T.I. Breakin' Records (Again) And Takin' Names

Today, T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" made an unheard of leap from #80 to #1 after selling 335,000 digital download and gaining radio airplay. This once again breaks the record for biggest jump to #1, a record that T.I. himself set just over a month ago when "Whatever You Like" soared from 71 to 1. T.I. also becomes the ninth artist in Billboard history to replace himself at the one spot and the first since 2004. With "Whatever You Like" at #2, this week becomes the eleventh instance in chart history that an artist has occupied the top two spots. Rihanna has now scored five #1 hits (three of them this year alone) and she now takes the lead for female artist with most chart toppers this decade. Only Usher with seven has more. Wow.


The biggest jump to number one record has all but become irrelevant. It was originally set by The Beatles in 1964 when "Can't Buy Me Love" went 27-1 in one week (which made them the first and so far, one of two acts to replace themselves with three different songs, Usher was the second). This record remained for 38 years until Kelly Clarkson's, "A Moment Like This" went 52-1 thanks to unprecedented excitement over the crowning of her as the inagural American Idol. Clarkson's jump is now the fifth best in chart history but there is no reason to think it will remain there for very long. The reason for all of the sudden leaps to #1 is the revolution that is legal digital downloading. Whoever wants to be the next to break this record not only needs a molten hot hit of a song, but enough luck to debut in the ninties right before the song takes off so they can make an even better jump. Who would have thought a #100 debut could be so valuable?

Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better" is the week's hot shot debut, coming in at #7. Just a couple weeks ago rock journalists were foaming at the mouth at the idea of a repeat Kanye-50 chart battle, but with 808s and Heartbreak being moved up several weeks, that seems unlikley. Instead, the decade old rivalry between Christina and Britney seems to be heating up with Britney Spears releasing her electro-clash number, "Womanizer", only a week after Aguilera released hers. "Womanizer" debuts today at #96. Other notable entries this week are David Cook's "Light On" at #17 and The Killer's "Human" at #32.

This Weeks Top Ten:

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat Rihanna
2. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
3. "So What" - Pink

4. "Disturbia" - Rihanna

5. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne

6. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry

7. "Keeps Gettin' Better" - Christina Aguilera

8. "Can't Believe It" - T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne

9. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A.

10. "Gotta Be Somebody" - Nickleback

Biggest Jump To Number One:

1. 80-1 "Live You Life" - T.I. feat Rihanna

2. 71-1 "Whatever You Like" - T.I.

3. 64-1 "Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5

4. 53-1 "Take A Bow" - Rihanna

5. 52-1 "A Moment Like This" - Kelly Clarkson

6. 51-1 "Love In The Club" - Usher feat. Young Jeezy

7. 42-1 "Give It To Me" - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

8. 41-1 "Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

9. 34-1 "SOS" - Rihanna

10. 32-1 "This Is Why I'm Hot" - Mims

Self Replacement at Number One:

1. Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" replaced by "Love Me Tender"

2. The Beatles - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" replaced by "She Loves You" replaced by "Can't Buy Me Love"

3. Boyz II Men - "I'll Make Love To You" replaced by "On Bended Knee"

4. Puff Daddy - "I'll Be Missin' You" replaced by "Mo Money Mo Problems"

5. Ja Rule - "Always On Time" replaced by "Ain't It Funny"

6. Nelly - "Hot In Herre" replaced by "Dilemma"

7. OutKast - "Hey Ya!" replaced by "The Way You Move"

8. Usher - "Yeah" replaced by "Burn" replaced by "Confessions Part II"

9. T.I. - "Whatever You Like" replaced by "Live Your Life"

Upcoming Releases

The biggest selling album of 2000 was NSync's No Strings Attached which netted 9,900,000 copies sold. The biggest selling album in 2007 was a Christmas album, Josh Groban's Noel, which only managed 3,600,000 copies. It would take 2.75 Noel's to equal the success of No Strings Attached and maybe that's what the record industry needs; more releases.
2008 has already boasted new albums from big names, notably Mariah Carey, Madonna, Usher, Lil Wayne and Coldplay. Still, the year's sales are predicted to be below last years. November and December and two of the most important months for all of retail and music is no exception. Late 2008 is boasting more big name releases to add to the already illustrious list, but will it be enough?

