Flight Of The Conchords-Sugar Lumps

The hilarious New Zealand duo are back with their latest offering “Sugar Lumps”. Anyone notice a similarity to Kelis’ “Milkshake??

Whitney Thompson-Cycle 10 Winner

Whitney Thompson, born in 1987 and hailing from Atlantic Beach, California won Cycle 10 of the popular US modeling reality show “America’s Next Top Model”. She was the first “Plus Size Model” to win the show which was a great achievement considering the fashion industry’s morbid fascination with the “Size Zero” look. At the beginning of the competition she was critizised by some of the judging panel as being ‘too pageant’ and ‘fake’ and landed in the bottom two a total of four times. However she managed to turn things around and narrowly beat Hawaiian beauty Anya Kop.

Whitney Thompson Cycle 10

“I’m here because I do feel good about myself, and I want other women in America to feel better about themselves, I honestly think the girls will look up to me and say I can do that I can be that…I’m America’s next top model!”

Whitney Thompson Music Photoshoot

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

Whitney is now signed to Wilhelmina Models in New York. She was previously with Elite Model Management. She has appeared on the cover of “Seventeen” magazine as part of her ANTM prize but has also appeared in “Intouch Weekly”. In 2008 New York Fashion Week she walked for JCPenney and Saks Fifth Avenue. Following her ANTM success she has also appeared as a model on “The Tyra Banks Show”. She is currently a spokesmodel for ‘Smile-Stylist’ and ‘Right Fit’ and appeared on the MSN list of most influential women of 2008.

Whitney Thompson Cycle 10

SEE ALSO: AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL ARCHIVE

Eurovision Memories-Javine

Javine is an English popstar who narrowly missed out in becoming a member of the sussessful girl group Girls Aloud by finishing 6th in Popstars:The Rivals. Javine represented The United Kingdom in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest which was held in Kiev, Ukraine with the entry “Touch My Fire”. The song did terribly in the final and finished in a disappointing 22nd plance with a measly 18 points. I personally feel that this song was very strong on the night and deserved to do much better. Judge for yourself….

Saleisha Stowers-Cycle 9 Winner

Saleisha Stowers from Madera, California won the 9th Cycle of the hit US modeling contest America’s Next Top Model hosted by former supermodel Tyra Banks. In her semi-final audition Tyra revealed that she knoew Saleisha as she had attended Bank’s T-Zone camp to promote self-etreem when she was 14. As a result of this Tyra said that she was going to be extra hard Saleisha. At the start of the competition she was uninspiring and thought by many of the judging panel to be too commercial for high fashion. In the opening weeks she found herself in the bottom 2 on two occasions. However she received a drastic make-over which transformed her to an editorial look and from then on she never looked back. In a tense fashion show in China, Stowers and Chantel Jones stomped to the death and Stowers was announced the winner.

Saleisha Stowers Cycle 9

I‘ve grown into a strong young woman and I’m so happy with myself right now and the place that I’m at. This is what I’ve dreamed for I fought for this so hard, and I’m so determined,and I have it now, I want it, I want it so bad, and I got it and I’m never letting it go…thank you God… I’m America’s Next Top Model, baby! Aah!

Following her win, much controversy arose after it emerged that Saleisha had previous model experience and had even appeared as a model on the ‘Tyra Banks Show” and in a fashion on cycle 6 of America’s Next Top Model itself. She had also appeared in a “Wendy’s” commerical and had a short appearance on the US Comedy series “Ugly Betty”. The show’s rules state that a contestant must not have appeared as a model in a national advertising campaign during the last five years. The CW said in a statement that Stowers did disclose her participation in the Wendy’s spot, and “after reviewing the commercial, it was determined that her appearance did not amount to “modeling” experience, and therefore did not exclude her from participating in the show”. Several blogs and news outlets have speculated that her past relationship with Banks (her participation in Banks’ T-Zone camp and her past appearances on Tyra’s television shows and her appearance as a model on The Tyra Banks Show and Cycle 6 of America’s Next Top Model), may have influenced the selection of the winner.

Saleisha Stowers Cycle 9

WHERE IS SHE NOW:

The controversy surrounding Saleisha Stower’s ANTM win certainly hasn’y held her back in terms of modelling success. She is currently signed to Elite Model Management and L.A. Model Management. Saleisha has currently got a Metro Style campaign with also features ex-Top Model girls Jaslene Gonzalez, Dani Evans and Whitney Thompson. She has appeared in numerous magazine photoshoots including the cover and six-page spread of “Seventeen” Magazine. Her distinguising runway walk has also booked her numerous fashion shows for top designers.

SEE ALSO: AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL ARCHIVE: A Look Back At ANTM’s Most Memorable Contestants.

