Chart Rigger

Jordin Sparks Won't Like Kristinia DeBarge's New Single 'Future Love'

2009-07-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

I fell off the face of the blogging world for a week and a half, so I'm just now getting around to posting the album cover for Kristinia DeBarge's Babyface-produced LP Exposed, which is out July 28.

You can really tell a lot of time and effort when into that innovative design.

Anyway, below is a clip of her new single, "Future Love"—not a cover of the new-ish Lady Gaga song, but rather a cover of a track by now-defunct boy band Varsity.

I've also included Varsity's version. Either way, total rip-off of Jordin Sparks' "One Step At A Time," no?

Mariah Carey 'Obsessed' With Her 31st Top 40 Hit

2009-07-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

The big news with this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart is that Mariah Carey's "Obsessed" debuts at #11, giving the top-heavy squealing broad her 31st Top 40 hit in the States. Of course, that's not counting that Busta Rhymes trash she featured on, "I Know What You Want" (#3, 2003), or Judakiss' superclassy "U Make Me Wanna" (#16, 2004).

Here's Mimi's Eminem-dissing vid for "Obsessed," which debuted yesterday:

One notch higher, at #10, comes the week's top debut—Hannah Montana's (aka Miley Cyrus) "He Could Be The One." I didn't even realize Miley was still slumming with that blonde wig.

Elsewhere, Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield" finally moves up five positions to #25, Green Day are up 11 to #26 with "21 Guns" and David Guetta and Kelly Rowland squeak up to #77 with "When Love Takes Over"—which, by the way, I finally heard on the radio this week.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas *3 weeks*
2. "Best I Ever Had" - Drake
3. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
4. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
5. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
6. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift
7. "LoveGame" - Lady Gaga
8. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" - Pitbull
9. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
10. "He Could Be The One" - Hannah Montana *new*

Whitney Houston's New PhotoShop Album Cover For 'I Look To You'

2009-07-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

It looks like they sandblasted the Whitney out of Whitney Houston and super-glued one of Vanessa Williams' old faces on top of her head.

I Look To You is released September 1 on Arista.

Listen To Industry's New Single 'Burn'

2009-07-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like Industry members Michele McGrath, Donal Skehan, Morgan Deane and Lee Hutton aren't content just sitting around on their pop-infused laurels. Fresh off their hit "My Baby's Waiting," which reached #1 in the band's home country of Ireland, comes the announcement of brand new single "Burn."

"Burn" is written and produced by Swedish pair Oscar Holter and Jakke Erixson, who also worked on the band's track "In Your Arms" (listen here).

If you ask me, it sounds like some of the best d'luvvly ballads Steps ever did. Have a listen to "Burn," and lemme know what you think:

ALSO SEE:
* Chart Rigger Interviews Industry's Donal Skehan

Maybe If Jordin Sparks Did The Sex With David Guetta, They'd Each Have A Hit?

2009-07-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

Really, I'm only mentioning this so I can post the picture of the giant, burning disco ball—but every week I'm amazed at the durability of Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning," a song I first heard on the radio back in either February or March. And while I initially started out liking it, I can't say that I've listened to it much over the past two months.

Still, somebody must be still giving it some attention, as it manages to finally move up a notch to #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart this week.

Way on the polar opposite end, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland's "When Love Takes Over" has peaked at #90 so far. Meanwhile, David's album One Love will be released August 25 here in the States.

And wonder what's with Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield," which has been stuck in a cumbersome holding pattern? After eight weeks, it's still trapped at #30. Perhaps the album release will boost sales of the single, when it's released in two weeks.

Meanwhile, I hadn't seen the single cover for "Battlefield" that's to the left there. Pretty snazzy.

On a final note, "21 Guns," easily the best song off Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown, jumps up from #55 to #37. It's a track that sounds like part two of "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams," but, ah, well, who needs originality anymore?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas *2 weeks*
2. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
3. "Best I Ever had" - Drake
4. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
5. "LoveGame" - Lady GaGa
6. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
7. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
8. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" - Pitbull
9. "You Belong To Me" - Taylor Swift
10. "New Divide" - Linkin Park

Never Can Say Goodbye

2009-07-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

About a year into this blog's existence, I made the personal commitment that I'd not let more than two days go by without doing a post, even if it was something frivolous and silly, or off beaten path from music.

