Golden Globes Best Dressed List 2024

My best dressed list in absolutely no order.... 

They just all looked amazing!

Let's talk about Brie Larson and J Lo who ran into each other on the red carpet. Brie told J Lo that seeing her in Selena is what made her want to become an actor. They both could not have looked more beautiful. 

Jennifer looked like a rose garden in a Nicole + Felicia Couture look. The color was gorgeous on her and those lines and curves were everything. 

Brie wore another pastel, lavender! Her Prada custom dress was simple but such a feminine shape. 

She hasn't had many fashion missteps overall, Taylor Swift has owned the red carpet for a while but recently has come into her own with a more mature look. Taylor was absolutely dazzling in custom Gucci. I just had to get you a front and back view. 

Timothee Chalamet was the best dressed guy from a contemporary perspective, his Celine Homme non traditional tux was perfection. 

Forever my friend Jennifer Aniston was a beauty in black. If I could choose any dress to wear for myself, it would be this one, so relatable and versatile yet chock full of cool details. Her dress was Dolce & Gabbana with Jimmy Choo shoes. 

Elizabeth Debicki played Princess Diana on The Crown; she channeled goddess vibes in this Christian Dior gown. I loved everything about her look from head to toe. 

And last but not least, Emma Stone was so pretty in Louis Vuitton! I loved all the details in her floral dress from the embroidery to the color palette to the fit. She was a winner in more ways than one. 

The Voice Season 23 Battle Rounds: It's Me, Hi!

Team Niall: Ross Clayton and Laura Littleton sang Stop Dragging My Love Around by Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks-- I would give the edge to Ross. I just think there is something unique about him, his style, his voice. Niall said you're two unbelievable singers. He ended up choosing Ross. 

Team Chance: Magnus and Alyssa Lazar sang Your Song by Elton John-- I LOVE both of them. I did not expect that. Magnus has such a warm and round tone. I also love how he chose to phrase the words. Alyssa leveled up from the blinds, she outdid herself. Alyssa said you are piercing and powerful, and Magnus your voice is round and warm bodied. Chance said Alyssa, your voice and style is meant for this song. Magnus you smashed the intentionality of the notes I gave you on this song. Chance chose Magnus. 

Team Kelly: Marcos Covos and Sheer Element sang I Could Fall in Love with You by Selena. Kelly chose Marcos. 

Team Blake: Kylee Dayne and Mary Kate Connor sang Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift--These young women are both amazing!! Wow! I think this is one of my fave ever Battles on The Voice. I love how Kylee has more this alto harmony and Mary Kate with that sweet soprano and the ad libs. Niall said you made Anti Hero completely your own. Chance said it seemed like you two grew up together, you should record that version. Kelly said Kylee your voice always sounds special, Mary Kate, you have this passion that is breathtakingly beautiful. Niall went for Mary Kate, Chance went for Kylee, and Kelly didn't really say, she said that they were evenly matched. Blake said you both gave 150% at what you do. He chose Kylee as the winner of the battle. He gave Mary Kate his play off pass. 

My 2015 Playlist-- It's the Ultimate!

2015 was an exciting year in music, and these were my favorite tracks of the year. It was tough to narrow down, but here we go.... my ultimate playlist!

Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay from the album A Head Full of Dreams-- I am always excited when a new Coldplay album comes out, Chris Martin is one of my favorite lead singers, there's just so much enthusiasm in everything he does. Lyrically, Coldplay is one of the most complex bands out there and Adventure of a Lifetime continues the complex lyric but with a disco sound that is most addictive.



Body on Me by Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown from upcoming Rita Ora album-- Some collaborations are a match made in heaven and this beauty between Rita Ora and Chris Brown is one of those. Somehow Rita makes Chris sound more mature. The song as well as the video is breathy, sexy, convincing, and passionate. I hope this is not the only time these two work together musically, the chemistry is real.





Break Up in a Small Town by Sam Hunt from the album Montevallo-- Welcome to music Sam Hunt! We love you! Sam Hunt is so country but he is so different. He has a rap/ talk twist, an R&B sound at times. He is the perfect mix of everything I love. The song is everything a good song should be, it hits hard and it is so emotional, it is looking to climb to number one on the country charts.



Can't Feel My Face by The Weeknd from the album Beauty Behind the Madness-- Perhaps on other male artist on this list had a year as big as The Weeknd. The only other person who perhaps had a better year musically was Adele.... Hello!The Weeknd exploded onto the scene last when as a relatively unknown artist in the US he sang a duet with Ariana Grande called Love Me Harder that climbed to the tops of the charts; he hasn't looked back. Rolling Stone called it the best song of 2015, critics have compared his vocals to those of Michael Jackson, and he has earned two Grammy nominations for the song-- Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance.



Confident by Demi Lovato from the album Confident-- I think Demi Lovato, at the ripe age of 23, is one of those artists who keeps getting better as time goes on. I believe her new album Confident is her best yet, it's fearless. The title track, co written by Lovato herself is a girl power anthem.



Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato from the album Confident-- Called by some music critics maybe the best summer song ever, Cool for the Summer was the lead single off Lovato's fifth studio album Confident. I think perhaps what I enjoyed about it more than anything else is that when I listen to it, it makes me feel like it's summer all the time, not a bad way to feel. Lovato continues to mature on every album and this single is indicative of that-- there's a certain sex appeal and people are loving it.



Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett from the album Tangled Up-- Die a Happy Man is just a legit pure love song. Simple music, simple lyrics, strong delivery, and you have a number one country hit from relative newcomer Thomas Rhett. Rhett says the song was inspired by his wife Lauren and the music video is the two of them and was shot while they vacationed in Hawaii. Look for this one to do well when the country music award nominations come out this entire year.



