I SPY NY: Aretha Franklin, Courtney Love and More

I spy in NY…

Aretha Franklin singing in the rain at Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony Wednesday evening (top photo), Courtney Love hanging with Poison Ivy at Sting and MusicUnite’s Twin Spirits afterparty at the Red Bull Space Thursday night (middle photo), Passion Pit tearing it up at Hammerstein Ballroom Wednesday (bottom photo), and Funkmaster Flex spinning at Greenhouse Tuesday.

Black Eyed Peas Take Over Today Show

It’s been a great month of NBC Today Show concerts. And the summer is only getting started!!!

We’ve seen No Doubt perform for the first time in five years, New Kids on the Block cover Queen, and American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert rock Rockefeller Plaza for the first time!!!!

Perhaps most energetic of all though was the performance we witnessed this morning by the Black Eyed Peas!!

Fergie, Will.i.am & Co. fist-pumped their way through three excellent, high-energy jams: iTunes favorite “Boom Boom Pow,” classic hit “Pump It” and a new, Jewish-themed single “I Gotta Feeling.” (Sample lyrics: “Fill up my cup. Drink! Mazel tov. La’ Chaim!”)

Check out the fantastic, bouncy performance of the new single below. Bonus points if you can spot Poison Ivy in the audience (around 2:05)!!!!

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[Photos by Jeanine Onischuck]

New Kids Rock Today Show

It’s a great season to be a New Yorker!!!!

New Kids on the Block performed at NBC’s Today Show summer concert series this morning, kicking off show two of a summer of free shows in Rockefeller Center!! (Next week is Jennifer Hudson; last week was No Doubt‘s first performance in five years.)

The fans started camping out Sunday(!) for the Friday morning show, so the boys definitely had to work it to make it worth their while!!

Check out the above clip, where NKOTB segueway into 90’s hit “Hangin’ Tough” with none other than Queen‘s “We Will Rock You.”