Literary Illusions is proud to be giving away two copies of the lost CHICAGO: STONE OF SISYPHUS (XXXII) CD. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one. Comments are moderated to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.
To enter you need to be 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible. Winners will be announced here. If we do not hear from you within 3 weeks from the date the winners are announced you forfeit your prize and we will select another winner. Prizes will be shipped within 45 days from the day you win.
We will begin choosing winners for this the week of July 5, 2008, which means you have until July 4, 2008 at 11:59 to enter.
The beginning of the summer just got really hot. Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton and Kimberly Wyatt are back. The Grammy-nominated quintet kicks off the beginning of the summer in a big way with performances of and The 2008 MTV Movie Awards (June 1). The Dolls will also been seen hosting and performing on VH1’s “Maxim Hot 100” (premiering May 27) and their E! “True Hollywood Story” will premiere on May 23.
“When I Grow Up” is the first single from the follow-up to PCD, the 2005 debut album that put the Dolls on the global pop map. The Rodney Jerkins-produced track will be released commercially on May 27.
Cast: Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Dr. Bobby Jones, J Moss, Patti LaBelle, Pastor Shirley Caesar Rating: Not Rated Studio: Paramount Release Date: April 29, 2008
Every now and then we receive something for review that no one at Literary Illusions is really interested in seeing. When this happens the DVD or product is usually given to the writer with the least seniority to handle. The idea is that eventually, they won’t be the last in line and they will not have to do DVDs that no one else will review. As the last in line, Celebration in Gospel - Spirit in Song was mine. This just prompts me to recommend that Literary Illusions start taking applications for reviewers post haste. I am only one man and I’m not sure I can handle another repeat performance of a dry, over-edited piece of junk again.
The premise of this BET series is simple enough and from what I can tell, people seem to really enjoy the television production of Celebration in Gospel . However, this heavily edited piece of television history is likely not worth the cost of the DVDs that it was placed on. I don’t recall seeing anything on the cover that explains that this DVD is edited from the performances that were shown on television though I heard this common complaint from the people that seem to like this show. For me, it didn’t really matter though the addition of Steve Harvey might have added some comedy to the boredom that I was forced to endure while watching this crap.
Release Information: Celebration in Gospel - Spirit in Song was made available by Paramount Home Video and BET on April 29, 2008. This DVD, which likely has limited release availability, is able to be found at most DVD venues online, including Amazon, where it is available for $20. Why anyone would want to pay $20 for a DVD that lasts an hour and has been edited more than an episode of Sesame Street where the Muppets smoke crack is beyond me, but if you want the DVD you know where to find it.
Madonna turns 50 years old this year. I remember fondly when I was a child. I would put on shows for the neighborhood kids to her music. I had on the array of bracelets to complete my outfit and had the attitude down pat. I was the complete Madonna clone package. Well, except for the fact that I really was a virgin because I was under the age of ten at the time.
The attention on Madonna waned some after the Sex Book and a couple of years without music. Then she came back for a bit when she was tonguing Britney and Christina at the music awards. Eventually, it came to the point when I figured she would settle down with her husband, her sex toys, and her yoga. Well, I was wrong. She’s back and this time she is performing with Justin Timberlake.
Check out the new video with Madonna and JT: (more…)
Making her stunning entrance in a dizzying cascade of piano and layered vocals, The Inc./Universal Motown Recording Artist ASHANTI puts it all on the line in the powerfully soulful and grandly dramatic “The Way That I Love You,” the first single and video from her upcoming album THE DECLARATION.
The home truths of ASHANTI’s “The Way That I Love You” are drawing a loud “Amen” from the radio and video outlets that have supported her from day one of her multi-platinum career as an artist and songwriter. The track is the No. 1 most-added song at Urban-formatted radio in it’s first week, with more than 50 adds at major stations blanketing the east, midwest, south and west coast.
‘THE TRUTH’ is on the way, and judging from every early sign, Sho’Nuff Records/Capitol Music Group quartet CHERISH is about to prove beyond doubt that in 2008, America wants ‘THE TRUTH,’ the whole ‘TRUTH,’ and nothing but ‘THE TRUTH.’
THE TRUTH, the second Sho’Nuff /Capitol album by CHERISH, will be released on April 29th, 2008. As on their first RIAA gold certified album, Unappreciated, the four sisters of CHERISH (Farrah, Neosha, Felisha and Farron King) are primary songwriters throughout, and on this new project, they also collaborate with super-hot hitmaker Terius ‘The-Dream’ Nash. Album track producers include such top-tier names as Don Vito (“Killa”), Jazze Pha, Adonis & K-Fam, and Eric Hudson.
The album’s first single, the pop/R&B-flavored “Leavin’” (produced by Tricky and The-Dream, the team behind Rihanna’s 2008 Grammy award winning hit “Umbrella”) is one of the few songs on Departure that is not autobiographical, according to Jesse.
