No need to front like you haven’t been doing the ‘Gangnam Style’ routine down the supermarket aisle.
This has been a good week for K-pop icon PSY, Amelia Lily, Taylor Swift and Pet Shop Boys.
Kelis
Chart Feed – 29.08.11
Gotye has done it again, y’all. Another week another first for the Aussie indie pop darling, who scored his first #1 album ever with Making Mirrors. The record sold over 35,000 copies which according to the ARIAs is the biggest opening week sales we’ve seen this year in Australia. Over on the singles side, Gotye and Kimbra‘s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ remains at #1 – registering a 20% sales bump this week, making it the biggest weekly singles sales our country has seen since Christmas 2004 when Anthony Callea‘s ‘The Prayer’ peaked. Golf claps all around for Gotye, really. This is a massive feat. In fact, the last time we had an Australian artist simultaneously lick the top of both charts was in 2007 with Silverchair‘s last album.
Check out one of Gotye‘s new album highlights ‘I Feel Better’:
Jack Vidgen may have flopped on the singles chart but he’s proving to be a capable album seller. The Australia’s Got Talent crown snatcher debuts at #3 with Yes I Am this week, making it the second biggest new record on the shelves. Scratch the divas – who run the charts? Talent show boys.
Will Young – Pop Idol legend and the new queen of lush dance/pop – saw his fourth album Echoes debut at #1 in the UK this week while the project’s lead single ‘Jealousy’ enters at #5. The man has had a pretty flawless nine year run so far with every album he’s put out going either #1 or #2 in the UK. The brand new Richard X-hemmed record is utterly career-defining and needless to say, it’s already in Feed Limmy’s Top 10 Albums of 2011 shortlist. Will’s The Hits compilation returns to the UK Top 100 this week at #56. Would you like to see a pretty graph representing Will’s chart success? ‘Course you do.
Joe McElderry – X Factor winner circa 2009 and future boo of David Lim – makes a bona fide chart comeback this week with his album of covers Classic entering at #3 in the UK. Look, in the two years he’s been in the game the lad has suffered his share of chart setbacks which saw him promptly dropped by Simon Cowell‘s Syco label. The Popstar to Operastar win truly was a turning point for him and regardless of how cheesy you think a soapy album of ballads might be, I just appreciate my future boo for doing whatever he can to bring home bacon.
Josh Pyke‘s third studio album Only Sparrows debuts at #4 here this week. He is not a talent show boy. Sorry to break the flow like this. The Australian strummy la la artist recently featured on local rapper 360‘s single ‘Throw It Away’, which was actually super amazing.
Check out 360 and Josh‘s video, which doesn’t actually feature Josh on film but it seemed like a nice segue anyway:
British dub step sensation Nero debuts at #12 here this week with Welcome Reality, which topped the UK charts last week. Over in the UK, the album slips to #8 while its chart-topping single ‘Promises’ dips to #13.
Jessica Mauboy‘s Get ‘Em Girls tumbles to #17 this week after its triumphant resurrection last week, thanks to the deluxe edition repackaging. Her fluorescent new single ‘Inescapable’ is still the most played song on Brisbane radios this week, while it holds tight to its Top 5 placement on the ARIA charts. Speaking of radio, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera‘s ‘Moves Like Jagger’ is still the most played song on Australian radios but it looks like it faces a fair challenge toppling Gotye and Kimbra on the singles chart.
Jason Derulo‘s insufferable new single ‘It Girl’ takes a massive leap to #3 on the ARIA charts this week, no doubt thanks to some overwhelming radio support. ‘It Girl’ was the most played song on Sydney airwaves in the last week. Elsewhere, looks like the rest of the nation’s following in Sydney radios’ footsteps by bumping more Calvin Harris and Kelis. The pair’s single ‘Bounce’ – which was the #1 most played song on Sydney airwaves two weeks ago – finally cracks the ARIA singles Top 10 this week.
Calvin’s follow up single ‘Feel So Close’ debuts at #2 in the UK this week and it was promptly despatched to Aussie radios last week. This is what the video looks like:
Cobra Starship and Sabi‘s ‘You Make Me Feel’ cracks the Top 20 in Australia – just barely. Fun fact: 20 out of 50 songs in our ARIA Top 50 this week have a feature artist involved. Some tracks even have more than one feature artists involved. Orgy.
