Category: Music

Kirsten’s Birthday Playlist 1982-2011

Yes, it’s my birthday today! And to celebrate, I am sharing my latest Spotify playlist, which contains one track from each year I’ve been in existence, starting with the year I was born, 1982, all the way up to now, 2011!

Spotify is free for everyone now, so make sure to sign up here, so you can enjoy not only this super awesome playlist, but make your own and all that kind of fun stuff!

Celebrate my birthday with me by listening to some of my favorite music! Enjoy!

Track Listing

1982. “Do You Believe in Love” – Huey Lewis and The News
1983. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
1984. “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” – Deniece Williams
1985. “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” – Tears For Fears
1986. “Take Me Home Tonight” – Eddie Money
1987. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – Whitney Houston
1988. “Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley
1989. “Straight Up” – Paula Abdul
1990. “Step By Step” – New Kids on The Block
1991. “Around The Way Girl” – LL Cool J
1992. “Baby-Baby-Baby” – TLC
1993. “Cryin'” – Aerosmith
1994. “Whatta Man” – Salt N Pepa featuring En Vogue
1995. “Fantasy” – Mariah Carey
1996. “Name” – Goo Goo Dolls
1997. “Say You’ll Be There” – Spice Girls
1998. “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” – Backstreet Boys
1999. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill
2000. “Everything You Want” – Vertical Horizon
2001. “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
2002. “All You Wanted” – Michelle Branch
2003. “Take Me Away” – Lifehouse *My favorite song EVER, BTW.*
2004. “I Don’t Want To Be” – Gavin DeGraw
2005. “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
2006. “Ain’t No Other Man” – Christina Aguilera
2007. “Makes Me Wonder” – Maroon 5
2008. “Chasing Pavements” – Adele
2009. “Bar-ba-sol” – David Cook
2010. “Alright With Me” – Kris Allen
2011. “Ready To Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)” – Panic! At The Disco

Playlist Link: Kirsten’s Bday Mix

LIVE VIDEO: Tim Halperin in ‘Idol’ Jail Live on USTREAM

To celebrate the release of his upcoming album, Rise & Fall, Tim Halperin is spending the last 24 hours of his American Idol contract in a jail cell in Texas! As well as celebrating the release of his album, Tim is collecting donations for Kidd Kraddick’s charity, Kidd’s Kids!

If you’re in the neighborhood, go say hi to Tim at Legacy Drive and Bishop Road ( 7201 Bishop Road, Plano, TX).

Check out live video of Tim in Idol jail after the cut!

Continue reading LIVE VIDEO: Tim Halperin in ‘Idol’ Jail Live on USTREAM

RECAP: Alice 97.3’s Now & Zen Fest at Golden Gate Park

Alice 97.3 hosted it’s yearly Now & Zen Fest out in Golden Gate Park earlier today. And when you combine the words “free” and “concert,” I’m there! 

This year the concert was headlined by a band I’ve never actually seen perform live before, being the Goo Goo Dolls! Michelle Branch, who played at Summerthing this past June, Thriving Ivory, and Eoin Harrington were also on the afternoon’s line-up.

Let’s jump to some big news that was shared during Thriving Ivory’s set. Their performance today was actually the Bay Area band’s last show together as “Thriving Ivory.”

Since it was the band’s last time playing together, I decided to capture their final performance, “Angels on the Moon.” Enjoy!

Continue reading RECAP: Alice 97.3’s Now & Zen Fest at Golden Gate Park

MUSIC VIDEO: Kelly Clarkson – “Mr. Know It All”

Kelly Clarkson’s music video for her current hit single, “Mr. Know It All” off her upcoming album, Stronger, just debuted on VEVO!

Check it out!

Great song, great video!

Sometimes it’s the simpler music videos that leave a greater impression on people. I like it!

What do y’all think of Kelly’s new video?

Don’t forget, Stronger is due out October 24!

VIDEO: Gavin DeGraw Interview with FaceCulture

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon this fantastic in-depth interview that FaceCulture conducted recently with Gavin DeGraw. This is definitely a must-see interview!

