Pop Music Notes

A good chunk of the reason I don’t blog as much is that I don’t come up with fully fleshed-out topics, but that’s a bit of a cop out. So here’s a quick list of what I’m diggin’ currently:

• 50 Shades of Grey singles – Ellie Goulding is quickly taking over the radio with “Love Me Like You Do,” The Weeknd is looking at what may be his biggest single yet with “Earned It,” and Sia is appropriately dramatic on “Salted Heart.” Even Beyonce’s 2014 version of “Crazy In Love” from the trailer is haunting (and the full-length that’s floating around on everyone’s blog is a cover, not Bey’s). With tracks still to come from the likes of Jessie Ware, Vaults and Danny Elfman, this is shaping up to be an appropriately moody mid-winter treat. (Side note: if you’re not up on Vaults, please catch up. Stellar stuff.)

• Olly Murs “Wrapped Up” – I’m such a sucker for this type of track, but there’s no denying that “Wrapped Up” is in the right place at the right time (see what I did there?) to finally give Murs a bona fide hit in the US, even with Travie McCoy back for another round. I even alluded to its potential on my Top Singles of 2014. He’s already scored two top 10 hits in the UK from his latest disc Never Been Better, with second hit “Up” primed to make waves in America with the help of Demi Lovato. With two tracks lined up with what’s going on in the Pop charts right now, Olly may finally get the exposure he deserves. Look for the US release of Never Been Better on March 10th.

• Sam Hunt – The past few years have seen multiple attempts to bring a hip-hop vibe to the Country charts with abysmal results, but then Sam Hunt comes along, brings a wide range of influences along with him and nails it. He’s not a rapper, although his spoken delivery at times comes across that way. Some would claim that he’s a pop singer with Country influences, and I would be hard-pressed to argue with them. What I would call him is talented…not only is his Montevallo album one of the genuine breakout Country albums of 2014, at least five singles from the album have charted on the Hot Country Songs chart for multiple weeks, even though only two have been officially released. If I were to make a comparison, I’d say he’s a cross between Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban (whose “Cop Car” Hunt co-wrote). No matter how you classify him, at least for once it sounds genuine. Watch “Take Your Time” cross over to the Pop charts like Lady A’s “Need You Now” did in 3…2…