Is it even remotely possible for the new incarnation of “We Are the World” to live up to the legend that the original initiated? Probably not, but I am even more disappointed by the final result than even expected. Justin Bieber starting off the song was a bad omen, but wow…the spiral was quick and deep. Michael Jackson’s inclusion could have been a nice touch, but instead, it was marred by poor editing. The video of Janet singing along was so poorly edited that for a moment you assume it is a LaToya video. Top it off with a hip-hop inclusion that sounds like a trainwreck, and you wonder why they even bothered. Check out the video and see for yourself…
youtube
After a wintry start to the week here in Denver, it’s a pretty glorious mid-winter day, with temps well above average, and bright sunny skies to reflect off of the leftover snow. All you really need on a day like this is some good music in the car, and if you know me, you KNOW I’ve got that covered!
– Paulo Nutini “10/10” – Every time that this song comes up on Radio 1, I instantly turn up the radio and start beating my steering wheel into submission. There’s just something so upbeat and positive about this song that I can’t imagine how you would be mad about anything while listening to it. And in the “what did he say” category, I honestly thought he was singing “can’t get out of debt” for the first 20 or so times I heard the song.
– Cheryl Cole “Parachute” – Okay, I concede defeat. “3 Words” had some of the lamest lyrics of 2009, and “Fight For This Love” had a brilliant track with a limp vocal delivery, so I figured that Cheryl Cole would not make it to single #3. Oh, how wrong I was! “Parachute” is the first good song that Cheryl has released that matches her good-but-not-great voice. Look for this one to make it three in a row for Ms. Cole in the UK Top 10 within a couple of weeks (it debuted at #46 this week), and if Jay-Z and will.i.am have their way, wait for the inevitable US release as well. [Ed. note – it appears that Ne-Yo is on the bandwagon as well]
– Jason DeRulo “In My Head” – There are songs that grow on you, and then there are ones that smack you upside the head and demand that you love them instantly, and “In My Head” earns the respect it demands. The production is a bit more stripped than many of its counterparts, and for the first time in a long time, I catch myself wondering what this song would sound like live. I could see a band just rocking out to the chorus on this track.
– Jay Sean “Do You Remember” – I already issued my mea culpa for sleeping on “Down“, but that hasn’t been an issue with Jay Sean’s follow-up. He may have Sean Paul (sounding more inspired than he did on his own recent release that died a quick death) and Lil’ Jon (continuing his slide away from gettin’ crunk) on the track, but Jay has found a successful formula, and he’s already taken his second trip into the Top 10 with “Do You Remember”.
I was not going to comment on American Idol until they got past Hollywood week, but tonight saw what I would argue is the best first audition in the history of Hollywood Week. Andrew Garcia took a well-known pop song and changed it into something much more crunchy and edgy. It is because of moments like this that I love this show. Let’s see how long the clip stays up to be viewed:
I have a fluctuating interest in Valentine’s Day, and that may come from conflicting feelings about it from my youth. For those of you who do not normally celebrate it, Valentine’s Day starts out as a reason to sugar kids up and give out Disney Princesses or Transformer valentines to all of your classmates, but evolves into that one-on-one declaration of love that many adults struggle over. For me, Valentine’s Day always manifests itself musically, either as a celebration of the love I am currently experiencing, or as a balm for those times when being single and Cupid collide. Based on selections from this year’s Country-leaning playlist, I think you will be able to tell where my heart is at currently.
– Brad Paisley “Then” – Paisley normally has the critics in the palm of his hand, but when “Then” was released in advance of American Saturday Night, it was derided by many as a bit bland and not as clever as he normally is. However, for myself and a lot of other music fans, “Then” is a sweet and real tale about how the love between two people grows farther and further than you can ever imagine. Picture being in the early weeks and months of a relationship, and having someone play this song for you and telling you that these lyrics remind them of you:
I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you.
You had me mesmerized.
And three weeks later in the front porch light, taking forty five minutes to kiss goodnight.
I hadn’t told you yet, but I thought I loved you then
– Ty Herndon “Loved Too Much” – There were two types of country hits in the 90s…those “New Traditional” songs that harkened back to the Golden Age of Country Music, and those that could be played on Top 40 radio stations almost as easily as they could be on Country radio. Ty Herndon’s music definitely leaned toward the pop side of country, although he only barely hit the Top 40 on the Hot 100 chart one time (“It Must Be Love” at #38). A perfect example of Ty’s pop-country sound can be found on “Loved Too Much”, which tells the story of a man who isn’t able to casually be in a relationship.
I need to be loved too much I need to be held too tight
I need to hear someone say at the end of day
I’ll make everything right.
– Dixie Chicks “Never Say Die” – Way back on their major label debut, the Chicks already had some of the best writers in Nashville offering up their wares to be Dixiefied. George Ducas and Radney Foster capture the minutiae of a relationship that has seen some pretty big moments, because sometimes you don’t realize what you have until life slows to a crawl for a moment. Martie Maguire can milk some amazing emotion out of a few violin strings, and this song is a perfect example of that. “Die” is one of multiple highlights on Wide Open Spaces, and occasionally it will drift up to the surface for no apparent reason.