Lady Gaga‘s ‘Yoü and I’ is on the edge of Top 20 glory [Editor’s note: Major eye roll at your shitty puns, Limmy] leaping from #34 to #21 here this week. Over in the UK, the single shoots from #187 to #70.
David Guetta and Jennifer Hudson‘s ‘Night of Your Life’ debuts at #37 in Australia this week. Judging by the success of the digital promo singles – hello, the Sia collabo ‘Titanium’ is Top 10 for the second week running – I reckon the album should have no problems securing a Top 5 entry. Heck, Top 3 even – let’s be generous. It should come close to touching Gotye and Adele‘s stratosphere. Guetta/Hudson‘s ‘Night of Your Life’ debuts at #35 in the UK while its predecessor ‘Titanium’ sinks to #53. Looking on the British dance charts – Guetta has five current hits in the Top 20, including Snoop Dogg‘s ‘Wet’ which he produced and conveniently placed on his Nothing But The Beat album.
Shannon Noll‘s ‘Switch Me On’ finally enters our Top 50 at #45 this week – thanks to some concentrated radio support up north. The song may not be in the national Top 10 most played but it’s still the #1 song on Gold Coast radios.
The Wanted makes a surprise breakthrough this week with ‘Glad You Came’ peaking at #50 in Australia. That’s superb effort, boys. No promo yet – just rising on the good old hype rolling off the interwebs. The pop quintet is scheduled to head out here next month for their first promo trip. What do I have to do to secure an interview with these lads?
Olly Murs‘ summery new single ‘Heart Skips A Beat’ finally arrives and effortlessly tops the UK charts this week. It managed to sell over 109,000 copies to become his second chart topper to date. While the second album’s still underway, Olly’s self-titled debut starts moving back up the charts to #32. Elsewhere, speaking of exciting new entries – Florence + The Machine‘s new single ‘What The Water Gave Me’ breaks out at #24 this week in the UK. It didn’t even make the Top 40 of our Aussie digital charts. How rude.
Jessie J makes her fourth consecutive UK Top 20 entry this week with ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ rising to #16. Meanwhile, Nicole Scherzinger‘s struggling a bit to get everyone moist with her new single ‘Wet’. The song keeps lurking outside the Top 20 and you’d think with the desperate reduced download price on iTunes last week, the track would make its way up but no – it flounders a little to #25.
Barbra Streisand‘s new album of covers What Matters Most debuts at #7 in the UK this week. Can you imagine the hoard of old queens bum rushing in store to pick up this new Babz collection? What Matters Most is no garden variety collection of random rose-coloured ballads – it’s a very specific crop of Alan Bergman and Margaret Bergman covers. The pair are legendary American songwriters who penned classics like ‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ and Babz’s Yentl classic ‘Papa, Can You Hear Me?’.
Vengaboys‘ Greatest Hits debuts at #18 on the UK dance charts this week. Why hasn’t there been a big talk-up and promo about this? Where’s the dubious cover art a la Steps‘ Ultimate Collection? Well, the answer’s quite simple. Vengaboys‘ Greatest Hits is merely a laissez-faire iTunes compilation thrown together in the last minute to coincide with their reunion tour – and of course, it features the anthems ‘Boom Boom Boom Boom’, ‘We Like To Party’ and ‘We’re Going To Ibiza’. My fellow Aussie bunnies, the Vengabus is pulling up Down Under in January. This is not a test.
Kelly Rowland‘s fabulosity on one of Britain’s highest rating shows is doing shit all for her own album sales. The sassy new X Factor judge has had to endure some painful Beyoncé covers in the line of duty but where Bey effortlessly keeps selling 4 through the roof, Kelendria’s Here I Am falls out of the UK urban Top 30. There hasn’t been a stitch of promo done for the American edition of Here I Am as yet and it understandably hasn’t even cracked the UK Top 100. Meanwhile, Destiny’s Child‘s #1’s compilation moves up to #28 on the UK urban charts. I mean, shit. Even Tulisa‘s shifting sales. N Dubz‘s 2009 album Against All Odds re-enters the British urban charts at #33.
Watch Kelly Rowland have a brief chinwag about the X Factor at an X Factor event:
Kelly‘s second single ‘Lay It On Me’ (featuring Big Sean) is finally moving. It debuted at #88 on the US R&B/Hip Hop charts while the unshakable ‘Motivation’ still holds tight to #2. R&B producer Rico Love – who did the bulk of Here I Am – revealed last week that he’s already back in the studio putting together her next album, which will be due in the North American spring with a new single to boot then. Huh? Let me get this straight – there’s a UK edition of Here I Am arriving in November with new material and then there’s another album arriving for the US crowd four months later? Gurl. Talk about building your empire when Beyoncé’s busy building a crib. And I don’t mean “crib” in the urban parlance.
