CHART RIGGER

The 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2016

2016-12-24T08:03:00.003-05:00

All you fucks thought we were dead, but nah — the past 14 months have been like an extended vacation. Plus, if the Bush era taught the world one thing, it's that the Chart Rigger THOTs thrive best when there's an low-rent imbecile headed to the White House.

So, yes, D'luv (follow me on Instagram) and Moogaboo (follow him, too) took, oh, all of 2016 off from dispensing our pearls of trashdom around here. And December 2015 marked the first time in a decade we didn't do our annual 10 Best Pop Singles of the year list. But screw it — the world is spiraling down the garbage bucket at the speed of light, so it's time to say FUCK YOU TO 2016, flip the lights back on at this dive and educate the chyldryn all over again in the new year.

Before that happens, though, let's look at what was actually good from the past 12 months.

— Robbie and John | Pittsburgh, PA, December 2016 —

10. Zara Larsson, "Lush Life"

D'luv says: "I listened to 'Lush Life' a lot while poolside over the summer, which is exactly where you'd want to play it. 'Never Forget You' was Zara's big US hit, while this far superior jam flopped on the charts. Isn't that always the way?"
Moogaboo says: "Perfect pop without pretensions, Zara's light summer anthem landed on the right side of the 'tropical house' trend and deserved more play than radio afforded it."
Charts: SWE #1, UK #3, US #75

9. Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj, "Side By Side"

D'luv says: "Ariana gets a one-song pass from me per album...especially when that song is about getting fucked so hard you can't walk straight."
Moogaboo says: "This catchy fuck-jam broke me down until I found myself reveling in its complete lack of shame. Where were you when you first found yourself repeating the line 'wrist icicle, ride dick bicycle'? (I was at the public library.)"
Charts: AUS #3, US #4, UK #4

8. Clean Bandit featuring Louisa Johnson, "Tears"

D'luv says: "I think Clean Bandit are the modern day Ace Of Base, and for that alone they should be given the keys to the pop kingdom."
Moogaboo says: "If you watch only one video with an exploding violin this year, it should be 'Tears!"
Charts: UK #5, US Dance #17

7. Pet Shop Boys, "The Pop Kids"

D'luv says: "I first heard 'The Pop Kids' while crashing at a friend's house in L.A. in February for a few weeks, and that throwback house sound was fantastic while driving around under the sunny skies. Now that the dust has settled on Super, I feel like this will be one of the standout tracks from the duo's whole Stuart Price era."
Moogaboo says: "I love that the PSBs aren't afraid to wear their aged-pop-aunties titles on their impeccably tailored sleeves. 'The Pop Kids' is both wistful and witty, an elegy to '90s disco nights gone by that manages to sound more contemporary and chic than output by peers half Neil and Chris' age."
Charts: US Dance #1

6. Rihanna, "Kiss It Better"

D'luv says: "This just makes me think of sex. Easily RiRi's best single off Anti...so of course it flopped."
Moogaboo says: "Of course! The squealing guitars, pleading chorus, and ghost-sex video put this one over the top for me. In all fairness, Rihanna did leave for lunch before anyone could write a second verse, but I find the copy + paste effect adds to 'Kiss It Better's out-of-fucks charm."
Charts: UK #45, US #62, US Dance #1

5. Justin Timberlake, "Can't Stop The Feeling!"

D'luv says: "Suck it, haters! 'Can't Stop The Feeling' — a Grammy and Golden Globe nominee, plus the best-selling US single of 2016, mind you — was the feelgood smash in a very feelbad year. "
Moogaboo says: "I bought some new size 32-waist jeans to this Trolls anthem back in October, so I'll let it live. Yes, that's a shallow summation that has nothing to do with anything but my own vanity... THANK YOU, it's great to be back!"
Charts: US #1, CAN #1, FRANCE #1, UK #2, AUS #3

4. Zayn, "Pillowtalk"

D'luv says: "So while 'Kiss It Better' makes me think of pleasant, by-the-numbers sex, 'Pillowtalk' is like a 'STRANGLE ME WITH YOUR DICK, KING!' fuck sesh."
Moogaboo says: "Bad boys with delusions of deepness are one of my magnificent obsessions in life. So I'm here for ZaYn and his sleaze-sex-pop magic."
Charts: US #1, UK #1, CAN #1, AUS #1

3. Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna, "This Is What You Came For"

D'luv says: "Now here's a perfect springtime jam that stuck around all through the summer, too. I love everything about euphoric house gem 'This Is What You Came For', despite the late reveal that it was penned by beige cock hound Taylor Swift."
Moogaboo says: "Making me long for the days of up-tempo Rihanna — she was always an underestimated disco doyenne in my book. Yes, T. Swift's involvement threw a yoga mat over some of its shine for me, but in the end, it's an undeniable twirler."
Charts: AUS #1, CAN, #1, UK #2, US #3

2. The 1975, "Somebody Else"

D'luv says: "Dreamy new wave synths and regret. This was the first song that snapped me out of wanting to hang myself in the dead of winter earlier this year."
Moogaboo says: "Sometimes this three-Kleenex sad-bop comes on the radio and makes me wish I still had feelings."
Charts: AUS #34, UK #55

1. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, "Starboy"

D'luv says: "This is my 'stealth loner warrior stalking around the city with a disaffected/manic look' song. It's also about Bella Hadid doing coke, plus somehow also a David Bowie tribute. Go figure."
Moogaboo says: " OHHH. Is that what 'she clean it with her face' means? Any song whose title reminds me of RuPaul's crude beginnings as Starbooty! has got a lot to live up to and, IMO, Mr. Weeknd does more than meet expectations with this kinetic, dark-sided meditation on fame."
Charts: CAN #1, FRANCE #1, US #2, UK #2, AUS #2

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

D'luv: Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie, "Rockabye"
(Three words, kids: Ace Of Base.)

Moogaboo: Crystal Waters feat. Stead-E & Hybrid Heights, "Believe"
(Admiration for Crystal's tenacity aside — she's been putting out several anthems a year for a quarter-century — "Believe" is a high-energy house throwback in the best way.)

ALSO SEE:

* The Best Pop Singles Of 2014
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2013
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2012
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2011
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2010
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2009
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2008
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2007
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2006
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2005
* The Top 40 Pop Singles Of The '00s

My (Second) Duke Dumont Interview

2015-10-05T09:49:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love Duke Dumont's brand of house music. And having spoken with him twice now for interviews on Idolator, I can say he's one of the smartest, and most down to earth, artists/producers in the game right now.

His new EP, Blasé Boys Club, Pt. 1, was released this past Friday (October 2). He's also on tour in the States through the rest of the month. You can catch my latest chat with him here, and the previous one I did with him last October here.

'The X-Files' 2016 Series Extended Trailer: I Think Someone Needs To Hold Me

2015-10-01T22:38:00.003-04:00

Any longtime reader of Chart Rigger will remember that I'm a diehard X-phile. (See, for instance, this rather brilliant post I did back in 2007.) And so this week's reveal of the extended, two-minute trailer for January's upcoming six-episode revival series of Fox's The X-Files has me astral-projecting my D sauce all over the walls. (Sorry, Yolanda — I'll tip you an extra fiver to scrub that trash on your next visit.)

I watched the series during its original run here and there throughout the '90s — mostly Seasons 3 (1995) through 8 (2000). Then I re-watched every single episode on DVD in 2007 between February and October that year, averaging about a season a month.

I've now been re-re-watching all the episodes since July, and I'm halfway through Season 4. Scully's about to find out she has cancer. Shit's about to get deep.

Anyway, roll on January 24, 2016!

Big Black Delta Featuring Debbie Gibson, "RCVR": You're Going To Thank Me For This One

2015-10-01T22:13:00.002-04:00

Out of the ether (or, perhaps more appropriately, out of the blue), Big Black Delta premiered band new track "RCVR" today over at Stereogum, and the song features the woman BBD (aka James Bates) calls his hero as a duet partner: Debbie Gibson.

No joke, this song is synth-pop drama frenzy heaven, and you should drop to your knees and start gumming Big Black Delta's monster knob for recording this. And Deb's left tit.

