It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the video for “The Sweetest Love,” Robin Thicke’s second single from his new album Something Else, is finally on the way. Check out some behind the scenes footage as he shoots the video that will feature model Jessica White as the leading lady.

Did you log in this weekend to your YouTube account to find in your latest updated subscriptions from Miley and Mandy a video that read “R.I.P. Miley Cyrus“? Did you automatically clutch your heart and start to hyperventilate? Did you gain your composure long enough to go to the Associated Press and find that there were no stories to support the video’s claim that “Miley died after being hit by a drunk driver”? Did you shout for joy in relief when Miley’s bud Mandy revealed their account had been hacked and Miles was just fine? Then your weekend was just like mine!

To prove those dang hackers even more wrong, the very alive Miley Cyrus attended the premiere of Disney’s latest animated movie Bolt where she does a little voice over work with John Travolta. Alive looks good on you, Miles! Keep it up!

23-year-old Barbados-born Shontelle has the unforunate disadvantage of being constantly compared to another Bajan beauty: Rihanna. It doesn’t help her cause being on related record labels, being discovered by the same producer (Evan Rogers), and being managed by the same company. One skim through her bio would lead you to think that she’s just a gimmick; a pretty face plucked off the little island to pick up where Rihanna left off when she decided to go bad, and that her debut album, Shontelligence, will sound like an album replete with Rihanna leftovers, or worst, Rihanna copies. One word: wrong. Shontelle’s 11-track debut album is filled with songs that are confident, fearless, and rally for women’s empowerment.

The comparisons to that other Bajan diva will be plenty, but, sometimes, they work in Shontelle’s favor. Those whom are fans of the two will quickly notice that Shontelle’s voice is developed; clear, strong, full of range, and no nasal quality to acquire a taste for. Plus, [shock! dismay!] Shontelle co-wrote eight of the eleven tracks on the album. But that’s not to say the album is perfect.

The album starts with Shontelle’s first single, “T-Shirt.” The airy pop/r&b seemed to be the perfect introduction to Shontelle’s mix of pop, r&b, and island influences. They certainly come together perfectly through the next four songs: second single “Battle Cry,” the powerful “Superwoman” and the moody stunner “Cold, Cold Summer.” But after that, (and this is where the comparisons come back to haunt her) unlike Rihanna’s first two albums, the album has a harder time blending Shontelle’s caribbean influences with the more mainstream genres in a way that does not make the listener feel a bit misled by the first two singles. “Roll It,” “Focus Pon Me,” and “Life is Not an Easy Road“ are all strong tracks, but diverges too far into the reggae side. Shontelle also loses some vocal quality when singing in Bajan dialect (not to mention the lyrics being much harder to understand). This would all be fine if it were expected, but the first two singles roped fans in with a pop/r&b lasso.

All is forgiven when the ‘hypocrites be damned’ anthem “Plastic People” kicks in. Album closer “Flesh and Bone” proves that Shontelle can fuse all three genres with successful results. The song has that island feel without alienating the fans who love “T-Shirt.”

Even though Shontelle will probably face comparisons until her next album, she can take solace in the fact that Shontelligence is a solid debut worthy of a singer who will not only breakthrough the comparisons, but come out on top, eventually making you forget she was ever compared to ol’ what’s-her-name.

The teen music scene is crowded with new budding stars. Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, and Demi Lovato all spring to mind when you think of what’s hot in teen pop. But they’re all about to fade into the background–or at least they’ll want to out of sheer intimidation–when Australian-born Gabriella Cilmi hits the US.

While most of her peers look to Mariah Carey or Britney Spears for inspiration, 17-year-old Cilmi (pronounced Chill-Me) counts Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, and Cat Stevens as her major influences–and it shows. Her sultry, powerful voice belies her tender age. One minute it’s sweet and pure, the next it fractures with soul and passion. It’s no wonder why she’s being compared to a young (sober and drug-free!) Amy Winehouse.

Her mix of pop, rock, and soul is already gaining Gabriella a huge following in her native Australia and in the UK. Just this year she swept the ARIA (Australia Recording Industry Association) Awards, winning six awards for her debut album Lessons To Be Learned. The album features the very Winehouse-like first single, the insanely catchy “Sweet About Me,” and the majestic “Sanctuary.”

America will get a chance to fall in love with this Aussie treasure in March of 2009 when Lessons to Be Learned is released stateside. Get to know Gabriella now; she’s sure to be one of the most promising new artists of ‘09. Even though she says there’s “nothing sweet about me” in her hit single, a young artist with this much talent is pretty damn sweet.

Sweet About Me

Watch the video for “Sanctuary”

Visit Gabriella’s official myspace page

Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad seems to be the album that will never end and hey, we aren’t complaining! The 8th single released off the set is the Justin Timberlake penned Rehab. The brand spanking new video premiered today on MTV.com. It’s a little “eh” for me. Rihanna looks gorgeous and Justin is one tasty hunk of man meat but it’s a bit underwhelming. Great song though!

Season 7 American Idol champ David Cook rocked a performance of his new single “Light On” on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Friday night. The single is pulled from David’s self-titled debut album hitting stores tomorrow. Check it out!

TRL went out in style last night with their Total Finale Live special celebrating the countdown show’s 10 years of music and pop culture. A bunch of TRL regulars and newbies came to pay their respects to the show that catapulted the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Kid Rock into the pop stratosphere. Original host Carson Daly even came back to host one last time.

I’ll really miss TRL’s golden days. We here at NL had some great TRL moments: standing out in the cold to see Kelly Rowland premiere her video for “Can’t Nobody” with eleven (yes 1-1, I counted) other fans, seeing Beyonce promote that cheese-fest The Fighting Temptations (and getting free money!), and winning Usher concert tickets live on air over the phone. Ahh, we’ll miss that show!

One of the best parts of the show had to be the performances. Beyonce, Fall Out Boy, 50 Cent, Nelly, Ludacris, and Snoop Dogg all performed medleys of new songs and TRL staples, but I was most blown away by the Backstreet Boys (minus Kevin) performing their mega-hit “I Want It That Way.” Man! That song takes me back! Enjoy the performances!

Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way

Fall Out Boy Medley

Ludacris, Nelly, Snoop Dogg Medley

50 Cent Medley

Last night’s Saturday Night Live was one of the best ones I’ve seen recently that did not feature that hawt sexy beast Tina Fey as former VP candidate Sarah Palin. Musical guest Beyoncé was on fire but it was pop star and uber-funnyman Justin Timberlake’s surprise moments that made the show greater. Besides the hilarious skit he did with the Mighty B, he also sat in for the Weekend Update to make up for having to cancel his host duties for the Thanksgiving Show. Check it out! His Michael McDonald impression is too damn funny!

Miley Cyrus is working hard to promote her brand new animated movie Bolt that will hit theatres this Friday. The singer/actress attended a press conference for the movie in New York last week.

Stay locked on Neon Limelight for a new holiday CD giveaway that will include the Bolt soundtrack. You won’t want to miss this contest!

Michelle Williams has been out a lot recently making the appearance rounds. She attended the 15th Annual OUT 100 awards in New York Friday night. I don’t care too much for that lipstick on her but the hair is working!

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Ciara fans, we might not be able to jump on the Fantasy Ride until 2009 but that’s ok! And its only ok because a blazing inferno of hottest has hit the internet in the form of new CiCi music. The song is called Explode and it has the same dreamy, sexy quality that her monster hit, Promise, had. Me likes, you’ll likes when you listen so do it! Bossy aren’t I?

Ciara - Explode Ciara - Explode.mp3

photo credit: Sincerely Ciara