February 2015

The Grammys 2015 – Music’s biggest night of the year took place last night (February 8) in The Staples Centre, Los Angeles. The 57th Grammy Awards ceremony was hosted, for the fourth time, by L.L. Cool J and what a night it was. All the stars flocked to L.A. to celebrate a lot of musical awesomeness and rock out to the biggest names in the business.  Some of the highlights were Sam Smith dominated by taking home four awards and Kanye West, Rihanna and Paul McCartney’s stunning performance of “FourFiveSeconds.” Rihanna also stole the show with her enormous pink dress by Giambattista Valli. Read on for more of the juicy gossip, full winners list and dresses that did and didn’t impress.

BIGGEST MOMENTS…

The first moment is always an important one and this year’s opening performance did not disappoint. The ceremony kicked off with a huge bang bringing on veteran rockers ACDC to the stage. They were electric and full of energy getting the crowd roaring and raring to go.

Sam Smith took home four Grammys for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year (the latter with co-writers James Napier and William Phillips) for Stay With Me (Darkchild Version) as well as Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album for In The Lonely Hour. “I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys,” Smith said on accepting his fourth award. (Tap here to play this video in Creation 5)

Some interesting and really impressive collaborations took place on stage with Tom Jones and Jesse J taking on You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, The Voice definitely picked these two for a reason, they had a great rapport and did the song justice. Another blissful team-up came in the form of Ed Sheeran and John Mayer, massive amounts of talent managed to fit on one stage with their performance of Thinking Out Loud; now dubbed every girl’s future wedding song. Mayer even managed to pull off a hot pink guitar! Hozier and Annie Lenox delivered a killer rendition of his Take Me To Church which all the viewers will now be hoping to find on iTunes no doubt.

Speaking of No Doubt; America’s ‘The Voice’ coaches Gwen Stefani and Adam Levine joined forces to perform a duet of the Maroon 5 hit My Heart Is Open, and although these two go head-to-head on the TV show, they’re absolutely perfect together on stage.

As previously mentioned Rihanna, Kanye and Paul took to the stage and blew us away with their performance of FourFiveSeconds, all dressed in black with a white backdrop it wasn’t just the vocals that were a power statement, the crowd got on their feet and rocked out to this one. Jazzing it up were the solid duo of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett swooning and crooning old school style to Cheek To Cheek. 

More big names graced the stage throughout the star-studded evening such as Katy Perry signing By The Grace of God, Usher giving a tribute to Stevie Wonder singing If It’s Magic, Pharrell made us very Happy and even Prince made an appearance. (We’ve put some of the best video performances together towards the end of this post.) 

Madonna’s performance was show stopping – any song that finishes with Madonna ascending to the heavens gets our vote. Her performance of the 90’s house-style single Living for Love sounded fantastic and was definitely a major highlight of the evening. She looked absolutely killer in her Wild West burlesque get up and brought her Givenchy-masked minotaurs along as well.  

A great big OMG moment was when Saturday Night Live’s Kristen Wiig wore a blonde wig and nude leotard and danced to Sia’s performance of Chandelier creatively depicting the original video of the song. Three words for you In. Cred. Ible. She danced alongside Maddie Ziegler (star of the video) and pulled off some totally mental moves which actually worked somehow! It was gloriously strange and amusing.

An appearance from the President is always one to be remembered; Barak Obama delivered a powerful video message against domestic violence followed by a live speech from a survivor.
(Tap here to watch this video in Creation 5)

Another heart stopping moment was when Beck went up to accept his award for Album of the Year and Kanye went up too (Taylor Swift barely had a chance to accept her award for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 13 before Kanye West rushed the stage, grabbed the microphone out of the startled teen’s hands and aired his objections. “I’m sorry, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!”) leaving Beyonce and Jay-Z cringing in their seats for fear of what he might do this time, but it turns out it was just a joke from the acceptance speech tamperer! (To watch this video in Creation 5, just tap here.)

