Interviewing celebrities, breaking national stories, blogging daily, and offering candid commentary on pop culture is just a small sample of what he does. Ralphie Aversa is the relentless, tireless, non-stop-always-go host and executive producer of “The Ralphie Radio Show.”
Check out his links above, and his blog below - and thanks for swinging through!
While in-studio Thursday on “The Ralphie Radio Show”, singer Fefe Dobson revealed that she is working with an acting coach to prepare for an on-camera role with label mate/singer Ne-Yo.
“I can’t give too much information!” Dobson teased after dropping the R&B crooner’s name. “We get to work together and it’s gonna be awesome and you’ll see it soon.”
You could speculate that perhaps Dobson will appear in Ne-Yo’s music video for his new single, “Beautiful Monster.” The only scenario that Fefe ruled out was a possible cameo in her music video for “Ghost” as she says the final product is finished and will be shown to the masses next week. --- Download the interview
--- American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi and singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Rudolf collaborated to write the track with Dobson, who is pushing it to radio as her next single from Joy. Dobson also noted that her sophomore album, which initially had a June release set, is now postponed until August 17.
“Yunno, we just got the single going and you need a certain amount of time to have a lead up,” explained Dobson as to the project’s delay.
The Canadian-born singer currently finds herself back on a radio promo tour to stir up interest for the record – similar to 2003, when she played radio shows, made TV cameos, and opened for the likes of Justin Timberlake. But despite the time passed, Dobson finds that radio disc jockeys and program directors still remember her from the days of “Take Me Away” and “Everything.”
“I’m going in and people are like, ‘I was at this station, now I’m here and it’s good to see you again,” said Dobson. “But I also want to reintroduce myself… because I’m a different person, I’m grown up and (my) music’s changed, and you have to reintroduce that and yourself as an artist.” ---
BTW, this is the photo that Ralphie showed Dobson from when he first met her in the spring of 2004. --- In addition to traveling across the nation to different radio stations within the past couple of months, Dobson has also performed at events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and toured with Hedley and Boys Like Girls. Mix in the radio promo, acting classes, and personal time – and it’s a little easier to understand why Dobson didn’t want to drink any alcohol last Wednesday at Kevin Rudolf’s CD release party in New York.
“I ordered myself a Diet Coke,” proclaimed Dobson. “And the woman gave it to me for free, because it was a Diet Coke, and she probably thought I was lame.”
Joe Jackson continues to point the finger at others regarding the death of his son, Michael. TMZ's Nicki Fertile says the latest victim is concert promoter AEG, the company behind the ill-fated "This Is It" tour. Catch Nicki on TMZ TV, local listings here.
I'm nine years under the average... not that I ever felt guilty about owning a Playstation 3 anyways, but if I did, I certainly don't now! Variety has the full story here.
When an album as anticipated as Drake's Thank Me Later leaks on to the Internet, I feel an obligation to download it, so I can share my thoughts and any other relevant info on my show. Being a radio DJ, I usually don't feel obligated to eventually purchase a legal copy (most of the time, one is provided to me via the radio station/record label). All of that changed on Tuesday. Find out why, plus hear exclusive audio from Drizzy from our chat last May in the podcast.
It could end up being one of the bigger club records of summer ’10: “I Wanna Get Drunk” by DJ Felli Fel featuring Lil Jon, Three 6 Mafia, and Fatman Scoop. The song basically takes Van Halen’s “Jump” and replaces the title with the word “drunk.” But there’s just one hurdle before party-goers begin drinking to it nationwide.
“Right now they’re in a little kind of ‘dust-em-up’ (with Van Halen’s people) about clearing the record but I think everything’s going to be alright at the end of the day,” revealed Fatman Scoop, who called in to “The Ralphie Radio Show” to promote a party he was hosting Saturday night at the Scranton Hardware Bar. “Hopefully this record is going to be what we think it is, which is like a summer anthem, a get drunk anthem.” --- Download the interview
Scoop called in to "The Ralphie Radio Show" to chat about the party he is hosting Saturday night (6/12) at the Scranton Hardware Bar, Drake, his new record "I Wanna Get Drunk", and his reality show, "Man and Wife." --- Scoop knows a thing or two about club anthems. But his work has transcended turntables to radio, television, and even a couple Grammy awards. I was interested to know of his thoughts on Drake’s new album, Thank Me Later, which will be officially released on Tuesday. His answer surprised me.