Energy by Drake from the mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late-- In 2015, Drake continued to prove that he is the real deal in rap and that he's a force to be a reckoned with for every other rap star out there. The fact that this song got so much play and was only on a mixtape is amazing to me. It's proof that Drake in constantly evolving creatively and I love it. The premise of the video, Drake pokes fun at a lot of other celebs, the song is not aimed at any one in particular, yet the lines of the song mean business.



Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson from the album Piece by Piece-- Definitely inspired by 80s pop, Heartbeat Song marked a returns of sorts for Clarkson who took a short hiatus to have baby River Rose. Kelly revealed that she had some difficulties with her voice and doubted whether or not she would be able to return full voice. This song was proof that she need not worry, her vocals are intact. Clarkson emphatically proves that she is the best American Idol ever, and is one of the best vocalists bar none. The song is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance and I just know that she has as good a chance of winning this as anyone else, if not better.



Hello by Adele from the album 25-- Few artists can say they ever had a year like Adele did in 2015. Besides breaking record after record, Adele proved that no matter how long she stays away, her fans will always return. The song has hit number one in numerous countries and look for her to clean up big time at all the major music award shows in the next year.



Here by Alessia Cara from the debut album Know It All-- Alessia Cara says grown men have approached her to thank her for writing "Here". Cara says the song is secretly about people who hate going to parties and social events. I can relate. I love Alessia's sound, and I think what I like the most about her is that she makes being an introvert cool again. It's good to be different is what her song says, and I don't mind singing it out loud.



The Hills by The Weeknd from the album Beauty Behind the Madness-- Sex, drugs, and rock and roll or in this case, R&B. It's pretty much what The Hills is all about. The Weeknd continues on this song to take us into his dark world, and people must really love it because it was his third hit in 2015 and replaced Can't Feel My Face at number one. The Weeknd is only the second artist to do this on a debut album (the other was Rihanna).



Hotline Bling by Drake from the upcoming album Views From the Six-- If anything, this song has been controversial from the lyrics to the video; Drake knows how to make people talk about him and sing along at times. Many feminist critics said the song was slut shaming-- asking your ex why she isn't coming over to be friends with benefits anymore because she's moved on to someone else? And the video, Drake's rap competition made fun of the way he danced saying he made a fool of himself in the video.



How Deep is Your Love by Calvin Harris and the Disciples-- Supposedly, allegedly inspired by his relationship with Taylor Swift, How Deep Is Your Love may just be one of my fave Calvin Harris songs ever! I love the beat, I love the uncredited vocals, and I love that it is literally begging someone to answer the question of How Deep is Your Love. Oh, and for all the guys out there, did I mention the video stars the gorgeous Gigi Hadid?



Lay Me Down by Sam Smith from the album In the Lonely Hour-- This makes it on here because although this was Smith's debut single from 2013, it only charted in 2015 after he re-recorded it and re-released it. This song is a triumphant declaration from the heart. It literally gets me every time, lyrically it's beautiful and vocally, it's perfection. If this is a debut, what comes next? I can't wait.



Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding from the Fifty Shades of Grey original soundtrack-- This was Gouldings first number one hit in many countries. In fact, she almost did not get the song at all because she wasn't interested in doing a song for a soundtrack, and at one point, the song was going to be given to Demi Lovato. Personally, I think Ellie's voice really suits the song and I love that it has received Grammy and Golden Globe nominations.



The Night is Still Young by Nicki Minaj from the album the Pinkprint-- Let me tell you what I love about this song... this song is proof that Nicki is not just a rapper but a singer and an entertainer, this woman has a voice. I also love how she has so much versatility, she can rap about something really serious but then she can sing this light almost romantic song. I cannot wait to see what Nicki does next.



On My Mind by Ellie Goulding from the album Delirium-- Everyone knows I am a big Ed Sheeran fan and he wrote the song Don't about a girl who was going out with who he had real feelings for who cheated on him with someone else. Many say it was about Ellie Goulding cheating on him with Niall from 1D. On My Mind is said to be the answer song to Don't. Ellie describes a one night stand where she was with someone she shouldn't have been with. The music video is fun and very Thelma & Louise, many say it's her best single to date.



Out of the Woods by Taylor Swift from the album 1989-- Described by Taylor as a song that is about the "fragility and breakable nature of some relationships," it's about going through the day in and day out, the ups and the downs and wondering if you're going to get through it or not, wondering if the relationship is going to work. Some say this song is about her former relationship with Harry Styles from 1D. The video to the song premiered on New Year's Rockin' Eve and we may be talking about this song again in 2016 since it looks to climb the charts this year. It would be no surprise to say Taylor has another hit on her hands.



Should've Been Us by Tori Kelly from the debut album Unbreakable Smile--  When Tori Kelly was 16, she auditioned for American Idol and made it all the way to Hollywood week only to get cut. I love American Idol, but hearing Tori's voice now makes me think that they made a huge mistake. Not only does she have a killer voice, but she's also a songwriter which is becoming more and more rare in the music industry. It makes Tori a diamond in the rough. Ignore the horribly pointless video.



Sorry by Justin Bieber from the album Purpose-- The song has already made it to number one, and I have to say, I was never a huge Justin Bieber fan but so many of the songs from this album have so much maturity to them and I am really enjoying listening to these new songs and hearing/ seeing this new side of Justin Bieber. Many fully believe that the song is an apology to former girlfriend Selena Gomez. Justin says the song is about manning up and apologizing for mistakes.



Stitches by Shawn Mendes from the debut album Handwritten-- I think Stitches had the distinction of being the slowest climb to number one of any song. It's one of those songs I kept hearing on the radio for a good portion of the year. Mendes says the song is about feeling heartbroken and beaten up, which I think is honestly something that most can relate to. As a side note, I am loving his duet with Camilla Cabello, I Know What You Did Last Summer.



