UK Chart Roundup: PJ & Duncan, AKA Ant & Dec, Hit #1 With 19-Year-Old Single

Nah.



The UK Top 10:

1. "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" - PJ & Duncan *1 week*
2. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
3. "What About Us" - The Saturdays feat. Sean Paul
4. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
5. "Pompeii" - Bastille
6. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
7. "On My Way" - Charlie Brown *new*
8. "Ready Or Not" - Bridgit Mendler
9. "Hey Porsche" - Nelly
10. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

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New York, New Chapter

So one of the main reasons I've been so sporadic with posting here the past week or so — not to mention these past two months — is that I've been coordinating a move to New York City. And as you can see of the pic of Miss Pussy and Cracker watching "cat television" above, we finally got here, this weekend. (I'm actually in a temporary apartment until all my furniture/life's possessions arrive on a moving truck next weekend.)

I was initially hesitant to return to the East Coast. I spent the better part of my adult, post-college years in Los Angeles, and did a temporary stint in Dallas. The latter was an overall miserable time that lasted two years, seven months and one day, during which I just traveled alot to keep from being depressed — trips to Los Angeles every three months or so for work; trips back home to Pittsburgh to spend time with my mom; road trips to Austin to spend time with my friend Alex; vacations in Europe. Isolation is a terrible experience, especially when it lasts for 32 months.

Overall, however, I think I'd grown used to living with year-round warm weather, for the most part, over the past 14 years.

But once again, another unexpected path opened up earlier this year — one that really wasn't on the table or in my mind at all before, but that I'm happy to travel down and see what happens. After all, you only get one short, crazy life. And it's New York.

Happy Easter!

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US Chart Roundup: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Return To #1, Justin Timberlake's Huge Debut

After being interrupted by the five-week reign of Baauer's senses-dulling "Harlem Shake" on the Hot 100, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis return to #1 with "Thrift Shop." Both songs manage to keep Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" at bay, as that song moves up one position to #3. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, JT's "Mirrors" jumps from #25 to #13.

The real chart news, though, is over on the Billboard 200, where Timberlake's third album The 20/20 Experience debuts at #1 with first-week sales of 968,000 copies. It's his biggest opening week as a solo artist (FutureSex/LoveSounds sold 684,000 out of the gate in 2006 while Justified opened with 439,000 in 2002).

Of course, let's not forget that JT's former sausage fest boy band *NSYNC saw No Strings Attached debut at #1 in 2000 after selling 2.42 million copies in the first week.

Speaking of No Strings Attached, let's just put on our capri shorts, slip into a pair of roller blades and watch these:







The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz *5 weeks*
2. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer
3. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
4. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
5. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
6. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
7. "Started From The Bottom" - Drake 
8. "Feel This Moment" - Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera
9. "Love Me" - Lil Wayne feat. Drake & Future
10. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift

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UK Chart Roundup: The Saturdays Land Their First #1 Single With "What About Us"

Yeah, I tried watching that Chasing The Saturdays trash on E! like one-and-a-half times back in January or February. Frankie was crying because she was tired. The blonde one with the underbite, Mollie, kept reminding us all that she's the only one who is single. One of the other broads tried having Skype sex with one of the gays from JLS. I couldn't deal. 

And their tie-in single that got promoted throughout the series, "What About Us," failed to catch on in the States. Naturally it's now gone on to become The Saturdays' first UK #1.



Let's think about that for a second. The biggest girl group still in existence in the UK released their amazing debut album Chasing Lights back in fall 2008. If we're going by quality, every single off of it should have hit the top of the chart in the Saturdays' home country. Instead, "If This Is Love" peaked at #8, "Up" made it to #5, "Issues" reached #4 and "Work" wound up at #22.

The quintet's output has sadly gotten progressively more generic and cookie-cutter since then, save for maybe a few singles like the rock-leaning "Forever Is Over" and slightly above-average floor filler "All Fired Up." (All in all, they're released three albums, an EP and 14 singles.)

All this is not to say that "What About Us," a terrible song — though the eye-roll-inducing presence of Sean Paul makes things seem more desperate than they really need to be. It's just that, for a promising group whose sound was filled with at least a modicum of originality at the onset, most of the Saturdays' singles from 2009 onward have been bandwagony tripe that any anonymous pack of strippers with a microphone could have done.