That said, there's been an extreme, unforseen event within my family that is requiring me to put everything else on hold and, basically, to just be there.

For the time being, I may just pop on and do chart rundowns on Thursday and Sunday, because old habits die hard.

But I'll be back. That's a ~~threat~~ promise.

In the meantime, enjoy this clip of Mariah Carey, her breasts and her gay singing "I'll Be There" at the Michael Jackson Memorial service today at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

Must... Resist... Shitty New... Cascada.. Single...

2009-07-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Like a persistent, nettlesome sewer rat constantly gnawing at my mind, Cascada's derivative new jam "Evacuate The Dancefloor" has been creeping into my soul and forcing me to tolerate it. This week it causes La Roux to evacuate the #1 position on the U.K. chart, taking over Ol' Blighty and become the German dance act's first chart-topper there, and fifth overall Top 10 hit.

Here's the video for the Lady Gaga-copping tune, which was reviewed two weeks back by yours truly and a gaggle of other unruly music bloggers on Pop Trash Addict's Pop Panel:

Elsewhere, keeping up with last week's infiltration of old Michael Jackson songs, no less than 13 of them appear in the new Top 40—including "Man In The Mirror" (#2), "Billie Jean" (#10), "Thriller" (#12), "Smooth Criminal" (#13) and "Beat It" (#19).

On the album chart, five of the positions are owned by the Eeeeh-heeeeee!-squealing singer, and Number Ones is swapped out at the top for The Essential Michael Jackson.

On a final note, Florence And The Machine's "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" drops to #18 after initially peaking at #12. Florence seems highly-regarded amongst the music crowd, though as I wrote elsewhere about this broad, I can't help feeling that Tori Amos wants her pussy back.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Evacuate The Dancefloor" - Cascada *1 week*
2. "Man In The Mirror" - Michael Jackson
3. "Bulletproof" - La Roux
4. "When Love Takes Over" - David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland
5. "Paparazzi" - Lady Gaga
6. "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas
7. "Release Me" - Agnes
8. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
9. "Mama Do" - Pixie Lott
10. "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson

Industry Debuted At #1 (Yayyy!)...And Then Dropped Out Of The Top 40 (Ouchie!)

2009-07-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

I kept meaning to post that Irish pop act Industry debuted at #1 in their home country last week with debut single "My Baby's Waiting." However, glad I waited, as the interesting part is that this week the single falls from #1 to #44. Is that, like, even possible?

I'm still maintaining that these four won't find true success until the two laddies start going shirtless. Plus, shame on them for being in L.A. last week and not inviting D'luv along to grab a Guinness.

ALSO SEE:
* Chart Rigger Interview's Industry's Donal Skehan

Michael Jackson's Catalog Albums Outsell The Black Eyed Peas, Rob Thomas Still Perplexes

2009-07-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

You can't go without acknowledging Michael Jackson's sales accomplishment this week. Though because of official rules—and unlike in the U.K.—it doesn't affect the main album chart (Billboard Top 200 Albums).

Instead, his Number Ones and Essential Michael Jackson compilations and Thriller studio album each sold over 100,000 copies to appear at #1, 2 and 3 positions on the Top Pop Catalog chart. A record has now been broken, as this marks the first time an album on that Top Pop Catalog list has outsold the #1 on the Top 200 Albums chart—in this case, Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D., which had sales of 88,000.

To clear things up, the differentiation is that Billboard deems an album older than 18 months which has fallen below the #100 position on the Top 200 Albums chart is now scooted over to the Top Pop Catalog Albums. Comprende?

And, unless you're living in a tent in Siberia and weren't aware, this resurgance in the Jackson catalog is all because of the singer's death last Thursday.

Over on the Hot 100 Singles, Black Eyed Peas' swap singles in the #1 and #2 positions, with "I Gotta Feeling" now overtaking "Boom Boom Pow" as the top song in the country after the latter's 12-week reign.

Elsewhere, Pink's "Please Don't Leave Me" manages to lollygaga up two spots to #18, while Jordin Sparks lumbers up one to #31.

