Kylie's "All The Lovers" Now On US iTunes!

 

IT'S HERE!

In case my recent Download of the Day post, the above video, and my new logo haven't tipped you off, I love Kylie Minogue's new single "All The Lovers", and it is now on iTunes in the United States!

It is currently at #139 on the Top 200 iTunes chart, which is the highest she's ever been! She deserves a smash in the United States, so let's get her one!

Below is the link to my Download of the Day post about All The Lovers:

http://www.brandonsbestworst.com/2010/05/download-of-day-515-all-lovers-by-kylie.html

And here is the link to "All The Lovers" on iTunes!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-the-lovers-single/id374186371

"Just Stand Up" Available On iTunes!

The charity single "Just Stand Up" is currently available on iTunes. The song features 15 of the biggest female artists in the country, including Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Rihanna, Leona Lewis and more!

I heavily recommend buying this single to help support those with cancer.

Leona's Back in iTunes Top 10!

The song WILL NOT die!

Leona Lewis' megahit single "Bleeding Love" has re-entered the Top 10 on iTunes, 4 MONTHS after it first entered. It began dropping last week, but it has begun to bounce back!

The song has outlasted Mariah, Usher, Lil' Wayne, and Madonna on the iTunes chart.

Get it, Leona!

David Cook EXPLODES on iTunes!

David Cook's debut single "Time of my Life" has shot up the iTunes chart within hours of release, and it is TRIPLING the sales of the #2 song, "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay.

Expect David Cook to be the first Idol to hit #1 on the charts since Taylor Hicks in 2006!

Duffy Enters iTunes Top 10!

Driven by the surprisingly-high sales of her album, Duffy's first US single Mercy has pushed into the iTunes Top 10, pushing past Danity Kane.

Expect a nice chart jump for her on Hot 100 this week!

Congrats Duffy!

CHART BATTLE: Mariah Tops iTunes, Leona Falls to Second Place

Today's iTunes chart shows that Mariah Carey's latest single "Touch My Body" has gone to #1, pushing Leona down to #2. There is a significant gap between their sales, which would imply that Mariah Carey will have extremely high chances of going to #1 on next week's Billboard Hot 100. Leona still has a comfortable lead above the other songs, even though she's at #2.

Madonna's new single with Justin Timberlake "4 Minutes" has also charted at #8 on the iTunes chart after a day of availability. She has more success on the Album chart, where the Deluxe version sits at #3.

Other new entries is Fall Out Boy's version of "Beat It" with John Mayer at #22.

LEONA VS. MARIAH VS. MADONNA! Who Will Top The Hot 100?

I originally did a post where it was a battle of Mariah Carey and Madonna (it has been my most viewed post so far, with people from 17 countries reading it), but that was before Leona Lewis rocketed into the Top 10 last week with "Bleeding Love". And that is before her sales doubled again when she appeared on Oprah! So, its going to truly be a chart battle for the record books! Who will take the crown? Leona Lewis, Madonna, or Mariah Carey?

Its a chart battle that hasn't been seen in America for a while! Three strong contenders with three strong songs that are guaranteed top sellers. In my opinion, here are the three divas' chances at the penthouse.

LEONA LEWIS WITH "BLEEDING LOVE"

Ironically, not since Mariah Carey has a young woman's career looked so bright! Her single "Bleeding Love" is one of the biggest songs of the year; an almost guaranteed nominee for "Record of the Year" at next year's Grammys. Her voice has sent shockwaves throughout the masses here in America, who haven't heard a vocal powerhouse like hers since Celine Dion. In a matter of weeks, her single went from obscurity to the top of iTunes, outselling the 2 and 3 positions combined. Many will say it's Oprah, but she hit #1 even before the career-making performance. Even before the Oprah sales were added, she charted at #8, with sales of 120,000. Its safe to say with Oprah-influenced sales and the physical release, Leona has a VERY good chance of pushing into the Top 5, if not the #1 spot this week. And if she does, will she keep it? Can she hold off the two biggest releases of the spring? With her sales momentum and her ever-growing radio airplay, I think it's possible she will be "bleeding" success for a few weeks. CHANCES: 80%

MADONNA WITH "4 MINUTES"

It's one of the most anticipated singles of the year. After weeks and months of speculation, "4 Minutes" with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake will be released digitally this week. In the UK, who had an early release, the song shot up into the Top 5 in the same day, and chances are, there will be a similar response. However, there are a lot of things to question. In 2005, when "Hung Up" was released, it didn't crack the Top 5, despite high downloads and #1 debuts across the globe. Can she have her first #1 since "Music" in 2000? Well, her chances are very good, since she has megaproducer Timbaland and pop prince Timberlake in her corner. The kink is the airplay, which, surprisingly, hasn't been as high as either Leona's or Mariah's. It may take a few weeks for it to catch up, but by then, the single sales could begin tap out. Its a very tricky predicament for the Material Mom, but I would never count Madonna out for the count. I mean, she was inducted into "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in her first year of eligibility! That definitely says something! CHANCES: 70%