Lil Wayne and Drake‘s new single ‘She Will’ debuts at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 – making it the highest selling new entry of the week. Mate, do you have any idea how hard it is to debut in the Top 20 let alone the Top 3? But of course, for a star of Wayne’s magnitude – you wouldn’t expect any less. The hip hop star’s releasing his newest album Tha Carter IV straight to digital outlets after the VMA’s today. Expect for it to shutdown charts etc.
Nicole Scherzinger‘s ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ debuts at #86 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single has already snatched trophies on the European and Australian charts before it was drafted for the States. It’s really heartening to see that the excitement’s still there despite it hardly being a revelation for anyone with internet access in the last eight months. It’s a fantastic single and where ‘Right There’ paved the way for Nicole, this’ll be the number she’ll be remembered for.
Natalia Kills‘ superb debut Perfectionist enters the US dance/electronic chart at #6 and US Billboard 200 at #134 – a breakthrough that’s been a long-time coming for the English singer/songwriter who has been building her underground fan base for years. The fabulous new single ‘Free’ (featuring will.i.am) has yet to go mainstream but really, it’s got all the makings of a pop anthem. There is no reason why she can’t have global success with this one.
See Natalia hustlin’ in France for your fives, tens and twenties:
Kylie Minogue ascends to #1 on the US dance/club play charts with ‘Put Your Hands Up’ – making it her fourth consecutive dance chart topper from the Aphrodite era. Will we ever see a music video for this? Somebody please inform. Further disco down, Leona Lewis/Avicii cracks the Top 20 with ‘Collide’ – her first American dance hit. The single was just submitted to Australian radios this week. She recently announced that her forthcoming third studio album will be titled Glass Heart.
Gloria Estefan‘s comeback single ‘Wepa’ finally cracks the US dance/club charts at #37. Last week, the Latina diva unveiled a new R3hab remix of the track featuring Pitbull and it absolutely slays. Ain’t nothing wrong with the original Pharrell version but this one just feels more club-ready, fulfilling Mama Estefan’s wishes to really return to her dance roots.
Take a listen to the new Pitbull remix of ‘Wepa’ here:
Jessica Sutta‘s flawless new single ‘Show Me’ debuts at #39 on the US dance charts. The ex-Pussycat Doll recently revealed that her debut album Sutta Pop [mega cringe] will be released through Hollywood Records in May. If the material she’s purveying is more proper European pop quality along the lines of ‘Show Me’ and less reflective of the disgusting title, then we’re in luck. ‘Show Me’ was produced by Busbee, who co-wrote Alexandra Burke‘s ‘Bad Boys’ and last year’s Aussie X Factor winner Altiyan Child‘s ‘Somewhere In The World’.
How good is this? In response to the overwhelming demand and crossover for K-pop music in America, Billboard.com has launched their own Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart. It joins a family of other international Billboard charts like the Japan Hot 100, UK Albums/Songs, Canadian Albums/Songs and German Songs/Albums.
On Thursday’s inaugural K-Pop Hot 100 – Sistar scores a #1 single with ‘So Cool’ leading the pack of other notable mentions like 2NE1‘s splendid ‘Ugly’ (#3), T-ara‘s long-reigning ‘Roly Poly’ (#4), Miss A‘s catchy ‘Goodbye Baby’ (#5) and Super Junior‘s ‘Mr Simple’ (#7). I pretty much exclusively stan for 2NE1 and T-ara right now so anything they do is bound to be newsworthy around here.
Chart Feed – 01.08.11
We’re getting a clearer picture of Amy Winehouse‘s posthumous chart impact this week with her massive Back to Black album leading the race back to the top after news dropped of her tragic passing two Saturdays ago. Over in the UK Back to Black ascends to #1 after reappearing at #58 last week (off the back of a full day’s sales resurgence) while its predecessor Frank carves a new peak of #5, bettering its initial peak of #13 back in 2004. On the singles chart, the appropriately sombre ‘Back to Black’ became her biggest seller, reaching #8. Others fall in line accordingly: ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ (#27), ‘Rehab’ (#29), ‘Love Is A Losing Game’ (#33), ‘You Know I’m No Good’ (#37), ‘Valerie’ (#41) and ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’ (#62) – the latter being a cover of The Shirelles‘ 1960 hit which Amy did for the Bridget Jones 2 soundtrack.
