Comeback Kelly Clarkson Scores Number One Single!

My December, what?

Kelly Clarkson has reclaimed her pop throne this week, rocketing up to #1 this week from a debut of #97. It is the largest jump in chart history, a record she originally held for four years with her first number one single "A Moment Like This".

Speaking of, "My Life Would Suck Without You" is Kelly's first number one since her 2002 debut single. Her last charting single, "Never Again" stalled at #8 in 2007.

Kelly's new album, All I Ever Wanted is released on March 10th.

The Inaugural Performances: Aretha, Beyonce, Bruce, and More (Part 1)

It said that music often reflects the times, and if that's the case, we're doing pretty good!

Nearly every major artist in the country has performed for Obama and Biden, everyone ranging for Pete Seeger to Beyonce. Here are some of the highlights:

Aretha Franklin Performs "My Country, This Of Thee"



Perez Hilton can kiss my ass. This performance was emotional, especially considering she sang at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. over 40 years ago. Even if it wasn't her best vocal ever, it meant more than can even be said.

Beyonce Performs "America, The Beautiful" at HBO's We Are One Concert





A very solid performance from the diva, although I'm surprised she didn't OD, considering she was singing it in front of the future president at the time.

Josh Groban and Heather Headley Perform "My Country, This Of Thee" at HBO's We Are One Concert



Definitely a surprising combination, but I guess it's to symbolize how different races can come together in harmony. They both did brilliantly.

More coming soon!

Classic Download of the Day 1/20 (Inaugural Edition): "Step Back In Time" by Kylie Minogue

DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY: INAUGURAL EDITION (CONGRATS PRESIDENT OBAMA!)

One of the major themes of President Obama's historic inaugural speech was the past.

Whether it was examining how far we've come as a country or suggesting we look to history to find inspiration for the future, Obama made it clear that is was necessary to "step back in time".

So, today's special inaugural edition of Download of the Day features a song all about the past, "Step Back In Time" by Kylie Minogue.

Released in 1990 from her huge Rhythm of Love record, Kylie wishes for the musical days of old, when the O'Jays traveled around on the love train and people walked in rhythm. The Stock Aiken Waterman production brought Kylie to disco for the first time, and God bless them for it. The song, which mixes 70's with a dash of 90's house, is an irresistible, club-filling, pop smash that would get even the McCains on the dancefloor (can you imagine John McCain doing the hustle?).

While some look down on Kylie's time with PWL, it's hard to ignore the fizzy pop fun that the era delivered.


I think we should listen to the sage advice of Obama and Minogue and embrace the past, whether it delivers answers to our economic problems or gets us to party.

Here is the 1990 music video:



BWU RATES: 8 OUT OF 10

And just for fun, here is President Obama dancing (presumably to this song, lol):

The Inauguration of the 44th US President, Barack Obama: A (Surprisingly Short) Reflection

Today, January 20th, 2009, in the noon hour, Barack Obama stepped into the halls of history as he was sworn in as the first ever African-American president in the United States of America.

Millions, myself included, sat and stood with a mixture of awe, pride, and hope, as President Obama delivered a speech that will be remembered long after we are all gone.

The most powerful man in the world channeled his predecessors, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and even Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in a speech that tried to soothe the fears of a scared, embattled nation. As they had done, President Obama reminded the country that our future is our own, and that we all must work together to save ourselves.

It was an extraordinary start to, regardless of his level of success, an extraordinary presidency.

Welcome to the Oval Office, President Obama.

Duffy, Coldplay, and X Factor Score Big BRIT Nominations

The nominees for the 2009 BRIT Awards, the UK equivalent to the Grammys, were announced yesterday, and to the surprise of no one, Duffy and Coldplay scored the most.

The Welsh singer and the alternative band scored four nominations each, duking it out in the "Best British Single" and "Best Album" categories. Duffy is nominated for "Best Solo Female Artist" and "Breakthrough Act" and Coldplay are nominated for "Best Group" and "Best Live Act".

Reality competition The X Factor also did very well. Both Alexandra's winner single "Hallelujah' and the charity single "Hero" were nominated in the "British Single" longlist, although it is unlikely either will make it to the final round. The winner from two years ago, three-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis is also nominated in British Single for Top 2 hit "Better In Time".

