Tag: music

Categories
Entertainment Adele Beyoncé Celebrities Celebrity Celebrity Blog entertainers Entertainment News Music Singers

2023 Grammys Recap: A Big Night for Music Stars and Fans

The Recording Academy Logo. (PRNewsFoto/The Recording Academy)

2023 Grammys Recap

Last night at the 2023 Grammys, the stars came to shine. Everyone seemed to have had a great time. The arena was full of greatness. There was so much star power in attendance, the celebrities themselves were starstruck. Were the performances amazing and what about the speeches? 

In case you missed it or want to relive it, let’s recap the 2023 Grammys. Like last year, South African comedian Trevor Noah hosted the shindig. To begin, we had Bad Bunny hop on stage singing in Spanish. Literally, the rapper brought Puerto Rico to the Crypto.com arena. Later, at the end of the night, DJ Khaled brought rap to the Los Angeles streets with a performance of the hit record God Did. 

Lively Pre-Parties and Amazing Performances

But before all of this happened, there were week-long pre-Grammy parties and Saturday night festivities. It was a lot leading up to the moment. Photographers captured celebrities dressed in their finest attire. Best New Artist Nominee Anitta was trending on Twitter. Search “Anitta” in Google and YouTube and see why the Brazilian star should have won Best New Artist.

Harry Styles received the first award for Best Pop Vocal album. And he received the last award for Best Album. Beyoncé earned the second award for Best R&B Song. Later, she earned her fourth Grammy of the night. In total, this makes her (with 32) the most awarded music artist in the Grammys history. 

Before we continue, let’s define some things. What is a Grammy? What does it mean to be nominated and win? Without a doubt, a Grammy is the most prestigious award in music. It means the world for a musician to be nominated and the universe to win.

Now let’s look at what music is. What makes a hit record? It’s about making a connection to the soul. The 2023 Grammys were soulful. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Chris Stapleton harmonized a sound that rocked the building. Did you know you could create your own new genre of music on live television? In such a divisive time, the world needed a performance of unity like that. 

Let’s discuss The Hip-Hop Turns 50 Tribute. For about ten minutes, Hip-Hop was center stage. LL Cool J, Run D.M.C., Method Man, and an assortment of high profile names presented their spin on things during the tribute. Before all this, The Recording Academy honored Dr. Dre for his global impact. It was an incredible moment for Hip-Hop.

Photo By: Wikimedia Commons

Also, there were a lot of jokes thanks to Trevor Noah. He wasn’t able to introduce Dwayne Johnson to Adele, but he brought along The Rock, LOL. Also, his punchline about Lizzo performing About Damn Time at Bad Bitch O’clock humored me. Lastly, a South African comedian trying to get on Harry Styles tour gave me a chuckle when he said I’m okay.

All jokes aside, the night could not have been any better. It was highly entertaining and worth watching. As expected, there were some amazing performances. I want to know your favorites. As always, you’re welcome to follow me on Twitter @IamGuruJay and Instagram @TheGuruJay. 

Categories
Celebrity Entertainment Entertainment News Grammys Music music artists Music Blogs Music News Musicians

Why Anitta Should Win Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys

Anitta Photo
Anitta Photo By: Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/COMBATCHY_-_Espa%C3%A7o_das_Am%C3%A9ricas_%2837663558155%29.jpg

Why Anitta Should Win Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys

There are ten contenders, Anitta is one of them, for best new artist at the 2023 Grammys. Who will win the prestigious award is anybody’s guess? Who should win the accolade is another matter entirely? Anitta is at the very top of the list. The 29-year-old singer is only beginning to show the world her many gifts and talents. What is more, she is ready to receive what is hers.

You just never know how these nominations will play out. All you really know is that there are winners and losers. Someone must win. Others must lose. But if Anitta loses this will upset a huge fan base. Let’s talk more about her fanbase. She has 18.9 million Twitter followers and counting, including me. And on Instagram, she’s followed by 63.6 million accounts. 

What’s the Why?

Why write this story? The story writes itself. I’ve been blogging since 2014 and can remember the success and failures of celebrities and entertainers. I’ve learned anybody can be called an entertainer, but it takes something more to be a celebrity. There’s a special sauce and you must have the right ingredients to succeed in the industry. Anitta is a celebrity who has distinguished herself in entertainment from other contenders. 

Anitta should win best new artist because she’s the new hot sound of Brazil everybody wants to hear. Every track she laid has been magical so far. Her future is bright. She’s a star who could reach Beyoncé level in due time. If she plays her cards right, anything is possible. Really, in the entertainment world nothing is impossible. What are your favorite songs and music videos by this musician? 

Photo By: Wikimedia Commons

More Information

Did you know she has 5 studio albums, 1 live album, 76 music videos, 2 Extended Plays, and  47 singles according to Wikipedia. Browsing through her catalog you will find gold and diamonds. Warner Music Brazil signed her to a record deal in 2013 and that’s only the beginning.

The musician’s third studio album, Bang!, has sold the most copies to date. With 300,000 copies sold it went gold in pre-order sales with 40,000 sold.

It would mean the world if the Brazilian singer takes home the Best New Artist. She wants it and so do her fans. I don’t know. Has a Portuguese language singer ever won best new artist? Enjoy this post at your leisure. The post explains some of Anitta’s feelings about the award.

With Bad Bunny as a performer, the Latin element will be well represented as it should be this year at the Grammys. I’m interested in seeing Anitta earn the award and seeing her shine beyond the night. Maybe, we could check out photos and videos from the afterparties.

This music artist is here to stay. Her songs and music videos are top notch. Fans love high quality material, and the star delivers the finest art. Here’s more information. Her five albums are entitled in order of first to last are:

1. Anitta

2. Ritmo Perfeito

3. Bang!

4. Kisses

5. Versions of Me

I believe Versions of Me should get more credit. This album is in four different languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. How do you top that? For producers to pull off such a feat is incredible. Anitta has a lot of songs on the album that appeal to a large audience. That’s why her fanbase is huge. I look forward to engaging and interacting with her fans in the foreseeable future. Follow Guru Jay Entertainment @IamGuruJay on Twitter and @TheGuruJay on Instagram. Thank you for reading and visiting. Peace.

Categories
Grammys Celebrities Country music Entertainment Music Music Blog Music Blogs music business Music Industry Music News rap music Singers

2023 Grammys Watch: Lively Pre-Parties, Amazing Performances, and Expectations

2023 Grammys Beyonce Photo
Beyonce Photo

By: Guru Jay

2023 Grammys Watch

2023 Grammys

Let’s start the 2023 Grammys countdown! Are you watching? What can a music lover expect from this year’s Grammys? There is so much on the table to discuss. But first, we must celebrate 2022. What a year it was in music. Then, we must do a watch like no other.  This 2023 watch is an exclusive. 

By now, you know that Bad Bunny is the main act. We’ll talk about performances even more in depth later. So, you also know that the Recording Academy has made it known the rapper will perform at the 65th Grammys. My last blog post highlighted this celebrity. His sound is hard to copy in rap music. Expect him to bring many of his girlfriends onstage and sing Titi Me Pregunto. Also, you watch as the show itself exceeds expectations. 

What else can a music lover expect from a 2023 Grammy? Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Adele are going to attend according to the latest sources. With the biggest stars on the biggest stage the night will certainly be big. Who can deny the star power of those three women? So, get prepared for a speech or two from the trio after they win. We will discuss nominations a little more later.

Lively Pre-Parties

In 2022, we saw the release of some amazing albums. Sunday the Recording Academy will tell us who had the best one. It’s not all about the cover art. Remember to never judge a book by its cover. If we only judged an album by its cover art or music video we would miss out on greatness. Some of the greatest songs of all time do not have official music videos.

Still, in the end, music is art. Music artists work hard honing their crafts. Fame doesn’t happen in a blink of an eye or a camera flash for that matter. Dedication is required and serious grit. Also, remember a picture is worth a thousand words. Did you know all this week there were pre-Grammy parties? Yes, it was all that you imagined and more. Who wouldn’t want to attend at least a couple of them?

Check out the photos from Rolling Stone and US Weekly. Going through the photos, you’ll find highlights which will serve as memories. Believe me, some celebrities will swear up and down something did or did not happen. But the camera doesn’t lie. After you browse through the pictures, come back for more of the Grammys watch. This story is far from finished.

Amazing Performances

Get ready for an extravaganza. If you thought the Recording Academy couldn’t outdo what it did last year, think again. Show business is no longer the same. Did you know you’re able to stream the Grammys on Paramount Plus? This is big business. What will they think up next? So, Sunday will only be the beginning for real music lovers. You can rewind, fast forward and pause all you want now that streaming is in the equation.

Where do the Grammys rank in the award season for you? Do you like the Golden Globe Awards? I wrote a blog post last month about it. I watched the red carpet and the live show and gave a 2023 recap. I felt it was a great show. I’m happy anytime the stars are shining.

Can’t you see the stars shining right now as bright as ever? Musicians are making footprints before they even walk on stage. Singers and producers will come away with stories about the nights leading up to THE NIGHT. As you can see, these are lively pre-parties. Later, you’ll see amazing performances.

Last summer, Beyoncé released her new album entitled Renaissance. Recently, she announced a world tour for said album. Everywhere fans are trying to buy up the tickets. What more can I say? Her creativity is still off the charts. The Grammys tweeted that Jay-Z is slated to perform. Might he bring Beyoncé up on stage? You never know. That’s why I’m excited and can’t wait.

The singer is nominated for nine Grammys. How many do you think she’ll win? Could Bad Bunny beat her for record of the year? There’s a lot of competition around the world. The music industry, especially, is full of competitiveness. Does it always have to be cutthroat and cold blooded? For what it’s worth, I think some things are changing. Entertainment is becoming a more collaborative space. You see more and more musicians collaborating. Some things that you would never see in the past are getting done now.

Finally, the Grammys are back and there’s no excuse for bad ratings. Everybody listened to some awesome music last year. Now it’s time to celebrate. Let’s close our eyes and dream before the stars come out and shine for the evening. Dream you were there. If you’re a rising star, now is your chance to visualize you are in the building.

Categories
Celebrity Celebs entertainers Entertainment Entertainment News Grammys Latino Latinos Music Music News Puerto Ricans Puerto Rico rap music Rapper rapping Singers

Is Bad Bunny the New Sound of Rap Music?

Bad Bunny Photo By: Creative Commons

Is Bad Bunny the New Sound of Rap Music?

Bad Bunny will perform at the Grammys Sunday February 5, 2023. Are you looking forward to watching the Puerto Rican rapper perform? It’s going to be all you thought and more. Isn’t he the man of the hour? Where are my Bad Bunny fans? Did you see his 2020 Super Bowl performance? Where do I start this discussion off at?

First, Bad Bunny is out to prove a point. That’s why his music is out there. Have you ever heard a bad Bad Bunny song? No, right? Also, the Grammys are only the tip of the iceberg of his resume. In addition to this, he’s the headliner of the Coachella festival in April along with Frank Ocean and BLACKPINK. This 28-year-old has built a strong fan base with millions of followers. His Instagram has 44 million followers and counting. For some reason, it’s private right now. There is a lot of good stuff to say about Bad Bunny. Despite his fame, he’s managing things quite well. Going into the Grammys, he’s probably the biggest name performing. 

I believe we can compare him with Pitbull and Drake. Like Pitbull, he represents his heritage well. And like Drake, he presents a lover boy image too. His future is bright. The star is not only shining but rising. What is more, the music artist does not need to sing in English. If you want to listen to the rapper and understand his lyrics, it will help if you spoke a little Spanish. 

What’s Up?

