Prefix

Shakira: "Give It Up to Me" (Live on Letterman) (Video)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:25:28 -0500

Shakira took her new dreads, an army of leotarded dancers and "Give It Up to Me" onto Letterman last night in a pretty seriously choreographed performance. Seriously, this looked like a cheerleader routine. That or that one scene in Drumline where Nick Cannon's love interest and her girls dance at a house party. [Idolator]

Franz Ferdinand: "Live Alone (Delorean Remix)"

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:07:19 -0500

Even though the world already has Blood, the Spaniards in Delorean felt like there needed to be one more reworking of a Franz Ferdinand song from Tonight. Seems they were right, this track practically demands joyous glow stick waving, in the best way possible. Aside from the vocals, this track is virtually unrecognizable from the original, with Delorean turning it into a glittery dance hall groove, with skittering hi-hats and a disco keyboard pulse.

Billboard Changes Chart Rules

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:06:22 -0500

Billboard announced that they will be changing the rules to the Billboard 200. As of Dec. 5 that chart will be based on the top 200 selling albums in the country, regardless of release date. Prior to that, the albums chart had rules in place that pushed albums more than 18 months old off of the chart under certain circumstances. Essentially, the new rules follow those of Billboard's Top Comprehensive Albums chart, which will subsequently be replaced by a new Top Current Albums chart, where those catalog rules are still in effect.

In addition Billboard is making similar changes to their Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, which will put it in line with how their other genre charts are done. Previously these charts were calculated in a way Billboard never explains through the R&B Core Store Panel, a group of urban music retailers that will be dissolved in the coming year. Both of these changes, the R&B chart change in particular, seem like something that should have already been done.

Billboard is also adding a 15-slot Folk Albums chart that will feature singer-songwriters and traditional folk artists, which seems to mean that Billboard is predicting the 2010s to turn out like the 1970s. [Billboard]

Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang Affiliates Arrested with 110 Ecstasy Tablets, Weed

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:52:18 -0500

I've long been fascinated with what it takes to be an official Wu-Tang affiliate. Do you have to sell GZA weed this one time? Or do you have to produce beats for a Cappadonna solo album? Can you become a member by sleeping with U-God? What if you wash Inspectah Deck's car? How many cats would you have to sell Method Man to become a Killah Bee?

At any rate, two dudes who are tangentially related to the Wu-Tang clan--DJ Mathematics and Streetlife--were arrested recently after police pulled their bus over and smelled a strong odor of weed, and found blunts, reisude and a whopping 110 ecstasy tablets. The duo face a bevy of drug charges, including intent to distribute, which is a serious charge. No word on if Ghostface plans to help them with their legal fees. [TMZ]

Isis: "20 Minutes/40 Years" (Video)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:41:35 -0500

A scary, oozing menace moves to Isis in the video for the crushing metal band's "20 Minutes/40 Years," which is a really small fraction, if you figure it out. This actually looks like a trailer for some new horror movie, but it's not; Isis are like this all the time.

Isis' Wavering Radiant is out now. [Stereogum]

Nielsen Study Debunks Myths About Listening Habits

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:34:35 -0500

Nielsen released a new study recently that aims to debunk a bunch of myths about our collective listening habits, and does just that. The study, which took place in spring of 2008, and in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Seattle, found that people still listen to the radio and CDs, and the computer hasn't replaced the radio as a tool to discover new music. There are some tenuous logical jumps here--the assertion that the CD market is okay because people still listen to them is empty, because listening to CDs and buying them are completely different--but it's overall pretty interesting. Go here to give it a look. [Daily Swarm]

The Antlers: "Kettering" (Fan Video)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:22:47 -0500

What does it say about the state of music video craft that fan videos are looking more and more like the real thing? It actually probably says more about the evolution in video creation software available to the public, but still, this fan video for "Kettering" by Antlers is pretty fantastic. It's created with moody still imagery that looks like professional grade stuff. Good move by ending with the old guy in despair. [Culture Bully]

Ciara: Ciara Works Hard to Get You to Buy a LG Touch

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:15:40 -0500

Ciara's record label has finally found a way to recoup some of the expenses of her flopped recent album, Fantasy Ride: They've got her doing most of "Work" in an ad for LG's Chocolate Touch. Apparently Ciara writhing on a purple backdrop is supposed to convey all the super-cool features of the LG. At least that's what I'm assuming. [Real Talk NY]

Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson's Funeral Cost One Million Dollars

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:11:14 -0500

According to the L.A. Times, Michael Jackson's funeral cost a whopping $1 million, including a ridiculous $35,000 for his diamond-encrusted burial outfit, and $16,000 for flowers. The ridiculously expensive funeral's cost was approved by a judge, which only adds another layer of craziness to the fact that a funeral cost $1 million. It's not like Mike knows how lavish it was.

I can't believe a suit could cost $35,000. I mean, that's more than I made in the last five years, and dude's skeleton is placed inside something that cost that much. I get that he's the King of Pop, but couldn't you have cut some costs by stopping by JcPenneys and buying him a modest sweat suit? Also, I don't even have to mention how ridiculous it is to spend $16,000 on flowers. Because it is crazy ridiculous. [LA Times]

Death Cab for Cutie: "Meet Me on the Equinox" (Live at Hot Topic) (Video)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:49:36 -0500

Look, I know I'm supposed to be like, "This video of Death Cab performing at a Hot Topic store is filling my heart with hatred. I can't believe a band signed to a major label who write treacly ballads that shoot right for the middle would do this!!!!!! :(((((" But yeah, I never cared one way or the other about Death Cab (I'm like their songs--in the middle) so I can't really take up the "New Moon soundtrack is killing indie-culture" sword. And let's be honest with each other: Who's most likely to love the shit out of "Meet Me on the Equinox?" Sensitive teenage girls. Who's most likely to love the shit out of New Moon? Sensitive teenage girls. It's called overlap, folks. Deal with it.