LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ by Jenny McCarthy - Staff Writer) -
RECORD OF THE WEEK Flo Rida Featuring Keyshia Cole - Right Round:
On "Right Round," the first single from his upcoming second album R.O.O.T.S. Dr. Luke steps into the production role and they create 3 1/2 minutes of tremendous fun. You will hear echoes of another pop classic 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' by (Dead or Alive), but the new song stands on its own feet.
Lyrically, "Right Round" sometimes skates the edge of what might be seen as in good taste in pop radio. It might be a thin line between seeing it as acceptable and not Britney Spears' "If You Seek Amy."
However, sexual innuendo has been a consistent element of mainstream pop music since the 50's rock and roll revolution. It has a good beat, fun to dance to in the clubs, and is really catchy. Excellent combination of Hip Hop & an old school Dance cut! If you're not playing this, then you must be deaf or a jukebox DJ.
HOT SHOT RECORD
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Ciara - Takin' Back My Love: 'Takin' Back My Love' is the second single by Spanish pop music superstar Enrique Iglesias, from his 'Greatest Hits' album.
The song is something you haven't yet heard from Enrique, and that makes the new songs feel more like a starter for love and games in bed.
"Takin' Back my Love" with Ciara is catchy, once you give it a listen or two. The video was shot in Los Angeles on January 13, 2009 and was released in February 2009. It was directed by the Norwegian director Ray Kay. The entire music video is shot under blue-screen to give off a radiant but monotone color set. Not your typical collabo, but the result is a cool upbeat joint.
Funeral For A Friend - Rules And Games: Rules and Games' is Funeral for a Friend's third single off their self-released album, 'Memory and Humanity', and sees the band returning to their earlier sound with big riffs, big melodies and big choruses; it's certainly got that driven, anthemic feel from the first album. This is no bad thing; something you'll know if you've heard any of their more recent, more commercially-designed singles.
Funeral for a Friend have always been more of an in-the-moment type band and this song wants you to have that moment, in as wild a manner as you can manage.
Metro Station - Shake It: I am fairly sure that this song is not about shaking something. Or at least, nothing wholesome! Trace Cyrus is wondering how to make the last kiss last a little bit longer than is seemly, or the enormous randy whiff that comes off the whole thing.
Either way, by the time you get to the chorus - a chorus which, by the way, could be used as a stimulant for long-distance lorry drivers, such is its super-caffienated jitter-power - and the "shake-shake shake-shake a-shake it!" refrain, it's clear that the Metros do not have cocktails on their mind. It's like an episode of Skins, or those late-night Hollyoakses they do, in pop song form.
It's the kind of song that you dance around looking silly because you don't care what people think.
Steve Angello & Laidback Luke Featuring Robin S - Show Me Love: Since 'Show Me Love's' release in 1990 the record has been an omnipresent force on the world's dancefloors. Now Steve Angello and Laidback Luke enter the fold, updating Show Me Love' for 2008.
Steve Angello, has already topped the UK dance chart, as well as the UK upfront club chart, so we'll see if it can score similar positions on the official UK singles chart after it's release into British stores this Monday.
By re-versioning such a hugely mainstream track and making it work the pair are unlikely to win over any critics, but when a record is aimed at the dancefloor and hits it mark so successfully surely any critical sniping misses the point.
Love it or hate it, 'Show Me Love' looks like it's going to be leaving us no time soon!
Jennifer Hudson - If This Isn't Love: There is no denying, Jennifer Hudson has an amazing voice, however it is not a voice best suited to club tracks. Thankfully someone at her label understood this and we have an album perfectly suited to Jennifer's voice and not a clone of something best left to the Pussycat Dolls. "If This Isn't Love" is a super track, cute love song which Hudson is at her best in this pop ballad. The melody is pleasant and catchy, although it sounds rather like a patchwork of other RnB/Pop songs released of late. The RnB industry, like most, is saturated with artists, so it's all the more important for artists to stand out. And Hudson does it with ease!