Are you a fan? What are some of your favorite songs and music videos by this music artist? You can find him on Youtube and Spotify. And if you really want to get to know about him, check out his Wikipedia and Britannica pages. There’s so much I learned about the rapper from reading these sources.

So far, did you know his discography includes 5 studio albums, 94 singles, 1 Extended Play and 1 Compilation? He’s put in a lot of hard work and the effort shows. That’s a lot of content the celebrity has been building since 2013. Make no mistake about it, the entertainer isn’t going away despite taking a break from social media. In fact, his Grammys and Coachella performances tell a different story.

I came up with an idea of a Bad Bunny and BLACKPINK collaboration. Together they could appeal to a huge audience uniting Latinos and Asians. Don’t you feel music needs something like this? What is more, it’s only a matter of time before Bad Bunny sings in English. Hold up for a minute. Imagine the possibility of a Spanish, Korean, and English single. How wild would that music video be?

Experimenting

Entertainment is an experimental space full of possibilities. Music can take us places only dreams do. We are familiar with his collaborations with J Balvin and Jennifer Lopez. What if he performed with country music singers? By now in 2023, you should know anything could happen. Did you see Sam Smith and Kim Petras Saturday Night Live performance? Bad Bunny isn’t afraid to make a statement himself. Go back through the archives and you’ll find he’s a risk taker.

His latest album, Un Verano Sin Ti, translates in English as A Summer Without You. This album is number one on the U.S. and U.S. Latin music charts. Tití Me Preguntó released on June 1, 2022, was the song of the summer. Please tell me you’ve seen the music video by now. To wrap it up, with his album going 5 x platinum, Bad Bunny is the new sound of rap music. 

Categories
TV shows Actors Celebrities comedy Entertainment Entertainment News Hollywood Hollywood Stars SNL SNL hosts SNL Musical Guests Television TV and Showbiz TV Ratings TV Recap TV series TV Stars

NBC SNL Episode 2 Breakdown: Was This One Great?

SNL Logo Public Domain
SNL Logo Public Domain

 

NBC SNL Episode 2 Breakdown: Was This One Great? 

Let’s begin the breakdown recognizing SNL Host Michael B. Jordan and musical guest Lil Baby. Last weekend Aubrey Plaza did a fantastic job hosting the TV show. This weekend was Jordan’s turn. Would he bring as much energy or even more? Everybody had an expectation for him. What was yours?

I felt Michael B. Jordan was going to slam dunk this one. Like the superstar he is, Jordan’s crossover to live television was a no brainer. Before writing this blog post, I learned more about the actor and published another blog post you might enjoy. Who knew the extent of his television presence? The Creed III Director/ Lead Actor possesses a multitude of talents.

It was a solid opening for episode 2. SNL covered the latest in politics as usual and got the ball rolling.  Not too long after Michael B. Jordan came onto the stage, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim came on or should I say came on to him. So far, the TV show was hilarious. Saturday Night Live knows how to play up every tool in their toolkit. By far the funniest thing was Ego showing up on stage in a wedding dress. This one was great. The material was well-written from start to finish. Like Creed, the night was packed with punches. 

Was Lil Baby Pretty Good?

When Lil Baby took the stage to perform the hit California Breeze, it was a wrap. Saturday Night Live had me sold on the night. Michael B. Jordan owned it. Every sketch delivered a ton of value. Just like I tweeted before the show even started, this was TV gold. There were so many elements that combined to make this work seem effortless.

What Was the Skit That Stole the Night?

If there’s one prerecorded skit that stole the night, it was Michael B. Jordan playing the State Farm guy. I tweeted that the insurance companies owe SNL money. All that advertisement can’t be free. This had to generate the most responses on Twitter because everybody was talking about it. Overall, Jordan was all over the place demonstrating his range. He played a water guy and a fireman. Well, he played a stripper dressed as a firefighter with pregnant baby mama issues. 

Last But Not Least

What else should an SNL TV show watcher know about after episode 2? Kenan Thompson had his moment playing a doorman on Weekend Update. Colin Jost and Michael Che are a good team. Lil Baby’s second song was a little more dramatic. It told a story and could crossover genres. Whoever was his pianist was incredible. 