Anyway, enjoy the #1, girls.

The UK Top 10:

1. "What About Us" - The Saturdays feat. Sean Paul *new* *1 week*
2. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
3. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
4. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
5. "Pompeii" - Bastille
6. "One Way Or Another" - One Direction
7. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
8. "Ready Or Not" - Bridgit Mendler
9. "Disclosure" - White Noise feat. AlunaGeorge
10. "I Could Be The One" - Avicii vs. Nicky Romero

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Daft Punk's 'Random Access Memories' Out In May

Daft Punk's first studio album since 2005's horrifyingly bad Human After All will be released on May 21, and it's called Random Access Memories. The French electro-house studs previewed a new Nile Rodgers-y track a few weeks back, and if the rest of the album is as sexy as that shit, this album will be the Jam.



The album is available for pre-order on iTunes, though the song titles have yet to be announced.

UPDATE: A brand new ad aired during Saturday Night Live this weekend featuring another 15-second song snippet.

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My Writeup On *NSYNC's Debut Album, Which Is Now 15

Alright, I've been accused by Anonymous commentators this week of being on Justin Timberlake's payroll for writing so much about "Mirrors" and The 20/20 Experience. (Imagine that: me typing out words about the biggest pop release of the year so far?) To that I say... if only that cash was coming in, sluts!

Anyway, here's another one for you: *NSYNC's debut album turns 15 on March 24, and I interviewed Kristian Lundin, who co-wrote "Tearin' Up My Heart" with Max Martin and produced the song, for an anniversary piece over on Idolator.

When I asked him if there were any songs given to Backstreet Boys (another boy band he worked with at the time) that *NSYNC really wanted, or vice versa, his response was: "No comment."

One bit that didn't make it into the Idolator writeup was Kristian's reply when I asked if Cheiron Studios head honcho Denniz Pop (who produced, among other great '90s pop songs, *NSYNC's first single "I Want You Back" with Max) got to know Justin, JC and the rest of them before he passed away in 1998.

"No, unfortunately not," he said. "We didn't see the *NSYNC guys as frequently as, say Backstreet Boys back then, so I don't believe there was enough time. But I know they liked and respected him for inviting them and giving them their first hit."

And, no, I didn't get any cash from JT to write this one, either. But it is a good read.

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Girls Aloud Finally Call It Quits

From Twitter:

Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!! This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade. It has far exceeded any of our dreams and we hope we are forever your inspiration and reminder that dreams really do glitter!! Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together . Love you lots. 

 LOL.

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US Chart Roundup: Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" Isn't #1 Yet, But It's Getting There

On the Billboard Hot 100, "Harlem Shake" is #1 for a stupefying fifth week, "Suit & Tie" is back up to #4, the position it debuted at two months ago, and "Just Give Me A Reason" (#8) is now Pink's 14th Top 10 hit. Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera has somehow used Pitbull like a Trojan horse to wriggle her way back to the upper tier of the chart.

Still, the more interesting trash is happening a bit lower. Justin Timberlake's second single off the just-released The 20/20 Experience, "Mirrors," has leaped 52 positions to #25. Over on iTunes, "Suit & Tie" is #1 while "Mirrors" is at #5. Kids, pull your fingers out of your mom and let's get those positions reversed?

That brings us to Icona Pop and Charli XCX's "I Love It," the song that topped Chart Rigger's 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2012 list. This week it cracks the Top 40 after moving up to #35. I'll admit, I cooled off on "I Love It" awhile ago, but it is nice to hear it on the radio in between the 746th play of "Just Give Me A Reason" and the 983rd play of "I Knew You Were Trouble" each day.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer *5 weeks*
2. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz
3. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
4. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
5. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
6. "Started From The Bottom" - Drake 
7. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
8. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
9. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
10. "Feel This Moment" - Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera

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Little Boots Teases 'Nocturnes' With New Single "Broken Record"

Little Boots' new Nocturnes single "Broken Record" has bells in it, which is more than enough to get me to listen. Upon first listen, it's not as immediate as "Every Night I Say A Prayer" or previous offering "Motorway." But it does have those bells, along with a throbbing bassline and a clubby quality that slowly builds until synths surge, glitter balls shatter and, much like a broken record, this damn track is stuck in your noggin.



Nocturnes is out May 7, and you can hear preview clips of all the tracks on iTunes now.

