Katy Perry's 'Prism' Album Cover & My Thoughts On The Album After Hearing It Last Night

Last night I went to the album listening event in New York for Katy Perry's Prism, where Katy played about 10 new tracks. She worked with several Swedes on the album, including Bloodshy and Klas Åhlund, and those were really the standout tracks. (Sorry, when it comes to ballads, Katy isn't my go-to, though some may dig "Double Rainbow.")

One of the big songs that's going to get a lot of gays clutching their candy is "Walking On Air," which she did with Klas and sounds like an early-'90s house throwback. Katy said she wanted something that sounded like an old CeCe Peniston jam.

Or, as I described it on Twitter last night:

Just left Katy Perry Prism listening event & convinced "Walking On Air" is the 1-song Alphabeat Album 2 sequel we always wanted. Tres housey
— Chart Rigger (@ChartRigger) September 6, 2013

Everything else played last night was okay musically, but overall it felt like the choruses just didn't go anywhere like I really wanted them to. There's a track called "This Is How We Do" that was recorded in Stockholm with Bloodshy, and I was really hoping the chorus would just blow up. Mind you, it was a decent track, but by album number three, I feel like Katy she be knocking catchy vocal arrangements out of the park, and it just wasn't happening with this one. Who knows — maybe it's a grower.

I think if you dig "Roar," you'll be into Prism as a whole. The album wasn't cohesive enough for my taste, so I'm just going to hold out for Paris Hilton to bring the true game changing record of this decade.

Katy Perry & Her Tits Hit The Jungle In "Roar" Video

The music video for Katy Perry's "Roar" is a lot like the song itself — safe, kid-friendly fare with Katy's boobs on display that should play well in Middle America. And there's a monkey.

She's gotten less and less edgy since the days of "I Kissed A Girl" and her whipped cream can tits, and it's safe to say now that Katy's like a human shopping mall. There's a little of something for everyone who's into mainstream USA.

Enjoy!

Paris Hilton's New Single "Good Time" (Featuring Lil Wayne) Has A Release Date

Every single other pop ho with a pulse and/or a battery pack in their thong might as well just toss themselves into a vat of acid tits-first, because Paris Hilton is officially back. Above you'll see the bitch on the set of her video for new single "Good Time," and now the Lil Wayne-featuring trash track has a release date.

Happy to finally announce the official release date for my new single/music video for my song #GoodTime w/ @LilTunechi. OCTOBER 1ST! #YMCMB
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) September 5, 2013

Yes, October 1: a date that will go down in infamy. As longtime Chart Rigger readers may recall, Hilton is considered a revered rock icon around these here, and she warranted not one, but TWO banterviews in her time, upon the release of Paris in 2006.

You should seriously go back and read those legendary gems.

US Chart Roundup: Katy Perry's "Roar" Knocks Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" Off The Top

So, the very first time Katy Perry topped the Billboard Hot 100, back in June of 2008, I asked, "Can she finger her way to a lasting career?" Five years and three months later, here's the broad with her eighth #1 single, "Roar." It's also only the eighth song to make it to the top of the chart in 2013. Let's just be happy that "Blurred Lines" is now on the decline.

Some interesting facts in looking back at the week Katy Pussy first went to #1 with "I Kissed A Girl":

* Katy & Miley are the only two in the Top 10 now who were also in the Top 10 then. (Remember Miley's way less-slutty "7 Things"?)

* Natasha Bedingfield and Leona Lewis had Top 10 hits then — their last.

* Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" was a TERRIBLE song.

* Who the hell is Plies?

This all brings us to the rest of this week's Top 10, wherein Eminem debuts at #3 with new single "Berzerk," Lady Gaga's "Applause" dips two positions to #6 in its third week on the chart and New Zealand diva Lorde hops up to #8 with "Royals." I like that song. Sure, it sounds like she rammed Barbie Doll legs up herself to Lana Del Rey's Born To Die album far too many times, but, hey — everyone wants doom pussy these days, right?

Everything else is stupid.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Roar" - Katy Perry *1 week*
2. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
3. "Berzerk" - Eminem *new*
4. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
5. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
6. "Applause" - Lady Gaga
7. "Wake Me Up!" - Avicii
8. "Royals" - Lorde
9. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons 
10. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey & Cedric Gervais

UK Chart Roundup: Shane Filan Put Something Or Other Out, But OMG — Remember Pop!?

