New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Season 7 “American Idol” winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, has released today an EP titled “This Quiet Night” exclusively through Walmart. The CD includes acoustic performances of five songs from his 2011 album “This Loud Morning.”
Emerging pop singer-songwriter Cady Groves, who grew up in Marlow, Cache and Yukon, also is released today her “This Little Girl” EP.
Featuring tracks including her popular first single “This Little Girl” the digital EP will be available at all digital service providers and will include fan-favorite track “We’re The Sh*t” as well as Groves cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The physical version will be available www.cadygroves.com and will include the same tracks as the digital version with the addition of Groves duet “Oh Darlin’” with Plug in Stereo.
Groves, who was just spotlighted in Seventeen Magazine’s “Ultimate Guide To Music” will be joining her labelmates and friends Hot Chelle Rae in select North American markets in February and March. (See the full list of tour dates after the break; it looks Dallas will be the closest she comes to Oklahoma.).
Among LPs, this week boasts new releases from Van Halen, Paul McCartney and Dierks Bentley. To read my review of Dierks’ latest, click here.
This week’s new DVDs include the 25th anniversary performance of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which I’ll be reviewing in the coming days; the excellent documentary “Project Nim,” which made my top 10 movies of 2011 list; and oh yeah, a little blockbuster called “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” which will be released in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
CDs
David Cook, “This Quiet Night” EP (Walmart exclusive)
Van Halen, “A Different Kind of Truth.”
Paul McCartney, “Kisses on the Bottom.”
Dierks Bentley, “Home.”
The Fray, “Scars & Stories.”
Various artists, “Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume II.”
Tony Bennett, “Isn’t It Romantic.”
Steve Tyrell, “I’ll Take Romance.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: In Celebration of 25 Years.”
Air, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (CD/DVD).
Edith Piaf, “Edith Piaf” (3-CD special edition).
DVD
Anonymous
Downton Abbey: Season 2
Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season
Fireflies in the Garden
Project Nim
The Rebound
The Sunset Limited
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (midnight Saturday)
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
A Warrior’s Heart
Books
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden
Kill Shot (Mitch Rapp)by Vince Flynn
Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth
Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo
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New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Video: St. Vincent releases music video for “Cheerleader,” models police uniforms on “Portlandia”
Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist St. Vincent is huge in the new music video for “Cheerleader,” one of the tracks from her 2011 album “Strange Mercy.”
As previously reported, St. Vincent (who was born Annie Clark) made a guest appearance on Friday’s episode of the IFC sketch series “Portlandia,” and you can check out that rather funny clip of her modeling a totally impractical police uniform here as well. Her appearance on the show reunited her with “Portlandia” masterminds Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who starred in St. Vincent’s 2010 video for “Laughing with a Mouth of Blood.”
By the way, I’m no mayor or Kyle MacLachlan, but if someone wanted to make me a super-journalist cape, I would proudly wear it at least once.
BTW again, St. Vincent is playing a show in the city of her birth May 15 at Cain’s Ballroom, and if you want more information, you can go to www.cainsballroom.com.
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Video: OK Go’s “Needing/Getting” Chevy Super Bowl spot
I’ve been having a bit of trouble getting my brain to function properly today, and since I’m nearing my caffeine threshold, I’m getting more ambitious than usual in my use as music as an alternative pick-me-up.
Fortunately, OK Go released its new music video for “Needing/Getting” during Sunday’s Super Bowl, so that’s helping. The video doubles as a commercial for the Chevrolet Sonic.
According to YouTube, OK Go set up more than 1,000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of “Needing/Getting,” singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took four months of preparation and four days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; frontman Damian Kulash took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they’d play the right note no matter where they were struck.
So, yes, it’s a gimmick, but it’s an ambitious and well-thought-out gimmick, and that my friends makes all the difference.
Plus, I really, really love the song.
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Video: “The Avengers” Super Bowl commercial (extended version)
Marvel debuted the new trailer for its eagerly anticipated superhero movie Sunday night during the Super Bowl and began hyping the extended version soon after.
It’s another thrilling look at what is sure to be one of the biggest films of the year.
Directed by Joss Whedon, the movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
It’s due in theaters May 4.
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Video: “The Voice” “Vocal Kombat” Super Bowl commercial featuring Betty White
I’m admittedly biased when it comes to my assessment of Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton, whom I really like, and the scarily addictive reality TV show “The Voice” on which he serves as a celebrity coach.
