New Year's Weekend: Deborah Cox, Gioia Bruno and The Perry Twins!

Hey all!
Hope you're all ready to ring in 2008 in style... I hope I haven't worn myself out too much! I'm recovering from an amazing weekend of back to back shows: Deborah Cox on Friday, and a Gioia Bruno/Perry Twins double-header last night :)

Friday I went with some friends to see Deborah at The Roxy here in Boston. The show was INCREDIBLY packed. I mean, reeeeeaaaally packed. I suspect there were some capacity issues that got "overlooked" for the evening. Cough cough!



Believe it or not, I'd never seen Deborah Cox perform live before. And believe it or not... I was never a huge fan. I like her R&B work, but I never went wild for her club hits... which is kinda funny, considering that she's considered one of the biggest divas in the dance world.

But after seeing her live, I was bowled over. Man, she can wail! She was one of those rare artists who sounds better live, and you gotta love that. Alas, it was hard to get a good glimpse at her because the place was so packed. Eventually, we wandered up to the balcony over the stage for a better, bird-eye-view of her show. I took a little video, but it didn't come out that well. Check it out!



Here's her set list from the show, too (click the song titles to listen or buy them in iTunes!):
- Who Do U Love
- House is Not a Home
- Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
- It's Over Now
- Easy as Life
- Absolutely Not
- Nobody's Supposed to Be Here
- I Never Knew

Though the show was great, I did think it was weird that she didn't perform her current single "Everybody Dance." Hmm!! Really odd!

Saturday night we were able to check out The Perry Twins (the cutie DJ/dancer brothers) and Gioia Bruno at The Estate in Boston. Another pre-New-Year's-Eve show, and one that was celebrating the release of The Perry Twins' new album, Activate. The album contains a Perry Twins remix of Gioia's single "Higher," plus a new mix of Stevie Jewel's "Seal the Deal." Hmm, the Twins have hit our November and December divas... wonder if they'll find themselves a spot on the site on their own? ;) (Their single "Activate My Body" certainly earned them one...)



I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a DJ set so much! They were awesome, and did a fantastic mix of pop hits (including some early 2000s/'90s stuff, which was great) plus progressive circuit cuts. Plus, it was obvious that they were having a good time doing it :) Even their parents were in the crowd... gotta love support from the fam!

Gioia didn't come out to perform until about 1am, but when she did... she blew the place away! Good God, what a singer... so effortless. Luckily, the videos from this show turned out way better than Deborah Cox. :) Check 'em out:


Gioia Bruno with The Perry Twins, performing her new single "Higher"


She even did a (beautiful) ballad! I can't seem to remember the name of it, though...


Two amazing shows... don't know if I'll be able to keep it up for the actual New Year's Eve celebrations in town! haha.

But these shows were worth it. Hope you ALL have an awesome time tonight. If you're still looking for plans, check out out Tour Dates page to double-check what performers are appearing near you tonight!

Lots of love, and thanks for an amazing start on the Blog (and the rest of the site ;) ) in 2007. See you in 2008!!!

JADE

New KRISTINE W Single: "The Boss"

Well, it's about damn time! ;)

We finally have an announcement (and, ahem, a little bit more ;) )regarding the next Kristine W single: "The Boss"!



This is the next single (the first being "Walk Away") from Kristine's upcoming dance album The Power of Music. Though we've been teased with it for a looooong time (check out our interview with Kristine from back in May!), it seems it is actually almost ready to be released in the first few months of 2008. Fabulous!

"The Boss" is a remake of the disco song "Boss" by Diana Ross. Kristine completed this track a while back, and some of the DJs who have remixed it have already been using it in their set lists off and on. In fact, eagle ears might recall that Junior Vasquez even played his mix on his XM radio show a while back. Of course, without it being identified on the air, in the club or at festivals, most listeners probably just said to themselves, "huh... that kinda sounds like Kristine..."

Well, it is! And one of our readers has sent in the Jamie Sanchez mix for you to take a listen! (Man, we loooove reader participation, so thanks :) )

Now, we've turned it into a player so that you can't steal it (I know, I know, such party poops)... but fear not, THREE of the remixes are about to go on sale. On January 1, 2008 hit up Masterbeat (www.masterbeat.com) to buy the first three mixes of "The Boss." (Haven't heard of Masterbeat yet? Oh, we'll have more info about this exciting dance development for you very soon!)

The full maxi-single will be available February 2008. Remixers include Love to Infinity, Tracy Young, Johnny Vicious, Junior Vasquez, Paul Goodyear, and Wayne G. No word yet on which of the mixes are slated for the January release vs. the full February one.

In the meanwhile, hold yourself over with this one from Jamie Sanchez.



If you ask me... it's fabulous! Kristine's vocals are at the top of her game... especially in the chorus. She channels some serious emotion in this one, and Sanchez turns it into an anthem. I think I might prefer this to "Walk Away."

Who's the boss? KRISTINE!

Love,
JADE

PS. We're about to enter our last week of voting for the DIVA and DIVO OF THE YEAR competition. Remember, voting ends on January 6 and the winner is revealed on January 8. So if you haven't cast your ballt yet... get to it! And if you have... tell your fellow fans to do the same :)

EXPOSÉ hit with lawsuit!

Hey all,

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

Hate to spoil the holiday mood, but we've learned some bad news about the current Exposé reunion... it seems that the ladies (Jeanette, Ann and Gioia - who is currently nominated for DIVA OF THE YEAR on the home page) have been hit by a lawsuit that is trying to keep them from using the name Exposé. Even though they're the ones who made their hit songs famous, it seems that copyright law might be against them. Here's the full story, courtesy of Daily Business Review:


Exposeé on a recent reunion tour stop.

Miami girl group Exposé ruled the charts in the 1980s, turning out a multiplatinum album and numerous hits, including the No. 1 single, “Seasons Change.”

But some things never change.

Turmoil with management roiled the group during its hey-day and rancor has returned now that the trio is on a popular reunion tour riding high on 1980s dance nostalgia. The singers have been sued to stop using the name Exposé after breaking with promoters in August just months before their trademark licensing agreement was set to expire.

Crystal Entertainment & Filmworks of Miami filed a lawsuit against the group Nov. 30 in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale alleging it owns the rights to the group’s name and that the members of Exposé violated their trademark licensing agreement. The group’s founder — prominent Miami Beach songwriter and producer Lewis A. Martinee — also has filed recent applications for the trademark for both the record digital music and the performances.

Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless Weiss and Gioia Bruno hired a high-powered Los Angeles law firm to defend them. They assert that Crystal — which inherited the ownership rights to Exposé’s recorded music — does not have the right to the trademark in as it pertains to live performances.

Among its allegations, the lawsuit alleges trademark infringement, breach of contract and unfair competition. It also alleges “cybersquatting” for the group using the Exposé name on its Web site.

Crystal named former band member Kelly Moneymaker in the lawsuit, as well as the group’s booking agent, Paradise Artists of Los Angeles and its Las Vegas-based merchandise vendor, Walking Distance Entertainment.

Paradise declined comment. Walking Distance’s telephone number is not published.

According to the lawsuit and its exhibits, the group signed an agreement with Crystal Entertainment in 2006 that acknowledges that Crystal owns all rights to the trademark Exposé. The agreement stipulates that Crystal will get 10 percent of the proceedings from concerts and 10 percent of the sales of merchandise.

Crystal alleges the group and Paradise directed Walking Distance to seek registration of Exposé on their behalf to “obtain an unfair advantage and ride the coat tails of Crystal’s marketing efforts,” the suit alleges.

Crystal is seeking unspecified triple damages and attorney fees.

In October 2006, band member Gioia Bruno told the Web site AfterEllen.com, which focuses on the portrayal of lesbians and bisexual women in the media, that at the height of Exposé’s popularity, the women were sometimes paid as little as $200 a show by their management when they sang at the Boston Garden and other arenas.

“They kept us down — everybody, the whole bunch of them.” Bruno said.

Exposé lawyer David Helfant of Los Angeles, sent Crystal Entertainment a letter on Aug. 14 to inform the company that the singers hired a trademark expert and discovered Crystal might not own the Exposé name when the band performs in concerts.

Helfant said previous agreements with the band were vague and self-serving regarding ownership of the Exposé name for performances.

“Jeanette [Jurado] had no idea that Crystal’s assertions of ownership of the trademark might not be true, and frankly did not question Crystal’s allegation,” Helfant wrote in the letter.

“It’s a mess,” Helfant said in an interview Tuesday. “My letter says, ‘Tell us why you own the trademark for years.’ On the face of it, it doesn’t look like they do.”

Helfant said the band sued in the late 1980s for a greater percentage of profits from recordings and concerts. They settled for a renegotiated contract.

Robert C. Kain Jr., a Fort Lauderdale trademark attorney representing Crystal, said it was “highly unusual” for a musical group to claim that the artistic product is subject to the trademark agreement but not the performance of the material itself.

“With the resurgence of 1980s and 1990s dance bands, they made a comeback and they have been operating under a trademark contract for 18 months to two years and they just canceled without legal justification,” Kain said.

He noted the contract for the women to use the Exposé name terminates at the end of this year. Kain would not comment on whether the August letter was a pre-emptive strike to keep the name.

“The value of the name of the band is significant because of their past history and current resurgence,” Kain said.

But Michael Chesal, who co-chairs the intellectual property department for Miami law firm of Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin, said a fight over a band name is not uncommon. He said Exposé may have a valid argument.

“Theoretically under a trademark one person could use a name for a service and another person could use a name for an actual product,” Chesal said.

Examples, Chesal said, include Delta Air Lines and Delta Faucets. Apple Records has sued Apple Computers three times, most recently over iTunes because it plays music.

Crystal ended up in the girl group’s picture when it became the successor-in-interest of Miami-based Pantera Productions, which had entered into the trademark agreement and created the band from scratch.

Exposé was formed by producer and songwriter Martinee, who not only created Exposé and its record label, but worked with other seminal club bands, such as the British synthpop/electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. Initial success with 12-inch dance singles led to Exposé and Martinee being credited with inventing the genre of keyboard-heavy dance music called the Freestyle. As soon as a deal for a full-length record was reached, the three original members were replaced by the current line-up.

Exposé cut “Seasons Change” in 1988 and other hits. Exposé — who rotated lead vocals from among its members — had seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Moneymaker joined in the 1990s as the group moved into adult contemporary radio, still singing Martinee songs. The group disbanded in 1995 when Arista Records dropped them.

In 2003, Exposé reunited without Bruno, who later rejoined in 2006, kicking off a tour at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Moneymaker fills in when other members cannot make concert dates.

The group filed its own application with the U.S. Trademark Office for ownership of the Exposé name for live appearances in August. Martinee — whose phone number is unlisted — filed for his own rights to the Exposé name in March and June of this year.

Helfant told Crystal that any revenue in question will be kept in escrow until the matter could be resolved.

“The band’s lawyers invited this lawsuit,” Kain said with a laugh.

Eek! I'm no legal eagle, but this doesn't sound terribly promising.

Gioia will be in Boston for a New Year's weekend gig on Sunday... hopefully I'll get a chance to hook up with her and find out the deal!

Love,
JADE

JES: Video for "Heaven"

Where the hell have I been??

You know, I like to pride myself on being up with all the latest dance music news, yet somehow I totally managed to miss out on the fact that Jes has released a video for her video "Heaven." Yikes!

Thought some of you might be in the same boat, so I've posted the video below. Check it out! I have to say, "Heaven" was one of my least favorite songs off of Jes' AMAZING album "Disconnect"... so I was kinda disappointed when it was chosen for the next single.

But this video does exactly what a music video is supposed to do - it makes me look at the song in a new light... and now, I'm digging it a lot more ;)

Enjoy!



JADE

Today's voting update!

Hey all!

The votes are still coming in fast and furious! But right now the proportions have remained the same... so the Top 3 and Bottom 3 remain unchanged since Monday. But here's an interesting tidbit... of the Top 3 DIVOS, two of them are literally TIED for the first place spot ;)

Yep, the contest is reaaaaaally close all around. We're wrapping up our first week of votes now, so if you haven't already, started spreading the word to your fellow fans. Two weeks left to push your favorite to to the top!


Top 3 (in alphabetical order)
Colette
Jes
Kristine W

Bottom 3 (in alphabetical order)
Kim Sozzi
Rachel Panay
Stevie Jewel


Top 3 (in alphabetical...)
Ari Gold
Jason Walker
Joe Bermudez

Bottom 3 (in alpha...)
Chris Willis
Louie Devito
Louie Vega

And here are a few more great quotes that came in with your votes!:

"I vote for Colette for her passion, drive, and for making beautiful music that gets your ass on the dance floor and takes you to another dimension." - Deanne Reynolds, on Colette

"My vote goes to Miss Kristine W. She is the living definition of the word Diva! I am not sure what I admire more... her enormous talent, intelligence, beauty or grace. Kristine W is a total classy babe!" - Gary Lester, on Kristine W

"I've been a fan of Amber since the 90's and she just keeps getting better! I've seen her perform live and I love her. To see her nominated for this is definitely a well deserved honor for Amber. Way to go!" - Xander, on Amber

"I AM VOTING 4 COLETTE!!! LOOK here is the deal 2 ALL the haters! Most of the other women - NO disrespect on the Voting Block - should B THANKING Colette, who among with the rest of the SUPERJANE crew made WAVES in Dance Music as a non-male DJ. Her album may be a little more pop to some then others. Artists have 2 grow. Fergie/Missy Elliot, who r HIP-HOP artists, make dance friendly music [and] don't catch any HELL for expanding their audience. So WHY do we talk shit about Colette 4 expanding her audience. She is an artist: one who writes & can ALSO DJ... "not FAKE it LADIES." No face makeup, nakedness, or any OTHER PROP like materials to make her show. She is a SHOW.. HER VOICE, come on now! Again, I am not dissing any of the other voters. I BULLDOG LOVE & PROTECT the ones I choose. Dance Music needs an artist with some SOUL to take it over the hump! So if U ALL think Colette has sold out, maybe she has... like METALLICA selling out every show, every CD, everything... & NO ONE can diss their achievements regardless if u like them or not. DANCE MUSIC needs someone to cross over and let everyone know that this music is not about just CRAZY KIDS, DRUGS, etc. DANCE MUSIC needs someone with some SOUL to hit Billboard & the airwaves HARD, though not on some crazy trancey-techno. NO DISS ... we have ENOUGH representation of that. That CHICAGO HOUSE SOUND is what we need. THE WORLD wants some SOUL ...
I LOVE U ALL, THOUGH... I CHOOSE WHOM I CHOOSE.
Wanna support, LOVE YA! Wanna debate, LOVE YA! Wanna talk shit & B non-productive GET BIT! NO STRESS - GOD BLESS!" - DJ ROCK DEE, on Colette

"There is no harder DJ working today than Colette. She is beautiful yet understated, reaching out to all club music lovers with Midwest personality and LA sensuality. Her singing is hot and her music is real, making her the perfect choice for 2007 Diva of the Year." - Paul Malkin, on Colette

"Jes is supported. Her activity makes everybody happy. 'Disconnect' love!! We love Jes!!" - 川田明日美, on Jes

JOHNNY

Must-Have Dance Music for CHRISTMAS!!

Hey guys,

You know, for most pop and R&B artists it's pretty much a given that they'll record a Christmas or Holiday album at some point. Why not? Sing a few standards, set the mistletoe aglow, and watch the cash roll in, right? ;) ...

It's less frequently that we see dance artists get in on the action. But I happened to come across some Holiday songs by dance artists that might help out when you're over the whole "traditional caroling" thing" ;)

Plus, these are great for your holiday parties... if you want to do something a little bit different, and more high energy than the usual "Silent Night" stuff. Silent? Why not loud? :)

Check 'em out, and click the song titles to hear a sample in iTunes!



Reina
"Christmas (Baby Come Home)"

This was originally included as the final track on Reina's debut album (This is Reina) but it got its own holiday single release a few years back, too.

Cute song, and I like Reina... but does it sound like her voice is unusually hoarse in this one??


Kristine W
"O Holy Night"

Kristine W doing a Christmas song... can you possibly go wrong?? I think not! Kristine has the kind of powerful voice and dramatic delivery that was MADE for music like this :)


Lucas Prata
"Christmas with Lucas Prata"

Lucas released a full Christmas album last year! It also includes a seasonal version of his hit "And She Said" with modified holiday lyrics. I'm going to be honest... I am not super impressed with this album, but uh... I'll let you take a listen and judge for yourself!


Cascada
"Last Christmas"

If you read this blog regularly, you probably know that I am NOT a fan of Cascada. I find that repetitive thumping production to be totally predictable and obnoxious! Same damn thing every time!

So consider it a major compliment that I think this is an awesome version of the Christmas hit. Love it!


Kaskade
"Peace on Earth"

Even though I had this song on Kaskade's album "Here & Now," it wasn't until I saw that it was on the album "Mistletoe Lounge" that I realized it was a Christmas song! Never really listened to the lyrics about "spreading cheer this time of year." Oh well! You learn something new every day!


Ice MC
"It's a Rainy Day (Christmas Remix)"

Again with the modified holiday lyrics! Ice MC revamped their mid-90s hit for this decent Christmas version. Not bad, but kinda dated sounding!


DJ Sanny feat. Luca Zeta
"Dreaming of Christmas"

This Italian DJ put together a pretty fun Euro-dance Christmas song with this one. Definitely worth a listen! Spike your eggnog before you get down to this one ;)


Joi Cardwell
"My First Christmas With You"

Joi to the world! Haha. Sorry, it was just too easy :)
Great holiday dance song from Ms. Cardwell. Definitely a must-have.


Christina Aguilera
"The Christmas Song" (Holiday Remix)

Woah! Does Xmas Xtina look young in that pic or what?? Whew!
Before she was dirrty, before she was back to basics, and before she was a mom-to-be, Christina released a Christmas album. This Holiday remix is the most unabashed dance song on the album, and it's a good one!

Okay, those are a few of the songs I dug up for you guys... anyone know of any others??

May the mistletoe dance in your head all night long :)
JOHNNY

Leaked: MADONNA/JUSTIN Duet! (plus voting update)

Hey kids,

Just a quick update today... Boston's still digging itself out of a huge snowstorm this weekend so it's been crazy! But here's something for ya... Timbaland decided to take it upon himself to debut Madonna's supposed next single (a duet with Justin Timberlake that Timbaland produced), called "4 Minutes to Save the World." Rumor has it Madonna is set to shoot the video in January, releasing it shortly thereafter to promote her 2008 album. Buuuuuut Timbaland let the cat out of the box a bit early! Here's a (really low-quality audio version) of the live premiere:

Madonna - 4 Minutes to Save the World

Screwing with Madonna's marketing schedule? Someone's going to PAY! ;)

Okay, check back in tomorrow for some more lengthy news bites ;)


Now, here's your promised dose of bi-daily voting updates!


Top 3 (in alphabetical order)
Colette
Jes
Kristine W

Bottom 3 (in alphabetical order)
Kim Sozzi
Rachel Panay
Stevie Jewel


Top 3 (in alphabetical...)
Ari Gold
Jason Walker
Joe Bermudez

Bottom 3 (in alpha...)
Chris Willis
Louie Devito
Louie Vega

And here's a small handful of great quotes that accompanies your votes!

"She is a great stage show, wonderful voice, and a wonderful person. She is giving, charming, friendly. I am thankful to have met her this year." - Johnnie Richards, on Kristine W

"His Hotness deserves it!" - Kevin Snook, on Jason Walker

"I have to say: I grew up in the House music scene with Colette. Watching her transform herself into a beautiful and innovative artist has been an inspiration. I am truly honored to have sang next to her in the choir back in the day and to see her now living out her dreams. Kudos to Colette! SHE HAS... amazing vocals, flawless blends and ambition! Keep beating those dance floors girl. See ya out there! Peace and love!" - Frances Scarff, on Colette

"Of all the nominees - she's the one to beat- even though we are still waiting for her new CD. Each CD she has come out with has amazing songs and her voice is just so powerful. How could anyone not vote for her! She is my Diva! I just love her!" - Michael Lindquist, on Kristine W

"An incredible singer and entertainer, she is really and truly a diva in every sense of the word." - Tomas Barrett, on Jes

"I love this blog, congratulations! I saw Ari this past year in NYC and he is amazing. Great performer!" - Chad, on Ari Gold

JOHNNY

VOTING UPDATE!!

Hey guys,

WOW - we've been inundated with votes since launching the DIVA and DIVO OF THE YEAR 2007 poll on Thursday. You guys are reaaaally dedicated fans - it's awesome! And we've loved reading some of the messages you've provided about your favorite artists, so keep 'em coming!

We promised that every other day we'd give a quick update on the Top and Bottom 3 contestants... so that you know if you need to spread the word to other fans to get voting! (But even if your favorite is in the Top 3... don't get too cocky! The competition is still close ;) )

Remember, voting goes until midnight on January 6, 2008... so there's still plenty of time to push your fave to the top!

Here's what we've got so far:


TOP 3 (in alphabetical order):
Amber
Jes
Kristine W

BOTTOM 3 (in alphabetical order):
Kim Sozzi
Rachel Panay
Stevie Jewel


TOP 3 (in alphabetical order):
Ari Gold
Jason Walker
Joe Bermudez

BOTTOM 3: (in alphab... oh, you get it ;) ):
Chris Willis
Louie Devito
Louie Vega

We also told you we'd show you some of the best quotes that come in... so here are a few so far!:

"Nine #1s in a row!!! Need I say more?!" - David Dunbar, on Kristine W

"Kristine is Diva. Full Stop." - PRO Dance Centers, on Kristine W

"Woof!" - William Cullen, on Jason Walker

"I've voted Amber as Diva of the Year because she remains one of the true goddesses of electronica. Still some of the best music ever with great beats and amazing vocal talent. A clear-cut pick for me." - John Marine, on Amber

"I'd like to vote for Samantha James as the Diva of 2007. Her album "Rise" is a good listen, very understated and laid-back." - Christopher Krakora, on Samantha James

"Kristine W all the way! She is ALWAYS a star, and very very loyal to her fans! I love her to DEATH!! :-) " - Thomas Walker, on Kristine W

"I vote for DJ Colette! For a couple of years now, I check her out @ Smart Bar in Chicago. I rarely go out, but ta get ta listen ta her sing n spin once a month is a privilege! It's honestly the only place I go when I want ta have a reallllly good time! =P " - Patricio Macias, on Colette

Plenty more quotes to share... but they'll have to wait for our next update ;)

What are you all waiting for? Get to the home page and vote!

Hope you're having a fun weekend... off to a Xmas party!
JOHNNY

RACHEL PANAY music in a new film, plus new single/video revealed!!

Hey all!

Well well well, the competition is fierce for our DIVA OF THE YEAR 2007! The votes are literally pouring in, so check out the home page to review the candidates and cast your vote... if you haven't already ;) (And yeah, we're keeping track... so all you double-dipping voters, cut it out ;) hehe)

Anyway, one of our nominated Divas is Rachel Panay.

Two of Rachel's big singles ("Back to Love" and "The Real Thing") are currently featured in a short film that's making the national festival rounds: Signage.



Signage is a a great "quick flick." It covers territory that is probably familiar to a lot of clubbers out there: the dating scene. In particular, the lead character is a gay man who's concerned about his age in the youth and look-conscious world of gay dating (which is definitely the reality of the situation for a lot of my gay friends!)

One night, our 40-something lead guys meets a cutie at a bar. The only hang-up? Mr. cutie is deaf. In the end, even though the two of them connect, they can't pursue a relationship - not because one of them is deaf... but because the OTHER one CAN hear. (You have to watch the movie to understand ;))

The movie's got a great message... at least, the one I took out of it. To me, it basically seems to be saying this: sometimes our "assets" can be "flaws," and sometimes our "flaws" can be "assets." Since we never can tell, let's just be true to ourselves and stop sweating the superficial stuff!

Click HERE to see the movie for free, where it's currently featured on LOGO online.

We spoke to Rachel about Signage, what she thought of the movie, how her music ended up in the flick... and what her next music plans will be!


DIVA OF THE YEAR nominee Rachel Panay... workin' the dance floor!

DIVA DIVO: How did your music end up in the film?
RACHEL PANAY: Well, literally the day before I moved to NYC from DC, I did a photoshoot with a photographer acquaintance, Amery Moultry, who I knew from out and about in DC. He had always said we ought to get together and do some pics. So at the FINAL hour of my DC "residency" I did the shoot and Amery arranged for his makeup artist friend, Diron, to do makeup for the shoot. And as he's doing my face and we are chatting, I am loving his energy and sweetness and attitude.

Those pics wound up being the covers and insert of "The Real Thing" single (even though my label still owes a fee to Amery for it! Yes, its true, my label never paid the photographer for the job he did! I am over protecting people! Pay the bitch biatch!)

SOOOOO, Diron would later introduce me to Rick Hammerly, the writer, director, producer and star of "Signage". We met the night of my performance at 2007 DC Pride, again out and about. I just liked him right away and I already knew I loved Diron. So, he mentioned this project and talked about my music and its availability for his film hence the songs that wound up being used!

DD: What did you think about the movie?
RACHEL PANAY: I thought it was a great short. It is very realistic in that it discusses an early 40-something and how it is to continue to want to go out and be social (and possibly get laid! haha!) in a club scene that's filled with early 20-somethings! But in this case there's an added layer of distinction because his character encounters a 21 yr. old deaf boy. So in the end there are two things that are perhaps TOO different about their characters thus making them incompatible; age vs. youth and deaf vs. hearing. But the lead feels naturally that their failure to make a love connection is reflective of his age. So its very touching in that respect.

Of course, its fun to hear my songs played in the club scenes and see the guys grooving to them and watching the songs weave in and out of their dialogue and so on! I love that of course! haha!

DD: If your own life was a movie right now... what would it be?
RACHEL PANAY: Now that IS the toughest question you've ever asked! haha!

Hmm......OK I am just gonna do stream of consciousness here and you can come up with a cocktail combined of any portions of the following (preferably something not too sweet!)

ROCK-IT-OUT/DISCO-FABULOUS
(1) Flashdance
(2) Studio 54
(3) Blow... with hot Johnny Depp

meets

ARTISTIC SACRIFICE/INSANITY
(4) Shine (piano movie based on Glen Gould)
(5) Cotton Club (Harlem's golden era of music and dance)
(6) A CHORUS LINE

meets

GORGEOUS/FUN/FUNNY/BEAUTIFUL/MUSIC TO DIE FOR
(6) Gone with the Wind
(7) Hello Dolly
(9) Cabaret

DD: Any more upcoming music plans??
RACHEL PANAY: YES! We are looking at "Repeat Performance" to be the next single off of my full album which was released June 2007. I just performed it for the first time at a performance in Washington, D.C. and it was AMAZING to see and FEEL the crowd reaction to it!

For this song there IS going to be a video and we are coming up with concepts and ideas and so on. It's so great because I always either work with close friends OR become close friends with the people I work with so we are just having a great time brainstorming now!

We can't wait to see how it turns out!

There you have it, kids, straight from the DIVA's mouth.

Click here to listen to iTunes samples from Rachel's current album, and head to the home page if you want to give her your DIVA vote!

Finally, check out this MySpace page to see when "Signage" will screen near you :)

JADE

Vote Now: DIVA and DIVO OF THE YEAR 2007!!

Check it out, everybody!

In addition to updating the home page with our December DIVA and DIVO of the month, we've got voting underway for the most important crown of all... DIVA and DIVO OF THE YEAR 2007!!

Oooh yes. All our artists from the last 10 months have been assembled for your review and voting pleasure.

Let's break it down for you again:


Amber
Ultra Naté
Kristine W
Rachel Panay
Jes
Colette
Kim Sozzi
Samantha James
Gioia Bruno
Stevie Jewel


Lucas Prata
Louie Devito
Dubfire
Louie Vega
Jason Walker
Chris Willis
Ari Gold
Kaskade
David Guetta
Joe Bermudez

Head to the home page to review the nominees and cast your vote, or take a look through past features on all of them by reading the Backspin page.

We can't wait to see who you crown. So pick your favorite, spread the word, and get other dance fans involved... this is gonna be fun!

Later,
JOHNNY

Happy Holidays from AMBER!

Hey all,

Quick update today... wanted to share with you this video from Amber, sharing the holiday spirit with her fans.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year (well, we're getting there!) to all :)



JOHNNY

Video Premiere: ULTRA NATÉ "Give it All You Got"

Hey kids!

Here it is, at long last. Straight from director Karl Giant (who previously did Ultra Naté's "Automatic" video), it's the new video for "Give it All You Got."

This is Ultra's third single off "Grime, Silk & Thunder," which, if you ask me personally, was probably one of the best albums of the year... in any genre.

Check out the vid and let us know what you think... better than "Automatic"?



JOHNNY

PS. This is a slightly different from the album version, which is my only complain. The differences are pretty subtle, but I like the album one better ;)

JES talks about Prana Petra Festival

Hey all,
Hope you had a great weekend!

Cool news today. Prana, the premier nightclub in Jordan, has just released a DVD of the Prana Petra Festival! The Festival was held on July 5 this year, and brought together 5,000 dance music fans for the first of a new series of annual festivals. It was a huge undertaking, one that required a team of 400 people to plan and execute, and it featured performances from DJ Tiesto and one of our favorite divas: Jes! The event was intended to celebrate the position of Petra (an archaeological site of rock-cut architecture in southwest Jordan) as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

According to Jes, who spoke to DIVA DIVO about her amazing experience there, Petra certainly deserves that distinction!


JES performing at the Prana Petra Festival, now available on DVD

JES on the Prana Petra Festival:

DIVA DIVO: What was the experience like at Petra?
JES: We drove from the airport 300 km out into the desert to the most magical place I have ever been near... the city of ancient Petra. The show was set in the mountains. The pathway to the venue was lit up by torches and led you to the most beautiful stage site. It was a very spiritual place and one of the most enchanting shows I have performed at. I will never forget it. It was a mix of very old and new. Music filled the air. To think we performed in this ancient place that had been lived in and occupied for so many thousands of years before... You really could feel that when you're there.

DD: What songs did you perform?
JES: I performed some songs from my new album "Disconnect "as well as some older songs. I had gotten emails from people coming to the concert beforehand to sing their favorite songs, so that helped me a lot when making my set. I sang "U and Me Belong," "Around You," "Ghost," "As the Rush Comes," my new 2nd single, "Heaven," "One Moon Circling," and "Talk Like a Stranger"!

DD: How was the crowd?
JES: The crowd was fantastic! Many people came in from Amman, the capital city of Jordan, so the town was buzzing and the few hotels there were jam packed busy. It's a very ancient village so it was exciting to see the villagers and all the people who came in all together. They were singing and dancing all night. They were a very supportive, warm and enthusiastic crowd. It was set up like an Arabian palace in the desert. The Prana Festival logos lit up and reflected on the rocks around the stage. Just beautiful, and I dream of going back again .

Geez, Jes. Now I'm dreaming of going, too! ;)

If you're as jealous as I am of the people who got to see this amazing performance in the flesh, you'll want to pick up the DVD. You can buy it straight from the Prana Club at www.pranaclub.com.

And here's the trailer to whet your appetite!



Makes my last clubbing experience in Boston look so very boring by comparison.

Oh well.. maybe I'll book my flight for next year! ;)

JOHNNY

Another horrible AMBER cover!

Just a quick update today, kids... thought you'd enjoy seeing another miserable AMBER cover... since the first one was such a hit ;)

Here it is... some lame "party compilation CD" doing an interpretation of "Sexual."

Which do you think is worse... the cover of "This is Your Night" or this one??



JOHNNY

Jade's 5 HOTTEST DJs:

Screw the beats... sometimes, the sight of a DJ is just as good as the sound ;)

You know what I'm talking about... how many times have you been at a club , seen the guy (or girl) behind the decks, and felt your heart go pitter patter (among other body parts). I mean, is there anything hotter than a cutie in the DJ booth? I don't know what it is... maybe it's like they say... you can tell how good someone is by how well they dance. So you can REALLY tell how good they are by how well they get an entire room full of people to dance! Ha!

Anyway, this past weekend we chedked out October DIVO Kaskade at The Estate in Boston. It was an awesome show, and he did a bunch of my favorites... his own stuff (including "Everything" "Steppin Out" and "Stars Align"), plus some of his big remixes. You have to love the irony of hearing former couple, and prince and princess of pop, Justin and Britney almost back to back: he spun his remixes of both "Lovestoned" and "Gimme More." Love it!

He also was lookin' mighty good, too. Yum!

So without further ado, I thought I'd rank my personal 5 Hottest DJs. I've included my fave artist album by each of them, just to keep the focus on the music...

Yeah, right!

JADE's 5 HOTTEST DJS:

#5: Paul Van Dyk



Why he's hot: Paul's got this dapper European thing going on. He's got an incredibly handsome sense of style and grace, but not so much that he's annoyingly metro. Unlike the slick Eurotrash guys I've had the misfortune of dating, Paul has NATURAL elegance. He's like Jude Law on the dance floor!

Best album: His latest, "In Between." It's the best blend so far of uptempo trance and soothing, shimmering, hypnotic grooves... and they all blend into one another perfectly. Check out our full album review here.

#4: BT



Why he's hot: Okay, I know that the frosted tips come to mind when you think of BT, but '90s hairstyles aside, he's adorable! Puppy dog cute, and it doens't hurt that- when I saw him in Boston promoting his "This Binary Universe" album, he dedicated one of the songs to his dearly departed dog. My heart. Melted.

Best album: "Movement in Still Life." "This Binary..." was an awesome Concept Album and on par with "Movement" for the best actual music. But "Still Life" has nostalgia on its side. When it came out in 2000, BT was the crossover DJ on everyone's lips, and this is reminder of how influential his dance sound has become.

#3: DJ RAP



Why she's hot: Hey, I didn't say this was the list of hottest GUY DJs, did I?? Look, after a Red Bull and Vodka or two (or three, or four...) I wouldn't be opposed to locking lips with this knockout. She looks like a model and spins like one of the boys. No, I take that back... better than MOST of the boys. Score one for feminism!

Best album: "Learning Curve." Alas, it's not on iTunes. But the song "Bad Girl" was my high school anthem, and "Good to Be Alive" is the best party comedown ever.

#2: JOE BERMUDEZ



Why he's hot: Totally angel-faced, you don't know if you wanna give him a big hug or a big... ahem! Unlike a lot of DJs, he's very unassuming and down to earth. Plus, I'm a sucker for the big brown eyes. Wait, his eyes ARE brown, right?

