1.
Microsoft Theater
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The Microsoft Theater is a music and theatre venue in downtown Los Angeles, California at L. A. Live. The theatre auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States, the theatre was designed by ELS Architecture and Urban Design of Berkeley, California on a commission by the Anschutz Entertainment Group in 2002. It opened on October 18,2007 with six concerts featuring The Eagles, in June 2015, the venue was re-branded as Microsoft Theater as part of a new naming rights deal with AEG Live. Microsoft had acquired Nokias mobile device business in 2014, as part of the new naming rights deal, the L. A. Live plaza was also renamed Microsoft Square, and Microsoft provided upgrades to the venues technology, since its opening, the Microsoft Theater has been a popular venue for award shows. The theatre has hosted the ESPY Awards since 2008 as well as the American Music Awards since 2007, the venue has been the home to the Primetime Emmy Awards since 2008 and will continue to do so until at least 2018. It hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010,2011 and 2015, in 2008 and 2011, the venue hosted The Grammy Nominations Live, a concert announcing the nominees for the Grammy Awards were announced. The Microsoft Theater has hosted the Peoples Choice Awards since 2010 and it has also been used by Nintendo multiple times for press conferences during E3. It was also the venue for the finale of American Idol from seasons 7–13 as well as the 2015, vocaloid character Hatsune Miku made her US debut at Microsoft Theater on July 2,2011, as part of Anime Expo. She returned to the venue on October 11–12,2014 as part of Miku Expo LA2014, Hatsune Miku returned for another performance on May 6,2016 as part of her first North American tour. The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions were held at the Microsoft Theater on April 18,2013, the BET Awards moved to the Microsoft Theater in 2013. Since 2013, the Microsoft Theater has hosted the Radio Disney Music Awards, the Microsoft Theater most recently hosted the 58th Annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony on February 15
Microsoft Theater
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Front facade of the Microsoft Theater prior to name change
Microsoft Theater
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Microsoft Theater as viewed from the stage
2.
Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L. A. is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. With a census-estimated 2015 population of 3,971,883, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, Los Angeles is also the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the United States. The citys inhabitants are referred to as Angelenos, historically home to the Chumash and Tongva, Los Angeles was claimed by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo for Spain in 1542 along with the rest of what would become Alta California. The city was founded on September 4,1781, by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. It became a part of Mexico in 1821 following the Mexican War of Independence, in 1848, at the end of the Mexican–American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thereby becoming part of the United States. Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4,1850, the discovery of oil in the 1890s brought rapid growth to the city. The completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, delivering water from Eastern California, nicknamed the City of Angels, Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, and sprawling metropolis. Los Angeles also has an economy in culture, media, fashion, science, sports, technology, education, medicine. A global city, it has been ranked 6th in the Global Cities Index, the city is home to renowned institutions covering a broad range of professional and cultural fields, and is one of the most substantial economic engines within the United States. The Los Angeles combined statistical area has a gross metropolitan product of $831 billion, making it the third-largest in the world, after the Greater Tokyo and New York metropolitan areas. The city has hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984 and is bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and thus become the second city after London to have hosted the Games three times. The Los Angeles area also hosted the 1994 FIFA mens World Cup final match as well as the 1999 FIFA womens World Cup final match, the mens event was watched on television by over 700 million people worldwide. The Los Angeles coastal area was first settled by the Tongva, a Gabrielino settlement in the area was called iyáangẚ, meaning poison oak place. Gaspar de Portolà and Franciscan missionary Juan Crespí, reached the present site of Los Angeles on August 2,1769, in 1771, Franciscan friar Junípero Serra directed the building of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, the first mission in the area. The Queen of the Angels is an honorific of the Virgin Mary, two-thirds of the settlers were mestizo or mulatto with a mixture of African, indigenous and European ancestry. The settlement remained a small town for decades, but by 1820. Today, the pueblo is commemorated in the district of Los Angeles Pueblo Plaza and Olvera Street. New Spain achieved its independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821, during Mexican rule, Governor Pío Pico made Los Angeles Alta Californias regional capital
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
3.
California
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California is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area. Located on the western coast of the U. S, California is bordered by the other U. S. states of Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California. Los Angeles is Californias most populous city, and the second largest after New York City. The Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nations second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, California also has the nations most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The Central Valley, an agricultural area, dominates the states center. What is now California was first settled by various Native American tribes before being explored by a number of European expeditions during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish Empire then claimed it as part of Alta California in their New Spain colony. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its war for independence. The western portion of Alta California then was organized as the State of California, the California Gold Rush starting in 1848 led to dramatic social and demographic changes, with large-scale emigration from the east and abroad with an accompanying economic boom. If it were a country, California would be the 6th largest economy in the world, fifty-eight percent of the states economy is centered on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific and technical business services. Although it accounts for only 1.5 percent of the states economy, the story of Calafia is recorded in a 1510 work The Adventures of Esplandián, written as a sequel to Amadis de Gaula by Spanish adventure writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The kingdom of Queen Calafia, according to Montalvo, was said to be a land inhabited by griffins and other strange beasts. This conventional wisdom that California was an island, with maps drawn to reflect this belief, shortened forms of the states name include CA, Cal. Calif. and US-CA. Settled by successive waves of arrivals during the last 10,000 years, various estimates of the native population range from 100,000 to 300,000. The Indigenous peoples of California included more than 70 distinct groups of Native Americans, ranging from large, settled populations living on the coast to groups in the interior. California groups also were diverse in their organization with bands, tribes, villages. Trade, intermarriage and military alliances fostered many social and economic relationships among the diverse groups, the first European effort to explore the coast as far north as the Russian River was a Spanish sailing expedition, led by Portuguese captain Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, in 1542. Some 37 years later English explorer Francis Drake also explored and claimed a portion of the California coast in 1579. Spanish traders made unintended visits with the Manila galleons on their trips from the Philippines beginning in 1565
California
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A forest of redwood trees in
Redwood National Park
California
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Flag
California
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Mount Shasta
California
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Aerial view of the
California Central Valley
4.
United States of America
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
United States of America
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Native Americans meeting with Europeans, 1764
United States of America
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Flag
United States of America
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The signing of the
Mayflower Compact, 1620.
United States of America
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The
Declaration of Independence: the
Committee of Five presenting their draft to the
Second Continental Congress in 1776
5.
Justin Bieber
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Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After a talent manager discovered him through his YouTube videos covering songs in 2008 and signed to RBMG, Bieber released his debut EP, My World and it was certified Platinum in the U. S. He became the first artist to have seven songs from a record chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Bieber released his first full-length studio album, My World 2.0 and it debuted at or near number one in several countries, was certified triple Platinum in the U. S. and contained his single Baby. He released his studio album, Under the Mistletoe, in November 2011. Bieber released his studio album, Believe, in 2012. His fourth studio album Purpose was released in November 2015, spawning three number one singles, What Do You Mean and his U. S. album and singles sales total 44.7 million. He has sold an estimated 100 million records, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists, Bieber has won numerous awards, including the American Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2010 and 2012. In his career, he has won one Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the song Where Are Ü Now at the 2016 ceremony. He has been listed four times by Forbes magazine among the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world in 2011,2012, Bieber also became the first artist to surpass 10 billion total video views on Vevo. Bieber was born on March 1,1994, in London, Ontario, at St Josephs Hospital and he is the only child of Jeremy Jack Bieber and Patricia Pattie Mallette. Pattie raised her son with the help of her mother, Diane and his mother is of French-Canadian descent, his paternal great-grandfather was of German ancestry, and his other roots are English, Scottish and Irish. He has also claimed that he has some undetermined Aboriginal Canadian ancestry, through Jeremy, Bieber has two younger half-siblings, Jazmyn and Jaxon. Pattie worked a series of low-paying office jobs, raising Bieber as a mother in low-income housing. Bieber has maintained contact with his father, Bieber attended a French-language immersion elementary school in Stratford, the Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School. Growing up, he learned to play the piano, drums, guitar and he graduated from high school in Stratford, Ontario, the St. Michael Catholic Secondary School in 2012 with a 4.0 GPA. In early 2007, aged 12, Bieber sang Ne-Yos So Sick for a singing competition in Stratford and was placed second. Mallette posted a video of the performance on YouTube for their family and she continued to upload videos of Bieber singing covers of various R&B songs, and Biebers popularity on the site grew
Justin Bieber
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Bieber at the 2012 NRJ Music Awards
Justin Bieber
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Bieber in 2010, displaying his earlier haircut.
