Brandon's Best, Worst, and UNbelievable!

E! To Premiere Lady Gaga and Beyonce's "Telephone" Music Video

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

It was revealed last night that entertainment network E! will be premiering the most anticipated music video of the year, Lady Gaga's "Telephone" featuring Beyonce.

The channel, known primarily for its red carpet coverage, Ryan Seacrest, and the Kardashians, will air the much-delayed video during its E! News program at 11:50pm. At 12 midnight, the video will have its internet premiere on VEVO, YouTube's ~~failed~~ music video website. It is expected to be at most ten minutes long.

The video was filmed in late January, and has been subject to multiple changed premiere dates, the latest being today to Thursday. The song, which is the second duet between Gaga and Beyonce, currently sits at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, two spots away from being Gaga sixth consecutive top 10 single.

Jedward's "Under Pressure": It's So Terrible, It's Actually Offensive

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:25:00 +0000

I didn't give a damn about X Factor gruesome twosome John and Edward (a.k.a. Jedward) getting a #2 hit with "Under Pressure", because I knew that it was a television-led farce that would die out quickly.

Then I checked out Mediabase radio stats, and guess what I found, sitting pretty at #79 with 59 spins on US radio?

Jedward's "Under Pressure".

Absolutely shocked, I watched their music video and I realized that its actually more hideous than I had imagined. They took an iconic good song, fused it with iconic bad song, laid down some subpar vocals, and threw in the ultimate one-hit wonder for shits and giggles. The result is such an unimaginable stain on the face of current pop music that, if I didn't know they were serious, would seem like a parody of pop rap. Unfortunately, the inflated egos they gained through their X Factor success probably made them think this was acceptable to release, when it should've never left the studio. Actually, scratch that. It should've never been recorded on tape or computer or whatever used.

If you have strong constitutions, than check out the video:

If You Thought Heidi Montag's Face Couldn't Get Any Worse...

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:50:00 +0000

I normally avoid writing about anything related to "banes-of-pop-culture" Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, but I simply couldn't ignore this.

In fact, if my roommate wasn't sleeping right now, I probably would have either gasped loudly in shock or thrown up a little bit.

This is a new picture of Heidi, post-surgery, at the Pure nightclub on Valentine's Day:

And just in case you argue it's a bad angle, here's another one:

For the first time, I actually feel really bad for Heidi Montag. She must've had self-esteem issues up the freakin' wazoo to allow this obscene level of monstrosity to be carried out on herself. It also doesn't help having a douchebad of a husband not telling you what you are doing makes no sense. While I was never a fan of hers, she was a beautiful girl, just a few months ago. Now, she looks like someone who should be on Real Housewives or something. Hell, Kim Zolciak from Real Housewives of Atlanta looks both younger and prettier than Heidi now.

What a shame...

P.S. Here's one more for good measure:

Download of the Day 2/14: Sade's "Soldier of Love"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Approaching their fourth decade in the music business, you couldn't blame anyone for accusing British R&B group Sade of being a bit stale. I mean, we live in an era of booty-shaking; where do songs like "Smooth Operator" fit?

Thankfully, that question is thoroughly answered by their first single in a decade, "Soldier of Love". With the inimitable voice of lead singer Sade Alu and a surprisingly soulful drum machine at the helm, the quiet storm staples bring themselves into the new decade without sacrificing what made them superstars. Soul is dripping everywhere from this groove-rich spectacle, but there is an unexpected touch of African energy that add another layer to the lyrics about fighting for love (swear to god, not a dig at Cheryl Cole).

Yes, it's Valentines Day, and our music should be warm and fluffy, but forgive me if this edgy treat from Sade rings a bit more true.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Four Fundamental Issues With "We Are The World 25"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:24:00 +0000

There is no doubt that "We Are The World 25", the update of the iconic 1985 charity single penned by legends Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, will do a lot to help the people of Haiti, and I certainly hope it does.

