Music Video Spotlight: "Release Me" by Agnes

Ever since my introduction to Agnes last Sunday, her debut single worldwide "Release Me" has BLOWN UP. She has entered the UK charts at #3 (prior to the CD release) and my chart, The Lewis Top 30 at #1 (and will probably hold that for another week).

To celebrate her success (come to America, Agnes!), I am featuring her video for her smash hit. It's a typical club video, filmed in Stockholm (who knew that a serious scene like that?). She looks great in the video (Leona comparisons run rampant here) and the video itself is very fun.

Check it out below:

Lewis Top 30 (5-31-09): Agnes Debuts At #1

This week's issue of the Lewis Top 30 sees the debut of "Release Me" by Swedish singer Agnes at the top, becoming the first ever #1 debut in the chart's second week. Last week's #1, "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship falls to #2, while "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks slips from #2 to #5.

Another big top 10 debut comes from electropop singer Little Boots, whose first single "New In Town" enters the chart at #7.

This week's chart saw both huge drops and huge rises. "Don't Stop Believin'" from Glee plummets from last week's placing of #3 to #28. Both "Fire Burning" from Sean Kingston and "No Boundaries" from Kris Allen fall out of the top 10, making room for The Saturdays and David Guetta, who zoom into the top tier of the chart, hitting #4 and #6 respectively.

This week's chart also introduces a new and improved points system. The points determine a song's placing on the Lewis Top 30 and come from song plays and popularity points ("pop points"). Further explanation can be found at the site.

Here is the Top 10:
1. Release Me - Agnes
2. Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship
3. LoveGame - Lady GaGa
4. Work - The Saturdays
5. Battlefield - Jordin Sparks
6. When Love Takes Over - David Guetta and Kelly Rowland
7. New In Town - Little Boots
8. Please Don't Leave Me - Pink
9. Evacuate The Dancefloor - Cascada
10. Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas

BGT Shock: Diversity Trumps Susan Boyle and Wins!

In a decision that will surely make headlines everywhere, dance group Diversity have won Britain's Got Talent, upsetting season-long favorite Susan Boyle, who came in second place.

Both acts appeared in the first episode, but Susan's audition turned her into a global internet sensation, gathering over 100 million views on YouTube alone. Her success on the Web garnered her tons of global press attention, culminating in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

However, in the past week, the attention seemed to be getting to the 48 year-old spinster from Scotland. Boyle reported suffered two meltdowns prior to today's final, causing her to move from the London hotel where all the contestants were staying to another location. Tonight, she performed a reprisal of "I Dreamed a Dream", the song that made her a star.

Diversity, the second dance-related act to win BGT after George Sampson last year, will receive $159,000 and a performance slot at the Royal Variety Performance, with the Queen in attendance.

Music Video Spotlight: "Paparazzi" by Lady GaGa

With two number-one hits under her belt and another seemingly on the way, it is safe to say that Lady GaGa is one of the biggest artists of the year.

In the UK, GaGa is releasing "Paparazzi" as the followup to #1 single "Poker Face", and she just dropped the music video for it.

She clearly outdid herself with this one.

Trying to review this video is utterly useless, because there is just so much going on. What can I say is that the video is extremely intriguing, provocative, and polarizing, making it a lead contender for "Video of the Year".

Check it out below:

“Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship featuring Leighton Meester (Download of the Day)

This song has already topped the Lewis Top 30, so a “Download of the Day” post should follow, right?

I’m not going to lie; my initial knowledge of this song was through Leighton Meester’s (Blair on Gossip Girl) involvement. It was also the reason why I chose to ignore it at first. As you may or may not know, I have an aversion to actors-turned-singers, so I figured I wouldn’t waste the time. I changed my mind after hearing Meester’s take on the 80’s classic “Bette Davis Eyes”.