Back in 2011, Floplife announced their split after 148 years of being the most boring boy band on the planet. What happened next: Shane Filan, one of the indistinguishable gents from the outfit, hopped over to America to record some songs, and the first official solo release from him is "Everything To Me," which debuts at #14 on this week's UK chart.



So, #14 —quite a thankless position that has claimed many-a-single in its time. Last week Matt Cardle and Melanie C's duet "Loving You" wound up debuting there. (This week that one dropped to #37.) It's where Take That's second single off The Circus, "Up All Night," ended up in 2009, much like Pet Shop Boys' "Love etc." the same year and, let's not forget the most important one of all: Pop!'s 2004 debut single "Heaven And Earth."



Sigh. You can check out this postmortem I did on Pop! eight years (!!!!!!) ago.

The UK Top 10:

1. "Burn" - Ellie Goulding *3 weeks*
2. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii
3. "Sonnentanz (Sun Don't Shine)" - Klankarussell feat. Will Heard
4. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais
5. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
6. "Lost Generation" - Rizzle Kicks *new*
7. "Applause" - Lady Gaga
8. "Earthquake" - DJ Fresh feat. Diplo & Dominique
9. "Hold On, We're Going Home" - Drake
10. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell

Lady Gaga Teases "Swine," "Manicure" & "Sex Dreams" Ahead Of Sunday's iTunes Festival

Remember how Ke$ha was rambling on Twitter two years ago about how she was going to invent a new music genre called "cock pop," and then she vomited up an album with songs that sounded pretty much like her debut? Well, I think the real money is on Lady Gaga as far as bringing rock back into pop. At least as far as we can tell from these rehearsal vids promoting her appearance at tomorrow's iTunes Festival in London.

This is some 1987-era Cher-meets-Lita-Ford shit.

"Swine"



"Manicure"



"Sex Dreams"

US Chart Roundup: Applause, Applause Applause & Summertime, Summertime Sadness

"Blurred Lines" has been #1 for 12 weeks now. That's THREE MONTHS. Only 14 songs have ever topped the Billboard Hot 100 for that length of time or longer, and the last one to do so was the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" in 2009.

In other words, like "I Gotta Feeling," "Blurred Lines" is now one of those songs that you're likely so absolutely sick of, you won't have an appreciation for it again until it's 18 years from now, when you're feeling nostalgic for the 'teens decade, and "Blurred Lines" comes on some radio station during retro lunch hour or whatever the fuck and you're all, "Ooh, that was my jam! I need to make a playlist of just this song!" And it won't happen a day before then. Because right now "Blurred Lines" is making you want to bayonet your eyes.

This leaves Katy Perry to flounder at #2 for a second week with "Roar," while Lady Gaga inches up closer to her, at #4, with "Applause." Now that scag Miley Cyrus needs to just drop like her thong does at Christmas dinner and we can watch some real Katy vs. Gaga drama play out.

On a final note, Avicii, Lana Del Rey and Cedric Gervais all claim their first Top 10 hits this week as "Wake Me Up!" and Gervais' remix of "Summertime Sadness" move up to #7 and #9, respectively.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *12 weeks*
2. "Roar" - Katy Perry
3. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
4. "Applause" - Lady Gaga
5. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons 
6. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
7. "Wake Me Up!" - Avicii
8. "Safe And Sound" - Capital Cities
9. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey & Cedric Gervais
10. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

Lady Gaga & Justin Timberlake & *NSYNC: The Best MTV VMAs Performances

For the first time since Britney gave her career-defining performance of "Gimme More" in 2007, the MTV Video Music Awards gave us all something (good) to talk about.



Lady Gaga continuously snatched her own wig as she opened the VMAs with "Applause" last night, and it was the best performance...until Justin Timberlake hit the stage for about 20 minutes (!!), belting out his entire catalog of hits and doing a quick "Girlfriend/Bye Bye Bye" medley with his old *NSYNC boy bandmates.



Timberlake, the recipient of this year's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, also wound up snagging Video Of The Year for the excellent "Mirrors" (which also won for Best Editing, while David Fincher won Best Directing for "Suit & Tie").