The rest of the interview can be found after the cut!

Continue reading VIDEO: Gavin DeGraw Interview with FaceCulture

VIDEO: Maroon 5 Perform “Moves Like Jagger” on Ellen

Earlier this week, Maroon 5 performed their number one hit, “Moves Like Jagger” (sans Christina Aguilera) on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Check out their performance below!

I thought they sounded great per usual!

One more thing…Adam, those jeans…

Simon Cowell Discusses What to Expect on The X Factor

This week, one of the most highly anticipated reality-based singing competitions, The X Factor, premieres on FOX.

Simon Cowell, famously known for his candor on the first nine seasons ofTHE X FACTOR: THE X FACTOR, hosted by Steve Jones and featuring judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger, will award the next superstar solo artist or breakout musical group with a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music. THE X FACTOR will air on FOX. Pictured L-R: Steve Jones, Nicole Sherzinger, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and L.A. Reid. CR: FOX American Idol, is joined by Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, and host, Steve Jones to find the next music superstar. The winning solo artist or singing group will win a $5 million recording contract, the largest prize in television history.

Recently, Cowell talked with various press outlets during a conference call touching on different aspects of The X Factor, including keeping the music arrangements fresh and original, the importance of the contestant’s back stories, and how their mentoring process is essential to turning their contestants into bonafide stars.

With a $5 million dollar prize on the line, no one should be surprised that former Idol hopefuls showed up to the open auditions to try their hand at this new competition. Unfortunately, it sounds like we won’t be hearing too much from them.

“We did expect some people who we’ve seen before on Idol to come along, so I didn’t really have a problem with that,” Cowell said. “None of them did particularly well. It was quite nice to hear them a second time.

Something Cowell said to expect to see on the show are new, fresh takes on familiar songs to push the contestants to break out of their comfort zones and of course, sell songs on iTunes.

“Within about three weeks into the show you’re going to start hearing contestants way outside their comfort zone and hearing versions of songs you haven’t heard before,” he shared.

Continue reading Simon Cowell Discusses What to Expect on The X Factor

LIVE BLOG: The X Factor – “Auditions #1”

Alright y’all, I’m going to attempt to live blog the West Coast viewing of The X Factor. 

Not gonna front, I am stoked to see Simon Cowell back on TV.

Continue reading LIVE BLOG: The X Factor – “Auditions #1”

VIDEO: Kelly Clarkson Performs “Mr. Know It All” on The Tonight Show

Last night Queen Kelly Clarkson performed her latest hit, “Mr. Know It All” off her highly anticipated fifth album, Stronger, on The Tonight Show.

Check out her performance below!

I think Kelly sounded fantastic! That song has really grown to be one of my current favorites.

Don’t forget that Stronger will be released on October 24, and you can pre-order the album on iTunes!

Music Review >> Gavin DeGraw – ‘Sweeter’

Proving to be at the top of his game, Gavin DeGraw returns this week with his fourth studio album, Sweeter.

On this new album, DeGraw worked with esteemed producers Eric Rosse (Sara Bareilles), Ron Aniello (Matt Nathanson), and Butch Walker (Weezer). The singer-songwriter sought to expand and experiment with his sound this time around. He decided to change it up by working with co-writers for the first time.

“I was happy with the way the writing was going. I just felt like I needed someone to rattle my cage and try different things,” DeGraw told me last week during our interview.

He reached out to fellow songwriters that he had wanted to work with, Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) and Andrew Frampton (The Script). DeGraw’s latest hit, “Not Over You,” is the result of his collaboration with Tedder.

“I really felt strongly that it was a nice blend of what both of us kind of do musically,” DeGraw said of his lead single from Sweeter.

Tedder also contributed to the title track, “Sweeter,” which has a pop-funk kind of vibe, which I thought was a great way to kick off the album. The guitar in the beginning gets in your head to the point that you cannot help, but groove along to it throughout the song. There’s a confident, yet sexy swagger to the track, as DeGraw sings about wanting to get with another guy’s girl.

Continue reading Music Review >> Gavin DeGraw – ‘Sweeter’