However, unlike the original, the new version absolutely fails as a pop composition, and everyone knows, whether they admit it or not, that Michael Jackson is absolutely spinning in his grave (to be fair, he's been rolling since he's been buried).

Here are the four reasons why "We Are The World 25" blows:

1. The rap verse - How utterly baseless and contrived was the unexpected rap portion of the song? In an effort to bring some contemporary edge where it was never needed, the rap helped in devaluing one of the best pop songs for charity ever.

2. Wyclef Jean - The love he has for his home country is touching, for sure. But dear God, he sounded like a cat was literally shredding his throat in some parts. Some may chalk it up to passion, but there had to have been more appropriate avenues to express it than through his voice.

3. Justin Bieber starting the song - Seriously? The beginning of the song, originally sung by Lionel Richie, was given to, of all people, freakin' Justin Bieber? How much pot was involved in that decision?

4. Overloaded, under-qualified - What made the original so magical was the level of starpower that attended the recording session and how they all interacted with each other. You had Cyndi Lauper next to Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis next to Kim Carnes, Michael with everybody. There was a real sense of camaraderie there. This remake, however, was nothing more than a jumbled list of A to C-list talent. There were way too many people on the bill, and a lot of them couldn't be compared to the lesser talent of the original USA for Africa group. I mean, Kim Carnes only had "Bette Davis Eyes", but she is worth a helluva lot more than the Jonas Brothers (by the way, Nick, we haven't forgotten your Bob Dylan dig, you jackass). To be frank, Miley, Justin, the Jonases, and quite few others could've supported the song by simply buying it, leaving the heavy lifting to true pop titans like Celine, Jennifer Hudson and Nettles, and Janet. Speaking of titans, where were Beyonce, Rihanna, Gaga, hell, even Jay-Z (if rapping had to be involved)?

Check the video out below:

Music Video Premiere x2: "Rude Boy" by Rihanna and "I Got You" by Leona Lewis

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:46:00 +0000

They are two of the world's buggest pop divas, with two completely opposite personas.

But somehow, Bajan princess Rihanna and British songbird Leona Lewis both put out great videos for their new singles, on the same day!

For the fiesty single "Rude Boy", Rihanna went back to her Carribean roots with a colorful, M.I.A inspired video featuring some stuff lions and zebras, Jamaican flag-colored hot pants, and a lot of booty-shaking (remember, Rihanna can dance!).

On the other side of the coin lies Leona Lewis and her new pseudo-ballad "I Got You". The video is very reminiscent of her iconic "Bleeding Love" video (the international, or better, one), where all she does is look epically gorgeous while other people act out the drama she sings of.

While both are styled very differently, "Rude Boy" and "I Got You" are great music videos from two of pop music's most promising young divas.

Check the videos out below. Both singles are digitally available now.

Rude Boy

I Got You

I'm Back....

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:04:00 +0000

After a pretty long, self-imposed hiatus, I can surely say that I am back to writing on Best, Worst, and UNbelievable!

I decided to take a break to get re-adjusted to life at college, but I found myself full of stuff I wanted to write (a lot happened since the end of January). Plus, this month marks the blog's two year anniversary, so it's a better time than never to begin writing again.

As a reminder, the blog's fancy new URL is www.brandonsbestworst.com. If you haven't updated your bookmarks, you definitely should. If you have any questions, opinions about my posts, suggestions, or anything you would like to know, feel free to email me at brandon@brandonsbestworst.com. I always look forward to hearing any kind of feedback.

To my readers who have kept with the blog, thank you SO much for your support, and it is truly great to be back!

Brandon Lewis

Apple Presents... The iPad!

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:06:00 +0000

The rumors proved to be true.

This afternoon, at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center, Steve Jobs announced the release of the fabled Apple tablet device, titled the iPad.

The iPad, which is being considered the missing device between the iPod touch and the Macbook, will begin shipping in March. The iPad's features include an 9.7 inch screen, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, an e-book reader, and much more.