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It's Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" Video

Justin Timberlake's video for "Mirrors," the year's best pop song so far, does what few music videos do these days: it actually moves us to feel real emotions. Well, okay, maybe that's just me. The video is dedicated to Timberlake's grandparents, William (who passed away in December last year) and Sadie Bomar.

In the first tear-jerking 47 minutes of the video, we see an elderly woman — presumably JT's gran — reflecting back on her relationship over the years with her husband, who appears to now only be a ghost. Sure, a similar concept also played out in Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away" video, but screw that — she wishes she had recorded something as classy as "Mirrors."

Eventually, at about the 3-hour-and-56-minute point in the video, Justin shows up and an catches the wedding band that his grandmother drops. He then does some introspective dancing and posing in a hall of mirrors, while green-wigged women haunt his thoughts.



Get this song to #1 already.

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Danniiversary: 'Neon Nights' Turns 10

One of the best parts of my job over at Idolator is curating the Backtracking — or album anniversary — series, which I started back in December 2009. The latest entry is Mike Wass of Pop Trash Addicts' writeup is on Dannii Minogue's still entirely brilliant 2003 LP Neon Nights, which just turned 10. [Read here]

To give Mike's piece a little extra oomph, I reached out to songwriter Hannah Robinson ("Come And Get It," "Hey (So What)") and songwriter-producer Ian Masterson, who offered up some great quotes. Hannah even sent over a photo of herself with Dannii during the Neon Nights writing sessions, which we posted.

Really proud of this one, as Mike did a bang-up job — and it was great enough that both Dannii and Kylie tweeted out the link!

One cheeky part we left out was the response to a question about the influence the album had on other artists. Ian Masterson's response: "You only have to listen to Mumford And Sons to appreciate the debt their sound owes to Neon Nights."

He also commented on the fact that, somehow, Dannii has never released a follow-up studio album to Neon Nights: "Oh, you know — life happens! She's been really busy with other work outside of music, and of course she's a mum now which is a full-time job in itself.  So it would have to feel very right for her to want to release new material. She's adamant about that, and rightly so."

Finally, when asked if it was true he and Dannii had been (secretly) working on new songs, or had anything new coming up: "Well..."

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Beyonce Drops "Bow Down" Trash Song

Beyonce apparently feels like Justin Timberlake shouldn't be getting all the glory this spring, as far as pop comebacks go. There's just one big difference: Justin Timberlake's new material might seem like a bit of a challenge to some listeners, but Bey's "Bow Down," which she premiered today, is pretty subpar.



Is she even trying to make music people want to listen to anymore? I don't really know what this is, and I'm not really feeling motivated to figure it out.

On to the next one.

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UK Chart Roundup: Nicole Scherzinger Flops Again

Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" remains atop the UK chart for a third week in a row, while professional stripper Nicole Scherzinger flops into the Top 10 at #6 with "Boomerang."

What I'll never understand is how this Pussycat tuna bag has a career, while Holly Valance and Dannii Minogue haven't been heard from in years. "Boomerang" is truly abominable.



Over on the album chart, David Bowie's excellent LP The Next Day debuts at #1 after selling 94,000 copies. It's the first time the 66-year-old has had a chart-topping album since 1993's Black Tie White Noise. Strangely enough, here in the States, Bowie has never had a #1 album.

The UK Top 10:

1. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake *3 weeks*
2. "One Way Or Another" - One Direction
3. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
4. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
5. "Pompeii" - Bastille
6. "Boomerang" - Nicole Scherzinger *new*
7. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
8. "Ready Or Not" - Bridgit Mendler
9. "I Could Be The One" - Avicii vs. Nicky Romero
10. "Disclosure" - White Noise feat. AlunaGeorge

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'The Love This Collection, Volume 1' Added To iTunes

Here in the States, the only taste we got of the output UK producers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken churned out in the 1990s, post-Stock Aitken Waterman, on their Love This label was Nicki French's cover of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart," which made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in summer 1995.

If memory serves correct, there were CD single releases for a few other gems from the Love This catalog that year on these shores: Newton's "Sky High," DJ Scott & Lorna B's "Do You Wanna Party" and Tatjana's "Santa Maria." And there was also, of course, Nicki French's full album, Secrets.