“Most of the time, I don’t listen to albums like that before everyone else,” he responded. “I wanna get it right when everyone else gets it... but what I’ve heard… I can tell you pretty much that he has a good, bright future ahead of him.”
The hip-hop star said he hasn’t crossed paths with Drizzy yet, but figures it’ll happen sooner than later.
Carmen Reece checks back in to "The Ralphie Radio Show" to chat about what she's been up to since she joined "The RRS" in studio, as well as introduce her new single, "Raindrop." Raindrop is available for purchase on iTunes.
The evening before she was to appear in front of a judge for sentencing on the conviction of attempted prostitution, Craigslist user and diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan Susan Finkelstein said she had no regrets about the situation.
“I feel really comfortable with my body and with my sexuality,” Finkelstein said via telephone in an interview which aired Wednesday on “The Ralphie Radio Show.” She was referring specifically to the topless photos she sent to an undercover police officer who responded to her ad on Craigslist last fall. --- Download the interview
Susan's side of the story can be read here. --- The post read, “Diehard Phillies fan -- gorgeous tall buxom blonde -- in desperate need of two World Series tickets. Price negotiable -- I'm the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!” After sending the pictures and meeting at a bar with the officer – Finkelstein was arrested and charged with prostitution. The police department held a press conference on the matter – and sent the press in to a frenzy – with Finkelstein’s mug shot appearing across the globe. A jury found her not guilty on the charge but did pass an unprecedented guilty verdict on attempted prostitution.
“That’s actually the first time anyone in Pennsylvania has been charged with it, let alone convicted of it,” revealed Finkelstein. “It really makes no sense because attempted prostitution is prostitution.”
The conviction carries a maximum sentence of one-year in jail. With the way things have played out, Finkelstein is preparing for anything.
“My lawyer and some other legal advisors that we’ve talked to have basically said it’s probably going to be probation,” she said. “But given the craziness of this situation since last October, I’m not taking anything for granted.”
While some things in her life have changed drastically since the incident made international headlines, you might be surprised to hear that other aspects haven’t: yes she was fired from her full-time job, but she’s still happily married to a husband that she says has been “very supportive” through the entire process. Finkelstein has also attended a few Phillies games this year, at the urging of close friends.
Lights talked about how the collaboration with Owl City's Adam Young came about and yielded the remix to her single "Saviour" on "The Ralphie Radio Show" The Listening is available now.
She’s already won Juno awards and climbed the charts in her home country of Canada. Now, 23 year-old Lights (yes, that’s her legal name) is invading the States with her infectious pop melodies… or at least attempting to. The Canadian explained on “The Ralphie Radio Show” that breaking through in the U.S. is easier said than done.
“It’s a lot of work, and a lot of musicians, especially from Canada, kinda get disheartened because it’s not the same,” explained Lights, who continued as to how one country’s music scene differs from the other. “Canada has Canadian Content Laws on all entertainment. At least 30 percent of the music that’s on the radio has to be Canadian.”
The country to our north has a committee similar to our version of the FCC that enforces the law – which benefits all Canadian artists, and especially those that have already made it big worldwide: Nickelback, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Theory of a Deadman just to name a few. --- Download the interview
--- Of course Lights received assistance from a well known, American talent in Owl City’s Adam Young, in breaking through to the lower 48. The singer recently wrapped up a tour with Owl City, and Young even remixed her single, “Saviour.”
“The tour was wonderful because of the music that he makes, like, it’s very similar to mine in a lot of respects,” she said. “Its electro pop, it’s real easy to sing along with so the crowd’s that came out… were really accepting of the music I had.”
As far as off stage – Lights noted she didn’t become “super tight” with Adam because he keeps to himself, which she wasn’t surprised with, considering Young’s pretty honest about his shyness in the music he makes.
Had such a great birthday weekend... I officially turned the big 2-5 yesterday - and I spent the day with my girlfriend in New York City, taking in the Yankees game at the Hard Rock Cafe at the stadium (the team played in Toronto), then doing a little shopping and walking around - the weather was gorgeous. The number of calls, texts, Facebook messages, and Twitter at replies were overwhelming. Thank you so much, means a lot.
