Delani Majola: February 2012

The year 2012 is yet another where digital downloads sales will continue to verse CD sales. While some will remain consistent to their loyal fans, others might have to pull up their socks and basically move with the times. Either way, this year promises to deliver on some really pleasurable releases from our favourite and top artists. Save your money because these are hot.

My favourite has to be the release of 11 year old Willow Smith’s debut album. This will be Willow’s first album after the success of her singles Whip My Hair and 21st Century Girl. Fireball is the single off her first album and this collab with Young Money diva, Nicki Minaj, is on fire. This young dynamite is definitely a ball of talent and in Fireball her strong star power, attitude and catchy lyrics are all on point with the beats. Maybe I'm slowly becoming a fan because April 3 I am on the lookout for the album Willow: You Think You Know Me.
Nicki Minaj is celebrating Valentines Day by releasing her album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. You’d love to know that this isn’t a rerelease but an album loaded with all new tracks.
Mariah Carey is scheduled to return to her former stable SONY Music after leaving them in 2000. Since this is where Mariah made some of her greatest hits I reckon its good news overall.
Girl group Girls Aloud are also making a musical comeback this year with a tour and album dropping only in December though.
My favourite artist of all time, Brandy is releasing a yet-to-be-titled album. I guess a fresh start is what the Grammy award winning R&B singer will get after joining RCA/Chameleon Records.
Still on Brandy, 14 years ago she and fellow R&B singer pooled forces and brought us the duet The Boy Is Mine. The two have done it again recording a new duet titled Turn The Lights On. Like Brandy, Monica too is releasing a new album titled New Life this year.
Madonna comes back with her 12th album M.D.N.A. set for release before end of March after parting ways with Warner Bros. and joining Interscope. Can’t wait.
Multitalented Chris Brown is also releasing brand new material in March titled Fortune.
Trespassing is the title of Adam Lambert’s album due out in March with Outlaws and Better Than I Know Myself already out. A rep from the label also spoke of Christina Aguilera, Pink and Kris Allen set to release.
Don’t wait for long to hear Leona Lewis’ voice as she too is bound to wow our ears.
Country singer Taylor Swift is also releasing this year with one album she promises to be a bit more mature. The You Belong With Me singer also plans on breaking onto acting.
If you feel you’ve waited too long to hear from Nelly Furtado, wait no longer. Her English album titled T.S.I is due for release this year.
We R Who We R singer, Ke$ha is also delivering up on new material this year.

So there you have it all, save money because our artists are working hard to entertain.

PSS - stop piracy

My biggest highlight of 2011 in celebville is how our country opened its doors to so many international big acts. This year alone, coupled with previous years strongly shows that South Africa lacks for nothing in accommodating huge stars. Of course what would we be without crime though? What about corruption? Anyway let me not be the bitter one but raise your attention on what made my year worth reviewing. Yes my name appears a lot because its my list and I’m my own boss.
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In case you don’t watch the news let me fix you with some scandal, corruption, weddings and the occasional abuse...
*Debated appointment of Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of the country: Mogoeng Mogoeng
*Rupture/Harold Camping’s The End Is Near Prophecy – if you can read this than you aren’t dead!!!
*Remember the Twitter lies that Madiba was dead?
*WWE athletes’ bags got robbed immediately after landing in SA, who dares stealing for abo Big Show mara?
*Racial slurs - Kuli Roberts and Jimmy Manyi...you remember that?
*Just Jinjer lead singer Ard Matthews stumbles over the SA national anthem on Supersport
*The South African Music Awards move venue...Remember the 2 split stages and 1faulty mic?
*The Showbiz Report host and producer Nicky Greenwall welcomed her 1st child with boyfriend Robin Fryer (In the entertainment industry I look up to her)
*Unathi replaced Mara Louw on Idols SA, a 2nd baby and a new album
*Also on babies, Melani and Zwai Bala also welcomed their second child to the world
*Sadly the other Bala brother, Loyiso Bala is officially off the market having tied knot earlier in October
*Mshoza becomes relevant!!!
*30 year old Nonhle Goes gaga, no I mean Goes To Hollywood
*The sudden mushrooming of reality TV shows
*Shame, Kelly Khumalo cries abuse from Jub Jub. Beaten, battered and abused she later went back to
*Is our generation on Generations over? After 16 years, Connie Ferguson left the soapie followed by fellow leading cast Sonia Sedibe, Seputla Sebogodi, Dumisani Mbebe, Kagiso Rakosa and Thabiso Mokhethi, drama
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They worked throughout the calendar, socially relevant people of 2011
*Kwesta, Soulcandi project Micasa, Zahara, AKA, hip hop group Kold Produk, Zakes Bantwini and Zonke
Media and television:
*Terry Pheto joining the Bold and the Beautiful
*Hlelo and Ntando Masina aka The Twinz
*Benoni born Charlene Wittstock’s wedding to Prince Albert II of Monaco
*Boitumelo Thulo
*Francios Nel (MR Gay SA) wins Mr Gay World
*Gert Johan Coetzee – even though his gift dress was auctioned on eBAY by the Kardashians
*Delani Majola...
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Publications
*Rolling Stone magazine
*Forbes magazine
*Playboy magazine (not really new but returning after 16 year absence. Maybe next up will be Ymag)
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If you think you saw any of these stars, you probably did – Hollywood kisses Mzansi
*U2’s breathtaking 360 Tour
*The Bold and the Beautiful stars Brandon Beemer, Jacqueline Innes Wood and Jack Wagner
*Trey Songs (Who knows about 6 Trey Songs songs? I know 1)
*Busta Rhymes (Big Brother Africa)
*Brandy, Vivica A Fox and Sugar Ray Leonard (Must say it was my 1st time watching the SA Sports Awards)
*Kimora Lee Simmons (Mandela’s birthday celebrations, on the 3rd is mine adopt me Kimora)
*Deadmau5 (Say Deadmouse, good)
*Lil Wayne + Drake
*Janet Jackson (Upclose and Personal Tour)
*Remember the ZARFEST?
*Joe, Babyface, David Guetta, Akon
*Delani Majola

There we go, 2011 on lockdown. I almost deprived you of the years’ recap of the good, the bad and the just so mediocre. Please don’t hate me blame old age. Speaking of age, January 3 is my birthday, three cheers to me.
PS. You don’t need the year end to wake up and make a difference. Procrastination. Every year should be your year, everyday is the best day of your life