I also can't not mention Rob Thomas, who I've often been conflicted about as to whether he's actually hot or like one of those deceitful photos you stare at for a minute and it begins to shift in scope. His latest, "Her Diamonds," jumps up to #32, and becomes only his second Top 40 solo single in the U.S.—outside of that Santana one, "Smooth," which was #1 for, like, 2,640 weeks 10 years ago.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas *1 week*
2. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
3. "Best I Ever had" - Drake
4. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
5. "LoveGame" - Lady GaGa
6. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" - Pitbull
7. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
8. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
9. "New Divide" - Linkin Park
10. "Waking Up In Vegas" - Katy Perry

Sally Shapiro's 'Miracle' Is Italo-Tastic

2009-07-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Dammit! I kept meaning to write about Sally Shapiro's upcoming second studio album, My Guilty Pleasure—mainly because the single EP for "Miracle" was added to iTunes two weeks ago.

Here's a clip of "Miracle":

That last instrumental minute is a total killer!

Of all the blonde Swede dames out there churning out music, Sally offers up properly authentic-sounding, detached Italo disco, thanks in no small part to her producer Johan Agebjörn. Her first album, Disco Romance, was totally my winter jam a couple years back.

I even slipped Johan and Sally's track "Spacer Woman From Mars" (not available on her first album, only as a single) into a promo video we did for one of the Instinct cover guys when I worked there.

Anyway, My Guilty Pleasure is apparently "a bit more poppy and varied" while "keeping the romantic feel of Disco Romance." Sexy!

I've got it sitting here. As soon as I get off my lazy butt I'll throw up a review. Well, not throw up, as in, like, throw up.

Mariah Carey's Man Drag = Big F.U. To Eminem

2009-06-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well, in case you had any doubt that Mariah Carey's new single "Obsessed"—off her upcoming August 25 release Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel—was a diss aimed back at Eminem, check out her man garb on the set of the vid, which was being shot yesterday in New York.

Why doesn't this broad have an Oscar yet, again? Sigh. Eminem totally deserves it, and probably won't be able to take the stuff he usually dishes out being given back at him.

I mean, sure, he used to be the king of parodying modern day pop stars in his own videos, but no one cares anymore about that pasty sack of irrelevance anymore.

Besides, Mojo Nixon did this shit 20 years ago, with "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child"! (Check out Winona Ryder in the video as Debz...and the diss on Rick Astley, as well!)

Michael Jackson Yanks The Rug Out From Under La Roux With Major U.K. Chart Feat

2009-06-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

While La Roux snag the top single on the U.K. chart this weekend with "Bulletproof"—thereby besting the #2 peak of previous release "In For The Kill"—it's really Michael Jackson who dominates this week, both in news and in chart feats.

His 2003 collection Number Ones grabs the top spot on the Brit album chart, while 43 of his past singles have entered the Top 200 singles chart—20 of which are in the Top 75—following a resurgence of interest in Jacko's back catalog following his death on Thursday. The highest entry from him is "Man In The Mirror," in at #11. That one's also been the top download on U.S. iTunes since Friday.

Ironically, I remember picking up that Number Ones CD after a trip to London in late 2003, where it was on display everywhere you went.

The impressive part is that there were only two days left once Jackson died before the U.K. chart was tallied up, and yet over 300,000 of his singles and albums were snatched up in that time period.

Here's an article from Friday about Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble here in the U.S. selling out of all things MJ within 24 hours.

I also liked the ending of this other article, which sums up the legacy Michael Jackson will end up leaving behind, and puts it in terms of where he currently was as far as his relevancy was concerned when he died:

"A comeback seemed to be most unlikely. His reputation was considered irreparably damaged, his image mocked and his name an automatic punchline. But when he announced he'd be doing a series of comeback concerts at London's famed O2 Arena, not only did the initial dates sell out immediately, the demand was so insatiable he was signed on for an unprecedented 50 shows. He was expected to embark on a worldwide tour sometime after the concert series was completed in March.
"Of course, there will be no comeback now, no Jackson 5 reunion, no new music to share with millions of fans. But the legacy he leaves behind is so rich, so deep, that no scandal can torpedo it. The 'Thriller' may be gone, but the thrill will always remain."

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Bulletproof" - La Roux *1 week*
2. "When Love Takes Over'" - David Guetta/Kelly Rowland
3. "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas
4. "Paparazzi" - Lady Gaga
5. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
6. "Release Me" - Agnes
7. "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)" - Pixie Lott
8. "Red" - Daniel Merriweather
9. "Bonkers" - Dizzee Rascal
10. "Untouched" - The Veronicas

Thoughtful Commentary On Mariah Carey's 'Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel' Album Cover

2009-06-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

I meant to comment on Mariah Carey's album cover art for Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel earlier this week, but the Michael Jackson news kind of sideswiped that. So let's get to it now!