Here's the full list of who won what:

2013 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS
VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD: Justin Timberlake
BEST FEMALE VIDEO: Taylor Swift, “I Knew You Were Trouble”
BEST MALE VIDEO: Bruno Mars, “Locked Out Of Heaven”
BEST COLLABORATION: Pink & Nate Reuss, “Just Give Me A Reason”
BEST ROCK VIDEO: 30 Seconds To Mars, “Up In The Air”
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Can’t Hold Us”
BEST POP VIDEO: Selena Gomez, “Come & Get It”
BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Same Love”
BEST SONG OF THE SUMMER: One Direction, “Best Song Ever”
ARTIST TO WATCH: Austin Mahone
BEST DIRECTION: Justin Timberlake, “Suit & Tie” (Director: David Fincher)
BEST EDITING: Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Capital Cities, “Safe And Sound”
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Bruno Mars, “Treasure”
BEST ART DIRECTION: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu, “Q.U.E.E.N.”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Can’t Hold Us”

It's Miley Cyrus' 'Bangerz' Album Cover, New Single "Wrecking Ball" & MTV VMAs Slut Fest

Miley's new album cover looks like it was the condom used when Miami Vice fucked the Cocktail soundtrack.

Speaking of which, here's Miley in heat, getting knocked up by every male (and a few females) at the MTV Video Music Awards last night.



But, really — she's sensitive. Let's listen to her sad new ballad, "Wrecking Ball," which is the #1 song on iTunes. America loves a whore with a heart of gold.

UK Chart Roundup: Matt Cardle & Melanie C Have A Semi-Comeback

Aww. Matt Cardle and Melanie C's "Loving You" is actually a semi-hit in the UK, debuting at #14. The song is Matt's first to crack the Top 40 since the Gary Barlow-penned "Run For Your Life" landed at #6 in 2011, and it's Mel's first solo single to do so since "I Want Candy" made it to #24 in spring 2007. (Later that year, the Spice Girls reached #11 with "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)".

Ah, the good ol' days.



The UK Top 10:

1. "Burn" - Ellie Goulding *2 weeks*
2. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii
3. "Sonnentanz (Sun Don't Shine)" - Klankarussell feat. Will Heard *new*
4. "Earthquake" - DJ Fresh feat. Diplo & Dominique *new*
5. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais
6. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
7. "The Other Side Of Love" - Sean Paul *new*
8. "Lifted" - Naughty Boy feat. Emeli Sande *new*
9. "Applause" - Lady Gaga
10. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell

'Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1' Turns 10: Read The Producer's Great Interview

Following his spectacular chat with British producer Richard X for Annie's The A&R EP last month, John Hamilton — aka frequent Chart Rigger collaborator Moogaboo — whipped up a wonderful anniversary piece on Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1, which turns 10 today.

Read it over at Idolator, and be sure to catch the long-lost original single sleeve for Liberty X's "Being Nobody," plus the advert for the girl group that never materialized, Sweet-X.

US Chart Roundup: Neither Katy Perry Or Lady Gaga Able To Unseat Robin Thicke

 

Sorry, stans. When all was said and done, neither Katy Perry's "Roar" or Lady Gaga's "Applause" were unable to unseat Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" from the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.

What did happen, though, was this: Perry and Gaga each racked up their 12th Top 10 singles, as "Roar" jumped from #85 to #2 after selling 557,000 downloads last week, and "Applause" debuted at #6 (218,000). "Roar" technically outsold "Blurred Lines," by the way, but the latter scored more airplay and streaming points, and is now around on top for an 11th week to annoy the fuck out of everyone. Sorry, KatyKakez.

Of the 13 singles each pop broad has had serviced to radio in the States, only one missed the Top 10 on the Hot 100 — for Katy it was "Thinking Of You" and for Gaga it was "Marry The Night" — and, coincidentally, both of those songs peaked at #29.

One last thing to note: for this week at least, "Roar" has now matched the peak position of Katy's previous Top 10 hit, "Wide Awake," and ditto for Gaga with "Applause" and "You And I."

And that, folks, is the way the hooker sizzles.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *11 weeks*
2. "Roar" - Katy Perry
3. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
4. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons 
5. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
6. "Applause" - Lady Gaga *new*
7. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
8. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
9. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick
10. "Safe And Sound" - Capital Cities

In Defense Of Lady Gaga's "Applause": Watch The Music Video

Over on Idolator last week, I made a case for why Lady Gaga's lead ARTPOP single "Applause" doesn't suck, a bulk of critics seem to think.