Oh, and because I just received this from the label (thanks Bobbi!) here's a shot of me and Orianthi from last week:
97 BHT and "The Ralphie Radio Show" received some solid media coverage last week surrounding our private events with both Orianthi and Adam Lambert. WNEP did an excellent job with their report, and properly crediting/citing 97 BHT and "The RRS" in naming the event's host and my interview with Adam - even including a sound byte of me talking about the whole ordeal:
In an interview with “The Ralphie Radio Show”, Adam Lambert elaborated on his absence from the season finale of “American Idol”, shedding more light on why he didn’t appear or perform on the show with other “Idol” alums.
“I didn’t skip a rehearsal because I wasn’t invited to a rehearsal,” Lambert reiterated, posting a similar message on his Twitter account. The AOL blog Popeater claimed “Idol” producers scrapped Lambert at the last minute because of an alleged no show, which the singer is vehemently denying. “There was nothing to skip.”
While both Lambert and his camp have issued statements, “Idol” is silent, perhaps fueling any other speculation as to what happened. But the former runner-up believes there’s no need for the show to speak on the subject.
“It wasn’t a big deal, there was nothing to it,” Lambert dismissed. “They invited their winners to sing to Simon (Cowell) and then I think a last minute decision was made that the people that were in the audience, that were past contestants would join. So it was kind of like this last minute thing. That’s why I wasn’t there, because I didn’t know… it wasn’t a slight at all, it was a last minute decision and I was really busy rehearsing for my tour.”
Lambert confirmed that he was also sick; however it was tour preparation that kept him from the show.
The tour kicks off June 4 in Wilkes Barre, PA – and the singer says the start in Northeastern PA was semi-calculated. --- Download the interview
--- “It’s so green here, we love it!” he joked about the area. “We were here before, with the Idol’s tour, and the audience was great. We thought we could relax here for a couple days and put our finishing touches on the tour and get it ready.”
The high demand for tickets even surprised Lambert – Wilkes Barre’s show on Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center sold out in 10 minutes. More dates have been added – and the singer revealed that a third batch of dates will also be announced, extending the “Glam Nation” tour through September.
“It is very family friendly,” Lambert also clarified – as I’m sure he’ll be hampered by those questions for the immediate future after his controversial performance at last year’s American Music Awards. “It doesn’t go to the level that the AMA performance went to, if anyone’s worried about that… if you felt that that was un-tasteful (sic), this is tasteful.”
Lambert is still asked about the award show, and still stands by his performance, characterizing it as “pretty solid.” But even the pop star admits the experience turned in to a good lesson for him.
“I learned that people were like, ‘Okay, we’re not ready for that yet,’” he admitted. “But it was just me being sexy, doing what my favorite pop stars have done and then I got heat for it.”
The “Idol” star noted that people may have been taken aback as well because it was his first TV performance outside of the competition, where he never expressed himself as much. But regardless, Lambert put the performance, and its critics, behind him.
“That was almost a year ago. We’re moving forward. That was one performance, one song, and now we’re on to the next.”
97 BHT presented Geffen recording artist Orianthi inside The Mall at Steamtown on Wednesday, June 2 for an intimate, acoustic performance. Special thanks to IGA, Cinnabon and Starbucks Coffee.
Australian guitarist Orianthi has jammed with the likes of many: Michael Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and even Alice Cooper last week on the finale of American Idol. But here’s a collaboration you may not have foreseen – producer RedOne.
“I guess it was just put together,” explained Ori of the partnership – which yielded the track “Addicted to Love.” The song is one of four bonus tracks that will appear on the re-release of Orianthi’s album, Believe (II). “Yunno it was really cool, and (we had) a lot of fun in the studio.”
If you’re unaware of RedOne, he’s a big time music maker who is behind a lot of Lady GaGa’s big hits (artists usually sing the producer’s name in the beginning of the song). Orianthi and GaGa are housed under the same label group – could that be a collab right around the corner? --- Download the interview
Believe (II) comes out this Tuesday.
--- “That’d be really cool, hopefully,” responded Orianthi of the prospects of such a tandem. The singer/guitarist has yet to meet GaGa.