Another trickster in the form of Shia LaBeouf came on stage to announce that Sia was about to perform and decided to read out a love letter. Standard strangeness by our Shia then.

Beyonce eventually got her moment as Queen of the Grammys and took to the stage in a very snug white dress and belted out Take My Hand, Precious Lord. This was a show-stopper if ever there was one.

And finally…John Legend and Common got together to sing Glory which features in the award-winning movie Selma closing out the show in style.

THE DRESSES…

The crowd-wowers; the best and worst-dressed awards at this year’s Grammys go to…

Nikki Minaj was smoking hot in Tom Ford, if not a little edgy and fierce.
Ariana Grande pretty princess looked great in this Versace number and high ponytail. Looking good.
Rihanna (?) Can we say much more than that?

And the cleavage awards go to…Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.

Charlie XCX, sorry but what were you thinking? Moschino can SO get it wrong.
Madonna looking very scary in Givenchy took to the red carpet and shook her cleavage. Ouch.
Taylor Swift totally nailed elegance, cute, cool, on the money and beauty all in one outfit by Elie Saab. She wins.

Jhene Aiko looked simply stunning in this Alberta Ferretti number, not bad for your first Grammy attendance.
Annie Lennox pulls off a graceful, elegant and sleek look showing her class and maturity in one simple black dress.
Ciara looked pretty ridiculous in her Alexandre Vauthier number. It looks like a bird just flew into a passing train.

Chrissy Teigen looked beautiful as ever in this long white Gucci dress. Impressed.
Nick Jonas really really shouldn’t have worn this Versace suit. OR the shoes. Really.
But don’t worry John Legend can show you how its done in his smoking hot Dolce & Gabbana style.

Ralph & Russo gave Jesse J a super-sleek and elegant look for the night. We like!
Pharrell can pull off any look and make it awesome. He totally rocked it again in Adidas 3M although we are not quite sure his wife Helen has the same skills, not loving the all-in-one jumpsuit sadly.
Katy Perry just really isn’t very good at this. Unfortunately even the likes of Zuhair Murad couldn’t manage to make Perry appear glamorous this time. Frumpy and spangly, sorry Katy.

Anna Kendrick, you look amazing in this black tux by Band Of Outsiders. Wow.
Gwen Stefani really got it right this year in this Custom Versace jumpsuit.
Aloe Blacc looked super-sharp in Sand Copenhagen.

SOME OF THE TOP PERFORMANCES

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Full list of this year’s Grammy Award winners.

Record of the Year
Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)

Song of the Year
Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Darkchild Version), James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters.

Album of the Year
Beck – Morning Phase 

Best New Artist
Sam Smith

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera – Say Something

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Cheek To Cheek

Best Pop Solo Performance
Pharrell Williams – Happy

Best Pop Vocal Album
Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Best Rock Performance
Jack White – Lazaretto

Best Rock Album
Beck – Morning Phase

Best Rock Song
Paramore – Ain’t It Fun
Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters

Best Alternative Rock Album
St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Best Metal Performance
Tenacious D – The Last In Line

Best Rap Performance
Kendrick Lamar – I

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Eminem Featuring Rihanna – The Monster

Best Rap Song
Kendrick Lamar – I
K. Duckworth & C. Smith, songwriters

Best Rap Album
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP2

Best R&B Performance
Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z – Drunk In Love

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Jesus Children
Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Lalah Hathaway & Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Best R&B Song
Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z – Drunk In Love 

Best Urban Contemporary Album
Pharrell Williams – Girl

Best R&B Album
Toni Braxton & Babyface – Love, Marriage & Divorce

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin

Best Dance/Electronic Album
Aphex Twin – Syro

Best Dance Recording
Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne – Rather Be

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Frozen
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media
Let It Go from Frozen
Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel)

Best Country Album
Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Best Country Solo Performance
Carrie Underwood – Something In The Water