First of all, given the title of this trash, you kind of expect serious Mariah on the cover. Mariah with a grey background, looking pensive, if you will. Mariah feeling contemplative over her imperfections as a sad-winged missionary for God.

No, instead it's giggle-squeal Mariah—three of them, in fact—in a skin-tight cotton dress with her ass hanging out. In fact, is that even a dress? Maybe a T-shirt, stretched down just far enough to cover Mimi's secret.

And with that third imperfect Mariah on the cover, her cans look like Scylla and Charybdis, ready to slam into any poor sailor who dares to enter The Butterfly.

See, there's nothing imperfect about this at all. This is Mariah as we like her—out of her mind and high on her own eccentricities. All that's missing is a champagne flute poking up from her cleavage.

Or maybe the spout from a box of Franzia jutting out the bottom of her dress. Chin chin!

UPDATE: Loving the similarities commenters are pointing out between the Memoirs cover and other album art—such as '80s pop ho Sabrina's "All Of Me" single and RuPaul's Christmas album Ho Ho Ho—out there.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

Having a music blog, you feel sort of obligated to write about Michael Jackson's passing today. But truth is, I can't really add any more to what we're all going to hear over and over for weeks to come.

All I'll say is that I feel a little lost. I called my mom tonight and she told me about the first time she heard Michael on the radio—on the Jackson 5 single "I Want You Back"—40 years ago this fall, while driving to her freshman college classes.

She told me she was thinking, "Who's this little kid singing? I can't believe I like this—I'm a Beatles fan!"

In a lot of ways, for many folks—despite all the controversy—Jackson was and remained that kind of guilty pleasure.

Anyway, the following is from a column I wrote on Towleroad, back in February 2008. Truthfully, it's probably my favorite of the pieces I wrote there over the past two years:

"[Thiller's] centerpiece (and master stroke) is the one-two punch of 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean'—two brilliant pop achievements that sound as cinematic today as Jackson probably initially imagined them and then brought to life with their videos. Half these emo boy bands should be grabbed by the scruff, sat down and scolded with Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo from 'Beat It' over and over again. Some of today's radio-friendly young poppets would also do well to toss out their cookie cutter ballads and use 'Human Nature' as a template, the complicated layers of which I'm realizing initially escaped me at age nine.

"Whether he grasped that it was going to happen or not, Michael Jackson caught lightning in a bottle with Thriller in the early '80s. In a time before the mountain of career-destroying weirdness consumed him, he stepped through the pop culture window opened by E.T. and Pac Man and sent millions of suburban kids off dreaming. While I wanna think, Never say never, it's pretty much safe to assume a mega-selling phenomenon like that record could never happen again."

Goodnight, Michael. I have many fond childhood memories from 1983 through '84, which Thriller soundtracked.

This Chart Sucks, So Here's The Jordin Sparks 'Battlefield' Album Cover

2009-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield" rebounds on this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart and jumps up from #46 to #31, one notch higher than the song initially debuted and peaked at back in May.

You know, last year when Jordin's first album was a-floppin' until the label released "No Air" as a single, I used to offer all kinds of creative suggestions for how she could get the record off the ground:

* Maybe If Jordin Sparks Did A Night-Vision Sex Tape Her Album Would Sell Better

* Maybe If Jordin Sparks Dropped Her Panties For TMZ.com Her Album Would Sell Better

Hmm. I thought there were more, but I must have been lazy on the Jordin career-saving front. Oh well, above is the cover for her upcoming sophomore album, also titled Battlefield. It's out July 28.

Oh, wait—there was also this one:

* Jordin Sparks Has Sex With A Tree

Class. Elsewhere on the Hot 100—like, way elsewhere, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland's "When Love Takes Over" debuts at #100. It's currently at #1 on the U.K. singles chart.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas *12 weeks*
2. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas
3. "Best I Ever had" - Drake
4. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
5. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" - Pitbull
6. "LoveGame" - Lady GaGa
7. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
8. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
9. "Second Chance" - Shinedown
10. "Every Girl" - Young Money

When Did Shayne Ward Muscle Up And Shave His Head?

2009-06-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

2005 X Factor winner Shayne Ward has always incited a twinge of lust in pop fans—D'luv included!

And while his third album has apparently now been pushed back from its original summer release date to December, thankfully Chart Rigger reader Ms. Tina sent along the below video she made of Shayne performing a cover of U2's "One" with Phebe Edwards in County Cork, Ireland, on Friday. Something to tide you over.

But, golly, when did Shayne beef up and completely shear off his usual buzzcut? He looks like a prison inmate.

Wait—Shayne Ward. Prison. No women around for miles. Naughty touch!

La Roux Are Wheeling Their Arses Across North America This Summer

2009-06-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

That's right, pop chyldren—after La Roux's brief club tour back in April, Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid are coming back to the States and Canada for a proper North American tour. (Well, actually, Ben never made it over the first time around.)

Here are the dates:
July 22 — San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord
July 24 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
July 27 — Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
July 28 — Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
July 31 — Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
August 1 — Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Festival
August 2 — New York, NY @ All Points West Festival
August 6 — Washington, DC @ Town
August 7 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza

La Roux's full-length album is out Monday in the U.K. and this October in the U.S. on Cherrytree, the same label as Lady Gaga.

In the meantime, the singles "Bulletproof," "In For The Kill" and "Quicksand" are available on iTunes here.

My Interview With Diane Birch

2009-06-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

My interview with singer-songwriter Diane Birch—who's been compared to Carole King and Laura Nyro, and whose album Bible Belt was released last month—was posted today at GayWired.

Here’s an excerpt:

"In all honesty, I used to hate The Carpenters. Not hate. Hate's a strong word. But I associated that music with really old-fashioned, like, that's the kind of music that probably my parents would listen to if they were feeling wild. [Laughs]

"Then, I first heard [Carole King's] Tapestry when I was playing piano at the Beverly Hills Hotel. One of the waiters asked me if I knew any Carole King, and I was kind of like, 'No, it's not really my thing. I'm into Radiohead.

"One day I came to work and he had a little package for me on the piano. It was Tapestry. I put it in my car as I was leaving work and was like, 'Where has this been all my life?'"

Saint And Stacey Barnes Cover A Rare PWL Track By Suzette Charles

2009-06-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

Damn, making these retro-sounding remixes that sound like old Stock Aitken Waterman jams is on the verge of becoming a cottage industry.

The latest such song, "After You're Gone," is actually a cover of an unreleased Suzette Charles track. Here it's done by U.K. DJ/producer Saint featuring former X Factor contestant Stacey Barnes on vocals, for the company Roar Tunes.

This is the "King & McQueen '80s Radio Mix":

"After You're Gone" will be made available sometime in August. In the meantime, find out more info here.

JoJo's Latest Scandal Trash

2009-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Holy shit! Chart Rigger's all-time favorite age-inappropriate teen pop ho JoJo has been arrested for posession of an illegal substance!

Oops—wrong JoJo. Well, there's goes this f'ing post.

Oh, I kid, kids, I kid. JoJo is getting high, alright...high and mighty. Earlier this month she slapped together a video rant about the drama she's been struggling with in dealing with her record label.

Get this—18-year-old JoJo actally handed her third album in a year-and-a-half ago and, in turn, has put college on hold, thinking she would have been promoting it by now. Alas, as you hear below, that hasn't exactly been the case.

"I just wanna hear concrete answers," JoJo shrieks. "I deserve to know what's going on. I don't deserve to be waiting every day like, Gee, are they gonne get their deal done today?"

Also below is a leak of a new song from her, "25 To Life."

JoJo, doll, that sure ain't no "Too Little, Too Late."

Oh, well. If you took a flamethrower to this damn blog, I think the JoJo banterview would survive. It's gotta be the hands-down best piece of class that ever graced this dive.

Kelly Rowland Is Still Lurved In England

2009-06-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

Fret not, former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland, for you may have been ditched by your label here in the States, but your David Guetta dance jam "When Love Takes Over" has now topped the U.K. singles chart!

This gives now gives Guetta a simultaneous #1 single in Ol' Blighty and a #2 single—with Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling"—in the States.

Elsewhere in the U.K. Top 10, Lady Gaga crashes in at #8 with "Paparazzi," making it her third straight Top 10 hit there. Over here, we got "LoveGame" as her third official single, which sits at #5 on this week's Billboard Hot 100.

And Take That clown their way to #9 with "Said It All," the band's third single off The Circus, and 18th overall Top 10 hit in their home country.

