September, 2010

Adam Levine’s distinctive vocals, backed by talented musicians on bass, guitar, and keyboard, have proven to be a successful formula for Maroon 5 since 2002. Poised to thrill the music world and with two hand-fulls of chart topper ready songs, if you haven’t already, you must get your Hands All Over Maroon 5’s latest release.

These soulful rockers fill Hands All Over – the band’s 3rd studio album – with genius tunes consistent with the quality their fans have grown to love and respect. It’s spunky, and it’s upbeat. It’s lyrically gratifying.

It’s Maroon 5.

“Give A Little More,” the get your hair brush, and sing into it while pretending you’re the lead singer jam, tops the list as one of the best cuts from the album.

And the title track, with its pronounced, 1980’s-esque guitar riffs, will certainly become the soundtrack for college bar, hair swinging battles across America.

The acoustic version of “Misery” better showcases Adam Levine’s uniquely talented voice than does the original release of the lead single. But the salacious video for the original version, where Adam Levine’s real life, super sexy, model girlfriend plays his physically aggressive love interest, makes it difficult to decide which “Misery” is more pleasurable.

Though these fellas are usually categorized as rock, Mr. Levine has joined forces with numerous artists such as pop singer, Natasha Bedingfield, on her sophomore album and rapper Kanye West on “Heard ‘Em Say.”

Just as they influence other genres, the Maroon 5 trademark mixes tastes from across the music spectrum. So it was no surprise the band collaborated with award winning trio, Lady Antebellum, for “Out of Goodbyes,”  a beautiful song combining country music star power with Maroon 5’s signature sound.

“Misery” is already topping Billboard’s Pop and Adult Songs charts, and just as Songs About Jane and It Won’t Be Soon Before Long topped albums’ charts, Hands All Over will certainly do the same.

You can purchase the new album (including all their past songs and albums), at Amazon below. (Note from Editor-in-Chief Kristen Aldridge:  The remix album is insane!! I was recently on a major road trip, and this CD rocked.  Every single song will make you want to sing at the top of your lungs and dance like no one’s watching.  Check it out below!)

Be sure to check back soon to get more of the latest music news from Erica Renee Davis right here at Positively Celebrity!

Mostly leg with a side of sass, Southern beauty Brenda Arens could have easily taken home the contract as America’s Next Top Model’s Season 14 winner. But as faithful ANTM watchers know, the red-headed stunner was eliminated mid-way, leaving viewers longing for her all-about-business-with-an-edgy- twist attitude.

Fortunately, this Houston based, rising supermodel has been incredibly busy. She’s strutting her stuff for the Simon Malls National Tour and will be ripping the runway at Houston’s first ever Fashion Week.

One word:  FIERCE

And fierceness is exactly what it takes to survive living in the famed ANTM digs where 13 abnormally gorgeous, viciously competitive, aspiring supermodels are fighting like cats and more cats to make their ultimate dream a reality.  Brenda, though, has lots of brains to go with that beauty and has the best advice to help anyone survive the craziness of the ANTM and high fashion modeling worlds.

Her key pieces of advice?  Avoid gremlin sized roaches, kill competition with sarcasm, and pretend everything is great when actually you’re sitting in the middle seat on a one way bus ride to model hell.

I loathe roaches. Please tell me there were NOT roaches in your rooms when you were living with the other girls on America’s Next Top Model.

Oh my gosh. There were roaches…at least there was one really HUGE one that the girls named Bubba. I don’t think that it’s okay to sit in your bed while you eat a muffin -especially when you have bunk beds. When you have bunk beds, and you’re on the top, your food is dropping below. Ugh! And then we all had these pullout drawers, and several girls would hide food there, too.  Bubba was a result of the girls’ nasty personal habits.

And some girls had some nasty shaving habits, too. I wasn’t interested in identifying if the stray hairs in the shower were hairs from the girls’ heads or from some other body part, but yeah. You HAVE to keep your living quarters clean when you’re sharing space with other models.

High fashion modeling is ultra competitive and has such high stakes. The mind games must be out of control.

Yeah, they were. The girls used my insecurity about getting my hair chopped off to antagonize me. Going into the competition, I knew my hair would be a big issue, and the girls knew I was sensitive about it, so they called me horrible names. It was kind of like elementary school. If it wasn’t the hair they used against me, it was my appearing (and reappearing) in the bottom at elimination. Once, someone asked me, “how did it feel to get called last?”  I learned you can’t let them win. Gotta get past it and not dwell.