We’ve both had our share of doubts
Waited out those ole storm clouds
Boy it’s nights like this that I know why
Lovers like you and me will never say die
– Norah Jones “Come Away With Me” – So the mix closes with a request to run away to anywhere but here. Has a 3-minute song ever sounded as lush as this song does? Within those three minutes, you are transported to a cabin in the woods, a mountaintop, a field on the plains, and a bus heading for points unknown. The amazing thing to me is how much of a classic this song sounded like upon its release, and it was from Norah’s debut album. I have enjoyed music from each of her successive records, but I fear that lightning may not strike twice for Norah. Then again, wouldn’t most artists beg, borrow or steal to have one record like Come Away With Me?
And I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won’t you try to come?
So speaking of “Come Away With Me”, it appears on the new Now That’s What I Call Love collection that came out last week. The cool thing about this collection is that it has a variety of sounds, including rock, country, pop, and R&B. Coolest inclusion? Howie Day’s “Collide”, which remains one of my favorite songs from the late 90s. There’s even one for the potential adulterer in your life, courtesy of Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel”.
Is your interest piqued? Well, thanks to the folks at EMI, I have 2 copies of this 20-song collection to give away. If you leave a comment between now and Tuesday afternoon, you will be entered to win a copy of the CD. Comment away!
I’ve had a few things stuck in my head that didn’t really fill a whole entry, but these things must surface or else they will torment me. Proceed at your own risk, because this is in defense of…
…Jay Sean’s “Down” – This song seriously divides my brain, because in some ways, it seems like a copycat single, taking almost all of its cues from Chris Brown’s “Forever” and Ne-Yo’s “Closer”. Having said that, it’s pretty brilliant, and if given a second chance, I would include it on my Top Singles of 2009.
As an added bonus, here’s the version of “Down” performed by Nota that pretty much sealed the deal for them to win The Sing-Off back in December. A capella brilliance, if you ask me…
And because it doesn’t fit in anywhere else, also check out the SoCals’ version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone”. You Glee fans will love this!
…Creed’s “Rain” – Seriously? Creed? Trust…I’m freaked out by it, too. To give you the 10-second update, Creed was huge in the US during the late 90s and early 00s, watering down what used to be alternative rock, mixing in a tad of Christian sensibility, and selling a boatload of records. Scott Stapp left the group, they became Alter Bridge, but neither division did as well as they had when they were together, so this is the first single from the reunited group. I wanted to hate this song, I really did, but I have heard it on the radio a bunch, and it has grown on me. It has a Shinedown vibe to it, and it occasionally pops into my head. Before you write it off, just check out the song and give it a little bit of a chance.
…Jedward? – I despised everything I saw about Jed and Edward during their time on X Factor, and couldn’t believe they got as far as they did, but they performed on the National Television Awards this week in England, and I now get it. It’s not going to set the world on fire, but man, it’s fun. Spoiler alert…Vanilla Ice is even credible!
– Today started off on a sad note, as I woke to find that R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass passed away yesterday at the age of 59. He has had health issues over the years due to a car accident in the early 80s that left him paralyzed, and while the family has not given the exact cause of death, they have indicated it was related to injuries incurred from the crash.
Teddy was a founding father of the 70s R&B music that I know and love, and while you may not know a lot of his music, you may know his stuff through covers by more contemporary artists. First and foremost, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, originally a huge hit for Pendergrass while a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, started off as an R&B classic, but became a pop classic in the 80s because of Simply Red taking it to #1. He even appeared on Whitney Houston’s debut, dueting on “Hold Me”, which was released almost a year prior to her breakthrough “You Give Good Love” and got to #46 on the pop chart. I would want Teddy to go out on a high note, so here is his 1988 hit “Joy”, which went to #1 on the R&B chart and #71 on the Hot 100.
– The first two episodes of American Idol have been yawn-worthy, with only a couple of exceptions. When a 62 year-old guy singing about pulling your pants up is the best highlight of a two-hour show, I ain’t watchin’. Wake me when it’s Hollywood Week, mm’kay?
– “Tik Tok” continues its assault on the American public by holding at #1 for a fourth week. While I can acknowledge the catchiness of the track, I am still repelled by the imaging and positioning of Ke$ha, and I don’t care to partake. Maybe that makes me an elitist in some form, but I know folks that can love a Katy Perry song while still despising the artist, so maybe this falls into the same category. My guess is that the comparisons to Lady GaGa will end soon, and she will fade into the abyss. Or maybe that’s my wish.
A few months back, Paul at Fizzy Pop was raving about Dan Black’s “Symphonies”, and at the time I recall liking it, but not really being swept off my feet. Then I heard it in the car on Radio 1, and I was hooked. You’ll recognize the “Umbrella” hook instantly, but it’s all of the extras that will reel you in, including his very distinct vocal delivery.
So you’re interested, right? Well, head on over to iTunes and pick it up, because it’s the Single of the Week, which means it’s free. Better yet, check out his full-length UN, which is also available at a discounted price, or his iTunes Live collection that was recorded last summer in London.