Justin Bieber
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Bieber performing during his
Believe Tour in October 2012.
Justin Bieber
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Bieber performing in
Zürich, 2011
6.
Rihanna
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Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president. She assumed creative control for her studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. Its successful lead single Umbrella became a breakthrough in her career. After releasing four consecutive platinum albums, including the Grammy Award winner Unapologetic. Her eighth studio album Anti and its lead single Work reached number-one on the Billboard 200, with sales exceeding 230 million records worldwide, Rihanna is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Widely recognized for reinventing her style, she received the Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2014. Forbes ranked Rihanna the fourth most powerful celebrity of 2012, and was named one of Times 100 Most Influential People in the World later that year, Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20,1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. Her mother, Monica, is an accountant of African American background. Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and a half-brother from her fathers side, each born to different mothers from his previous relationships. She grew up in a bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father in a stall on the street. Rihannas childhood was affected by her fathers addiction to crack cocaine. As a child, she went through a lot of CT scans for the excruciating headaches she suffered, even thought it was a tumor, by the time she was fourteen, Rihanna’s parents had divorced and her health began to improve. Rihanna grew up listening to music and began singing at around the age of seven. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere High School, Rihanna was an army cadet in a sub-military programme, the singer-songwriter Shontelle was her drill sergeant. Although she initially wanted to graduate high school, she chose to pursue a musical career instead. In 2003, Rihanna formed a trio with two of her classmates
Rihanna
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Rihanna grew up in the city of
Bridgetown, Barbados.
Rihanna
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Rihanna performing during the
Diamonds World Tour in 2013
Rihanna
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Rihanna performing at the
KIIS-FM Jingle Ball, 2005
Rihanna
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Rihanna in
Minneapolis performing on her
Loud Tour, June 2011
7.
Nicki Minaj
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Onika Tanya Maraj, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer, songwriter and model. Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, New York and she has been signed to Young Money Entertainment since 2009. In 2010, Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously charting on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100. Her third studio album, The Pinkprint, was preceded by its single, Anaconda. Minaj made her debut in the 2012 animated film Ice Age, Continental Drift, followed by supporting roles in The Other Woman and Barbershop. In 2013, she was a judge on the season of American Idol. Minaj was the first female artist included on MTVs Annual Hottest MC List, in 2016, Minaj was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Her rapping is distinctive for its fast flow and the use of alter egos and accents, early in her career, Minaj was known for her colorful costumes and wigs. According to Billboard, Minaj has the most Hot 100 entries for a female artist in the charts history and she has further endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics and Pepsi. She has sold 20 million singles as a lead artist, and 60 million singles as a featured artist worldwide, Onika Tanya Maraj was born on December 8,1982, in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. Her father, Robert Maraj, a executive and part-time gospel singer, is of Indo-Trinidadian and Afro-Trinidadian descent. Her mother, Carol Maraj, also a singer, is of Afro-Trinidadian ancestry. Carol worked in payroll and accounting departments during Minajs youth, Minajs father was addicted to alcohol and other drugs, and had a violent temper, burning down their house in December 1987. As a small child, Minaj and a sibling lived with her grandmother in Saint James and her mother, who had moved to The Bronx, New York to attend Monroe College, brought the family to Queens, New York, when Minaj was 5. By then the family had a house on West 147th Street, Minaj recalled, I don’t think I had a lot of discipline in my household. My mom motivated me, but it wasn’t a strict household, I kind of wanted a strict household. Minaj successfully auditioned for admission to LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, after graduation, Minaj wanted to become an actress, and she was cast in the Off-Broadway play In Case You Forget in 2001. At the age of 19, as she struggled with her career, she worked as a waitress at Red Lobster in the Bronx
Nicki Minaj
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Minaj at the
2010 MTV Video Music Awards in
Los Angeles
Nicki Minaj
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Minaj at the
2013 BET Awards.
Nicki Minaj
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Minaj with
Tyga on the
Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour at
The O2 Arena in London (October 30, 2012)
Nicki Minaj
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Minaj is known for her costumes, cosmetics and wigs.
8.
American Broadcasting Company
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The network is headquartered on Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street in Manhattan, New York City. There are additional offices and production facilities elsewhere in New York City, as well as in Los Angeles and Burbank. Since 2007, when ABC Radio was sold to Citadel Broadcasting, ABC originally launched on October 12,1943, as a radio network, separated from and serving as the successor to the NBC Blue Network, which had been purchased by Edward J. Noble. It extended its operations to television in 1948, following in the footsteps of established broadcast networks CBS, in the mid-1950s, ABC merged with United Paramount Theatres, a chain of movie theaters that formerly operated as a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures. Leonard Goldenson, who had been the head of UPT, made the new television network profitable by helping develop, in 1996, most of Capital Cities/ABCs assets were purchased by The Walt Disney Company. The television network has eight owned-and-operated and over 232 affiliated television stations throughout the United States, most Canadians have access to at least one U. S. ABC News provides news and features content for radio stations owned by Citadel Broadcasting. In the 1930s, radio in the United States was dominated by three companies, the Columbia Broadcasting System, the Mutual Broadcasting System and the National Broadcasting Company. The last was owned by electronics manufacturer Radio Corporation of America, in 1938, the FCC began a series of investigations into the practices of radio networks and published its report on the broadcasting of network radio programs in 1940. The report recommended that RCA give up control of either NBC Red or NBC Blue, at that time, the NBC Red Network was the principal radio network in the United States and, according to the FCC, RCA was using NBC Blue to eliminate any hint of competition. Once Mutuals appeals against the FCC were rejected, RCA decided to sell NBC Blue in 1941, the newly separated NBC Red and NBC Blue divided their respective corporate assets. Investment firm Dillon, Read & Co. offered $7.5 million to purchase the network, Edward John Noble, the owner of Life Savers candy, drugstore chain Rexall and New York City radio station WMCA, purchased the network for $8 million. Due to FCC ownership rules, the transaction, which was to include the purchase of three RCA stations by Noble, would require him to resell his station with the FCCs approval, the Commission authorized the transaction on October 12,1943. Soon afterward, the Blue Network was purchased by the new company Noble founded, Noble subsequently acquired the rights to the American Broadcasting Company name from George B. Meanwhile, in August 1944, the West Coast division of the Blue Network, both stations were then managed by Don Searle, the vice-president of the Blue Networks West Coast division. The ABC Radio Network created its audience slowly, the network also became known for such suspenseful dramas as Sherlock Holmes, Gang Busters and Counterspy, as well as several mid-afternoon youth-oriented programs. S. From Nazi Germany after its conquest, to pre-record its programming, while its radio network was undergoing reconstruction, ABC found it difficult to avoid falling behind on the new medium of television. To ensure a space, in 1947, ABC submitted five applications for television station licenses, the ABC television network made its debut on April 19,1948, with WFIL-TV in Philadelphia becoming its first primary affiliate
American Broadcasting Company
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ABC's corporate headquarters are located at 77 West 66th Street, on the
Upper West Side of
Manhattan in
New York City.
American Broadcasting Company
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American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
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Edward Noble, founder of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
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In 2002, dancers and other cast members from the 32-year run of American Bandstand reunited with host
Dick Clark to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show's local television debut.
9.