You don’t seem like anyone’s door mat, so there had to have been a time where you unleashed your inner Naomi on them.

Well, I wasn’t perfect, but I really didn’t start that much drama.  Being in that house was crazy, so I had to pick a smart method to overcome the madness. I did get to my breaking point once with Angelea , and I told her that I felt sorry for her as a person. Other than that, my strategy was to kill them with kindness and use lots of sarcasm. In situations where you’re dealing with a lot of conflicting personalities, your only choices are to either break down and cry or be extra cheesy and sarcastic. My choice: extra sarcasm.

In other words, in the Survival of the Model Fittest guide book, you would say you have no friends in your world.

Yes. You can have friends. Perfect example is that Jess and I are still really good friends, and I have spent time with her since we wrapped.  Although I thought Anslee and I were friends, it wasn’t until after the show aired that I saw how she was always talking smack behind my back and had negative things to say about me! You just have to be aware, but it is possible to have life-long friends from our experiences.

Your modeling experiences have afforded you the opportunity to travel the world and live with women from other countries. In what ways are your foreign counterparts better or worse to get along with?

Foreign models are worse! For example, I was modeling in Milan. All my model roommates were Russian women – absolutely stunning, gorgeous women – who booked more than me.  But they think that we Americans have everything handed to us on a silver platter. I’m not saying that all Russians hate Americans, but I am saying that I heard them say everything from “Americans are lazy” to hearing them criticize our politics. The language barrier doesn’t help either!!!

So you mean to tell me you’re not living with 12 other models right now because you miss it that much!?!

Uhhhh…no. Thankfully, I live with my fiance’!

Model words of wisdom?

Always be on time, no excuses! Always have your shoe bag basics, and commit to having a successful modeling career where no matter how crazy it gets, you stay true to yourself and become a better person because of it!

You can connect with the beautiful Brenda at her Facebook Fan Page or through her official website.

Emmy Rossum was spotted running errands in Beverly Hills this week wearing Marc Allison “Z Skinny” jeans in Resin wash.

Looking chic and preppy for fall, the Shameless actress paired the zipper-embellished dark denim with a tank, tan heels and a plaid coat and accessorized with Vita Fede’s leather and 24K gold plated “Capri 5 Wrap” bracelet.

These Marc Allison skinnies are made of ultra comfortable Supima cotton using four way stretch technology for a sleek silhouette.

www.marcallisonjeans.com

www.vitafede.com

Playing the titular character on Showtime’s hit show Dexter, Michael C. Hall has battled a host of foes, from the Trinity Killer, to psychopathic Miami District Attorney Miguel Prado (played by Jimmy Smits), to his very own brother. Unbeknown to many, off the camera Hall has quietly battled another type of foe: cancer.

Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2009 prior to the shooting of Season 4 of Dexter, Hall found himself receiving an aggressive chemotherapy regimen which sapped his strength and caused for him to temporarily lose his hair. Hall hoped to keep his disease out of the news, but with awards season calling for public appearances, the actor released a short statement to the press in January revealing what he had been going through.

Roughly 8500 new cases of Hodgkins Lymphoma were diagnosed in 2009 and over 1,500 patients succumbed to the disease that year, and with his father having passed from prostate cancer at the young age of 39, Hall is no stranger to how a battle with cancer can shorten one’s life.

Jennifer Carpenter, who plays Dexter’s half-sister Deb on the show and is Hall’s real life wife, said the actor has been “incredibly brave” through the entire ordeal, and as of April was “fully recovered,” with his cancer being in complete remission.

All of us here at Positively Celebrity are happy to hear that Hall is healthy once again, and can’t wait to see what’s next in store for America’s favorite serial killer!

The fifth season of Dexter premieres tonight at 9pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

This sounds all too familiar…Lindsay Lohan is back in jail! The starlet appeared in court this morning after failing drug tests for cocaine and amphetamines. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elden Fox revoked Lindsay’s probation, immediately sending the actress back to her old stomping grounds, the Century Regional Correctional Facility, in Lynwood California. She was booked at 10:00 on Friday morning.