In it, I wrote the following:

Art and pop references aside, “Applause” finds Gaga sending the biggest musical love letter to a fanbase since Backstreet Boys‘ 1999 single “Larger Than Life.” Personally, I’ve found myself more drawn to the sound of the track itself, which plays like a return to Gaga’s days of The Fame. The opening, pulsating synths are a straight-up throwback to the “Poker Face” intro — albeit slightly sped up — while the handclap-laden chorus swells and soars with the same pop frenzy that made “Paparazzi” such a delight.

Of course, as far as critical opinion goes, I've never been aligned with the majority, especially when it comes to Gaga.

And so now we get the "Applause" video, which I also find to be miles ahead of what any other low rent, z-grade pop hag is doing these days. Sorry, but Gaga's head on a swan's neck — not to mention her in David Bowie drag — just appeals to my own twisted sensibilities

I don't think there's been a more debated and deconstructed pop single this year. And that, in the end, is what makes "Applause" so exciting. In that sense, job well done, Gaga.

UK Chart Roundup: Ellie Goulding Lands First #1 Single, Gaga's "Applause" Debuts At #5

Ellie Goulding's "Burn" debuts at #1 this week in the UK, thus knocking Miley Cyrus down to #3. Good! "Burn" kicks" "We Can't Stop" in the pussy as far as being a far more quality jam.



I was pretty disappointed when "Burn" dropped out of site quickly here in the States, after briefly making an appearance in the iTunes Top 10. Then again, given Ellie's track record here, "Burn" will probably become a stateside hit some time in 2015.



That brings us to Lady Gaga's "Applause," which goes in at #5, despite going on sale two days later than the rest of last week's new singles. "Applause" is now Gaga's highest-charting UK single since 2011's "Born This Way," which peaked at #3. The rest of the single from that one's same-titled parent album failed to crack the Top 5.

On a final note, poor The Wanted — "We Own The Night," their fourth single from yet-to-be-released third album Word Of Mouth flops at #10. I honestly have yet to hear this song, and I don't think I'm going to remedy that any time soon. Ta!

The UK Top 10:

1. "Burn" - Ellie Goulding *new* *1 week*
2. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii
3. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
4. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey
5. "Applause" - Lady Gaga *new*
6. "Trampoline" - Tinie Tempah feat. 2 Chainz
7. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
8. "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" - Arctic Monkeys *new*
9. "Holy Grail" - Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake
10. "We Own The Night" - The Wanted *new*

US Chart Roundup: Katy Perry Is About To Explode

Katy Perry's reductive "Roar" clocks in at #85 on the Billboard Hot 100 after getting some late-week airplay spins. America is eating the single up, as the latest reports have this trash racking up 525,000 downloads by the time this week's chart cut-off time rolls around — likely enough to finally knock "Blurred Lines" off the top after a 10-week run. If that happens, "Roar" will be only the eighth single to reach #1 in 2013.

Elsewhere, the rest of this week's Top 10 is the exact same as it was last week: sexy.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *10 weeks*
2. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
3. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
4. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
5. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
6. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick
7. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
8. "Clarity" - Zedd feat. Foxes
9. "Safe And Sound" - Capital Cities
10. "Love Somebody" - Maroon 5

Shady Lady Gaga Releases "Applause" A Week Early (Sorry, Katy Perry)

Not content to let Katy Perry have her week in the sun with new Sara Bareilles rip-off song "Roar," Lady Gaga cited leaks of snippets of "Applause" for the reason she pulled the trigger a week early on the single's release.

Good! "Applause" kicks "Roar" in the tiger pussy anyway, with all its Bowie-esque flourishes and irresistible hooks. It's so nice to hear Gaga ditching the awkward Born This Way posturing and getting back to Fame Monster amazingness.

One of these broads is going to finally knock "Blurred Lines" off the top of the Hot 100, and my money is on Gaga.

UK Chart Roundup: Miley's "We Can't Stop" Starts At the Top

Over on the UK chart, Miley Cyrus manages to do one better than she's been able to here in the States by taking "We Can't Stop" to #1. (It's been stuck at #2 for the past month on the Billboard Hot 100.) The song also happens to be Miley's first Top 10 hit in the UK, besting the #11 position "See You Again," "The Climb" and "Party In The U.S.A." each peaked at.

What a glamorous achievement, Miley. Pack your nose and stick your ass up in celebration, gurl.