I’m glad I did, because “Good Girls Go Bad” is the most instant song I have heard all year. It’s almost too easy to get hooked by the electro intro and the addictive title lyric. Once that draws you in, its impossible not to like this song, about a one-night stand with a goody two-shoes. There are so many good pop elements here, that its insane. There is the ridiculously addictive and anthemic chorus, driven by a guitar riff draped in synths. The breakdown after Leighton’s verse is reminiscent of a high school band number, complete with hand claps and a light drum beat. Then there is Leighton’s voice, which has more of a folksy-rock sound than you would expect. The fact that she can also do infectious pop is good sign for her career.

Everything comes together on what should be one of the summer’s biggest songs. Radio should eat this pop punk package up, not just because of the Gossip Girl connection, but because this song is too good to be ignored.

Rating: 8.5/10

Good Girls Go Bad [feat. Leighton Meester] (Album Version) - Cobra Starship

Another Eurovision Song Entry, This Time From Greece!

I know I’m a little late, but I’m getting very familiar with Eurovision, the continental song contest. So far, I’ve shown entries from the UK and Norway, the contest’s winner.

This next entry is from Greece and its called “This Is Your Night”, performed by Sakis Rouvas. It’s definitely a spirited performance, but I’ll just pass that off as being European. As for the song, doesn’t it sound a little bit like the theme song to Fame?

By The Way, The Winner of Eurovision 2009 is…. Norway’s “Fairytale”

In my last post, I essentially trashed the UK’s entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest “It’s My Time”. Well, I released it was rude of me to ignore the winner of the annual contest. Norway took home the prize with their entry “Fairytale”, sung by Alexander Rybak. The song garnered the most points in Eurovision history, with 387 points.

I have been going back and forth with this song, thinking its either utter garbage or kind of charming. I’ll let you guys decide. Below is Alexander Rybak’s performance of “Fairytale” at the Eurovision Final:

The song is currently out in the UK, and charted at #10 this past week (17 spots ahead of the UK’s own entry by Jade Ewen, ouch).

Good News, Kara! A Pop Song Exists That’s Worse Than “No Boundaries”, and It’s Called “It’s My Time” by Jade Ewen

           

Jade Ewen (right) has released “It’s My Time”, the UK’s entry for Eurovision 2009 and the British version of “No Boundaries”, the American Idol season eight song co-written by Kara DioGuardi (left)

American Idol winners’ singles have never been known for their Grammy worthiness, but it reached a whole new low with “No Boundaries”,co-written by fourth judge Kara DioGuardi. The song will go down in AI history for having the most clichéd lyrics and for being so lacking a melody that it made both Adam Lambert and Kris Allen sound bad live.

Just as I thought that I found one of the worst TV-related singles ever (as much as it sucks, it can’t be the worst song ever), I was corrected when I stumbled upon “It’s My Time” by Jade Ewen.

The song was the United Kingdom’s entry in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, written by Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and songwriting queen Diane Warren. The song came in fifth place, but it was the country’s best showing since 2002, so it was still a success.

Well, not really.

“It’s My Time” is a terrible song. I mean terrible, and this is coming from someone who loves an overblown pop ballad. Lyrically, it could pass an American Idol coronation song, with its lyrics about climbing past adversity to reach the spotlight. While the concept has been wrung to death, never before has it sounded so boring. First off, the title is repeated about a hundred times, as if we’re going to forget that it is “her time”, even though we want to. Although to its credit, without the repetition, we wouldn’t know where the chorus was, since the song’s structure is so scattered and unfocused. Another problem is it’s production. While Andrew Lloyd Webber has produced some of the most beloved music in theater, pop is a genre he should definitely steer clear from. It’s over-the-top, melismatic arrangement may sound rich, but its ultimately exhausting and annoying.

Jade Ewen is a good singer, but it’s not really hard to imagine someone else singing this song even better. Still, she happens to be the best part of this dramatic snoozefest. She’s very convincing as she sings this drivel, as if she really believes that this is her moment in the sun.

If only that were true. “It’s My Time”, after its physical release, peaking at flop-worthy #27, well below Eurovision’s winner, Norway’s Alexander Rybak at #10.

