EXCLUSIVE: Catching Up With Jason Derulo

J.R. Rotem believed “Whatcha Say” needed to be someone’s first single. Sean Kingston already had that lead hit in “Fire Burning.” I-Yaz wrote and sang on the beat – but even the artist himself knew it just didn’t work. Then Jason Derulo sang on it, with the sped-up sample of Imogen Heap’s “Lost and Found.” While others within Rotem’s camp may have known of the forthcoming success, Derulo did not.

“We all liked the song, but I mean, we never knew that it’d be my first single or that people would have received it so well,” revealed Derulo, who stopped by The Ralphie Radio Show before performing at The Woodlands for 97 BHT listeners.

“We’ll make six songs in a day. I mean, “Whatcha Say” is definitely special, and we definitely got spine chills from it, but it’s amazing that people are being so receptive to it, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
---

Part 1: "Whatcha Say", Forthcoming LP

Part 2: Performance at The Woodlands, A.J. In The Afternoon

Check out Jason's performance here.
---
However, for Derulo, there is one drawback to the song’s success – some radio stations play an edit sans the trademark “J-R” stutter and “Jason Derulo” shout out over the beginning. The Miami-born singer feels that he can work around such an edit on the next single.

“Next time, I’m gonna actually put it inside the song, where it’s like, ‘Mhhmm Whatcha Sa-Jason Derulo!’” he joked. “Try taking that out.”

We’ll see if Derulo follows through on the follow-up single. While Derulo hasn’t named a second track for radio release – he has played “Ridin’ Solo” at radio performances. The song samples The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” – and describes a bitter sweet breakup in an uplifting tone.

Derulo will open up for Lady GaGa on The Monster Ball tour this winter, and release his self-titled, debut LP in early 2010.

EXCLUSIVE: Jason Derulo Talks "Whatcha Say", Lil Wayne

His song, "Whatcha Say" is blowing up across the country. 19 year-old Jason Derulo calls The Ralphie Radio Show to chat about the track, sampling Imogen Heap, writing for Lil Wayne, and how he knows our buddy A.J. In The Afternoon.
Part 1: "Whatcha Say", Imogen Heap's Reaction

Part 2: Writing for Lil Wayne; A.J. In The Afternoon

97 BHT Summer Jam Recap w/ The Veronicas

97 BHT's Summer Jam 2009 - Saturday June 6, 2009 - F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre - Starring The Veronicas - Check out Photos and Video!

Photos Courtesy of John at KDP Studio!

VIDEO: Ice In The Cake!

Congrats to Carol who won a $1,000 Diamond Band thanks to Zales, Gerrity's, The Mall at Steamtown, and 97 BHT! See how it all went down below!

Happy New Year!

Big thank you to everyone who celebrated the 2K9 with myself and A.J. at The Wilkes-Barre Hardware Bar Entertainment Complex... I'm not really big in to "resolutions" per say - I have goals that I'm constantly reaching for on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis - but that being said, I do have a few things in mind...

- Go to Church!!! This carries over from last year - I did a great job the first half of the year, and fell apart in the second.

- More Blog Threads!!! Of course, the holidays always affect the number of posts to this site, but I am making more of a consistent effort in 2009 to not only post more, but report more, break exclusives more, and share more pictures from my events/life occurances.

And on with the 2009...

RALPHIE REWIND: Starbucks Delivery

Download the mp3

Ralphie calls up A.J. In The Afternoon to discuss an idea that both feel would make the world a much better place.

more on the week that was...

in a sneak look at this week's ralphie report - which will be published in the weekender.
---
As if “Concert for a Cause 6” didn’t bring enough of a live music party to Northeast PA last week, 97 BHT brought a little more.

Epic Records artist Kat DeLuna ran the show last weekend inside The Wilkes-Barre Hardware Bar. Kat killed it – in a set just shy of a half-hour that included her hits “Whine Up” and “Run The Show.”

“C’mon PA – we gonna get it poppin’!” Kat emphatically yelled while dancing and singing.

The Bronx-born singer also encouraged the jam-packed audience to join on the fun. In between songs, DeLuna brought a bride-to-be on stage. With Kat’s buoying, the future misses grinded to Enur’s “Calabria”, while masses of college students and thirty-something’s alike cheered.

It’s interesting enough that the former opera singer leads the party inside bars and clubs across the nation. After all, she’s only 20 years old.

“It’s funny because usually I like, go in, perform, and then they’re like, ‘Get out – you have to get out quick!’” Kat said the night previous to the show.

Of course, DeLuna was anything but hurried out of Hardware Bar. After taking refuge in her dressing room, Kat spent another forty minutes meeting and greeting BHT V.I.P. winners in a back hallway directly outside the drinking establishment. Everyone snapped pictures, snagged autographed photos, and even received a compliment or two about their attire.

This certainly isn’t the last anyone will see of the Dominican-rooted star. Her CD, 9 Lives, is set for a summer re-release. Kat’s manager allowed BHT a quick listen to one of the new tracks for the LP – a song that Akon produced and hopped on. The record could be a summer anthem, similar to last year’s “Whine Up.”