The UK Top 10:

1. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus *new* *1 week*
2. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii
3. "Trampoline" - Tinie Tempah feat. 2 Chainz *new*
4. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey
5. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
6. "Love Me Again" - John Newman
7. "Holy Grail" - Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake
8. "Thinking About You" - Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar
9. "Best Song Ever" - One Direction
10. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX

Ayah Marar's "The Real" Is A Really Good Song You Should Know

While everyone's just getting up to speed with singer Ayah Marar, thanks to her feature on Calvin Harris' current UK Top 10 single "Thinking About You," you should know that her dance-pop album The Real was quietly released in the US by Radikal Records in July.

The LP is a bit of a grower, with a few cookie cutter numbers weighing it down a bit. Still, the title track is definitely one worth checking out.

And here 'tis:

Katy Perry's "Roar" Leaked: Listen

This is okay. I think it would come off better if it was some lesser slag moaning it. But to be honest, I expected a bigger jam to come flying out of Katy's tiger pussy. Instead, it's a mewing kitten pawing lazily at her left boob.

It's 12 Seconds Of Lady Gaga's "Applause"

These 12 seconds of "Applause" have me back aboard the ARTPOP train, after being slightly derailed by "Aura/Burqa" last week.

Lady Gaga Gets Naked, Shows Off Fake Arm & Preps For "Applause" And Other Stuff

Lady Gaga has been quite a busy broad lately, tossing out promo pics left and right. And lookee here — it's her boobs and hoo hoo on full display, in this art! pop! video where she practices the method of performance artist Marina Abramovic! (Basically, just an excuse to get her cans out and cause a fuss.)



I'm pretty jazzed about the upcoming single ("Applause" is out August 19), and so far the pretension of this whole ARTPOP thing isn't pissing me off too much. Maybe she'll straddle that prosthetic arm in the music video?

It's Katy Perry's "Roar" Single Cover

Maybe Katy didn't get the memo that the '80s are out and the '90s are sexy?

It's Avril Lavigne's 'Avril Lavigne' Album Cover

Avril Lavigne Instagram'd the cover art for her upcoming self-titled album, and I can get down with the Black Swan whore look displayed here.

A funny thing happened on Idolator this summer when we posted our annual Song Of The Summer poll — the choices being Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," Mariah Carey and Miguel's "#Beautiful," Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" and Avril's "Here's To Never Growing Up" — and Avril won. The most floppy of them all.

Abbey Dawn forever.

US Chart Roundup: Zedd & Capital Cities Dance Into The Top 10

Zedd's "Clarity" and Capital Cities' "Safe And Sound" become the latest in a string of dance-oriented acts to snag chart success on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013, as the songs crack the Top 10 this week, at #8 and #9, respectively. It's a bright spot in a week sees "Blurred Lines" overstay its welcome by hanging out at the top yet again.

BLAH.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *9 weeks*
2. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
3. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
4. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
5. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
6. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick
7. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
8. "Clarity" - Zedd feat. Foxes
9. "Safe And Sound" - Capital Cities
10. "Love Somebody" - Maroon 5

Lady Gaga's "Aura" (Or "Burqa") Demo Leaks

For more than a minute, Internet rumors had a mysterious yet-to-be-heard song called "Burqa" being pinpointed as Lady Gaga's lead ARTPOP single. We now, of course, know that's not true, as "Applause" is going to clap its way into your consciousness on August 19 (or, honestly, probably several days before that, when it leaks). Still, what of "Burqa"?

The song in question, now possibly titled "Aura," finally made its way online last night. Upon listening to it, it's clear that it's a demo — the vocals are too uneven in volume, the intro beat is pretty basic and the song seems to be missing a second verse. It's all very reminiscent of that day in spring 2011 when snatches of a rough version of "Judas" kept leaking left and right.

And speaking of "Judas," "Aura/Burqa" throws a bit of an initial wet rag on the notion that Gaga was going to be a little more "Poker Face" and a lot less Born This Way this time around.



There is something to be said for letting go of conventions and structure and being Art! Pop! Still, would it kill Lady Gaga to just give us another good old-fashioned verse-chorus killer, circa Fame Monster?

UK Chart Roundup: Calvin Harris & Ayah Marar's "Thinking About You" Goes Top 10

I've said it before, and here it is again: "Thinking About You" is simply the best song on Calvin Harris' 18 Months album. And now it's hopped into the UK Top 10 at #9. The vocals are by Ayah Marar, who also chirped on Calvin's best Ready For The Weekend track, "Flashback."

"Thinking About You" now gives Harris his eighth (!) Top 10 hit off 18 Months (or his ninth, if we're to count Rihanna's tacked-on "We Found Love").