The Aussie made time for “The Ralphie Radio Show” before kicking off the “Glam Nation” tour, where she and former Idol finalist Allison Iraheta will support Adam Lambert. Ori is pumped about the tour, and apparently the show’s name gets her even more excited.
“The fact that it’s called ‘Glam Nation’ just gets me excited,” she said. “Just the whole like, glam and you know, I’m in to sparkles and extravagance and I’m just super excited about getting out there and rocking out.”
Taio Cruz chatted about his second U.S. single from Rokstarr, "Dynamite", on "The Ralphie Radio Show." The party anthem was produced by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco - and co-written by Max Martin. The three are pop music royality, producing and penning hits for everyone from Britney Spears to 'N Sync to Katy Perry.
Sure he warns that he’ll break (break, b-break break) your heart on his hit single – but what Taio Cruz didn’t tell you is that he’ll spoil you first, with sweets galore.
“The only vice I have is sugar,” admitted Cruz, calling in to “The Ralphie Radio Show” from his hotel room in New York on the day his album Rokstarr was released in the states. “I just love things that are sweet… girls love me because I love chocolate, cake, sweets.”
Lure them in with candy, stomp their hearts into a bunch of itty-bitty pieces. Cruz created quite the formula there – however only the former happens in real life. The latter is only sung about on his chart-topping song “Break Your Heart” – however women seem to look past the potential heartbreak and on to the honesty of the record.
“I guess women kind of like a bad boy to an extent,” noted Cruz. “I’ve had loads of messages saying, ‘Will you please break my heart?’” --- Download the interview
--- Although I didn’t press about any personal heartbreak – I did bring up the troubles his song brought to Train, who couldn’t find the top of the iTunes chart with “Hey, Soul Sister” for weeks because of Taio’s debut in the states.
“(Laughing) Wow, that’s cool, that’s the first I’m hearing about that,” responded Cruz when I informed him of Train’s Twitter plea to the singer to relent the top spot on iTunes, if even for a minute. “I mean, I guess their call was answered somehow.”
The two may find themselves in a battle again soon – Train is headed back to radio with “If It’s Love” while Cruz follows up his first single with “Dynamite” and the Ke$ha-assisted “Dirty Picture.”
While most of the departing "American Idol" cast received proper sendoffs on national television - it appears that one person was left in the dust. TMZ's Nicki Fertile explained... Catch Nicki on TMZ TV, local listings here.
Last night CNN Headline News' "Prime News" invited me back to discuss the title of a new CBS sitcom debuting this fall: "$#*! My Dad Says". Yes, there's a curse word in the title, but it will be bleeped and censored. The show is based on the super popular Twitter account and best-selling book (the former which doesn't sensor the word). William Shatner will play the father, and by all accounts, it looks hilarious.
However, The Parents Television Council does not find the title so funny... instead, more offensive to families nationwide. So, in typical PTC fashion, the non-profit released a statement to the press condemning the show, and is appearing on television screens to talk about how appalled they are, blah blah blah.
I sparred last night with PTC President Tim Winter on the subject. I don't think this is an issue: the curse word is not a "hate word" - like say, the n-word or f-word. It's censored and bleeped. Most importantly, it's a free country - you don't like it? Turn the channel.
Besides, I'm more concerned with other $#*!... you know, like the $#*! that is pouring in to the Gulf, or the bull$#*! we're getting from BP about it...
Bought one of these from a HUGE ELECTRONICS RETAILER - despite being recalled due to a possible fire hazard last October, they were still selling them. Click here to see if your item is one of three models affected.
In the latest edition of Allure, Megan Fox talks about her OCD. "The RRS" spoke with expert Dr. Robert Melillo about the condition. Dr. Melillo authored the book, Disconnected Kids.
Brandyn Bordeaux moved to Hollywood from Denver, adpoted the stage name, "H*Wood", and landed a deal with super-producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Now he's gaining momentum across the blogosphere with his single, "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)" and living out his dream. H*Wood made some time for "The RRS" to talk about the track and his music that will be featured in upcoming episodes of "The Hills" and "Jersey Shore."