Style by Taylor Swift from the album 1989-- Rumored to be about her romance with Harry Styles, Style (get it?) was a stylish song that hit right before the summer, and I think it was definitely one of the songs of Summer 2015. Critics loved the song, many said it was the best track on 1989, said it fit like a "cashmere lined leather glove".



Sugar by Maroon 5 from the album V-- Maroon 5 is one of my all time favorite bands ever, and this song is them at their best. Adam's vocals are so on point and perfect, and lyrically, I feel like every woman out there is thinking, Adam is singing to me. The video to the song was inspired by the movie Wedding Crashers and features the band crashing weddings and singing. The expressions from the brides and grooms and their guests are absolutely priceless. The song is up for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance at the Grammy Awards, and it's my pick to win.



Want to Want Me by Jason Derulo from the album Everything is 4-- Despite the fact that I am unhappy with Jason's latest choice in girlfriends.... Daphne Joy? Really Jason, really?.... I will say that I absolutely loved Want to Want Me. Maybe it's because I am a child of the 80s and this song is so 80s, or maybe it's his ridiculous falsetto that never fails to impress me, but the song was a hit, and every time it came on the radio, I turned it up.



What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber from the album Purpose-- In year's past, if you would have asked me if Justin Bieber would have appeared on any fave songs of the year post I wrote, I would have told you, you were crazy, and yet, the last two songs on this post are by Justin Bieber and he appeared a total of three times on my list for 2015. What Do You Mean? is all about a more grown up and more mature Biebs; it debuted at number one, and it proves that this kid knows how to make a come back. The song itself is simple but complicated with a super catchy hook, and is a sequel of sorts to the Skrillex/ Diplo song Where Are U Now? So good is What Do You Mean? that I fully believe it will be a candidate for award shows this year as well as next.



Where Are U Now? by Justin Bieber from the album Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U-- Skrillex and Diplo said that when they decided to release an album they wanted to do something unexpected and working with Justin Bieber was unexpected. The song to me is lyrically an anthem for a love that has broken apart and you desperately need it back, but you want the other person to realize your worth too.

The Ultimate Playlist for 2014, Music Rules!

2014 was the year of the lady in music--Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Arianna Grande, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Sia, Katy Perry, and the list could continue. Noticeably absent from my list this year-- Rihanna who laid low, Lady Gaga who cut a jazz record with Tony Bennett, and Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Kelly Clarkson who all had babies.

The release of a new Ed Sheeran album brought many hits for the young artist who continued to dominate the charts. Adam Levine's success on The Voice may have inspired possibly his best album yet with Maroon 5.

Newbies also dominated, a young man by the name of Sam Smith made many believers with his soulful voice and vulnerable lyrics. Iggy Azalea, though not fancy in her delivery, proved that she was a black widow on the charts, though, she hasn't made my list. Hosier took us to church with his powerful vocals, and Meghan Trainor wrote and sang a clever song about what else? Booty.

I can't wait any longer-- here's the playlist---

0 to 100 by Drake-- In a year where Drake didn't release an album, it doesn't surprise me that he wrote this song in an effort to tell his competition that he will always dominate rap/ R&B music. The song has been nominated at the Grammy's for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.

Ain't it Fun by Paramore-- One of my absolute faves of the year. A group lead by Hayley Williams with mainly a rock style, Ain't it Fun showed musical diversity adding some soul and gospel, actually going back to Williams' childhood. The song written by Williams and guitarist Taylor York is nominated for best rock song at the Grammy Awards and climbed all the way to number one on the US Top 40. I love the strong lyrics.  I love the fun video for this song too..... ingenious....



All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor-- She had a breakout year all because she wrote a clever song about what else......... booty. Hailing from Nantucket, MA, Meghan attended Berkley College of Music and got a deal with a record company writing songs for the likes of Rascal Flatts. She wrote All About That Bass and wanted to give the song to an artist but when it didn't work out she recorded the song herself, L.A. Reid heard it and signed her to Epic records, and the rest, they say, is history. She song made it to number one on the Top 40 Charts and is nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Girl Power!

Animals by Maroon 5-- Adam Levine said that V, the group's fifth album is their best, and he is quite possibly right. Animals showcases Levine's disinct vocals, his range, and that killer falsetto. The video, although creepy, features Levine and real life wife Behati Prinsloo. This was the tenth top ten for Maroon 5 and a number one on the Top 40 Charts.



Automatic by Miranda Lambert-- In Automatic, Miranda Lambert writes about the good times, being young and carefree, and the song encourages people to live life more simply, Although not a number one, Lambert is nominated for Best Country Song and Country Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards.

Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj-- What happens when you take three powerhouse artists, one who is a prolific rapper and two powerhouse vocalists? You get the song Bang Bang, this banging collaboration full of punch and fire. The song appears on Ariana's album My Everything and Jessie J's album Sweet Talker. They have a great chance of picking up the Grammy for Best Pop Duo Group Performance, and if they don't win, their competition better move out of the way.




Birthday by Katy Perry-- I'm not sure, but I believe the reason why I like this song so much is because of the disco beat. Perry is probably at her strongest in terms of songwriting with this song, and she has help from Bonnie McKee. Full of double entendres, Perry makes some sexy references while at the same time celebrating her significant other's birthday. The song made it to number three on the Hot Dance Charts and it's easy to see why because this is a definitely a song that anyone can dance to.

Blank Space by Taylor Swift-- Another one of my favorite songs of the year because it showed the dark and crazy side of Taylor Swift. Just kidding, it actually satirizes Swift's relationships as viewed by the media. The song replaced Swift's first single from 1989, Shake It Off at number one. Swift became the first female artist to replace herself at number one.