Speaking of Grammy nominees, Adele is competing with Duffy in all but one category, "Best Album".

In the International categories, Kings of Leon scored two nods, one for Best Group and another for Best Album. Also nominated are Beyonce, Katy Perry, AC/DC, and Kanye West.

Receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Music award are The Pet Shop Boys, who are releasing their latest album this sping and recently collaboration with nominees Girls Aloud on their 20th top 10 single "The Loving Kind".

The ceremony will be held at Earl's Court on February 18th, airing live on ITV1.

Here is the full list:

British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

British Single
Adele - 'Chasing Pavements'
Alexandra Burke - 'Hallelujah'
Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida'
Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris - 'Dance Wiv Me'
Duffy - 'Mercy'
Estelle ft. Kanye West: 'American Boy'
Girls Aloud - 'The Promise'
Leona Lewis - 'Better In Time'
Scouting For Girls - 'Heartbeat'
The X Factor Finalists - 'Hero'

British Album
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Duffy - Rockferry
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
Ting Tings

British Live Act
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve

International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

International Group
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT

International Album
AC/DC - Black Ice
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Killers - Day & Age
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

British Producer of the Year
Bernard Butler
Brian Eno
Steve Mac

Critics' Choice Award
Florence and the Machine

Outstanding Contribution to Music
Pet Shop Boys

Song Review: "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

When Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson's sophomore effort, was released, she went from reality show winner to pop/rock queen. She scored five massive hits that drove the album to sales of 6 million, virtually unheard of today's climate.

Considering the disastrous flop that was My December, it's understandable that Kelly would want to return to the days where she ruled radio.

Still, it was surprising to hear the opening guitar from mega-hit "Since U Been Gone" on her new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You".

Did that mean it was going to be some epic pop masterpiece like it's distant cousin?


Unfortunately, nope.

"My Life Would Suck Without You" is surprising, almost shockingly, plain. Yes, I said it, plain. There are some other words that fit this song that shouldn't; boring, uninspired, cliche, and complacent.

I have a hard time believing that Kelly recorded this song without gritting her teeth, just once. This sorely lacks the energy of "Sober", "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes"; hell, even "Breakaway" packs a bigger punch than this. While it's nice to hear Kelly not damning some poor sap to hell, I miss the captivating fire that came with her songs. It appears that Max Martin and Dr. Luke are saving the really good stuff for the other pop princesses that were keeping her seat warm.

Speaking of, why do I get the feeling that if Kelly was replaced with, say Pink or most evidently Katy Perry, the difference would be non-existent?

Regardless of what I write, this song will be an absolute smash, because its so generic and non-threatening. I wouldn't be shocked if went to #1 and stayed there for a month. I'll be happy for her, since the American Idol memories are still relatively fresh. Yet, I'll a probably feel little ping of annoyance as I grasp the fact that this outpeaked pop brilliance like her previous Breakaway hits.

BWU RATES: 6 OUT OF 10

Download of the Day 1/19: "Dead and Gone" by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake

T.I. may not realize it, but he may be more in-tune to the pop culture climate than he realizes.

The soon-to-be jailed hip-hop superstar spent the latter half of 2008 fluidly rapping the public into a sense of cotton-like security, just as they were hoping for a change in direction for the embattled country. As we enter the new year, with a new presidential administration facing a deafening economic hell, T.I. rips the billowy clouds out from under the people and delivers us a hard dose of reality.

"Dead and Gone" is a cautionary tale of the dangers that the hip-hop culture has arguably bred. Theft, murder, regret, sadness, and most important of all, change, are dealt with in this surprisingly powerful, yet listenable track. While the name power of Justin will surely attract CHR, the true draw is T.I., who's rapping is fluid and affecting. Listening to him, it's clear that the song is more than just an airwave filler. It's real.

Let's not minimize Justin, though. The chorus, with a hook that is instantly memorable, makes his collaboration with Madonna seem like child's play. Technically, it is (saving the world v.s. saving one's self; which one is more realistic?) as he sings about looking to his sides and seeing no one beside him.