Sure, her label may bill her that way. Yes, you may even think it after listening to "La La La." But do not call Auburn the "female Jason Derulo."
Matter of fact, don't call her the female version of anything. The MySpace sensation scored a record deal with J.R. Rotem's Beluga Heights well before Derulo or Iyaz burst on to the scene. Now it's her turn at stardom with her first single pushed to radio, the catchy "La La La", which features her labelmate Iyaz.
Auburn checked in to "The Ralphie Radio Show" to shed some light on the track and the path she took to reach the current point of her career.
Maroon 5, here’s your “call and response.” Owl City – sleep on this. VV Brown knows what she’s in for on her upcoming trek with both acts.
“I’ve heard that (the guys in Maroon 5) are pranksters,” noted Brown, who kicks off her slate of dates with the band on August 5. “Well, I’m a prankster,” she warned, half in jest.
While the fellas of M5 are chill, laid back, and relatively social – I warned VV when she stopped by “The Ralphie Radio Show” on Wednesday that Owl City’s Adam Young is the exact 180 – shy and introverted from all reports I’ve heard.
“Oh no, I can charm a lion,” she responded, dismissing my claim. “I think sometimes, people just need to be understood. I’ll try and understand him.”
I wished her the best of luck with that task. --- Part 1: Touring, Trickers, Big Bird
Part 2: "Shark in the Water", Lost Guitar
--- “(Young) is probably sick of people kissing his butt all the time, and he just needs someone real to just tell him how it is,” continued Brown. “I always keep it real.”
The UK singer isn’t joking with that claim – all of her vocals from Traveling Like the Light are the demo versions – no retouching, no auto-tune, no thirty takes of one note. But just because she’s real, doesn’t mean she isn’t awkward, at times.
“I’m the kind of person that talks about inappropriate things at the wrong time,” admitted the artist, before offering up an example. “Just talking about poo around the dinner table… I’m very honest as well.”
If I could only be a fly inside the catering tent for this tour.
He’s flying from coast to coast – filming a new movie, “Inkubus” in the east, appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” out west. He just welcomed a second child in to his life. This summer he is preparing for a two week run of “The Producers” in Pittsburgh – on top of countless other appearances and hosting commitments.
Yet somewhere in between all of this, Joey Fatone is finding the time to go back to his roots and launch a solo music career. “Radio” is his first single, and the evening before it hit iTunes, the former ‘N Sync member somehow spared 10 minutes to check in to “The Ralphie Radio Show.”
“It’s been a crazy month of May for me,” Fatone said, arguably a rather large understatement. “It’s been unreal, and I count my blessings every day.”
‘N Sync released its debut, self-titled album 12 years ago. From 1998 to 2003, the group sold 56 million albums worldwide – a number that sounds and reads unfathomable in this day and age. After the boy band disbanded – Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez pursued separate music careers. Lance Bass unsuccessfully attempted to launch in to space, before revealing he was gay in 2006. Chris Kirkpatrick hosted a morning radio show and appeared in a couple reality TV programs.
And if you were looking for Fatone, you didn’t need to look any further than the closest screen or stage – because the baritone singer decided he’d pursue everything that didn’t involve recording an album and touring.
“I did ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’, and then I went off and did Broadway for a while,” noted Fatone, who appeared in “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Rent.” “And then I was spending time with my wife and my kid, and then I just finally had another kid recently.”
Fatone cites the birth of his second daughter as the reason he backed out of the spotlight – focusing on his family after “Dancing with the Stars” and his various hosting credits, which include the TV Guide Network. Now he’s back on the road – wrapping up his current film, a horror flick in which he stars alongside Robert Englund – the original Freddy Krueger, before the end of the month. Despite the constant activity in his life, Fatone believes the timing is right to return to music. --- Part 1: New movie, Return to "Dancing with the Stars"
Part 2: Solo album plans, possible Justin collab, "The Producers" in Pittsburgh
--- “To have all the guys from ‘N Sync come out with an album at the same time, and just where I was, for me to do more Broadway and obviously not come out with an album, I think for me I’m glad it was kinda that way,” revealed Fatone. “You know, you don’t want people to get bombarded and go, ‘Oh look, Justin’s coming out with an album, oh here’s J.C. coming out with an album, here’s Joey coming out with an album, who’s coming out with an album next?’”