Break Free by Ariana Grande featuring Zedd-- This is the song for me where Ariana Grande proved her vocal chops. We heard her demonstrate them in her debut single The Way but we weren't sure if it was a fluke or not. Nay-sayers be silenced now because Ariana is pint sized but her vocals are grande. She became the second female to have three songs in the top ten: Break Free, Bang Bang, and Problem; Adele was the last one to do it in 2012.

Chandelier by Sia-- Sia is one of those artists who is so true to herself and who she is as an artist. Chandelier tackles the issue of alcoholism and wanting to drown problems away by drinking. Sia's vocals soar and she scored four Grammy noms as a result-- Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Solo Pop Vocal Performance, and Music Video of the Year.

Dangerous by David Guetta featuring Sam Martin-- 


Don't by Ed Sheeran-- I love Ed Sheeran. Supposedly, this song was inspired by his relationship with Light's singer Ellie Goulding and her suspected tryst with Niall from One Direction. My question is, Ellie, how could you do that to Ed Sheeran. But then when I think about it again, I think, it did inspire one heck of a song.

Drunk in Love by Beyonce-- How could I put Partition on this list without putting Drunk in Love on it. Beyonce's flow is the best part of this song, I like how she sings but also has a hard speaking style on this song. She and Drake need to collaborate soon because they would sound blend so well.



The Heart Wants What it Wants by Selena Gomez-- Selena released this song at the end of 2014 and said that it was about everyone knowing her feelings and why she did what she did. It's about anyone who ever judged her choices or judged her heart. I think that most will say the song is about the end of her relationship with Justin Bieber (hopefully it's over for good), but the truth is we will never truly know.



Hideaway by Kiesza-- I read what the song is about and was inspired by and it makes no sense to me but I do like the song, and I think it's one of the best dance tracks I've heard in a long time.



I'm Not the Only One by Sam Smith-- I think Sam Smith was the new artist of 2014. What a breakout year this young man had. I'm Not the Only One was only a part of that........ Latch, Stay with Me, Money on My Mind, Restart.... the list goes on. In the Lonely Hour, was, in my opinion, the debut album of the year. Sam Smith deserves every accolade that comes his way.

Jealous by Nick Jonas-- Robbed of Sexiest Man of the Year by People magazine in my humble opinion. I think Jealous was everyone's guilty pleasure song for 2014. It was on their playlists even if they didn't want to admit that it was. Jonas says the song was inspired by his relationship with his girlfriend Olivia Culpo.



Love Me Harder by Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd-- Called by critics the best track off My Everything, Love Me Harder is probably my favorite Ariana track ever. I love the pairing between Ariana and The Weeknd,  their voices just work well together. It's still climbing the charts and is the fourth top ten hit off Ariana's album. For me, it wins the award for sexiest track of the year. 

Don't get the video but dig the live performance on SNL.





Maps by Maroon 5-- This is a single that I am surprised didn't receive more attention in terms of awards, etc. There are a lot of ways in which it reminds me of a Sting (with the Police) type of song. Strong sound, strong, vocals, strong song, and solid album.

New Flame by Chris Brown featuring Usher & Rick Ross-- After being released from prison for violating terms of his probation, Chris Brown said he wanted to focus on his music. Despite the fact that the singer remains to be troubled in many ways, he is still a performer at the top of his game. Brown first released the song with just him and Rick Ross and released it with Usher and Rick Ross over the summer. Arguably the song became significantly stronger with Usher proving that he still has something special when it comes to an R&B jam. The latter became a number one R&B hit after all.



Partition  by Beyonce-- By far the most underrated R&B song of the year; it didn't make it to number one and should have. With sexy as hell lyrics and an equally sexy music video, Partition has an initially saccharine pop sound that changes into a hip hop sound that explores Beyonce's (or Yonce in this songs) Houston roots.  Penned by Beyonce, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, The Dream, and a supporting cast, the song has satisfyingly catchy lyrics that play to Beyonce's sensuality. You might have to take a cold shower after watching the video.



Pills N Potions by Nicki Minaj-- We couldn't have a best of 2014 without Nicki. Pills N Potions to me represents Nicki's serious and soulful side. There is a heart and sincerity in there that really comes out in this single. The song explores something that happens to everyone-- loving someone who has wronged you.

Play It Again by Luke Bryan-- He can crash my party any time if he keeps writing and singing hit after hit. Bryan had a banner year in 2014 and it only looks to get better. Play It Again was a number one country hit single.

Rather Be by Clean Bandit-- Rather Be is the case of the hit single by the group we've never heard of before. Clean Bandit is by a British electronic group and features the vocals of Jess Glyne. It became one of the fastest selling singles in the UK, and gained even more fame for it's music video that went viral with over 200 million views to date! The song made it all the way to number one on the dance charts and what culminated the year for the song was the nomination for Best Dance Recording at the Grammy's.



Shake It Off by Taylor Swift-- I bet if you asked Taylor Swift if she had the year of her life and career in 2014 she would tell you yes. All signs point that way after all. Swift took a major risk making an all pop music album and departing her country roots with the release of 1989, but Swift says she knew her fans would take the journey with her. Shake It Off was major proof of that. Not only was it risk that it wasn't country, but it was a risk that Shake It Off was so uptempo, something that Swifty's aren't used to. I think what resonated most though, and made the song so popular so quickly was the message of the song. The idea that we should just take all that negativity, bad stuff, bad people, and just shake it off. Once again, she manager to connect with her fans and the results: another number one hit, nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Pop Solo Performance of the Year (at the Grammy's), and a sold out stadium tour for next summer.