Blast From The Past-Alien Ant Farm

I was asking around for suggestion for my Blast From The Past feature and my friend Peter reminded me of this song “Smooth Criminal” sung by Alien Ant Farm. It is a cover of the Michael Jackson Classic and reached the Top 5 in charts world-wide in 2001.

Check out what the guys are up to these days on their MySpace HERE

SEE ALSO: BLAST FROM THE PAST ARCHIVE

Eurovision Memories-Luminita Anghel

Romania came 3rd in the Eurovision 2005 in Kiev with the song “Let Me Try” whcih was sung by Luminita Anghel. The song proved to be very popular amongst the eurovision faithful and netted an impressive tally of 158 points. Personally I think that it was a great song which deserved its success.

Blast From The Past-Nizlopi

I know that this song isn’t very old and that most of you haven’t forgot it but I don’t care I still think that it deserved a spot in my “Blast From The Past” archive. This was such a simple song that the world fell in love with. Its still as good listening to it today! Nizlopi singing “JCB Song”

According to Wikipedia:

“JCB Song” is Nizlopi’s most successful song, reaching number one in the UK on its second release. The song was written about Luke’s troubles with dyslexia at school and his escape to accompany his dad at work, and was released as a single in June 2005, reaching number 160 in the UK Singles Chart. The single was then re-released in the UK on 12 December 2005, reaching number one the following week on 18 December 2005, selling more than twice the number than the closest contender, Westlife. Dermot O’Leary gave the track extensive airplay on his BBC Radio 2 show. Some bookmakers put it in the running for the honour of Christmas number one but it was beaten by the winner of the second series of the UK version of The X Factor, Shayne Ward‘s debut single “That’s My Goal“. The video has received widespread airplay, mainly on music TV channel VH1. It is an animated video, made by Laith Bahrani (a.k.a. ‘Monkeehub’), who also animated an unofficial video for an acoustic version of “Creep” by Radiohead. In 2007 Nizlopi received an Impala Platinum award recognising sales of over 500,000 copies of “JCB Song” across Europe.

Nizlopi

Check Out Nizlopi’s MySpace HERE

Eurovision Memories-Sertab Erener

Turkey won the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia with the great song “Everyway That I Can” sung by Sertab Erener. In a tight final vote, Turkey received 167 and beat Belgium by only 2 points.

Erener is a big popstar in her native Turkey and also is a cross-over soprano with a vocal range that extends to high F (whatever that means). She is consideded to be one of the true divas of the Turkish pop world.

Jaslene Gonzalez- Cycle 8 Winner

Jaslese, who hails from Puerto Rico but grew up in Humboldt, Chicago. She had previously made the semi-final of cycle 7 but the “Cha Cha Diva” failed to make the final cut. However she didnt give up and re-entered the following year. At the casting she seemed much more calm and grounded and said that it was due to her attending therapy. Her trademark walk impressed the judges and she was picked to be in the final 13 girls.

Jaslene Gonzalez Cycle 8

I’m the Latin spice here. I’m not your girl next door but I’m your girl down the block in your hood.

During the show, Jaslene constantly produced beautiful photo after beautiful photo and was a judge’s favourite despite their reservations over her thin and fragile frame. About half way through the show Tyra remarked that Jaslene has lost some of her personality and encouraged her to bring back out the “Cha Cha Diva”. Jaslene duly oblidged and stomped her way to success in a fashin show with fellow finalist, Natasha Galkina.

Jaslene Gonzalez Cycle 8

Every little girl has a dream to be something. My family believed in my dream just as much as I did. And to be here, and after working so much… I think that shows all young women if you have that drive, keep going. Second time around, and I’m America’s Next Top Model.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

As a result of her ANTM win, Jaslene has enjoyed success in both print work and runway. She appeared in many photoshoots including a 6-page spread in ‘Vibe Vixen’ magazine. Jaslene has had an Ad Campaign for designer Cesar Galindo ‘s Spring 2008 Collection and appeared on the pages of Supermodels Unlimited Magazine twice for the August and September/October 2008 issues. She has also been hand picked by many acclaimed designers to walk in ther shows, including Ximena and James De Colon. She walked in the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2009 for Projext Runway.

Jaslene Gonzalez Cycle 8

SEE ALSO: AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL ARCHIVE

Asher Roth- Boom Boom Pow

New american rap sensation recently performed live the Black Eyed Peas single “Boom Boom Pow” on the excellent BBc Radio 1 Live Lounge which is currently Number 1 worldwide. Have a listen and see what you think..

Here is Asher Roth performing his own single “I Love College” also on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge!

Eminem? Marshall who??

Check out Asher Roth’s MySpace HERE