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Band Perry – Gentle On My Mind

Best Country Song
I’m Not Gonna Miss You 
Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)

Best Bluegrass Album
The Earls Of Leicester – The Earls Of Leicester

Best American Roots Performance
Rosanne Cash – A Feather’s Not A Bird

Best American Roots Song
Rosanne Cash – A Feather’s Not A Bird

Best Americana Album
Rosanne Cash – The River & The Thread

Best Folk Album
Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy

Best Music Video
Pharrell Williams – Happy

Best Music Film
20 Feet From Stardom
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill
Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers, video producers
We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Solal Micenmacher, Jett Steiger, video producers

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Max Martin
Bang Bang (Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj)
Break Free (Ariana Grande Featuring Zedd)
Dark Horse (Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J)
Problem (Ariana Grande Featuring Iggy Azalea)
Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)
Unconditionally (Katy Perry)

Best Instrumental Composition
John Williams – The Book Thief

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Pentatonix – Daft Punk

Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals
Billy Childs – New York Tendaberry

Best Recording Package
Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix & Jerome Turner, art directors
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood & Jack White, art directors
The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27)

Best Album Notes
Ashley Kahn
John Coltrane – Offering: Live At Temple University

Best Historical Album
Colin Escott & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer
Hank Williams – The Garden Spot Programs, 1950

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Beck – Morning Phase

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer 
John Legend – All Of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix)

Best Surround Sound Album
Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Best Regional Roots Music Album
Jo-El Sonnier – The Legacy

Best Reggae Album
Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta

Best World Music Album
Angelique Kidjo – Eve

Best Children’s Album
Neela Vaswani – I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai)

Best Musical Theatre Album
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 

Best Blues Album
Johnny Winter – Step Back

Best Spoken Word Album
Joan Rivers – Diary Of A Mad Diva

Best Comedy Album
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Mandatory Fun

Best New Age Album
Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman – Winds Of Samsara

Best Improved Jazz Solo
Chick Corea – Fingerprints

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Life In The Bubble

Best Latin Jazz Album
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – The Offense Of The Drum

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Some of the biggest names in the business are set to release new albums this year; and we are all crossing our fingers to see Fleetwood Mac, Rihanna, Björk, Bob Dylan and Kanye West back on the “shelves” to make 2015 an epic year for new music. 2014 wasn’t too impressive with only the likes of Taylor Swift managing to sell millions; this year is set to knock the last out of the park. Many acts have announced potential album releases but as yet have not provided a title, we are calling them the TBA’s (to be announced); such as all of the above plus Rita Ora, Demi Lovato, and Britney Spears. So while they keep us teetering on the edges of or seats we have a huge headline of albums that are eagerly awaited or in fact already released, for 2015…so here’s the top pickings of the variety artists who have confirmed releases this year; titles and all! There’s something for everyone.

Tap any video title to open it in Creation 5

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds new album Chasing Yesterday is due to be released on the 2nd March 2015 on Gallagher’s label Sour Mash Records. This is the second album by the band formed in 2011, written and produced by Noel. The style of the album has been compared to his previous work on Definitely Maybe with Oasis. Two singles have already been released, the first being In the Heat of the Moment apparently inspired by an astronauts experiences from going into space. The second features Johnny Marr, the ex Smiths guitarist, on Ballad of the Mighty I which Gallagher claims is one of the best songs he has ever written. They previewed the album by performing four of the tracks at an initimate show in London on February 2nd. One To Another, In The Heat Of The Moment, Lock all The Doors and The Dying of The Light giving the impression that the album was going to include some classic Noel with a new Southern Blues twist. Gallagher claims to have included a mix of psychedelic, jazz, blues and rock and roll on the album, and that one track The Right Stuff is “like a mix of T Rex, The Rolling Stones and Queens of the Stone Age”.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Ballad Of The Mighty I from Chasing Yesterday

Bob Dylan. The lyrical king strikes again with his thirty-sixth album Shadows In The Night. However this time they are not his words, Dylan has taken ten romantic tunes by some of the greats, including Frank Sinatra, and literally transformed them into his own inventions. He did this twice before in 1992 and ’93 but this time he has reverted back to his voice from the sixties giving these songs the Blues treatment turning them into a “quietly provocative and compelling” album.

