UK Chart Roundup: All The Single Covers For PSY's "Gangnam Style" Are Fucking Creepy

PSY's "Gangnam Style" — aka this generation's "Macarena" — has inevitably topped the UK chart (it's currently #2 in the US), after already hitting #1 in countries like Australia, Canada, Finland, Norway and South Korea (duh!). I just love how it's like the old days, when a single like this would have 4,028 different versions of the cover art.And with every single one, PSY looks completely ridiculous and actually kind of menacing. Like, "I'm going...

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Christina Aguilera's "Your Body" Video: Her Most Artistic Triumph To Date

Two years ago I had to spank Christina Aguilera when she released Bionic by giving her some sage career advice, and I'm glad she took it to heart and got back to basics — i.e. being a trailer park skank who looks like Barney (yes, that Barney) blew his load all through her rat wig while she was affixing her press-on nails with Elmer's Glue in the dumpster behind her trailer park. "Your Body" is her classiest video to date, with some truly artistic...

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US Chart Roundup: Christina Aguilera Returns From The Pop Hooker Graveyard

K-Pop fans hoping PSY's crossover smash "Gangnam Style" would fly to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week will be disappointed to see the song land in the runner-up position. I'm just annoyed that Maroon 5 are still at the top with their tuneless attempt at reggae, "One More Night." A far better Max Martin/Shellback co-production is Christina Aguilera's "Your Body," which crashes into the chart at #34. This marks the curvy Voice ho's first Top 40...

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Steps To Release 'Light Up The World' Holiday Album In November

Christ, just what I need — for my dormant Steps obsession to be resuscitated once again, a la when that trash reality show first aired last fall. Turns out the UK pop act will release a Christmas album called Light Up The World on November 12, preceded by a same-titled single . The band will also play six live dates throughout the UK in late November and early December.For those keeping track (i.e. me and two or three thirtysomething broads in the...

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Pet Shop Boys' "Leaving" Release To Come Packed With Several Goodies

Pet Shop Boys' second Elysium single "Leaving" gets its official UK release on October 15, and will arrive in several formats: three digital bundles, two CD singles and 12" vinyl.What's interesting is that, in additional to the usual round of remixes, we'll get two new B-sides — "Hell" and "In His Imagination" — as well as the original demos for "Leaving" and the song "Baby," which was written for and recorded by Alcazar back in 2009.Ah, "Baby" —...

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It's Rihanna's New Single "Diamonds"

Thank god Rihanna has chucked the generic dance thump of many of her previous singles (though I still dig "We Found Love") and switched up the sound for her lead offering from her 723rd album, which is due out this November.Sia wrote "Diamonds" (it was produced by Stargate and Benny Blanco), and the lyrics therefore display a bit more maturity — and far less of a sexual overtone — than RiRi's more recent offerings. The mid-tempo beat reminds me of...

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It's Ke$ha's "Die Young" Single: Listen

Soul icon Ke$ha's new single "Die Young" surfaced online this evening, and I have to say that, musically, it's a totally catchy synth-pop jam — albeit one that sounds not unlike Flo Rida's "Good Feeling"/Avicii's "Levels".But as for the vocals, K-hole comes off sounding like she hasn't progressed an inch since the release of her debut smash "Tik Tok" three years ago. The verses are delivered with her signature talk-rap-singing, and unfortunately,...

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UK Chart Roundup: The Script — More Like The Snooze

Can you believe we're living in such lobotomized times where The Script and will.i.am are having hits?The UK Top 10: 1. "Hall Of Fame" - The Script feat. will.i.am *2 weeks*2. "Say Nothing" - Example *new* 3. "Gangnam Style" - PSY 4. "Let Me Love You" - Ne-Yo 5. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink6. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift 7. "Wings" - Little Mix8. "You Bring Me Joy" - Amelia Lily9. "I Cry" - Flo Rida10. "Good Time"...