Check out her classic ‘Back to Black’ video:
Here in Australia, Back to Black soars to #6 on the ARIA album charts while the value pack combo Frank/Back to Black charts for the first time at #18. Even Frank, which was predominantly slept on here, became an overnight commercial success – debuting at #23. Over on the singles chart, ‘Rehab’ returns at #27 and ‘Valerie’ reaches a new peak of #34. Back to Black re-entered the US Billboard album chart at #9 last Wednesday – expect for a higher placement when this week’s chart is revealed.
Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera‘s ‘Moves Like Jagger’ is blowing up big time in Australia. The single climbs to #2 this week, sitting a rank below Adele‘s ‘Someone Like You’. Any hopes of mounting and riding Adelegend‘s titan hit should be quashed because if ‘The Edge of Glory’ couldn’t do it off the back of some generous promo then Adam et al should just pop the champagne now and be happy with this surprise success.
Speaking of surprise hits, Gotye and Kimbra‘s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ continues its meteoric rise to #5 on the ARIA singles chart this week – now bearing a shiny gold certification badge. Gotye‘s forthcoming album Making Mirrors is set to drop on 19 August while Kimbra‘s long awaited debut album Vows will be released first in New Zealand at the end of this month before arriving in Australia early September.
Calvin Harris and Kelis‘ ‘Bounce’ leaps #1 on the Australian club charts and to #16 on the ARIA singles chart this week, making it the lanky Scottish producer’s first Top 20 commercial hit Down Under since his Dizzee Rascal collabo ‘Dance Wiv Me’ three years ago. As for Kelis, she hasn’t been seen around the upper echelons of the ARIA charts since ‘Bossy’ turned up at #18 five years ago. Y’all remember when her spunky Kelis Was Here album track ‘I Don’t Think So’ suddenly became a hit off the back of our Australian Big Brother series? The track managed to peak at #27 in 2008.
Watch Calvin Harris‘ ‘Bounce’ music video:
Jessica Mauboy‘s joyous new single ‘Inescapable’ debuts at #20 in Australia this week. I see a lot of nervous grins around the room. OK, it’s a pretty decent effort given that she hasn’t started proper promo yet. How many songs do you see debuting straight in the ARIA Top 20 these days anyway? Not to cover her arse or anything but I honestly think it has sold pretty well based on strong radio additions and her eager fan base. J. Mally performed ‘Inescapable’ for the first time last week at the 9th Annual Astra Awards [see: award show irrelevant to poor peasants who can’t afford cable TV].
The young diva is currently rehearsing for her next film project The Sapphires, in which she’ll play a member of an Aboriginal girl group who flies to Vietnam to entertain the Aussie troops. The film should be a nice period film set in the late 60s and will also star the amazing Deborah Mailman. This movie is said to be the next Priscilla. Pretty big call, y’guys – have these ladies got the sequins and feathers to back up the talk?
Pitbull and Marc Anthony‘s ‘Rain on Me’ leaps to #24 on our charts this week. Honestly, y’all need to stop with those jokes of J.Lo dumping Marc’s bony ass because he was too busy asking Pitbull to rain on him. It’s not funny. In fact, it sickens me every time somebody makes a Marc Anthony sex joke. I can’t believe J.Lo ever opened her woohoo to that. Seriously, unless Marc’s penis was a nozzle hooked up to the fountain of youth, I don’t see why Glam Ma Lopez needs to bother herself with this shit. Meanwhile her third Love? single ‘Papi’ is already impacting Australian radios and it’s kinda sad that she has no papi to dance for.
The Living End marvels with a surprisingly hopeful title here: The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating. The album became the highest selling new record on the block this week, debuting at #3 in Australia – understandably behind mega sellers like Adele‘s 21 and Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way.
Pnau is back with a new album Soft Universe, which debuted at #13. I am previewing the tracks on iTunes right now, secretly hoping for a Wynter Gordon appearance. You guys know that they did her timeless future single ‘Still Getting Younger’, right? Honestly, they need to create a record together. It can be a nifty little side project for Wynter like what Fatty Gets A Stylist is to Kate Miller-Heidke.