Back to T.I.'s impeccable cultural timing. Typing this, I realized even more connections and implications that can be connected to this song. Ranging from Obama's inauguration tomorrow to the Biggie Smalls biopic just released, it truly surprised me that a song that I was sure would be ignored as a single has so much current cultural significance. The surprise isn't unwelcome.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if years later, long after he fills out his sentence, we are still referring to this song on some level. That's what usually happens with great songs.

Let's just hope that he continues down his current path (the one without the jail cell).

BWU RATES: 8 OUT OF 10

All My Children's Unabortion Storyline Receives Merciful End

In 2006, the writers of ABC soap All My Children shattered the show's nearly four decade history in a universally panned storyline that mocked both the genre and science. They revealed that Josh Madden, played by Collin Egglesfield, was actually thought-to-be aborted fetus of the legendary Erica Kane and her first husband Jeff Martin.

Yes, thought-to-be aborted fetus.

Three years later, a new team have decided that the character has finished his time in Pine Valley and they are killing him off. However, his death won't be in vain. He will be saving his comatose sister Kendall (Alicia Minshew is returning from a long vacation) with his heart.

My only regret regarding this story is that it wasted the talents of Egglesfield, who surely deserved to be more than a scientifically impossible experiment. Yet, I'm glad that we all can officially forget this massive ink blot that was his time on AMC

Here are his death scenes (including a surprisingly quiet performance from the brilliant Susan Lucci):

I'm Back... Again

Its been a very quiet week at BWU, but for good reason.

My laptop crashed on Tuesday, which was a huge buzzkill. It also made catching up on the work I had to do incredibly difficult. So, I decided to take a break from the blog.

My usual post patterns will return in February, but I will still be around, writing about the REALLY big stuff (especially Obama's inauguration come Tuesday).

Drop me a line at brandonbwu@gmail.com.

That's a lot for your continued support!

Brandon

BEST Moment of the 2009 Golden Globes: Kate Winslet's Second Acceptance Speech

One of the funniest, most emotional award speeches I have ever seen on television!

P.S. Not for Angelina lovers!

Slumdog Millionaire, Vicky Christina Barcelona Win Big At Golden Globes

The awards season has officially begun with the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and its already setting some trends that could lead to the big night.

Slumdog Millionaire, the story of an young Indian man and his success on a game show, won big at last night's ceremony, taking home four awards, including "Best Motion Picture - Drama" and "Best Director". Vicky Christina Barcelona won for "Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy".

The Wrestler also scored big, with Bruce Springsteen winning for "Best Song" and Mickey Rouke upsetting in the "Best Actor - Drama" category.

As previously mentioned, Kate Winslet scored double awards; "Best Actress - Drama" for Revolutionary Road and "Best Supporting Actress" for The Reader. In the Comedy categories, Colin Farrell and Sarah Hawkins won in the lead categories.

In the television categories, television miniseries John Adams and Tina Fey-penned series 30 Rock won big, scoring three awards each.

Here is the full list below:

MOVIES

Motion Picture, Drama
Slumdog Millionaire

Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director, Motion Picture
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Actress, Motion Picture, Drama
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Actor, Motion Picture, Drama
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Actress, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Actor, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Colin Farrell, In Bruges

Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign-Language Film
Waltz With Bashir, Israel

Motion Picture, Animated
WALL-E

Original Score
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song
"The Wrestler," The Wrestler; music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen

TELEVISION

Television Series, Drama
Mad Men

Television Series, Comedy or Musical
30 Rock

Actress, Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Actor in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Actress, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Laura Linney, John Adams

Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Paul Giamatti, John Adams

Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
John Adams

Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Anna Paquin, True Blood

Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie
Laura Dern, Recount

Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

Kate Winslet Scores Golden Globe Double, Renewed Oscar Buzz, and Public Adoration... All In One Night!

She put the "wins" in Winslet!

Everyone thought they would be talking about the late Heath Ledger's almost-guaranteed win at tonight's Golden Globes, but it is clear that the real star of the ceremony was actress Kate Winslet.