So he waited, and eventually recorded a handful of songs over the past couple years – fine-tuning his work until he was satisfied.
“I’m not the biggest writer, Justin and J.C. were really, really great writers… I’d always come up with concepts but never was a writer for that,” he recalled. “I always wanted to, and over the years developed writing and coming up with more ideas and working with a friend of mine, Rob Giles, who wrote ‘Radio’, it just kind of came together.”
Somehow Fatone fit in writing and recording sessions between his litany of other gigs. He’s only worked with Giles in studio thus far, but plans on reaching out this summer to other potential collaborators, including Timberlake. Fatone agreed with my assessment that Justin is more interested in partnering with other artists at the moment than recording his own material, so now may be the time to snag him for a feature.
“I think right now, because he doesn’t want the pressure on himself to have to go on tour and all that stuff,” said Fatone, who mentioned that he already spoke with Timberlake regarding the possibility. “So I think for him, producing and writing with other people is a great outlet for him, and he can stay at home.”
Certainly much has changed, besides the decline in sales, since ‘N Sync ruled the charts. But Fatone has taken note and adapted. He did not commit to any type of music video for “Radio” until he sees the reaction from fans – which these days, is instant thanks to comments and stat reports from iTunes, Amazon MP3, and YouTube.
“It’s like, why not put it out there, see what happens, and if it starts to grow… for me I’d love to do a tour and go out to maybe like, a House of Blues and do a tour like that,” said Fatone, also mentioning that he’d like to keep that intimate setting for his fans.
“My whole thing is, life’s too short, enjoy what you have, enjoy the music, enjoy spending time with your family, and that’s my vibe in general. I’m not trying to save the world by writing a song that’s going to make everyone hold hands and be one together. No, just have a party, have a good time.”
The Wingman advises a listener to dump his girl before she airs more of his personal secrets... and sizes. Visit The Wingman on MySpace, Facebook, & Twitter.
Parents and counselors across the country voiced their displeasure in the dance instructor and the children’s parents, calling the choreography too provocative and the outfits too revealing. Lauren Lake, a former hip hop dancer who appeared on the same HLN segment with me, compared the moves to that of a stripper – asking if a pole would be the next step for dancers their age.
I’m sorry, but I have to draw the line there. These girls were in a controlled environment, with parents, supervisors, and teachers. The comparison to exotic dancers was extreme, out of line, and uncalled for. I concurred that the outfits were not age-appropriate. But the dance moves consisted of more ballerina-twirling than booty shaking, grinding, or gyrating.
Matter of fact, how much of the latter actually appeared in the video? The girls were moving around frantically, but I think the “gyrating” claim is a little generous – perhaps these critics need a tutorial on how one actually gyrates.
Galanos and Lake were both against the video – which made it very hard for me to voice my opinion in the two-part, 10 minute piece. The bias in the segment reached a fever pitch right before Galanos tossed it to me for my first of only two chances where I’d be allowed to speak. The anchor decided it would also be a good idea to question not only the dance moves and costumes – but the song as well – by picking the most provocative lyrics of the track and reading them, while the words were displayed on screen.
“Single Ladies” is more than a song or a video – it’s a phenomenon that transcended to people of all ages and genders. Thankfully, there is at least a positive message to be taken from it.
That can’t be said for many other segments of our culture that 8 and 9 year olds are exposed to. Would Galanos and Lake rather see these girls hoola-hoop to Young Money’s “Bedrock”? How many of these dancers’ peers use a Lady GaGa song like “Just Dance” in a routine – yunno, where GaGa sings about getting drunk and hooking up in a club?
Galanos and Lake probably couldn’t answer that – which is another big problem with this whole ordeal. No one conducted a study to find out if “Single Ladies” is normally used in similar competitions, with comparable dance moves.
A TV network not giving a subject due diligence by reporting the facts? Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised of my experience after all.
TMZ's Nicki Fertile explained what happened when police were called to the Pratt household after Heidi's mother showed up unannounced. Catch Nicki on TMZ TV, local listings here.
4. Without Facebook what are you going to do when you don't have a friend's email address or phone number? Facebook messaging blows. But at least you know you can reach anybody who has a Facebook account.
