NEW MUSIC: MARIAH CAREY - "TRIUMPHANT (GET 'EM) FT. RICK ROSS & MEEK MILL"

Official Artwork for Triumphant (Get 'Em)

Never judge a Track by its Title. I must admit when I first glanced at the Title for Mariah Carey's new Single Triumphant (Get 'Em) ft. Rick Ross & Meek Mill, I felt an unspoken sense for disappointment. Believe me, I'm her biggest Fan and have been to all her Concerts, own all her CDs and DVDs and even was a Preferred Member of her Honey B. Fly Fan Club for years. I however, haven't been a huge Fan of her last sub-par Discs (I tried hard to love them!) as I feel they've veered a little too far off her Standard.

Triumphant (Get 'Em) gets a timely release today during the London 2012 Olympics and after hearing the Bryan-Michael Cox-produced Track, I am relieved. Yes, Mariah still is staying current with the Urban Sounds of Now, but this feels and sounds familiar, which is all a Lamb could want. Never abandon a successful Brand, especially when it's had 18 #1 Singles.

Will Triumphant (Get 'Em) be Mariah's 19th #1 Single? All she needs is one more to surpass The Beatles' tally of 20. We'll soon see.

Check out this Snippet in the meantime:

THE WANTED MEET FANS AT CITYTV'S "BREAKFAST TELEVISION"

The Wanted in Toronto - April 4, 2012

The Boys of The Wanted said a fond farewell to Toronto tonight, but certainly did not leave without a bang! This morning Nathan, Siva, Tom, Jay and Max made a stop-off at CityTV's Breakfast Television where hoards of Fans waiting outside were invited in-studio to watch their performance of Glad You Came.  The Track currently is tearing-up the Charts, peaking so far at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, which actually bests What Makes You Beautiful from equally-hot fellow UK Boy Band, One Direction whom are number eleven this week. 

Shortly after, the Boys were ushered outside where Fans got a chance to meet their Favourites as they made their way onto their Mercedes S-Class Van.  "Yes, I'd like a kiss with that Autograph!".

Let's watch the Boys in all their glory below:

WHITNEY HOUSTON, ADELE & KATY PERRY ACHIEVE CHART FEATS THIS WEEK

Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits Artwork

Not to detract from both Adele and Katy Perry's current significant chart accomplishments - because they are major - but Whitney Houston post-humously has been resurrected ...from a commercial standpoint at least.  

Houston's The Greatest Hits released originally in 2000, sold 175k units this past sales week ending February 19, 2012, placing it in second on the current U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart. Combined with a significant sales spike for both 2009's I Look to You and also 1996's The Preacher's Wife, Houston sold a total 247k albums last week according to Nielsen SoundScan.  And if this weren't intriguing enough, her 1992 Smash, I Will Always Love You rises to number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart too!

Meanwhile, Adele continues to raise the bar for herself even higher with her 21 Disc selling an eye-popping 730k copies following her GRAMMY win, now making it her 21st non-consecutive week atop the Hot 200.  Industry Experts are predicting a 22nd week on-top ahead, forecasting up to 300k more copies of the Album of the Year expecting to be sold.

Katy Perry meanwhile continues to solidify herself as the new Queen of Pop with her seventh Hot 100 number one hit in Divorce-inspired Single, Part of Me debuting at the summit position.  The Track will appear on her Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, hitting stores March 27, 2012.  According to Billboard Magazine, Perry now is behind only Mariah Carey, Madonna, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson in number ones on that Chart. History.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

LANA DEL REY DEBUTS #1 IN UK AND #2 IN U.S.

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

After debuting atop the UK Albums Chart with 116k copies sold, Lana Del Rey impressively finds herself  in second spot back home in her native America this week with 77k copies of Born to Die tallied according to Nielsen SoundScan.  Del Rey was second only to Adele's 21 which finds itself at the summit of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart for a 19th non-consecutive week.  These results actually exceed expectations as HitsDailyDouble projected that she would sell approximately 60k copies only with fears that harsh reviews would adversely impact sales.

Congratulations, Lana Del Rey.  This is a victory!

Order Born to Die on iTunes.

(Photo credit: Universal Music)

BRANDY & MONICA REUNITE FOR "IT ALL BELONGS TO ME"

Brandy & Monica  - January 2012

Almost 14 years after The Boy is Mine reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 13 consecutive weeks (15 in Canada), the Rivalry is back on again for R&B Divas Monica and Brandy.  The Duo whom first joined forces back in 1998, going on to win a GRAMMY Award together, were in Miami over the weekend recording a new track titled Turn the Lights On It All Belongs to Me.  The Track is now slated for a February 6, 2012 release after being recorded over a session in Miami on the weekend of January 7th.

