All The Fashion At The 2011 American Music Awards

The 39th Annual American Music Awards took place last night (20 November) and was it the biggest snoozefest of the year. The red carpet was one big doze-off too, with red carpet firm favourites Lady Gaga, Rihanna (both in the UK) and Beyonce (attending the ‘Live At Roseland: Elements Of 4‘ screening) not making an appearance. Highlights of the night included British songstress Adele finally getting some American recognition, with her critically acclaimed album ‘21‘ winning favourite album as well as pop crooner Bruno Mars surprisingly and deservedly winning favourite male artist over teen sensation Justin Bieber. Country starlet Taylor Swift was of course the big winner of the night once again. Head below for all the red carpet fashion:

With her pink hair pulled into a chignon, Katy Perry showed some sexy leg in a Chinese-printed Vivienne Westwood gown with a high slit.

R&B diva Jennifer Hudson flaunted her gorgeous new figure in a Jenny Packham draped little number.

One of the night’s best-dressed was actress Jenny McCarthy in a puffy Victoria Beckham dress. Love her chic retro side-swept curl and popping red lips.

Jennifer Lopez proved she still got it in this on-the-floor length Zuhair Murad gown.

American Idol alum Adam Lambert once again grabbed our attention in his interesting ensemble.

‘Modern Family‘ actress Julie Bowen looked a mess in her mini dress and messy hair. This look would have been more fitting for her much younger co-star below.

It girl Sarah Hyland underwhelmed in her beaded dress.

Justin Bieber and girlfriend Selena Gomez got loveydovey, with Selena failing to impress in her satin Armani dress.

Rocking a side ponytail, Taylor Swift looked beautiful in a Reem Acra glittery strapless gown. Wait a minute, haven’t we seen this dress on her before?!

Photos Via Celebrity Gossip & Entertainment News

 

Adele Readies To Set Fire To The Rain

British songstress Adele isn’t letting her recent throat surgery slow her down. The 23-year-old has announced that ‘Set Fire To The Rain’ will be her third official US radio single off her multi-million selling album ‘21‘, as of 21 November.

The newly released artwork for the power ballad, co-written by the pop diva, features Adele in a familiar territory, opting for a black and white close-up profile shot of herself. The ‘Someone Like You‘ singer sports her signature voluminous curls, with her eyes closed to reveal her long lashes.

Photo Via Hit Or Shit?

 

Florence and The Machine Is Back

We grew to love Florence and The Machine following the haunting sounds, dramatic beats and dark lyrics in songs such as “Cosmic Love” and “Dog Days Are Over” from their critically acclaimed 2009 freshman album “Lungs”.

Now the British Indie Rock band is back with a new single titled “What The Water Gave Me” — off their still-to-be-titled sophomore album — and boy was it worth the long wait. With the new single, Flo + The Machine are taking their gospel sound to a whole other level. From mean guitar strings, to mystical britbeats married with Florence Welch’s incomparable gulps and growls, not forgetting the soulful gospel chants and raw allusions to water lyrics, the song is emotive, anthemic as well as dancy.

The song was produced by British award-winning music producer Paul Epworth — who recently worked with Adele on “21″. If this is an indicator of what’s to come from the new album, set to drop on 07 November, WE WANT MORE.

 

Mademoiselle Adele Grace Out Magazine

Everyone’s favourite English-Welch songstress, Adele, is showing love to the gay community and covering the June issue of Out magazine.

Lensed by photographer Perry Ogden, Adele grace the cover of Out with her mighty British sass. The voluptuous soul singer with her big eyes popping out and sporting lustrous ruby red lips is captured in a fierce head-and-shoulder shot on the magazine cover.

Here are her photos and excerpts in the magazine:

Adele fancily dangling a cigarette. Can you believe Adele at least smokes 20 cigarettes per day?!

The 23-year-old shows off her beautiful brown hair and gorgeous skin. Adele explains to the magazine where her extraordinary writing skills come from: “I don’t know if it’s because I’m an only child, but I was never, ever good at saying how I felt about things. From the age of about 5, if I was told off for not sharing, or I didn’t tidy my room, or I spoke back to my mom, I’d always write a note as my apology”

Adele gets cocky with a Greek art statue. The “Rolling In The Deep” singer, who has capitalized on her past relationship failures, tells Out that she would have given up everything to make her relationship work with the ex that’s behind the inspiration on “21”.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for not making my relationship with my ex on 21 work, because he’s the love of my life (adding that she would have been willing to give up everything for him) Well, I would still be singing in the shower, of course, but yeah — my career, my friendships, my hobbies. I would have given up trying to be the best”, Adele points out to Out. “He made me really weak, but at the same time really fucking fearless, so I managed to channel that. I don’t know if I’ll ever beat this album in terms of how people connect to it”

The new queen of soul tells the magazine: “I always say I’m a singing lady, rather than a singer. Singer is a big word for me. My interpretation of a singer is Etta James and Carole King and Aretha Franklin”

Adele recalls the moment she won her Grammy for ‘Best New Artist’ in 2009, saying: “I had just come back from the toilet, so my Spanx weren’t even all the way up. Then I won Best New Artist, and it was like time slowed down, and I was hovering over myself, pissing myself laughing. It was amazing”

Here is what Adele had to say on being a role model: “I get a lot of mail from people who tell me that I make them really happy to be themselves, and really comfortable with who they are, which I love. I would hate it if someone was, like, ‘I wish I was you’ because I’m as insecure about myself as the next person”

Despite her sophomore album “21” selling like hot cakes and breaking all sorts of records, Adele hold that her recent found success hasn’t gone to her head: “I’ve met people I admire, and people I don’t admire who are completely affected by their success, and I fucking hate them. There’s so many people who believe their own hype and treat people like shit, and if I was ever like that I would absolutely stop doing what I’m doing for a while and go and find myself again. I find it grotesque when people change because of it, but maybe it’s because they’re not as good at keeping in contact with the people who love them for a reason”

The “Someone Like You” singer describes her music to Out: “My music’s not stylized — it’s not sold by image, or by my sexuality, or aloofness, or anything like that. I think it would be really bizarre if I started doing gimmicks and stunts — it wouldn’t suit my music”

 

Adele and Lupe Fiasco Are Teen Vogue’s Music Acts To Watch

Following the success of their latest albums, British singer Adele and rapper Lupe Fiasco are featured in American Teen Vogue as two of six music acts to watch-out for.