A highly recommended single for those who think it's about time something a bit deeper and of better quality came out or for those who want a record that isn't full of club-bangers and want to take it at a slighly slower pace. A very good record, not to be missed!
John Legend - Everybody Knows: Taken from his third album, Evolver, new single Everybody Knows is yet another in a line of grand successes for the man with possibly the sexiest voice in music.
Everybody Knows is more like his previous classic releases lyrically and of so true. The single deals with John talking about a failed relationship and how he is going on with other people and how he should be able to deal with the fact that his ex is going on with her life as well.
One of the best lines in the song is, "I wish you the best... I guess." The song is basically about no one really knows how to fix everything even if they think they do. It's a great song.
"Everybody Knows" returns Legend back to his soulful roots absence of studio tricks, which is good for those who feel his makeover isn't truly Legend. I love the acoustic guitar mixed with the strings.
This is one of my favorites on the album!
Neil Young - Johnny Magic: Straight ahead rock tune. Neil Young recently shot two videos for the single "Johnny Magic" off his upcoming album, "Fork In The Road," and they're both premiering this week. The lyrics on the Motorhead Messiah "Johnny Magic" maybe not Neil's most poetic but a heartfelt sincere paean to his new best friend.
Love most of Neils music over the years..... but this stuff is getting bad. I want to like it. I realy want to love it. But....
For this single I have this feeling: (I am writting the phrase of my dad's opinion about the single)
"Loved it. I've been a Neil Young Fan for 40 years. Damn, we're getting old!"...
Noisettes - Don't Upset The Rhythm: Absolutely fantastic pop song with great chorus and if it looks like it won't quite make it! Take the bridge, for example: an extra riff is added in the background as Shingai Shoniwa's vocals are raised up a notch from the purring, cajoling of the verses into a sweet, more persuasive croon. They're only very subtle changes, but the effect is huge: it brought me out in goosebumps, and it sets the scene brilliantly for the massive speakerblast of "GO BABY GO BABY GO!" directly afterwards. The music works just as three-and-a-quarter minute pop journey as it does as a 30-second attention grabber, employed to make you want to buy something!
Little Man Tate - I Am Alive: This is a brand new track, previously unreleased. Though forgive yourself for thinking you've heard it before - the song was the official song for last year BBC Yorkshire Sports Awards.
Guitarist Maz said: "We wanted to write a song that sums up what it's like to chase after a feeling of euphoria that can relate to all aspects of life.
"It's quite a personal song and sums up what it's like living up to a reputation of making the most out of living and striving to be the best."
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
Dananananaykroyd - Black Wax
KIG - Head Shoulders Kneez And Toez
The Kills - Black Balloon (EP)
The Rifles - The General / Romeo & Julie
Sparks - Lighten Up Morrissey
White Lies - Farewell To The Fairground
Animal Collective - My Girls
Lunik - Everybody Knows
Shena - Can't Stop The Rain
Stone Gods - Start Of Something
Single Release Schedule
30th Mar
Alain Clark - Father And Friend
Alex Roots - Fake
Antony & The Johnsons - Epilepsy Is Dancing
Ben Kweller - Sawdust Man
Ben Montague - Can't Hold Me Down
Boogaloo Stu - Hammer To Fall
Dinosaur Pile-Up - Traynor
Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
Grace Jones - Love You To Life
Jack Penate - Tonight's Today
Jazmine Sullivan - Dream Big
Julian Velard - Love Again For The First Time
Just Jack - Embers
Master Shortie - Dance Like A White Boy
Operahouse - Genius Child
Peter Bjorn & John - Nothing To Worry About
Qemists feat Jenna G - On The Run
Yo! Majesty - Don't Let Go
6th Apr
Art Brut - Alcoholics Unanimous
Bat For Lashes - Daniel
Burial & Four Tet - Moth
Depeche Mode - Wrong
Eminem - tba
Ercola feat Daniella - Every Word
Faithless feat Cass Fox - Music Matters
Fightstar - Mercury Summer
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls
Fugative - Jimmy Shoe
Fujiya & Miyagi - Sore Thumb
The Hours - Big Black Hole
India Arie - Chocolate High
James Morrison - Please Don't Stop The Rain
John & Jehn - Oh My Love
Kid British - Sunny Days
Lady Sovereign - So Human
Mumford And Sons - The Cave and The Open Sea
Paul Carrack - No Doubt About It
Razorlight - Burberry Blue Eyes
Sirens - Dreams
T2 feat Michelle - Come Over
Tiga - Shoes
Velvet - Chemistry
The Virgins - Rich Girls
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Zarif - Let Me Back
13th Apr
A.R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls - Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)
AC/DC - Anything Goes/Big Jack
Alex Cornish - My Word What A Mess
Beyonce - Halo
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
Camera Obscura - French Navy
Das Pop - Never Get Enough
Death Cab For Cutie - The Open Door
The Enemy - No Time For Tears
Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome
Frankmusik - Better Off As Two
Gomez - Airstream Driver
Kabeedies - Little Brains
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
McLloyd - Tembisa Funk
N-Dubz - Wouldn't You
PJ Harvey & John Parrish - Black Hearted Love
Rochelle - Chin Up
Screaming Lights - Phenomena
The Shermans - Venom
Tinchy Stryder feat N-Dubz - Number One
The View - Temptation Dice
The Wave Pictures - If You Leave It Alone
20th Apr
Asher Roth - I Love College
The Big Pink - Velvet
The Days - Never Give Up
Eagles Of Death Metal - Anything 'Cept The Truth
John Dahlback feat Basto - Out There
Junior Boys - Hazel
Kevin Rudolf - Welcome To The World
Kidbase feat Sincere - Goodgirls Love Rudeboys
Kleerup feat Titiyo - Longing For Lullabies
Still Flyin' - Good Ting It's A Ghost Town Around Here
Super Furry Animals - Inaugural Trams
Two Fingers - That Girl
27th Apr
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 - White Lies For Dark Times
Bimbo Jones - And I Try
Blazin' Squad - Let's Start Again
Bloc Party - Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)
Ciara feat Justin Timberlake - Love Sex Magic
Girls Aloud - Untouchable
Ironik - Tiny Dancer
James Fox - Say What You Like
Kanye West - Paranoid
Keri Hilson - Return The Favor
The King Blues - I Got Love
King Creosote - Coast On By
Maccabees - Love You Better
Madina Lake - Never Take Us Alive
Miley Cyrus - The Climb
Peaches - Talk To Me / More
Pink - Please Don't Leave Me
Shannon Noll - Shine
Sky Larkin - Antibodies (Cassette)
St Vincent - Actor Out Of Work
Steve Appleton - Dirty Funk
T-Pain feat Chris Brown - Freeze
White Light Parade - Wake Up
4th May
Britney Spears - If You Seek Amy
The Brownies - Cougar
Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For
Daniel Merriweather - Red
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
Hockey - Song Away
Jade Ewen- My Time
Laurent Wolf - No Stress
Maximo Park - The Kids Are Sick Again
Team Waterpolo - Room 44
Tommy Sparks - She's Got Me Dancing
U2 - Magnificent
Will And The People - Knocking
11th May
Agnes - Release Me
Alesha Dixon - Let's Get Excited
Broken Records - Until The Earth Begins To Part
Laura Izibor - Don't Stay
Lily Allen - Not Fair
Livvi Franc - Free
Marilyn Manson - Armageddon
Passion Pit - The Reeling
18th May
Absent Elk - Sun And Water
Black Lips - I'll Be With You
Eg White - Broken
Graham Coxon - Sorrow's Army
Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van
Scott Matthews - Fractured
Taylor Swift - Teardrops On My Guitar
White Light Parade - Wait for The Weekend
25th May
Billy Talent - Rusted From The Rain
Dan Black - Hypntz
Flo Rida - Sugar
Little Boots - New In Town
Melody Gardot - Baby I'm A Fool
The Veronicas - Untouched