The UK Top 10:

1. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii *3 weeks*
2. "Love Me Again" - John Newman
3. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
4. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey
5. "Best Song Ever" - One Direction
6. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
7. "La La La" - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith
8. "Let Her Go" - Passenger
9. "Thinking About You" - Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar
10. "Bang Bang" - Will.i.am

Lady Gaga vs. Katy Perry: "Applause" & "Roar" Promo Gone Wild On Social Media

I'm pretty jazzed about the return of Lady Gaga, at least for new single "Applause," which is to arrive on August 19. But what's hilarious is how now Katy Perry is trying to one-up her with her own swing back into the pop scene.

These two broads' back-and-forth promo antics on social media yesterday played out like two hoes in the high school playground trying to vie for riding the same dumb jock's pole — which is actually pretty brilliant, considering the dumb jock (that would be us, pop fans) is likely to pay more attention and, ultimately, fuck both at the same time.

So above is Gaga's tease for her "Applause" lyrics," while below you'll find Katy Perry's "Roar" teaser clip, where she burns her goddamn "Teenage Dream" wig. Up next: wrestling braless in a jello-slathered kiddie pool.

Everything About Annie's "Back Together" Video Makes Me Smile

The not-real chart show countdown at the beginning...can we get a full length version of Deejay Jesu's "This Ol' House," please?

If you've not yet bought The A&R EP (it came out this week), hop to it. This is some straight up '90s realness. Thanks, Annie and Richard X.

Katy Perry's Next Album Called 'Prism', First Single Called "Roar"...Maybe

Here's a photo of a gold truck that drove around Los Angeles on Monday with the words Katy Perry Prism on it, and the date October 22, 2013. One would therefore assume that this is a somewhat legit announcement of Katy Perry's post-Teenage Dream album, with its release date...or the mad actions of a loony Katy Perry stan.

Anyway, some site called Idolator also spilled the tea that the leads Prism single is called "Roar" (or "Rawr"), and it's apparently another Dr. Luke/Max Martin/Bonnie McKee concoction. Because there really aren't enough of those, you know?

It's Justin Timberlake's "Take Back The Night" Video

Justin Timberlake has never masked his inkling for all things Michael Jackson, and with new single "Take Back The Night" — the first from his upcoming The 20/20 Experience - 2 Of 2 (out September 30) — he holds a magnifying glass up to those tendencies.

The song, which sounds not unlike a mashup of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Off The Wall," probably falls at a 6 on the 1-to-10 JT Scale Of Pop ("Mirrors" being a 10, of course). It's a bit more than enjoyable than "Suit & Tie," with an irritatingly catchy chorus, but overall, it's not really pushing the envelope much, is it?

Richard X On Annie's 'The A&R' EP, Pet Shop Boys' "Fugitive", Rachel Stevens' "Some Girls

Longtime Chart Rigger sidekick John Hamilton (aka Moogaboo) interviewed Richard X, the producer behind Annie's just-released The A&R EP, among dozens of other massive pop jams, and you can read their chat over at Idolator.

Lady Gaga's "Applause" Single Cover Art: Talk About Scary Monsters

I'll admit it, I'm very excited to hear what Lady Gaga comes up with when she reaches up her Monster snatch and yanks out new single "Applause" on August 19. But, Jesus — does this broad always have to be so derivative?

The "Applause" single artwork premiered last night via WWD, and she had this to say about it:

"It’s the end of the night after the show. When I look at it I see that there is a longing for the applause. I see that there is a void that is leaking onstage, that the performer is leaking, that the art is sort of becoming something else in front of your eyes. Something more human, something more honest."

All I really see is Bowie.

UK Chart Roundup: Shitevicii

The UK Top 10:

1. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii *2 weeks*
2. "Best Song Ever" - One Direction *new* 
3. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
4. "Love Me Again" - John Newman
5. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
6. "La La La" - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith
7. "Let Her Go" - Passenger
8. "Bang Bang" - Will.i.am
9. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk
10. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez

US Chart Roundup: Pet Shop Boys' 'Electric' Is Their Highest-Charting Album Since 'Very'

With everything on the Billboard Hot 100 remaining pretty much hooker meat, let's instead turn to the Billboard 200 album chart, where Pet Shop Boys' Electric goes in at #26. Like in the UK this past weekend, the duo have now landed their highest-charting album since Very. Here in the States, 1993 pop masterpiece Very peaked at #20, and eventually snagged a Gold certification.