MARIAH CAREY WITH "TOUCH MY BODY"

When it first came out, it was instantly a radio smash. With one day of radio airplay, it charted high on the R&B charts. With every week, she vaulted up the charts! But, there was one thing keeping her from the #1 spot: no single release. Finally, after a month of radio, "Touch My Body" will be released. Normally, I would say without a doubt she would chart at #1 the week she released. This is the same woman with a whopping 17 #1 singles, tying her with Elvis. If anyone could do it, she could it. However, today's public tend to get bored with music easily. With massive amounts of airplay and nothing to download, some buyers could be dissuaded from purchasing the guaranteed top 10 hit. Then, there is competition from a still fresh Madonna and Leona. As a Mariah lover, this pains me to say, but I'm not holding breath for a Mariah #1. CHANCES: 60%

WHAT READERS THINK: With 46 voters, 58% believe it will be Madonna sitting at the top. 26% think it will be Leona. Only 12% think Mariah could do it. There is still time to vote!

Introducing...UK Girl Groups (Part 1)

There is a lot of talk that many European charts are filled with American music. I definitely don't think that's true. Yes, there are many American artists who cross over to Europe, but they, especially the UK, have amazing artists who rule the charts as Rihanna, Madonna, or Nickelback. One of the kingdoms in their music scene is Britpop. And who are the queens? Of course, the girl groups.

There are big differences between girl groups here in the US and girl groups in the UK. For one, UK groups are far more commercially viable. The two UK girl groups I'm featuring have lasted over five years!

The first group? Girls Aloud.

For nearly 6 years, these pop princesses have ruled the UK charts. Since their first single, "Sound of the Underground" in 2002, they have had an astonishing 17 Top Ten singles on the chart, making them the most successful girl group in UK Chart history (yes, more successful than the Spice Girls). They are also more innovative than the Spice Girls.

The group was formed on the reality show "Popstars: The Rivals". From then on, they have released 5 albums, including one greatest hits, and 18 singles. As the years went by, their sound evolved from just the simple pop sound. With help from UK super-producers Xenomania, they help change the meaning of the genre, with songs that seemingly encompassed every single corner. From the rock-tinged "Wake Me Up" to the syrupy balladry of "See The Day". From the mid-tempo slice of genius "Call the Shots" (hence the picture) to the hyper-dance craze of "Something Kinda Oooh" and "Sexy! No No No...". With each new single, they try something new and unexpected, setting them apart from the typical pop bands that riddled the late 90's.

On top of their production, the girls can actually sing (GASP!). My personal favorite is Nadine Coyle (the girl on the far right). Her voice is absolutely amazing (and I don't through that around often). Another amazing vocal comes from Nicola Roberts (girl next to Nadine). Her voice is unique; with a versatility and range that is much welcomed. Kimberly has a rich tone that gives her a powerful lower register. Cheryl has a great middle register that is showcased often. Sarah's voice fits perfectly with the girls' dance hits.

With great voices in general and great range in genres, they must put out some great songs, right? Absolutely!

My absolute favorite (and of the most played on my iPod) in "Call the Shots". Its one of the best pop songs I have heard, with one of the most catchy choruses of all time that don't annoy me. The girls sound stunning and the production is top-notch. Its much better than 1/2 the crap thats on the radio today. Their most innovative song has to be "Biology", from the 2005 Chemistry album. The song mixes different melodies, creating something truly different than the pop standard. The song that got me interested was "Something Kinda Oooh". Its a power-dance song with a driving, rock-influenced beat. The lyrics don't make any sense, but the danceability of the track makes up for it! It would get everyone and anyone in the club, or even at home, dancing.

I don't when they'll crack America, but they definitely should. Until then, every album up to their latest (with Call the Shots on it) has been released onto iTunes. I suggest getting yourself acquainted.

BWU Recommends:

Something Kinda Oooh, Biology, Sexy! No No No..., Whole Lotta History, and Call The Shots (when its released in the US)

Best and Worst of the iTunes Chart 3/20

Lil Wayne's Lollipop at #2 - I don't know why the hell this song is #2 at all. At least there is a great distance between this trash and "Bleeding Love". If you haven't bought it yet, please, save your cash. Rating: 3/10

Lil Mama's Shawty Get Loose at #3 - Apart of me believes I shouldn't like this song, but I actually do. I think Chris Brown saves this song from the same thing that made me dislike the hyper -annoying "Lip Gloss". Also, Lil Mama sounds a little less like a petulant child and more like a confident young woman who knows her way around a mic. Rating 6.5/10

Chris Brown's With You at #13 - Surprisingly, I haven't reviewed this song yet, and now, it's currently slipping down the chart. This is one of, if not the, best song he has ever put out. Its romantic without being sleazy, the guitar in the background (a la Irreplacable) is a great addition, and his voice is at its strongest and most versatile. More so that "Kiss Kiss" or "Run It", this song deserved the #1 spot that Flo Rida kept from him for so long. Rating 8/10

Gnarls Barkley's Going On at #22 - Too little fanfare, Gnarls Barkley released their latest album, The Odd Couple. The most popular song is this one, and really really like this song. It's very funky, much like Outkast's Hey Ya. No one can ever call these two boring, and neither is this song! Rating: 7.5/10

Leona's "Spirit" Is Up For Pre-Order!