It seems like the British people came to their senses about this track, but how on Earth did this place fifth in Eurovision? Similarly, how did the Idol allow “No Boundaries” to be recorded?

Finally, when it comes to contests such as those, why on Earth is the worst of pop music presented?

The Lewis Top 30 (5-24-09): Cobra Starship Are #1

After tons of false starts, I have relaunched my blog's music chart, now known as the Lewis Top 30. The chart has its own website, which be accessed here (don't forget to bookmark). The chart will be updated every Sunday.

On this week's debut chart, Cobra Starship's new single with Leighton Meester "Good Girls Go Bad" is at #1, a month ahead of its release to radio. Directly behind it is Jordin Sparks' new single "Battlefield" at #2.

American Idol continues to show its pop strength, with no less than 6 placings on this week's chart, three of which are in the top 10. Alongside season six winner Jordin is last year's winner David Cook with new single "Permanent" at #10 and this year's winner Kris Allen and his coronation single "No Boundaries" at #7. Runner-up Adam Lambert charts at #26 with his version of the song.

The other big TV event this past week was Glee, and the cast's cover of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey charts at #3 this week. Charice, who appeared on Oprah to debut her new single "Note To God" also sees a Top 10 entry this week

Here is the full Top 10:

1. Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester
2. Battlefield - Jordin Sparks
3. Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast
4. Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
5. Fire Burning - Sean Kingston
6. LoveGame - Lady GaGa
7. No Boundaries - Kris Allen
8. Note To God - Charice
9. Did You See Me Coming? - Pet Shop Boys
10. Permanent - David Cook

Introducing… Swedish Singer Agnes

Call it continental differences, but Americans tend to miss out on a lot of international music. Even our “special relationship” with the UK hasn’t helped us on the global music front, and we’ve in fact rejected some huge British talent (i.e. Kylie, Robbie, Sugababes, Mika).

America’s musical divide from the rest of the world means that this next singer will probably never see any airplay here. Luckily for us, there is the Internet.

I stumbled upon Agnes Carlsson by accident while perusing Digital Spy. Aussie pop duo The Veronicas were doing a review of current UK single releases, and at the mention of Agnes and her debut single “Release Me”, they compared her to Leona Lewis, but “edgy”.

As a Leona fan, I took the challenge and went to imeem to find “Release Me”.

Agnes and Leona do have a bit in common, admittedly. Both are former reality TV contestants (Leona on X Factor and Agnes on Swedish Idol). Both have a similar look (at least on their album covers). Both are great singers (I won’t go further in risk of bias).

The song seems to cease their similarities, though. “Release Me” is as Europop as it gets, while Leona sits on the American side of the pop spectrum. It’s a very glossy dance number, sidestepping sharp, heavy electro beats of current chart toppers for some classically slick disco production. Even though the song doesn’t do much to showcase her winning voice, its quite easy to tell that she has a talent.

While not the most earth-shattering debut in European history, it’s definitely competent in its ability to establish the Scando beauty in the rest of the continent, if not further.

Here is her debut single, released in the UK on May 25th.

Release Me - Agnes Carlsson

Mariah Carey’s “Memories” Coming Soon

 

Through her Twitter page (I didn’t even know she had one), pop’s biggest diva Mariah Carey revealed the title of her upcoming album, Memories of an Imperfect Angel.

Mariah also revealed on her Twitter that she was working with producer Timbaland on some tracks for the album.

The new album is expected in the fall as the follow-up to 2008’s E=MC2, which sold over 1.2 million copies in the U.S. alone and spun the #1 single “Touch My Body”.

So, Does “Paranoid” Signal The End of the Jonas Brothers?

As I wrote earlier, teen pop trio Jonas Brothers are releasing a new album less than a year after their last, titled Lines, Vines, and Trying Times. The first single is called “Paranoid", and it was released last week to surprisingly little fanfare. While it did peak at #2 on the iTunes chart, it quickly, very quickly, fell down the chart. This past Thursday, it was revealed that the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #37, quite embarrassing considering the #5 entry of their single “Burnin’ Up” just 13 months ago.

