Notebook
December 3rd, 2009 by Hannah

Full List of Grammy Awards Nominees:

RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Halo,” Beyonce
“I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Am…Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame, Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
Fearless, Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“Pretty Wings,” Maxwell
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyonce
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

BEST NEW ARTIST
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Hometown Glory,” Adele
“Halo,” Beyonce
“Hot N Cold,” Katy Perry
“Sober,” Pink
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“This Time,” John Legend
“Love You,” Maxwell
“Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz
“If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Seal
“All About the Love Again,” Stevie Wonder

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
“I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas
“We Weren’t Born to Follow,” Bon Jovi
“Never Say Never,” The Fray
“Sara Smile,” Hall and Oates
“Kids,” MGMT

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
“Sea of Heartbreak,” Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen
“Love Sex Magic,” Ciara and Justin Timberlake
“Lucky,” Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Willie Nelson and Norah Jones
“Breathe,” Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“Besame Mucho,” Herb Alpert
“Throw Down Your Heart,” Bela Fleck
“The Fire,” Imogen Heap
“Phoenix Rise,” Maxwell
“Funk Joint,” Marcus Miller

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
In Boston, Chris Botti
Legacy, Hiroshima
Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones
Modern Art The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman
Down the Wire, Spyro Gyra

BEST POP ALBUM
The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas
Breakthrough, Colbie Caillat
All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson
The Fray, The Fray
Funhouse, Pink

BEST DANCE RECORDING
“Boom Boom Pow,” The Black Eyed Peas
“When Love Takes Over,” David Guetta and Kelly Rowland
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“Celebration,” Madonna
“Womanizer,” Britney Spears

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
Divided By Night, The Crystal Method
One Love, David Guetta
The Fame, Lady Gaga
Party Rock, LMFAO
Yes, Pet Shop Boys

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
A Swingin’ Christmas, Tony Bennett
Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Buble
Your Songs, Harry Connick, Jr.
Liza’s At the Palace, Liza Minnelli
American Classic, Willie Nelson

BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Beyond Here Lies Nothin,’” Bob Dylan
“Change in the Weather,” John Fogerty
“Dreamer,” Prince
“Working on a Dream,” Bruce Springsteen
“Fork in the Road,” Neil Young

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
“Can’t Find My Way Home,” Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
“Live in Technicolor II,” Coldplay
“21 Guns,” Green Day
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” U2

BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
“War Machine,” AC/DC
“Check My Brain,” Alice in Chains
“What I’ve Done,” Linkin Park
“The Unforgiven III,” Metallica
“Burn It to the Ground,” Nickelback

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
“Dissident Aggressor,” Judas Priest
“Set to Fail,” Lamb of God
“Head Crusher,” Megadeath
“Senor Peligro,” Ministry
“Hate Worldwide,” Slayer

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“A Day in the Life,” Jeff Beck
“Warped Sister,” Booker T. Jones
“Playing With Fire,” Brad Paisley
“Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin,’” Brian Setzer Orchestra
“Now We Run,” Steve Vai

BEST ROCK SONG
“The Fixer,” Pearl Jam
“I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” U2
“21 Guns,” Green Day
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon
“Working on a Dream,” Bruce Springsteen

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Black Ice, AC/DC
Live From Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
21st Century Breakdown, Green Day
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
No Line on the Horizon, U2

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, David Byrne and Brian Eno
The Open Door, Death Cab for Cutie
Sounds of the Universe, Depeche Mode
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
It’s Blitz!, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Beyonce
“It Kills Me,” Melanie Fiona
“That Was Then,” Lalah Hathaway
“Goin’ Thru Changes,” Ledisi
“Lions, Tigers & Bears,” Jazmine Sullivan

BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“The Point of It All,” Anthony Hamilton
“Pretty Wings,” Maxwell
“Sobeautiful,” Musiq Soulchild
“Under,” Pleasure P
“There Goes My Baby,” Charlie Wilson

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
“Blame It,” Jamie Foxx and T-Pain
“Chocolate High,” India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild
“Ifuleave,” Musiq Soulchild and Mary J. Blige
“Higher Ground,” Robert Randolph and The Clark Sisters
“Love Has Finally Come at Last,” Calvin Richardson and Ann Nesby

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“At Last,” Beyonce
“Soul Music,” Anthony Hamilton
“Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” Boney James and Quinn
“Sow Love,” Ann Nesby
“Woman Gotta Have It,” Calvin Richardson

BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE
“Daykeeper,” The Foreign Exchange
“All Matter,” Robert Glasper and Bilal
“Pearls,” India.Arie and Dobet Gnahore
“A Tale of Two,” Eric Roberson, Ben O’Neill, and Michelle Thompson
“Blend,” Tonex

BEST R&B SONG
“Blame It,” Jamie Foxx and T-Pain
“Lions, Tigers, and Bears,” Jazmine Sullivan
“Pretty Wings,” Maxwell
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyonce
“Under,” Pleasure P