Bob Dylan – Full Moon and Empty Arms from Shadows In The Night

Mark Ronson has just released his fourth studio album Uptown Special, and it is pretty special – not only for the reason that he dedicated it to the late Amy Winehouse with whom he collaborated on her most successful album – just take a look at the line up of featured artists (Andrew Wyatt, Mystikal, Bruno Mars, Jeff Bhasker, Keyone Starr, Kevin Parker, Boys Noize and Stevie Wonder). Adding to this part of the tune Uptown’s First Finale was recorded by the marvel that is Stevie Wonder. Robson sent a melody to his agents hoping that on a wing and a prayer he might give him some input – the next thing he knows Wonder has taken it upon himself to just go ahead and record it! “Stevie Wonder actually recorded a piece of music that I wrote. I’ve listened to it a hundred times and it still messes me up when I play it”, Ronson is overwhelmed. The eleven track album has already received much critical acclaim “pop-friendly, and undeniably sexy collection of funk and R&B”, “contagious cool” and “somewhere between a chin-stroking jazz poetry recital and a riotous teenage disco” are just a few of the comments made so far.

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk from Uptown Special

Madonna’s Rebel Heart album is due to be released in full on March 6th 2015. Online leaks of some demos of the songs were counterattacked by the Madonna team by pre-releasing six of the completed tracks thus diverting the traffic back to her own publicity. Shrewd! So, the teasers are out there to entice us into what we can expect from the raunchy queen of pop this year. Living For Love is a stripped back ballad type effigy with piano (and writing skills) from the talented Miss Alicia Keys. Avicci, Blood Diamonds, DJ Dahi and Carl Falk collaborated on Devil Prey to create a more up-tempo folk-dance track which channels the idea that drug taking doesn’t get you as deep as natural personal experience. The potential radio hit Ghost Town is a power track. Nikki Minaj worked on Unapologetic Bitch and Bitch I’m Madonna however only features on the latter, that’s a lot of bitching! Kanye West wrote Illuminati with our songstress and has come up with something rather different and worth a listen.

Madonna – Living For Love from Rebel Heart

Avicci’s much anticipated album Stories was due for release in the first quarter of 2015, due to illness he is reportedly setting the date back but it is now said to be out in the first half of this year. He released the first track The Days starring the voice of Robbie Williams in October 2014 from the album, and we have all heard Eliminate feat. Calvin Harris, so it seems he has managed to maintain his penchant for the folk, rock, country, pop, electro-dance style which he has made us grow to love.

Avicci feat. Calvin Harris – Eliminate from Stories

50 Cent’s Street King Immortal. If ever an album were intensely anticipated it has to be this one. His last album release was Before I Self Destruct way back in 2009, since then the fans have been hankering for some more ‘fiddy’ but to no avail. He started working on a rock, dance inspired album in 2010 but as it progressed his influences trailed back to his Hip-Hop roots which led him up the path of Street King Immortal and working with the likes of Alex da Kid, Bangladesh, Cardiak, Dr. Dre, Hit-Boy, Jake One, Jim Jonsin, and Just Blaze among others. Since then it has been due to be released on four different dates spanning four years with some tracks having been drip fed to us over this time frame! This is the year though that we have confirmation from 50 and G-Unit Records, Caroline Records and Capitol Records, 2015 IS the year.