Meanwhile, just as Kelly Rowland found salvation with a dance producer after a testy relationship with her label, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has teamed up with Freemasons for the single "Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer," in at #15. (She's also worked with Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis and Groove Armada for her upcoming fourth album).

Here's the "Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer" vid:

On a final note, Blazin' Squad go down, but not in a blaze of glory. Their comeback single "Let's Start Again" makes a dismal debut at #51. Let's stop again, lads.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "When Love Takes Over'" - David Guetta/Kelly Rowland *1 week*
2. "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)" - Pixie Lott
3. "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas
4. "Release Me" - Agnes
5. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
6. "Bonkers" - Dizzee Rascal
7. "Red" - Daniel Merriweather
8. "Paparazzi" - Lady Gaga
9. "Said It All" - Take That
10. "Untouched" - The Veronicas

Kristinia DeBarge Keeps Her Mic Where?

2009-06-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a clip of Kristinia DeBarge performing her #15-charting semi-hit "Goodbye" on So You Think You Can Dance last night.

I say "performing," because I'm hard-pressed to believe she was actually singing. You can tell she shrieks a couple times overtop a vocal track, but, where was the microphone? I don't see it. Where...

Ohhhh....wait a minute.

No More 'Waiting' For Industry, Baby!

2009-06-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Irish pop act Industry finally see their debut single "My Baby's Waiting" get its official release today in their home country! And, good news—over at Ireland's Download Music site, the song is currently at #2 on the daily chart.

Also check out Chart Rigger's interview with Industry's Donal Skehan if you haven't already, or Fizzy Pop's sit-down with the whole band.

Confession Time: I Gotta A Feeling That I Actually Like The New Black Eyed Peas Album

2009-06-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

I knew this day would come. With the arrival of the Black Eyed Peas' album The E.N.D. comes their latest hit "I Gotta Feeling" slamming straight into the Billboard Hot 100 at #2, right behind the band's "Boom Boom Pow," now in its 11th week at the top of the chart.

However, the arrival of The E.N.D. brings something else; my admission that I actually like some of the album. In fact, I like most of the album, save for "Boom Boom Pow" and "Imma Be." Yes, I've railed against the former on more than one occasion.

But what can I say—I'm a sucker for artists who are ditching hip hop for dance pop and David Guetta these days. Plus, Fergie kinda sounds like Michael Jackson circa the Jackson 5 in "Missing You," which is both creepy and cool.

Okay, before moving on from that scandaltrash confession, can someone put me out of my misery and tell me what old song that Woah-oh-oh-oh melody in "Meet Me Halfway" is based on? At first I thought it was "Video Killed The Radio Star," but that's not quite it. Anyone? Or am I imagining that it sounds exactly like something else?

Elsewhere, Kristinia DeBarge slips one to #16 with "Goodbye," while Pink moves up a position to #20 with "Please Don't Leave Me." This now gives the short-coiffed minx her 13th Top 20 hit in the U.S.

On a final note, at least the video for Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield" has finally caused the single to catch some, er, spark. It jumps up from #65 to #46 this week. The song previously debuted and peaked at #32 in May.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas *11 weeks*
2. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas *new*
3. "Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
4. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" - Pitbull
5. "LoveGame" - Lady GaGa
6. "Birthday Sex" - Jeremih
7. "Poker Face" - Lady GaGa
8. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
9. "Second Chance" - Shinedown
10. "Halo" - Beyonce

Mariah Carey Is 'Obsessed' With Being Ghetto

2009-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Oh, Mimi. You just can't let go of your ghetto inclinations.

After announcing the '80s teen hooker movie-themed title of Mariah Carey's upcoming album, Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel, last month, news has now come that the LP will drop on August 25.

First single "Obsessed" also coincidentally leaked. Here's a clip:

"Obsessed" is brought to us by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, aka the fine folks behind Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies."

But hasn't history kind of shown that, in general, the public wants tame, ballad-warbling Mariah? When she gets all hoodrat, she usually has a big hit right out of the gate (see: "Honey" and "Touch My Body") then the album sputters out and dies shortly after, with nary another smash single to be found.

I suppose there was "My All," which hit #1 and was off the same album as "Honey." But that was, like, the 46th single from that Butterfly trash, and the previous ones were all DOA.

Oh, well. "Obsessed" will probably be huge. But whether Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel can cough up a second hit will be the true test.

Keep it classy, girl.