The nominees for Best Female Video have been announced for the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards, which will air September 7, 2008. This post will outline not-so-obvious things that come in threes in each of the nominated videos.

1) Rihanna “Take A Bow” – Three Sexy Outfits

Before Rihanna torches what appears to be some of her boyfriend’s possessions at the end of the video, she wears three different sexy outfits. Moral of the story: If you are going to exact revenge on your cheating snake of a boyfriend, you should do it in style. Committing arson never looked so good.

2) Britney Spears “Piece of Me” – Three Dangerous Head Spins

Britney Spears does her patented 360 degree nun-chuck hair whirl three times in the music video for “Piece of Me.” However, I think she needs to be careful. She hasn’t been too stable as of late, and rattling around what’s in her skull would probably be ill-advised. … continue reading

Christmas takes the cake on how many songs are dedicated to one singular day, but several other holidays are deserving of some tunes all their own. The fourth of July is surely one of the most fun holidays, so it's good to know there are some singers and songwriters that are just as excited about the sparklers as we are every year.

Aimee Mann's "4th of July" is sort of sad, but really, what else would you expect from her? Nonetheless, it's a tune of tribute to the holiday:

Today's the fourth of July / Another June has gone by /And when they light up our town I just think / What a waste of gunpowder and sky.

OK she's kind of a Debbie Downer, but whatevs — it's pretty right?

Moving on to romance from Mariah Carey. Her song is, uh, also called "Fourth of July," but she actually likes to watch fireworks. That's my kind of girl.

It was twilight on the Fourth of July / Sparkling colors were strewn across the sky / and we sat close enough that we just barely touched while roman candles went soaring above us.

Use this track if you're trying to seal the deal. And by that I mean, hold hands with a nice lady.

I would be chastised if I didn't mention Ani DiFranco's own track called, drumroll please, "Fourth of July." In fact, there might even be some sort of AfterEllen.com clause that says "Must mention Ani's songs when relevant or you will be fired instantly." So I keep my job:

He says his name is Jason / he lives in the last trailer on the right/ and he'll be seven / on the Fourth of July.

Ani D: friend to lesbians, folksingers, lesbian folksingers and trailer dwellers. Such a do-gooder! … continue reading

Neo-soul artist India.Arie is the latest in a long line of talented R&B singers bit by the acting bug. Arie, 32, is set to star in a Broadway revival of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The play, based on the book of poems by Ntozake Shange, was nominated for a Tony award in 1977. The book, a women’s studies classic, presents several women of color discussing their experiences at a certain time in the United States.

It’s a bold step for Arie, but she’s in good company. In fact, I’m having a tough time thinking of an R&B artist who hasn’t tried her hand at acting on stage or screen. Some of them gave such good performances, they got in the running for Hollywood’s biggest honor, the Academy Award.

One of them actually won it. Of course, I'm talking about American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, who brought home the Best Supporting Actress award for Dreamgirls. Hudson is the biggest success story on our list, although her castmate Beyonce, (Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Austin Powers: Goldmember) isn’t exactly hurting for parts. Alicia Keys (The Nanny Diaries, Smokin’ Aces) seems to record an album and film a new movie every other year. Keys just finished shooting another: The Secret Life of Bees.

Let’s not forget those ladies we don’t hear on the radio every day: Erykah Badu appeared in The Cider House Rules way back in 1999 and later, House of D; Macy Gray guest starred on Spin City and Gilmore Girls; Angie Stone appeared on an episode of Roswell. … continue reading

I have to admit that I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Madonna's latest album, Hard Candy, but after downloading it on Tuesday, boy was I disappointed. The reviews have been almost across-the-board positive — or at least thoughtful, referencing Madonna's influence and stature in the pop culture world — but I found myself fast-forwarding through repetitive choruses ("get stupid get stupid get stupid" — argh! — on "Give It 2 Me") and, frankly, not quite getting the album.

Perhaps, as the Houston Chronicle noted: "As a sit-down listen (in the car, through headphones or via a computer), Hard Candy doesn't have the same immediate spark or insightful lyrics as 2005's gorgeous Confessions on a Dance Floor. ... Under the disco ball, however, Hard Candy proves a sparkling after-hours soundtrack."

Maybe my problem is that I've been listening to it while at the office rather than out at a club. If that's the case, it's gonna be a long time before I "get" this album, since my club-going days have dwindled down to, oh, a couple of times a year. I suspect that most of Madonna's die-hard fans also long ago stopped loving the night life (Madonna, after all, is turning 50 this year), and I'm not sure if those longtime fans will get this album, either.