The price range for an iPad is $499 to $829, depending on disk space (16-64 GB) and 3G capability.

Ryan Tedder on Leona's "Happy": Flop Because of No Promotion and Gaga-Led Dance Craze

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:36:00 +0000

One of pop music's most ubiquitous songwriters, Ryan Tedder, has offered an explanation as to why Leona Lewis' single "Happy" was a flop in the United States.

The song, which served as the lead single for her album Echo, peaked at #31 on the Hot 100 last year, thanks in part to its appearance in the trailer for the film Precious. According to Tedder, who also co-wrote her #1 smash "Bleeding Love", it wasn't enough.

He told Digital Spy, "In the US, unless you're Justin Timberlake or Beyoncé, you cannot put out a song and not be in the country when it comes out. Leona was gone for six weeks when 'Happy' came out because she was promoting the record in other countries - it wasn't her fault; she couldn't be two places in once. I had radio stations telling me that they thought 'Happy' was the single biggest ballad they'd come across in ten years, but that if Leona didn't come over here and promote it, it was going to fall."

The song was released in September, and with sales of over 50,000 in its first week, it debuted at #50 in the US. It quick fell as iTunes sales dropped off as well, only receiving a resurgence with Precious and the album's release. She performed the song on America's Got Talent, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and VH1 Divas. Her album has sold 150,000 copies so far in the US, debuting and peaking at #13.

Tedder also referenced Lady Gaga and the boom of dance music on Top 40 radio as reason for the song's disappointing performance. "On top of that, America's consumed with Lady GaGa and dance music right now, so it's not the best time for ballads anyway," he said. "When everything on the radio is blasting out at 120 bpm, a song like 'Happy' almost sounds out-of-place."

In my opinion, the real reason why "Happy" flopped is because it wasn't that great, coupled with Leona's lack of promotion. I completely disagree with the dance music argument, and its interesting that he would make it, since "Halo" and "Already Gone", two songs he produced, were radio smashes. After a debut like "Bleeding Love", Leona needed a song far more transcendent that the one Tedder provided.

Her new single "I Got You" is out now.

BWU Singles Chart (1/23): Three Weeks at #1 for Gaga, The Saturdays Rocket Up

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" spends a third week on top of the BWU Singles Chart, preventing David Guetta's "Memories" from reaching the top spot. That song, featuring rapper Kid Cudi, stays put at #2 this week, becoming the first song to remain at the second spot for a second week. At #3 again this week is Leona Lewis' "I See You".

Last week's top debuts, "I Like" by Keri Hilson and "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Buble, both moved five spots to #4 and #5 respectively. This week's highest debut came from DJ Earworm's "United State of Pop 2009", which entered at #11. This is the first week where no song debuted in the Top 10.

After a performance on Dancing on Ice, The Saturdays' latest single "Ego" shot up from #22 all the way to #8. It is the second highest jump in the new chart's history; Leona holds the record when she went from #20 to #5 in the second week. Also benefiting from a TV appearance is Adam Lambert, who went from #23 to #14 with "Whataya Want From Me".

In total, seven songs debuted on this week's chart, including songs from John Mayer, Jason Derulo, Gabriella Cilmi, and the Sugababes.

Below is the Top 10:

1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga (-)
2. Memories - David Guetta (-)
3. I See You - Leona Lewis (-)
4. I Like - Keri Hilson (+5)
5. Haven't Met You Yet (+5)
6. Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyonce (-2)
7. I Got You - Leona Lewis (+1)
8. Ego - The Saturdays (+14)
9. All The Right Moves - OneRepublic (-4)
10. Yesterday - Toni Braxton (-4)

Download of the Day (1/21): Jason Derulo's "In My Head"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I'll be frank about Jason Derulo, and the others of the male pop explosion of 2009: I thought they were one-hit wonders.

