Chart Watch Well, she done it. Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" moved up 8 to 1 this week, pushing Usher's "Love In This Club" to #2. If Oprah can do this with Billboard charts, can she do it with an election? "Bleeding Love" becomes the first single by a British artist to top the US charts in the 21st century. The last time this was done, Elton John took "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" /"Candle In The Wind 1997" to the top for an incredible fourteen weeks. Also of note is Chris Brown's three singles in the top ten. Featuring credits can do wonders.
1. "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis 2. "Love In This Club" - Usher f. Youn Jeezy 3. "Sexy Can I" - Ray J f. Yung Berg 4. "With You" - Chris Brown 5. "Love Song" - Sarah Bareilles 6. "No Air" - Jordin Sparks f. Chris Brown 7. "Low" - Flo Rider f. T-Pain 8. "Don't Stop The Music" - Rihanna 9. "Lollipop" - Lil Wayne f. Static Major 10. "Shawty Get Loose" - Lil Mama f. Chris Brown & T-Pain
If you've been on the internet recently, you might have noticed a web banner advertising Leona Lewis, a brand new British singing sensation. The ad informs that her debut album, Spirit, holds the record for fastest selling debut in UK history and that she is coming to America. Big deal right? I was just sad the Arctic Monkey's couldn't hold onto their record they set for fastest selling debut for two years. Leona Lewis was quickly forgotten until I saw the ad again. And again. And again. It seemed like her promoters were serious but promoters for female British singers are always serious. The UK always has the next big star. Michelle McManus, Charolette Church, Rachel Stevens, they all dissapeared, so why should we take these next ones seriously? Is Amy Winehouse more than a flash in the pan? Is Duffy more than Hilary Duff changing her name and trying to be edgy? And who is Leona Lewis and how did she brake the Arctic Monkeys' record?
After seeing the ad again, I decided to investigate via Wikipedia. Leona Lewis is the winner of the televised talent competition, X Factor. American Idol isn't an American invention, it is actually just our version of the British Pop Idol. Pop Idol caused a stir in the UK for a few seasons and even featured everyone's favorite judge, Simon, but it couldn't last as long as its American counterpart. Enter X Factor. It's basically the same thing, but Simon has more control and makes more money and so it's still around. Leona isn't the first winner, but she seems to be Simon's favorite.
America has a thing for divas. During the 90's, the airwaves were ruled by big voices, from Mariah to Whitney to Celine. The new century has failed to produce any stars as big as those, but Simon Cowell thinks Lewis could do it which is exactly why he is working so hard to break her in the states. For all the talent she has, and for how catchy "Bleeding Love", her debut single is, Leona's hype is still bigger than she is. She was recently paraded on Oprah and it was too much. She told viewers she was singing before she was walking, Simon donated to charity, Oprah let out a stunned "Wow" after the performance, and of course they talked about how Leona is the next Mariah.
For all that she's done, Leona Lewis hasn't earned all this buzz, but it's all part of a plan. Leona's album, Spirit hits US stores April 8, and her team is crafting a self fulfilling prophecy of epic proportions. Lewis is too humble to talk big, so Simon Cowell is doing it for her, but it seems like its the only way "Bleeding Love" can get enough attention to beat out Mariah's new single "Touch My Body" in the charts in the coming weeks. Only time will tell is Lewis justifies all the attention, but until then, enjoy some Oprah.
Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy" Estelle is a British singer/rapper who wants an American boy so she sings a song about it with an American boy, Kanye West. The best part is when she sings "Don't like his baggy jeans but I'ma like whats undearneath it" and does that slight wink that old people do when they say something funny and after they do it you wonder if your eyes are decieving you. Now let's pray for a Rachel Stevens cover.
