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Category: News

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  • Chart Chat: 9/21/08: Pink, Metallica, Mitch Hedberg & More!!

    This week’s chart action, courtesy of Billboard Magazine.

      Billboard Hot 100: Top 20 Singles

    1) “So What” Pink

    Pink. Photo courtesy of Joel Telling.
    Pink. Photo courtesy of Joel Telling.

    2) “Whatever You Like” T.I.
    3) “Disturbia” Rihanna
    4) “Paper Planes” M.I.A.
    5) “Swagga Like Us” Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Li’l Wayne & Kanye West
    6) “Forever” Chris Brown
    7) “Closer” Ne-Yo
    8) “Can’t Believe It” T-Pain feat. Li’l Wayne
    9) “American Boy” Estelle feat. Kanye West
    10) “Got Money” Li’l Wayne feat. T-Pain
    11) ‘Dangerous” Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon
    12) “Hot N Cold” Katy Perry
    13) “I’m Yours” Jason Mraz
    14) “Viva La Vida” Coldplay
    15) “In the Ayer” Flo-Rida feat. will.i.am
    16) “Love Story” Taylor Swift
    17) “One Step at a Time” Jordin Sparks
    18) “Better in Time” Leona Lewis
    19) “I Kissed a Girl” Katy Perry
    20) “Miss Independent” Ne-Yo

      Billboard 200: Top 20 Albums

    1) “Death Magnetic” Metallica
    2) “The Recession” Young Jeezy
    3) “Rock & Roll Jesus” Kid Rock
    4) “Do You Know” Jessica Simpson
    5) “All Hope is Gone” Slipknot
    6) “A Little Bit Longer” Jonas Brothers
    7) “LAX” The Game
    8) “Exit 13” LL Cool J
    9) “Tha Carter III” Li’l Wayne
    10) “Mamma Mia Soundtrack” Various Artists
    11) “Love & Life” Eric Benet
    12) “Good Girl Gone Bad” Rihanna
    13) “Love on the Inside” Sugarland
    14) “The Quilt” Gym Class Heroes
    15) “Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends” Coldplay
    16) “The Block” New Kids on the Block
    17) “Breakout” Miley Cyrus
    18) “Do You Believe in Gosh” Mitch Hedberg
    19) “Still Unforgettable” Natalie Cole
    20) “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” Jason Mraz

    *Pink sets up her upcoming album “Funhouse” quite nicely with the first #1 single of her career (not counting the multi-artist massacre of “Lady Marmalade” from 2001. While I’m sure most will agree that she’s a talented woman, did anyone think that this chick would still have a career after nearly ten years when they first saw the video for “There U Go”?

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  • Lindsey Buckingham’s Latest Musical Present: “Gift of Screws”

    Gift Of Screws

    When Rolling Stone magazine or one the gazillion websites out there feature a list of the greatest guitarists of all time, they always leave off Lindsey Buckingham.  I’m not sure why.  The guy is a genius whose self-taught finger plucking technique has created a truly inspiring sound.  For those who don’t know who Lindsay is, he’s the most influential member of Fleetwood Mac whose name isn’t Stevie Nicks.  When Lindsey and Stevie joined the Mac in 1975, Fleetwood Mac soared to new heights.  Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie might have been the faces of the band, but it was Lindsey Buckingham who contributed the most with his unique guitar style and beautiful melodies.  The majority of my favorite Mac songs were written or sung by Lindsey.  For you trivia buffs out there, he also was responsible for Holiday Road, the theme from the National Lampoon Vacation movies.  He also had a few solo hits in the 80’s including Go Insane and Trouble.

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  • Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman”: Miss Independent, Meet Mr. Sensitivity

    In just a few short years, Shaffer Smith (known to most of us as Ne-Yo) has become one of pop/R&B’s most respected songwriters. Since breaking through with Mario’s “Let Me Love You”, the Vegas native has penned songs for acts like Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”), Rihanna (“Unfaithful), Usher, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion, to name just a few. Unlike most of today’s pop acts, Ne-Yo brings a classicist’s touch to his songwriting. He actually writes stories instead of a few chants wrapped around a hook. Take some of the slang out and he could have been writing in the Sixties or Seventies.

    The man has since pursued a second career as an artist in his own right, with two hit albums under his belt. As a singer and performer, Ne-Yo, like just about every other young male artist in pop & R&B, owes much to Michael Jackson. His high tenor can be compared favorably to “Off the Wall” and “Thriller”-era MJ, and his dance moves are nothing if not Jacksonesque.

    Unfortunately, Ne-Yo’s albums have been a mixed bag so far. While 2006’s In My Own Words was a solid effort that hinted at greatness, 2007’s Because of You was a well-written but somewhat boring follow-up. After that, I wasn’t sure if Ne-Yo had a great album in him…until now.

    Ne-Yo. Photo by Robin Wong.
    Ne-Yo. Photo by Robin Wong.

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