To be fair to myself, though, they didn't give me any other reason to think otherwise. I mean, they all put out songs the other could've done with the same effect. Whether it was creative (like Derulo's sample of Imogen Heap in "Whatcha Say") or plain annoying (Iyaz's "Replay"), the songs were pretty anonymous, and the guys were in danger of facing flops come album release time.

Hoping to avoid such a disastrous fate, Derulo has released "In My Head" the follow-up to his #1 smash. It's a decidedly different song than "Whatcha Say", which is a very good thing. It still features production from JR Rotem, but the songs has a solid rock feel to it, with edgy guitar riffs sitting with the now-standard electro arrangement. In another effort to distinguish himself, the song's lyrics take on a slightly more risque feel. Derulo sings about the fantasies a girl he sees in the club inspires, as you guessed, in his head. While others like Chris Brown have been far more explicit, Derulo's take is not one to consider child's play. Neither is his voice, which has taken a lot more personality this second go-round. I am surprised to say that his vocal range is pretty nice, and it makes me wonder he'll handle some more interesting material.

While he may not be as accessible as Ne-Yo and the aforementioned Brown were when they first started, "In My Head" does suggest that Derulo is on his way to true pop stardom. He might even be able to stand tallest when the dust clears from the male pop battle.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Download of the Day (1/20): Leona Lewis' "I Got You"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:43:00 +0000

Let's be honest: Leona has a pretty so-so past twelve months.

Yeah, the British songbird scored a massive gig with Avatar and its theme track "I See You", but she has seen quite a number of troubles: she was assaulted at a book signing, her lead single "Happy" flopped, her album debuted at an abysmal #13 in the US, she injured herself after horseriding, and just recently she was caught in the middle of an L.A. shootout.

But all is not lost for one of the best voices of her generation; she's got a new single out!

The follow-up to "Happy" isn't the smash-in-waiting "Outta My Head" like I had hoped; instead she is releasing "I Got You", an uplifting slice of midtempo that fits perfectly into multi-format pop radio.

I won't even discuss Leona's vocals, because at this point, it is a given that she is flawless. The song itself, written by pop god Max Martin, is her most instant release since "Better In Time". It definitely helps that the two have a similar hopeful outlook, both lyrically and musically. The song's shimmering, string-laden production is a gorgeous compliment to Leona's powerhouse vocals. Things get a little schmaltzy with the lyrics, as she sings about going to heaven and crying, but the song's universal message of unconditional love can vouch for that.

Like "Better In Time", this is a great, if not perfect, second single off of Echo. It is just unfortunate that, unlike it's relative, "I Got You" didn't have a "Bleeding Love" to see it off to the top of the charts.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Avatar Removed From Chinese Movie Theaters!

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:48:00 +0000

It may be the most successful film of all time, but Avatar is about to be removed from theaters all across China!

The Chinese government is ordering the removal of all 2D versions of the global box office smash, ahead of the nation’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year. The 3D edition will remain in theaters, but the regular version is being pulled to avoid domestic competition.

A biopic about Chinese philosopher Confucius is due out in the country this week, increasing calls for Avatar’s demise.

China is known for their stringent practices regarding international films. The country only allows 20 foreign films in their cinemas a year, a law that director James Cameron tried to take down during his press junket visit there.

Avatar is currently the second most successful film in global box-office history, and is on track to beat Titanic, James Cameron’s other creation, to the top spot. This past weekend, the film won Best Picture and Best Director at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards.

Download of the Day (1/19): DJ Earworm's "United State of Pop 2009"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:54:00 +0000

Ever wanted to hear Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift, T.I., Beyonce, Kings of Leon, and Lady Gaga mashed together?

Look no where else but DJ Earworm. The San Francisco mashup artist, as he does every year, took 25 of the most successful songs in the country, break them down, and make them into one song. The results are quite extraordinary. This year's mix is so flawless and seamless that you almost forget that there are twenty five songs being used. "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, as the year's most blatantly successful song of the year, served as the backbone for the mashup. While some of the references are kind of obvious, there are some subtle mixes that gel really well, such as the use of Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone".