Dick Clark Productions
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Dick Clark Productions is an American entertainment production company founded by entertainer Dick Clark. The company previously had a relationship with the Academy of Country Music Awards. It is unclear if the relationship with the ACM will continue. However, it is confirmed that it will be producing the 50th ACM Awards in 2015, the Dick Clark radio show began syndication in the late 1950s as part of MARS Broadcasting. Dick Clark Productions went public on NASDAQ in 1986 and it was taken private in 2002 by an investment group that included Mosaic Media Group and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Mandalay Entertainment bought CDPs stake in 2004, on June 19,2007, Dick Clark Productions was sold to Daniel Snyder, Washington Redskins owner and former chairman of Six Flags, for $175 Million. After founder Dick Clarks death on April 18,2012, Snyder commented that he was proud when he purchased Dick Clark Productions, adding that Clark was in every sense of the word, a giant. Until 2012, Dick Clark Productions was majority owned by Red Zone Capital Management, a Daniel Snyder-controlled private equity firm, with a 40 percent stake held by Six Flags. The week of June 13,2012, Red Zone confirmed a possible sale of D. C. P. the Dodgers instead partnered with Time Warner Cable to launch Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA. Variety reported that DCP CEO Allen Shapiro was likely to be a key player in the spinoff, boehlys stake is represented by Eldridge Industries. In September 2016, it was reported that the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group was in talks to acquire Dick Clark Productions and this was confirmed on November 4,2016, when Wanda Group announced the purchase for $1 billion. On February 20,2017, Bloomberg reported that the sale was facing issues in China. On March 10,2017, an Eldridge Industries spokesperson stated that the sale had been scrapped, later, Clark rented a building on the Sunset Strip, in an area among visible, legendary clubs and landmarks. As Clark recounted in his 1976 book, Rock, Roll and Remember, I hung up a very modest sign in lowercase print — dick clark productions —, official website Dick Clark Productions at the Internet Movie Database
Dick Clark Productions
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Dick Clark Productions, Inc.
10.
American Music Awards of 2011
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The 39th American Music Awards was held on November 20,2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums from the year 2011, nominees were announced on October 11,2011. Taylor Swift and Adele were the big winners of the picking up three awards in total. Nominees were announced on October 11,2011, winners are in bold. i. am and Jennifer Lopez and presented Favorite Pop/Rock Album award Lionel Richie presented Artist of the Year award and introduced LMFAO Pre-show Main show Source, performers
American Music Awards of 2011
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Taylor Swift
11.
American Music Awards of 2013
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The 41st American Music Awards was held on November 24,2013 at the Nokia Theatre L. A. The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums of 2013 and it was broadcast live on ABC and CTV with Simultaneous substitution. The nominations were announced on October 10,2013, by Kelly Clarkson, macklemore & Ryan Lewis led the nominations with six, followed by Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake with five. The show was hosted by Pitbull, Taylor Swift was the biggest winner of the night with four wins including Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Country Female Artist and Favorite Country Album. Justin Timberlake also won three awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album, rihanna won the first-ever Icon Award, as well as winning Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
American Music Awards of 2013
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Taylor Swift won the Favorite Country Female Artist Award for the sixth consecutive year and Artist of the Year for the third time
American Music Awards of 2013
American Music Awards of 2013
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Justin Timberlake won three awards, including Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
American Music Awards of 2013
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Ariana Grande won Kohl's New Artist of the Year
12.
Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
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The Microsoft Theater is a music and theatre venue in downtown Los Angeles, California at L. A. Live. The theatre auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States, the theatre was designed by ELS Architecture and Urban Design of Berkeley, California on a commission by the Anschutz Entertainment Group in 2002. It opened on October 18,2007 with six concerts featuring The Eagles, in June 2015, the venue was re-branded as Microsoft Theater as part of a new naming rights deal with AEG Live. Microsoft had acquired Nokias mobile device business in 2014, as part of the new naming rights deal, the L. A. Live plaza was also renamed Microsoft Square, and Microsoft provided upgrades to the venues technology, since its opening, the Microsoft Theater has been a popular venue for award shows. The theatre has hosted the ESPY Awards since 2008 as well as the American Music Awards since 2007, the venue has been the home to the Primetime Emmy Awards since 2008 and will continue to do so until at least 2018. It hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010,2011 and 2015, in 2008 and 2011, the venue hosted The Grammy Nominations Live, a concert announcing the nominees for the Grammy Awards were announced. The Microsoft Theater has hosted the Peoples Choice Awards since 2010 and it has also been used by Nintendo multiple times for press conferences during E3. It was also the venue for the finale of American Idol from seasons 7–13 as well as the 2015, vocaloid character Hatsune Miku made her US debut at Microsoft Theater on July 2,2011, as part of Anime Expo. She returned to the venue on October 11–12,2014 as part of Miku Expo LA2014, Hatsune Miku returned for another performance on May 6,2016 as part of her first North American tour. The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions were held at the Microsoft Theater on April 18,2013, the BET Awards moved to the Microsoft Theater in 2013. Since 2013, the Microsoft Theater has hosted the Radio Disney Music Awards, the Microsoft Theater most recently hosted the 58th Annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony on February 15
Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
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Front facade of the Microsoft Theater prior to name change
Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
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Microsoft Theater as viewed from the stage
13.
Christina Aguilera
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Christina María Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. Born in Staten Island, New York and raised in Rochester and Wexford, Pennsylvania, she appeared on the television series Star Search, after recording Reflection, the theme for Disneys 1998 film Mulan, Aguilera signed with RCA Records. She rose to prominence with her 1999 self-titled debut album spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number one singles, Genie in a Bottle, What a Girl Wants. The following year, Aguilera released two albums, the Spanish-language album Mi Reflejo and the holiday album My Kind of Christmas. She assumed creative control for her studio album, Stripped, which produced Dirrty, Beautiful. Aguileras fifth studio album, Back to Basics, debuted at one on the album charts of ten countries and spawned the tracks Aint No Other Man. In 2010, Aguilera released her studio album Bionic and starred in the film Burlesque. The following year, she debuted as a coach on the reality television series The Voice. Her seventh studio album, Lotus, was released in 2012, Aguilera has also been featured on several successful collaborations during her career, including Lady Marmalade, Moves like Jagger, and Say Something. Aguilera has been recognized as a pop icon and earned the title Pop Princess in her early years and her work has earned her five Grammy Awards, one Latin Grammy Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has sold over 17.9 million albums in the United States as of 2014 and 50 million albums worldwide as of 2015. In 2009, she ranked at number 58 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, thereby becoming the youngest and the only artist under 30 to be named. Billboard recognized her as the 20th most successful artist of the 2000s, aside from her work in the entertainment industry, Aguilera is involved in charitable activities through human rights, world issues, and her work as a UN ambassador for the World Food Programme. Christina María Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, on December 18,1980, to Shelly Loraine, a musician, and Fausto Xavier Aguilera and her father is Ecuadorian, while her mother has German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch ancestry. Her family moved frequently because of her fathers service, and lived in places including New Jersey, Texas, New York. Aguilera and her mother alleged that her father was physically and emotionally abusive, claims which he denied, Aguilera used music as a form of escape from her turbulent household. Following her parents divorce when she was six years old, Aguilera, her younger sister Rachel, after several years of being estranged, Aguilera expressed interest in reconciling with her father in 2012. Growing up, Aguilera, known locally as the girl with the big voice, aspired to be a singer, singing in local talent shows
Christina Aguilera
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Aguilera at the Sanremo Music Festival
Christina Aguilera
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Aguilera performing "The Voice Within", the fifth single from Stripped, during The Stripped Tour (2003)
Christina Aguilera
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Aguilera singing "What A Girl Wants" during the "Back to Basics World Tour"
Christina Aguilera
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Aguilera (at premiere of "To John With Love", September 2010).
14.