Setting aside my biases – as much as possible – I still think the “Vocal Kombat” commercial for “The Voice” that ran during the Super Bowl was one of my favorite ads of Sunday night.
It features Shelton and his fellow “The Voice” coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine duking it out to court an amazing mystery singer, and it just so happens that person is the ever-hilarious Betty White.
Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, also performed as part of the Super Bowl festivities: He and his wife/fellow country star Miranda Lambert sang “America the Beautiful” during the pregame. Lambert will serve as an adviser for Team Blake’s contestants on “The Voice” later this season, and so will Kelly Clarkson, who belted out the National Anthem before the game. To see video of their performances, click here.
The Super Bowl XLVI narrowly edged out last year’s to become the most-watched television show in U.S. history, scoring 111.3 million viewers. Last year’s NLF championship was watched by 111 millon, breaking the 2010 record, according to TheWrap.com.
The good news continued for the second-season premiere of NBC’s “The Voice,” which features Shelton on its panel of celebrity coaches. Airing immediately after the Vince Lombardi Trophy was presented to the Giants, “The Voice” scored the highest ratings of any entertainment telecast since 2006.
“The Voice” scored a 16.3 rating in the key demo and 37.6 million total viewers overall, according to TheWrap.com. It was the best rating since a 16.5 for “Grey’s Anatomy” after the Super Bowl on ABC in 2006, and provided a welcome boost for fourh-place network NBC.
“The Voice” moves to its new Monday time slot starting at 7 tonight. The show also will be the lead-in for NBC’s much-hyped musical drama “Smash,” which will air at 9 p.m. Mondays on NBC.
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Video: Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton perform during Super Bowl pregame
Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert gave a wonderful performance of the patriotic anthem “America the Beautiful” as part of the pregame festivities Sunday at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
The couple, who married last May and live in Tishomingo, held hands throughout their duet. It was just all-around sweet. To see a photo gallery of the performance, click here.
“American Idol” Kelly Clarkson, a pal of Lambert and Shelton, belted a great rendition of the National Anthem before the game.
The Super Bowl XLVI narrowly edged out last year’s to become the most-watched television show in U.S. history, scoring 111.3 million viewers. Last year’s NLF championship was watched by 111 millon, breaking the 2010 record, according to TheWrap.com.
Viewership climbed throughout the game, averaging 117.7 million in the final half hour, thanks to the close game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. The Giants won 21-17, but the game came down to the final second and play.
The good news continued for the second-season premiere of NBC’s “The Voice,” which features Shelton on its panel of celebrity coaches. Airing immediately after the Vince Lombardi Trophy was presented to the Giants, “The Voice” scored the highest ratings of any entertainment telecast since 2006.
The Voice” scored a 16.3 rating in the key demo and 37.6 million total viewers overall, according to TheWrap.com. It was the best rating since a 16.5 for “Grey’s Anatomy” after the Super Bowl on ABC in 2006, and provided a welcome boost for fourh-place network NBC.
Lambert and Clarkson are set to serve as celebrity advisers for the 12 singers on Shelton’s team later in “The Voice’s” second season.
The reality TV show moves to its new Monday time slot starting at 7 tonight. The show also will be the lead-in for NBC’s much-hyped musical drama “Smash,” which will air at 9 p.m. Mondays on NBC.
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Photo gallery: Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert perform “America the Beautiful” before the Super Bowl
Blake Shelton, right, and Miranda Lambert sing "America the Beautiful" before the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo)
Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert gave a stirring performance of the patriotic anthem “America the Beautiful” as part of the pregame festivities Sunday at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
The couple, who married last May and live in Tishomingo, held hands throughout their duet. It was just all-around lovely. To watch a video of the performance, click here.
The Super Bowl XLVI narrowly edged out last year’s to become the most-watched television show in U.S. history, scoring 111.3 million viewers. Last year’s NLF championship was watched by 111 millon, breaking the 2010 record, according to TheWrap.com.
Check out these photos the Associated Press took of the couple’s performance:
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Super Bowl, “The Voice” season premiere score ratings records
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, and Justin Tuck celebrate their team's 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo)
For the third straight year, the Super Bowl has broken a ratings record.
The Super Bowl XLVI narrowly edged out last year’s to become the most-watched television show in U.S. history, scoring 111.3 million viewers. Last year’s NLF championship was watched by 111 millon, breaking the 2010 record, according to TheWrap.com.