Winslet stunned Hollywood by winning two awards; Best Actress for Revolutionary Road and Best Supporting Actress for The Reader. Her win in the Best Actress category is particularly surprising, since Anne Hathaway's win at the Critic's Choice Awards last week made her a front-runner for the coveted Academy Award. Now, the heavy race, which will undoubtedly be enormously difficult to predict, is further in question.

The game-changing 33-year old coupled her double wins with two brilliant, emotional speeches that delivered the best quotes of the night. In her first speech for Supporting Actress, the Brit said "You have to forgive me, because I have a habit of not winning things".

However, her second speech is what really made me fall in love with her. Left babbling by her upset, a genuinely shocked Winslet found it difficult to thank all of those she wanted. For instance, in a moment that will definitely make headlines tomorrow morning, she forgot a key nominee in her category. "I'm so sorry," Winslet gasped. "Anne, Meryl, Kristen...oh God, who's the other one? Angelina!" Yes, she forgot Angelina Jolie's name, proving that not everyone is obsessed with Brangelina.

Winslet also evaded calls from producers to wrap her delightfully scattered speech: "'Please wrap up!' You have no idea how much I'm not wrapping up!"

She didn't. Winslet thanked everyone from Richard Yates, who wrote the novel the movie was based off of, and the wardrobe department. What was particularly touching was her tribute to Leonardo Dicaprio, who she starred with in Titanic eleven years ago, and her husband, who directed Revolutionary Road.

It would be very hard to find anyone who didn't fall for Kate as she unraveled during her acceptance speeches.

Congratulations to Kate Winslet, for receiving the recognition you so rightly deserve.

Picture from justjared.com

The BWU Chart: James Morrison Stays At #1, The Veronicas Rocket Into Top 10

From this week on, the BWU Chart will presented on Sundays

THIS WEEK'S #1

The first chart week of 2009 sees James Morrison remaining at the top with his Nelly Furtado duet "Broken Strings". This makes him the first male artist to remain at #1 for a second week. The track staves off an attempt for #1 glory from Bloc Party's "Signs", which remained at #2 this week.

Making the biggest chart jump in history are The Veronicas. The Australian pop duo shot up 30 places from #39 to #9, break the record set by David Archuleta's "Crush", when it moved up from #40 to #11 in August.

The Hot Shot Debut of the week is "Kids" by MGMT, which bows at #25. Re-entering the chart is "I Hate This Part" by the Pussycat Dolls at #22, thanks to tons of promotional appearances.

To see the full chart, visit the BWU Website.

Will "The Loving Kind" Break Girls Aloud's Top Ten Streak?

Could disaster strike next week?

That's what many are suggesting on the eve of Girls Aloud 20th single release, "The Loving Kind". It is seriously becoming a possibility that the second single from their massive album Out of Control will miss the Top 10 on the UK chart, breaking the girl group's astonishing streak.

Despite amazing critical support, sales of the track are not as expected. Prior to its release to UK music retailers, the song has peaked at a rather dismal #29 as of this week. On iTunes, the song is at #17, far below The Saturdays and their single "Issues", which is sitting pretty at #3.

So, why is this in danger of Top 10 flopping?

For one, the sales of both "The Promise" and even the album could be the problem. Previous GA albums have seen their albums fall out of the Top 10 rather quickly, but Out of Control is still there. Sales of the album could be easily taking sales away from the single (why download one song when you could just get the album). Then there is "The Promise", which is still doing exceptionally well. With focus on "The Promise", the second single is losing in the interest market.

It would be an absolute travesty if Girls Aloud break their streak with single #20, so let's prevent that. The official single will be in the shops on Monday, so please go out and buy!

Prince Harry Caught In New Racist Scandal

Britain's Prince Harry has found himself in the middle of another race scandal, this time against Muslims.

The third-in-line to the British throne was videotaped referring to a fellow soldier as "our little Paki friend" while training at the Sandhurst military academy. In the UK, "Paki" is considered a serious derogatory term against Muslims, especially since there are many who live in Britain.

In the video, which was released by British tabloid News of the World, Harry also calls another soldier a "raghead" when he was wearing a camouflage veil.

