If I was Don Cornelius, I’d be really mad at the BET folks. In 2001, the cable network introduced it’s own show that essentially took the Soul Train Music Awards out of business. The shows themselves have been a mixed bag. There have been a couple of major moments-Michael Jackson & James Brown dancing together, Jay-Z & Beyonce tearing up “Crazy in Love”, a Destiny’s Child mutual lap-dance extravaganza on “Cater 2 U”. However, there have been just as many forgettable performances from (name untalented rapping one-hit wonder here). This year’s show promises to be a typical mixed bag. On the plus side, performances from Usher and Kanye West, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Al Green. On the bad side? Lil’ Wayne. And I’m sure there’ll be a T-Pain performance somewhere. Keep your eye here, as we’ll be updating every half hour or so.
Tag: Chris Brown
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BET Awards Action…It’s Fantas…Wait A Second…
Hey, anyone notice that the Soul Train Music Awards didn’t happen this year? Well, after last year’s debacle, during which damn near NO ONE who won an award showed up, the organizers decided to pull the plug on the show after two decades.Well, one definite reason the Soul Train Awards’ power faded was because of the advent of the BET Awards. Since it’s inception in 2001, it has become the place where R&B, rap and gospel’s elite united to be honored. Add in the fact that they honor the film, television and sports world as well, and…well, I think the rest of this paragraph kinda writes itself.
Anyway, this year’s nominees were announced today, and the leading nominee is…
…(squints)…
…T-PAIN?!!!!!???!!??
Yup, Tallahassee’s finest (forgive me, Tallahasseans, I know no better) received five nominations, and not a one for his own work. Thank Kanye West, Chris Brown and Flo-Rida for the plethora of T-Pain love. Man, he has got the easiest job of anyone in the music industry. Dude doesn’t even have to sing.
Anyway, the other multiple nominees were pretty standard: the aforementioned West and Brown, plus Li’l Wayne, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys, among others. Pleasant surprises included the love shown Erykah Badu, who got a pair of noms, plus the presence of British export Estelle in the Best New Artist category. Also nice to see Raheem DeVaughn get a pair of noms, and they recognized Chaka Khan, who’s made arguably the best R&B album in the past 12 months (Although they tossed her in the “BETJ” AKA “Old Fogey” category).
A head scratcher included the entire Best Female Hip-Hop category. Any category in which Kid Sister and Li’l Mama are among your finalists should probably be scrapped sooner than later.
Still,this promises to be an interesting show, with performances from Usher, among others,and the lifetime achievement award set to go to Rev. Al Green. The show airs live on June 24th, and you can find a complete list of nominees here: http://www.bet.com/specials/betawards08/
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Chart Chat 5/4/08: Madonna, Jesse McCartney, Static Major And More!!
Hey folks:Courtesy of the good folks at Billboard magazine, I bring you (drumroll…) this week’s Top 20 singles and albums!!
We’ll start with the albums chart:
1) “E=MC2” Mariah Carey
2) “Spirit” Leona Lewis
3) “Flight of the Concords” Flight of the Concords
4) “Bittersweet World” Ashlee Simpson
5) “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold” Atmosphere
6) “Now That’s What I Call Music 27” Various Artists
7) “Juno” Soundtrack
8) “Troubadour” George Strait
9) “Taylor Swift” Taylor Swift
10) “Prayer of a Common Man” Phil Vassar
11) “Best of Both Worlds Concert” Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
12) “Alvin & The Chipmunks” Soundtrack
13) “Sunset Man” James Otto
14) “Sleep Through The Static” Jack Johnson
15) “Trilla” Rick Ross
16) “Lady Antebellum” Lady Antebellum
17) “Accelerate” R.E.M.
18) “The Black Swan” Story of the Year
19) “Call Me Irresponsible” Michael Buble
20) “Jordin Sparks” Jordin SparksTop 20 Singles:
1) “Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis
2) “Lollipop” Lil’ Wayne feat. Static Major
3) “No Air” Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown
4) “4 Minutes” Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
5) “Love in This Club” Usher feat. Young Jeezy
6) “Sexy Can I” Ray J. feat. Yung Berg
7) “Touch My Body” Mariah Carey
8) “Love Song” Sara Bareilles
9) “Forever” Chris Brown
10) “With You” Chris Brown
11) “Low” Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain
12) “See You Again” Miley Cyrus
13) “Say” John Mayer
14) “Leavin’” Jesse McCartney
15) “Damaged” Danity Kane
16) “Don’t Stop The Music” Rihanna
17) “Stop & Stare” OneRepublic
18) “The Boss” Rick Ross feat. T-Pain
19) “Pocketful of Sunshine” Natasha Bedingfield
20) “What You Got” Colby O’ Donis feat. Akon*Nope, I don’t know who Colby O’ Donis is either. But…his song features Akon, so I also really don’t care who he is. But here’s his video in case you’re interested.
*Chris Brown has three songs in this week’s Top 10. Is it safe to say Chris Breezy is going to be the 2008 version of T-Pain?
*One thing I neglected to mention last week (and thanks to Joel Whitburn’s Chart Beat Chat column for making me aware of this), is that Static Major, who guests on Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” (down 1 spot to #2 this week), is the seventh artist to hit #1 on the singles chart posthumously, following Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Jim Croce, The Notorious B.I.G. and Soulja Slim. Static, who was better known as a songwriter (Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” and “Try Again”) was also 1/3 of the singing group Playa, who had a hit with “Cheers 2 U” a decade or so ago.
*Jesse McCartney becomes the latest former boy-bander to achieve chart salvation. Not only is he new in the Top 20 with “Leavin”‘” (which auomatically becomes his highest charting single), but he also has a co-write on the #1 single, Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love”. Not bad for the kid who was the lead singer of D-list boy band Dream Street.
*Latest annoying song to finally get the chart boot: “Apologize” by Timbaland & OneRepublic.
*How weird was it to see Madonna on “106 & Park” this week? Particularly in light of her work with Justin Timberlake, who has unofficially been banned from the network in light of his participation in “Nipplegate”?
*Finally, a big shout to the duo of Atmosphere, who score one of the surprise debuts of the year (with one of the best album titles of the year, too!!). Definitely a good look for indie/backpacker rap!!