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One Direction Get Shirtless In "Live While We're Young" Video

Here's One Direction's video for "Live While We're Young," the first single off their upcoming sophomore album Take Me Home. Enjoy the boy banders as they sing about "getting some tonight," pile on top of each other, wave a giant banana in the air and get shirtless in a kiddy po...

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Pet Shop Boys, 'Elysium': My Full Review

You may have caught my small writeup of Pet Shop Boys' new album Elysium in Instinct this month, but I finally got around to doing up a full review, which you can read over at Idolator....

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Kylie Minogue Did Pink's "Try" Cover Art Better Five Years Ago

Above: Pink, 2012. Below: Kylie, 20...

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Ke$ha's New Album 'Warrior' Out December 4

Look what Santa's going to be vomiting up this December, chyldryn!1. Warrior2. Die Young3. C’Mon4. Thinking Of You5. Crazy Kids6. Wherever You Are7. Dirty Love8. Wonderland9. Only Wanna Dance With You10. Supernatural11. Beautiful Life12. Love Into The Light13. Last Goodbye14. Gold Trans Am15. Out Alive16. Past Li...

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US Chart Roundup: Maroon 5's Worst Single Ever Is #1

One Max Martin and Shellback co-production replaces another atop the Billboard Hot 100 as Maroon 5's "One More Night" bumps Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" down from #1. And I have to say, it's probably one of the worst, blandest and most utterly shit songs to top the chart in recent memory. Then again, "Whistle" was pretty bad too.This is Maroon 5's third #1 single, following "Makes Me Wonder" in 2007 and "Moves Like Jagger"...

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It's Calvin Harris' '18 Months' Album Cover

Considering that Calvin Harris has been releasing high-charting singles from his upcoming third album 18 months since about March of 1946, it's going to play like a greatest hits by the time it arrives on October 30.Included are the following previously-released tracks: "We Found Love" (with Rihanna), "Bounce" (with Kelis), "We'll Be Coming Back" (with Example), "Let's Go" (with Ne-Yo), "Awooga" and "Feel So Close."Other broads featured are Florence...

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UK Chart Roundup: Pet Shop Boys Land 14th Top 10 Album With 'Elysium'

Pet Shop Boys' Elysium has entered the UK album chart at #9, and thus becomes their 11th consecutive Top 10-charting studio album.  As Elysium is, in fact, their 11th studio album, that means all of them have placed in the Top 10. Additionally, the duo also hit the Top 10 with their 1991 greatest hits compilation Discography, 1994 remix album Disco 2 and 1995 B-sides collection Alternative.That said, Elysium is Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe's...

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Christina Aguilera's "Your Body" Doesn't Suck

I'm glad Christina Aguilera learned a bit of humility over the past four years, came down off her high horse and realized people were bouncing fucks left and right from their account of caring about her retro smoky lady soul/late-in-the-game forays into electro pastiche. Because it's about time she got into the studio with Max Martin.Personally, I became pretty much maxed out on Martin's sound once he starting doing watered-down, paycheck-whore productions...

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US Chart Roundup: Where Have I Been?

Sorry for the lack of updates here lately. I'm traveling this week and I've just been inundated with trash. Sexiness will resume tomorrow.The U.S. Top 10:1. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift *3 weeks*2. "One More Night" - Maroon 53. "Whistle" - Flo Rida4. "Some Nights" - fun.5. "Lights" - Ellie Goulding6. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink7. "As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Bieber8. "Everybody Talks" - Neon Trees9. "Good...

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Pet Shop Boys' 'Elysium' Out Today: Watch Their Olympics Parade Performance

Pet Shop Boys' new album Elysium is out today in the US. Here's a bit of a catch-up on their activities lately:The Chris Lowe version of the "Leaving" single art. (Catch the Neil Tennant cover here.) I may actually have to go old-school and buy the physical CD singles for this class.The duo performing outside Buckingham Palace yesterday during a victory parade for Great Britain's Olympics and Paralympics athletes:PSB concert in Berlin from last week,...