What are your thoughts? Did you watch SNL this weekend? Are you looking forward to next weekend’s host Pedro Pascal from HBO’s The Last of Us?

Nothing quite beats live television. Thanks for reading this blog post. Did you catch any of my live Tweets? Follow me on Twitter @IamGuruJay and Instagram @TheGuruJay for more content.

Categories
Country music Celebrities country Country Singers Entertainment Music Music Blogs

Country Music Singer Kane Brown Has Made a Difference

Kane Brown Photo
Country Music Singer Kane Brown wearing a white ball cap smiles for the camera.

What’s a story without a protagonist? Do we always need a villain? Country music is said to tell a story. Well, every hero goes on a journey and Kane Brown’s Go Around is epic.

Master storytellers could call themselves gurus or do without the titles. One thing is for certain: every hero’s journey is different. Record label or not, wherever Kane Brown is signed his signature means something. At 29 years old, he’s built a music catalog that can make his family proud. What is more, he is just scratching the surface of his greatness. We all have a unique fingerprint and footprint. Perhaps, you’ve been to a Kane Brown concert. What do the vibrations feel like? Some things in life are indescribable. But, I will do my best to describe who Country Music artist Kane Brown really is and why you need to listen to his music.

First, you have to watch Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown, Thank God official music video in order to see how far Kane has come. It’s incredible his wife recorded a song with him on the Different Man album. This year they will celebrate five years of marriage. The country music singer has made a difference.

Perhaps, his most popular music video and song is called Heaven. Check out the song lyrics and you’ll see why Heaven was a hit in 2017.  If Country music tells a story, then the country music singer is a storyteller. Did you know he auditioned for both American Idol and the X-Factor? Read more about his American Idol experience and you’ll discover they dropped the ball on this talented singer. Throughout Kane Brown’s life, he has dealt with the lovers and haters all the same. 

Despite all of this, I feel the country music community has been supportive of the Nashville based star and his career. The fact of the matter is Brown is not going away any time soon. I believe he was born a star in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m going to do my part and see to it that KANE BROWN shines. 

Categories
Singers bands Famous Famous People Music Music Blogs music business Music Industry pop pop music pop stars

K-Pop’s BLACKPINK Is Taking Over the World

 By: Guru Jay

In August 2016, BLACKPINK was created out of stardust. Guru Jay Entertainment turned two years old. When stars are born, it’s a complicated process. Just ask Lady Gaga and Destiny’s Child. Have you heard of the Beyoncé formation? You see, there were four music stars born on that illustrious summer night. They were and are more than singers and dancers. They are celebrities. They are Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. The question is are you excited about K-Pop’s takeover? Are you listening to the good vibrations in today’s music? K-Pop’s BLACKPINK is taking over the world beginning in Bangkok, Thailand.

Like Destiny’s Child, BLACKPINK appeals to a large fanbase. Can’t you see how much their hard work has paid off? Every music video comes close to perfection. YG Entertainment formed a four-member girl group with everlasting star power. Listen! This group has gone beyond K-Pop and risen to a momentous occasion and only time will tell how far their music glory will travel. Presently, I’m a long way from Asia. Right now, BLACKPINK is on the BORN PINK World Tour Asia. With all that’s going on: the album which debuted September 16, 2022, the Coachella festival headliner news, everything couldn’t be more perfect.

Have you heard about all the planets aligning in December? And NASA discovered the first exoplanet just yesterday with the James Webb telescope. What is written in the stars? The truth is BLACKPINK makes my palms sweaty and gives my gut butterflies. Each one of them is gorgeous. As Guru Jay, I am going to do my part and let the stars shine. 

Check out BLACKPINK on YouTube Music, Spotify, and all that other good stuff. Also, consider buying the BORN PINK album. It’s in two languages: Korean and English. And if you like my content, please share and comment. Thanks a lot. You can follow me on Twitter @IamGuruJay. Peace and love!