Electric is now the Pet Shop Boys' seventh of their 12 studio albums to make the Top 40 in the US, and their first to do so since Yes clocked in at #32 in 2009. (It's follow-up, Elysium, made it to #44 last fall.)

Below is the full listing of how the duo's studio albums have charted in America. (Go here to see how they charted in the UK.)

1. Please (#7, 1986)
2. Actually (#25, 1987)
3. Introspective (#34, 1988)
4. Behaviour (#45, 1990)
5. Very (#20, 1993)
6. Bilingual (#39, 1996)
7. Nightlife (#84, 1999)
8. Release (#73, 2002)
9. Fundamental (#150, 2006)
10. Yes (#32, 2009)
11. Elysium (#44, 2012)
12. Electric (#26, 2013)

A job well done with their first outing on their own new label, x2. Now, roll on the tour — I've got tickets to see that laser fest on both nights they're playing in New York.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *7 weeks*
2. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
3. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
4. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
5. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
6. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
7. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
8. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake
9. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick
10. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake

Lady Gaga's First 'ARTPOP' Single Is Maybe Called "Applause"

Lady Gaga's lead ARTPOP single, out August 19, is looking to be called "Applause" — at least as far as we can surmise from this photo posted last night on LittleMonsters.com — and is said to be produced by DJ White Shadow.

So take that, all you Monsters who thought it was going to be "Burqa."

I Interviewed Goldfrapp Again

Yesterday Alison Goldfrapp became the only artist to-date that I've interviewed three times. This one was all about upcoming album Tales Of Us (out in the US on September 10). I'll post the link once the interview is up, sometime in August.

Last week the gorgeous, Lisa Gunning-directed short film for "Drew," the first Tales Of Us single, premiered, and it absolutely blew me away. It looks like some lost Merchant Ivory film. And it has a pair of hot, naked dudes in it. What's not to love?



My previous interviews with Goldfrapp can be found below:

* 2010: Head First
* 2012: The Singles

Annie's 'The A&R EP': Listen To "Hold On" And "Invisible"

It's sounding like you could do a lot worse than pick up Annie and Richard X's The A&R EP when it's released on August 5. You've already heard "Back Together." Now get a load of the light and breezy "Hold On" below, and hear edgier dance track "Invisible" over at the Guardian's site.

Icona Pop Release "All Night" Single, Reveal Release Date & Tracklist For 'This Is...' Album

Geez, it's been a long minute since Icona Pop first became a thing, hasn't it? And believe it or not, they've yet to release an album in America. (Their self-titled Swedish debut LP came out last November.)

That will change on September 24 with the arrival of This Is..., which is set to contain previously released songs "I Love It," "We Got The World" and "Ready For The Weekend," plus new single "All Night."



The latter was released on iTunes this week, and is currently at #35 on the digital store's daily chart.

This Is... tracklist

1. I Love It
2. All Night
3. We Got the World
4. Ready For the Weekend
5. Girlfriend
6. In the Stars
7. On a Roll
8. Just Another Night
9. Hold On
10. Light Me Up
11. Then We Kiss

UK Chart Roundup: Pet Shop Boys' 'Electric' Is Highest-Charting Studio Album Since 1993's 'Very'

The Pet Shop Boys let the cat out of the bag a little early ahead of the publication of the official UK single and album chart today, by posting the following message on their official site:

In the UK, Electric has today entered the albums chart at number three. This is PSBs' highest album chart position since Very entered at number one in 1993. 

Electric is the duo's 12th studio LP, and now their 15th overall Top 10 entry on the UK album chart. (And, technically, B-sides collection Alternative made it to #2, in 1995 — so Electric is their highest chart position overall on the UK chart, studio albums or otherwise, since that one.) Their last studio album, Elysium, marked the lowest placing for the Pet Shop Boys in the Top 10 when it debuted at #9 last September.