She Knows by Neyo-- He has written countless hit songs for other artists and never forgets to deliver the goods when it comes to himself. Neyo has yet to release his new album Non Fiction, but if She Knows is a sneak preview, I'm in. The song is a bit of a departure for Neyo, it's a little less clean cut then usual, it gets a little dirty, while still showcasing Neyo's precise vocals. At number eight on the R&B charts and still climbing, it seems as though Neyo's success lives up to his album title.



Sing by Ed Sheeran-- You all know from earlier in this playlist that I love Ed Sheeran, and initially when I thought of him, I thought of that alternative sound like Lego House. Sing changed my mind about all of that. It took Ed Sheeran out of that box, he proved that he has versatility, and, dare I say it, credibility in terms of possessing a soulful voice! Sheeran wrote the song with Pharrell Williams and says that Justin Timberlake's vocal stylings inspired him. I'd say he came pretty close, and even more convincing is Ed's falsetto.



A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay-- Not much is written about the song, but it sure is good isn't it? I may have tired from hearing about Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's uncoupling but I will never tire of this song. Listen to it, and when Chris Martin stops singing and all your hear is music that's when you start jumping up and down. Try it, I bet it will make you feel good.



Somethin' Bad by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood-- What happens when two of the most prevalent females in country music record a song together? The answer: Somethin' Bad! And I mean that in the best way possible. Carrie Underwood admits that it's been a while since two country females got together and did a song that, "in your face". Apparently Somethin' Bad was good cause Miranda and Carrie earned a Grammy nod for Best Country Group/ Duo Performance.



Take Me to Church by Hosier-- Take Me to Church is the impressive debut single from the Irish artist Hosier. It was quite the year for Hosier who was covered by The Voice, sang in the Victoria's Secret fashion show, and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammy's for a song that he wrote himself. Hosier says that the song ultimately is about comparing his lover to religion. With this as his debut, I cannot wait to see what Hosier does next.



Team by Lorde-- Wise beyond her years, mature beyond her years, Lorde is a lyrical master. This song is proof of her greatness. I doubted her at first, but I can honestly say, this playlist would not have been right without her on it.

Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran-- He's the only artist to appear on my playlist for 2014 three times. Well deserved Mr. Sheeran, I bet that every woman on the face of this Earth wishes she were your dance partner in this video.



Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson-- It had been a while since Bruno Mars released something new, and then all of a sudden I started hearing about this new project he was working on with Mark Ronson, and I only had to hear the song once to know it was the real deal. I was hooked from the first lyric. Bruno Mars is a throwback, he sounds like he should be from another time, but we are blessed enough to have him here right now. Uptown Funk is so stylized and so right that only Bruno could pull it off in true Bruno Mars style. Don't believe me....... just watch!



I believe that this song is going to go all the way to number one.

Grammy Recap 2014-- Cause there's so much on my mind....

I just finished watching the Grammy's, and overall I wasn't as impressed with performances as I thought I would be. The show itself evoked so many thoughts and feelings that when all was said and done with the show that ran over by about 45 minutes, I decided I needed to get everything done on paper.

It all started with an intoxicating performance of Drunkin' Love by Beyonce and her love Jay Z (they've been dubbed Jayonce online by fans). What more can I say, the voice, the body, Beyonce was ridiculous and in a good way. I loved the chemistry onstage between the two of them... I loved this performance, one of my overall favorites of the night.



Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won for Best New Artist. This award is always a toss up and by no means does winning it secure your career. However they also won Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song. I can deal with them winning Best Rap Song and if I must, Best Rap Performance, but I cannot deal with them winning Best Rap Album. I strongly believe that award belonged to Drake's Nothing Was the Same. That album was aggressive and vulnerable from start to finish.

I thought Lorde's performance of Royals was anemic at best. I was looking forward to seeing her perform live and it was disappointing, the vocals just weren't there, and therefore every award she picked up tonight just annoyed me.

Hunter Haye's debuted his new single Invisible inspired by the fact that he was bullied as a child. The vocals were strong, the performance was strong, and so was the message.

Best Pop Duo Performance was an award that I wish could have been given to everyone in the category, what an amazing group of performances. Each of them perfectly details what 2013 was all about-- Just Give Me a Reason by Pink and Nate Ruess, Stay by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko, Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I., Suit & Tie by Justin Timberlake and Jay Z, and winners in this category Daft Punk and Pharrell for the song Get Lucky.

Katy Perry gave a bewitching performance of Dark Horse that was only enhanced with Juicy J from Three 6 Mafia. The song is a little bit frivolous but it's fun nonetheless.

Keith Urban performed his hit Cop Car with help from newcomer Gary Clark Jr.; this was an awesome performance.  The guitar parts were particularly well done. I think what highlighted it was that it was preceded by a rather boring performance by Chicago and Robin Thicke (he's just not as good live as he sounds on a recording).

John Legend gave a classy performance of the song All of Me which he says he wrote for his fiance. The performance received a standing ovation. I didn't see many of those over the course of the night. (standing ovations= Pink, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis... did I miss any?)

Best Rock Song-- Cut Me Some Slack (cut me some... cause I am moving on, never heard the song.....) Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl

Taylor Swift gave a strong performance of All Too Well off her Red album (which should have won for album of the year, we'll talk more about that later). I loved seeing her sit at the piano and commit so fully to the performance as she always does. She connected with the audience, loved it.



I love Pink, no lie, but I didn't get why she replayed the acrobats of flying above the crowd, she did this before and now doing it again, it just didn't seem special to me anymore. She should have just come out and sang Try and then Nate Ruess could have come out and joined her as he did for Just Give Me a Reason. Their vocals soared when they started singing together.

Then.... powerhouse Arianna Grande and soulful Miguel presented a shy Lorde with her Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

Ringo Starr gave a forgettable performance of Photograph. I enjoyed his performance with Paul McCartney more.