5. Forget Facebook. 80 million of you are addicted to Zygna's Facebook game, FarmVille.
6. It takes 2 seconds to "join" a new site through Facebook Connect. It can take a good 10 minutes doing it the old way. (Care to subscribe to these magazines?)
7. How will you hear about parties? How will you remember where and when those parties are? Evite?
8. You don't care about Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg's sometimes sketchy past
9. Sure, Facebook has privacy issues, but you don't care about privacy anymore. Remember when you wouldn't use your real name on the Internet?
10. You've never quit before. Remember News Feed? Beacon? You didn't quit then and won't now, either. Not even if you want to.
VerseCity front man Micah Walker calls in to "The Ralphie Radio Show" from Houston to chat about his band's version of "TiK ToK", entitled, "Tik Tok Rok." The group kept the basic premise of the song while changing a few lyrics and melodies - transforming a ladies anthem in to something a little more unisex.
Walker tells "The RRS" that 10 cents of every iTunes sale goes to Ke$ha's publishing company. He also found out that Dr. Luke, who wrote and produced a litany of hits, including "TiK ToK", heard the rock version and liked it.
You'd assume that reality star Jon Gosselin was not responsible for his eight kids on Mother's Day, with ex-wife Kate taking care of the children. So, how did Jon spend the day? I spotted Gosselin and an attractive brunette on Sunday evening looking down the directory at the King of Prussia Mall, near Philadelphia. While the lady in hand is toting a Louis Vuitton purse, Jon is holding a pink Juicy Couture bag.
No pictures from the front, obviously I was in a mall, not expecting him to walk by me, and certainly not trying to cause a scene. My friend Nikki tells me that she spotted him later in the day at a nearby Target.
Rapper Chiddy, one half of Chiddy Bang, called in to "The Ralphie Radio Show" to talk about the group's single "Opposite Of Adults" as well as the video for it - which has received airplay on MTV and approval from the likes of KanYe West.
You heard him belt these out on "The RRS"... here are the videos of adorable five year-old "Toothless" Jack... for crying out loud, a label needs to sign this kid STAT!
TMZ's Nicki Fertile reports on "The RRS" that TMZ spoke with Lawrence Taylor's third wife and she claims that the allegations of L.T. raping a 16 year-old are a part of a set up and not true. Catch Nicki on TMZ TV, local listings here.
The Wingman advises Kevin that he needs to take it easy if he wants to make it past the first date with a woman. Visit The Wingman on MySpace, Facebook, & Twitter.
Gym Class Heroes front man Travie McCoy is a little salty that a rough mix of a demo track featuring Ke$ha found its way on to the Internet. He knows someone on the West Coast is responsible, although is unaware of who leaked it. Regardless, he’s upbeat, with a more positive outlook on the bigger picture.
“Luckily enough, none of the stuff on the album has been leaked, and hopefully it won’t before the album drops,” revealed McCoy, speaking on his tour bus to “The Ralphie Radio Show.” His solo debut, Lazarus, comes out June 8. The first single, “Billionaire” features triple-threat Bruno Mars – who sings, writes, and produces. Mars gained notoriety recently for his chops on the hook of B.o.B’s smash hit, “Nothin’ On You.”
“I hooked up with his production team… just the tracks they were coming up with; I was like, ‘Whoa… we definitely need to get together on this record,’” McCoy said of collaborating with Mars and The Smeezingtons – a production team also comprised of Phillip Lawrence and Ari Levine. The meeting occurred about a year and a half ago. “We were in the studio, and he played me ‘Billionaire’… it was just the track and him on the hook – and I was just like, ‘Wow, alright, we’re in a recession right now, how can I come out with this song talking about wanting to be a billionaire?’” --- Download the interview
--- McCoy answered his own question by flipping the scenario and becoming selfless, instead of selfish. While he rhymes about spending money on the ones he loves and good causes – McCoy raps that he would have his own theme music wherever he walked. So, what would it be?
“Probably the theme song from Super Fly,” joked McCoy. “You know what I mean? I’d have a band behind me, as I walk everywhere.”
