MUSIC: New Singles

(turn off Kat and Rihanna's automatic players to regain your sanity.)


Normally once it's officially Spring, artists release their summer party songs. Last year Shakira and Wyclef Jean hit us with "Hips Don't Lie," and Nelly Furtado made her comeback with a little help from Timbaland in "Promiscuous." Sometimes an artist, like Rihanna, takes advantage of the easy mix and hard-to-get-out-of-your-head summer party song, to start off their careers. This year we have Kat DeLuna, an R&B and Latin artist born in the Bronx and raised in the Dominican Republic. Her first single, "Whine Up," featuring Elephant Man, sounds like a mixture of Rihanna (reggae vibe) and Nina Sky (vocals and Spanglish). If the radio gives this enough play time, it could be one of the songs of the summer!

KAT DELUNA


Speaking of Rihanna, it seems like she's trying to step out of the summer songs genre and become a long lasting artist, like one of her most obvious influences Beyonce. Her newest release is a collaboration with Jay-Z called "Umbrella." It has a very Hip Hop/R&B feel to it unlike most of the pop/Reggae beats she usually puts out. After giving her fans a sample of her R&B aspirations with "Unfaithful," this next single is surely a taste of what her next album is going to sound like. Listen to the lyrics:

"When the sun shine/we'll shine together/told you I'd be here forever/said I'd always be your friend/ took an oath/I'm a stick it out till the end/now that it's raining more than ever/know that we'll still have each other/you can stand under my umbrella/you can stand under my umbrella"

It's a great song for graduating seniors to play while they're packing to go to college or to leave it.


RIHANNA



BEYONCE
Rumored to be butting heads and vying for Jay-Z's attention against Rihanna, Beyonce also released a new single this week. "Welcome to Hollywood," is very old school, Motown, 80's R&B. Of course, Beyonce sings beautifully as usual. It talks about the reality of Hollywood. Maybe she's trying to clue Jennifer Hudson in.


NELLY FURTADO

I don't know why but Nelly's latest single "All Good Things (Come to an End)" seems like Nelly returning to folky roots, with that "I'm Like a Bird" vibe. It's one of those mellow songs that's fit for April showers.