The racial slurs have been condemned by many, including senior members of the British government. MP David Cameron called Harry's remarks "completely unacceptable" and Liberal Democrat leader David Clegg believed they would cause "considerable offense".

Harry apologized last night through a statement from St. James Palace. The statement read:

"Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause. However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend."

This wouldn't be the first time Harry was involved in a racist scandal. In 2005, the prince stunned the world by wearing a Nazi soldier outfit for a costume party. The pictures, released by The Sun, sparked massive outrage and Harry apologized.

Considering the heavy backlash that followed that blunder, which was worse in my opinion, I simply don't understand WHY Harry would videotape himself doing something racist. Sure, we've all said things we regret later, but there is a certain level of responsibility involved when there is a good chance you will become the King of England. Quite frankly, I'm starting to question Harry's level of compassion, depth perception, and even his intelligence. He is asuredly lacking his mother's grace.

Hopefully, the prince can learn from this blunder.

You can watch the video below:

Lady GaGa Goes #1 In America!

It took nearly six months, but fans of NYC club act-turned-dance diva Lady GaGa can rejoice; it will be officially revealed tomorrow that "Just Dance" has topped the Billboard Hot 100 this past week, her first #1 in her home country.

GaGa moves up from #2 last week, dethroning Beyonce's "Single Ladies". The single previously topped the Canadian and Australian charts, and she is expecting to top the British chart when it is revealed this Sunday.

Alexandra Burke Disappointed by "Stiff" Mariah

I'm guessing three weeks at the top of the UK charts has made Alexandra a little bold.

The X Factor winner revealed in an interview with UK newspaper Metro that she felt Mariah's appearance on the program was lacking. She said: "I was a bit upset about Mariah, as I expected her to be full of energy and she wasn't. She was very reserved and stiff posed."

Alexandra is referring to the week where Mariah held a masterclass with the finalists, as well as performed on the UK reality competition. Reviews of her appearance were mixed, with some calling her performances, especially of "Hero", lackluster.

As for Alex, I would avoid criticizing Mariah when you just won a reality program. Regardless of Mariah right now, she actually climbed up from nothing to become the megastar she is. Essentially, hold off on the slamming until you score 18 #1s.

Mariah Re-Records "Hero" For Greatest Hits Album

Mariah Carey is releasing a collection of her greatest ballads from her time at Columbia Records, aptly titled The Ballads. Favorites like "Vision of Love", "Always Be My Baby", "Without You", and "Love Takes Time" are all together on this greatest hits album. In a surprising effort to support the album (considering how bad things were between Sony and Mariah when she left in 2001), Mariah has re-recorded one of her signature songs, "Hero".

Amazon.com, in an exclusive, is showing the music video to accompany the redone version of the song, a #1 hit from her 1993 mega-smash album Music Box.

Considering the last time she sang this song it was on The X Factor and it was an absolute disaster, this is definitely causes a sigh of relief. Although it was obvious at points where studio magic kicked in, but she still has it. My only suggestion/request/prayer/demand is that she gets some freakin' rest and save her voice before she loses it completely.

Since I can't embed it, here is the link to the video:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2FQB8IGB5CRAJ

To pre-order Mariah's The Ballads collection, click here

Exclusive BWU Award Images!

Over the past weekend, I have been dabbling in Photoshop, and I created award logos featuring the big winners.

Feel free to use them (a thank you would be nice though, lol). Any thoughts are also appreciated and can be left in the comment section. Finally, if you would like a HQ version, email the blog at brandonbwu@gmail.com!

 

 

Sharon v.s. Megan on Rock of Love Charm School Reunion

OK, Sharon Osbourne officially OWNS!

THIS is what she did to the skanky Megan (in a bikini, no less) when she had the nerve to insult her husband:

MTV Shows

RULE #1: Don't mess with Sharon Osbourne, because she will rearrange your face!

2008 BWU Awards Viewer's Choice Results

Last week, I gave my readers a chance to re-vote for the four biggest categories in the 1st Annual BWU Awards. After a week of voting, here are the final votes!

