Since U Been Gone: Music for a Return Missionary

     This Tuesday, my brother Boston gets back from serving a two year mission in Houston, Texas.  During that time, he didn't watch movies, kiss girls, check Facebook, or listen to music.  Instead, he talked to people about Jesus and restored Christianity, selflessly served others, and changed people's lives.  Now that he's back, I feel that it's my duty to help him adjust to post-mission life, and to do that, I made a mix of some of the music he missed in those two years.  Most of the songs are good, some of them are not as good, but I'd like to think that they paint a pretty accurate snapshot of what music was like in the past two years.  Some songs are from Schwarz brother's staples like Kanye, Coldplay, and the Killers and then others are inescapable time stamps of pop culture ("I Gotta Feeling", "Single Ladies", "TiK Tok").  Check out the list after the jump.  Any songs from June 2008-June 2010 that deserved to make the cut but didn't?

Chart Watch: One-Two Punches

With Michael Jackson's passing, all news of the Black Eyed Peas chart achievements became seemingly irrelevant. For the first time in the 18-year history of Soundscan, the company responsible for tracking album sales, catalog albums are outselling new releases. Michael Jackson's Number Ones is outselling B.E.P.'s The E.N.D. on roughly a two-to-one margin and even Thriller is selling more than the hip-pop group's set.

Regardless, the Black Eyed Peas were able to pull off two feats this month that elluded the King of Pop. The first was their having both the No. 1 and No. 2 song in the country, something that only happened twelve times in Billboard's history when "I've Gotta Feelin'" moved into the second spot behind "Boom Boom Pow". Two weeks later "Feelin'" overtook "Pow" to make the Peas the tenth act to replace themselves at No. 1. Michael Jackson came close in 1983 but "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runner kept "Beat It" from succeeding "Billie Jean" for a single week.

Below are the songs that make up the elite list of 1-2 punches. The Beatles are the only act to have more than the top 2 spots at any given time. Their explosive debut in the United States in 1964 gave them complete control over the top 5 . Nine of the twelve instances have occured in the 2000s thanks in part to the popularity of collaborations. Three instances owe their 1-2 dominance to an artist having lead credit on one single and a featuring credit on another (Ashanti in 2002, 50 Cent in 2005, and Akon in 2007). Welcome to the club Fergie.

Elvis Presley 1956

1. "Hound Dog"/"Don't Be Cruel"

2. "Love Me Tender:

The Beatles 1964

1. "Can't But Me Love"

2. "Twist And Shout"

3. "She Loves You"

4. "I Want To Hold Your Hand"

5. "Please Please Me"

The Bee Gees 1978

1. "Night Fever"

2. "Stayin' Alive"

Ashanti 2002

1. "Foolish"

2. "What's Luv?" (Fat Joe featuring Ashanti)Nelly 2002

1. "Hot In Herre"

2. "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland

OutKast 2003

1. "Hey Ya!"

2. "The Way You Move" featuring Sleepy Brown50 Cent 2005

1. "Candy Shop"

2. "Hate It Or Leave It" (The Game featuring 50 Cent)Mariah Carey 2005

1. "We Belong Together"

2. "Shake It Off"Akon 2006

1. "I Wanna Love You" featuring Snoop Dogg

2. "Smack That" featuring EminemAkon 2007

1. "Don't Matter"

2. "The Sweet Escape" (Gwen Stefani featuring Akon)T.I. 2008

1. "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna

2. "Whatever You Like"The Black Eyed Peas 2009

1. "Boom Boom Pow"

2. "I Gotta Feelin'"

Raise Your Grades: Listen to Sufjan

A study by CalTech student Virgil Griffith showed that students with better SAT scores listen to Sufjan Stevens. Actually, Beethoven has the smartest listeners with an average SAT score of 1371. Other top artists include Radiohead, Counting Crows, U2, and Bob Dylan. At the bottom end? Lil Wayne. Beyonce, T.I., and the Used are just barely ahead of the four time Grammy winning artist. I'm just glad Jimmy Eat World ranked above Fall Out Boy. Thank goodness. Check out where your favorite artists landed here and as we gear up for finals, listen to more Sufjan. Here's my favorite track from the Petoski, Michigan native, "Casimir Pulaski Day".