Jamie Foxx came onstage and talked about how amazing Beyonce was and told Jay Z how lucky he was before presenting him and Justin Timberlake (not present) with the award for Best Rap/ Sung Collaboration for Holy Grail.

Kendrick Lemar and Imagine Dragons did one of those famous Grammy mash-ups with their songs M.A.A.D. City and Radioactive. This was one of the most well like performances of the night and although I enjoy both of these artists individually, I did not enjoy them together. I like the idea, but I would have preferred for each artist to perform separately.

This was followed by two quick performances...

One by Kacey Musgraves who seems to be taking Country music by storm.....

And then Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr proved that age is nothing but a number, and that real talent never dies.

Following these two performances, something amazing happened! Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony came out to present the award for Best Pop Vocal Album, and wouldn't you know it, the person who won actually did deserve it. Bruno Mars won for Unorthodox Jukebox.

One of the best performances of the night came from four men who sing country music and they brought down the house with a medley of songs-- Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and Blake Shelton showed some of these other performers how it perform on Grammy night.

Remember how I just said Kacey Musgraves is taking country by storm? Well she won Best Country Album for Same Trailer Different Park.

Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder gave a disappointing performance of Get Lucky. The vocals were shaky and it lacked the inspiration from the original, I was impressed, especially considering that they won several awards on Grammy night.

Also a disappointment to me was the duet between Carole King and Sara Bareilles of her song Brave. The two just didn't seem believe and therefore I didn't believe.

Song of the Year went to Royals by Lorde which should have been in this category, but I don't think it should have necessarily won. The real winner here should have been Same Love by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Thumbs down to Metallica for a lackluster performance; at this point, they're outdated.

Steven Tyler and Smokey Robinson presented a surprised Daft Punk and Pharrell with their Record of the Year Grammy for Get Lucky.

Perhaps the most thought evoking, inspirational, and emotional performance of the night went to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for Same Love. How beautiful it was to listen to the words and understand and feel through the lyrics what others go through. Their reality is not always great, but we can rise above as individuals and as a society if we so choose. By the time that the 30+ couples were married by Queen Latifah there was not a dry eye in the house, and people were holding hands believing all this could be a reality.



When Will I Be Loved by The Everly Brothers served as the "In Memoriam" song for this year and was sung by Billie Joe Armstrong and Miranda Lambert, an unlikely pairing.

Alicia Keys, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison present Album of the Year to Daft Punk for Random Access Memories. To me, this was an unjustified win though. Album of the Year indicates the whole body of work from start to finish and while Daft Punk had perhaps the song of  the year along with Blurred Lines, they did not produce a body of work that was equally as stunning. Taylor Swift should have won for reinventing herself in Red and producing track after track that displayed falling in love, the bad break up, having fun with friends, and imagining the future. An argument could have also been made for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' breakout album The Heist and Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City by rap genius Kendrick Lemar.

Closing with show with a performance I don't even remember anymore was Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Lindsey Buckingham, and Dave Grohl. How good could it have been?

The Ultimate Playlist for 2013: All My Favorite Songs (I refuse to leave any out)

2013 was a year full of comebacks: Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry. It was a year for newcomers: Imagine Dragons and Lorde. Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce continued to dominate for the ladies. On the men's side, Bruno Mars and Drake ruled showing that vulnerability was charming. Country continued to climb as a results of artists like Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Hunter Hayes, and Blake Shelton (despite his absence from my playlist). Pink had such a breakout year, her single Just Give Me a Reason was proof to anyone who didn't think she was the real deal that she in fact is. Robin Thicke is someone that also enjoyed a break out year with that huge hit called Blurred Lines. Everything Pharrell touched in 2013 turned to gold and he had two monster hit, Blurred Lines and Get Lucky.  Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown both made the news for their talent as well as some negativity that surrounded them. Lady Gaga made a comeback, but it wasn't as big as many hoped. Hayley Williams made a comeback and it was bigger than she imagined; she had two hits one with breakout artist Zedd, Stay the Night, and one with her group Paramore, Still Into You. Selena Gomez bounced back after a breakup with Justin Bieber and declared her independence and single status with the single Come & Get It, and Kelly Clarkson was "stronger" than ever, personally and vocally after getting married and later announcing she was with child releasing a single that she says is her favorite called People Like Us. Later in the year, Clarkson also released a Holiday album, and it was beautiful. Christina Aguilera returned to The Voice in shape and back and better than ever with the song Say Something; she showed a different side of herself and I loved it. The end of the year saw Timberlake, Mars, and Imagine Dragons looking forward to music awards season. It also had Beyonce releasing a self titled album in the middle of the night to itunes; it became one of the biggest selling albums of 2013 in a matter of hours.

1. 22-- Taylor Swift
2. Blurred Lines-- Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.
3. Body Party-- Ciara featuring Future
4. Closer-- Tegan and Sara
5. Come & Get It-- Selena Gomez
6. Counting Stars-- OneRepublic
7. Crash My Party-- Luke Bryan
8. Crooked Smile-- J. Cole featuring TLC
9. Cruise-- Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly
10. Do What You Want-- Lady Gaga featuring R. Kelly
11. Fine China-- Chris Brown
12. Get Lucky-- Daft Punk featuring Pharrell
13. Heart Attack-- Demi Lovato
14. Hold On We're Going Home-- Drake
15. I Want Crazy-- Hunter Hayes
16. Just Give Me a Reason-- Pink! featuring Nate Ruess from fun.
17. Love Somebody-- Maroon 5
18. Mirrors-- Justin Timberlake
19. The Other Side-- Jason Derulo
20. People Like Us-- Kelly Clarkson
21. Radioactive-- Imagine Dragons
22. Roar-- Katy Perry
23. Royals-- Lorde
24. Say Something-- A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
25. Stay-- Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
26. Stay the Night-- Zedd featuring Hayley Williams from Paramore
27. Still Into You-- Paramore
28. Suit & Tie-- Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z
29. Treasure-- Bruno Mars
30. Unconditionally-- Katy Perry
31. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together-- Taylor Swift
32. Wrecking Ball-- Miley Cyrus
33. XO-- Beyonce

Golden Globe Glam 2013: Who Wore it Best?