Oct. 7 - Oasis Dig Out Your Soul

Oct. 16 - AC/DC Black Ice

Nov. 4 - Fall Out Boy Folie A Deux

Nov. 4 - Hillary Duff The Best of Hillary Duff

Nov. 11 - Missy Elliott Block Party

Nov. 11 - Christina Aguilera Keeps Gettin' Better (A Decade of Hits)

Nov. 18 - Beyonce TBA

Nov. 18 - Kelly Clarkson TBA

Nov. 18 - David Cook TBA

Nov. 25 - The Killers Day & Age

Dec. 2 - Britney Spears Circus

Dec. 16 - Kanye West 808's and Heartbreak

OK, we were joking about Hillary Duff. But dude, anyone who's anyone besides U2 has or will release and album in 2008. Don't worry, their twelfth studio release is slated for early 2009.

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American Idol

In the epic battle of the David's for the crown at the 7th annual American Idol finales, Cook came out on top. At first, it was a surprise, but reflecting back on it, we should have seen it coming. You have Archuletta, a kid who is being pushed to stardom by an overbearing father up against Cook, a guy who didn't even intend to try out for the show in the first place. I think the underdog in all of us likes the the second storyline better than the first. Sure David Cook was already pursuing a musical career, but the idea that a bartender could walk into an audition he went to only to support his brother and end up winning the entire competition is so much more fulfilling than thinking that another Papa Simpson or Papa Cyrus was a puppetmaster calling the shots for their kids to be superstars and live through them.

David Cook never seemed like the American Idol early on in the competition. But about the time he changed his hair, he lost his attitude, and Michael Johns got kicked off, he became a contender. For as cocky as he initially was, after Simon called him out on it, David changed. It wasn't an act at being humble, I think he really was humbled. He found himself at the final and was nothing but gracious at the opportunity he had before him and at David Archuletta's talent, but wasn't everyone?

Randy predicted about Archie, "this boy's the one to beat" and after the final performance, Simon announced that he had won in a landslide. Outside the Nokia Theatre, Fox newscasters from around the country were discussing who had won and they all brought up points about performances, but they completley missed the point. Not one mentioned the fact that Syesha Mercado had accumulated a large fan base that had lost her and who they turned their texts to had an insurmountable advantage. No one said anything about disgruntled Cook fans texting overtime to prove Simon wrong. But all of those things happened.

Right when Simon apologized to Cook for being rude, you knew something was up. He'd been tipped off or something and was trying to save face. Well, David Cook is our American Idol. He owns the top three on iTunes. Honestly, he'll make better music. Archuletta had a fan base of 14 year olds but made music for 44 year olds. His adult contemorory was too adult and not enough contemporary. Cook on the other hand, has great potential for recording some hits.

In American Idol, winning isn't everything. In season 2, Clay Aiken reached #1 on Billboard while Ruben Studdard had to settle for #2. Chris Daughtry seems to be more popular than Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Still, Cook has already put up a convincing argument that he is worthy of his title breaking a Neilson Soundscan era chart record for most debuts for an artist in a single week with 11 and they are:
3 - "The Time Of My Life"
15 - "Dream Big"
22 - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
28 - "The World I Know"
42 - "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
47 - "Billie Jean"
67 - "Always Be My Baby"
73 - "Hello"
77 - "The Music Of The Night"
92 - "Eleanor Rigby"
99 - "I'm Alive"
Only the Beatles have ever had more songs in the top 100 at a given time with 14 in April of 1964. Now enjoy both Cook's and Archie's Guitar Hero commercials.