Best album: "Mass Movement"... duh, we just reviewed it. Check it out here.

#1: KASKADE



Why he's hot: Perfect blend of cute and hot, with music that's the perfect blend of pop and chill. And he's taller than I expected! Well, at least, he looked it at the show. Maybe it was just the stage ;) Either way, he's just about perfect looking... if he couldn't cut it as a DJ, he'd probably have luck as a male model.

Best album: I guess picking his greatest hits album would be cheating... so I'll go with "In the Moment." All his stuff is pretty equally stupendous, but this one is the most consistent.

Yours in DJ admiration,
JADE

Worst. AMBER. Cover. EVER.

Holy crud. I have never laughed so hard in my life!!

Don't ask me how I found this (long story), but have I got something hilarious (and uh... kinda sad) for you all.

You know how sometimes you'll be in a record store, or Spencer's Gifts at the mall or something, and they have those "party compilation CDs" with popular dance songs... redone by no-name artists? They try and fool you by putting the song title and original artist in huge letters. But the telltale sign is always when you look really closely at the artist's name, and in front in teeny tiny letters, you read:

"As made famous by..."

Yeah. That's when you know you're getting one of those crappy albums with someone's sister-in-law trying to sing a replica of the song.

Well, here's an example of that phenomenon... this is an ACTUAL version of "This is Your Night" available on iTunes - where sadly, Amber's original still isn't even available - redone by some random girl for a compilation album.



Hahaha.

Yeah, I'm not even going to tell you where to find this on iTunes. Not that I think any of you would want to buy it, but God forbid, I don't want anyone accidentally confusing this song with the original diva!

Not like they could! I mean... my God!

Enjoy the laugh ;)

JOHNNY

World AIDS Day... every day.

Hey guys,

Hope you all had a fun weekend!

For the most part, me and Jade make a point of not posting on the weekend (gotta take some "us" time, right?), but I wanted to take a quick second to mention something that happened on Saturday... World AIDS Day.



Every year, AIDS organizations set aside December 1 to honor those who have battled the worst epidemic the world has seen... and to encourage awareness as research continues.

There was an awesome art installation here in Boston... at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama. The Cyclorama is a huge rotunda of a venue, usually used for art shows or event rentals. This weekend, it was transformed into the home of Medicine Wheel, an installation inspired by a Native American ritual. Organized by artist Michael Dowling, the exhibit involved audience participation. For 24 hours (from midnight to midnight on December 1), participants walked one mile each way with copper pots from the gallery to Fort Point Channel (part of Boston Harbor). They filled up the pots with water and returned them to the gallery, making a chalk tally mark on the huge blackboard that surrounded the room.

The goal was to get 20,000 pots of water, each symbolizing one of the 20,000 young people who will die of AIDS in the next year. It was really, really sad to see all the pots lining the art exhibit, many of them lit with floating candles, and the seemingly endless series of tally marks. It really is something when you show that 20,000 lives is not "just a number."

In addition to the pots, a number of decorated platforms were arranged in a circle around the room. At these stations, people left small mementos and tributes to loved ones who had died of AIDS. Some left photographs or small notes. Other signed one of the several public "guestbooks" that were on the floor in front of each "altar." Reading through some of the stories they left about their loved ones, you get a much better understanding of the unique suffering they endured.

Anyway, I don't want to be a downer today... but historically, the clubbing community has been extremely supportive of AIDS-related issues and nonprofits. I hope everyone out there will continue to volunteer their time and their dime.

Dance music has churned out a lot of songs related to the AIDS crisis. I've picked 5 of them that come to mind... check 'em out, and click the links for samples. Here's the deal you have to promise me: If you like it, you'll buy it. And if you buy it, for ever 99 cents you donate to iTunes, you'll donate 99 more to a local AIDS-related nonprofit near you. That might mean no more than 5 bucks, total. But if everyone does it... well, you know the deal.

#5 - Tiesto "Dance4Life" (2006)



DJ Tiesto came up with this hit trance track to support the "Dance 4 Life" AIDS benefit.

#4 - Love Message "Love Message" (1996)



Back in the days of mid-90s Eurodance, a bunch of those crazy kids got together to create this song about AIDS awareness. Today, it's only available on Amazon.com.

#3 - Deborah Harry "Two Times Blue" (2007)



Though her current Billboard dance single isn't about AIDS, Debbie Harry (Blondie) has provided a link on her website for a free download of the track... encouraging donations to the San Francisco AIDS Collaborative.

Click here to download the track and make a donation!

#2 - Janet Jackson "Together Again" (1997)



An uplifting, hopeful piece of dance-pop that Janet Jackson wrote about her friends that passed from AIDS.

#1 - RENT Soundtrack "Seasons of Love" (2005)



Almost a decade after the '90s musical raised AIDS awareness to an important generation, the movie version spawned a series of club remixes. "Seasons of Love" is probably the show's best known song, and an important one that celebrates life, friendship, and hope.

No day but today!
JOHNNY