WHITNEY HOUSTON DEAD AT 48

The world lost another incredible talent on Saturday February 11th, 2012.   Singer Whitney Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.   The cause of death was not immediately known.   Her very public battle with drugs addiction was at the center of her life for more than a decade.   Having sold over 200 million records, Houston was a talent that will not soon be matched.   

I only saw Whitney in person once, about 8 years ago in Miami.  It was early on a weekday morning and I was heading to a business meeting.  I grabbed a quick coffee  in my hotel lobby and to my surprise,  I looked over to see Whitney sitting 3 stools away.   There was a presentation of some moderate fashion collection in the hotel that morning.  Whitney was sitting at the cafe counter, presumably waiting for someone.   Needless to say, she didn't look her best.   While she was beautiful, wearing white pants and a colorful top, with a matching pink sun visor - there was an agitated way about her.   She was digging in her handbag unlike you would expect a multi-platinum Grammy winner to look for something.   As I finished my coffee, I noticed that hotel management just recognizing her and starting to give her the royal welcome.   They were also obviously concerned with her demeanor and were giving her a really calm and sweet welcome.  I remember thinking how sad it was and how troubled she looked.

I want to remember the best of her work and the happiest times of her career.   I'm going to listen to her greatest hits right now.   Nobody did R&B dance music like Whitney!!  Watch one of my favorite Whitney videos below.

Deepest and most heart felt condolences to her family.

MADONNA'S SUPERBOWL OF MUSIC!

Madonna has begun to unleash the full court press attack of her album release.  While it is her usual game plan, it is one we rarely witness these days in the world of the 24 hour news cycle.   While many performers register just a blip on the media radar when releasing a new album, Madonna finds a way to become part of the conversation MADONNA DANCES WITH CUPID AT THE SUPERBOWL PH:AP/CHARLIE RIEDELat dining room tables, in college dorms, in the clubs, and of course - in the world of social media.   MDNA is the title of her upcoming album, and you can pre-order it now on iTunes ( you know you want to!).   With a breathtaking Superbowl Halftime show under her belt, M released the dates to her upcoming World tour in the support of the album.   No one puts on a show like Madonna.

Nothing is left to chance with Madonna and she stacks projects that blanket all genres - film, music, sports, television - have I forgotten anything?   With her Superbowl performance announced weeks prior -of course the theme of her first single from MDNA - Give Me All Your Luvin was football themed!  Never one to miss an opportunity to connect with the hottest performers of the moment, M invites Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. to join the team on the single.   This energetic pop "ode to love" has a 60's Laugh-In vibe crossed with an 80's Toni Basil cheer!    Think Blondie meets Gwen in pure Madonna style.. and you have GMAYL!

Watch the video below and then watch Cleopatra arrive at the superbowl!

MADONNA'S MASTERPIECE

GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER - MADONNAMadonna has done it again.   Winning a Golden Globe for original song Masterpiece from her forthcoming film W.E., Madonna has proved to the world once again that she is the queen of pop - and continues to create powerful music year after year.   With her upcoming performance at this years Super Bowl, Madonna is still able to surprise even her biggest fans around the world.  Certain to be on her latest album M.D.N.A. out this Spring, a Golden Globe is certainly a great way to launch an album!  Listen to the song below.

THE LAST ALBUM OF AMY WINEHOUSE

CLICK COVER TO LISTENThe talented creature called Amy Winehouse died too young, too soon, and tragically alone earlier this year.   With a public battle with drugs and alcohol that alienated the singer and her fans and everyone in her personal life.   Winehouse had the world on a string, but unfortunately she was chained to an addiction that clearly tortured her, often in public. 

It is a sad irony that Amy died just when she was getting her life back in order, and one final dance with the devil killed her.   Her family has packaged an album of previously unreleased material- Lioness:Hidden Treasures. THE LATE GREAT AMY WINEHOUSE

I'm conflicted enjoying this album thinking that her family is reaping the benefits -as many said they enabled Amy's problems due to the intoxicating fame and fortune that was raining down on them.   Still, Winehouse was an amazing talent, and her work is irresistible.   A haunting cover of Our Day Will Come and A Song For You is hard to not read into now that Amy is gone.    Her version of The Girl From Ipanema is playful and sultry - Amy's specialty. 

Buy the album today, it will be one of the best you hear for a long time. 

click images to listen now. 

WHO'S THAT CHICK? GUETTA / RIHANNA

In case you didn't know - that chick is Rihanna!   This super-pop-star  releases hit after hit.   One remix you cannot miss is the single -Who's That Chick?  Rihanna teams up with one of the most famous DJs in the world - David Guetta.   Click ADRENALINE to listen to this infectious tune.  In no time, you'll be saying the same thing Rihanna sings -"I just want to dance", you won't be able to sit still!