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UK Chart Roundup: ...Because Clearly The World Needed More Ne-Yo In It

Mediocrity triumphs again! The UK Top 10: 1. "Let Me Love You" - Ne-Yo *new* *1 week*2. "Hall Of Fame" - The Script feat. will.i.am *new* 3. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink *new* 4. "Wings" - Little Mix 5. "Bom Bom" - Sam & The Womp6. "Good Time" - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen 7. "Harder Than You Think" - Public Enemy8. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift9. "How We Do (Party)" - Rita Ora10. "Some Nights" - f...

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US Chart Roundup: Flo Rida Blown Back To #1

A fairly ho-hum week on the Hot 100, as Flo Rida's oral sex hit "Whistle" flip-flops with Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and returns to #1. Meanwhile, Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks" (#6) becomes the band's first Top 10 hit, and Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Good Time" crawls up one position to #8.Outside of the Top 10, Alex Clare's "Too Close" and Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart A Break" climb to new highs of #15 and #16,...

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Pet Shop Boys Live Streaming Concert In Berlin: Watch

This is happening right now in Berlin — Pet Shop Boys performing songs from new album Elysium in Berlin. The concert is being streamed globally.Songs performed so far include "A Face Like That," "Leaving" and "Invisibl...

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Kylie Minogue To Release 'The Abbey Road Sessions' In October

Those orchestral versions of her past songs Kylie Minogue performed late last year at Abbey Road will finally get a proper release on October 29, via new album The Abbey Road Sessions. (Better late than never, eh?) According to Kylie's official site, there will be 16 tracks, including the following:ALL THE LOVERSON A NIGHT LIKE THISBETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOWHAND ON YOUR HEARTI BELIEVE IN YOUCOME INTO MY WORLDFINER FEELINGSCONFIDE IN MESLOWTHE LOCOMOTIONCAN’T...

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Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Kiss' Sounds Like A Summer Album: Listen To Preview Clips

Carly Rae Jepsen's debut American album Kiss sounds like it should be released in the spring or summer, and, okay — technically September 18, when it will be out, is still summer. Still, the preview clips below indicate that this will be quite the pop blowout.So far opening track "Tiny Little Bows", "Turn Me Up" and "Hurt So Good" appear to be standouts, while the Max Martin one, "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" seems like a surprising snooze. Still,...

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UK Chart Roundup: Little Mix Land Second #1 Single

 Just when you thought there wasn't enough slut paste in the world.The UK Top 10: 1. "Wings" - Little Mix *new* *1 week*2. "Bom Bom" - Sam & The Womp 3. "How We Do (Party)" - Rita Ora4. "Harder Than You Think" - Public Enemy 5. "Good Time" - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen6. "Heatwave" - Wiley feat. Rymez & Ms D 7. "Spectrum (Calvin Harris Remix)" - Florence + The Machine8. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift9. "Read...

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Pet Shop Boys' 'Bilingual' At 16: Hit And Miss

Many Pet Shop Boys albums have been released in the fall, and several of them have arrived in September, including Actually, Very, Bilingual and the duo's upcoming LP Elysium. Today actually marks the 16-year anniversary of their sixth studio album Bilingual, which was released in the UK on September 2, 1996 (and in the US a day later).Bilingual was an album I personally struggled to enjoy when it came out, though I did try for a good year or so....

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It's Pet Shop Boys' "Leaving" Lyric Video

As mentioned, "Leaving" is the second single from Pet Shop Boys' upcoming album Elysium. And now there's a lyric video to go along with the song, which features a sun slowly setting — quite fitting given that the tune is about death.By the way, check out the duo's new interview with The Arts Desk. This commentary alone is priceless:NT: I looked at the chart the other day and I realised that since the last album, only three years ago, we’ve entered...

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