Check out Pnau‘s ‘Solid Ground’ music video, taken from the aforementioned new album:
Cold Chisel is sledgehammering through our ARIA charts in a real way this week, why? Their massive back catalogue finally got a digital release and tickets for their new tour is going on sale this Thursday. The nation is positively buzzing with red blooded patriotism and I bet you right now, there’s a lot of air guitar action happening in Holden utes to the sound of ‘Khe Sahn’. Jimmy Barnes has confirmed that there is a brand new Cold Chisel album in the works now, slated for a 2012 release. Meanwhile, let’s check the Chisel damage on the Top 50 this week: the five time platinum hit album East re-enters at #19, The Last Stand at #39, Swingshift at #42, and Circus Animals at #46. The aforementioned classic ‘Khe Sahn’ re-enters at #40 on our singles chart.
Shannon Noll‘s comeback single ‘Switch Me On’ debuts at #16 on our ARIA Australian chart this week. The video, which was shot in Tokyo, got its exclusive premiere on Channel 10 tonight and it should be hitting his official Vevo page soon. Elsewhere, speaking of Aussies, our own teen pop idol Cody Simpson sees his new single ‘All Day’ debut down at #17.
Nicola Roberts‘ utterly bonkers ‘Beat of My Drum’ is well and truly bowing out now, y’guys. Can we please be upstanding as it makes its quiet and dignified exit? The poor thing never did better its debut of #27 despite all the promo and TV appearances Ginge did. ‘Beat of My Drum’ tumbles from #59 to #84 this week. But as the sun sets on the ‘Beat…’, it rises on a new and rather ‘Lucky Day’ [Editor’s note: how long did you work on that one, Limmy?].
Check out the official preview of Nicola’s second single ‘Lucky Day’ – co-written with The Dragonettes. It’s scheduled to be released on 18 September, a week before the album drops in the UK:
JLS featuring Dev‘s insipid new single ‘She Makes Me Wanna’ soars to the top of the UK charts this week, dislodging fellow British boyband The Wanted‘s ‘Glad You Came’. This is the top-selling X Factor alumni’s fifth UK #1 hit and their first track with global hitmaker RedOne. The forthcoming third studio album is lined up for a November release, unsurprisingly so during X Factor peak season.
Kelly Rowland‘s Here I Am album has started charting at #16 on the UK R&B charts and #38 on the digital charts. I expect for it to take off in a real way when the physical copies appear in stores next week and hopefully by then Kelly can slot in some promo for her UK market. But surely you can recognise that this entry is not a bad effort at all given that she has focused all her efforts on America in the last few weeks. Here I Am is slated to sell approximately 75,000 first week copies to debut at #2 in the States this coming Wednesday. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed for Kelendria. Here in Australia, Here I Am is currently situated at #10 on our iTunes R&B/Soul charts and #116 on the overall albums chart.
Joss Stone‘s LP1 enters at #22 on the UK digital charts and #36 on the overall albums chart this week, which is a pretty sound effort for an independent record – don’t you reckon? I feel like while soul is definitely the sound of the world right now – judging by Adele‘s ubiquity – the masses have kinda fallen out of touch with Joss. It’s a shame because the bitch is still turning out amazingly timeless records. Elsewhere, Dionne Bromfield – the late Amy Winehouse‘s god daughter – sees her debut album Good For The Soul rise to #73 in the UK this week.
Beyonce is catching up to Kelly over on the US Billboard Hot 100, y’all. ‘Best Thing I Never Had’ finally cracks the Top 20 to be placed at #19 while Kelendria’s ‘Motivation’ makes a new peak of #17. When was the last time we saw these two children of Destiny play together in the US Top 20? Seriously, somebody go research. Well, it’s really not that much of a brainteaser, y’guys, given that Kelly hasn’t had a solo Top 20 smash since ‘Dilemma’. *Clutches pearls and cues canned laughter* Beysus is set to outrank her sister this coming week after some top notch promotional appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The View.
Check out her stellar performance with The Roots on Jimmy Fallon here:
Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s new single ‘Otis’ debuts at #15 US R&B/Hip Hop charts and #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Is everyone just kinda holding back because the album drop date is so close anyway? I get that feeling. Watch The Throne is currently charting at #9 on the Australian iTunes chart where it’s still currently down for pre-orders. Expect it to drop at 2pm next Monday nationally on iTunes.