The Track, produced and written by Rico Love (seen top left in the above photo) will appear on both Monica's New Life, in-stores March 6th and Brandy's still-untitled new Disc out this Spring. Brandy signed to RCA Records/Sony Records under Producer Breyon Prescott's (seen top right in the above photo) Chameleon Records in August 2011 and is now at work on her sixth Album, with plans too for a Collaboration Album with her Brother Ray J. Monica was signed to J Records, which folded last year and now seventh Disc New Life will be released also through RCA Records/Sony Records also.  Fate?

After a productive session in the Studio,  Monica and Brandy both Tweeted their excitement, although the latter felt her vocals weren't up-to-par that day saying "Wonderful night in the studio! I wasn't 100%, but I gave it my all and it turned out great! Just a little more raspy than normal.".

A lot has happened in 14 years for bother Singers who are now Mothers. After tragically seeing her Boyfriend Jarvis Weems commit suicide before her eyes back in 2000, Monica has two Sons - Rodney Ramone III (six) and Romelo Montez (four) by then-Boyfriend Rodney Hill.  She currently is dating NBA Player Shannon Brown.  Brandy, after being involved in highly-publicized fatal Car Crash back in 2006, and having a Daughter with Producer Robert Smith named Sy'rai Iman (nine), was last known to be involved with NBA Player Quentin Richardson in a relationship ending 2005.

Are you ready for this Comeback?  Will it be possible to top The Boy is Mine?  Shouldn't they invite Producers Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Dallas Austin back for a true Reunion?

Let's re-live the glory:

BILLBOARD & NIELSEN REVEAL TOP-SELLING ALBUMS AND ARTISTS OF 2011

Adele in Toronto - March 2011

CNN reveals a bit of interesting news on Digital Music Sales versus Physical Music Sales based on a Billboard/Nielsen Report conducted recently.  For the first time ever, Digital Music is outselling actual Physical Music, with the former increasing 8.4% from the previous year and the latter declining 5%.  In fact, Digital Music accounts for 50.3% of all Music sold in the U.S.

Adele came out on-top in 2011 accounting for Best Selling Artist, Album and Digital Song by a landslide, besting Lady Gaga and Canada's own Michael Bublé who ranked in second despite his Album being released only in November.  Katy Perry however, beat Adele as Best Selling Digital Artist with 15.1 million units sold.

For those curious, these are your Top Ten Selling Albums of 2011:

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II REVIEW

Tony Bennett - Duets II

Mr. Tony Bennett's Epic Opus 2011, aka Duets II brings together some of the most unlikely collaborations - a true testament to the Crooner's influence on so many of the Vocalists who have sold out Arenas and won Grammys after him. At 85 years of age, Bennett recently became the oldest living Artist to have achieved the distinction of debuting atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart and he did it with some help from his Friends. Some really famous and talented Friends.

Jam-packed with 17 Classics, Duets II isn't necessarily about breaking new ground or necessarily about High Art. It's about celebrating an Icon and how Bennett's Voice and Music have inspired others and also connecting a new Audience who grew-up not having had Jazz Music on their radars. The phrasing, the range, the stylization - there is only one Tony Bennett and this Collection pays tribute to that front and center.

There are some fabulous moments on the Disc like the fun and flirtatious The Lady is a Tramp (ft. Lady Gaga), One for my Baby (ft. John Mayer), a perfect reunion in Blue Velvet (ft. k.d. lang), Don't Get Around Much Anymore (ft. Michael Bublé) ...obviously, Yesterday I Heard the Rain (ft. Alejandro Sanz) and perhaps a true showcase that he's (and she's) definitely still got it, How Do You Keep the Music Playing (ft. Aretha Franklin).

VIDEO PREMIERE: TONY BENNETT FT. LADY GAGA - THE LADY IS A TRAMP

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

The full-length Video for Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's Collaboration The Lady is a Tramp has fully surfaced, just after his latest Disc Duets II reaches the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart with 179k copies sold.  This makes him the oldest living Artist to have achieved that honour ever at 85 years of age! I have a feeling that this will be the Soundtrack for many this Autumn as it just emanates warm and cozy.

Watch the cuteness below:

Order Duets II on iTunes here.


(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

NEW MUSIC: BRUNO MARS - IT WILL RAIN FROM "THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PT. 1"

Official Artwork for It Will Rain

"If you walk away, every day it will rain".