Lindsay is expected to remain behind bars until October 22 WITHOUT bail! The only way she could be released before her next hearing is if the judge issues another order.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff spokesman, Steve Whitmore, because of her celebrity status, Lilo will once again be placed in isolation for the safety of herself and the other inmates.

For years, we’ve been told to slather on the sunscreen to prevent cancer and aging..but now there are reports that certain chemicals common in sunscreen may actually be CAUSING cancer!

Researchers at Environmental Working Group say that only 39 of the 500 most popular sunscreens they tested were considered safe and effective to use!

The most disturbing info from their report was that almost half of the 500 products tested contain vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate, which actually speed up the cancer that sunscreen is used to prevent when exposed to sunlight. Yikes!

The sunscreen industry uses Vitamin A in its products because it’s an anti-oxidant and slows skin aging (Great, everything I buy is for anti-aging and sun protection!)

So, now sunlight PREVENTS cancer?? Recent studies say that humans need sunlight to produce Vitamin D – which actually helps to PREVENT cancer!  These studies have linked vitamin D to decreased risk of colorectal, breast, prostate, ovarian, bladder, lung and skin cancers.

In fact, many doctors actually recommend spending 15-30 minutes a day in the sunlight sans sunscreen to get adequate Vitamin D for cancer prevention! Wow! I’m so confused.

With all the conflicting info, what are we to do? Well, I wouldn’t hit the beach unprotected  just yet! These are just a couple reports, and there will always be others that say the opposite.  But for starters, if you use sunscreen check the label.  Avoid products that contain vitamin A and its derivatives like retinyl palmitate as well as oxybenzone.

Wear a hat or stay in the shade to protect your face from the rays, and maybe allow your arms and legs to get some sun for Vitamin D.  I guess, as with everything else in life, anything is OK in moderation.

Visit the Environmental Working Group website for more info and their list of best sunscreens to use at  http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

Peace, Love and Sexiness

Angie O

Be sure to check back often at www.PositivelyCelebrity.com for all my beauty and health advice!

Less than a month after leaving rehab, Lindsay Lohan has already fallen off the wagon. Last week, the 24-year-old starlet failed not one, but TWO court mandated drug tests: one for cocaine, and one for amphetamines.

Los Angeles County court spokesman, Alan Parachini, confirmed to E! News, “There is a report of a violation”.  As of now, Lilo’s probation has been revoked and a bench warrant has been issued for her arrest.

At least this time, Lilo is fessing up to her mistakes. The actress admitted to her dilemma on Twitter, writing, “Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if I am asked, I am prepared to appear before judge Fox next week as a result…Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn’t go away over night. I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps forward every day. I am testing every single day and doing what I must do to prevent any mishaps in the future. This was certainly a setback for me but I am taking responsibility for my actions and I’m prepared to face the consequences.”

Well this is a side of Lindsay we’ve never seen! Lilo also thanked her family and fans for their support, adding that she remains hopeful and faithful.

According to Lindsay’s probation terms set last month, she could face 30 days in jail for any positive drug test. Lindsay is scheduled to appear in court (yet again) at 8:30 Friday morning.

Speaking of court…Paris Hilton may be able to give Lilo a few pointers, considering she just plead guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession charge and obstructing an officer, stemming from her August 27 cocaine bust in Las Vegas.

On Monday, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace, Joe Bonaventure, sentenced Paris to one year of informal probation – which means she won’t have a probation officer to check in with. She is also expected to complete an intensive outpatient controlled substance abuse program, serve 200 hours of community service, and pay a $2000 fine.

Though Paris escaped a felony charge, Judge Bonaventure assured her that she is not in the clear, saying, “Ms. Hilton, you’re ordered to stay out of trouble. Any new arrests terminate your criminal probation and you will serve a one year sentence. The purpose of this is to change your conduct. I’m going to warn you, Ms. Hilton. You’ve now been sentenced to one-year in the Clark County Detention Center. The Clark County Detention Center is not the Waldorf Astoria. Take this seriously, Ms. Hilton.”

Any new misconduct – other than minor traffic citations – will result in automatic jail time for the starlet. Paris’ next hearing is set for September 20, 2011.

Be sure to check back for more of the latest entertainment news from Jessica King right here at Positively Celebrity.

Is it time to clean out your closet and start all over again? Well I have some great news for you.