Katy Perry
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Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer and songwriter. After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in music as a teenager. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke. After adopting the stage name Katy Perry and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, the album became the first by a female artist to produce five number-one songs in the U. S. and the second overall after Michael Jacksons album Bad. In March 2012, she re-issued the album as Teenage Dream, The Complete Confection and her fourth album, Prism, was released in 2013, and is influenced by pop and dance. She became the first artist with multiple videos to one billion views on Vevo with the videos for its songs Roar. Perry has received awards, including four Guinness World Records, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. Her estimated net worth as of 2016 is $125 million and she is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold 100 million records globally throughout her career. In film, she released a documentary titled Katy Perry, Part of Me in 2012. Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born in Santa Barbara, California, to Pentecostal pastors Mary Christine and her parents are born again Christians, each having turned to religion after a wild youth. Perry has English, German, Irish, and Portuguese ancestry, through her mother, she is a niece of film director Frank Perry. She has a brother named David, who is a singer. From ages 3 to 11, Perry often moved across the country as her parents set up churches before settling again in Santa Barbara. Growing up, she attended schools and camps, including Paradise Valley Christian School in Arizona. Her family struggled financially, sometimes using food stamps and eating from the bank intended to feed the congregation at her parents church. Growing up, Perry and her siblings were not allowed to eat Lucky Charms as the term luck reminded their mother of Lucifer, Perry primarily listened to gospel music, as secular music was generally discouraged in the familys home. She discovered popular music through CDs she sneaked from her friends, while not strictly identifying as religious, Perry has stated, I pray all the time – for self-control, for humility
Katy Perry
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Perry at the
2014 ARIA Music Awards
Katy Perry
–
Perry was part of the 2008 Warped Tour lineup
Katy Perry
–
Perry's California Dreams Tour grossed over $59 million
Katy Perry
–
Perry performing during The Prismatic World Tour in July 2014
15.
Taylor Swift
–
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most popular contemporary female recording artists, she is known for songs about her personal life. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age 14 to pursue a career in country music and she signed with the independent label Big Machine Records and became the youngest artist ever signed by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house. Her eponymous debut album in 2006 peaked at five on Billboard 200. The albums third single, Our Song, made her the youngest person to single-handedly write, Swifts second album, Fearless, was released in 2008. Buoyed by the pop success of the singles Love Story and You Belong with Me. The album won four Grammy Awards, with Swift becoming the youngest Album of the Year winner, Swift was the sole writer of her 2010 album, Speak Now. It debuted at one in the United States and the single Mean won two Grammy Awards. Her fourth album, Red, yielded the successful singles We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, with her fifth album, the pop-focused 1989, she became the first act to have three albums sell a million copies within one week in the United States. Its singles Shake It Off, Blank Space and Bad Blood reached number one in the US, Australia, the album received three Grammy Awards, and Swift became the first woman and fifth act overall to win Album of the Year twice. The 2015 eponymous concert tour for 1989 became one of highest-grossing of the decade, as a songwriter, Swift has received awards from the Nashville Songwriters Association and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Swift is one of the artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums—including 27.1 million in the US—and 130 million single downloads. She has appeared in Times 100 most influential people in the world, Forbes top-earning women in music, Forbes 100 most powerful women and she was the youngest woman to be included in the third of these and ranked first in Celebrity 100. Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13,1989, in Reading and her father, Scott Kingsley Swift, was a financial advisor, and her mother, Andrea Gardner Swift, was a homemaker who worked previously as a mutual fund marketing executive. She has a brother named Austin. Swift spent the years of her life on a Christmas tree farm in Cumru Township. She attended preschool and kindergarten at the Alvernia Montessori School, run by Franciscan nuns, the family then moved to a rented house in the suburban town of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where she attended Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School. At the age of nine, Swift became interested in musical theater and she also traveled regularly to New York City for vocal and acting lessons
Taylor Swift
–
Swift performing at
Ford Field in
Detroit during
The 1989 World Tour in May 2015
Taylor Swift
–
Swift performing at
Yahoo! headquarters in
Sunnyvale, California in 2007
Taylor Swift
–
Swift performing in the
Prudential Center in
New Jersey during the
Fearless Tour in 2010
Taylor Swift
–
Swift performing in
Los Angeles during the Fearless Tour in 2010
16.
Usher (entertainer)
–
Usher Raymond IV is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Born in Dallas, Texas but raised and lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee until moving to Atlanta, at the age of 12, his mother put him in local singing competitions, before catching the attention of a music A&R from LaFace Records. In 1994 he released his debut album, Usher. 8701 produced the number-one singles U Remind Me and U Got It Bad and it sold 8 million copies worldwide and won his first two Grammy Awards as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2002 and 2003. Confessions established him as one of the musical artists of the 2000s decade. Bolstered by its four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number one singles, Burn, Confessions Part II, and My Boo, it has been certified Diamond by the RIAA. Here I Stand and Raymond v. Raymond, debuted atop of the Billboard 200, the EP, Versus, also produced the Hot 100 top-five single DJ Got Us Fallin in Love. Looking 4 Myself, also debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, Raymond v. Raymond and Looking 4 Myself received Grammy Awards for R&B singles There Goes My Baby and Climax. Hard II Love peaked at five of the Billboard 200 albums chart. Usher has sold 23.8 million albums and 38.2 million digital songs in the United States, to date, his worldwide sales stand at 43 million albums and 75 million records overall, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Usher has won awards and accolades including 18 Billboard Music Awards and 8 Grammy Awards. Billboard also placed him at number 6 on their list of Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years, Usher has attained 9 US Hot 100 number-one singles. Considered an icon and sex symbol, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, in 2008, he started his own record label Raymond-Braun Media Group, a joint venture with talent manager Scooter Braun that includes Canadian singer Justin Bieber. Usher was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Jonetta Patton, from Tennessee, Usher spent the majority of his young life in Chattanooga, his father left the family when Usher was a year old. Usher grew up with his mother, then-stepfather, and half-brother, while in Atlanta, Usher attended North Springs High School. At age 10, Usher joined an R&B local quintet called the NuBeginnings, Usher recorded 10 songs with the group in 1991, and the ensuing album, Nubeginning Featuring Usher Raymond IV, was only made available regionally and by mail order. However, Patton took him out because, according to her, the album was re-released nationally in April 2002 by Hip-O Records. At age 13, Usher would meet A. J, alexander at local talent show in Atlanta
Usher (entertainer)
–
Usher during the Division 1 launch party, 2010
Usher (entertainer)
–
Usher arriving in
Miami, Florida, to attend the 2004
MTV Video Music Awards
Usher (entertainer)
–
Usher performing with
Stevie Wonder and
Shakira at the
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Usher (entertainer)
–
Usher performing in 2010
17.