Speaking of bands – the one currently behind him isn’t going anywhere. McCoy reiterated that the Gym Class Heroes are not breaking up. The group is currently 12 demos in to a new LP, due out next year, titled PCC II. The GCH emcee alluded to the album being a sequel to the 2005 release The Papercut Chronicles. Gym Class drummer Matt McGinley is currently touring with McCoy.
Cobra Starship front man Gabe Saporta explains why the band shot a video for this song off of Hot Mess, why it cost the group next to nothing to release.
Some in the music business knew of B.o.B and his talents well before he scored a number one record and two top ten hits with his album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. Count Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta as one of those people.
“I was a huge fan of his when ‘I’ll Be In The Sky’ came out, I thought that song was gonna be a monster,” revealed the front man. “To me, he was the new Andre 3000.”
Saporta enjoyed B.o.B’s work so much that he asked the rapper to cameo on “The World Will Never Do” – which is the last track on Hot Mess.
“That is actually one of the songs we’re proudest of on the record,” Saporta said of the collab. “It’s the last song on the album – and that always kind of happens with Cobra records – like, I kind of start listening to our own record from track 6 onward, and the last song is always, usually, my favorite.” --- Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship invited "The RRS" aboard Cobra's tour bus (which Toby Keith also uses, true story) to chat about the band's tour with 3OH!3 and Travie McCoy along with a few select tracks from Hot Mess. In Part 2, Ryland Blackinton also joins in on the fun. Part 1: Pacing Yourself On Tour, New Tour Bus, B.o.B. Collab
Part 2: Pete Wentz, Ryland Stops By
--- Speaking of tracks from Hot Mess, Cobra recently released a video for track 7, “Living In The Sky With Diamonds” – a song that departs from the party-on message in the LP’s first two singles.
“I feel like all the songs we’ve done so far, people that haven’t heard Cobra Starship yet, a lot of them are probably like, ‘Wow these guys are just like, complete douches,’” the lead singer confessed, before I asked him to elaborate. “I guess if you only hear the two songs (“Good Girls Go Bad”, “Hot Mess”) they’re both about like, kinda getting drunk and going crazy and me encouraging girls to be on their worst behavior. But, we have a sensitive side too.”
The music video was shot by a film school student in the UK. English model Peaches Geldof stars in the production, which can be viewed on Cobra’s official website and YouTube.
With the first single from Streets of Gold entitled "My First Kiss" - Nat and Sean answered a question that will more than likely be asked a lot over the next few weeks - what was their first kiss like? The track features Ke$ha and is on iTunes now.
Nathaniel Motte told me back on March 3, aka 3/03 Day, that he wanted to finish the 3OH!3’s second LP, Streets of Gold, before they hit the road for a trek with Cobra Starship and Travie McCoy on the Too Fast For Love tour.
Mission accomplished.
“We’re actually going back and forth now and getting mixes back and commenting on mixes right now,” Nat said of the album, which is scheduled for a June 29 release. “Can’t tell you how excited we are to have new music out.”
3OH!3 dropped Want, which spawned the huge hit “Don’t Trust Me”, back in July of 2008. There was no timeline to write, record, or release that record. That wasn’t the case with Streets of Gold. --- Download the interview
The fellas from Colorado also talked about a recent college show in which they played outdoors through a storm with lightening. --- “We took the first month and went up in the mountains and demoed a bunch of tracks that yunno, Nat had been working on production on the road… I had some vocal ideas,” said Sean Foreman. “We went up and just made as many songs as we could.”
The group narrowed 18 demos to 14 tracks which you’ll hear on the new LP. The first single is called, “My First Kiss”, and it features pop-star Ke$ha. 3OH!3 teamed up with her on “Blah Blah Blah” – and given the success of that song as well as Ke$ha’s popularity at the moment, Foreman felt it was “an obvious step.”
“Listening to the album, there’s a lot of great songs, but I think especially as like just one to get back out there with, it’s awesome,” Foreman continued. “I think it’s perfect, I hope everyone likes it.”
“We wrote that song with her a long time ago,” Motte added. “We wrote her part, and wanted a girl to feature.”
The band was introduced to her as an up-and-coming artist my mutual friend/producer Dr. Luke. And the rest as they say, is history.
“My First Kiss” hit iTunes on Tuesday. It’s available as a free download from the band’s official website if you preorder the new album.