So, is “Paranoid” so bad that even their loyal fans have abandoned the brotherly trio?

Actually, no.

While the vocal abilities of Nick and Joe Jonas cannot be helped (it sounds like Nick’s voice finally broke), “Paranoid” as a song is a considerable improvement over their past material. Last year, lyrics from the Jonas Brothers about taking pills, background checks, and mental illness seemed absolutely impossible to conceive. Yet, here they are, singing about the stages of paranoia, which presumably comes with being a pop star. “Paranoid” serves as their most adult offering yet, suggesting the group is finally evolving from annoying tween heartthrobs into serious adult pop stars. Of course, the irony is that just as they are tossing away the vestiges of their musical youth, they’ve wrapped themselves in an ill-advised adventure for the Disney Channel.

Maybe that is the problem, and why it appears that “Paranoid” has flopped with their fans. The boys are in a time warp, of sorts. They are stuck in the world of Disney, with Hannah Montana and their own ridiculous television show, while they are striving to succeed in the adult of pop music, with their influences Kings of Leon and the Zutons. Their choice not to cut one loose has left fans confused as to their direction, which is alienating them. Similarly, the adult world cannot take them seriously if they continue hanging on to the laughable world of Mickey Mouse.

“Paranoid” is not a sign of Jonas Armageddon. Instead, it is a warning that the Jonas Brothers have to choose which world they want to occupy before they are kicked out of both.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Video of the Week: Glenn Beck Gets Humiliated on The View

Who knew that Whoopi Goldberg and I shared the exact same thought about FOX News and talk radio host Glenn Beck?

Beck appeared on The View on Wednesday, where Barbara Walters and Whoopi confronted him over straight up lying on his radio program about the two of them. He gets owned, BIG TIME. Take a look:

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by the Cast of FOX’s Glee (Download of the Day)

God help me for loving this version of the song.

I missed the whole High School Musical craze, so the concept of TV cast songs totally went over my head (I despise “We’re All In This Together, by the way). That had me expecting to hate the cast of Glee’s take on the 80’s rock classic by Journey, which is oft in iTunes Top 100.

What I came to realize is, by the time the song hit the first big guitar riff, I had listened to the song on repeat five times already.

The song itself is perfect, a fact many won’t try to refute. The magic in this interpretation lies within the arrangement and the vocalists. Having the singers replace the piano with “dum-dum-dum”s throughout the entire song is cute, infectious, and all-around brilliant. It also adds to the song’s famous build-up, providing a continuing dose of energy that explodes in the all-important climax.

Just like her character, Lea Michele’s voice is another source of the song’s youthful and joyful energy. Her Broadway experience works to her favor, giving her an exceptional range that sounds wonderful enough to put a smile on the grumpiest of faces. She clearly outmatches her partner, Cory Monteith (the singing jock), in the singing department, but that’s really an nonissue. The identities of the solo singers are ultimately forgotten as the excitement the song creates sweeps in.

What this song does, which songs from the HSM, Camp Rock, and Hannah Montana songbooks have failed to do, is that it doesn’t sound cliché. Sure, its a cover, but it sounds fresh and new and joyous, without being corny or embarrassing. That certainly helps build the hope for Glee, which continues in the fall.

Why Y&R’s Chris Engen ISN’T a Homophobe for Allegedly Quitting Over a Gay Storyline

There are times when I wish celebrity blogger Perez Hilton would just shut his trap.

The last time I felt that way was when he launched the Carrie Prejean gay marriage scandal, turning a forgettable beauty queen into a right-wing celebrity, a la Joe The Plumber.

Well, he’s doing it again.

It was announced this week that actor Chris Engen, who plays Adam “Victor Jr.” Newman on soap opera Young and the Restless, quit and was being recast. It shouldn’t have been surprising to many soap fans, since rumors of his departure have been around for months.