Here now is the breakdown of all Top 10 entries by the PSBs on the UK album chart:

* Please (#3, 1986)
* Actually (#2, 1987)
* Introspective (#2, 1988)
* Behaviour (#2, 1990)
* Discography (#3, 1991) — hits collection
* Very (#1, 1993)
* Disco 2 (#6, 1994) — dance compilation series
* Alternative (#2, 1995) — B-sides collection
* Bilingual (#4, 1996)
* Nightlife (#7, 1999)
* Release (#7, 2002)
* Fundamental (#5, 2006)
* Yes (#4, 2009)
* Elysium (#9, 2012)
* Electric (#3, 2013)

SOME LINKS:

* My full review of Electric
* My interview with Neil and Chris
* PSBs' 12 Greatest Collaborations, by John Hamilton & myself


The UK Top 10:

1. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii *new* *new*
2. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
3. ""Love Me Again" - John Newman 
4. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
5. "Bang Bang" - Will.i.am
6. "La La La" - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith *new*
7. "Reload" - Sebastian Ingrosso feat. John Martin
8. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez *new*
9. "Jack" - Breach *new*
10. "Let Her Go" - Passenger

The 'Clueless' Soundtrack Is 18, And My Friend Wrote This Great Retrospective On It

My pal Alex wrote an amazing look back at the Clueless soundtrack, which came out 18 years ago today. (Old enough to be a high school senior!) He even interviewed Jill Sobule ("Supermodel") and music supervisor Karyn Rachtman, who also did Reality Bites, Pulp Fiction, Romeo + Juliet, Boogie Nights, etc.

Check it out!

Pet Shop Boys 'Electric' Might Be The #1 UK Album This Week (+ My Review)

Electric, the new, Stuart Price-produced album by Pet Shop Boys, was just released this week, and is currently only 1,500 copies behind Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines in the race for the #1 album in the UK. All of Neil and Chris' studio LPs have charted in the Top 10 in their home country, but their only #1 album to-date is Very, which was released 20 years ago. It's pretty fitting, then, that Electric is doing so well, considering it's the PSBs' best album since Very.

Up above you'll see my vinyl and CD copies of Electric, which just arrived yesterday. Super glamour.

Anyway, here's a nice roundup of Pet Shop Boys writing I've done in the past month:

* My full review of Electric
* My interview with Neil and Chris
* PSBs' 12 Greatest Collaborations, by John Hamilton & myself

US Chart Roundup: Capital Cities, Lorde & Justin Timberlake Are Royals

Two songs I honestly never anticipated becoming major US hits have cracked the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week: Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love," which is up to #17, and Capital Cities' "Safe And Sound," now at #20. I like to think that my interview with Capital Cities back in May is what helped propel their single to such great heights. You know — Robbie Daw, hitmaker.

Just outside of the Top 40, Justin Timberlake's controversial, disco-fied new single, "Take Back The Night" — off the upcoming The 20/20 Experience - 2 Of 2 (out September 30) — debuts at #47 after being made available as a download with pre-orders of the new album.



Moving along, Britney Spears' trashy Smurfs 2 track "Ooh La La" is $omehow up to #54, while the Cedric Gervais remix of Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" debuts at #72.



On a final note, 16-year-old New Zealand native Lorde — somewhat of a Lana Del Rey for the tween set — sees her debut single "Royals" climb from #90 to #74 in its second week on the chart.

Sexy.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *6 weeks*
2. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
3. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
4. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
5. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
6. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
7. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
8. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake *new*
9. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
10. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick

UK Chart Roundup: Robin Thicke Is Back At #1...And Shirtless

After a two-week interruption by Icona Pop's "I Love It" and John Newman's excellent house jam "Love Me Again," Robin Thicke's goddamned "Blurred Lines" is back at #1 in the UK. And that makes me want to push a hooker off a bridge.

It's an offense that I don't even think the above shirtless photo can make up for. Well, maybe. No. Yes. No.

The UK Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *5 week*
2. "Love Me Again" - John Newman
3. "Reload" - Sebastian Ingrosso feat. John Martin *new*
4. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
5. "Bang Bang" - Will.i.am
6. "Brokenhearted" - Lawson feat. Bob *new*
7. "La La La" - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith
8. "Let Her Go" - Passenger
9. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk
10. "The Other Side" - Jason Derulo

Lady Gaga Announces 'ARTPOP' Release Date, New Single Out In August

Lady Gaga ate dinner with a bunch of people in New York last night and announced the details of her new album ARTPOP, which she's only been blathering on about for half as long as she publicly flapped her gums over Born This Way before it was released.

The main, important details — the ones you'll care about — are these:

1. The first single is out August 19.

2. You can pre-order ARTPOP and some app or other on September 1.

3. ARTPOP and said app are to be released on November 11.

Below the full gist, via Gaga's Facebook. Get ready for HausRaveTechGaGaARTappPOP, everyone!

Here's hoping it's way more The Fame Monster than Born This Way.