One of the biggest things talked about during this barrage of award shows that we have on during the winter is what are the celebrities wearing. I love watching the award shows and just ignoring the gossip and the superficial part of it and instead just basking in the glamour of it all. I think what Hollywood really misses now more than ever is the film star or TV star as opposed to the "celebrity".

I am not going to be mean and talk about those who I thought missed the boat in terms of their fashion choices. I want this instead to be in praise of those who got it right, looked amazing, and glowed. Here's my top ten in no particular order. ---

Nashville star and nominated this year, Hayden Panettiere looked amazing in her simple Roberto Cavalli mermaid style gown. I love the fact that her makeup and hair looked so natural. By the way, if you haven't checked out the show Nashville on ABC, please do, it's amazing. We need more shows like this on network TV.

 

Claire Danes, a winner for Best TV Drama Actress in Homeland, looked amazing for a woman who just recently gave birth. Her red hot Versace halter gown was the perfect hint of sexy paired with long blonde tresses and smoky eyes. 

 

Connie Britton, also from Nashville, sparkled in a strapless silver gown. Her long locks didn't fail to impress; they never do. I think a necklace would have been too much; the bracelets are just lovely. She never misses. 

 

Wowza! Taylor Swift looked lovely in eggplant; the dress fits her well, and the chandelier drop earrings that much were a nice touch. This ensemble was a welcome switch for Swift who usually favors red or more neutral colors. 

 

Stacy Kiebler looks simply awesome in this black dress with horizontal silver stripes. I also wouldn't mind that handsome accessory that she has on her arm. Va-va-voom---- George Clooney, ladies!

 

I loved the texture on Jennifer Garner's red dress, what an amazingly clean, sexy look for the mom of three, and the wife of Argo Director Ben Affleck. I cannot wait to see her on the big screen again. 

Glee star Lea Michele looked absolutely stunning in this sparkly white halter gown. The slit is amazing, the shoes are amazing; this is such a put together look. By the way, Glee is totally back this season, my favorite season since Season 2. It's must watch TV. 

The color of the gown, her skin, her hair, Jessica Alba was spot on with this entire outfit. Didn't she just have two kids? She looks phenomenal. I love the sweetheart neckline and how the dress is fitted through her waist and hips and how it flares out at the bottom. She is just gorgeous, and no one seemed to care that she wasn't nominated for anything. 

 

Yes, Sally Field, I really like you. This navy gown was perfect for her figure, and she seriously makes my best dressed list in a big way. She sometimes looks a bit of a mess, but here, I just want to honor her here, and take a cue from Anne Hathaway as she honored her during her acceptance speech. 

Helen Mirren always makes such smart red carpet choices, she's never caught off guard, she always looks age appropriate, and she is truly a part of that "old Hollywood glamour". But make no mistake, there is nothing old about her; she continues to impress. 

 

 *All these beautiful photos are from tvguide.com

The Top Songs of 2012: My Opinions, Enough Said.

Adorn by Miguel-- Admit it, you've probably never heard of him (heard of the song Sure Thing?) , but after you hear this song, you'll want to know that much more. The song was written and produced by the newcomer who said it was inspired by a series of dreams. It also scored him three Grammy nominations: Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance. Adorn is a lyricist's dream.



Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen-- If you didn't hear this song all over the radio, then where were you? Canadian born Jepsen had a number one hit with this song which also happened to be her debut single. Despite the fact that the music video is lame, it didn't stop the song from topping many 2012 music lists, including those for itunes and MTV as well as earning two Grammy nods.

Catch My Breath by Kelly Clarkson-- She continues to prove that the show American Idol actually has some clout. She also sounds happy, maybe it's because she truly is, newly engaged, Clarkson continues to be a force in pop music. I love the message of the song, it's about moving forward, and it's so positive and uplifting.



Climax by Usher-- When I first heard Climax, I didn't know it was Usher, and then a friend reminded me that no other male singer on the scene today could sound like that. Usher stressed that "Climax" is not about sex but instead about the complication of relationships. It's about whether or not you're able to commit; Usher, I commit.



Diamonds by Rihanna-- A lot of people dismissed Diamonds as a weak Rihanna ballad, but they couldn't be more wrong. I like this new direction that she's taking; it's deep. Now if only her intelligence in men matched her talent and she distanced herself from a singer with the initials C.B. The song is about love and I just feel good when I listen to it, not necessarily jumping for joy, but at ease. It's beautiful.



The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes and Ryan Tedder-- As I thought about what happened throughout 2012, I almost forgot the London Games. The pure thrill of getting to watch elite athletes compete on an international stage and show their stuff is like nothing else. The Fighter also contains lyrics and a certain "fight" to it which is so inspiring.



Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys-- Welcome back Alicia Keys, and because your music is so good and so conceptual and essential for women's souls everywhere, may you never leave us again. Girl on Fire, Keys says, is about her taking control, and, she says, it was inspired by all the new things in her life. Since her last album Keys got married and became a mom, but one thing hasn't changed and that's her amazing spirit.



Give Your Heart a Break by Demi Lovato-- Many of her fans and critics believe that Skyscraper was her breakthrough song, but I beg to differ because in a year full of dynamic female voices, Give Your Heart a Break was one of the most memorable pop songs of 2012.