There's a PledgeMusic page set up to help fund BBD's upcoming album (due out early in 2016), and one of the items up for grabs is a limited edition 7" of "RCVR." Grab it before I do, you little bitch.

JoJo's "When Love Hurts": Watch The Video For One Of The Year's Classiest Jams

2015-10-01T22:05:00.003-04:00

Now, usually when love hurts, it's because someone jammed their D up the wrong entrata or uscita, kids — without using spit. But in JoJo's case, she's referring to the pain of two people at odds in their relationship here on "When Love Hurts," the main single off her, um, #tringle, III.

Now, the video looks like it was made for six bucks and a pack of Tic Tacs that were used to bribed the night guard down at the recycling center, so he'd let JoJo and her friends pile in and vogue in front of two cameras and a wind machine for an hour.

BUT NO MATTER! This '90s throwback jam is the best major-label thing JoJo's done in years! Well, okay, it's the only major-label thing she's done in nine years. But anyway...

Disclosure & Sam Smith Reunite For "Omen": Watch The Video

2015-07-27T08:26:00.003-04:00

The truth — well, my truth — about Sam Smith is, I can't stand his dull ballads. Sorry, folks...it's just snooze central to me. What I have loved from him is his features on Disclosure's "Latch" and Naughty Boy's "Latch," plus "Like I Can" and "Reminds Me Of You" off Smith's own album (the latter being a lovely, synthy bonus track done with Lorde's producer, Joel Little).

So here we are with the reunion of Disclosure and Smith (not to mention "Latch" songwriter Jimmy Napes), "Omen." It's the second single off Guy and Howard's upcoming sophomore LP Caracal (out September 25), and I think it's pretty fantastic. The first person I played it for this morning said, "It's not as immediately catchy as 'Latch'" — a sentiment I don't quite agree with, but you say tomato, I say tomahto; I think it's the same pleasantly-lazy house beat, and a slightly more instantly memorable chorus.

Anyway, as for the video, it was directed by Ryan Hope and is the second in a series of four clips coming from Disclosure that tell some type of story or other about a man and a woman on the run in Mexico City during what appears to be some futuristic, military-state type takeover.

The first in the series was "Holding On," which premiered earlier this month.

U.S. Chart Roundup: "Lean On" Is My Jam

2015-07-22T09:03:00.001-04:00

I feel like Major Lazer, DJ Snake and MØ's "Lean On" is the best song of the summer, as far as overplayed Top 40 nonsense goes, and so I'm thrilled to see it jump into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 this week (at #9). It's the first Top 10 single for all involved except DJ Snake, who had that painfully obnoxious "Turn Down For What" trash last year that somehow slithered its way to #4.

Everything else on the Hot 100 is kind of super butt this week — especially the fact that my other favorite jam of the summer, Demi Lovato's "Cool For The Summer," has slid down to #30. That's, chyldryn, is a crime. But the video premiere is right around the corner, so hopefully the song will get somewhat of a bump after that.

Down in the nether regions, Adam Lambert's "Ghost Town" moves back up from #80 to #74, one notch lower than its original #73 peak position.

Geez, between Demi and Adam, Max Martin is losing his touch.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)" - OMI *2 weeks*
2. "Can't Feel My Face" - The Weeknd
3. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
4. "Bad Blood" - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
5. "Watch Me" - Silento
6. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
7. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
8. "Fight Song" - Rachel Platten
9. "Lean On" - Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ
10. "The Hills" - The Weeknd

UK Chart Roundup: Little Mix Work Their "Black Magic"

2015-07-20T08:14:00.002-04:00

Back in May, Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea released their colossal flop "Pretty Girls," a song that girl group Little Mix wrote but ultimately opted to scrap. Instead, the broads went with the far catchier "Black Magic" as the lead single from their upcoming third LP Get Weird (out in November), and the result is their first UK #1 since 2012's "Wings."

Meanwhile, I can't believe it's already been three years since "Wings." I remember driving around Dallas, Texas with that song playing on the radio. Dark moments in life, chyldryn. Dark moments in life we must continue to try to block out.

Elsewhere, the umpteenth version of Robin S' house classic "Show Me Love" to come along in the past year, this time from Sam Feldt and vocalist Kimberly Anne, makes its debut on the UK chart at #4. Kudos to Sam for at least making this a complete melodic overhaul of the track.

Elsewhere, poor Nathan Sykes plunges from his #14 debut last week with "Kiss Me Quick" to #58. Those Wanted guys are just basically doomed, aren't they...?

The UK Top 10:

1. "Black Magic" - Little Mix *new* *1 week*
2. "Shine" - Years & Years
3. "Are You With Me" - Lost Frequencies
4. "Show Me Love" - Sam Feldt feat. Kimberly Anne *new*
5. "House Every Weekend" - David Zowie
6. "Waiting For Love" - Avicii
7. "Not Letting Go" - Tinie Tempah feat. Jess Glynne
8. "Shut Up & Dance" - Walk The Moon
9. "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)" - OMI
10. "Worth It" - Fifth Harmony feat. Kid Ink

US Chart Roundup: "Cheerleader" Is #1

2015-07-15T07:38:00.003-04:00

Much as its already done in nearly 20 other countries throughout the world, OMI's "Cheerleader" takes over the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. Yay? This ends the nonconsecutive 12-week reign of Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's "See You Again," a song that, quite frankly, that I was going to launch a bomb into my mouth with a mortar if it spent another another week at #1.

"Cheerleader" has already worn out its welcome, too — brace yourselves for its inevitable 13-week stint at #1 — and it's now only the fourth single (after "Uptown Funk," "Bad Blood" and "See You Again") to climb to the top of the singles chart in 2015. Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" was #1 in the first couple weeks of the year, but it first reached the top last November.

Do any of these above-mentioned songs not make you want to eat glass?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)" - OMI *1 week*
2. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
3. "Can't Feel My Face" - The Weeknd
4. "Bad Blood" - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
5. "Watch Me" - Silento
6. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
7. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
8. "Fight Song" - Rachel Platten
9. "Where Are Ü Now" - Skrillex & Diplo with Justin Bieber
10. "Hey Mama" - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack

Jess Glynne's "Don't Be So Hard On Yourself" Video Looks Much Like A Jess Glynne Video

2015-07-13T07:58:00.004-04:00

Ginger belter Jess Glynne has now managed to rack up four chart-topping songs in the UK over the past year-and-a-half (plus six overall Top 10 singles) and win a Grammy. Basically, she's become the First Lady Of House Music in this latest era of pop we're all drifting through.

And so it's a safe bet that her latest release, "Don't Be So Hard On Yourself" — the second official single off her upcoming debut album I Cry When I Laugh (out in the UK August 14 and September 11 in the US) — will effortlessly become her umpteenth hit.

After all, drum and house cut sounds much as you'd expect a Jess Glynne single to sound, and the public's heart wants what it wants.

UK Chart Roundup: David Zowie's "House Every Weekend" Is First #1 Of The New Friday Chart Day

2015-07-13T07:43:00.000-04:00

Chatham DJ David Zowie takes his debut single "House Every Weekend" to the top of the first UK singles chart to be published on a Friday, as opposed the previously-traditional Sunday. Of the nine single to top the chart in England so far in 2015, this is the third house jam — with the others being Jess Glynne's "Hold My Hand" and last week's #1, "Are You With Me" by Lost Frequencies.

This leaves Years & Years to miss out on their second consecutive chart-topping single, as "Shine" goes in at #2. The Greg Kurstin-co-written synth gem follows the band's winter #1 "King" and last year's "Desire," which peaked at #22.

So where does all this leave former Wanted member Nathan Sykes and his debut solo single, the soul throwback "Kiss Me Quick"? At a so-so #14. You can catch my recent interview with Nathan over on Idolator.

And that, as they say, is that.

The UK Top 10:

1. "House Every Weekend" - David Zowie *new* *1 week*
2. "Shine" - Years & Years *new*
3. "Worth It" - Fifth Harmony feat. Kid Ink
4."Are You With Me" - Lost Frequencies
5. "Not Letting Go" - Tinie Tempah feat. Jess Glynne
6. "Shut Up & Dance" - Walk The Moon
7. "Poison" - Rita Ora
8. "Wings" - Birdy
9. "Freak Of The Week" - Krept & Konan feat. Jeremih
10. "Let It Go" - James Bay

My Adam Lambert, Little Boots And Nathan Sykes Interviews

2015-07-11T09:29:00.003-04:00

In addition to the midst of the past 7 weeks of jetsetting, I did some interviews with folks like Adam Lambert, Little Boots and Nathan Sykes to tie in with their latest projects. You can catch each of those at the below links:

* Little Boots Discusses The World Of Her New Album Working Girl

* Adam Lambert Talks Chasing The Original High & The Funky, Housey Sound Of His New Album

* Nathan Sykes On New Single "Kiss Me Quick" & His Soulful New Sound

Little Boots' New Album 'Working Girl' Is Out Today And You Need To Listen To "Paradise"

2015-07-10T07:13:00.003-04:00

Little Boots' third LP Working Girl is released today, and you can forget what all these blase cunts who have been dismissing the singles released so far have been saying — the album is easily her best to-date...and one of the best things to come out of 2015 in general. (Of course, 2015 in pop is the equivalent of a bucket of chum being spilled down your shorts, so it's not too hard to stand out if you have a semi-decent song up your sleeve.)

There are so many highlights on the album, but my absolute favorite is "Paradise," which is nice mix of electr-pop and the house sound LB began to explore with "Every Night I Say A Prayer" a few years back:

And if you dig that one, "The Game" will probably get the blood racing, too:

I recently interviewed Little Boots (aka Victoria Hesketh) for a fourth time — the most interviews I've done with any artist! It'll be up on Idolator later today, and I'll post the link here, along with some other interviews I've done in the past month.

US Chart Roundup: Where The Hell Have I Been The Past 7 Weeks?!

2015-07-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

After 10 years of updating Chart Rigger pretty much on the regular, and a long run of torturous winter weather, I decided to spend May, June and early July doing some traveling.

Things kicked off in mid-May with a 6-day trip back to Pittsburgh for a wedding of a friend from L.A. (who is also from the area I grew up in).

It was an especially memorable trip back to PA since I was joined by my friend Lisa Timmons, who, if you follow Idolator, has done recaps of American Idol, Glee and I Can Do That on the regular for me over the past two years. I love when you get to visit local sites you've seen a million times — in this case, the Andy Warhol Museum, Phipp's Conservatory, the cemetery in Evans City where Night Of The Living Dead was filmed — but you're with someone who's never seen it, so it feels like the first time all over again.

Next up was a four-day Memorial Day weekend road trip to Boston...the first time I ever spent more than a few hours in the city. That was followed two weeks later by an eight-day stay in Los Angeles, which I miss terribly.

I took the above pic on the Friday (June 12) I was there, while at a gas station on Ventura Blvd. I look at that photo and feel like it captures the excitement and contentment I was feeling on that trip — especially that Friday, as I was wrapping up a day of creative writing and getting ready to head out with some friends for the night. Anyway, I drove around that week blasting Major Lazer's "Lean On" and Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" in my rental car (singing the wrong words — "I be in the kitchen cooking PASTA" — the whole time).

Finally, I jetted off at the tail-end of June for a 9-day trip to Paris.

It was my fourth time in the city, the last being a brief overnight stay during the Rihanna 777 trip in November 2012 and the first time being this trip in May 2007.

At any rate, I got back to the States this past Monday, and now it's Thursday and Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again" IS STILL FUCKING #1. Twelve weeks, kids. TWELVE.

Much more to come, much more on the regular. I don't know if it'll all be about pop music, because pop music in 2015 can basically be summed up by "See You Again" spending 12 weeks at #1.

Oh, and follow me on Instagram while you're at it. And my 9 to 5 music writing can be found at Idolator. But stick around here for much more "me" shit.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *12 weeks*
2. "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)" - OMI
3. "Watch Me" - Silento
4. "Bad Blood" - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
5. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
6. "Can't Feel My Face" - The Weeknd
7. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
8. "Where Are Ü Now" - Skrillex & Diplo with Justin Bieber
9. "Hey Mama" - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack
10. "Fight Song" - Rachel Platten

John Newman Returns With "Come And Get It" Video

2015-06-01T08:35:00.001-04:00

If I'm to be completely honest, Calvin Harris' entire last album was a complete disaster, including his John Newman collaboration "Blame." The whole project rang with the sound of selling out, and seemed out of step with where modern dance music is at.

Anyway, John Newman has moved on and is now back with the first single from his upcoming sophomore album. The song, co-produced by Newman and Greg Kurstin, is called "Come And Get It," and it keeps in line with John's 2013 smash "Love Me Again."

As for the video, some broad is having an affair with the singer, and she winds up leaving her current relationship to be with him. And why shouldn't she — he's got that swank Hollywood Hills mansion and a shiny convertible!

Live the dream, chyldryn.

UK Chart Roundup: I'm Back, And So Is Jason Derulo

2015-05-31T20:24:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, folks, you just need to step away and refresh your psyche for a few weeks, and see what the universe can do to your marbles in that time. And it looks like the universe is still enjoying that remix of OMI's "Cheerleader," which as at #2 back in late April when last I held a magnifying glass up to the UK Top 10, then went to #1 for the following four weeks I didn't cover, and now is back at #2...always right there when I need her.

And so "Cheerleader" makes way for "Want To Want Me," the lead single from Jason Derulo's upcoming album Everything Is 4. It's Jason's first good single since, well, ever. So let's give him a round of applause.

The UK loves Jason, and has now awarded him four #1 singles — one from each of his albums. Here in the States, "Want To Want Me" has so far peaked at #6.

The UK Top 10:

1. "Want To Want Me" - Jason Derulo *new* *2 weeks*
2. "Cheerleader" - OMI
3. "Where Are U Now" - Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber
4."See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
5. "Bad Blood" - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
6. "Bills" - Lunchmoney Lewis
7. "Lean On" - Major Lazer feat. MO & DJ Snake
8. "Runaway (U & I)" - Galantis
9. "Don't Look Down" - Martin Garrix feat. Usher *new*
10. "Hey Mama" - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj & Afrojack

Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea's "Pretty Girls" Video Premieres, Song Debuts At #29 On The Chart

2015-05-13T16:42:00.001-04:00

Britney in cheetah print. And nine songwriters credited on "Pretty Girls," none of which are Spears? Sounds about right.

If '80s crap, aliens and refried "Fancy" are your jams, then have it, gang!

US Chart Roundup: IDK

2015-05-07T16:47:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *4 weeks*
2. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
3. "Uptown Funk" - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
4. "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)" - The Weeknd
5. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
6. "Sugar" - Maroon 5
7. "Love Me Like You Do" - Ellie Goulding
8. "Want To Want Me" - Jason Derulo
9. "Nasty Freestyle" - T-Wayne
10. "Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran

US Chart Roundup: Jason Derulo Has Started Making Good Music

2015-04-30T08:45:00.000-04:00

Jason Derulo has managed to shake out his sixth Top 10 single this week, in the form of "Want To Want Me" — and if I'm to be honest, it's probably his best single, to-date. I'm not sure what prompted him to ditch the base-level frat-hop sound he was working with "Talk Dirty" and "Wiggle," but this is what Jason Derulo sounds like in 2015:

Even better is this album track, "Cheyenne," from his upcoming Everything Is 4 LP:

It's like Jason Derulo made the conscious decision to actually record good pop, and we're suddenly all the better for it.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *3 weeks*
2. "Uptown Funk" - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
3. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
4. "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)" - The Weeknd
5. "Sugar" - Maroon 5
6. "Love Me Like You Do" - Ellie Goulding
7. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
8. "Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran
9. "G.D.F.R." - Flo Rida feat. Sage The Gemini & Lookas
10. "Want To Want Me" - Jason Derulo

It's Adam Lambert's "Ghost Town" Video!

2015-04-29T08:26:00.001-04:00

Okay, good — after posting that co-sign last week on everything Adam Lambert is doing so far in his The Original High era, the man does not disappoint with his "Ghost Town" video.