Current iTunes #1 Leona Lewis now has her debut album Spirit available for pre-order on the music store! There are two versions of the album: the regular version and the the Deluxe Version. Here is the track-listing for the Deluxe:

1. Bleeding Love
2. Better In Time
3. I Will Be
4. I'm You
5. Forgive Me
6. Misses Glasses
7. Angel
8. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
9. Yesterday
10. Whatever It Takes
11. Take a Bow
12. Footprints in the Sand
13. Here I Am
14. The Best You Never Had
15. You Bring Me Down (UK Better in Time b-side) [Deluxe]
16. Bleeding Love (video) [Deluxe]
17. Bleeding Love remix? [pre-order only]

Here is the link to the Deluxe Version, and the Regular Version (links only work if you have iTunes).

Go forth and pre-order the biggest debut album of the year!

Leona OWNS Oprah's Show

International superstar Leona Lewis performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show today, and she was absolutely amazing! Her voice was strong and on point the whole time (and get this, the girl had a damn cold!!), and she looked stunning! She received a standing ovation and Oprah called her "the real deal". Now, all of America can now know what the rest of the world has known for months: Leona Lewis is destined for mega-stardom!

Her song is currently #1 on the US iTunes chart, and now with Oprah's support, she'll likely stay there for weeks!

Also, "Bleeding Love" will be available to buy from Target starting tomorrow!

I'll post a video very soon!

Congrats Leona!!!

UPDATE: Here is her perfomance on Oprah:

LEONA'S #1! LEONA'S #1!

UK megastar Leona Lewis has done what has been impossible for MANY international artists!

She hit #1 on US iTunes!

And this is before her Oprah appearance tomorrow afternoon!

If she continues at #1 this week, she can go to #1 next week on the Hot 100!

Continue downloading "Bleeding Love"!

Leona Update!

Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" has moved up past "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley to become the #2 song on iTunes!

All she has to do is beat Usher to get to the #1 spot!

Continuing downloading!

Billboard Chart Update: Usher Still Reigns, Leona Shoots Up!

On this week's Billboard Hot 100, Usher's Love In This Club spends its second week on the top of the charts. The song is from his forthcoming album, Here I Stand. After falling from the top spot last week, Flo Rida's "Low" slips down another spot to number 3, switching with Chris Brown's "With You". Sara Bareilles hits a new peak of 4 with "Love Song", while Rihanna's "Don't Stop The Music" rounds out the top 5.

Still being driven by airplay only, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" moves up to #16. The official iTunes release of her single will be March 24th.

Leona Lewis, the amazing singer from the UK, has shot up 20 spots to #21, barely missing the top 20 with her international hit single "Bleeding Love".

Leona's #1! Leona's #1!

Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" is now the best-selling pop song in the country!

Today, Leona bypassed two-week long number-one Sara Bareilles to top the iTunes Pop chart!

In order to become #1 on the complete chart, she must bypass both Usher and Jeff Buckley!

She can definitely do it, so keep downloading!

Leona Update!

Leona Lewis is now at #3!

Bleeding Love is now #3 on the iTunes Chart!

Just two more spots to the top spot!!

Leona Update! She's In The Top 5!

The meteoric rise of Leona Lewis has continued!

Leona had cracked the top 5 on the US iTunes chart this morning!

With increasing airplay and her high success on the iTunes chart should guarantee Leona a much higher spot than #41 on this week's Hot 100, coming out on Thursday!

Keeping downloading "Bleeding Love"! She deserves that #1 spot!

Download of the Day: Mercy by Duffy

This applies to both US and UK readers.

This song is already a megahit overseas, especially in the UK. It is currently #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and I can see why. The song follows the formula of many big hits from the last year; take an old style and make it modern. Amy Winehouse perfected the technique on her blockbuster album Back to Black. Now, Welse singer Duffy has taken a stab at it with the single Mercy. The song is dripping with retro 60's/Motown sounds, sounding like something that Supremes released 40 years ago. Yet, it sounds fresh and new.

In America, iTunes has named the song "Single of the Week", allowing people to download it for free. I definitely suggest taking advantage of the opportunity. The price is a gift, because this song is definitely worth the cost.

Rating: 7.5

Leona Update!

My girl Leona Lewis is at #6 on iTunes

#6! Past "Don't Stop the Music" and "See You Again".

Only 5 more spots to #1!

Continue downloading!

Leona Update!

Soon-to-be megastar Leona Lewis is now at #8 on US iTunes!

Please keep downloading "Bleeding Love" so we can get it to #1!