Numb (Usher song)
–
Numb is a song recorded by American singer Usher for his seventh studio album Looking 4 Myself. Usher co-wrote it with Ryon Lovett and Terry Lewis, with production and additional writing provided by Swedish House Mafia, Alesso, and Klas Åhlund. After their joint performance at the 2010 American Music Awards, Usher, RCA Records solicited Numb to contemporary hit radio stations on August 21,2012 in the US as fourth single from the album. Numb is a dance-pop and electropop song with elements which contains revolutionary pop music influences. Lyrically, it is a song about finding one’s destiny. The song received positive acclaim from contemporary music critics with many of them praising its club-oriented production. Numb was a worldwide success and reached the top-forty in five countries including Belgium, Germany. American directors Chris Applebaum and Grace Harry shot the video for Numb. Critics were divided on the video, although some of them praised the choreography, the singer performed the song during his American Express show on June 11,2012 in London and at the 2012 American Music Awards. Usher co-wrote Numb with Ryon Lovett and Terry Lewis, with production, complete instrumentation, Swedish House Mafia also produced one more song from Looking 4 Myself entitled Euphoria. Speaking to The BoomBox, Usher explained that he had wanted to work with Swedish House Mafia ever since he performed with the group at the 2010 American Music Awards. The group agreed to work with Usher, saying they would attempt to make it to Atlanta to start moving the ball forward. In an interview with MTV News, regarding the collaboration with Usher, Angello stated that they met Usher couple years ago and he further elaborated that they were in Atlanta for five days working on a music for the then upcoming album. Angello commented that Usher is a great artist and as a trio they like to work with somebody who they respect, than to rather work with just big name. Mark Exit Goodchild recorded the song Silent Sound Studios in Atlanta and Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, while Jorge Velasco, Kory Aaron and Randy Warnken served as recording assistants. It was mixed by Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Sound Studio, Universal City, with Chris Galland and Delbert Bowers serving as mixing assistants, RCA Records released Numb to contemporary hit radio stations in the United States on August 21,2012 as the fourth single from Looking 4 Myself. Numb was solicited to US rhythmic radio on August 28,2012 and it was also physically released as a CD single in Germany on October 26,2012. Numb is a dance-pop and electropop song with R&B elements and contains revolutionary pop influences, according to Lewis Corner of Digital Spy both Euphoria and Numb include the DJs glimmering synths while he croons in his coolly-controlled falsetto
Numb (Usher song)
–
Usher lying together with a sick woman in a hospital in the video for "Numb".
Numb (Usher song)
–
"Numb"
18.
Climax (Usher song)
–
Climax is a song by American R&B singer Usher. It was released on February 22,2012, by RCA Records as the single from 2012 studio album Looking 4 Myself. The song was written by Usher, Ariel Rechtshaid, Redd Stylez, and Diplo, Usher and Diplo worked on the song for two months as part of their collaboration for the formers album. The song is a quiet storm slow jam with electronic influences, according to Usher, the song is primarily about the complications of a relationship, despite the lyrics sexual overtones. As a single, Climax debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it peaked at number 17 and charted for 20 weeks, and also reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Ushers 12th number-one single on the chart. Climax was well received by critics, who commended its musical direction, Ushers singing. Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly named it one of the best singles of 2012, in 2013, Climax won Usher a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. Climax was written by Usher, Redd Stylez, Ariel Rechtshaid, and Diplo, Diplo introduced the songs concept to Usher, who was working with him on a new album. Usher wanted to expand his musics style and depth by working with Diplo and it was a sad feeling but it was beautiful. He was relating with me about the idea and how many times you think things are perfect and feel that way and they discussed the concept throughout the songs development and how it relates to Ushers life, as Diplo tried to help realise these lyrics and feelings. After conceiving some melody lines, they wrote the song in about an hour, Usher and Diplo worked on the songs production for two months, recording in studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Diplo originally pursued a house music based on a chord progression he wrote. He later said of his direction for the song, the idea of pushing cut-off on a synth used so much in house music. I was making something like a techno record with Atlanta strip clubs in mind. According to Diplo, Usher proposed the idea of tak the strip club to the stadium with the songs production, classical music composer Nico Muhly contributed with the songs string arrangement. Climax is set in common time, Diplo called the style Radiohead quietstorm, and both Spin and Rolling Stone agreed that the song was a mix of quiet storm style and electronic music. It is written in the key of C minor, and Ushers voice ranges from B♭3 to G5, the music is built around a haunting riff, complemented by sparse drum machine and some musical accompaniment. Its varying soundscape incorporates electronic effects such as clicks, hisses, whooshes, music writers have noted Diplos production as uncharacteristically reserved and understated
Climax (Usher song)
–
Diplo produced and co-wrote the song.
Climax (Usher song)
–
"Climax"
19.
Carly Rae Jepsen
–
Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. In 2007, she placed third in Canadian Idol season fives competition, Jepsen independently released her debut album, Tug of War, in 2008. In 2011, she released the single Call Me Maybe, which was followed in 2012 by her debut EP, Curiosity, Call Me Maybe reached number one in 18 countries during 2012 and was the years best-selling single worldwide. Jepsens third album, Emotion, was released in 2015, the album was heavily influenced by songs from the 1980s and received critical acclaim. Its lead single I Really Like You reached the top 5 in the United Kingdom, as of May 2015, Jepsen has sold over 20 million records worldwide. Jepsen was born in Mission, British Columbia, the daughter of Alexandra and Larry Jepsen and she attended Heritage Park Secondary School in Mission, where she pursued her early passion for musical theatre by appearing in student productions of Annie, Grease, and The Wiz. She studied musical theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, after graduating from school, Jepsen held several minimum wage jobs, and worked as a barista and a bartender. She placed third in the show and was part of the Canadian Idol Top 3 concert tour, after the conclusion of the tour, Jepsen returned to British Columbia to focus on writing, recording and completing her band. Her demo recording attracted the attention of music manager Jonathan Simkin, Jepsen struck an independent record deal with MapleMusic Recordings and distribution via Fontana North. In June 2008, Jepsen released her single and another single. Jepsens debut album, Tug of War, was released in September 2008 through MapleCore/Fontana North, the album was produced in its entirety by Ryan Stewart and includes the song Sweet Talker, which Jepsen previously performed at her first Canadian Idol audition. Tug of War was re-released via Jonathan Simkins label 604 Records, with distribution from Universal Music Group, and has since sold 10,000 copies in Canada according to Nielsen SoundScan. The title track Tug of War was released the month as the album and received radio airplay in Canada, followed by the singles Bucket and Sour Candy. The former two singles reached the top 40 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, in early 2009, Jepsen toured western Canada with Marianas Trench and Shiloh. She then went on a tour with Marianas Trench, The New Cities. Jepsen began recording material for her album in 2011 with Josh Ramsay, Ryan Stewart. The release of Jepsens second album was postponed to allow Call Me Maybe to spread in popularity, although 604 Records issued a six-track EP, Curiosity, Call Me Maybe peaked at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, making Jepsen the fourth Canadian artist to top the chart. In the United States, the single spent nine weeks at one on the Billboard Hot 100
Carly Rae Jepsen
–
Jepsen performing at the 2012
Burlington's Sound of Music Festival
Carly Rae Jepsen
–
Jepsen performing on
Canada Day in 2010
20.
This Kiss (Carly Rae Jepsen song)
–
This Kiss is a song by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen from her second studio album, Kiss. The song was written by Jepsen, Matthew Koma, Kelly Covell and Redfoo of electropop duo LMFAO through e-mails, text messaging and telephone calls, with production handled by Koma and this Kiss was released as the third single from the album on September 10,2012. The mid-tempo dance-pop track lyrically speaks about a kiss being something Jepsen cant resist and this Kiss received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who compared it to Call Me Maybe and Good Time. In the United States, the peaked at 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 prior to its single release. An accompanying music video was first released on October 26,2012, at the Fun Size film premiere, portrays Jepsen flirting with a guy in the club. To promote its release as a single, Jepsen performed This Kiss on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Late Show with David Letterman, and at the 2012 American Music Awards. This Kiss was written by Jepsen, Kelly Covell, Matthew Koma, the singer also revealed that she was pleased with the creative process of the song, commenting that despite all this craziness, remains the same. And that same exciting feeling that I had before anybody knew me and you can sense the people who really have it are about writing that right word or that right melody to make it lift and make you feel that perfect emotion. This Kiss was recorded at Party Rock Studio with Redfoo in 2012 after Redfoo recorded ideas at Sonic Vista Studios Ibiza, Spain, Carl Williot of Idolator compared the lyrics to the ones of Hall & Oates Kiss on My List. This Kiss received mostly positive reviews music critics. Amy Sciarretto of Pop Crush rated the song four out of five stars, describing it as sweet, sciaretto added that it was possible that This Kiss could be one of the biggest songs of the fall of 2012. Billboard critic Jason Lipshutz deemed the song as undeniable as the lips of the object of affection who isnt the boy she has back home. Heather Phares of Allmusic wrote that This Kiss is musically similar to pop songs. The song managed to stay for one week on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 39, in Japan, it reached number 65 on the countrys Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number 23 on the Canadian Hot 100. As of November 30,2012, the song has sold over 115,000 downloads in United States according to Nielsen SoundScan, filming for the music video began on September 20,2012, with shots of Jepsen on set of the music video surfacing online the same day. She was pictured wearing a pair of pants along with a red-black corset. The singer said she is aiming to show a mature side with the music video. Two weeks later, the singer tweeted, the video for This Kiss is coming soooo soon
This Kiss (Carly Rae Jepsen song)
–
Jepsen at the
Walmart Soundcheck in 2012, where she performed "This Kiss".