Cast: Nelly, Katt Williams, Common, Kanye West Rating: Not Rated Studio: Paramount Release Date: March 18, 2008
Every now and then something shows up on my desk and I immediately wonder why it was put out on DVD in the first place. Music awards shows like this are one of those things. I just don’t get the point. Don’t get me wrong. I am sure there are some decent performances to be watched, but in the end you have to wonder how many times someone is going to watch an award show.
I don’t know about you, but I rarely pull out my 1989 Academy Awards DVD for the same reason. If you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it and you don’t need to see it again. If you didn’t see it the first time it still doesn’t warrant a purchase unless you’re too embarrassed to know that the Blockbuster employee was laughing at your rental choices the minute you shut the door on the store.
The release of the <em>BET Hip Hop Awards 2007</em> on DVD just baffles me in so many ways. When I received my copy of this in the mail, initially I just stared at it. I flipped it over, examined the front and back of the box, but in the end it was still an award show. I didn’t see the appeal. After watching it, I still don’t see the appeal. If you’re a huge fan of BET award shows you might end up loving this. Otherwise, there is nothing worth watching here more than once.
Release Information:
Considering the fact that this is an awards show, the primary reason for purchasing it is going to be the performances that occur on the disc rather than the awards. In this case, this will be a popular choice with rap fans. This one disc DVD comes in a standard DVD case with the awards show and a small set of special features. You can pick up the BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 courtesy of BET and Paramount on March 18, 2007. At that time it will be available through various retailers including Amazon where it will cost you just under $20.
New York, NY - Monday, January 7, 2008 — SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT today announced the launch of Platinum MusicPass, a series of digital album cards that enable consumers to download full-length albums, and in many cases special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files. The first 37 titles in the series, which represent musical genres ranging from Rock and Pop to R&B and Country, will debut on January 15th, 2008 and by the end of the month will be available at 4,500 retail outlets across the United States. In Canada, MusicPass will debut in late January of 2008.
“The introduction of MusicPass is an important part of SONY BMG’s ongoing campaign to bring its artists’ music to fans in new and innovative ways, and to develop compelling new business models,” commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. “The MP3 files delivered through MusicPass play on computers, as well as on all MP3 players, including iPods. This makes them a simple, easy to use solution that will appeal to fans who already access their music on the Internet, as well as to consumers who are just getting into the digital realm. The cards themselves are high-quality collectibles featuring artist images and album information. They’re a great choice whether you’re buying for yourself, or as a gift for occasions ranging from a birthday to Valentine’s Day.”
According to the 2007 American Express Gift Card Survey, Americans plan to spend 25% of their total gift spending on gift cards, up from 13% in 2005. 61% of shoppers said they were planning to purchase at least one gift card, and on average intended to purchase a total of six cards.
In the United States, MusicPass cards will be available at Best Buy, Target, and Fred’s on January 15th, with Trans World stores (Coconuts, FYE, Wherehouse, & Spec’s) and Winn-Dixie rolling out the cards by the end of January.
In Canada, participating retailers include Best Buy, CD Plus, Future Shop, Shoppers Drug Mart and Wal-Mart. In addition, HMV will launch MusicPass in Canada during the first calendar quarter of 2008.
“We see MusicPass as a great way to bring digital music to the physical retail space,” Mr. Hesse added. “We believe it will have strong appeal for a broad range of consumers, and that it will ultimately expand both the digital and physical markets for music. As we begin the roll out of this impressive new product we are extremely encouraged by the high levels of enthusiasm that MusicPass has generated among our artists and launch partners, and we look forward to making music fans across the U.S. and Canada a part of the MusicPass experience.”
“We’re happy to be participating in the launch of a new physical format of digital music for retail,” commented Jennifer Johnston Schaidler, Vice President, Music, Best Buy. “Physical products like this will be another way for Best Buy to deliver music and entertainment to our customers in a manner that suits their needs whether it is an impulse purchase, gift, or great collectible. Digital music doesn’t need to be restricted to online environments. We look forward to learning how physical products can help grow the digital marketplace.”
Literary Illusions is proud to be giving away two copies of the lost CHICAGO: STONE OF SISYPHUS (XXXII) CD. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one. Comments are moderated to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.
The beginning of the summer just got really hot. Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton and Kimberly Wyatt are back. The Grammy-nominated quintet kicks off the beginning of the summer in a big way with performances of and The 2008 MTV Movie Awards (June 1). The Dolls will also been seen hosting and performing on VH1’s “Maxim Hot 100” (premiering May 27) and their E! “True Hollywood Story” will premiere on May 23.
Cast: Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Dr. Bobby Jones, J Moss, Patti LaBelle, Pastor Shirley Caesar
Madonna turns 50 years old this year. I remember fondly when I was a child. I would put on shows for the neighborhood kids to her music. I had on the array of bracelets to complete my outfit and had the attitude down pat. I was the complete Madonna clone package. Well, except for the fact that I really was a virgin because I was under the age of ten at the time.
Cast: Nelly, Katt Williams, Common, Kanye West