Bruno Mars shows a bit of edge of this new Theme Song from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1, which just might be the biggest Song to ever come out of that wildly-popular Franchise. Mars just doesn't stop with eight Top 20 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 hits to his name and possibly his fourth U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one here in a short but meteoric rise to the Pop Top.  I actually quite like the Track, which is quite moodier than anything else he's done.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 Original Soundtrack will be in stores November 8, 2011.

Listen to It Will Rain in full below:

VIDEO PREMIERE: KELLY CLARKSON - MR. KNOW IT ALL

Still from Mr. Know It All

The new Video for Kelly Clarkson's new Track Mr. Know It All has been unleashed at long last and did Justin Francis ever do a good job making her look gorgeous!  The Single which has peaked so far at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 24 on the Canadian Hot 100 looks likely to ascend and her new promising new Disc, Stronger hits stores October 25, 2011.

Instead of focusing on a particular individual, the Video is more a statement on rumours about Clarkson, which is odd as she tends to stay out of spotlight.  I swear I've said nothing bad about you, Kelly!

Watch the Video below:

ADELE SCORES SECOND U.S. BILLBOARD #1 HIT WITH "SOMEONE LIKE YOU"

Congratulations to Adele who notches her second U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one in-a-row with Someone Like You.  The success of the Ballad comes hot on the heels of her last U.S. #1, Rolling in the Deep, which has gone on to reach 4x Platinum sales in the U.S. and 5x Platinum in Canada. 

Above is a Video I captured of her performing the Track in Toronto this March when she visited MTV Canada.  She actually even posted this on her Facebook Page for her Fans!  Real Music.  Real Emotion.

LIL WAYNE SELLS 960K COPIES OF "THA CARTER IV" IN DEBUT

Lil Wayne & Mr. Will-W. - Toronto,  August 2011

A huge congratulations goes out to Lil Wayne who sold 964k copies of his new Disc, Tha Carter IV making for a number one debut atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart - the second biggest-selling week in 2011 for a Disc.  Lady Gaga holds the distinction of having the biggest sales week for a Disc this year with Born this Way pushing 1.1. million it its debut back in May.  A significant number of those sales came through Amazon where it was priced at a paltry $0.99.  Lil Wayne - doin' it right.

In 2008, his Tha Carter III debuted with just over a million copies sold.  Well done once again, Weezy!

Let's watch the poignant Video for his Autotuney new Single How to Love below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W./Audio content: Universal Music)

MAROON 5'S ADAM LEVINE BASHES MTV ON TWITTER

Adam Levine directs Tweet at MTV

Although they air tonight at 9 PM EST, not all Pop Acts will be tuning into the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards!  Take Maroon 5 Frontman Adam Levine example who Tweeted yesterday about his general distaste for the direction taken by the Station, which once stood for Music Television Video.  

Despite having the number one song on the Canadian Hot 100 and one of this Summer's biggest hits  with Moves Like Jagger (ft. Christina Aguilera) - currently number four on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 - it appears either the Band either was snubbed by MTV in being asked to perform this year  ...or quite simply they are busy touring right now.

Go Adam, I support you fully!  I miss the days when I would just lounge on my Couch all day watching Music Videos before all this Reality Television nonsense.  Or perhaps maybe we're just too Old School and should just embrace the fact that you have to go online now to watch Music Videos?

KATY PERRY TIES MICHAEL JACKSON RECORD: 5 NUMBER 1 SINGLES FROM 1 ALBUM

Katy Perry & Mr. Will-W.

Congratulations to the beautiful and lovable Katy Perry! Perry has become the first-ever Female Pop Artist to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart with five singles from one album. The streak began last Summer with smash Hit California Gurls ft. Snoop Dogg dominating Airwaves and in Digital Sales, followed by Teenage Dream, Firework, E.T. and now Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).

Well-deserved! Not even Gaga can come close with her two recent Singles Judas and The Edge of Glory failing to achieve the success of Born this Way. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) has however, reached the top of the: U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Hot Digital Songs, Pop Songs, Radio Songs, and Hot Dance Club Charts. Oh yeah, and don't forget the Canadian Hot 100 Chart also!

Perry joins the legendary company of Michael Jackson who achieved the same Record back in 1987 with Bad. Jackson’s Singles: I Just Can't Stop Loving You, The Way You Make Me Feel, Bad, Man In The Mirror and Dirty Diana, all reaching number one on the Hot 100.

The 26 year-old will be arriving in Toronto today for two shows at the Air Canada Centre, in addition to a Meet & Greet with Fans who were lucky enough to win after purchasing her new fragrance Purr.