However, the story gained a bit of color when it revealed by Nelson Bronco of TV Guide Canada that Engen reportedly quit over a kiss with his new co-star Yani Gellman, who plays lawyer Rafe. Also reported was Engen’s unhappiness with the darker turn his character was taking and his meeting with the show’s brass to discuss his future on the program.

Perez Hilton, in his usually harsh manner, took the story and used it to attack Chris Engen, accusing him of being homophobic and verbally assaulting him.

While I think Chris Engen is an idiot for quitting the leading show in daytime during a recession, I think its equally idiotic to accuse him of homophobia because performing in a gay storyline made him uncomfortable, if that is the reason at all.

As I mentioned earlier, rumors of Engen’s departure have been around for months, since his character was sent to jail for forging his father’s diary. The reason behind his discontent is probably because the constant changing to his character’s story. He was introduced as the devoted son of Hope Adams, Victor Newman’s beloved blind ex-wife. When she died, Victor took Adam under his wing. From there, he became a power-hungry control freak who began working with Victor’s archenemy Jack Abbott to set Victor up. He was eventually caught and sent to jail. After some time in the clink, Adam was released into Victor’s custody when Adam began to lose his eyesight. Just last week, though, we learned two secrets: Adam has been injecting stuff into his eyes to appear blind, and he is behind Ashley’s gaslighting.

With such a jumpy storyline that has made his character hugely unpopular, it isn’t surprising that he would want to leave. Add to that the plans to possibly involve him in a same-sex relationship, when his character is in love with prosecutor Heather, being frustrated isn’t impossible to understand. If you truly aren’t enjoying your role, and there aren’t plans to rectify it, then leaving may have been his only way out.

Now, if it is because of the gay kiss, so what? Just because he doesn’t want to kiss someone of the same sex does not make him a homophobe. He may not have been comfortable with kissing a guy, like most straight men in the world. That doesn’t make him anti-gay. Actors, or anyone for that matter, shouldn’t be forced to do something that makes them uncomfortable, even if it irrationally angers some people. Not every actor is that open; for instance, Steve Burton, Jason Morgan on General Hospital, has developed a reputation for refusing to do love scenes as of late. That doesn’t mean that he hates his female co-stars, does it? No, it means he respects his marriage and feels that refraining from love scenes lends to that. The same goes for Chris Engen. Just because he doesn’t want to kiss another man doesn’t mean he should have such an ugly word slapped onto career.

Who knows why Chris Engen chose to leave Young and The Restless? Whatever the reason, it is absolutely wrong to accuse someone of being so hateful, especially when the facts aren’t all out. If he isn’t homophobic (which is most likely the case), than his name has been slandered for either staying within his comfort zone or leaving for greener pastures. Ironically, that is the argument that Carrie Prejean used in defense of her Miss USA answer.

If I were Chris, I would sue Perez Hilton for slander.

Carrie Prejean: The Scandal That Should’ve Never Been

On May 12th, Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss USA pageant announced that the current Miss California Carrie Prejean would not lose her crown after she was accused of breaching her contract by missing required events, supporting an anti-gay marriage organization, and posing for multiple semi-nude pictures without informing the pageant organizers.

The announcement, followed by the resignation of Miss California co-executive director Shanna Moakler, hopefully signals the end of a media firestorm that has done nothing to help the causes of anyone at all.

On April 19th, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton asked Carrie Prejean whether states should accept gay marriage legislation. She answered honestly, although incorrectly, that she only supported “opposite” marriage (aka marriage between a man and a woman). Alongside her belief was a disclaimer, that she didn’t mean to offend anyone with her remarks. In the end, though, Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina, took home the crown and will compete in the Miss Universe pageant later this year.

Since interest in beauty pageants has diminished greatly in the last 15 years or so, hearing Carrie Prejean’s name again was supposed to be unlikely. Then again, Perez Hilton was (inexplicably) on the judging panel. On his massively popular website, he raged against the California beauty, calling her a “dumb bitch” and calling her answer “one of the worst in pageant history”. The media caught wind of the attack and pounced on the story, declaring a Miss USA scandal.

