Kim Kardashian Premieres Her Pop Song

Well, it was only a matter of time. Paris Hilton did it, after all. So did Lindsay Lohan (and LiLo's sister, Ali Lohan), Heidi Montag, Brooke Hogan, Kelly Osbourne, The Situation, and a couple of Gossip Girls and Real Housewives. So now tabloid-courting E! reality starlet Kim Kardashian has naturally recorded her own pop song. I'm actually surprised it took her this long.
No, it's not a cover of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back"...although that would have been awesome, of course. It's also not "Shake"--the presumed original full title of which must have included the parenthetical prefix "(Do Fries Come With That?)"--which "leaked" online last November and was initially mistaken by the entire Interweb to be Kim's rumored first single.

But the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" bombshell, known more for her big curves and big hair than for any sort of big singing voice, has recorded a song perhaps misleadingly titled called "Jam (Turn It Up)." So...is it any good? In a word, no. In two words, HECK no. More like "Turn It Down," I say. It basically makes Paris Hilton's "Stars Are Blind" warbling like something by Janis Joplin, and could probably even make Heidi Montag cringe (if Heidi was actually facially capable of cringing, that is).
The song was recorded with The-Dream, whose Love King was one of 2010's most critically lauded R&B albums and whose writing and production work for other artists includes Beyonce's "Single Ladies," Rihanna's "Umbrella," Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine," and Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body." But sadly, it seems like Kim just dragged The-Dream down to her nightmarish level. He really should have known better.
The journalists and bloggers who were so quick to praise Love King aren't being so kind when it comes to The-Dream's latest pet project. Popdust wrote that "the heavily flanged Kardashian sounds barely engaged with her own song." Crushable declared the single "laughably bad and nearly unlistenable." And Neon Limelight said: "What really kills the song are the horrid vocals. Kim coos through the song lifelessly singing about taking shots and dancing the night away at her favorite spot. Is this club filled with zombies? They're the only creatures she's courting with that monotonous tone."
So what exactly is Kim cooing about? Well, the not-exactly Dylanesque chorus basically goes something like this (give or take a few "yeahs"): "Turn me up, turn me up, turn me turn me turn me up/Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah." Catchy, huh?
Other sample lyrics include:
"I'm going out tonight, it's going down/Headed straight to the front of the line, on the fly/On the floor I can't stand still/And I'm goin' to work like I'm paying my bills."
"Rosé up in the air/Feeling good, feeling great, just got paid."
"DJ here I am/Feeling good, feeling great, just got paid."
"Girls in the building/Fellas in the club/Boys spending money/Girls looking good."
Like I said, it's not The-Dream's finest work. And anyway, with all the Auto-Tuning here, it sounds like Kim just collaborated with T-Pain instead. Listen to her musical debut below. Do you think Kim has a career in music?
Read More: Yahoo

New Year's Eve Greatest Places to Ring In the New Year

Where will you be on New Year's Eve? Here are some ideas for amazing places to visit when you really want to usher in the new year in a memorable way. Let the countdown begin!

Millennium Island, Kiribati

New Year's Eve Millennium Island, Kiribati

Though some may argue over the exact spot, Millennium Island in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, just east of the international date line, is recognized by many as being the first place in the world to see the sun rise every Jan. 1. (The island, formerly called Caroline Island, got its new name during the build-up to the 2000 New Year.) Unfortunately, the island is in danger of disappearing due to rising seas, as it is only 6 meters above water level. Kiribati's island chain also includes Christmas Island, the world's largest coral atoll.

Paris

Paris

The Eiffel Tower is the place to be in Paris on New Year's Eve. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks light up the night and calls of “Bonne Année!” ring out along the Champs-Élyseés. Or for something different, set yourself up in the plaza in front of the Sacre Coeur Cathedral in Montmartre: You’ll get an unrivaled view over the entire City of Light. Don't forget to bring along a handful of papillottes , chocolate treats that pop when you unwrap them.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Each Dec. 31, millions gather at Copacabana beach to watch a dazzling 20-minute display of pyrotechnics launched from 11 barges, each loaded with 1,200 fireworks. During the event, called Reveillon, fireworks exploding over the beach will be synchronized with sound effects, and this year, the logo for the 2016 Olympics will be unveiled. Four musical stages on the beach will get crowds pumped up early with plenty of live music.

London

London

On Dec. 31, Big Ben will officially ring in 2011 when it chimes at the stroke of midnight. That kicks off the traditional fireworks display behind the London Eye. The best viewing areas are across the river on the Victoria Embankment and on the Waterloo and Westminster bridges, which will be closed to car traffic around 6 p.m. Those who don't want to battle the crowds can catch the fireworks on the viewing screens in Parliament Square.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

In Edinburgh, Hogmanay is a four-day celebration to honor the last day of the year. Festivities kick off with a torchlight procession, followed by a huge street festival with music and dancing, and wrap up with fireworks over Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill. In the past, Viking longboats have been part of the torchlight procession — in a nod to Hogmanay's pagan roots — and then burned.

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney, west of the  international date line, welcomed 2010 while New Yorkers were still enjoying their morning coffee at 8 a.m. EST. The big bang begins at midnight local time, with an estimated 1.5 million revelers watching fireworks exploding from barges on the harbor, the rooftops of city skyscrapers and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The fireworks display has been known to last for up to 25 minutes.

New York's Times Square

New York's Times Square

Times Square has been the focal point of New Year’s celebrations since 1907, when the first ball dropped on One Times Square. This year will be no different, and people will begin squeezing into the area from 42nd to 47th streets between Broadway and Seventh Avenue early in the afternoon. At 11:59 p.m., the New Year’s Eve ball will begin its descent as a million voices start counting down. The geodesic sphere, designed by Waterford Crystal and featuring 960 crystal triangles lit from within, will drop 70 feet in 60 seconds.

Ecuador

Ecuador

To celebrate the new year, Ecuadoreans create effigies called años viejos (“old years”), which represent people and events from the past year. Stuffed dummies — made of straw, newspaper and old clothes, with papier-mâché masks — are often used to portray unpopular political characters or leaders. At midnight, the effigies are set on fire to symbolize burning away of the past year and welcoming of the New Year. Since the dummies are often stuffed with firecrackers, the purging ceremony comes with plenty of racket.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas

On New Year’s Eve, the usually clogged Strip will be closed to vehicular traffic for a giant street party. Walk among thousands of other revelers spilling out of hotels from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere, all awaiting the huge fireworks show at midnight that adds even more sparkle to the city of neon. Nearby on Fremont Street, the fireworks are shown on the massive LED canopy while tribute bands provide live entertainment.

Seattle

Seattle

More than 20,000 people gather at the base of the Space Needle to watch the elevators rise from the base as the countdown to New Year’s begins. When the elevators reach the top, pyrotechnics explode from all sides of the 605-foot tower — including more than 200 feet above the roof — turning it into a giant and colorful sparkler.

Disneyland

Disneyland

Fireworks light up the sky almost every night at Disneyland, so you know that for New Year's Eve, the California theme park goes all out to make the performance memorable. Get there early, as the best viewing spots, right in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, are also the most crowded. It's a Small World gives you a great view, as well, and also try near the Rivers of America in Frontierland.

New Orleans

New Orleans

In a twist on New York’s ball drop, New Orleans revelers will count down to 2011 as a giant, black and gold fleur-de-lis is lowered above the Jax Brewery Condominiums. The event starts at 9 p.m. with live music in Jackson Square, with the Queen of Soul Irma Thomas and others. At midnight, spectacular fireworks light up the sky over the Mississippi River.