Home by Phillip Phillips-- Phil Phillips was an unlikely Idol winner, but nonetheless, here we are, nine months later, and Home became the best selling Idol coronation song. I think it's because he is this unlikely here, so unassuming, so humble, and yet so talented, powerful with that quiet and low rock voice. I can't wait for his debut, The World from the Side of the Moon to give birth to yet another brilliant single.



I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift-- Taylor Swift continues to just surprise me in such a good way. Yes, I am tired of all these dead end relationships that she gets herself in to, and if only she realized that she deserves so much better, she wouldn't get in to half of them. But maybe there's a method to her madness, maybe it inspires these wonderful songs, her own personal works of art. And then, would I want her to stop? I Knew You Were Trouble sounds like nothing she has ever done before, and yet she sings it in such a convincing voice, and it is so Taylor.



I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz-- The sweetness and straightforwardness of I Won't Give Up, the first single off Love is a Four Letter Word transcends boundaries previously placed by Mraz himself. He makes such an emotional connection with the song and the listener that you or in my case, I, cannot help but be taken in. I feel every single word of I Won't Give Up and I am inspired, because as Mraz said, everyone has something in life that they believe is worth fighting for.



Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself) by Neyo-- Neyo is as famous for being a songwriter as he is for being a singer. So when Australian singer, Sia said she wrote a song for Neyo, it must have been really good for him to agree to it, because as Neyo put it, "no one knows me better than me" (on why he writes his own songs). The risk paid off because it isn't done climbing the charts yet.



Let's Go by Calvin Harris featuring Neyo-- Few who know Calvin Harris can question the influence he has had on the music industry these past couple of years. He has really brought a whole new sound to the forefront of the industry and people aren't just listening to it, they're dancing to it.



Lights by Ellie Goulding-- You may not believe me when I tell you this, but I knew who Ellie Goulding was a couple of years ago when few in the U.S. did. She is a talent to be reckoned with, and if you think for one moment that she is a one hit wonder, listen to Anything Can Happen. It should get as much record play as Lights did in my opinion, and this is my plea to radio. If my praise of her isn't enough, just ask William and Katherine what they think of her.



One More Night by Maroon 5--  I bet many of you think that the reason Maroon 5 is popular right now because Adam Levine has been gracing the stage on The Voice. I would be willing to bet anyone who believes that that Maroon 5 would still be making hit after hit. What I really like about One More Night is the easy beat and its honesty. The song is about a relationship going wrong and Levine admits to his part in it. I just love a man who can be honest.




Over You by Miranda Lambert-- What I love about Over You besides Miranda Lambert's sincere and emotional vocal is the story behind the song. It was written by Lambert and her husband Blake Shelton about a personal experience of his. When Blake was a teenager, his older brother was killed in a car accident and this song is about that experience; Blake said he would be honored for his wife Miranda to sing this song for him. It actually won Song of the Year for the couple at the 2012 CMA Awards.



R.I.P. by Rita Ora-- She's a rising star, and what I love about Rita Ora is how bad ass she is. As a woman, she comes across as this fearless stage presence. R.I.P. was actually written by Drake, originally for Rihanna, his unrequited love, but it went to Ora when she heard the song and expressed interest. Ora said she told Drake that she needed this song because it was one of those "women empowering songs". Wow, couldn't agree more, and I cannot wait to see what she does next as an artist.



Some Nights by Fun.-- For a little Indie pop band, Fun. sure came from out of nowhere and it seemed like they went from being unknowns to being one of the most popular artists of 2012 overall. Between "We Are Young" and "Some Nights", Fun. scored six Grammy nominations. Both songs also got "gleeked" (meaning the Glee kids sang the heck out of it). They've even drawn comparisons to Queen, and just imagine, this is only the beginning.



Spectrum by Florence and the Machine-- Florence Welch continues to push the envelope and not only challenge herself, but us with new sounds. She proves herself as a songwriter and a vocalist who has legit chops. I heard her sing notes in Say My Name that I hadn't heard before.  Her voice truly soars; this song has a beautiful element of freedom to it.



Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson-- She's the only artist this year to appear two times on my list, and boy oh boy, did she ever earn it. This song, like many others on this list promote female empowerment and garnered Clarkson several Grammy nominations as well as number one status on five different U.S. music charts. Stronger became Clarkson's most successful U.S. single. The other part of Stronger that I really enjoy is that when Clarkson sings it, I believe it.



Take Care by Drake featuring Rihanna-- I was waiting for another Find Your Love, and what does that mean to me? It means a song where I feel Drake pours his heart out to the ladies and shows us his oh so sensitive side, and then came Take Care featuring Rihanna. Drake talks about his feelings and this relationship that he wants to be in, and this woman that he can't stop caring about. What more can a girl ask for?



Try by Pink!--  Lyrically and vocally, I love Try; it's one of Pink's most genuine songs. The song is about what we all do every day, we get up and try. The questions that she asks throughout the song are quite deep, like, "why do we all fall in love so easy?" She attempts, not to answer the question in the song, but instead to offer a resolution. It's enough for me.



Wanted by Hunter Hayes-- He wins my award for breakout country act of the year, and he is young (only 21), and he's super talented. Hayes, who wrote Wanted says what he says in the song is something he wanted to say to someone he was in a relationship with but instead he decided to say it in music. The song has a mature and sweet message without being corny. The song definitely puts him on the map in country.



Wide Awake by Katy Perry-- The past two years have been a whirlwind for Katy Perry who seemed to have hit after hit and in the midst of it all, her marriage hit a snag and ended in divorce. Wide Awake was Perry's response to it all, and it gave her her ninth consecutive Billboard number one. She has vowed to take some time off from music; I hope she doesn't stay away too long.