We’re already aware that Katy Perry is capable of walking on air, but now, thanks to her 2014 Billboard Music Awards performance of “Birthday,” we know that she can fly, too. As long as she’s got a dozen or so balloons and mad wires handy.

Filmed at Katy’s Prismatic World Tour stop in Newcastle, England, on May 10, the set’s highlight was definitely when the green-haired singer, clad in an eye-popping body suit, grabbed onto some colorful balloons and appeared to take flight over the Metro Radio Arena.

OK, OK, and that part where Katy pulled an audience member onstage (“I’m looking for one special birthday person!”) and serenaded her on top of a giant cake was pretty cute, too. But, like, Katy Perry. Flying. With balloons. Mary Poppins-style. That obviously wins.

You know how Katy sings “So let me get you in your birthday suit/ It’s time to bring out the big balloons” in “Birthday”? Here I was, thinking it was some kind of sexual double entendre, but no! Girlfriend just really likes balloons.

Katy Perry was nominated for a total of 10 Billboard Music Awards, and she even took home the title of Top Female Artist. She and her balloons are, presumably, very happy about the win.

John Walker

So, it looks like Kendall Jenner had a bit of a prompter mix-up while introducing 5 Seconds Of Summer at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards tonight.

After nearly announcing the Australian pop-rock band as “One…” before cutting herself off, the “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” star self-deprecatingly joked: “You guys, I’m the worst reader.”

And, you know what? More power to her. I’m not the greatest interpretive dancer on the scene, but just try telling that to, like, MY BODY when “Chandelier” comes on.

Anyway, 5SOS obviously nailed it onstage at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, performing their Song of the Summer-worthy single, “She Looks So Perfect.”

Calum and Luke’s tag-teamed vocals were on point, Mikey was just in the zone as he hopped all over the stage, and Ash was doing some drumstick tricks that would’ve epically failed in lesser hands.

Honestly, my only complaint is that they didn’t perform in their American Apparel underwear. Anytime, guys! Anytime.

Look for 5 Seconds Of Summer’s self-titled debut album when it drops stateside on July 22. That’s 5 Seconds Of Summer, Kendall.

Gratuitous 5SOS GIF fest!

John Walker

Now that the Knowles-Carter family have put that elevator-fight scandal to rest, we can get back to discussing what truly matters in the world of geo-political current events: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West‘s wedding.

For those of us who have been keeping up with the Kardashian-West nuptuals, today has been a bit much to handle. One second, they’ve been confirmed for a ceremony in Florence, and the next they’re saying “I do” at the Palace of Versailles. I haven’t even gotten to all the other conflicting information out there about the guest list, the dress, the cake — even the silverware picked out for the reception!

Obviously, all of this information cannot be true (OR CAN IT?!), so I’ve gathered it all up in one handy Kimye Wedding Rumor Roundup in the hopes of getting to the bottom of it. If I don’t make it back by sundown, tell my boyfriend that it’s his turn to walk the dog tonight.

Where is this wedding?

Up until recently, everyone’s pretty much assumed that the already-iconic Kimye Wedding™ would take place in Paris, which makes sense, seeing as how she and Kanye have a second apartment there. I mean, she even said as much on a January episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, hinting: “I think it’s kind of obvious that it’s in Paris.”

That all changed earlier today when a spokeswoman from the mayor’s office of Florence, Italy, released a ...

This morning (May 16), Mariah Carey stopped by NBC’s “Today” to perform a set that included “Touch My Body,” new song “You Don’t Know What To Do,” and “Always Be My Baby.”

In case you bombed the Reading Comprehension section of the SAT, the key part of that sentence is “new song ‘You Don’t Know What To Do.’” Yep, that’s right. Mariah debuted the song live alongside featured artist Wale while most of your faves were still Instagramming their breakfasts. #which #needs #to #stop #btw

Ever the elusive chanteuse, Mariah began the performance elegantly draped over a grand piano. Or is it a baby grand? Dem baby grand?