THE POLITICAL INFERNO CEASES

Last Tuesday, the dust kicked up by the Presidential Primary in Northeast PA finally settled. In the end, Senator Hillary Clinton emerged from the raucous victorious. The candidate, who spent summers vacationing in Lake Winola, defeated Senator Barack Obama by 10 points. Here in NEPA – Clinton’s margin of victory reached 3-to-1.

About an hour before the polls closed, Senator Clinton reached out to 97 BHT – speaking exclusively with A.J. In The Afternoon and myself.

While speaking with A.J., Clinton reminisced about her vacations in the area, and her grandfather and father’s strong ties to Scranton. I immediately inquired about her plans to help reduce the cost of higher education. I also couldn’t help but ask the junior senator about her current emotions.

“I’m always excited, and a little anxious,” Clinton admitted.

Clinton didn’t need to worry, as her candidacy lived to see another primary.

the bht crew on wyou...

big thanks to wyou meteoroligist dave kuharchik!

let's get ready to stumble!!! parade day!!!

where we'll be tomorrow...

- Party with Ralphie Aversa from 11 AM-4 PM inside Molly Braningans! Brought to you by Monster Energy, Northeast Eagle Distributors, & Canada Dry Scranton.

- A.J. In The Afternoon & Marino will be walking in the Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade - make sure to say hello!

- Marino will be live from the brand new Colosseum Night Club - 120 Adams Ave - next to The Hilton in downtown Scranton, from 4-6 PM!

- A.J. In The Afternoon will broadcast Club BHT live inside Wilkes-Barre's Hardware Bar from 10 PM-12 AM!

- Ralphie Aversa will be celebrating inside the brand new Colosseum Night Club - 120 Adams Ave - next to The Hilton in downtown Scranton, from 9-11 PM!

so last weekend we went to harrisburg...

this trip primarily involved checking out the hardware bar, which of course is opening this thursday in downtown wilkes-barre. ron, who ranks in the top three when it comes to genuine, nice bar owners that i've met, owns two others in the harrisburg area.

of course, we also had our own hotel rooms. a.j., marino, myself, and danny waters. each with our own.

that alone = a cause for celebration.

okay, fine. we'll break out the cheap champagne.

wyclef for ballers. wycliff for radio dj's.

anywho, there are so many other pictures, videos, voice mails and stories. none of which are appropriate for this blog.

needless to say, we had ourselves a little fun in the Keystone State's capital.

MARDI GRAS - where are youuuu goinnggggg?

marino and i, and maybe aj, and possibly even danny waters if he so decides to pick up his phone - are looking for a place to party tonight for mardi gras. where will the big mardi gras celebration in nepa be taking place? we'd prefer somewhere in the greater wilkes-barre area - but if you could guarantee me the place is poppin', i'll drive to scranton... possibly even dickson city.

answering this question could score you a couple free drinks and perhaps even a quick mention on the radio. i didn't just type that.

877.971.wbht between 7-12a. or e-mail me - ralphie@97bht.com

gracias amigo.

sunday night, friday's on kidder, and lifehouse...

the following is an excerpt from "the ralphie report" that will be printed this wednesday in the weekender.

---

Thank goodness for BlackBerry’s, Google, and Sunday nights in Wilkes-Barre.

Afternoon-ace A.J., Midday-mogul Marino, and I all ventured to T.G.I. Friday’s on Kidder Street. Marino and I sought out reduced prices on spirits and greasy appetizers. In the act, we simply coaxed A.J. into joining in.

The three of us bantered about a number of subjects, with Monday’s acoustic performance of Lifehouse inside The Mall at Steamtown dominating the discussion. Coincidentally enough, we heard First Time blaring over the bar speakers as we discussed the Malibu, California-based band.

Immediately after that – the group’s latest track – Whatever It Takes – played throughout Friday’s. I observe two guys on my right, whose attire doesn’t exactly scream, “NEPA.”

My BHT cohorts vehemently deny that there’s any possibility rock stars are drinking amongst us. I dissent, and decide to end the matter in a twenty-first century manner.

Google Image Search via BlackBerry led us to Bassist Bryce Soderberg and Drummer Rick Woolstenhulme, Jr., who were flattered we recognized them. The men comprise two-thirds of Lifehouse - lead singer and guitarist Jason Wade decided to rest in his hotel room.

For the record – national recording acts play their own music on jukeboxes in bars.

A couple rounds, boneless wings, and games of music trivia later – Rick retired to bed, while Bryce rolled with us to Mohegan Sun – offering up the “rockstar” moment of the night.

“Wait, I thought I was betting $10, not $50. Oh well,” the bassist nonchalantly stated in between hands of video Blackjack.

Bryce confessed earlier in the night that he and Colbie Caillat engaged in a summer fling while the two acts toured with headliner Goo Goo Dolls. According to Soderberg, Caillat broke his heart.

I guess the former tanning salon attendant doesn’t leave everyone feeling Bubbly.