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Leona Lewis

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
TIE
Run - Leona Lewis
Womanizer - Britney Spears

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Am... Sasha Fierce - Beyonce

BEST NEW ARTIST
Leona Lewis

To see a full list of winners, visit the BWU Website at http://sites.google/site/thebestworstandunbelievable.

Victor Whips Adam Into Shape on Young and the Restless

I haven't been watching The Young and the Restless at all lately, but after seeing some stuff on YouTube, I might DVR it.

This scene DEFINITELY helped me make that choice.

On the December 23rd episode, the legendary Victor Newman had a tete-a-tete with his son Adam, who got caught scheming against him, in jail. Father and son, both in jail for different crimes, really had it out, and its definitely not an overstatement to call the exchange very intense.

You see, Adam wants Victor to arrange for him to get out of jail. Of course, Victor refuses and knocks some sense into youngest Newman, literally. Victor lets Adam know that the Newman name isn't a title that comes with extraordinary privileges. It's something that demands inner strength and requires hard work, which, until now, Adam has avoided. Now, in order to prove that he is worthy of being a Newman, Adam has to show the inner strength that has helped the name perserve for over 20 years.

Eric Braeden is always brilliant, but I was quite surprised by Chris Engen. Playing against one of Y&R's best is difficult enough, especially when you are a newbie like he is. Still, he held his own and made Adam quite sympathetic, despite being a sniveling little coward. He went from bitchy to manipulative to desperate seamlessly. The two actors delivered a top-notch, energy-exploding scene that makes you hope for more between father and son.

Here is the clip below:

Video of the Week: Kathy Griffin On CNN's New Years Eve Special

The ultimate "did she just say that?" moment right up above...

Alexandra Burke, Will Young, and Elton John at the O2 New Years Eve Celebration

Last night, England celebrated New Years Eve with Elton John at the O2 arena in London. Along with him was Alexandra Burke and Will Young.

Alexandra, freshly crowned as the X Factor winner and the recipient of the 2008 Christmas number one, performed her massive hit "Hallelujah":



Elton and Will Young performed "Daniel":



And here is Will, Alexandra, and X Factor presenter Kate Willoughby counting down to the New Year, along with those in Parliament Square:

Cover This! "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

What an awesome way to start off the new year!

Just today, Kelly unveiled the single cover from her new single, that will be released in the next week and a half.

It's very fun and colorful, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. I'm glad she ditched the lite-goth look she had in the last record. Definitely looking forward to hear this song when it comes out.

Lady GaGa: Christina Aguilera Helped My Career!

We should begin calling her Gracious GaGa!

The budding pop star has responded to the Christina Aguilera controversy that launched a few months ago.

While Christina appeared to brush off the accusations that she stole GaGa's signature look and even insulted the "Just Dance" singer, GaGa took the other, classier route.

In an interview with UK entertainment site Digital Spy, Gaga talked for the first time about the accusations: "

Well, it was very flattering when it happened. She's such a huge star and if anything I should send her flowers, because a lot of people in America didn't know who I was until that whole thing happened. It really put me on the map in a way, though of course I don't just want to be remembered for the Christina Aguilera scandal."

Gracious GaGa went even further in her acknowledgement of Christina's status when she asked if there were no hard feelings:

"There are no hard feelings with Christina at all. What it showed me was, even though I've only been on the commercial market for seven or eight months, I've really burned graphic images of my visuals onto the irises of my fans. They saw a huge, Grammy-winning star who's been around for years and they recognised Lady GaGa. That to me is quite an accomplishment."

It's nice to know that despite her huge debut success, she isn't letting it go to her head. As for Christina, maybe she try the humility thing a bit, especially when someone else, whose style is very similar to yours, is kicking your butt on the charts, but still is nice.

The Top BWU Chart Songs of 2008 (#10-1)

After 28 weeks of The BWU Chart, its time to see which songs really made their mark in 2008.

Here are the 10 biggest songs of 2008 (see the full list on the BWU Website):

10. The Loving Kind - Girls Aloud (#1 peak, 9 weeks and counting, 347 points)

It would take a pretty big song to dethrone six-week #1 "The Promise". Who better to do it than the Girls themselves? The week their album Out of Control came out, their rumored second single debuted at #1, knocking their current single to #2. After a few weeks of turbulence, a new single mix and video shoved the song back into the top slot, further extending Girls Aloud's #1 reign to an astonishing 10 weeks, more than any artist.