Shop Excess Baggage is having amazing sales right now, and on top of that FREE shipping for all orders over $100!

I took advantage of this and I think you should too… Not only do they have some great end of summer transition pieces, but you can also find incredible new Fall fashions at great prices.

Get a sneak-peak at www.shopexcessbaggage.com Sale items are up to 75% off include D6 clothing, Michael Stars, Rebecca Taylor, Custo Barcelona, Johnny Was and Love & Liberty:

New fall styles are arriving daily so keep checking back at their website.   Before you know it, your closet will be back to normal and filled to the max with Falls hottest trends!

As the girls at Excess Baggage say, “Celebrities have it, you want it and we’ve got it!”

www.shopexcessbaggage.com

Holiday season is right around the corner, but don’t let it sneak up on you with nothing to wear! This season’s must-have holiday wardrobe is a long-sleeved sequin mini-dress. The sequin mini was hot last Fall, and this season it’s even hotter.

Fall fashions are arriving daily into most stores (I know…we wish Summer would stay a bit longer), so believe it or not — it’s time to get ahead of the trend and keep an eye out for that perfect holiday dress.  If you’re anything like me, you tend to not want to wear the same thing twice…but this dress is so versatile and fun, you’ll want to wear it as much as you can!

Look at how gorgeous Zoe Saldana and Heidi Klum look in their mini-sparklers!

There are so many reasons to love the sequin mini this holiday season!

Sexy and chic…

Effortless like Jennifer Aniston…

Bold and simply…

Perfect!

Fitted or loose, show off those great gams like Jessica Alba!

And if you opt for a loose fit you can eat as much dessert as you want (which around the Holidays, is definitely a good idea!)  If the sequins are too bold for you, then simply forget the sequins and go for a effortless long-sleeved mini like Kate Moss and Emmanuelle Chriqui:

Chloe Sevigny and Alexis Bledel know how to rock the look, too!

Thanks to these fabulous celebrities, I am now officially obsessed with the long-sleeved sequined mini dress. Happy Shopping, ladies!

Before this year, the only Bruno most of us knew was the one made infamous by ridiculously outlandish comedian, Sasha Baron Cohen.  And for me, hearing the word “Mars” provoked visions of throwback Mars candy bars (do they sell those anymore?) or maybe even the planet Mars.

Not until the success of B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ On You” and Travis McCoy’s “Billionaire” did the music world recognize that,  those two words – usually unrelated - possess more meaning as Peter Hernandez’s stage name than we could have ever fathomed. Singer. Songwriter. Genius. Bruno Mars.

Hawaiian born and of Filipino and Puerto Rican descent, many want to characterize Mars’s story as being yet another overnight, Hollywood success. But for years, Mars has written songs for artists like Maroon 5 front man, Adam Levine, and was part of the writing team responsible for Flo Rida’s international smash, “Right Round.”  He has earned accolades behind the scenes that supersede any effort designed to depict him as the new kid on the block.

As a producer and writer, Bruno Mars has pedaled around that block more than a couple times.  However, I will concede in saying that, by lending his vocals to two of 2010’s biggest R&B hits, Mr. Mars has become the new voice on the radio.

In a recent interview with Soul Culture Media, Mars leaves the impression that much of his fame can be attributed to his relentless work ethic and patience.

Catapulting Mars even further into celebrity is the fact that categorizing his music into one genre is virtually impossible. He has worked with Sean Kingston whose music style is a sort of hip hop infused reggae. Far East Movement also appears on the roster of artists with whom Mars has worked, and their style can best be described as Electro. Bruno Mars’s own song, “Other Side,” boasts background vocals slightly reminiscent of KD Lang’s “Constant Cravings,” and is very alternative/rock.

And his recent single, “Just The Way You Are,” has that early 2000s, Justin Timberlake, pop song feel.

Whatever tickles your music fancy, Bruno Mars has the song to satisfy.

From singing hooks to singing his own hits, Bruno has given music junkies a little taste of what to anticipate from Doo-Wops and Hooligans, his debut solo album scheduled for an October 5th release.

Already, he has set his bar incredibly high, so with his forthcoming album, Mars better be prepared to knock this one into outer space.

If you haven’t gotten a Bruno Mars taste for your ears, check out the player below to listen and download. And be sure to check back for the latest music news from Erica Renee Davis right here on Positively Celebrity.