Neon LimeLinks: Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Lady GaGa, Adam Lambert, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Cher, American Idol

Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber - Wireimage

• Are Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift really the voice of this generation?: Bark + Bite Blog
• Lady GaGa says “Telephone” video beats “Bad Romance”: Rap-Up
• Adam Lambert would like some OTT fans to cool it a bit: MJ’s Big Blog
• Rihanna is the little drummer girl in “Rude Boy” video: RihannaNow.com
• Christina Aguilera and Cher talk “Burlesque”: We Are Pop Slags
• Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol? Um, yuck!: Gossip On This

Bow Down To: “Pass Out” By Chris Brown

Singer Eva Simmons poses with Chris Brown - facebook.com/evasimonsmusic

There’s a lot of talk about who currently wears the crown when it comes to male R&B/pop singers. Some, like my good friends at Bark + Bite Blog, feel Usher still owns it, but it’s slipping off of his head fast and will likely land in the lap of 25-year-old crooner-of-the-moment Trey Songz.

I’ll agree that with a diamond-certified album, the most No. 1’s of any artist in the 2000’s, and multiple Grammys, Usher is still sitting pretty with that crown on his head, but if it will be relinquished to anyone, my money is still on Chris Brown.

Sure, and I hate to admit it, sales by any other name would place Breezy’s third album, Graffiti, under the F for flop category. Released on December 8, 2009, the set still hasn’t managed to crack 300k copies sold in the United States, but I’m not counting him out. The album still has some serious power-players just waiting to be released. Case in point: “Pass Out.”

Built on the pulsating base of Eric Prydz’s “Call On Me,” Breezy and Dutch electro-pop newcomer Eva Simons craft a sizzling dancefloor number that rivals another perfect pop opus by Brown, “Forever.”

The sexy, care-free interaction between boy and girl at the club is hard to deny. Even reviewers who ripped Graffiti to shreds pointed out how great “Pass Out” is.

Some will argue that more time since “the incident” needs to pass before audiences can appreciate a light-hearted song like “Pass Out” from Brown. I’d like to point those people to the massive resurgence of success “Forever” experienced while CB was still in the eye of the storm.

So, yes. Breezy is down, but not out. It’ll take just one hot song to put him back on track, and “Pass Out” could be exactly what he needs. Sorry, Trey. “Say Aah” is cool, but we’re bowing down to “Pass Out.”

Chris Brown featuring Eva Simons – Pass Out

Exclusive: R&B/Pop Star Jaicko Serves Up Acoustic Valentine’s Day ‘Two Piece’ Performance

There is less than one week until Valentine’s Day (February 14) and you might be left wondering what to get your sweetie. Will they want flowers, chocolates, or jewelry? They may not want any of those things. When all else fails, you just may want to take a page out of the Jaicko handbook and treat them to some music!

The Barbados-born R&B/Pop star recently sat down for an acoustic session where he performed songs from his debut album, Can I. With guitarist Akil Dasan by his side, he performed a stripped back version of his song Two Piece, brought to you exclusively by Neon Limelight.

With lyrics about keeping things in a relationship simple and completing each other, it makes the perfect song for a holiday focused on love!

Behind The Scenes: Rihanna Uses Colors, Zebras In “Rude Boy” Video Shoot

Rihanna shoots "Rude Boy" music video - Def Jam

Rihanna promises her video for “Rude Boy,” the latest from her stellar fourth album, Rated R, will be different from any other video she’s shot, and from the looks of some newly released photos from the set, she’s right.

“A lot of my videos are really dark and edgy and tough,” she told Carson Daly in an interview late last month. “‘Rude Boy’ is more playing along the lines from my roots. We used a lot of color, but also the costumes were very Jamaican dance-hall queen type.” Indeed!

