC3 retrospective. (Hot Friday night, yes?) You can check out the song in full, below, but first, we’ve jotted down our initial reactions to this monumental offering.

0:01 “I love you,” Beyonce coos. No, Bey. We love YOU. And now we’re blushing. You don’t know how long we’ve been waiting for you to say that to us!

0:18 Bring the beat in. Pharrell (who produced and co-wrote, along with Michelle, James Fauntleroy and Lonny Bereal) seems to be channeling some early ’90s R&B here.

0:30 “They want to know how we keep our sh-t together.” BRB amending our “Beyonce has a potty mouth” assessment now. Destiny’s children no more!

0:43 Bey is mostly interested in “when the two become one, on a quantum level.” Who say physics isn’t sexy? We’re somewhat unconvinced by this interesting use of wordplay, but we commend Michelle for brushing up on science (don’t forget the magnets next time!) during DC3′s hiatus.

0:52 “It’s nuuuu-cleee-arrr/With youuuuuu hereee.” Three syllable words can be tricky, and is this really the most romantic or sexy of adjectives to include in a song about love? We just think of explosions (sorry!).

1:22 (Maybe it helps if you add some grunts?)

1:41 Kelly! We live for moments like this.

1:58 So, this beat is crazy good.

2:25 We are now toe-tapping and shimmying, should you need suggestions for appropriate choreography.

2:50 Finally, Michelle’s last-minute solo contribution has arrived!

3:18 Here’s where thing start to get ominous: “There’s nowhere left to run, why run, why would you run?”

3:38 And it doesn’t stop there: “Blow it all away,” ladies? Is DC3 finished? (Is this their swan song?) Do we need to worry about certain relationships? Is Blue Ivy going to have two bedrooms?! Nah, they’re probably just trying to set the mood. When you’re in love nothing else matters–or so we hear.

New music from Destiny’s Child is always welcome, and although this isn’t the empowering sound that makes us want to blow an entire paycheck on shoes just to prove our own self-worth as independent women, it’s a silky throwback that’s slowly but surely ingrained itself into our brains. But that doesn’t mean it’s the kind of track millions of drunk and rowdy football fans will want to get down to during halftime. That’s just our opinion, any way. How about you? Is this the triumphant return of Destiny’s Child you’ve been waiting patiently for? Let us know, while we go back to rehearsing “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” choreography in our cubicle.

Listen to the World Premiere of Destiny’s Child’s “Nuclear” [Mashable]
[Photo: Getty Images]

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

Sadface: Britney Spears Confirms She’s Leaving The X Factor

Britney Spears Announces X Factor Departure

We had a pretty good feeling this day would come, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Britney Spears has announced her departure from The X Factor via an official statement released to ABC News:

I’ve made the very difficult decision not to return for another season. I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it’s time for me to get back in the studio.

She’s got a point. It doesn’t take much arguing to get listeners to agree that Spears’ take on Madonna’s British accent, as well as the return of “it’s Britney, bitch” are the best parts of “Scream & Shout,” her collaboration with will.i.am. The song is currently No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, which speaks to the demand for more of Britney’s solo material.

Read more…

by Emily Exton (@emilyexton)

If Destiny’s Child Is Going To Reunite At The Super Bowl They Should Probably Use Our Set List

Destiny's Child To Join Beyonce at Super Bowl

Yesterday’s news of a new album from Destiny’s Child was received by rapturous excitement across the Internet, particularly for those of us who thrive on musical nostalgia and gender equality among single-sex pop acts. With a release date of January 29, the timeline for Love Songs and a DC3 comeback compliments Beyoncé‘s upcoming appointment at the Superdome on February 3. Hmmm. Wishful thinking on our part, or a thoughtful media takeover that’s been carefully planned for months? After being burned by JT, we’ll always second-guess ourselves.

According to Us Weekly Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will be featured guests during Queen Bey’s big Super Bowl gig, obviously willing to sign themselves over to her lifelong archival project. While Beyoncé is still the main halftime performer, currently splashed across a very large billboard here in Times Square, her groupmates will reportedly join her onstage to perform a medley of hits as well as debut the group’s new song, “Nuclear.” Oh, and then Beyoncé will probably unveil a song off of her still untitled fifth album. No big deal.

Read more…