Demi Levato‘s ‘Skyscraper’ had everyone fangurling when it dropped a few weeks ago but what’s going on now? After it made a flash debut at #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #10, it tumbled to #51 the following week. Interestingly enough, Toby Gad (hit maker behind Fergie‘s ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’), Kerli and Lindy Robbins originally penned the track for Kerli’s sophomore album. Wonder what it would’ve sounded like if the Estonian dance/pop diva had turned it out.
Meanwhile, fellow Disney teen pop sensation Selena Gomez & The Scene‘s new single ‘Love You Like A Love Song’ slips to #44 but I don’t expect for this track to be done just yet as the girl is still touring the country. There’s always hope for better sales when you’re on the road – well, one should hope anyway.
My current K-pop obsession – 2NE1 – scores a surprise global smash with their newly released 2nd Mini Album. The solid six-track EP featuring the ferocious ‘I Am The Best’ and latest anthem ‘Ugly’ managed to climb to #2 on the iTunes electronic albums chart in the US and Italy shortly after it dropped. It also made Top 5 in Australia, New Zealand and Belgium [via The Prophet Blog]. How utterly fantastic is that for a Korean-language record that is only currently getting promoted in their home land? If this is not evidence that K-pop is going global then I don’t know what is. Y’all better be ready for that international record when these bad bitches step out with will.i.am!
Do yourselves a favour and check out 2NE1‘s brilliant new video ‘Ugly’:
Quick peek at the US dance/club play charts – Swedish House Mafia‘s ‘Save The World’ rises to #1, Lady Gaga‘s ‘The Edge of Glory’ moves up to #3, Wynter Gordon‘s ‘Til Death’ remains at #4 and Kylie‘s ‘Put Your Hands Up’ leaps to #6.
Side bar: do you think there’ll be any ‘You and I’ remixes serviced to the clubs? I kinda want Ms Germanotta to keep this one as an adult contemporary/pop fave. You know, just for once, can we not have a Gaga single jacked up for the dance floor? I don’t usually object but I feel strongly about the spirit of this song and I would’ve said the same thing if ‘Speechless’ from The Fame Monster had been drafted for release.
Leak Report: Calvin Harris feat. Kelis ‘Bounce’
Y’guys are still anticipating for more Calvin Harris, right? Good.
Here’s a listen of his new single ‘Bounce’ featuring urban-dance crossover champ Kelis.
It’s good to hear that Harris hasn’t desperately thrown himself out on some trend-bucking rampage. He’s doing him and all the signature elements are still very much in place: think minimalist electro pop beats built to support lightweight melodies and an ever-present fluorescent synth line.
I was just walking around the city, pounding the pavement to Kelis‘ defining Flesh Tone album the other day. I’ve got big appreciation for her vocal tone. Kelis will always sound like Kelis no matter what genre she’s slaying and I’m loving the way she carries the melody on ‘Bounce’.
Take a listen to the track here as uploaded by Calvin after its Radio 1 premiere:
Feed Limmy verdict: Bounce snap (sorry, it was too good to pass up).
Mighty snap = this is a hit.
Bounce snap = instantly likeable.
Lightbulb snap = you will need a moment to get into this.
Nonchalant snap = need I say more?
No snap = please cease and decease.
Footnotes:
OK, thoughts? More info re: ‘Bounce’ release and remixes should surface soon.
Feed Limmy Albums of 2010: #10 – #1
Yet another annual passes by without any sign of a Holly Valance or Sophie Monk comeback. How do I live? Seriously.
I guess these ten will have to do.
Hark! The final chapter in Feed Limmy‘s massive Top 30 Songs and Albums of 2010: here are the records that have been on repeat – amazed me, taken me on a journey, and had me grooving and miming badly in my car.
Here’s my ten for 2010:
#10 – Aphrodite by Kylie Minogue
Goddess MinMin crafts her most cohesive album since Fever. But where Aphrodite lacks in standout tracks, it makes up for in euphoria and Mykonos pop. You love it.
Key tracks: ‘All The Lovers’, ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Mighty Rivers’ and ‘Better Than Today’.
#9 – Progress by Take That
It takes an almighty manband like Take That to define 21st century boyband pop for us. Yet another glorious Stuart Price-helmed LP soundtracking my year.
Key tracks: ‘The Flood’, ‘SOS’ and ‘Kidz’.
#8 – Ten by Gabriella Cilmi
This nouveau disco affair wasn’t an immediate record for me but it endeared with every listen. It was refreshing to hear Gabi‘s soulful tone manoeuvre in a falsetto style.
