The former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, and 50 Cent added a few degrees to the temperature of the “American Idol” studio tonight as they debuted her new song, “Right There.”
Next week is the show’s finale, and the winner will be either Scotty McCreery, 17, of Garner, N.C., or Lauren Alaina, 16, of Rossville, Ga., both very talented country singers.
The Filipino-Hawaiian-Russian Scherzinger, who has done a little bit of this and that since her career started in 1999 and who will be co-host of the American version of “X Factor” in the fall, released her current album, Killer Love, after she exited the Pussycat Dolls in December. The album’s second single, “Don’t Hold Your Breath,” peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. Her camp probably felt reaching out to an established, respected rapper as 50 Cent would add some flavor and boost sales.
Reportedly, Ne-Yo is working with Scherzinger on her upcoming project, Her Name is Nicole, to bring some “zing” to her career. “Nicole is in a state of liberation right now so the tracks are very free. She is in a place where she is happy to be alive, and the tracks are definitely expressing that,” Ne-Yo was quoted as saying to a media outlet. “The whole album is going to be a pressure release — a great big exhale — and I’m happy about that. She has a lot of emotions after splitting up with Lewis (Hamilton). But it’s like taking an eagle and giving it back its wings.”
Last spring, Scherzinger won the dance reality show, “Dancing With the Stars,” having high to perfect scores week after week. Many viewers and critics were skeptical about the win because she was experienced compared to the other contestants. It is becoming more and more apparent that that is typical and expected of “DWTS.” If every contestant had two left feet, who would emerge to lead the pack? Who would win the show? Viewers deserve to see more than dancers falling on the floor, losing their clothes and bumping into each other. –arnell pharr