The pop goddess wears a skin-tight black and white bodysuit as she rides the hottest fake zebra with balloons attached to its head. In another scene, she rocks a colorful cap with a blue strapless top, while in another she gives fans a little blast from the past, donning a long brown wig. She does all of this in front of a green screen, allowing for some incredible scenery to be added later.

Drool over the pics now, and get ready for when the “Rude Boy” video premieres Thursday, February 11.

Video: Jay-Z Helps New Orleans Saints And Indianapolis Colts Kick Off Super Bowl XLIV

Rap superstar Jay-Z helped kick off Super Bowl XLIV by asking the question everyone wanted to know the answer to: Who’s gonna run this town tonight?

Well, clearly the New Orleans Saints run this town, scoring their first Super Bowl win in their first ever trip against the Indianapolis Colts, but before the game got underway Jay set the mood with his Grammy-winning song, “Run This Town,” with a little assistance by Rihanna (not featured in the video) and ES Posthumus.

Decked out in a black suit and dark sunglasses, Jay rapped his verses as amazing moments from this past football season flashed across the screen. He ends by striking a pose and holding up the coveted Super Bowl trophy.

Video: Beyonce Teams With VIZIO For Super Bowl Commercial

Want to get one of the most passionate groups of fans watching the Super Bowl? Enlist Grammy record-breaker Beyonce to be in your commercial running during football’s biggest game.

The Mighty B helps VIZIO, one of the leading makers of flat panel plasma and LCD high definition TVs, grab some eyeballs with their Super Bowl commercial which features Bey singing her hit song “Sweet Dreams” in a spicy red dress. Other stars in the ad includes the Twitter bird, and YouTube superstars Chocolate Rain, Numa Numa, and David After the Dentist.

Video: Carrie Underwood Performs National Anthem At Super Bowl XLIV

Football fans are gathering around their televisions for the biggest game of the season: Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints VS. Indianapolis Colts. But before the big game got underway, music fans got the chance to see country/pop singer Carrie Underwood open with the National Anthem.

As the large crowd in Miami, Florida looked on, Carrie performed a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, only hitting one bad note towards the end. Rough ending aside, she performed live and looked amazing. A rough Carrie Underwood performance still beats more than half of what you’ll see in the music industry.

Photos: Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Ludacris Backstage At BET’s SOS: Help For Haiti Telethon

BET’s S.O.S. Saving Ourselves: Help For Haiti benefit concert and telethon was a star-studded event held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Hosted by Diddy and Queen Latifah, the event brought out artists like Chris Brown, who made an amazing return to the stage in his first televised performance in over a year, plus Justin Bieber and Ludacris, who performed their new hit “Baby” for the first time together.

The performers, presenters, and other stars just there to lend their support by answering phones were snapped backstage mingling and doing their part to help Haiti.

LL Cool J, Common and Queen Latifah, Pitbull and Gloria Estefan, Keri Hilson

Usher Reveals “Raymond V. Raymond” Album Cover Artwork

Usher - Raymond V. Raymond (click to enlarge)

R&B star, Usher, is ready to reclaim his throne when he releases his new album, Raymond V. Raymond.

The album, his first since 2008’s Here I Stand, got off to a pretty rough start. The original first single, the revealing Papers, drove some initial buzz but failed to live up to Usher’s past singles. Numerous release date changes followed as music from the set began leaking to the internet.

With a solid new single selected, Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home), and its official video making the rounds, Usher’s team felt confident enough to move ahead and release the album’s official cover artwork. It was unveiled yesterday (February 5) on his website, Usher Now.

Raymond V. Raymond is slated for release on March 30th via LaFace Records.

Out & About: Rihanna And Jennifer Lopez Meet For Lunch In Miami

There was a meeting of the divas today (February 5) in Miami, when Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez met for lunch with their friends at the Fontainebleau Hotel.

The two are currently in the sunny city for the Super Bowl weekend festivities. Rihanna performed last night for VH1’s Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam and is hosting a private party tonight, also sponsored by Pepsi.

photos: bauer-griffin