This Kiss (Carly Rae Jepsen song)
–
"This Kiss"
21.
Call Me Maybe
–
Call Me Maybe is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen for her EP Curiosity which also appears on her international debut studio album, Kiss. The song was written by Jepsen and Tavish Crowe as a folk song and it was released as the lead single from the EP on September 20,2011, through 604 Records. Jepsen was signed to Schoolboy Records, releasing her single in the United States through the label, musically, Call Me Maybe is an upbeat teen pop track that draws influences from dance-pop, disco, and baroque pop. Lyrically, the track alludes to the inconvenience that a love at first sight brings to a girl who hopes for a back from a crush. After reaching the top position on the Canadian Hot 100, Jepsen became only the fifth Canadian artist to do so in her country since 2007. In the United States, the reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is the first number one by a Canadian female artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since 2007s Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne, an accompanying music video was directed by Ben Knechtel. In it, Jepsen seeks the attention of a boy next door who is revealed at the close of the story to be attracted to a male band member. As part of promotion for the song, Jepsen performed the track on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she made her US television debut and it was also covered on The New Rachel, the season premiere episode of the fourth season of Glee. On December 11,2012, Call Me Maybe was named Song of the Year for 2012 by MTV, the song was also ranked number one by the Village Voices annual Pazz and Jop poll, which compiles the votes of music critics from all over the United States. The song was the single worldwide in 2012, selling over 12 million copies in that year alone. With worldwide sales, quoted in one source in July 2015 as over 18 million copies, Call Me Maybe was the best-selling digital single of 2012, and is the fourth best-selling digital single of all time. Call Me Maybe was initially written by Jepsen and Tavish Crowe as a folk song, Jepsen stated that the writing process was easy, and that she wasnt over-thinking it. We brought in Josh, and he helped us kind of pop-ify it, the following days, she recorded the track at the Umbrella Studios in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Jepsen later stated that it is basically a pick up, what person hasnt wanted to approach somebody before and stopped because its scary. Call Me Maybe had been first released in Canada only through 604 Records on September 20,2011, in December 2011, dating pop singers Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were in Canada and heard the track on the radio. After they tweeted about it on their profiles, Jepsen instantly gained international attention. Braun revealed that Bieber has never jumped out and promoted an artist like this before and he sends me different YouTube videos of unsigned artists that hed like to work with, but never someone who already had a song out and is on the radio
Call Me Maybe
–
Jepsen performing "Call Me Maybe" on October 20, 2012 in
Believe Tour.
Call Me Maybe
–
"Call Me Maybe"
22.
The Wanted
–
The Wanted are a British-Irish boy band consisting of members Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. They formed in 2009 and were signed worldwide to Universal Music subsidiaries Island Records and Mercury Records, the bands debut album, The Wanted, was released on 25 October 2010 and peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart. The album spawned three UK top 20 singles, their debut single All Time Low, which debuted at one, Heart Vacancy. Follow-up album Battleground was released on 4 November 2011 and hit five in the UK. The lead single from the album, Gold Forever, was released in aid of Comic Relief and their second number-one hit, Glad You Came, topped the singles chart in the United Kingdom for two weeks, and in Ireland for five weeks. The third and fourth singles Lightning and Warzone hit number two and number 21, respectively, in the UK and their follow-up singles Chasing the Sun and I Found You reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. In 2013, it was announced that the group would be starring in their own reality series on E. entitled The Wanted Life. The series would document the groups stay in Los Angeles while they recorded their third album and prepare for a world tour. The show promised an honest glimpse into the lives of the band members, the Wanted were formed in 2009 through mass auditions held by Jayne Collins, who also put together The Saturdays and Parade. The audition process, which saw more than 1,000 people attend, just George, Parker and Sykes were involved at the start, and Kaneswaran and McGuiness joined later through the process. The group revealed in their autobiography that after they were informed of the line-up, seven people were re-auditioned before they were signed to Maximum Artist Management. The group were credited with co-writing five of the thirteen tracks on the album, on 25 July 2010, they released their debut single, All Time Low. The song was co-written by Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett and it hit number one in the UK and spent 17 weeks in the UK top 40. The second single Heart Vacancy, again written with Hector, was released on 17 October 2010 and it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The groups third single from the album was Lose My Mind which reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart following a performance on The X Factor. The groups eponymous album was released on 25 October 2010 which peaked at number four in the UK and has since been certified Platinum in the UK. Between 28 March and 15 April 2010, the group embarked on the fifteen date Behind Bars theatre tour which saw them play in twelve UK cities and they were supported by Lawson, Twenty Twenty and Starboy Nathan. In January 2011, the group began to work on their studio album
The Wanted
–
The Wanted at the Swedish program
Sommarkrysset in Stockholm
Gröna Lund
23.
I Found You
–
I Found You is a song by British-Irish boy band The Wanted. The single was released on 6 November 2012 as the single from their third studio album. The track received its first radio play on 7 September 2012, Nathan Sykes told Digital Spy about the song, Were doing a video for it in a couple of weeks as well in LA, which is really exciting. We are just trying to lock all the ideas for it now. Max George added, Weve been working on our album for, like, the last six months. Were still working away on that and weve got plenty more travelling to do yet, the music video for the track was filmed on the week beginning 27 August in Los Angeles. In a preview shot from the video, Nathan is chased by a group of mental fans, later, a new video was filmed due to undisclosed reasons, and that one was shot in London. This video became the official I Found You video, the video was released on 15 October 2012. The video is directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, who also directed Keshas Blow, the video filmed in LA was later posted on YouTube on 23 January 2013. The song is written in the key of A minor, the video features Storm model Chloe Lloyd. It starts with a shot of a woman, played by Lloyd, the Wanted are seen walking somewhere while singing their parts. Max is seen holding a boxer, scenes of them at a party are shown, where Nathan is seen talking to the same woman as an unknown man watches them. They reach a house which is revealed to be the location where the woman has been kidnapped. They enter the house and fight the mans henchmen and they manage to take out all of them as Nathan approaches the woman who has been kidnapped and kisses her passionately. He steals a key from the belt, gets up, winks. The woman realizes that he is the man she talked to at the party, Nathan hands Tom the key and the guys depart the house, leaving the woman still tied up. In the end, they fish out a box from the sea, the video ends as they open the box containing diamonds. They are satisfied with the box and its contents and close it, on 21 January 2013, a second version of the video was released on The Wanteds YouTube page
I Found You
–
"I Found You"
24.