But hunting down and collecting the imports of Stock & Aitken's output between 1994 and 1997 filled a lot of time during my college years, and really brought about my intro to Internet message boards and the online pop music fan community in general. It's also what forged the friendship between my Chart Rigger sidekick Moogaboo and I, after we met at a party and talked for hours about that cover of "Total Eclipse" and old SAW music.

Anyway, Mike Stock has remastered many of his Love This productions — those that saw the light of day and ones that were shelved — and the first volume of The Love This Collection was added to iTunes (yes, even in the US) today.

The tracklist, which was modified a bit at the last minute from the original song lineup, is below:

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Pet Shop Boys Announce New Album 'Electric', Release Video Trailer

Two Pet Shop Boys albums within a year of each other? And this one produced by Stuart Price? And called Electric? And featuring a cone hat at the beginning of a video tease that clearly harkens back to the Very era? With a song snippet that obliterates the low-tempo feel of last year's Elysium?



I am more than A-okay with this. Especially since the song in the video sounds very Italo disco. Electric will be released in June.

The duo also announced on their official site that they've parted ways with Parlophone after 28 years (not a surprise, given that parent company EMI was acquired by Universal Music Group last fall), and have signed a new global deal with Kobalt Label Services.

“We are hugely proud of the new album and are very pleased to be working in conjunction with Kobalt. We’d like to thank everyone we’ve worked with at Parlophone over the last 28 years both in the UK and abroad. When we signed to the label in 1985 we had no idea how long and successful a relationship we were embarking on. However it is also exciting now to commence a new phase working with a new team in a new business structure and we look forward to a creative and equally fulfilling relationship with Kobalt.”

June is only three months away, which means there should hopefully be a single in the near future. (Pet Shop Boys' site says further album details "will be announced soon.")

Just give me Very 2 or even Yes 2 — but, you know, with a completely new twist and all that — and I'll be happy.

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US Chart Roundup: Christina Aguilera Somehow Has A Hit, And Pitbull Is To Blame

Baauer's "Harlem Shake" is #1 for a fourth week, so great job there furthering the country as a force in modern culture, America.

What we really need to talk about is the fact that Christina Aguilera a.) has a Top 20 hit, and 4.) it's by featuring on Pitbull's shitty "Feel This Moment." That trash is up to #13, and every time I hear that a-ha "Take On Me" riff it interpolates on the radio, I think, great job there furthering the country as a force in modern culture, Xtina.

Plus, I love how Christina is now basically only having hits by featuring on other people's songs. She's basically the new Kelly Rowland. In fact, maybe she should feature on a Kelly Rowland single, so Kelly can actually land a hit.

Elsewhere, Icona Pop and Charli XCX's "I Love It," which topped Chart Rigger's 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2012 list, has now climbed to #54 while Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" rebounds, following his Saturday Night Live performance of the song, and is up to #77.

And speaking of Kelly Rowland, her "Kisses Down Low" debuts down low at #96.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer *4 weeks*
2. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz
3. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
4. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
5. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
6. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
7. "Started From The Bottom" - Drake
8. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
9. "Love Me" - Lil Wayne feat. Drake & Future
10. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars

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Stream Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience' Album In Full: It's Pretty Fucking Rad

Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience is officially the first great album of 2013, and you can stream it in full here.

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It's Agnetha Faltskog's "When You Really Loved Someone" Video

ABBA diva Agnetha Faltskog has a video for single "When You Really Loved Someone," the first preview of her upcoming album A (out May 13). I know, I know — this old broad? But take a listen to song, which was produced by Jorgen Elofsson (Britney Spears' "Sometimes," Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger"), and you probably won't be disappointed.



The upcoming album will also feature a duet between Agnetha and Sir Gary Barlow (oh, he's not a Sir yet?) called "I Should Have Followed You Home."

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Morrissey & Rick Astley Grace Reissued "Last Of The Famous International Playboys" Single

This is pretty sexy. Morrissey and Rick Astley met in the late '80s backstage at BBC music staple Top Of The Pops and posed for the above photo. And with Moz reissuing his fantastic 1989 "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" single (out April 8, along with a reissue of his 1991 Kill Uncle album), the pic is gracing the cover.

Pitchfork reports that a never-before-seen photo of Morrissey with David Bowie was the singer's first choice for the cover art, but Bowie, whose first album in 10 years, The Next Day, is out tomorrow, wouldn't grant permission.