The slick, stylish black and white clip was directed by Hype Williams, and it brings all the dark, sexy and menacing elements of the song — and Hollywood in general — to life.

In a way, it reminds me a bit of Bruce Weber's visualization of Pet Shop Boys' 1990 single "Being Boring." And both songs lyrically deal with disillusion with life's expectations and the despair behind the glitter.

Anyway, good stuff, Adam. Keep it coming.

Mariah Carey's New Single "Infinity", AKA Her Latest "We Belong Together" Remake: Listen

2015-04-27T08:40:00.002-04:00

I get it: When your career starts sliding off the rails and crashing into a ditch, it's best to return to doing what you do best. And I really want Mariah to win when all is said and done in this super floptastic phase she's been going through for the past six years.

Alas, I don't know if "Infinity" is going to be the song that returns her to former glory, despite the fact that it's being tacked onto her upcoming #1 To Infinity collection (out May 18) of all her chart-topping hits. (Pulling a lofty stunt like that is always a gamble.)

Basically, the pacing of "Infinity" is set to High Snooze, it sounds easily like it could have been a leftover from last year's disastrous Me. I Am Mariah album and the whole thing has way too many not-nearly-as-good echoes of Carey's 2005 comeback smash "We Belong Together."

I guess the upside is that Mimi's got a new team behind her, a new label deal and this is essentially nothing more than an extra track on a collection of already-released material.

Lyrically, some of her tell-offs (aimed at Nick Cannon?) are comical here. But musically, we've heard this one before from Mariah. Roll on the true Mimi 3.0, with a whole new sound, dahling.

UK Chart Roundup: Clean Bandit Add To Their Hit Collection, Alex Newell Finally Breaks Out

2015-04-26T20:19:00.000-04:00

Nearly a year after Clean Bandit's "Extraordinary" featuring Sharna Bass on vocals followed up the Jess Glynne-fronted smash "Rather Be in the UK, the band's Sean Bass-featuring "Stronger" follows up the Jess Glynne-fronted "Real Love," and becomes the Grammy-winning act's fourth Top 5 hit in their home country.

"Stronger," which goes into the UK chart at #4 this week, also features wailing by Alex Newell, who you may know from his transgendered character "Unique" on Glee. That one has been whoring his vocals out left and right — he also features on Blonde's new single "All Cried Out"...

...and he recently collaborated with Russian DJ Matvey Emerson on a cover of Robin S' '90s staple "Show Me Love."

Get it, kiddo.

The UK Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *2 weeks*
2. "Cheerleader" - OMI
3. "Hold My Hand" - Jess Glynne
4. "Stronger" - Clean Bandit *new*
5. "Jealous" - Nick Jonas
6. "Lean On" - Major Lazer feat. MO & DJ Snake
7. "King" - Years & Years
8. "Firestone" - Kygo feat. Conrad Sewell
9. "Sugar" - Maroon 5
10. "Can't Stop Playing" - Dr. Kucho, Gregor Salto & Ane Brun

Adam Lambert's 'The Original High' Album & "Ghost Town" Single: A Few Thoughts

2015-04-24T08:56:00.004-04:00

Adam Lambert's previous two post-American Idol albums had some good moments — "Whataya Want From Me" is an undeniable classic, for instance — but as a whole, neither really came across like a set of cohesive tunes. ("Whataya Want From Me" wasn't even originally written for him.) You know how it goes, though — you're on Idol, you get slapped into some label deal and you work with 50 difference producers and 200 writers on 175 tracks that get whittled down by a bunch of cooks in the kitchen to a 10-track LP.

So the fact that Adam now has a new label deal (he moved from RCA to Warner Bros.) and his upcoming album The Original High (out June 16) will be executive-produced by Max Martin and Shellback seems pretty promising. In fact, in the wasteland that is pop in 2015 so far, The Original High is the one (and only, I guess) upcoming record I'm really looking forward to.

Having an exec producer like Max is what Adam has needed all along — someone with the reputation and gravitas to believe in him, the clout to tell the label execs to fuck off until the product is finished and to steer the ship in the right direction.

Anyway, this week we got the lead single from the project, "Ghost Town." It's a weird blend of Quentin Tarantino soundtrack-esque guitar-pop and '90s house music, and the lyrics are a dark warning about the emptiness of Hollywood. (You can grab it off iTunes now, by the way.)

So, yeah — "weird"...that's exactly what's been missing from Adam Lambert's music until now. If you look at him while he's commanding a stage, listen to him in interviews and stare in a sparkly trance at his overall glamness, you know there's something deeper there than what's come through in the plastic pop tracks on his previous two albums.

Here's hoping The Original High is full of more musical curve balls, and even stranger than "Ghost Town."

US Chart Roundup: "I Really Like You" Is Officially Carly Rae Jepsen's Third Top 40 Single

2015-04-23T08:39:00.003-04:00

Thanks to what is quite possibly the most annoying viral video ever, Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You" has finally clawed its way into the Top 40. This week the song is up 44 positions to #39, following the premiere of a YouTube lipdub featuring basically the entire roster of artists managed by Scooter Braun — plus Lance Bass and Kendall Jenner — mouthing the words to "I Really Like You."

You may recall this ~~shameless~~ similar tactic is what got Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" noticed here in the States three years ago, only then it was Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and friends in the video.

Alas, the lineup may have rotated a bit (out with Selena; in with Kendall and Ariana Grande!), but the Bieber remains the same...just more lame.

Congrats?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *2 weeks*
2. "Uptown Funk" - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
3. "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)" - The Weeknd
4. "Sugar" - Maroon 5
5. "Trap Queen" - Fetty Wap
6. "Love Me Like You Do" - Ellie Goulding
7. "Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran
8. "Shut Up And Dance" - Walk The Moon
9. "G.D.F.R." - Flo Rida feat. Sage The Gemini & Lookas
10. "Somebody" - Natalie La Rose feat. Jeremih

UK Chart Roundup: Shayne Ward's Fan-Funded Return & 'Furious 7's High Octane Reign

2015-04-19T20:38:00.000-04:00

First thing's first: Let's pause for a moment and pour one out for The Voice UK winner Steve McCrorie, whose cover of Adam Levine's Begin Again soundtrack song "Lost Stars" debuted at #6 one week ago, and, seven days later, has dropped to #68. I never understand why these TV singing competition hopefuls don't just take the easy way out and resort to porn?

That brings us to 2005 X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who this week makes a bit of history as his fan-funded fourth album Closer debuts on the UK album chart at #17 — the highest chart position for a record done through the PledgeMusic platform. Not bad for an album devoid of any major label backing, and all in all, it winds up being Shayne's fourth Top 20 album. Unless I'm missing something, this also marks the first album Mike Stock had a hand in producing to reach the Top 20 since Robson & Jerome's Take Two hit #1 in 1996.

Oh, well, and would you look at that...

"Thanks" in liner notes of a @mikestockmusic-produced LP - my teenage self is imploding @shayneTward #LetsGetCloser pic.twitter.com/zI61T1XRLB
— Robbie Daw (@ChartRigger) April 14, 2015

Last but not least, we should note the significance of the Furious 7 juggernaut. Over the weekend, the film reached $1.1 billion at the global box office after only two full weeks of release. Likewise, the soundtrack topped the US album chart this week, while lead single "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth achieved the same feat on the Billboard Hot 100. The song follows suit now in the UK, ending the three-week reign of Jess Glynne's second single as a lead artist, "Hold My Hand."

"See You Again" is now the fifth single to top the UK chart in 2015 (if we discount "Uptown Funk," which first reached #1 in 2014, fell off and then returned to the top in January).

The UK Top 10:

1. "See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth *1 week*
2. "Cheerleader" - OMI
3. "Hold My Hand" - Jess Glynne
4. "Can't Stop Playing" - Dr. Kucho, Gregor Salto & Ane Brun *new*
5. "King" - Years & Years
6. "Jealous" - Nick Jonas
7. "Hold Back The River" - James Bay
8. "Bloodstream" - Ed Sheeran & Rudimental
9. "Sugar" - Maroon 5
10. "Firestone" - Kygo feat. Conrad Sewell