LADY GAGA TO DEBUT AT NUMBER ONE

Lady Gaga

Congratulations, Gaga!  In what is the biggest sales week for since 2005, Lady Gaga's Born This Way tallies in at 1.1 million Albums sold according to Nielsen Soundscan.  Although early figures predicted that she'd push between the 500 to 700k mark, clearly Mother Monster has exceeded all expectations.  Needless to say she is expected to debut at the top of this week's Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart. 

We're all so proud of you, Gaga.  Revolutionizing the Music Business Model, one Monster at a time.

In case you haven't read my Review of Born This Way, click here to read more.


(Photo credit: Universal Music)

BEYONCÉ RUNS THE SHOW AT 2011 BILLBOARD AWARDS

Beyoncé at 2011 Billboard Music Awards

Absolutely stealing the show tonight at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards was Beyoncé, performing her new Single Run the World (Girls).  Tonight's show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas marked the big return for the Awards Show after a five-year hiatus.  Performing alongside Video Projections of herself for most of the performance, things reached a high point when hundreds of Female Dancers were unveiled on stage, marking what could be called a Brevolution.

Shortly afterward, her Mother Tina Knowles presented Beyoncé with a Millennium Award as former Bandmates Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Husband Jay-Z applauded proudly in the Audience.  She even took the time surpsingly to thank former Destiny's Childresses LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson.

Despite not nabbing any Awards, Britney Spears was another highlight this evening, performing S&M alongside Rihanna earlier in the broadcast and also a Remix of her current Single Til the World Ends with Nicki Minaj.

ADELE TOPS U.S. BILLBOARD HOT 200 FOR SIXTH WEEK

Adele in Toronto - March 2011

Congratulations, Adele! Quickly becoming a household name in North America, the British Siren achieves her sixth non-consecutive week at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart this week. Closing in on the 1.4 million sales mark after its stateside release on February 22, 2011, she sold 124,000 copies of the sophomore Disc 21 this past week according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Her success has been duplicated north of the Border also, where she remains at number one for a second consecutive week on the Canadian Albums Chart after hovering near the top for the past ten weeks.

Doin’ it right. Rolling in the green....

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

NEW MUSIC: KATY PERRY - LAST FRIDAY NIGHT (TGIF)

Fun! Katy Perry unleashes a set of Remixes for her next Single Last Friday Night (TGIF) which I would’ve thought she’d release sooner, but alas it gets a Summer release. Listen to Perry sing about getting so drunk she doesn't remember whether or not she had a Ménage-a-Trois.

I’m almost certain this will be another number Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topper for her after already garnering four consecutive chart-toppers on sophomore Disc Teenage Dream.  You’ve also gotta love the geeked-out Cover Art also which although I hate to say it, has her looking like… Roger Ebert? Don’t hate me! LOL

Listen to the Almighty Radio Edit below (audio content owned by EMI Music):

NEW MUSIC: BRITNEY SPEARS FT. NICKI MINAJ & KE$HA - TILL THE WORLD ENDS REMIX

Although I'm not really sure it qualifies as an actual Remix, we are surprised with this new version of Britney Spears' Till the World Ends featuring an Intro by Nicki Minaj and Choruses by its Writer Ke$ha; also heard is a new Breakdown.

It appears that Minaj recorded her part in the Studio and Ke$ha's Demo Vocals were incorporated into the mix.  Nonetheless, it's pretty cool  to hear three of the hottest Ladies of Pop together on one Track.  Hopefully this will be enough to help its rise up the Billboard Hot 100, as it has been hovering at the bottom-end of the Top Ten for a couple weeks now.

This week alone, Spears scored another Billboard number one on the Chart with her S&M Remix with Rihanna, helping the latter reach a record for the shortest span of time an Artist has achieved ten number one Singles  in the Chart's history.

Listen to the Till the World Ends Remix below (Audio content owned by Sony Music):

 

VIDEO PREMIERE: KATY PERRY FT. KANYE WEST - E.T.

Still from Katy Perry's E.T. Video

Wow! Although it wasn’t one of my favourite tracks off of Teenage Dream, they’ve managed to make this one rather exciting. Katy Perry just premiered her new Video for E.T., her fourth consecutive Single to reach the top of the U.S Billboard Hot 100 Chart, dethroning Lady Gaga’s Born this Way after her six-week reign. Toronto Director/Artist Floria Sigismondi helmed the Video, going back to her Music Video roots after much acclaim with her 2010 Film The Runaways.

E.T. is an über-expensive looking Sci-Fi Odyssey/Love Story which has a barely recognizable Perry bringing her Alien Lover to life with a kiss. Above this she actually v. ably acts in the Clip, a pre-cursor to her upcoming appearance in Sony Pictures’ The Smurfs. And oh yeah, a certain Rapper appears in this re-vamped Radio Edit.

Watch the Video in full below: