These are photos from the LA set of Willow Smith’s latest music video, “21st Century Girl”. This will be Willow’s follow-up to her wildly successful debut “Whip My Hair”. I actually liked “Whip My Hair” – I could understand the appeal of it, I thought it was a decent debut single. But I just listened a 15-second snippet of “21st Century Girl” and it makes me hearken back to the old days, when Willow would have been a one-hit wonder. Instead, in this new music paradigm, Willow is going to be forced down our throats for the next decade.

It’s back to the dance floor for Willow Smith! Following the runaway success of her debut single “Whip My Hair” last fall, the 10-year-old pop star shot a video for her second single, “21st Century Girl,” in Los Angeles this week, as dad Will Smith and mom Jada Pinkett Smith looked on.

She also debuted a snippet of the club-ready track in a video post on her Facebook page on Sunday.

She sings: “21st century girl/I do what I like/I’m takin’ you for a ride/Yeah I’m gonna live it up, just live it up.”

Smith, who calls the new song “a dance record,” is also hard at work on her album, reportedly due this spring, for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label.

“It is very cool, because Jay really welcomes me and makes me feel like the record label is a place where I can have fun and talk about my career,” Willow told Vanity Fair’s February issue. “He and his people make me feel like I’m a part of something. And I love Beyoncé – she’s awesome!”

[From People]

Someone tell Willow that it’s time for her to “retire” from her music career to concentrate on her fashion lines, which I’m sure are forthcoming. I could handle Willow as a tween fashion designer – she seems more punk-influenced than jailbait/Gossip-Girl-influenced, thank God. But this musical career needs to die. Don’t believe me? Scratch out your eardrums with this 15 second snippet:

Photos courtesy of Fame.

I just listened to this remix of Lady Gaga’s first single from her new album, Born This Way. The single/remix debuted yesterday in Paris, at the Mugler fashion show. They played it as the models walked the runway. Here’s the remix… with the “short film” made by Nicola Formichetti (Mugler’s creative director) and photographer Mariano Vivanco. The model/skull-face/skeleton is model Rick Genest. Here’s the remix:

It’s not bad. I’m listening to it again as I’m writing. It will be interesting to hear the original single and compare it to the remix. But I like the German, I like how it’s not “ZOMG DANCE!” Is Gaga growing up? Personally, I hope she keeps making great dance music – someone needs to, and Madonna isn’t interested. Let’s see… what else…Formichetti and Gaga have had a professional relationship for a while, and he’s the dude responsible for her meat dress. Also, Gaga was thrilled with the collaboration, as she tweeted: “MUGLER PARIS SHOW begins in 2 hours. I am so excited my fashion bones are rattling. The garments + music are poetic intoxication.” Oh, and Gaga has a history of premiering new music during a fashion show – she did the same thing with “Bad Romance” during a McQueen show in 2009.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

I’m usually pretty good at remembering stories about celebrities, like I can recall related stories about them that pertain to whatever bad behavior they’re engaged in. In Kim Kardashian’s case I completely forgot that she was launching a music career, because I actively ignore her, especially when it comes to her business ventures. She will slap her name on just about anything. (Bitch even went to the opening of a toilet.)

Anyway Kim played her first single at a club on New Year’s, (video above) where she surely received a hefty appearance fee for bringing out her plastic boobs, ass, and clown face while promoting her music. The song sounded like just about every other overproduced dance track released by a reality star over the past few years. (i.e. anything that Heidi Montag, Kim Zolciak or Countess LuAnn has done.) Kardashian worked with The Dream so her song was well mixed at least. I think Paris Hilton’s music was better, but that’s not saying much.

When Kaiser first reported about Kim’s music “career” she wondered whether Kim would f*ck for tracks. Kanye West, Kim’s rumored hookup, is in her video and might even be helping with her music, so I think we have our answer.

Here’s the report from Popeater:

The track, written by accomplished songwriter The-Dream, is reportedly titled ‘Turn It Up,’ and features a bass-heavy beat perfect for the dance floor. Before playing the newly released tune for the crowd, she offered a brief intro.

“Hi you guys, I didn’t mean to, but I did this song with The-Dream, and it’s really fun,” she said. “I hope you guys like it!”

Kim recently shot a video for the song last week in Los Angeles, possibly with her new cornrows hairstyle. Famed director Hype Williams manned the camera while Kanye West made a cameo in the visuals. There’s no word yet on whether West will solely serve as Kardashian’s co-star in the video or if he’ll supply a verse on the song as well.

Kim revealed her New Year resolution early in December when Us Weekly reported that during an appearance on ‘The Rachael Ray Show,’ Kardashian told Ray that her 30th year is the right time for her to embrace the single life.

“I’ve made a promise to myself and I’m really trying hard to stick to it, but I’m such a hopeless romantic that it’s hard,” she tells Ray. “I want to try to be single my whole year of being 30.”

[From Popeater]

If Kim plans to be single all year, it’s probably part of her career plan. Like she’s going to make as much money as she can possibly squeeze out of various projects and then plans to get married, have a kid and her own reality show in 2012, all the while working out coverage deals with various media agencies for her major life events. You know, Kim may have learned this from Paris, but she really makes Paris seem quaint in comparison. Kim is like Paris on steroids, Botox and overflowing silicone.

Photos are from New Year’s Eve outside of Lavo nightclub. Credit: WENN.com

Here’s a funny video of Usher serenading an overzealous fan on stage in concert at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Usher was singing “Trading Places” to a woman who was all over him, really getting into it and knew all the words to the song. The two were lounging on a recliner on stage when the woman tried to flip around to get face to face with him – and ended up kicking him in the face with her boot! That’s at 5:23 in the video above.

The woman apologized, wiped Usher’s face and seemed embarrassed that she got so carried away. Usher immediately stopped singing and the crowd was roaring. He joked “We play most of the day, you know, we kick each other in the face and all kinds of stuff.” He then stopped the song, gave the fan a hug, and then stepped off stage.

Aw, I like how he handled that! Usher could have been mad but he played it off well.

Rumor has it that Usher is cheating on his current girlfriend, his co-manager and stylist Grave Miguel, with a backup dancer named Saidah. Usher divorced his first wife and the mother of his two young sons, Tameka Foster, in 2009.

[story via Celebuzz]

For some reason, CB and I rarely have heated debates over celebrities. We agree on most people, and there’s the off hot guy that one of us likes more than the other (for me, Gerard Butler and Ethan Hawke, for CB, Matt Damon and Sam Worthington). However, the state of Jennifer Love Hewitt is always up for a discussion betwixt CB and I. I’m generally “against,” and CB is usually “for”. CB likes Love in a girl-next-door kind of way, thinking that Love is harmless and sweet. I think Love has a more nefarious streak, and to me, she’s barely one step up from Jessica Simpson’s dumb shenanigans. Barely.

Anyway, Love has a new BOYFRIEND and now that she and Alex Beh have been dating for a full… three months, maybe?… they’re totally in love and they are ready to bring their LOVE everywhere. They will bring their love to red carpets. They will bring their love to interviews. They will bring their love to music videos! Oh, yes. Jennifer Love and Alex are starring in a new music video for Dave Barnes – and it’s a Christmas song too! Note several things about this video: one, Love is wearing the motherload of makeup; two, Alex Beh might be even cheesier than Love and three, this actually isn’t a bad Christmas song, but the video denigrates it.

Did anyone else notice that Love is so top-heavy that she has a hard time walking down stairs? Poor Love. Also: she’s a terrible actress. Just awful. I know CB likes her and everything, but my God. This is embarrassing.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Gwyneth Paltrow performed Country Strong at the CMA awards last night and I have to say that she did a great job. I’ve never seen that film she did with Huey Lewis, Duets, but I’ve heard she can sing and she proved it. Kaiser pointed out to me that Gwyneth looked nervous, although I didn’t really notice it, and that she wasn’t really playing that guitar and was just using it as a prop. She must have a lot of practice doing that for her role as an alcoholic country star. It was hard to buy those lyrics coming from such a sanctimonious woman of privilege, but I’m sure most people don’t have as negative and long-standing an opinion of her as I do. It’s a catchy song though, and one I can see becoming a minor hit. Country music executives seem to agree with me, because E! Online reports that labels are eager to sign Goopy to some kind of record deal, and that she’s already received offers. I’m sure her husband is thrilled.

Record labels have come calling. “She’s been approached,” says one source.

Not only does the Oscar winner plays a former country music star trying to revive her career in the upcoming flick Country Strong, she also performs live tonight on the Country Music Awards.

One music executive says it appears her team is putting something into place. “They debuted the [Country Strong] song this summer and have just gone to country radio,” the exec said. “This is almost three months prior to the movie coming out and she is performing on the CMAs.

“It is risky to go to country radio that much before the film. If they reject her, then the movie is DOA.”

A source close to Gwynnie says, “She would never say never, but it’s not something she is yet seriously considering.”

Paltrow appears on four songs on the movie’s soundtrack, which also features big-time country stars Faith Hill, Hank Williams Jr., Trace Adkins and Lee Ann Womack, among others. And one of our favorites, Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum is among the songwriters.

“They have surrounded her with beloved country people,” the music exec says, “so not only will they accept her, but she can have more of a career in that world.”

And then of course, she’s married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and she appears—singing and dancing—on next week’s episode of Glee. As Jane Lynch recently told us, “She’s a quadruple threat. We knew she could act, we knew she was gorgeous, but she sings and dances amazingly well, too!”

[From E! Online]

Remember when Madonna started directing and how her marriage to then-husband, director Guy Ritchie, failed shortly afterwards? I’m just saying that maybe it’s not the best idea for Gwynnie to go into the same field as her husband, as moderately talented and in need of a career focus as she may be.

Minor spoilers for next week’s Glee
I was under the impression that Gwyenth was going to be on Glee this week, but she doesn’t appear until next week. (This week’s episode was excellent by the way, and I loved their focus on gay bullying and fitting in.) Glee creator Ryan Murphy lets us know that Gwyneth will do a mashup of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and “Singing in the Rain.” (Along with that “F You” song we’ve already heard about.) He praised her professionalism, and said that she spent over 12 hours stomping around in a tank of water to film her dance number. Maybe my opinion of this woman will change once I see her on Glee. It’s hard, though, when her scamming trainer still gets press for bragging about all the weight she helped Gwyneth lose after her latest role. It’s only a matter of time before Goop is spouting off about it again too.

Video via ONTD

Here’s a strange piece of news. Remember how Lou Reed denied permission for Susan Boyle to sing Perfect Day on America’s Got Talent, essentially causing her to cancel her performance because she hadn’t prepared a different song? Well Lou has made it up to Susan, by allowing her to cover Perfect Day on her upcoming album and by directing the music video for it – her first! Susan’s Perfect Day video was shot in her native Scotland, and Reed explains that it was his idea to highlight the country’s beautiful landscape. The result is pretty haunting when you view the video coupled with Susan’s angelic version of Reed’s classic (above, and a higher quality version is available for US users on Popeater). Here’s more, from Popeater:

Reed’s 1972 classic ‘Perfect Day’ — one of the tracks featured on her new album, ‘The Gift,’ in stores November 9.

Directed by Reed himself, the video was a way of showing support for the Scottish siren after his not-so-favorable reaction over her version of his trademark track in September. Reed says of the project, “I wanted to create a beautiful and intimate piece shot in Susan’s native Scotland and she quickly agreed.” And that’s just what he did. Expect sweeping shots of lush forests and gorgeous sunrises.

Boyle’s second album, ‘The Gift,’ is a seasonal collection of songs including Christmas classics like ‘The First Noel’ and ‘O Holy Night’.’ Boyle herself says the music is meant to “touch hearts.” “Music has always been a companion to me, particularly on special occaisons” Boyle explains. “I wanted there to be a mix of songs that would flow with all our moods this holiday season. As much as the season is a time for reflection, it is also a time for fun and enjoyment with those closest to us.”

[From Popeater]

I give Reed credit for reneging and working with Susan, but you also have to consider the serious amounts of money involved. Boyle’s last album was the 2nd highest seller in 2009, barely getting edged out by Taylor Swift. Her new CD, The Gift, is currently number one on the Amazon music charts. (It just came out on iTunes today in the US so it’s not charting yet.) Reed created a beautiful tribute to Boyle’s music and her gentle personality with this majestic video, but he had some powerful motivation too. He seems to understand that you “reap what you sow” when it comes to working with a talented successful lady like Susan.

Susan Boyle is shown on 10/9/10, credit: Barcroft/Fame Pictures. Lou Reed is shown on 10/7 and 10/5. Credit: WENN.com

Below, I’ve embedded the audio track for LeAnn Rimes’ new single, “Crazy Women”. The song is told from the perspective of a woman who is being cheated on, whose man is fooling around with some dumb woman who thinks the sun rises and sets in a cheater’s pants. The wronged woman then goes off on the cheater. So… it’s told from the perspective of Brandi Glanville, basically. Here’s the track:

I hate to say this, but it’s actually not a bad song. It definitely reminds me of that Carrie Underwood song, “Before He Cheats”. But cheatin’ and fightin’ and reoccurring themes of country music, from what I understand. It would have been a good single for Underwood, I think – maybe even Faith Hill. But for LeAnn, it is definitely a Twilight Zone moment. Anyway, the single will be on her new album, Lady and Gentlemen, which is due next year. In a statement about the single, LeAnn said: “This album was born out of when I first fell in love with country music and I realized that almost all of my favorite songs were sung by men. I am honored to take a step back in time and sing these songs from a woman’s perspective and hopefully help reintroduce them to a new audience. It’s just such a fun song to sing along and laugh with. After completing this album of songs by some of the most infamous men in country music to drive women crazy in love, I thought this song was a perfect edition to the album!” Ugh. Whatever.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Above is a photo of Kim Kardashian at a NJ Nets game on Halloween. She’s wearing some kind of strange fur sleeve that I don’t understand. It just seems to be on the one arm… like a fur sling or something. Does Kim have a problem with one consistently colder arm? And what kind of fur is that? What kind of fur also has weird feathers? Kim looks like she’s molting into her new Armenian Barbie body and face. Ugh.

Anyway, Kim isn’t just going to haunt out vision and our televisions and our nightmares anymore. She’s also going to screech out an album. According to TMZ, Kim has been working with The-Dream (the dude who was married to Christina Milian, but cheated on her publicly).

Kim Kardashian is recording an album. As in music. As in singing … TMZ has learned.

We’re told Kim’s recently been in the studio with top notch writer/producer/performer The-Dream, whose hits include Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

So how’s it gonna sound? One person who’s been inside a recording session tells us, “Kim’s got a really good voice.”

No word on a song list, but a cover of “Baby Got Back” seems inevitable.

[From TMZ]

Do you think Kim has a good voice? Ugh… no. I doubt it. I think her “singing” career will probably be a lot like her “modeling” career. Here’s a question though: will Kim f-ck for tracks?

Spoilers for past and potentially future Glee episodes
I’m not all caught up with Glee and still haven’t seen this week’s show. After the disjointed Brittany Britney episode I gave it a pass for a while, but I’ve finally seen Grilled Cheesus, last week’s episode, and I was won over again. Glee really needs to focus on the storyline like it did last week and not try to accommodate guest artists’ ideas that vary so much from the regular format.

Anyway in this week’s episode Puck, played by Mark Salling, is sent away to juvie. Rumor has it that producers are trying to marginalize his character after Salling violated his contract by recording a solo album. “Someone” (aka Salling’s people) leaked to E! Online that this isn’t the case, though, and that Puck’s absence doesn’t mean that he’s getting pushed off the show.

Our source adamantly says Mark’s absence from the show does not have anything to do with his album. Anyone notice Jayma Mays gone last night too? And no one’s making a fuss over that.

“Mark would never prioritize anything over the show, he respects the executives and his cast too much to do that,” spills our Glee insider.

“People forget that he’s been doing music for almost a decade before Glee,” adds our source. “He just has a target on his back because he’s the first of the cast to do a solo album.”

Which, by the way, we hear the cast is totally supportive of.

“A lot of the cast are planning solo albums as well, they are celebrating Mark’s release, not creating drama out of it,” ‘fesses Deep Gleek.

And if you remember, Glee fans, Dianna Agron was absent from a few episodes in the first season when she was pursuing her movie career, so this isn’t all that strange.

So never fear, Puck lovers, we’re told hottie Mark will be back steaming up the small screen ASAP.

“He’s still a series regular,” adds our studio insider. “Mark will be back soon, Mohawk in full force, with a major bad boy comeback.”

[From E! Online]

Would anyone really care if Puck was off that show? I wouldn’t. It’s not like he’s central to the plot. I would like to see Rachel, Lea Michele’s character, marginalized too. In many ways Lea is the star, but they’re making her character so one-dimensional, self-centered and annoying that it’s like they’re trying to push her out anyway.

I would say that Salling should stick to his day job, but there are plenty of much less talented kids who are making it on their own, with The Situation, Sooki and any random Jenner-Kardashian coming to mind. If Salling can crank out a hit or two he may be successful in making a name for himself outside Glee.

Salling’s first solo album, Pipe Dreams, is out on October 26th. AOL is featuring a series of video interviews with him in which he talks about his love of music and his new endeavors. He’s serious about it, I’ll give him that.