BEST R&B ALBUM
The Point of It All, Anthony Hamilton
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, India.Arie
Turn Me Loose, Ledisi
Blacksummers’ Night, Maxwell
Uncle Charlie, Charlie Wilson

BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
I Am…Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
Intuition, Jamie Foxx
The Introduction of Marcus Cooper, Pleasure P
Ready, Trey Songz
Thr33 Ringz, T-Pain

BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
“Best I Ever Had,” Drake
“Beautiful,” Eminem
“D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” Jay-Z
“Day ‘N’ Nite,” Kid Cudi
“Casa Bey,” Mos Def

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
“Too Many Rappers,” Beastie Boys and Nas
“Crack A Bottle,” Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent
“Money Goes, Honey Stay,” Fabolous and Jay-Z
“Make Her Say,” Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and Common
“Amazing,” Kanye West and Young Jeezy

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
“Ego,” Beyonce and Kanye West
“Knock You Down,” Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West
“I’m on a Boat,” The Lonely Island and T-Pain
“Dead and Gone,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake

BEST RAP SONG
“Best I Ever Had,” Drake
“Day ‘N’ Nite,” Kid Cudi
“Dead and Gone,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake
“D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” Jay-Z
“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West

BEST RAP ALBUM
Universal Mind Control, Common
Relapse, Eminem
R.O.O.T.S., Flo Rida
The Ecstatic, Mos Def
The Renaissance, Q-Tip

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Dead Flowers,” Miranda Lambert
“I Just Call You Mine,” Martina McBride
“White Horse,” Taylor Swift
“Just a Dream,” Carrie Underwood
“Solitary Thinkin,” Lee Ann Womack

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“All I Ask for Anymore,” Trace Adkins
“People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington
“High Cost of Living,” Jamey Johnson
“Living for the Night,” George Strait
“Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn
“Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown Band
“I Run to You,” Lady Antebellum
“Here Comes Goodbye,” Rascal Flatts
“It Happens,” Sugarland

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
“Beautiful World,” Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin
“Down the Road,” Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally
“Start a Band,” Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
“I Told You So,” Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis
“Everything But Quits,” Lee Ann Womack and George Strait

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“Under the (Five) Wire,” Alison Brown
“The Crystal Merchant,” The Greencards
“Mansinneedof,” Sarah Jarosz
“Producer’s Medley,” Steve Wariner

BEST COUNTRY SONG
“All I Ask for Anymore,” Trace Adkins
“High Cost of Living,” Jamey Johnson
“I Run to You,” Lady Antebellum
“People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington
“White Horse,” Taylor Swift

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
The Foundation, Zac Brown Band
Twang, George Strait
Fearless, Taylor Swift
Defying Gravity, Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy, Lee Ann Womack

BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
Faith, Jim Brickman
Prayer for Compassion, David Darling
Laserium for the Soul, Henta
In a Dream, Peter Kater, Dominic Miller, Kenny Loggins, and Jaques Morelenbaum
Impressions of the West Lake, Kitaro

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM
Urbanus, Stefon Harris and Blackout
Sounding Point, Julian Lage
At World’s Edge, Philippe Saisse
Big Neighborhood, Mike Stern
75, Joe Zawinul and The Zawinul Syndicate

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
No Regrets, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample
Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music of Coltrane and Hartman, Kurt Elling
So In Love, Roberta Gambarini
Tide, Luciana Souza
Desire, Tierney Sutton

BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Together Through Life, Bob Dylan
Electric Dirt, Levon Helm
Willie and the Wheel, Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel
Wilco (The Album), Wilco
Little Honey, Lucinda Williams

BEST COMEDY ALBUM
Back From the Dead, Spinal Tap
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, Stephen Colbert
Internet Leaks, Weird Al Yankovic
My Weakness Is Strong, Patton Oswalt
Suckin’ It for the Holidays, Kathy Griffin
Tall, Dark, & Chicano, George Lopez

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC
Cadillac Records
Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds
Slumdog Millionaire
True Blood
Twilight

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Disc 1)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Milk
Star Trek
Up

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC
“The Climb” (From Hannah Montana: The Movie), Miley Cyrus
“Decode” (From Twilight), Paramore
“Jai Ho” (From Slumdog Millionaire), A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, and Vijay Prakash
“Once in a Lifetime” (From Cadillac Records), Beyonce
“The Wrestler” (From The Wrestler), Bruce Springsteen

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (NON-CLASSICAL)
T Bone Burnett
Ethan Johns
Larry Klein
Greg Kurstin
Brendan O’Brien

BEST REMIXED RECORDING
“Don’t Believe in Love (Dennis Ferrer Objektivity Mix),” Dennis Ferrer (Dido)
“The Girl and the Robot (Jean Elan Remix),” Jean Elan (Royksopp)
“I Want You (Dave Aude Remix),” Dave Aude, (Dean Coleman Featuring DCLA)
“No You Girls (Trentemoller Remix),” Anders Trentemoller (Franz Ferdinand)
“When Love Takes Over (Electro Extended Remix),” David Guetta (David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland)