Watch the video below:

POP GOES FERRAGAMO

When something happens once, they call it a fluke.   Twice is a coincidence, but three times is bona fide!  So, what do they say after four times?  A phenomenon?  Well I'm not sure of the technical term, but this is the year that POP music went FERRAGAMO!  Never before have so many leading ladies of song worn Ferragamo.   Just as the biggest names in Hollywood wore Salvatore Ferragamo's creations in the 20's, 30's, and 40's - the biggest names in Pop Music are wearing Massimiliano Giornetti's latest vision of this global luxury brand in 2011!   Lady Gaga, Madonna, Katy Perry, and Beyonce.   That list reads like the Grammy nominations, but in fact, all wore Ferragamo in the last six months!  Whether the ladies were going for sophisticated, sexy, or outright Diva - all were seduced by the style and sparkle of the glow surrounding Ferragamo this year.

Beyonce is the latest global superstar to make Ferragamo RTW a cover story.  The November issue of Harper's Bazaar comes to life with Beyonce in motion in a Ferragamo metallic fringe jacket from the Resort 2012 collection.   The glamorous show staged at the Duke Mansion in NYC made a big impression on the Fashion and Entertainment world - this cover proves it.  Beyonce on Harper's Bazaar is proof positive that Massimiliano's vision of Ferragamo RTW is 5-star luxury!   Women and men love Beyonce, for her talent, her beauty, and her incredible style.   This is one woman on the top of the world.  Recently announcing she is expecting, Beyonce has welcomed a new album this year - and next year, a baby!  

MADONNA IN FERRAGAMO - VENICE FILM FESTIVALMadonna wore Ferragamo to her press conference at the Venice Film Festival in SeptemberMADONNA - LOVE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE showcasing her latest baby.   Madonna was presenting her latest film venture, behind the camera.   Her latest directorial effort is -W.E.,  a fictionalization of King Edward and Wallis Simpson's sordid affair.  Considering the reception the film has received, Madonna might be listening to her ballad "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - always one of my favorite Madonna tunes.

Lady Gaga went gaga for the Ferragamo Fall Winter 2011 collection during her appearance on The View earlier this Spring.   Gaga took the houndstooth trend to the extreme and wore head to toe Ferragamo - and even had her piano covered in the same fabric!  I think that means she liked it!! LADY GAGA IN HEAD-TO-PIANO FERRAGAMO Gaga performed songs from her new album - Born This Way.

Last but certainly not least, Katy Perry steamed up the pages of In-Style Magazine in October wearing the two hottest trends from Ferragamo this Fall - Houndstooth and Glenn Plaid are all over the runways this season in Italy and France, and are sure to be seen even wider next Spring. 

Perry is also having a year to remember.   Her Teenage Dream album helped the singer break records, becoming the first ever to have five #1 songs on Billboard Pop Chart.    TGIF is the latest hit single, and the one to break the record!

The Ferragamo RTW collection is on fire this year, but of course the house made it's name over 80 years ago with avant-garde shoe design that literally created the world of designer shoes.   Salvatore Ferragamo was light years ahead ofKATY PERRY IN FERRAGAMO - IN-STYLE OCTOBER 11 his time.   Many of his original designs from the 30's are still put in production in limited editions today.   Labeled as Ferragamo Creations Collection, those limited shoes celebrate Salvatore's relationship with the leading ladies of Hollywood. FERRAGAMO UNICA - LIMITED EDITION - $1,250.00 Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Carmen Miranda, Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, & many many more legendary actresses wore and continue to wear Ferragamo.  One great example is the  layered sole Unica.   This style was originally designed in 1939 and still looks futuristic today.  BLK/ GRAY BALLERINA FLAT - $450.00 It is also so wearable and relevant with the hottest fashion from runways this season.

Today the Ferragamo collections contain hundreds of styles that range from sedate to sexy,  and every look in-between.   One great classic style that has been reborn is the Varina.  This ballet flat is one of the hottest styles in the boutiques, and it's one of those shoes that hot with women from 18 to 80.  That's when you know a brand is major!

If you haven't been to a Ferragamo Boutique in a season or two, visit Ferragamo.com now to see what you've been missing.   

MOVES LIKE JAGGER

You may never have lips like Jagger (not many do!), but Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is giving you Moves Like Jagger!  The addictive dance tune was one of the songs of the Summer on the French Riviera this year. ADAM LEVINE OF MAROON 5 - CLICK TO LISTEN One listen and you know why.   The allure of Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones is legendary, and so are his moves on stage and off.   Levine's co-host on THE VOICE, pop diva Christina Aguilera lends her world famous voice to background vocals on the tune.   Add it to your work out playlist and I guarantee you will MICK JAGGER'S INFAMOUS LIPS have the moves to finish that spin class!

Oh, one girl who does have lips like Jagger is his soon-to-beGEORGIA JAGGER -VANITY FAIR - PH: NORMA JEAN ROY - CLICK TO VISIT super-model daughter Georgia Jagger.   When dad is a rolling stone, and mom is one of the worlds first super-models - Jerry Hall - genes are on your side!

Click below to watch the video of dancing graphics and lyrics.  Don't laugh, 32 million people have so far!