While the song is the prefect test for those people with musically inclined ears, it is also a great song in its own right. 2010 may have just started, but I almost cannot wait for it to be over so we can hear a new one.

Rating: 9 out of 10

WORST: Jennifer Lopez Guest Hosts "Lopez Tonight"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:41:00 +0000

I would tell her to stick to her day job, but "Louboutins" is flopping right now.

Jennifer Lopez switched places with George Lopez on his late night talk show on TBS "Lopez Tonight". She opened the show with one of the most awkward, unfunny monologues I have ever seen in my life. Seriously, it came off so phony that I wouldn't blame J-Lo for laughing about how bad it was.

On a good note, she looked absolutely stunning!

Check it out (if you can) below:

Boyzone's New Video "Gave It All Away": Touching Tribute?

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:35:00 +0000

Last year, the UK pop world was stunned when Boyzone member Stephen Gately died while on vacation in Majorca. The singer left behind one of the most successful boy bands Ireland ever produced, and it is still up to debate whether the group can or want to carry on without him.

The remaining members, headed by Ronan Keating, gave a little leeway to an answer with the release of their new single "Gave It All Away". The song was written by Mika and is reportedly the last ever Boyzone song with Gately's vocals. To make the situation a bit more tragic, he sings the first lyrics: "I will learn to live before I die".

As if the awkward factor wasn't high, the video will surely make people squirm a bit. The black and white video has the boys writing letters to Stephen, shedding tears, and gathering together to remember their fallen brother, intercut with clips of Stephen's impressive history with the boy band. The song itself is quite light and breezy (it is Mika we're talking about), which fails to effectively connect with the tone the video is trying to present. Than there is that ugly cynicism the video drudges up as we see the boys cry and laugh in different cuts: is is a tribute, or is a thickly veiled attempt at exploitation?

I feel like an ass for even suggesting that their grief is worth questioning, but the video is bound to make some uncomfortable when everything is considered. I feel like a ballad would be more appropriate for a Gately tribute, but that's just me.

The single will be released on March 1st in the UK and Ireland, a week before their new album, titled Brother.

Check the new video out below:

Mo'Nique May Have Won, But Mariah Has Her Own Golden Globes

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Okay, it was a stupid pun, but look at them!

Pop singer/serious actress (I'm not being sarcastic about the latter) Mariah Carey attended last night's Golden Globe Awards in L.A. to support her film Precious, and she certainly caught a lot of attention as she bared just a tad bit of cleavage.

Of course, "a tad" really means "a shitload".

Hey, at least you know her ~~servant~~ husband Nick Cannon was happy with her outfit. So was I.

And just for good measure, here's another one.

Gamers Unite! Play Halo 3 Wednesday and Thursday and Bungie Will Donate to Haiti Relief

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Some people will argue that some of the most disconnected people from society are those who play video games. Well, Bungie, the brains behind the hugely popular Xbox franchise Halo, is aiming to prove them wrong.

The company announced today that they will be holding a two-day online gaming event to support those suffering after the Haitian earthquake of last week. Bungie said that for every 1,000 players of either Halo 3 or Halo 3: ODST, the company will donate $100, potentially totaling $77,000, to the Red Cross for Haiti campaign. The only caveat is players have to change their emblem to have a red heart and a white circle, as seen below:

For those who can't make a monetary donation, and have an Xbox (or knows someone who does), this is a great (and fun) way to help those in Haiti. I will certainly be one of those fighting for the lives of those in need.

Remember, the two day event starts Wednesday!

2010 BRIT Nominations Announced: JLS, Gaga and Lily Allen Are Triple Nominees, Robbie To Be Honored

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:56:00 +0000

The nominations for the 2010 BRIT Awards were announced today at London's O2 Arena and JLS, Lily Allen and Lady Gaga are leading the pack.

X Factor runners-up JLS scored a triple whammy, being nominated for British Single, British Group, and British Breakthrough Act. They will be battling it out with winner Alexandra Burke for a spot in the British Single shortlist. Surprisingly, Burke only received one nomination.

The recently retired Lily Allen also received three nods for her album It's Not Me, It's You. She's nominated for British Female, British Album, and British Single.

In the international categories, Lady Gaga, who scored three UK #1 singles in the past year, scored three nominations herself for Best Female, Best Album, and Breakthrough Act. Last year, Gaga was invited to perform "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" with last year's Contribution to Music honorees Pet Shop Boys. This year's honoree is Robbie Williams, who is also nominated for British Male Artist. Robbie has the distinction of winning the most awards at the BRITS with eleven awards.

The full list is below:

British Female Solo Artist
Bat for Lashes
Florence & the Machine
Leona Lewis
Lily Allen
Pixie Lott

British Male Solo Artist
Calvin Harris
Dizzee Rascal
Mika
Paolo Nutini
Robbie Williams

British Breakthrough Act
Florence & the Machine
Friendly Fires
JLS
La Roux
Pixie Lott

British Group
Doves
Friendly Fires
JLS
Kasabian
Muse

MasterCard British Album
Dizzee Rascal - Tongue n’Cheek
Florence & the Machine - Lungs
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Lily Allen - It’s Not Me, It’s You
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

British Single
Alesha Dixon - Breathe Slow
Alexandra Burke Ft Flo Rida - Bad Boys
Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love
Joe McElderry - The Climb
JLS - Beat Again
La Roux - In For The Kill
Lily Allen - The Fear
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart
Tinchy Stryder Ft N-Dubz - Number 1

Critics' Choice
Ellie Goulding
Delphic
Marina and the Diamonds

BRITs Album of 30 Years
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Dido - No Angel
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Duffy - Rockferry
Keane - Hopes & Fears
Oasis - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
Sade - Diamond Life
The Verve - Urban Hymns
Travis - The Man Who

International Female Solo Artist
Lady Gaga
Ladyhawke
Norah Jones
Rihanna
Shakira

International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Eminem
Jay-Z
Michael Buble
Seasick Steve

International Album
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Black Eyed Peas - The End
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Lady Gaga - The Fame

International Breakthrough Act
Animal Collective
Daniel Merriweather
Empire of the Sun
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

Outstanding Contribution Award
Robbie Williams

Apple Announces January 27th Event San Francisco Event, Apple Tablet Likely

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:42:00 +0000

The invitation sent to media outlets from Apple. The tagline is cut off

This past month, speculation over the long rumored Apple tablet product has run rampant, without a single word from Apple themselves.

The silence is over. Somewhat.

Apple has sent out invitations for an event next Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, beginning at 1:00pm EST. the tagline on the invitation is: "check out our latest creation".

That creation is widely expected to be the Apple tablet, a rumored multi-purpose product that is expected to revolutionize the entire technological world. The competition has already been prepping their own tablets in response, showcasing many of them at the Consumer Electronics Showcase in Las Vegas this month. Many reputable news sources, including New York Times and Wall Street Journal, have reported details about the tablet from unnamed sources. Some of the most common details:

10" LED Screen
a variation on the iPhone operating system
E-Book/magazine reader
Could be called an iSlate

Now that the event has been confirmed, rumors about whatever Apple will be presenting will probably reach astronomical levels. The truth will be revealed on the 27th (while I'm in my Intro to Computing lab, no less).

For those salivating over rumors (kind of like me) and can't wait, check out Gizmodo's ultimate guide: The Exhaustive Guide to Apple Tablet Rumors.

2010 Golden Globes Winners Recap: Glory for Avatar, Sandra Bullock, and Mo'nique

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:46:00 +0000

Thankfully, he didn't declare himself "king of the world" again, but no one would blame James Cameron if he did, his billion dollar epic Avatar was one of the big winners at last night's Golden Globe Awards.

The film, which made has so far made $491 million in the US alone, won Best Picture - Drama and Best Director. Cameron was very humble in accepting his Best Director award, choosing to honor the hundreds of computer artists and his cast and crew for their efforts in making the film such a success.

Considering all of the critics' awards heaped on The Hurt Locker, Avatar's success can be seen as a major upset. The two films will now be seen as the major competitors for Oscar glory when the nominations are announced on February 2nd.

The drama categories were filled with welcome surprises, upsets, and humble speeches. Comedienne Mo'nique, who delivered a stirring performance in Precious, won Best Supporting Actress. The most memorable part of her speech occurred when she dedicated the award to victims of sexual abuse, one of the topics of the film. Sandra Bullock finally saw award glory as she took home Best Actress for The Blind Side. Bullock acknowledged that she wasn't the most talented, but was grateful for the many opportunities given to her. Another underrated actor, Jeff Bridges took home Best Actor for the film Crazy Heart.

In the comedy category, The Hangover took the honors for Best Picture. Even though the film's box office hopes were dashed by Avatar, Sherlock Holmes racked up a win for Best Actor with 2008's comeback kid Robert Downey Jr. The actor, whose film Iron Man 2 is due this year, delivered a hilarious speech where he "blamed" the people he thanked for making him a success. The Best Actress winner, the ubiquitous Meryl Streep, went the more sentimental route in speeches, mentioning her mother and her influence in her performance in Julie and Julia.

Extremely popular TV series Glee was honored with a Best Comedy Series award, while AMC series Mad Men took home another Golden Globe for Best Drama. Michael C. Hall, in the news recently for admitting to having cancer, won Best Actor - Drama for Dexter. Julianna Margulies won her first ever award for her CBS series The Good Wife. Toni Colette and Alec Baldwin won in the lead TV comedy categories for The United States of Tara and 30 Rock, respectively.

A jubilant Drew Barrymore took home Best Actress - Miniseries or Movie for Grey Gardens, which also won Best Miniseries.

BWU Singles Chart (1/17): Chart Extended, Gaga's "Bad Romance" #1 Again

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:08:00 +0000

In the third official week of the BWU Singles Chart (retitled from BWU Top 20 Singles Chart), a major change has occurred. In order to incorporate and track more songs, the chart has been extended from 20 positions to 35 positions. In accordance with the extension, the points system has been revised as well (all details are available at the BWU Website).

Lady Gaga continues to dominate the chart as she spends a second week at #1 with "Bad Romance". Her second single from The Fame Monster "Telephone" moves up from #9 to #4, matching its first week peak.

Challenging Gaga's reign is David Guetta and his collaboration with Kid Cudi, "Memories", which moves up from its debut of #3 to #2. It knocks Leona Lewis' "I See You" down one spot to #3.

The Top 10 sees two new debuts in Keri Hilson's German #1 hit "I Like" and Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet". The two songs entered at #9 and #10 respectively. As with the chart extension, thirteen songs debuted on the chart this week.

Below is the top 10.

1. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (=)
2. David Guetta and Kid Cudi - Memories (+1)
3. Leona Lewis - I See You (-1)
4. Lady Gaga and Beyonce - Telephone (+5)
5. OneRepublic - All The Right Moves (-1)
6. Toni Braxton - Yesterday (=)
7. Westlife - Shadows (+5)
8. Leona Lewis - I Got You (-3)
9. Keri Hilson - I Like (NEW)
10. Michael Buble - Haven't Met You Yet (NEW)

Download of the Day (1/16): Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet"

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:52:00 +0000

I'm going to be frank; I'm not a jazz music fan. At all.

At the same time, I'm not one to ignore it's extremely significant standing in the musical sphere. Yet, when a jazz act attains any kind of mainstream success, I am completely dumbstruck. Such was the case with Canadian jazz singer Michael Buble, who just recently topped the album charts in both the UK and the United States with his latest album Crazy Love.

I was also dumbstruck by the lead single from the album, "Haven't Met You Yet". The song is a joyous uptempo pop song about the guarantees of finding love. It's a pretty close cousin to Sara Bareilles' 2008 hit "Love Song", which is certainly a good thing considering how ubiquitous the song was that year. Keeping up with the chippy and charming lyrics and production is Buble himself, delivering a jubilant, spectacular vocal performance. The whole song is a happy affair (complete with a whimsical music video set in a supermarket), and in these very tragic days, we definitely need more of that.

RATING: 8 OUT OF 10

Even A Devastating Earthquake Won't Stop Rush Limbaugh From Being A Heartless Waste of Space

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:03:00 +0000

A few weeks back, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh suffered a heart attack. Thankfully (for him, and those who listen to his daily brand of Republican bitching), he survived the medical ordeal and hoped back on the radio saddle not too long after. Now, it would be fair to assume that the incident would be enough to instill just a tiny bit of compassion in a man who constantly toes the lines of racism, sexism, and overall bad taste.

Clearly not.

In the wake of the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti, Limbaugh decided the only appropriate thing to do was to use the tragedy as a way to criticize President Obama.

Seriously.

The perpetual douche said on his syndicated radio program that the earthquake will allow Obama to boost his sagging approval ratings by showcasing his "compassionate" and "humanitarian" qualities. Apparently, those are bad qualities to have during an international crisis. Throwing in some borderline lite-racism, he also said that the president would use the earthquake to "boost his credibility with the black community".

If that wasn't bad enough, Limbaugh said that "we have already donated to Haiti. It's called US income tax".

The Haitian earthquake is shaping up to be one of the worst disasters this millennium and all this grossly overpaid monster can think of is Obama's non-existent scheming and the financial fallout? Forget the hundreds of bodies lining the streets of Port-au-Prince, or the thousands of people probably still trapped in the rubble, or left homeless and starving after their lives were literally shattered by this natural disaster. No, the real story of this international catastrophe is Obama and money.

So, according to Limbaugh, the right thing to do would be for Obama to just sit around and do nothing for a bit until the moral outrage of the global community forces his hand. Actually, that sounds a bit familiar... oh wait, didn't President Bush that with Hurricane Katrina, which happened on US soil. And look how well that turned out.

Honestly, if Limbaugh is too much of a cheapskate or jackass to care about his fellow man who are suffering in ways he will never experience, then he can very simply sit on his ass and shut up, waiting for the day when some otherworldly force finally decided to rid the country of his filth. How this man can survive a heart attack and be this cruel is utterly beyond my understanding.

The BWU Top 20 (1/11): "Bad Romance" is #1

blewis1103@gmail.com (Brandon Lewis) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Lady Gaga has scored her first #1 single on the BWU Top 20 Singles Chart.

"Bad Romance", which also topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart this past week, moved up from second place, knocking Leona Lewis' Avatar anthem "I See You" from the top. Her new single "I Got You" leaped from the bottom of the chart to #5, the biggest chart jump so far.

"Memories", the next single from French DJ David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi, is the highest debut of the week, coming in at #3. Right behind it is OneRepublic's "All The Right Moves", coming in at #4.

Here is the Top 10:

1. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (+1)
2. Leona Lewis - I See You (-1)
3. Memories - David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi (NEW)
4. OneRepublic - All The Right Moves (NEW)
5. Leona Lewis - I Got You (+15)
6. Toni Braxton - Yesterday (-3)
7. Jennifer Lopez - Louboutins (-1)
8. Owl City - Vanilla Twilight (NEW)
9. Telephone - Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce (-4)
10. Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be (+9)

To see the full list, visit bwu.brandonsbestworst.com!