From then on, Carrie Prejean went from state beauty queen to pop culture figure overnight; the morning after the pageant, she appeared on The Today Show to discuss her answer. She said that she knew the question would be asked and that she knew that by answering honestly, she would risk her chance at the crown. She answered the way she did because she refused to compromise her beliefs.

That is admirable. While I personally don’t agree with her position, it takes a lot of personal strength and conviction to speak honestly, knowing that you could be possibly digging your own grave. At that point, she became a martyr, sacrificing glory for dignity. The majority of people were on her side, defending her right to say what she thought, even those who disagreed. Shanna Moakler, a 1995 Miss USA winner, was one of those people, although she pointed out that Prejean lost because she appeared to lack compassion for all people, which is a pillar of the organization.

With everyone on Prejean’s side, the issue should’ve been over, right? Wrong.

Because Carrie Prejean made a big mistake, bigger than the one that lost her the crown. She capitalized on her newfound celebrity, but not to help meaningful charities or raise awareness for world issues. No, she instead politicized herself instead, appearing on multiple Fox News programs and joining the “fight” against gay marriage. She even went to Washington to support her cause. She joined forces with the National Organization for Marriage, which was against pageant protocol, and publicly slated them for trying to silence her, which they denied. Her activities appeared to affect her relations with the Miss California officials; not only did she not ask for permission to do her media blitz, but she also didn’t attend contractual appearances.

Then came the naked pictures.

There is no doubt in my mind that the nude pictures of Prejean wouldn’t have surfaced if this media volcano hadn’t erupted, but they did. After one photo leaked, Prejean claimed that she took only one and derided attempts to discredit her. Then, another leaked, and another, and another. The pictures were the straw that broke the camel’s back: Miss California officials and Donald Trump announced press conferences to discuss their options.

The issue with the nude pictures was the lack of disclosure about them. According to Moakler, pageant entrants are required to fully disclose their pasts, and Carrie Prejean did not, which means that she entered the pageant under false pretenses. That, on top of Prejean’s other activities, prompted the officials to unofficially replace her as the Miss California ambassador.

That decision was expected to be a precursor to Prejean’s crown removal, but Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Carrie Prejean would continue on as Miss California. In a show of amnesty similar to 2006 Miss USA Tara Connor, Trump defended her statements again, and called her nude pictures “lovely”. The decision sparked some liberal outrage and the resignation of Shanna Moakler, who stated that she “no longer believed” in the pageant.

So, what is left now? Carrie Prejean, originally a victim of attacks by a celebrity blogger, has now been rightfully painted as a self-serving, religiously politicized, lying opportunist. Perez Hilton will continue being an annoying, self-serving, somewhat cruel activist for celebrity humiliation.

But they shouldn’t matter.

What about the hot button issue of gay marriage? Well, New York is one step away from signing legislation to legalize same-sex unions. President Obama is allegedly planning to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which will further strengthen gay rights. Opponents to gay marriage continue to outrageously argue that allowing it will lead to bestiality and incest.

So, in the end, nothing changed because of it. All we saw was a young and beautiful woman, victimized for speaking her mind, transform into the female version of Joe The Plumber. Other than that, the results have been pointless, just like the Miss USA contest itself.

“When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland (Download of the Day)

Move over Rihanna; someone has taken your “song of the summer” crown.

Fresh off being dumped by her record label, former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland has teamed with French DJ David Guetta for “When Loves Takes Over”, the first single from his new album One Love. Many may know Guetta from his last hit single “Love is Gone” with Chris Willis. Those familiar with the summer jam will know that David Guetta knows his way around the somewhat overcrowded genre of dance-pop.