Viewership climbed throughout the game, averaging 117.7 million in the final half hour, thanks to the close game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. The Giants won 21-17, but the game came down to the final second and play.
Madonna’s halftime show was also the most-watched ever, and was seen by an average 114 million viewers, according to TheWrap.com.
The celebrity coaching panel for NBC's reality show "The Voice" includes, from left, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton.
The good news continued for the second-season premiere of NBC’s “The Voice,” which features Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton on its panel of celebrity coaches. Airing immediately after the Vince Lombardi Trophy was presented to the Giants, “The Voice” scored the highest ratings of any entertainment telecast since 2006.
The Voice” scored a 16.3 rating in the key demo and 37.6 million total viewers overall, according to TheWrap.com. It was the best rating since a 16.5 for “Grey’s Anatomy” after the Super Bowl on ABC in 2006, and provided a welcome boost for fourh-place network NBC.
The show was up 47 percent in the demo and 40 percent in total viewers over the episode of “Glee” that aired after the Super Bowl on Fox last year. (“Glee” scored an 11.1 and 26.8 million total viewers.)
The show airing after the Super Bowl is typically the highest-rated entertainment program of the season, and that will almost certainly be the case again this year. The strong ratings for “The Voice” bode well for the reality TV show moves to its new Monday time slot starting at 7 tonight. The show also will be the lead-in for the much-hyped musical drama “Smash,” which will air at 9 p.m. Mondays on NBC.
Shelton and his wife and fellow country star Miranda Lambert also performed “America the Beautiful” during the Super Bowl pregame festivities. To see a photo gallery of their performance, click here.
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Video: Sneak peek of “The Avengers” Super Bowl trailer
Yet another reason to watch the Super Bowl: Finding out more about one of the year’s most anticipated films, “The Avengers.”
Marvel released this stingy but effective seconds-long trailer teaser last week.
Even if the unexpected matchup of the New York Giants and New England Patriots doesn’t especially appeal to you – personally, I’m kind of looking forward to it – there’s always the chance to watch Oklahoma native and the most likable man in football, Wes Welker, work his onfield magic.
Plus, Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will sing “America the Beautiful” during the televised pregame festivities Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson will perform the National Anthem before kickoff, which is set for 5:30 p.m. Sunday on NBC. For my part, I’m more excited about this collection of Okie and Texas talent performing than I am about Madonna playing the halftime hoopla, but I’m also hoping the “Material Girl” will put on a good show.
Then, the special Season 2 premiere of the hit reality TV show “The Voice,” which stars Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine as celebrity coaches, is set for approximately 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday, depending on how long it takes the Giants and Patriots to settle their score.
Finally, some of the commercials look really promising. Many advertisers have joined Marvel in previewing or unveiling early their Super Bowl commercials this week as they work at building buzz.
Advertisers are forking over a record $3.5 million for 30 seconds of air time during the country’s most watched television show, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and I would say that in if it gets us another look at Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk and the gang in action, it’s money well-spent.
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It’s Super Bowl Sunday! Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert to perform in the pregame; “The Voice” premieres after the big game
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton (AP file)
It’s Super Bowl Sunday! The New York Giants and New England Patriots will battle for the National Football League championship, and one to watch for the big game: Oklahoma native, amazing receiver and all-around great guy Wes Welker.
There’s also plenty of musical entertainment surrounding what is traditionally the most-watched television event of the year:
Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and and Miranda Lambert will sing the patriotic anthem “America the Beautiful” as part of Super Bowl XLVI pregame festivities tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The pregame show, including their duet of “America The Beautiful,” and Super Bowl XLVI will be broadcast worldwide. Kickoff for the championship match-up between the Patriots and Giants is set for 5:30 p.m. on NBC.
“American Idol” Kelly Clarkson will sing the National Anthem before the big game.
In addition, Lenny Kravitz and The Fray will help kick off Super Bowl XLVI as part of the pregame festivities at Lucas Oil Stadium. Madonna will perform the halftime show.
Shelton also will be prominently featured on NBC after the big game. He is currently one of the musician-coaches on NBC’s “The Voice” along with superstars Christian Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Maroon 5′s Adam Levine.
The hotly anticipated second season of “The Voice” premieres on a special night and time at approximately 9 to 10 tonight following Super Bowl XLVI on NBC. The reality TV show will then settle into its regular time slot of 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays (8-10 p.m. ET) the next day.
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