M.I.A. Had A Baby, It's A Boy

From her MySpace: "Sunday nite I came home from The Grammys still in the mood to party," she wrote. "I coulda easily gone out but I went home instead. Lucky I did! Coz my early stage labour kicked in around 2 a.m."

Here's her Grammy performance with T.I., Jay-Z, Kayne, and Wayne. Best performance of the show. She was soooooooo pregnant.

SLU 09 GA Live
by yardie4lifever2

Chart Watch
Eminem Shows Some "Crack"

Eminem returns to the top of the Hot 100 for the first time since his "Lose Yourself" ruled the charts for 12 weeks in 2002 with "Crack A Bottle" featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. "Crack" jumped 78-1 after selling 418,000 digital downloads in its opening week on iTunes. This marks the third best opening week for a single behind Flo Rida's "Low" (467,000) and Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" (419,000).

Coming in at No. 2 is Kanye West's "Heartless" which becomes his highest charting single from 808s & Heartbreaks. "Just Dance" falls to No. 3 and last weeks chart topper, Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" drops down to No. 4. T.I. scores his fourth top ten hit from Paper Trail with his Justin Timberlake featured "Dead And Gone" coming in at No. 9

1. "Crack That Bottle" - Eminem feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
2. "Heartless" - Kanye West
3. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis
4. "My Life Would Suck Without You" - Kelly Clarkson
5. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce
6. "Gives You Hell" - All-American Rejects
7. "Love Story" - Taylor Swift
8. "You Found Me" - The Fray
9. "Dead And Gone" - T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake
10. "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Grammy Winners

I got a 6/12 for my predictions. That ain't bad. It ain't good either. I nailed it with the Krauss and Plant collaboration though, didn't I? I know I suck at updating this week but I've been bogged down with school. Commentary on the Grammys is forthcoming.

Album of the Year: Raising Sand - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Record of the Year: "Please Read My Letter" - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Song of the Year (goes to songwriter): "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
Best New Artist: Adele
Best Pop Vocal Performance Female: "Chasing Pavements" - Adele
Best Pop Vocal Performance Male: "Say" - John Mayer
Best Pop Vocal Performance Group: "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
Best Pop Vocal Album: Rockferry - Duffy
Best Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger" - Daft Punk
Best Dance Album: Alive 2007 - Daft Punk
Best R&B Recording: "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
Best Country Vocal Performance Female: "Last Name" - Carrie Underwood
Best Country Vocal Performance Male: "Letter To Me" - Brad Paisley
Best Country Album: Troubadour - George Srait
Best Rock Vocal Performance: "Sex On Fire" - Kings of Leon
Best Rock Album: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Best Alternative Album: In Rainbows - Radiohead
Best Rap Performance Duo/Group: "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Lil Wayne
Best Rap Album: Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Best Music Video Short Form: "Pork and Beans" - Weezer

Chart Watch
Beyonce Bounces Back

Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" retakes pole position after playing second fiddle to T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" for a single week. Lady Gaga continues her climb from dancefloor obscurity to household name as "Just Dance" moves 4-3. The chart's biggest airplay gainer is Kanye West's "Heartless" which rose 16-7. Last week, it was noted that six of the top ten songs in the country came from only three albums. This week tops that with eight songs coming from either Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce, T.I.'s Paper Trail, Britney Spear's Circus, or Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak.

1. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce
2. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
3. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis
4. "Circus" - Britney Spears
5. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
6. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
7. "Heartless" - Kanye West
8. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
9. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce
10. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West

Chart Watch
T.I., Beyonce, & Britney Dominate Top Ten

After a single week at #1, Beyonce's "Single Ladies" succumbs to T.I. as "Live Your Life" takes back the one spot. Britney Spears scores her highest first week debut with "Circus" entering at #3. With "Womanizer" at #10, this marks Spears' first time to ever have two songs in the top ten simultaneously. In fact, six of the top ten songs in the country come from either Spears' Circus, T.I.'s Paper Trail, or Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce. Who says America needs TRL to tell us what we like?