Kelly Clarkson
–
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the first season of American Idol, Clarksons debut single, A Moment Like This, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling single of 2002 in the U. S. It was followed with her studio album, Thankful, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Trying to reinvent her own image, Clarkson decided to part ways with American Idol management and developed a pop sound for her second album. It sold over 15 million copies worldwide and earned Clarkson two Grammy Awards and she took further creative control for her third album, My December, by becoming the executive producer and co-writing the entire material. However, it caused feud with her label, that was dissatisfied with her darker, less commercial rock music, Clarkson returned to the top of the charts with her more mainstream-oriented fourth album, All I Ever Wanted. Its lead single, My Life Would Suck Without You, holds the record for the biggest jump to one on the Billboard Hot 100. She scored another Hot 100 number-one single with Stronger from her studio album. Clarkson also became the first act to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album twice. Her sixth studio album and first Christmas record, Wrapped in Red, ended up as the holiday album of the year. Her seventh and final album under RCA, Piece by Piece, was her album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Its title track became her eleventh single on the Hot 100. She signed with Atlantic Records in 2016 and has prepared a soul-influenced album for a 2017 release, Clarkson has sold over 70 million records worldwide and scored a total of 100 number ones on the Billboard charts. Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. Often called one of the best vocalists in the industry, Clarkson is known for her powerhouse voice and she became the first artist in history to top each of Billboards pop, adult contemporary, country and dance charts. She was ranked nineteenth on VH1s list of 100 Greatest Women in Music, Clarkson has also ventured into television and film, as well as writing childrens book. Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jeanne Ann, a first-grade English teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson and she is the youngest of three children with a brother named Jason and a sister named Alyssa. Clarkson also has two half brothers from her fathers second marriage
Kelly Clarkson
–
Clarkson at the
57th Presidential Inauguration, January 21, 2013
Kelly Clarkson
–
Clarkson performed at the
Lincoln Memorial in
Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2002, following her win on American Idol
Kelly Clarkson
–
Clarkson performing during her Hazel Eyes concert tour on November 15, 2005,
Canberra, Australia
Kelly Clarkson
–
Clarkson and
Reba McEntire performing during the
2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour
25.
Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson song)
–
Miss Independent is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson for her debut studio album Thankful. Written by Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Rhett Lawrence, and Matt Morris, with Lawrence serving as producer, the track was initially intended for Aguileras fourth album, Stripped, but was left half-finished. Lawrence later continued writing the song with Clarkson, who recorded it. Miss Independent is a R&B-styled pop song, whose lyrics tell of a story of an independent woman who allows herself to lower her emotional. Its theme of self-sufficiency would later served as a template for Clarksons subsequent releases, the song generally received positive response from music critics, while criticism targeted the songs similarity to Aguileras material. Miss Independent gave Clarkson her first Grammy nomination in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004, the songs commercial success helped in presenting Clarksons girl next door image to the public and contributed in eliminating her American Idol persona. In the United States, it peaked at nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, it attained a top-ten position in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, the songs accompanying music video was directed by Liz Friedlander, and featured Clarkson singing at a house party. Clarkson premiered the song during the season of American Idol. American record producer Rhett Lawrence first offered the work of the song, titled Miss Independence. Lawrence then collaborated with Christina Aguilera and Matt Morris to record Miss Independence for Aguileras fourth studio album Stripped, Aguilera, who co-wrote the track, ultimately decided not to include it for the album, leaving it half-finished without the bridge. Lawrence, Clarksons then manager Simon Fuller and music mogul Clive Davis suggested that Clarkson finish writing Miss Independence, one of Clarksons A&R managers, Keith Naftaly, suggested to re-title it as Miss Independent. It was one of four songs on Thankful that Clarkson co-wrote, the song was released by RCA Records on April 10,2003, ten days ahead of the Thankful’s release. In 2009, it was available for purchase as a downloadable content for the Rock Band, Rock Band 2. She told Clarkson on the air, if the song was to go to anyone Im glad that it went to you because you gave it justice, Miss Independent is a R&B-styled pop song. Katherine St Asaph of Popdust noted that it’s the closest Kelly Clarkson’s come to R&B. Clarkson credited that Aguileras rhythmic style has influenced the song. She remarked, You can hear a lot of her influence in Miss Independent, and once you hear the song, its constantly in your head
Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson song)
–
"Miss Independent"
Miss Independent (Kelly Clarkson song)
–
Aguilera originally intended to be recorded as "Miss Independent" for Aguilera's album
Stripped (2002).
26.
Since U Been Gone
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Since U Been Gone is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her second studio album, Breakaway. The song, which was written and produced by Max Martin and it is an uptempo pop rock, and power pop song that infuses electronic sound with a mixture of soft and loud alternative rock sound. Martin originally wrote Since U Been Gone with Pink in mind and it was then given to Hilary Duff but she rejected the song because she could not reach its higher notes. The song was given to Clarkson after Clive Davis convinced the writers to give it to her. Clarkson decided to add guitars and harder drums to the song after noticing that the demo had an obvious pop sound. Lyrically, the song is written from a point of view where she expresses her sense of relief with the end of her troubled relationship. Since U Been Gone received positive reviews music critics who considered the song to be the highlight of Breakaway. Critics also felt that it was one of the best pop songs in the last decade, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 482 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. Since U Been Gone was a commercial success, in the United States, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the US Pop 100 for six weeks and the US Pop Songs for seven consecutive weeks respectively. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of one million copies sold. Since U Been Gone was also a success, peaking in the top five in Austria, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands. It also peaked in the top ten in Norway, Germany, Clarkson performed Since U Been Gone at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards and at the 2006 BRIT Awards. It has been included on the set-list of Clarksons many tours, the songs accompanying music video was directed by Alex De Rakoff, which shows Clarkson ruining her ex-boyfriends apartment. The music video was nominated for three awards in the 2005 MTV Music Awards, winning two out of the three awards namely Best Female Video and Best Pop Video, at the 48th Grammy Awards, the song won the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In an interview for Blender, Martin and Dr. Luke revealed that they had originally intended Pink to sing Since U Been Gone, however, she turned it down. Dr. Luke also explained that Hilary Duffs management was interested in the song and it was Clive Davis who convinced Martin and Dr. Luke to give the song to Clarkson, even though they were initially reluctant. According to MTV, Clarkson had already finished recording her materials for her album, Breakaway in late 2004 when she was advised by her A&R to fly to Sweden to meet with Martin
Since U Been Gone
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Clarkson performing "Since U Been Gone" during her
My December Tour.
Since U Been Gone
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"Since U Been Gone"
Since U Been Gone
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Ted Leo covered "Since U Been Gone" after watching the song's music video.
27.
Catch My Breath
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Catch My Breath is a song by American pop artist Kelly Clarkson, from her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits – Chapter One. One of the three recorded songs for Chapter One, it was released as the albums lead single through RCA Records on October 10,2012. It was written by Clarkson, and co-written and produced by her musical director Jason Halbert, Catch My Breath is an electropop dance song with pop rock arrangements. Upon its release, Catch My Breath was met with reviews from music critics. It has so far peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 19 and has topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart and it has also charted within the top five of Adult Pop Songs and Adult Contemporary charts, and on the top twenty of Pop Songs chart. Filmed by Danish director Nadia Marquard Otzen, the accompanying music video features Clarkson performing above the water, as gusts of wind, fire. The video has met with positive reception from critics, who noted its simplicity as giving focus on her vocal performance, Clarkson has performed the Catch My Breath televised performances, including the 2012 American Music Awards, VH1 Divas 2012 and the third-season finale of The Voice. Clarkson and Halbert also collaborated with producer Eric Olson, who co-produced the songs You Love Me, Clarkson remarked of writing the song, we wrote it specifically for the fact of 10 years, wow. I feel like Im finally starting to be happy and settled, the song premiered on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on October 10,2012 as the lead single from Greatest Hits – Chapter One, and was released on digital retail October 15,2012. It was sent to radio stations on October 23,2012. Catch My Breath is an electronic dance song with pop rock arrangements that gradually builds up to an uptempo song in the chorus. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard noted the slow start as a red herring for the upbeat anthem that Catch My Breath becomes. The song has a length of 4,11 and is written in the key of F♯ minor in common time with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. The song follows a progression of Dsus2 – E – F♯m7 – Dsus2 – F♯m7 – E. Clarksons vocal range spans two octaves, from F♯3 to F♯5. Written in an uplifting first person narrative, the song depicts Clarksons journey from the past and her vision in the future, Lipshutz noted, Ive spent most of my time catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the sake of the show. Clarkson sings, before promising to spend the rest of her days appreciating what she has and being herself. Jocelyn Vena of MTV News wrote, While Clarkson has clocked plenty of songs about the perils of love over the course of her career, her romance on this single is more positive than in the past. The song received positive reviews, with most critics commending the songs uplifting theme, neon Limelight wrote, The upbeat song is really less about her career and more about where she is now in her life and her new found ability to appreciate what really matters
Catch My Breath
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Stills from the "Catch My Breath" music video. The first (above) shows Clarkson performing above the water and below the fire, the second (middle) shows her performing as the wind blows to her face, and the last (below) shows her being surrounded by fire. The elements of air, water, and fire are represented throughout the video.