Daft Hands - "Harder Better Faster Stronger" Some guy was bored and he wrote all over his hands and created this homemade music video for Daft Punk's "Harder Better Faster Stronger" which was sampled and made famous by Kanye West. This Daft Hands guy needs a job. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Chikizie - "She's A Woman" For Lennon/McCartney night, Chikizie took "She's A Woman" and reinvinted it into a country rendition before exploding into a rocked out falsetto stuttering version that Simon called terrific. How do you argue with that?
Britney Spears - "Break The Ice" I don't know wheather to believe that this is the real video or some fan made one using Dragon Ball Z clips. Is she serious?
Top 100 Most Critically Acclaimed Singles and Albums of 2007
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/ is one of the coolest music sites on the net. Henrick Franzon is a 34 year old Swede who calculates the most critically acclaimed singles and albums of each year, decade, and all time after gathering the various lists put out from different sites, critics, and magazines. As Franzon says himself, there is never a "final word" on the best singles and albums in rock history, it's really up to personal tastes and opinions. Even then, this list is the most authoritative you can get. The top 100 of 2007 are finally up and here are the results:
Singles:
1) "Umbrella" - Rihanna f. Jay-Z
2) "D.A.N.C.E." - Justice
3) "All My Friends" - LCD Soundsystem
4) "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
5) "Atlas" - Battles
6) "Stronger" - Kanye West
7) "Golden Skans" - The Klaxons"
8) "Paper Planes" - M.I.A.
9) "Dashboard" - Modest Mouse
10) "1234"- Feist
Albums:
1) Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
2) In Rainbows - Radiohead
3) Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
4) Kala - M.I.A.
5) Person Pitch - Panda Bear
6) Boxer - The National
7) Mirrored - Battles
8) Untrue - Burial
9) White Chalk - PJ Harvey
10) Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
No big surprises. I'm sure when the singles list is added to the overall decade list, "Umbrella" is going to place remarkably well. Not quite up there with "Crazy" or "Hey Ya!" but top 10 for sure.
Check out the site; I'm sure it will give you hours of entertainment and leave you arguing the merits of "Superstition" beating out "Hotel California" or any other combination of "outrageous" critical acclaim. Have fun!
iTunes Watch
So American Idol jumped on the digital music bandwagon this season by announcing that each nights' performances will be available for purchase on iTunes. Dredlocked singer Jason Castro was the first to make waves when his rendition of "Hallelujah" climbed to #2 on the iTunes charts. I'm not for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's higher than anything Jordin Sparks has put out yet. I'm not counting on a Castro victory this season though. The high chart placing is definatley based on the song and not the artist. I guess the folks at iTunes realized this and swapped Castro's cover with the Jeff Buckley original which now sits at #1.
That's power right there ladies and gentlemen. American Idol has catipulted a 14 year old song to the top of digital downloads for if only for a few days until Usher shoulders his way back. If you don't believe me, check top music videos. Paula Abdul's comeback, "Dance Like There's No Tommorow" is at #1. American Idol has catipulted a pop star who hasn't released an album since 1995 to the top of digital downloads if only for a few days until ..."Thriller" shoulders its way back. Hmm...Thrillers like 25 years old...and as of right now has nothing to do with American Idol. Well, don't mess with American Idol or Michael Jackson.
Chart Watch A guy named Flo Rider was just bumped out of the number one spot by Usher. Does it feel like 2004 to anyone else? Usher's "Love In This Club" is his eighth chart topper. "Love" made an amazing 51-1 jump which now stands as the third biggest jump to #1 in Billboard history. The Beatles held this record for 34 years when "Can't Buy Me Love" went from 27 to 1. That seems like a joke these days. Idol winner Kelly Clarkson broke the record with "A Moment Like This" jumping from 52 to 1. Since then, seven other songs have trumped the Beatles old record. Flo Rider's "Low" is now at #2, Christ Brown's "With You" is #3, Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop The Music" is #4 and rounding out the top 5 is Sarah Bareille's "Love Song". For your viewing pleasure, the record for highest jumps to #1:
