Posted by Maura Johnston on 03/22/2011 at 1:06 PM News

The Popdust Files: american idol, jennifer lopez

Here’s a surprise that arrived on the iTunes Store today: Jennifer Lopez’s Love?, which has been in the works since 2009 and which landed at Island Def Jam after her relationship with her former label, Epic, abruptly ended, has a release date. The record is scheduled to come out on May 3, and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think that she’d perform on her show American Idol sometime around then. (Hey, the show’s going to need a lot of things to fill time on results shows when the contestant pool dwindles to five!)

Last week, a track from the record that was reportedly co-written by Lady Gaga and RedOne leaked; it’s called “Invading My Mind,” and it’s a peppy, keyboard-heavy track that recalls a revved-up version of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World).” Like the Rihanna song, it’s probably not a track that an Idol contestant should attempt, with its many octave jumps and dancefloor-ready feel. But it’s fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECrZFE7aDgc

Once the Nicole Scherzinger record Killer Love—which is doing well in the UK!—comes out over here, can we crown 2011 as The Year That All Those Albums From The Late ’00s Got Out Of Turnaround? (And can that be a prelude to Missy Elliott’s eternally delayed Block Party seeing the light of days, please?)