I do like a few songs on the album, including "Dance 2night," which is way more of a disco track than a hip-hop one, and "Miles Away," a melancholy song that sounds like it belongs on Confessions on a Dance Floor. … continue reading

If you follow American Idol even half as close as I do, then two things must be true: you have a lot of free time, and you are already aware how much the men have been overshadowing the women this season. I have been trying to avoid talking about the guys too much because, frankly, I don't want any of them to win. But, alas, it seems unavoidable this week.

Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Idol has now endured its first true “ shock ” elimination as Michael Johns left the competition last week. But, I have a problem with the use of that word whenever someone undeserving receives the least votes. Let's face it, folks, all but one contestant will eventually be eliminated; there is no “shock” value in that fact. Michael, as good as he was, was not going to be this season's Idol, so I don't think a week or two's difference here or there in the elimination process makes much of a difference.

But, onward to those who are still in the competition. As promised, Mariah Carey came back this week as the mentor, and I was thoroughly disappointed in the song choices by most of the contestants. Perhaps it was deemed “safer” to avoid some of Mariah's most popular singles, but I still wanted to hear them. Where was “Dreamlover” or “Against All Odds?” Oh well.

Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Starting off the show by singing one of the few recognizable songs was David Archuleta with “When You Believe,” and he was totally rockin' some leather (pleather?) pants. Simon gloated about knowing that David would choose this song, and I can't decide if that's a good thing for him or not. Regardless, it was definitely one of the best performances of the night. (Watch it here.) … continue reading

Mariah Carey is one busy woman these days. Not only is she preparing for the premiere of her new movie on April 26, but she also has a new album, E=MC² coming out on April 15.

The first single, “Touch My Body,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, giving Carey her 18th No. 1 single, surpassing Elvis Presley's 17 career No. 1's. With a record 20 No. 1 singles, only the Beatles now have more. It also puts Carey in position as the only active artist with a real opportunity to challenge the Beatles' reign.

The song was released to radio stations worldwide on Feb. 12 and has received largely positive reviews thus far. A Blender blogger calls it “downright subtle — yet effective,” and says it is an example of “a pop genius making genius pop.” … continue reading

I'm one of those women who try her best to remain female positive. I really do. I root for talented women to seek their bigger and better slices of the corporate and entertainment pie. High-fiving female successes is one of my favorite past times. Come on, now…up high, come on, don't leave me hangin'! You know that old saying: Behind every strong and successful woman…is a long line of other women being snide and catty about her hair and shoes! Well, nah, that's not me. So, it's with a heavy heart that I must confess to actually cringing when I read that Mariah Carey has a new movie set to debut. Tennessee will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26. Hmmm…

Tennessee, is the journey of two brothers, Ethan Peck and Adam Rothenberg, to find their estranged father after learning that one brother is diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Carey plays, Krystal, an aspiring singer who flees from her controlling and somewhat abusive husband and joins two brothers on their journey. OK, that doesn't sound all that bad, does it? A little? Sort of? So, is Mariah using a southern accent for the role?

I dig Mariah Carey as a singer. Yes, she's a diva, I know, but I will shout from the mountaintop my adoration of Mimi! I was so glad she was emancipated and put it down on her previous album.

The girl can sing. When she poured out "We Belong Together", I believed her! And even back in the day when she said "I Don't Wanna Cry," hell I didn't want to cry either but that was such a good break up song and her voice and lyrics made me verklempt. I'm actually looking forward to Mariah's new album release due out in a couple of weeks and yes, that's a blog for another day, but this acting thing? Well, I'm worried. Why? One word. Glitter. … continue reading

One of life’s great shared injustices is the yearbook photo. We all had to get them. And — unless they’ve somehow magically found a cure for awkwardness, geekiness and general dorkitude since I was a teenager — most of us dreaded them. For whatever reason, be it bad skin, bad clothes or the steadfast yet ultimately misguided belief in the transformative properties of big bangs, many of us look back at our school pictures and cringe. Or, at the very least, giggle. But you know what? Celebrities had to get them too, just like us mere mortals. Now that is what I call justice.

So, let’s play a little game called Name That Teenager. It’ll be fun; like being back in high school, but already knowing what everyone will look like at the class reunion. Let the games begin:

Among them you have a Rock star, an Alien hunter, an alphaBette and the possible next president of the United States of America.

Give up? … continue reading

Say you happen to be hanging out at a Starbucks in Turkey and you want to impress the exotic barista making your latte. Stop for a moment, listen to the music and, if a woman is singing, ask, "Is that Sezen Aksu?"

Even if it turns out to be Hepsi instead, the lovely woman behind the counter will be duly impressed with your knowledge of Turkish music.

The next weekend, you're off to Borneo and want to load your iPod with tunes the Malays love. Go with the top two female vocalists in Malaysia.

I know it's not a mix tape made in heaven, but Avril and Mariah are among the top five most downloaded artists in the country, according to my newest addiction, Gracenote Music Maps. … continue reading