by Mark Graham, Emily Exton, and Bené Viera (@unclegrambo)

VH1′s 13 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2013

VH1 13 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2013

Now that 2012 is firmly in the rearviewmirror, it’s time to look forward with hope and optimism as to what the year 2013 holds in store for music fans like us. Considering that we’re not even three weeks into January and we’ve already been blessed with two delightful surprises —A new Destiny’s Child song! A new Timberlake jam!— we feel confident that this is going to be another banner year filled with an abundance of both monster pop smashes and crossover gems.

With that in mind, the VH1 Tuner team has put together this list of 13 of our most anticipated albums for 2013, which includes a healthy mix of familiar faces (Beyoncé, Lady Gaga) and artists on the come-up (Big Sean, Diane Birch), brought to you in the order of when we expect them to release their new material.

Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob (Expected Release Date: January 29): Sisters Tegan and Sara Quin have long been staples at alternative radio, but the synth-driven Heartthrob appears like it might be the LP that finally breaks them into the mainstream consciousness. “We really look at this as an opportunity to stretch into a world that we’ve been just outside of for a long time,” Sara recently told our VH1 News crew, and one listen to the album’s lead single, “Closer,” seems to be indicative of the fact that they’ve reached their goal.—Mark Graham

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by Bené Viera

Happy 34th Birthday To Aaliyah: Remembering The Singer Through A Clip From Her Behind The Music

It will never not be sad remembering the great Aaliyah whose life was taken far too soon in the tragic plane crash in 2001. Today the R&B singer with such an angelic voice would’ve turned 34. VH1 re-aired Aaliyah’s 2001 Behind The Music with new interviews including her dear friend Missy Elliott. During the hour special you’re reminded why her life and music touched people in the way it did. Aaliyah was the voice of a new generation of women while not alienating men. 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?

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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)

Justin Timberlake Releasing New Music Reportedly Featuring Jay-Z And Beyonce

Justin Timberlake Making New Music With Jay-Z

Exciting news! Those prayer circles you’ve held and the many vision boards you’ve been working on for the past seven years have finally paid off: Justin Timberlake is releasing music! Of his own! Without any ties to MySpace! (We hope.) Pause for reflection, brief celebration and be sure to clear your schedule for the next three hours of so. The new song is dropping at 12:01 p.m. EST today and you’ll clearly need a few minutes to dry your happy tears and think about what this all means.

For those who need a refresher, this is the first solo material from Timberlake since his 2006 sophomore album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, released back in a time when iPhones had yet to be invented and our minds hadn’t been cluttered by the terms “Kardashian” or “YOLO.” We’ve been teased before, but this time it sounds legit: the infrequent Twitter user posted an ominous update on Wednesday night (“Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 9:01 am PST… “) stirring speculation that something big was on its way in just a few hours.

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by Bené Viera

Beyonce And Kelly Clarkson To Sing Their Hearts Out For The President’s Second Inauguration

Weeks before Beyonce drops it low during the Super Bowl’s halftime show she has presidential matters to tend to. The avid Obama supporter will return to the president’s second inauguration to perform on stage at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. During the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the 2009 inauguration Bey sang Etta James‘ “At Last” while the president and First Lady slow danced. Topping “At Last” will be no easy task. Read more…

by Bené Viera

Beyonce’s “BaddieBey” Instagram Name Inspired By OMG Girlz And Another Handwritten Letter


Who will honestly admit that “baddiebey” seemed like an unusual, slightly puzzling Instagram name for Beyonce? Now we know where it originated from and it makes perfect sense. Through a thank you handwritten note–yes, another one–she credits the teen girl group The OMG Girlz as the reason she chose the handle.

The trio group managed by Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (T.I.‘s wife and former Xscape member) were featured on the Ishlist 36 to countdown the 7 reasons Bey is a “baddie.” Among the seven reasons Bey reigns supreme were she can actually sing and dance, and always exhibits such grace. Now that Bey has joined the rest of the world on Tumblr and Instagram she’s made a habit of writing handwritten letters whenever she’s moved enough to do so. Frank Ocean was on the receiving end of a handwritten note after his brave transparency. Of course both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have received congratulatory and thank you handwritten notes respectively.

It was no different for the OMG Girlz whom Bey wanted to thank personally for the kind things they said in the video. “You named my Instagram !!!FYI!!!,” she wrote. Cute concept that Bey has made all her own. But please, no more handwritten letters Bey. Let writers write while you continue dominating music.

Beyonce Credits The OMG Girlz For Naming Her ‘Baddie’ [Necole Bitchie]

[Photos: Instagram/Necole Bitchie]

by Bené Viera

Are Beyonce And Lady Gaga Cooking Up Something “Ratchet?”

Has Beyonce convinced you she has a little ‘hood in her yet? Or at the very least that she’s not this shy boring persona all the time?

Even the biggest Beyonce fan has admitted that her personality can be a bit dry. Her overly-private and “shy” nature has been great for remaining above the tabloid drama, but hasn’t necessarily made her the most interesting celebrity. Luckily, her mystique carries a certain appeal. Once Bey said hello to 30 and motherhood, she slowly cracked the window for the public to see a little bit more of her life through Tumblr and most recently Instagram. Read more…

by Bené Viera

Kim Kardashian Goes From Kanye’s “Perfect Bitch” To His “Baby Mama”

Kimye is having a baby. And Jesus wept. Somewhere Ray J is crafting his perfectly shady congratulatory tweet, meanwhile Amber Rose is singing “thank God I dodged a bullet” in her best Beyonce octave. Kim is still married to Kris Humphries. Maybe that’s why Kanye shouted out his “Perfect Bitch” at his last Revel performance in Atlantic City by referring to her as his “baby mama.” A proud mommy moment for Kim.  Read more…

by Bené Viera

Online Sensations Of 2012 That Made Us Cry From Laughter, Smile From Joy

It’s a good year when a video of the leader of the free world singing Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together” is uploaded to YouTube. President Obama’s very good Al Green attempt wasn’t the only video that had us clicking. Strange things happen when cell phones with video recorders meet the Internet. And this is why we’re most thankful to the almighty YouTube gods.

It’s been one hell of a year for online sensations. Going viral isn’t a prerequisite to making our list of the year’s best online videos. It’s not about the number of Internet scavengers who viewed a whacky video (although it’s a pretty good indicator of how great a phenomena it is). Whatever made us laugh until our bellies ached, smile so hard while thinking, ‘How cuuuute!’ or made us hit the replay button more than once, it made the list. From Jay-Z explaining who he was to an elderly woman on the subway to a grandma dancing to Tyga‘s “Rack City,” we loved it all.

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