9. If I Were a Boy - Beyonce (#2 peak, 13 weeks and counting, 362 points)
Beyonce's ballad about gender switching made a strong impression on the BWU Chart, spending three weeks at #2 behind "The Promise". The persistent song ending up with six weeks in the Top 10 including a return after three weeks of dropping. Although it lost out in the fight for #1, it goes to show how strength can reap rewards, like a triple platinum certification this past week.






8. Womanizer - Britney Spears (#2 peak, 14 weeks and counting, 366 points)
I don't care how much you hat Britney or pop music, you loved the hook of the song (Boy, don't try to front, I-I know ju-just what you a-are) and you DEFINITELY loved the video (steamy, wet, naked, toned Britney, anyone). Brit's comeback brought her a #2 debut and five weeks in the Top 10. Add this with her first #1 in a decade on the US charts, it's very clear that Britney's "comeback" doesn't need quotations anymore.






7. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyonce (#3 peak, 13 weeks and counting, 379 points)
While "If I Were a Boy" had a better start, this booty-shaking R&B stomper has stood the test of time. The song with the most YouTubed dance around has spent its entire run so far in the Top 20, outlasting the former single and outpeaking it on the Year-End. I guess people would prefer if Beyonce didn't delve into differences with the sexes after all.







6. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis (#4 peak, 21 weeks, 389 points)
Another song that peaked before the chart began. Still, Leona enjoyed the second longest chart run with Grammy-nominated pop mega-smash. The song put her on the map, and rightfully so, considering how ridiculously huge it was, with four weeks on the top of the US charts and 3 million in downloads. This song was only the beginning for her, and definitely not the last time you will see her on this chart.





5. Just Dance - Lady Gaga (#1 peak, 19 weeks, 402 points)
THIS. SONG. WON'T. DIE. Everytime you think this song's run is over, it just shoots up again. When you have one of the most exciting debuts of the year, it's really not that surprising. GaGa planted her roots on this chart when she spent three weeks at #1 in the late summer, and now, she still doesn't want to leave. Frankly, I don't mind if she doesn't.







4. Hot N Cold - Katy Perry (#3 peak, 19 weeks, 464 points)

This song surprisingly outlasted her debut smash "I Kissed a Girl", but the bouncing pop of this song deserved its chart glory. While it didn't spend one week at the top, it spent a huge 14 weeks in the Top 20. Despite the song's title, this song never went cold on us.







3. Disturbia - Rihanna (#1 peak, 22 weeks, 548 points)
The chart's first ever number one must have a place in the Top 3, right? Yet, it wasn't RiRi's #1 status that placed here. How about her 13-week run in the Top 10? Or, her 22 weeks on the chart in total, tieing her for longest chart run ever? Yeah, this creepy pop monster should definitely be here. All hail Queen Rihanna...







2. Better In Time - Leona Lewis (#1 peak, 22 weeks, 560 points)
Hold that thought for a second. Leona's second single promptly gave her a rightful claim to the throne. The song spent four weeks wallowing in the bottom half of the Top 20 before skyrocketing to #1 and staying there for a month, the longest chart run until another song came along. 18 weeks in the Top 20 allowed this song to surpass "Disturbia" in October to become the most successful chart song in history. But wait...

1. The Promise - Girls Aloud (#1 peak, 15 weeks, 564 points)

Yes, the Girls, this week no less, snatched Leona's crown from her. Girls Aloud's lead single for Out of Control was going to be massive, but even I didn't expect this. A mind-blowing SIX weeks at the top kept songs from Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Britney, and Kings of Leon at bay, making them cool their heels at #2. Even when the 60's style track fell to #2 (by its own hand, of course), it spent a total of ELEVEN weeks in the Top 5 alone. 15 weeks in, it hasn't left the Top 10, and is now the most chart song EVER. So sorry RiRi and LeLe, the true chart queens are Girls Aloud, and the anthem, "The Promise".