50 Cent – Major Distribution from Street King Immortal

Jose Gonzalez; Vestiges and Claws is his first record since 2007! It is due for release on the 17th February and the fans are literally screaming for it. Gonzalez has not used a producer for the album claiming that he prefers the sound of his homemade music (he literally recorded this in his home in Sweden) to the crisp modern sounds of an over-produced track. The result is an inspired, eccentric, eclectic mix of modern, folk and groovy rhythm that is both confident and yet hints at trepidation. He talks about how he’s found inspiration in sprawling 70’s Brazilian productions, American folk rock and West African desert blues this time. Gonzalez, and this album, have been described as “A deep, artful thinker whose singular approach to song writing and sonics sets him worlds apart, José González is in a class by himself. He has a voice. He has a sound. He has a point of view. Vestiges & Claws — musically gorgeous, strikingly profound in lyric — has a unique and quietly visceral power that is as an outstanding addition to what is now an impressive body of work. The album is, without question, the most highly anticipated of his career”.

Album Trailer for Vestiges & Claws by Jose Gonzalez:

More albums to look out for this year;
Kid Kudi – Man on The Moon III
Limp Bizkit – Stampede of the Disco Elephants
Ludacris – Ludaversal
Muse – Drones
Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams
Emeli Sandé – Who Needs the World

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For Showtime! this weekend we dive into the world of EDM and take a look at the upcoming Ultra Music Festival in Florida – with only 47 days to go, things are hotting up in Miami! Over 100 DJs and live acts have now officially confirmed for the 17th annual edition of Ultra Music Festival during Miami Music Week.

On March 27, 28 and 29 Bayfront Park will come alive with music, dancing and partying as the world’s top DJs and live acts come together for the world’s biggest, annual outdoor electronic music festival that takes place across 12 different stages. If you’re into EDM in any way, this festival has to be on your bucket list.

The festival was founded in 1999 by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes, and is named after the 1997 Depeche Mode album, Ultra. Even though the same few headliners are showcased each year – Tiesto, Avicii and David Guetta are always there – Ultra remains an enlightening experience on trending genres, the live electronic music experience and club fashions.

Back in 1999 Ultra was just a one day festival and many festival goers have witnessed it grow from a series of tents and shipping container-lined stages to the industry-leading spectacle that it has become today. The festival franchise is now a worldwide phenomenon with Ultra festivals held in Ibiza, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Santiago, Seoul, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Split (Croatia), Hvar (Croatia) and most recently in Thailand.

It’s not just the young producers that rock the crowds at Ultra. Last year, 51-year old Carl Cox celebrated his 10th anniversary at Ultra and was on stage on Saturday alone for four sweaty hours! 37-year old Eric Prydz was also killing it all weekend with 3 huge sets and a finale on Sunday.

Consequence of Sound has this to say about the festival “Ultra can be a life-changing experience, and these artists are the catalyst of the change. As celebrity among DJs grows, there is opportunity to truly affect a culture. Armin Van Buuren leads the charge, but new up-and-comers are ready to carry that torch.”

DJ HEADLINERS 2015, in alphabetical order:
Adam Beyer, Afrojack, Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, Avicii, Axwell, Carl Cox, David Guetta, Deep Dish, Dixon, Eric Prydz, Hardwell, Jamie Jones, Knife Party, Loco Dice, Maceo Plex, Marco Carola, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Skrillex, Steve Angello, Steve Aoki, Tale of Us, Tiesto.

LIVE HEADLINERS 2015, in alphabetical order:
Bassnectar, Clean Bandit, Die Antwoord, Gorgon City, Kiesza, Krewella, Kygo, Netsky Live, Odesza, Porter Robinson, Rac, Röyksopp

(To watch any video using Creation 5, just tap on the title)

Phase One lineup

Ultra Music Festival 2015 Official Warm Up Festival Mix (Video Mix)

For more information on Ultra, visit their website. Limited tickets are still available, although all the Tier 1 and Tier 2 have sold out. Tier 3 is available at $449,95 and VIP tickets at $1.149,95. Tickets can be purchased from the Ultra website.

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