Catch My Breath
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"Catch My Breath"
28.
Ke$ha
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Kesha Rose Sebert is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to producer Dr. Lukes label Kemosabe Records and her breakthrough came in early 2009 after appearing on American rapper Flo Ridas number-one single Right Round. Her debut album, Animal, and her first extended play, Keshas music and image propelled her to immediate commercial success, with Animal debuting as the number-one album in the United States. She also achieved two number-one singles, Tik Tok and We R Who We R, and a string of singles from the album. At the same time, she continued to write songs for other artists, Warrior, her second studio album, was released in 2012, spawning Keshas eighth top-ten single with Die Young, and her ninth and tenth Top 40 hits with CMon and Crazy Kids. Tik Tok is among the digital singles in history, selling over 14 million units internationally. Influenced by various genres and artists, Kesha primarily draws inspiration from music of the 1980s, Madonna, Queen, after experimenting with country, pop rock, and electronic music, Kesha stuck with the latter. Thematically, her music generally revolves around escapism, partying, individuality, supernatural moments, rebellion, Kesha has been involved with animal rights and LGBT activism. She has received awards and nominations, including her win for MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act in 2010. As of November 2013, she has sold over 33 million records in the United States and 60 million records worldwide. Her recorded output has been curtailed since 2013 due to a dispute with her former producer Dr. Luke. Kesha alleged physical and emotional abuse and employment discrimination against Dr. Luke, while Dr. Luke claims breach of contract, Kesha was born in Los Angeles, California. Pebe, a mother, struggled financially while supporting herself, Kesha. When Kesha was an infant, Pebe would often have to look after her onstage while performing, Kesha says she has no knowledge of her fathers identity, though she has speculated that he may be Mick Jagger. Her mother is of German and Hungarian descent, one of Keshas great-grandfathers was Polish. Pebe moved the family to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991 after securing a new publishing deal for her songwriting, Pebe frequently brought Kesha and her brothers along to recording studios and encouraged Kesha to sing when she noticed Keshas vocal talent. Kesha attended Franklin High School and Brentwood High School, but claimed that she did not fit in and she played the trumpet and later the saxophone in the marching band in school, and described herself in an interview with NPR as being a diligent student. After attaining a score on her SATs, she was offered a full scholarship at Barnard College
Ke$ha
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Kesha at
Planes: Fire & Rescue premiere at
El Capitan Theatre in July 2014
Ke$ha
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Kesha performing live during the
Get Sleazy Tour, her first headlining tour, in 2011
Ke$ha
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Kesha
Ke$ha
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Kesha performing on
Today in November 2012
29.
Die Young (Kesha song)
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Die Young is a song by American recording artist Kesha. It was released on September 25,2012 as the single from her second studio album. Kesha co-wrote the song with its producers, Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, and Cirkut, with writing from Nate Ruess. Kesha wrote the lyrics after traveling around the world and embarking on a spiritual journey, Die Young charted in multiple countries, debuting at 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.3. It eventually peaked at two, continuing Keshas string of top-ten singles. The song has reached the top ten in multiple countries worldwide. In December 2012, the song was removed from radio stations in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Produced primarily by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco, Kesha worked with the singer of fun. Nate Ruess, to write Die Young, co-producer Blanco called the song old hippie rock. The song was written in 2011, after Kesha traveled the world, before working on her second studio album, she went on a spiritual journey. She intends for the song to show her side, saying. Im definitely not a pony and I think people are starting to see that more and more. About the song, she told Carson Daly on 97.1 AMP Radio, youre going to hear that because Im also doing this acoustic EP for my fans. Some of the old songs and the new songs, the song employs Keshas trademark electropop sounds. Over throbbing percussion, she continues, Oh what a shame that you came here with someone / So while youre here in my arms / Lets make the most of the night like were gonna die young. Die Young features synth rifts in the new style, reminiscent of The Cars. Towards the end of the song, a choir of backing vocals chimes the chorus over a rock drum beat. Seventeen called it classic Ke$ha, while Robbie Daw of Idolator said, getting a if you’ve heard one Ke$ha song, you’ve heard em all vibe, rolling Stone said that Die Young is the Ke$ha we know and love, and that it sounds sorta exactly like Taio Cruz
Die Young (Kesha song)
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"Die Young"
Die Young (Kesha song)
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"Die Young" has been compared to "
Good Feeling " by
Flo Rida (left), "
Domino " by
Jessie J (middle) and "
Teenage Dream " by
Katy Perry (right) all of which were produced by
Dr. Luke.
Die Young (Kesha song)
Die Young (Kesha song)
30.
No Doubt
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No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, that formed in 1986. Since 1994, the group has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, bassist and keyboardist Tony Kanal, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Dumont, since the mid-1990s in live performances and the studio, they have been supported by keyboardist and trombonist Gabrial McNair and keyboardist and trumpeter Stephen Bradley. The ska sound of their song Trapped in a Box that was featured on their first album No Doubt failed to make an impact. The Beacon Street Collection is a raw expression of their sound, inspired by ska punk, the album sold over 100,000 copies in 1995, over three times as many as their first album sold. Fifteen months later, the band reappeared with Rock Steady, which incorporated reggae, the album was primarily recorded in Jamaica and featured collaborations with Jamaican artists Bounty Killer, Sly and Robbie, and Lady Saw. The album produced two Grammy-winning singles, Hey Baby and Underneath It All, as well as Hella Good, after a 2004 tour the band embarked on solo projects, with Stefani releasing two successful solo albums Love. Baby. and The Sweet Escape while Tom Dumont released his own music project. In 2008, the band resumed working slowly on their effort, titled Push and Shove. They have sold over 33 million records worldwide, Eric Stefani and John Spence met at a Dairy Queen and had talked about getting a group together to play music. Eric got a keyboard and gathered some players together to practice, the practice included Eric Stefani, Gwen Stefani, John Spence, Jerry McMahon, Chris Leal, Chris Webb, Gabriel Gonzalez & Alan Meade and Tony Meade. They practiced in Erics parents garage, Tony Kanal went to one of the bands early shows and soon joined the band as its bassist. After initially rejecting her advances, he began dating Gwen, but they kept their secret for a year. Paul Caseley also joined the band in 1987, Eric Carpenter joined the horn section soon after. In December 1987, Spence committed suicide days before the band was to play a gig at The Roxy Theatre for record industry employees. No Doubt disbanded but decided to regroup after several weeks with Alan Meade taking over vocals, when Meade left the band, Gwen replaced him as lead singer, and No Doubt continued to develop a live following in California. He joined No Doubt and replaced Jerry McMahon as the bands guitarist, Adrian Young replaced Chris Webb as the drummer the following year. Caseley left No Doubt in July 1989 for the US Navy Band, No Doubts self-titled debut album was finally released in 1992, but it featured no radio singles, although a video was made for Trapped in a Box. The albums distinctly upbeat pop/cartoon sound sharply contrasted with the then-dominant grunge movement, because the music worlds focus was redirected squarely at Seattle, No Doubts album was not supported by the record label and considered a commercial failure for selling only 30,000 copies
No Doubt
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No Doubt in 2009