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
2. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce
3. "Circus" - Britney Spears
4. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis
5. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
6. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce
7. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
8. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West
9. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
10. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears

Chart Watch

Beyonce Scores Fifth #1

After ruling pole position for a month and a half with two different songs, T.I. is dethroned by Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". This gives Beyonce her fifth #1 hit as a solo artist in addition to the four she scored as a member of Destiny's Child. The track was the week's greatest airplay gainer and was aided by strong sales as well. Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" continues to rise, going 7-5 this week. Britney Spears' "Womanizer" experienced a bump back into the top ten thanks to her (relatively) heavy promotion for Circus. Ms. Spears looks to be the biggest contender for Beyonce's spot next week as "Circus" the song has taken the lead on the iTunes countdown as soon as the album was released this past Tuesday.

1. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce

2. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat Rihanna

3. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce

4. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.

5. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis

6. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry

7. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo

8. "So What" - Pink

9. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears

10. "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Chart Watch

Beyonce Storms Top 5, Lady Gaga Cracks Top Ten

"Live Your Life" may still be holding on to the #1 spot, but further down in the top ten things are shaking up. Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" remains at #3 and her "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" jumps 28-2 to push T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" down to #4. This marks the first time in Billboard's 50 year history that two artists have had the top four spots. Kanye's "Love Lockdown" which debuted at #3 earlier this year, has climbed back into the top ten upon the release of his album, moving 9-6 this week. The song with the greatest gain in digital sales is Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis. "Dance" was released this past April and has even topped the charts in Austrlia and Canada but couldn't seem to make an impact in America, So You Think You Can Dance appearances be damned. Through word of mouth and an abundance of buzz on the blogosphere, Lady Gaga has been gaining steam and made the jump from #16 to #7. If this seven month old song can remain on the iTunes top ten list despite the continual onslaught of pre-Christmas single releases, Lady Gaga has a good shot at making as much of an impact domestically as she has internationally.

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna

2. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce

3. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce

4. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.

5. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry

6. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West

7. "Just Dance" - Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis

8. "So What" - Pink

9. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo

10. "Right Now (Na Na Na)" - Akon

Chart Watch
Swift Rides the iTunes Wave To Record Setting Heights

T.I. rules pole position for another week with Rihanna in "Live Your Life" and most the top ten remains quite stagnant and boring besides Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" bouncing back. Down at #13 however, young country star Taylor Swift debuts her new song "White Horse". This marks the sixth Hot 100 appearance for Swift in 2008, and breaks the record of the Jonas Brothers for most songs to in the top 20 in a calender year. In addition, five more of her songs debuted outside the top 20 following the release of her album Fearless this week. Swift's record setting feat comes thanks to the modern miracle that is iTunes. Fearless is the week's #1 album, selling 600,000 copies and, in addition, 400,000 copies of one or more of her tracks have been purchased online, meaning that tweens buying the album on the installment plan are responsible for Swift's record setting six hits. Without much radio play to back up the digital sales, Swift's hits are short lived, but it represents a business model tailor-made for the iGeneration.

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
2. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
3. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce
4. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
5. "So What" - Pink
6. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
7. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
8. "Right Now (Na Na Na)" -Akon
9. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West
10. "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Collaborations: How Much Is Too Much?

Two of the biggest forces in popular music during the 1990's were Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. By themselves they ruled the charts, and a superstar collaboration was inevitable. It came in the form of 1995's "One Sweet Day", a single that dominated the Hot 100 with a jaw-dropping and record-setting 16 weeks at #1. Despite the success that the collaboration yielded, acts teaming up for singles remained events as opposed to the norm.

Flash forward to the twenty-first century, and collaborations have become a common occurrence. Some of them are the lovechild of two massive musical forces such as Alicia Keys and Usher teaming up for "My Boo" or Justin Timberlake and Madonna on "4 Minutes". On the other hand, some of them, like Pharrell's "Can I Have It Like That" featuring (and I use that term lightly)Gwen Stefani, make you wonder if the featuring credit is really necessary.