Whatever, not the point right now. What’s important is that “You Don’t Know What To Do” has the breezy, throwback bounce that we’ve come to expect from the singer. Like, it will fit into my “SUMMER OF MIMI” playlist so perfectly, right in between “Honey” and “Heartbreaker.” If I had a car, this would literally be me all summer.

And if all that weren’t enough, Mariah sat down with “Today” co-anchor Tamron Hall to talk about her fourteenth studio album, Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse, which drops on May 27.

“This is for the Lambily,” she said. “I sequenced the record from start to finish with segues and little interludes in order for it to be a cohesive body of work, and ...

Oh, look at that — I guess we can have nice things. Earlier this morning, Entertainment Weekly reported that Kesha would join the panel of experts on ABC’ upcoming music-competition show, “Rising Star,” a fact that the “Timber” singer has since confirmed on Twitter.

Ludacris and Brad Paisley will sit alongside the artist formerly known as K-Dolla on the panel, and Josh Groban has been confirmed as host. (You hear that? That’s your mom’s friend Shelley losing her sh-t.) The group is expected to make an appearance together during Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, which Luda is hosting.

ICYMI, “Rising Star” is ABC’s upcoming live music-competition series premiering on June 22 where singers perform in front of a ginormous (“3 stories tall. 90 feet wide.”) screen that displays a photo of every viewer who has voted for them in real time. If the contestant garners enough votes from the TV audience, the wall will be raised, and they will advance to the next round. Think “The Voice” or “American Idol” in real-time, with a little bit of “Tear down this wall!” intensity thrown in for good measure.

With the focus of these kinds of shows shifting away from the contestants and over to the celebrity judges and coaches, I really hope this means that we’ll get to see Kesha take the stage a few times. Maybe she’ll even bless us with some new music? I’ll settle for a cameo from Read More →

Before Iggy Azalea got all fancy on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” stage last night, the late-night host thought it might be useful to break down the Aussie rapper’s lyrics for the older graciously wizened viewers at home. “If you’re an older person,” Jimmy explained, “it might be harder to follow the lyrics.” See? He’s doing a public service!

While most of the “New Lyrics for Old People” translations are pretty #duh, I did have a good laugh when Iggy explained that “giving lessons in physics” is all about how she dreams of one day becoming a teacher. Oh, and Jimmy’s interpretation of “Champagne spilling, you should taste that” as “I’m clumsy, clean up after me” is pretty good, too. Definitely a contender for the title of my memoir.

Once you’re done hyperventilating over the fact that Iggy Azalea was not even alive in 1988 (LITERALLY, HOW OLD AM I), check out her performances of “Fancy” with featured alt-pop vocalist Charli XCX, “Work,” plus a NSFW snippet of “F–k Love” that an audience member uploaded to Instagram.

Any old people need me to translate that New Classic track? OK, when Iggy says “F–k love, gimme diamonds,” what she means to say is, “F–K LOVE, GIMME DIAMONDS.” Any questions?

John Walker

Echosmith have always proven particularly adept at capturing the complex emotional state of the average teenager in their music. Remember “Cool Kids“? The single, solitary tear streaming down my face right now certainly does.

The band — that’s Noah, Jamie, Sydney, and Graham Sierota — are back with a new video today, and, thankfully for my fragile feelings, “Come With Me” is way, way lighter. While the MTV Artists To Watch don’t physically appear in the Lior Molcho-directed clip, their twee-pop presence is felt through a variety of hand-painted mini-figurines stop-motioning their way through a variety of locales.

Amidst all the sweeping, “Bound 2” -style scenery, Sydney sings: “Come with me/ And I’ll take you away if you let me/ Stay with me/ And I’ll cover your soul with my body.” The Talking Dreams track is all about opening up to someone so that they’ll open up to you. That’s a pretty beautiful message, actually. Ugh, I told myself I wasn’t going to cry.

Catch Echosmith this summer on the Vans Warped Tour, which kicks off on June 13 in Houston, TX. Bring tissues.

John Walker