The two were Photographed by Maciek Kobielski for the May 2011 Music issue. Both Adele’s “21″ and Lupe Fiasco’s “Lasers” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Albums chart, and continue to well on album charts across the globe.

Other acts featured in the issue include Christina Perri, Greyson Chance, Diry Gold and Wonder Girls.

 

Adele Grace Rolling Stone

British songstress Adele continues with her world domination, as this time she grace her first Rolling Stone cover. Looking rather punkish with her voluminous hair, the singer covers the magazine’s “Best Of Rock 2011” issue.

The 22-year diva could not have covered the magazine at a better time, as the magazine has been receiving a lot of criticism lately for putting people with ‘no real music talent’ on the cover.

Adele’s “21” spent its fourth non-consecutive week atop the Billboard Albums chart this past week, becoming the first album to cross the 1 million mark this year. In the UK, Adele’s sophomore offering has spent 11 consecutive weeks atop the albums chart ever since its debut in late January.

Adele tells the magazine she’s very comfortable and happy with her weight.

“My life is full of drama and I won’t have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like. I don’t like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine. Even if I had a really good figure, I don’t think I’d get my t**s and a** out for no one. I love seeing Lady Gaga’s boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry’s boobs and bum. Love it. But that’s not what my music is about. I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears”.

Adele also tells the magazine that ‘Sasha Fierce’, her idol Beyonce’s alter ego, has helped her get over a few stage frights. “I was about to meet Beyonce and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, ‘You’re amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I’m listening to God’. I went out on the balcony crying hysterically, and I said, ‘What would Sasha Fierce do’ That’s when Sasha Carter was born”, she says.

 

The First Lady of soul

In 2008 she released a critically acclaimed freshman album titled “19″ – her age at the time – starring classical hits such as Hometown Glory, Cold Shoulder and Chasing Pavements. As a result she even earned two Grammys in 2009, but many thought she will fade into the background after as it seems to be the norm with many artists who have had successful first albums. However, British songstress Adele has managed to silence her critics with yet another banger of an album.

A lot has happened in Adele’s life in the past three years, her sound has matured, her writing has progressed and she went through a break-up, which is the core of her second album “21″.

On this record Adele sounds like a manic-depressive, she is cold the one minute and hot the other, she’s a train wreck, she is pissed and I like it. Cut after cut Adele takes us on her journey throughout the break-up. 21 is full of so much emotion, complemented by Adele soulful vocals. Adele will leave you filled with mixed emotions from anger to sorrow and even resignation, but never disappointed.

The 11-track album exudes Adele’s versatility, fusing blues, country, soul, pop and gospel. Adele co-wrote all the songs on the album, with the exception of The Cure cover “Lovesong”. The maturity of the lyrics on each and every track on the album gives one a feeling of surrealism when you consider that they were written by a 21-year old. This is what sets Adele apart from all the pop princesses of today, who always opt for frivolous lyrics.

There are three highlights on the album. The first is piano-themed “Rolling in the Deep”, which is accompanied by powerful chants in the background. The lyrics are as raw as they can get and reeks of a jilted young lady. With lyrics such as “The scars of your love, remind me of us.
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all. The scars of your love, they leave me breathless “, there is no doubt in one’s mind that our protagonist is ragging with anger.

“Rumour has it” is another highlight on 21. The song was produced by OneRepublic’s lead singer Ryan Tedder. Adele is very cocky on this one as she sings “She, she ain’t real, she ain’t gonna be able to love you like I will, she is a stranger, you and I have history”. This track has a very high beat.

Then of course, there is the subtle piano balled “Someone Like You”, which is very reminiscent of “Hometown Glory”. Much like “Hometown Glory” this track just let Adele’s powerful voice speaks for themselves, and as a result it sends shivers down one’s spine. Adele let it all rip and shows how vulnerable the break-up left her feeling. As she sings “I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn’t stay away, I couldn’t fight it. I had hoped you’d see my face and that you’d be reminded that for me it isn’t over”, you cannot help but feel sorry for her. This is a very relatable song.

21 was released on 24 January in the UK, selling 208,000 copies in the first week, thus debuting at No.1 on the albums chart and has been holding onto that spot ever since – for four consecutive weeks to be exact. After Adele performed of the second single off the album “Someone Like You” at the Brit Awards, the song subsequently topped the UK Singles Chart, serving as Adele’s first No.1 single in the UK. Adele also broke records for becoming the first living artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have two top five hits in both the UK Singles Chart and the UK Album Chart simultaneously.

The album has since been certified double-platinum. 21 has also topped albums chart in Germany, Denmark and Ireland. The album was released in the US earlier this week, and is expected to top the Billboard Albums Chart too.

21 reaffirms that Adele is a gem to the to music industry and has the potential to unleash into one of the legendary female vocalists we have ever seen.