Gotye – “Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)”

If 31-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Gotye wasn’t already somebody you used to know, he is now.

Last year, the Belgium-born artist teamed up with delightfully quirky New Zealand songstress Kimbra (who I first Introduuced back in July of 2010) for “Somebody That I Used To Know,” the second single off of his third studio album, Making Mirrors.

Set atop electronic stings, a lone xylophone and a swinging sample of Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá‘s “Seville,” the heartbreaking, peculiarly sparse track sees the duo going back and forth reflecting on what went wrong: “I don’t need your love/But you treat me like a stranger, and it feels so rough,” Gotye croons. Although the song is said to be a culmination of reflections on past relationships, Gotye later admitted that the chorus is about one ex-girlfriend in particular. Wonder who?

To say the song has made an impact down under is an understatement: Originally released back in July of 2011, the song soon climbed to the #1 spot on the Australia ARIA 100 in August, staying atop the chart for a record 8 weeks and tying the record previously set by Savage Garden with their 1997 classic, “Truly, Madly, Deeply.”

Now, having already gone Top 10 in multiple other countries (including #1 in Belgium, Germany, Poland, and New Zealand), the song is now rapidly fighting its way up the charts in America.

As of last week, the song is now resting at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100, up from last week’s #58. And judging by its digital sales (currently at #14 on the iTunes Top 100 Singles in the US)–there’s nowhere to go but further up for Gotye and Kimbra.

To help celebrate and promote the song (let’s get it even higher!), here’s some goodies: First, this very, very good cover by Ingrid Michaelson. Then, have a listen to this newly released remix by pop productions newcomers 4FRNT (official website), which gives the song a searing, explosive punch of Frankmusik-esque electro-jitters and dubstep flourishes.

It’s rock solid!

Making Mirrors was released in the U.S. on December 6. (iTunes)

Got plans this Valentine’s Day? CANCEL THEM.

Queen Cassie is finally planning to unveil her much, much, much anticipated new single (and video!), “King of Hearts,” on February 14.

From her Twitter last night:

here is a lil Early Valentines Day love to celebrate King of Hearts video + single on Itunes on 2/14 RT http://t.co/s1voL1qS

The link leads to a gorgeous new promo photo of Cassie, shot by NYC fashion photography duo, Gomillion & Leupold (see above).

And now, for the billionth time, the “King of Hearts” video teaser that never fails to throw me into cardiac arrest:

“King of Hearts” will be released on February 14. (iTunes)

Forget the Superbowl special guest drama earlier today–new music from Madonna is nearly upon us!

In a newly released teaser clip, we get a rare glimpse of the Queen putting in work at a NYC recording studio with Martin Solveig and M.I.A., acting sassy behind the soundboard and getting silly in the booth. Just look at Madge dorky dancing all up on Miss Maya! It’s so cool to be uncool, as a certain Icon might sing.

Plus: Hear that in the background? Yup–it’s the newly mastered version of “Gimme All Your Luvin’”! What a tease.

Get ready to take some M.D.N.A., y’all!

M.D.N.A. will be released in March. (iTunes)

Earlier this month, Sky Ferreira dazzled the pages of V Magazine with an homage to Madonna, donning over a dozen of the Queen of Pop’s most iconic looks (while simultaneously throwing my inner fan-boy into a full-on tizzy.)

Now, the brooding alt-Pop Princess has tickled my fancy yet again by paying homage to Miss Lana Del Rey.

About an hour ago, Ferreira uploaded a cover of Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans” on her official SoundCloud–and then took it down about a half hour later. (Legal issues? I just don’t know.) Nevertheless, Sky stans got a hold of the track quickly, and they’re not about to let it go.

Recorded atop of a single piano melody, Sky’s world-weary (but wild at heart!) vocals fit Lana’s lonesome tune effortlessly. Yet as with her cover of Miike Snow‘s “Animal” and Stevie Nicks‘ “Stand Back,” Ferreira’s take on the track is distinctly her own, resulting in a more raw, vulnerable production.

Sure, it’s just a rough take, but that’s the beauty of it all! As the stunning songstress wrote in the description (which, again, has since been removed): “It’s not perfect. That’s the point.”

“Hope you guys like it. Most of all I hope she likes it. Girl Power! on her Tumblr. Hear that? Sky loves her some Lana too! Bye haters!

Team Lana. Team Sky. Team WIN!

I’ve always been quite confident that Will.I.Am is on a personal vendetta to ruin my life.

From “Check It Out,” featuring Nicki Minaj & Cheryl Cole, to “T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)” featuring Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger, to his own group’s illustrious back catalog, the Black Eyed Peas‘ pop incarnation of Satan has been serving up Auto-Tune slathered, mind-numbing, ear-bleeding, tinfoil-covered painful pop turds for seemingly centuries now.

But now, he’s really gone and done it.

In an interview with Capital FM, the “Boom Boom Pow” soul-sucker confirmed that none other than his own label’s ‘musical act’ LMFAO, the uncle-nephew duo with all the appeal of those two smelly distant relatives that you tried desperately avoid at your cousin’s Bar Mitzvah last year (I think your Uncle Schlomo went to Hebrew School with one of them?), have somehow dug their drunk talons into Madonna‘s massively anticipated Superbowl performance.

From Billboard:

Speaking to Capital FM about Madge’s halftime show, Will.i.am says, “I’m going to the Super Bowl this year to see my group LMFAO perform with Madonna.” LMFAO, who scored a pair of Hot 100 chart-toppers last year with “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It,” are signed to Will.i.am Music Group through Cherrytree/Interscope.

The Peas star continued, “Check that out, Will.i.am Music Group is pretty freaking two for two…One year the Super Bowl, the next year another group part of the Super Bowl in collaboration with Madonna. That’s still happening.”

Look, I get what’s occurring: Relevancy is a factor for Madonna in 2012. LMFAO are ‘hit-makers.’ “Sexy And I Know It” is, like, a thing or whatever. Frat boys and Jersey Shore cast members are very much here for LMFAO.

But Madonna is different, okay? You can’t just pour shots, wear zany necklaces and yell some “WIGGLE, WIGGLE, WIGGLE, YEAH!” bullshit while farting across stage in a drunken haze and doing coke in the locker room off of a discarded jock strap.

It’s fucking MADONNA. Singer of “Live To Tell.” She’s not an irritating rash on the surface of pop music–she’s a masterclass entertainer, a storyteller, an ingenious provocateur that challenged the boundaries of shock and taste in a smart, thoughtful way. (I mean, she did give that guy a rim-job in the Sex book, BUT THAT WAS ART.)

There are so, so, so many other ‘hot’ artists happening on the charts right now that would have worked better: Rihanna, Drake, Usher, fuck, even Katy Perry. But LMFAO? I mean…is there no sanctity? Is there no respect? God?

This is simply a travesty: Madonna is the Queen. Who invited the court jesters? Music weeps.

Siobhan Dillon isn’t exactly a new face in the British entertainment scene: The gorgeous actress made her big break in the theater world with an appearance on 2006′s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, a BBC reality TV competition for the next actress to play Maria in The Sound Of Music.

Dillon didn’t win (she came in third place overall), but she certainly benefited from the show: She’s since gone on to play in Grease, Cabaret, Legally Blonde, and currently stars in Ghost, which is now running in the West End.

Yet like so many of our favorite pop chanteuses today, the actress is now setting her sights on the music scene, beginning with a luscious new House track: “Powerless.”

“Am I powerless, like a bird with a broken wing?/Am I powerless? Your love is everything,” Dillon cries out above the track’s surging, arena-sized synthesizers and teary-eyed piano melody.

Although it’s still very early days for the project (“Powerless” is a white label release not due out until early March), and the single mix of the song hasn’t even been confirmed yet (the Vegas Baby remix below seems poised to be the final edit), there’s still plenty of promise for this seemingly disco-minded diva.

For lovers of dreamy dance floor numbers like Sophie Ellis-Bextor‘s collaboration with Armin Van Buuren (“Not Giving Up On Love”) or Kaskade‘s tracks with Haley (“Move For Me, “Llove”), take note: Siobhan Dillon is officially a person of interest.

Siobhan Dillon – Powerless (Vegas Baby Remix) by lucidonline

“Powerless” will be released in early March.

Looks like working on Madonna‘s upcoming album isn’t the only thing M.I.A.‘s got on her mind lately.

The always innovative London-born singer-songwriter is currently preparing to release “Bad Girls,” the Danja-produced (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake) cut off of her truly sensational (and free!) 2011 mixtape, Vicki Leekx. (I’m still strutting/mean mugging down the street to “Gen -N-E-Y” on a daily basis.)

The full song will premiere on Monday, January 30 on Pitchfork, while the Romain Gavras-directed video (who also did the terrifying “Born Free” ginger genocide video, eep!) will premiere on February 3 at Vice.

The official single cover for the song is featured above. Clearly, M.I.A. hasn’t let up on her love affair with her 1996 Geocities-inspired, eye-gauge worthy aesthetic as of late. Oh Maya, you controversial figure, you!

But seriously, this beat bumps hard. I’m so excited for M.I.A. to come back with power, power!

My chain hits my chest when I’m banging on the radio…

Yes, you read that correctly. What? Yes! No, I know. Stop crying. I can’t believe it either. Just–here, keep reading.

Illuminati Thug Life Tattoo-Having Navy Commander Princess Rihanna and Queen Ginge Nicola Fucking Roberts are launching a fashion talent search together for Sky Living HD in the UK.

RiRi, who is executive producing AND appearing in this production, has enlisted none other than Girls Aloud‘s Nicola to seek out up-and-coming fashion designers for a 10-week competition to find the next best British talent.

From Sky Living:

The show will celebrate the extraordinary talent and creativity in the British fashion scene. With Rihanna, a fashion icon herself, and Nicola, who created her own Dainty Doll make-up range, at the helm, the show will recognise the increasing influence popstars have on mainstream trends.

With her world-class reputation and passion for style, Rihanna is perfectly placed to find an aspiring designer worthy of the chance to break into the hugely competitive world of fashion. Tasking Nicola with fronting the search, Rihanna will be heavily responsible for casting and will be involved in editing post-production.

Rihanna – who has sold 20 million albums – will also be hands-on as the programme showcases Britain’s most promising fashion designers. Over ten weeks the unknown designers will be challenged by Rihanna and Nicola to create outfits for a string of musicians and celebrities.

The final challenge and ultimate task for the winner will be to design a unique stage outfit for Rihanna’s Wireless performance in Hyde Park in July 2012.

Honestly, this is kind of the greatest thing I’ve ever heard of in my entire life. Like…Project Runway gone RiRi? Will challenges include finding the right material for hip twerking and cake baking? Will Nicola Roberts beat her drum and toss Dainty Doll foundation at contestants as they’re booted off the show? WILL THEY BE PERFORMING TOGETHER?! I’m getting faint.

The show is now taking applications, so if you’re as good with a needle as you are with a bag of flour and some icing, click here for all the details.

This news makes me feel like…