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
“Mr. Hurricane,” Beast
“Boom Boom Pow,” The Black Eyed Peas
“Life in Technicolor II,” Coldplay
“Wrong,” Depeche Mode
“Her Morning Elegance,” Oren Lavie

BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
In Boston, Chris Botti
Johnny Cash’s America, Johnny Cash
Anita O’Day — The Life of a Jazz Singer — Anita O’Day
Love Pain and the Whole Crazy World Tour Live — Keith Urban
The Beatles Love — All Together Now — Various Artists

November 12th, 2009 by Hannah

2009 Country Music Association Awards Winners

FULL list of 2009 CMA Winners.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown Band

“I Run To You”
Lady Antebellum

“In Color”
Jamey Johnson

“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington

“Then”
Brad Paisley

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
American Saturday Night
Brad Paisley

Defying Gravity
Keith Urban

Fearless
Taylor Swift

Love On The Inside
Sugarland

That Lonesome Song
Jamey Johnson

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette

“I Told You So”
Randy Travis

“In Color”
Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto

“People Are Crazy”
Bobby Braddock/Troy Jones

“Then”
Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire

“Down The Road”
Kenny Chesney (with Mac McAnally)

“Everything But Quits”
Lee Ann Womack (duet with George Strait)

“I Told You So”
Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis

“Old Enough”
The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe

“Start A Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Boots On”
Randy Houser

“Love Story”
Taylor Swift

“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington

“Start A Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)

“Troubadour”
George Strait

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Eddie Bayers– Drums
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar

November 5th, 2009 by Hannah

The highly experienced and wise country singer is apparently not too happy with what the youngsters seem to be doing with the genre these days. George Jones doesn’t seem to be to impressed with Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood whom he recently accused of stealing the identity of country music and whoring it into the mainstream. One can see his point, but George Jones seems to be fighting a losing battle. But then again, he’s an artist and Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are… well, one is a hit factory and the other an American Idol winner. But you keep on fighting the good fight, sir! Maybe one day…

October 13th, 2009 by Hannah

Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson lead the nominations at this year’s American Music Awards

Nominees Are:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon
Taylor Swift
Lady Gaga
Eminem
Michael Jackson

POP/ROCK – Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Michael Jackson
T.I.

POP/ROCK – Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Kings of Leon
Nickelback

POP/ROCK – Favorite Album
Fame – Lady Gaga
Number Ones – Michael Jackson
Fearless – Taylor Swift

COUNTRY – Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Darius Rucker
Keith Urban

COUNTRY – Favorite Female Artist
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

COUNTRY – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band

COUNTRY – Favorite Album
Unstoppable – Rascal Flatts
Fearless – Taylor Swift
Foundation – Zac Brown Band

RAP/HIP-HOP – Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Jay-Z
T.I.

RAP/HIP-HOP – Favorite Album
Relapse – Eminem
Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
Paper Trail – T.I.

SOUL/R&B – Favorite Male Artist
Jamie Foxx
Michael Jackson
Maxwell

SOUL/R&B – Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Keyshia Cole
Keri Hilson

SOUL/R&B – Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Day26
Mary Mary

SOUL/R&B – Favorite Album
I Am…Sasha Fierce – Beyonce
The E.N.D. – The Black Eyed Peas
Number Ones – Michael Jackson

SOUNDTRACKS – Favorite Album
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana 3
Twilight Soundtrack

ALTERNATIVE ROCK – Favorite Artist
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Shinedown

ADULT CONTEMPORARY – Favorite Artist
Daughtry
Jason Mraz
Taylor Swift

LATIN – Favorite Artist
Aventura
Luis Fonsi
Wisin Y Yandel

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL – Favorite Artist
Jeremy Camp
Brandon Heath
Mary Mary

September 17th, 2009 by Hannah

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Singer Beyoncé’s father has said that he is very “proud” of the way his daughter dealt with Kanye West’s rude upstaging of Taylor Swift at the recent MTV Video Music Awards (VMA).

The US rapper, 32, snatched the microphone from Swift, 19, after she won the Best Female Video at this year’s VMA, claiming that Beyoncé deserved to win the award more for her Single Ladies video.

Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, has revealed how proud he was of the way his 28-year-old daughter acted – following the incident, the singer who could be seen looking mortified by West’s outburst, invited Swift back on-stage to finish her acceptance speech.

Knowles, who is also Beyoncé’s manager, said: “It wasn’t my decision to bring Taylor out.

“It was all Beyoncé’s decision. I want to be clear about that… ultimately, that was Beyoncé’s decision.

“I can only say it was a proud night for me as a manager, but more importantly as a father.”

He added: “I’ve always said the thing that makes me most proud about Beyoncé is not how many records she’s sold… it’s that she’s a genuine good person.

“I know it’s hard for people to believe that she can really be that nice of a person, but she really is.”