I am a bit obsessed with George Michael’s “December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)” at the moment, and it has caught me a bit off guard. As I posted last Christmas (pun abused, reused, and still intended), this song was George’s Christmas present to the world. However, for those of you who didn’t wake up on Christmas day and run straight for your laptop or desktop, you can now pay for the privilege of owning this track, along with a few other treats if you’re very good and want to pay out a few extra coins.
Enough of the logistics, though…let’s get to the song in question. When I first heard the opening strains of something straight out of It’s a Wonderful Life, I thought someone was playing a joke on me. But the piano and sleigh bells kicked in, and I instantly knew the source. If you pay attention to the structure of the intro (and the chorus), you can hear a slowed-down version of “Last Christmas”, but once you hit the first verse, it’s George circa Older.
The video, which on the surface is an escape for a child facing a potentially disappointing Christmas, actually holds very true to one of George’s predominant themes: coping with a situation that doesn’t feel right or true. It doesn’t take long for the child in the video to lose himself in the fanciful world he has walked into, but soon enough he comes crashing back into the real world. Fortunately, this story looks to have a happy ending, with his mom at his bedside.
No matter what form his December Song took, it saved him from despair and sadness. Don’t we all have a song around the holidays that, no matter what is going on in our lives, lifts us up and puts us right back in the mood for the holiday? For me, that song has always been “Last Christmas”. There is something about Christmas that brings out feelings of melancholy, and I have a deep appreciation for that when it comes around. Even though things feel like they are working against me, I recognize that my life is pretty amazing, and the blessings in my life could fill a whole book. Those moments are cathartic, and I come out of them on the other side with a better appreciation of the moment. I tend to embrace the season much more after that.
George’s website mentions that he is working on a new album. Here’s hoping that he continues to share songs that can inspire as deep a feeling as “December Song” does.
After a week of interviews and “making of” video clips, the full version of Janet’s “Make Me” video has made its way out onto the Internet. The clip is primarily a dance performance, but there is some CG going on that gives it a bit of a “Scream” tribute vibe. Janet looks stunning, the dance routines are typical of Janet’s bubbly choreography preference, and the black and white color scheme really strips it down to just her. My fingers are still crossed for this to become a hit, but I don’t know if I get the way this is being promoted. Here’s hoping that her show-opening performance on the American Music Awards Sunday night kicks some life into the track.
– Now that I’m on Twitter (@ConstantLearnin), I’m getting to see what I’ve been missing out on. While there are things about Twitter that drive me nutty (do I need to know that you’re watching “King of Queens”?), when used in a good context, it is a great way for an up-and-coming artist to build buzz for themselves. Courtesy of @PopMuse, here’s a sample of a new track from Chris that must be a result of this studio marathon that he’s been tweeting about at @ImChrisRich.
In searching for more info on this, I also came across an interview and free download that he did for *cough*Wal-Mart*choke*. “Floating Off the Ground” definitely fits into the current pop landscape, although trying to break through without a major label behind you can be tough. Just ask Elliot Yamin about that one. I’ve listened to the track about 10 times over the past two days, and it has me intrigued about the rest of his long-delayed new record, which is now supposed to be released in 2010. Get your guilt-free download of the song here (signup necessary to download). You can also check out the tune in the video posted below. I read somewhere that this is his new single, but I can’t believe that he would be giving away a single that he actually hopes gets him some chart action.
– One song that is showing a little bit of legs and has slowly grown on me is Michael Buble’s “Haven’t Met You Yet”, which has already been a top 5 hit in the UK. “Haven’t” is bulleted at #57 on the Hot 100, along with being top 5 at Adult Contemporary and top 30 on the Adult Top 40 chart. While it’s been pushed by appearances on Dancing with the Stars and Oprah, the song is a solid straight-ahead pop song without any gimmicks that you just don’t hear on the radio all that much, and deserves to be a hit.
Having said all of this, his record company has already announced that they are planning a re-issue of Crazy Love, which was only released 7 weeks ago. While I am glad that the record company is behind him, this re-issue craze is just getting out of hand. Here’s hoping that Lady GaGa is able to show the industry next week that a brand-new album is a better value to the consumer than just the same 10 tracks with a few new ones thrown in for good measure.
– I am pretty thrilled that after 19 months on the charts, Lady Antebellum is getting their moment to shine on the larger pop stage. Following their triumph at the Country Music Awards on the 11th, their self-titled debut bounds back up the Billboard 200 to #11, and their current single “Need You Now”, from the album of the same name due January 26th, leaps all the way up to #5 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Country singles chart.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, the members of Lady Antebellum have some serious music business roots. Hillary Scott is the daughter of Linda Davis, who is most well-known from her duet with Reba McEntire on the original version of “Does He Love You”, and Charles Kelley is the brother of pop singer Josh Kelley. In fact, Josh actually helped the band out early on by letting them crash at his place and use his recording equipment as they were pursuing a recording contract. “Need You Now” is only their fourth single, but it is already their second Country #1. Look for them to partake in some Sugarland-like domination over the next few years.
Stumble It!
Pop Music Notes 