Apparently it is. Looking at the #1 singles of each decade reveals an increasing trend to jam-pack credits with multiple artists. In the 1980's, collaborations accounted for only 6% of all #1 hits. In the 1990's this grew to 13%. With just over twelve months in this decade left, collaborations make up 38% of the chart toppers in the 2000's, including the current one, "Live Your Life" by T.I. featuring Rihanna. One could argue that the massive success "Life" has achieved is a direct result of the featuring credits. Although T.I. has done quite well on his own (#1 album Paper Trail and #1 solo single "Whatever You Like"), "Life" utilized Rihanna for cross-over appeal to music fans who listen to more Beyonce than Big Boi.

The best example of getting the most mileage out of a cross-over hit is Nelly & Tim McGraw's "Over And Over". Talk about reaching across party lines, "Over" unites red states and blue states in a smooth twangy guitar R&B tear jerker about lost love. Pro-life or pro-choice, we all hurt. Isn't that what collaborations should be all about? Isn't that what music is all about? Bringing people together, despite our differences, because there are somethings, like the joy of love and the pain of losing it, that are universal.

Admittedly, collaborations are made more often for the purpose of selling records than for art's sake, but can you blame them? Rihanna's so hot right now, it's a wonder that only T.I. and Maroon 5 have grabbed a hold of her coattails. Looking at the growing number of collaborative hits over the past thirty years makes you wonder what the 2010's hold. With a record industry in decline, it may become a necessity to tack on as many artists as possible to a song to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. But, at what point does the excitement of having multiple big names headlining a song wear off? What about with "Stand Up To Cancer", the charity single featuring Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Nicole Scherzinger , Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Keyshia Cole, Ashanti and Ciara. It only made it to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. You can argue that it's because it's a crappy song to begin with, but is it that much worse than "We Are The World" which was #1 for a month?

.

The market has been inundated with artists featuring other artists and having Justin Timberlake or Jay-Z tack on an intro or bridge to a song isn't news anymore. The very integrity of the collaboration is at stake. The only solution is for record companies to revert back to releasing only event collaborations. Can I have it like that? You got it like that.

Highs & Lows in Collaboration History:

High: "One Sweet Day" - Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

Low: "Can I Have It Like That" - Pharrell feat. Gwen Stefani

High: "Over And Over" - Nelly feat. Tim McGraw

Low: Artists Stand Up To Cancer - Just Stand Up

Chart Watch
T.I. Replaces Himself At #1...Again

After seven non-consecutive weeks at #1, T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" is overtaken by his other massive hit, "Live Your Life" with Rihanna. T.I. accomplished this exact same feat four weeks ago. Other than that, nothing too exciting in the top then this week.

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
2. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
3. "So What" - Pink
4. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
5. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce
6. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
7. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
8. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
9. "Right Now (Na Na Na)" - Akon
10. "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Chart Watch Getting T.I.red of T.I.'s T.I.me on Top of the Hot 100 Yet?

T.I. logs in his eighth non-consecutive week at the top spot with "Whatever You Like". "Live Your Life" remains at #2. Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" jumps 68-3 (yawn) after selling 190,000 digital downloads, pushing back Pink's "So What" to #4 and Britney Spear's "Womanizer" to #5. Jason Mraz makes his top ten entrance with "I'm Yours".

Meanwhile, over on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, Adele's 19 moves from #46 to #11. If Sarah Palin can do that for Adele, what can she do for the economy?

1. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
2. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
3. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce
4. "So What" - Pink
5. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
6. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
7. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
8. "Miss Independent" - Ne-You
9. "Disturbia" - Rihanna
10. "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Chart Watch
T.I. Reclaims #1

After two consecutive weeks of record breaking chart jumps, T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" moves back to #1. His duet with Rihanna, "Live Your Life", moves up to #2, followed by Pink's "So What". Last week's chart topper, Britney Spear's "Womanizer", moves down to #4 despite remaining the most downloaded song in the country. T.I.'s resurgence comes due to his steady airplay gains ("Live Your Life" claims the title of greatest airplay gainer this week). Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" rounds out the top five. Taylor Swift earns the week's highest debut as "Fearless" comes in at #9. Further down the chart, Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better" falls from #17 to #27 in its third week on the chart. Maybe she should stick to making faux-retro music.

1. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
2. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat. Rihanna
3. "So What" - Pink
4. "Womanizer" - Britney Spears
5. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
6. "Disturbia" - Rihanna
7. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
8. "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
9. "Fearless" - Taylor Swift
10. "Can't Believe It" - T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne

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"

Chart Watch
After all the excitement and jostling of songs on iTunes top ten, this week's Billboard Hot 100 is a major disappointment. Slots 1-4 remain unchanged as the rest of the top ten shuffle around a bit. T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" which has dominated digital downloads since its release debuts at #80. Over on the Modern Rock Chart The Killer's "Human" starts its run at #13.

Top Ten:
1. T.I. - "Whatever You Like"
2. Pink - "So What"
3. Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
4. Rihanna - "Disturbia"
5. M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
6. Katy Perry - "Hot N Cold"
7. T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne - "Can't Believe It"
8. Ne-Yo - "Closer"
9. Taylor Swift - "Love Story"
10. Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"

iTunes Watch
Last week, Kanye West set a personal record for highest debut when "Love Lockdown" opened at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. With virtually no radio airplay and only a couple of days of sales, he seemed a shoe-in for this week's #1 as Pink's "So What" barley beat him out in digital downloads despite having an entire week of sales. West had a lock down on the one spot on iTunes until yesterday when Pink's "So What" snatched it (who's still buying this song?) followed by Katy Perry's rising "Hot N Cold". That'll throw a wrench in Kanye's plans.

Meanwhile, new releases by Christina Aguilera ("Keeps Gettin' Better") and The Killers ("Human") are now available for legal download on the site. Neither of these tracks have made it to the top ten yet, but T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" has. The song, from T.I.'s Paper Trails album (out today) samples the infamous "Numa Numa Song" (actually titled "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone) and is Rihanna's best song since "Umbrella". It's current #9 place on iTunes top 100 songs is made all the more impressive considering it has yet to be officially released as a single, has received little airplay, and doesn't even have a music video. Rihanna is an unstoppable force of nature.

T.I. Reclaims Pole Position

After being knocked off the top spot for a solitary week, "Whatever You Like" by T.I. reclaims the #1 spot thanks to strong gains in airplay. Pink's "So What" drops down to #2. Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" debuts at #3 due to strong first week digital downloads. In our last poll, we asked 17 Tracks readers their thoughts on Katy Perry and her girl kissing single. 42% believed Perry to be a one hit wonder. She proved them wrong today as "Hot N Cold" jumped 12-9, giving her a second top ten hit. She's a double hit wonder now. Can she do it a third time?

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

2. Pink - "So What"

3. Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

4. Rihanna - "Disturbia"

5. Taylor Swift - "Love Story"

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

7. Ne-Yo - "Closer"

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

9. Katy Perry - "Hot N Cold"

10. Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"

Pink Scores First Ever Solo Number One
In 2001, Pink was included in the all-star cast for the remake of Labelle's "Lady Marmalade" alongside Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, and Mya. The track was #1 for five weeks. Seven years later, Pink finally gets a #1 all to herself. "So What" is about a pop star pretending to be a rock star and steals it's "na na na na na na na" from Barney. It sold 253,000 digital downloads.

"Swagga Like Us" is this week's hot shot debut at #5. "Swagga" featuring a superstar line-up of Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne and sold 139,000 digital downloads. "American Boy" jetted from a disappointing #53 placing to its new peak at #8 after Atlantic Records decided to put it back on iTunes.

1. Pink - "So What"
2. T.I. - "Whatever You Like"
3. Rihanna - "Disturbia"
4. M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
5. Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne - "Swagga Like Us"
6. Chris Brown - "Forever"
7. Ne-Yo - "Closer"
8. Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"
9. Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain - "Got Money"