The next best thing, if you ask me.

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Mariah Carey's "Almost Home" Video Is Great And Powerful, Just Like The Song

So, I went and saw The Great And Powerful Oz yesterday, and I was pretty disappointed that there weren't any scenes with Mariah Carey flashing her topless tits or dry-humping a winged monkey. Still, enjoyable movie, decent song (despite Mimi's Auto Tune) and much better video than that "Triumphant" shit from last year.

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UK Chart Roundup: Justin Timberlake & Bastille Top Single, Album Charts

Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" is not only #1 in the UK for a second week, the First Great Single Of 2013 has also reached #2 in Germany, #3 in South Korea and #4 in Denmark. Interestingly, "Suit & Tie" only managed to scrape its way to #25 in Germany.

On these shores, following JT's performance of "Mirrors" on Saturday Night Live last night, the song has flown back into the top 100 songs on US iTunes. (Currently, it's at #22.)

Elsewhere on the weekly UK singles roundup, 20-year-old Disney Channel minx Bridgit Mendler finally manages to have a hit somewhere, as her song "Ready Or Not" debuts at #7 seven months after it was released in the US.

Over on the album chart, Bastille's debut Bad Blood locks down the #1 position, as their latest single "Pompeii" drops merely one position to #3.

Here's the LP's title track — it's a good jam:



The UK Top 10:

1. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake *2 weeks*
2. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
3. "Pompeii" - Bastille
4. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
5. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
6. "One Way Or Another" - One Direction
7. "Ready Or Not" - Bridgit Mendler *new*
8. "I Could Be The One" - Avicii vs. Nicky Romero
9. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer
10. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift

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Justin Timberlake Performs "Suit & Tie" And "Mirrors" On 'Saturday Night Live'

Justin Timberlake can really do no wrong in these days of The 20/20 Experience, and last night's episode of Saturday Night Live was perfect evidence of that. Well, okay — I caught that "Maine Justice" or whatever the hell skit that was, and it totally sucked.

BUT! JT's music performance of both "Suit & Tie" (complete with special guest Jay-Z) and, especially, "Mirrors" were pretty top notch. And I hope this wakes American up to the UK-chart-topping "Mirrors," because it's a far better single than current US Top 10 single "Suit & Tie."

PS Interesting to see Timberlake, who was host, introduce himself during "Suit & Tie."

"Suit & Tie" on SNL



"Mirrors" on SNL

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US Chart Roundup: Peabo Bryson Face-Fucking Baauer In The Mouth

Twenty years ago this week, Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle's Aladdin theme song "A Whole New World" was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.



A snoozefest, for sure. But now we have this shit, which makes me want to power-drill my face.



The more things change, the more they stay un-sexy.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer *3 weeks*
2. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz
3. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
4. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
5. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
6. "Started From The Bottom" - Drake
7. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
8. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
9. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
10. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia

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UK Chart Roundup: Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" Deservedly Beats Bastille To The Top

Seven weeks after Justin Timberlake's "comeback" single "Suit & Tie" crashed into the Top 10, his follow-up, "Mirrors," has topped the UK chart. The song — one of the best of his career, if you ask me — got a boost when JT performed it live during the BRIT Awards recently, and the crooner has been overseas doing promo for the past week.

"Mirrors" is only Timberlake's second single as a solo artist to top the UK chart, following "SexyBack" in 2006. His other trips to #1 were by way of features on Timbaland's "Give It To Me" in 2007 and Madonna's "4 Minutes" in 2008.

Anyway, I really do believe that "Mirrors" is the first great standout pop song of 2013. Here's hoping it has similar success here in the States, once "Suit & Tie" runs its course.

 The success of "Mirrors" this week means another decent single, Bastille's "Pompeii," has to settle for a #2 debut. It's the second song by the London band to crack the Top 40 (after "Flaws" reached #21 last year), and their highest-charting so far.



The UK Top 10:

1. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake *new* *1 week*
2. "Pompeii" - Bastille *new*
3. "One Way Or Another" - One Direction
4. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
5. "I Could Be The One" - Avicii vs. Nicky Romero
6. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
7. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
8. "Harlem Shake" - Baauer
9. "Reload" - Wiley feat. Chip *new*
10. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess

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