Key tracks: ‘Love Me Cos You Want To’, ‘Robots’, ‘Hearts Don’t Lie’ and ‘On A Mission’.
#7 – Bionic by Christina Aguilera
Snortcackle all you like at this cough drop of a flop but sonically, experimental Xtina worked for me. A nod to the Sia ballads and left-of-centre tracks courtesy of M.I.A. and Ladytron.
Key tracks: ‘Lift Me Up’, ‘I Am’, ‘Elastic Love’ and ‘Woohoo’.
#6 – Night Work by Scissor Sisters
An insatiably camp and dark Sodom and Gomorrah affair.
Key tracks: ‘Invisible Light’, ‘Night Work’ and ‘Any Which Way’.
#5 – The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae
One of my favourite concept albums of all time. Janelle Monae is a game changer.
Key tracks: ‘Tightrope’, ‘Cold War’, ‘Dance or Die’ and ‘BabopbyYa’.
#4 – Sweeter Side by Erika Heynatz
Endearing with its personal lyrics and effortless delivery. The real revelation is Erika‘s gorgeous vocal tone complemented by the stripped back production.
Key tracks: ‘The Best’, ‘Holding On’ and ‘Sweeter Side’.
#3 – Flesh Tone by Kelis
A concise, personal and potent collection of futuristic electro dance. Complete rabbit-out-of-the-hat moment for the urban artiste.
Key tracks: ‘Brave’, ‘Home’, ‘4th of July’ and ‘Acapella’.
#2 – We Are Born by Sia
The unabashed Crayola pop record our Aussie songbird has always wanted to make. An utterly flawless body of work: hook-intensive, soulful and colourful. Everything a big pop album should be.
Key tracks: ‘Clap Your Hands’, ‘Be Good To Me’, ‘Bring Night’ and ‘Hurting Me Now’.
#1 – Body Talk by Robyn
A colossal modern day dance anthology from the most important pop communicator of present time. Energy, angst, restlessness and brokenness fused to an icy, futuristic electro pop backdrop.
Key tracks: ‘Dancing On My Own’, ‘Hang With Me’, ‘Indestructible’ and ‘Fembot’.
Footnotes:
Inspect the full listing of Feed Limmy‘s Songs and Albums of 2010. What would you add to the round up?
Robyn Touring Australia In February
Just when I thought I’ve settled it with a hair flick of disdain, Robyn tells us she’ll be heading to Australia in just three months and teases the possibility of a joint tour with Kelis.
The Swedish pop purveyor pulled out of her Stereosonic and December Aussie dates due to “scheduling conflicts” but told The Music Network that she’ll return in February, coincidentally when Kelis will be in town for Good Vibrations.
The pair had previously hooked up for a joint All Hearts tour of the UK and US this year but Robyn tells TMN nothing’s been set for the Aussies yet.
As for the ditch – mind you, she’ll be touring the States next month when she should be here – Robyn explains, “it’s such a fucking shame, I love the Australian audience so it felt super important, but this time it has been a little slow over there, and there have been a few other things going on, so I’ve had to prioritise a little bit.”
In short, she’s punishing us.
Footnote:
Body Talk – the mega anthology finale – hits stores here on 26 November. ‘Indestructible’ will be serviced to Australian radio next Monday. Fingers crossed for a decent pick up. It’s too good to fall only on selected ears.
Kelis ‘Scream’ Music Video
Ring the alarm! For our fearless leader has returned with a new music video.
Compared to the visual drama of her last two videos, ‘Scream’ looks like a Grace Jones project filmed on a budget collected from Ameriie‘s hairdresser tip jar.
Having said that this promo does have its moments and by moments I mean, what-kinda-“couture”-fuckery-are-you-wearing? moments.
Here are three moments in Kelis‘s ‘Scream’ video:
1) The Flesh Suit.
This puts Gaga‘s meat purse ‘n’ bikini combo into perspective. Really.
2) The Head Massager.
I know what I’ll be rocking at this year’s Remedial Therapy Society Ball.
3) Hair Extensions for Shoulder Capes.
Bizarre, yes. But so bonkers it’s actually brilliant.
Footnotes:
‘Scream’ is the third international single lifted from Kelis‘s Flesh Tone album. Keep an ear out for the fourth (third, if you’re in the US) single ‘Brave’. Now that one’s real a corker.
UPDATE:
Slip on them red and blue shades for the 3D version of ‘Scream’.
Feed Limmy 