“When Love Takes Over” is an undeniable club banger; the string of synths qualify it for that title almost instantly. The crossover appeal lies within two unexpected elements; the beautiful piano melody and Kelly Rowland herself. Although the song is adorned with typically electro sounds and a light beat, the piano never disappears among the dance ruckus. Strikingly similar to Coldplay’s “Clocks”, the melody is an idea that definitely been lost in pop music lately, and should make a welcome return with this song. Kelly Rowland should also experience a boost with this track. Often sidelined by Beyonce during her Destiny’s Child tenure and ignored by pop radio in her solo career (save for “Dilemma” with Nelly), Kelly Rowland skyrockets into the spotlight with this song, delivering the strongest vocals of her entire music career. Her voice is as attractive as the synth-driven production, delivering a nice course of energy into the song that should really get people moving if they weren’t already.

It seems like Kelly has finally found her niche in the pop world, Now, with Matthew Knowles gone, maybe she can finally pursue it.

Rating: 8 out of 10

“Wolverine” Roars At Weekend Box Office With $87 Million

Despite mixed reviews, the Hugh Jackman vehicle X Men Origins: Wolverine has expectedly topped this past weekend’s box office, with early estimates set at $87 million. This puts the prequel in second place for the best opening in the X-Men franchise; X-Men 3 has the best opening weekend of the four films with a gross of $102.8 million.

The film faced tough criticism over its under-developed story, while Jackman received rave reviews for his portrayal of lead character Wolverine, arguably one of the most popular characters within the franchise.

Matthew McConaughey’s romantic comedy “Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past” came in second place with just over $15 million. Last week’s box office winner, “Obsessed”, fell to third place with $12 million.

New Music Alert: Releases From Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, Jonas Brothers, Kanye, and Beyonce

It’s looking to be an interesting month for pop music.

Kelly Clarkson won’t be the only Idol alum to fill the radio waves this summer. Two of the most popular contestants are releasing new singles ahead of their summer album releases: Daughtry and Jordin Sparks.

Daughtry, the band fronted by season 4 frontrunner Chris Daughtry, will premiere their single “No Surprise” on this week’s American Idol results show. Their follow-up to their quadruple-platinum debut album is due in June. The week after, season 6 winner Jordin Sparks will debut her new, Ryan Tedder-penned single “Battlefield”, with a radio adds date of May 25th.

Miley Cyrus may seem to be the leader of the teen pop world with her #4 smash “The Climb”, but she may want to hold off on the crowning. Also coming to radio on May 25th is “Paranoid”, the latest single from Jonas Brothers. “Paranoid” is the lead single from their newest album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times, which will be released in June.

Another “Paranoid” single comes from Kanye West, who is reportedly releasing the remix he made with pop princess Rihanna. A video has also been filmed with a release in the future.

Beyonce is preparing another double single release. Like “Single Ladies”/”If I Were a Boy” and “Diva”/”Halo” before, the diva has paired the ballad “Broken-Hearted Girl” and the feisty “Ego” together for a May release. “BHG” will be released to pop radio, while “Ego” goes to Urban stations.

Stay with BWU for the latest in pop music coming your way…

Will London Host the Super Bowl in 2014?

The Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday that the NFL’s plans to bring the Super Bowl to the United Kingdom were in full effect.

The Mayor of London’s office and Visit London, the city’s official tourism organization, announced that the NFL intends to bring the Super Bowl to the city in 2014. The decision comes after two sold-out games at Wembley Stadium this past season. The city has been in talks with the NFL’s special events team, who have been looking for host cities outside of the United States; their search has included Canada, Mexico, and Germany.

London will reportedly reveal its plan for the Super Bowl in November, when the bid packages are due to the NFL.

London is looking for 2014 to host the legendary American sporting event, which is continually the highest-rated program on television every year, with at least 80 million viewers. The rights to the 2013 Super Bowl will be decided this year, while 2016 game, which marks the 50th anniversary, will most likely go to Los Angeles. 2018 could see London’s hosting of soccer’s biggest event, the World Cup. In 2012, London will host the Summer Olympics.

If London does end up hosting the Super Bowl, it will be the first time in the history of the NFL that a foreign country will host the game. The decision to allow international countries to host the Super Bowl is apart of the NFL’s plans to internationalize American football in a similar way that soccer has become.

The city of London is expected to make $600 million from the deal.