HIT & MISS

HIT

It will be interesting to see how they edit this for radio, but this will smash, regardless. Even if radio is a little reluctant to play it at first, this will be a big iTunes hit. I love the feel good sound contrasted with the angry lyrics. Its already logged over 1.4 million hits on YouTube in just a couple of days, so things are definitely looking good for “Fuck You”. Cee-Lo always comes up with a unique, but radio friendly sound, and it looks like he is going to score his first hit since “Crazy” with this one!

MISS

I really like Natasha and I think she has a great voice, but this song just isn’t doing it for me. While Ryan Tedder has been changing his sound up lately (Check Sky Ferreira’s “Obsession” and BC Jean’s “Just a Guy”), this is a mediocre rehash of his typical mid-tempo production. While it has an inspirational theme similar to “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine”, it’s not nearly as catchy or anthemic. I’m reluctant to call this a “miss” since it will most definitely outperform (the superior) “Touch” and could even be a moderate hit, it’s one of my least favorite Natasha singles.

VMAS 2000-2009

With a new decade of Video Music Awards approaching in less than a month, I think it’s time to look back at the best performances from the 2000s. Appropriately, I first tuned in to the VMAs in 2000, so these are my personal favorites from the past 10 years.

10. “Hips Don’t Lie”
Shakira
VMA 2006

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

This post was inspired by a topic I recently saw on a forum I frequent, where one poster hailed Max Martin as the godfather of modern pop. I can’t say I disagree. No producer has been able to both set and adapt to the trends and changes in pop music quite like Max Martin. He is responsible for iconic first singles (“…Baby One More Time”), career-reviving comeback tracks (“It’s My Life”), and songs that become instant classics (“Since U Been Gone”). Before I say anymore, take a look at these songs and try not to bust out the chorus to all, if not most, of them.

Backstreet Boys – “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)”, “I Want It That Way”
*NSYNC – “Tearin’ Up My Heart”
Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time”, “Oops!… I Did It Again”, “3”
Bon Jovi – “It’s My Life”
Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone”, “Behind These Hazel Eyes”, “My Life Would Suck Without You”
P!nk – “U + Ur Hand”, “Who Knew”, “So What”
Katy Perry – “I Kissed a Girl”, “Hot N Cold”

In addition to those tracks (which are only a select few from his huge catalog of hits), just this summer he had both Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream”, Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite”, and Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” dominating the airwaves. Max Martin successfully rode the wave of bubblegum teen pop, to infectious pop/rock, and is now responsible for some of the biggest electro-pop hits. Regardless of how the pop music is influenced, Max Martin is the quintessential pop producer and songwriter, creating the catchiest songs tailor-made for radio. Here’s to another decade of Martin produced hits!

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS

I’ve currently got my eye on two young, female singers: Sky Ferreria, 18, and Taylor Momsen, 17, of The Pretty Reckless. I think they will both be ones to watch this fall…

Let’s start with Sky. She released “17”, an underage ode to clubbing, as a teaser single this spring. While definitely not a pop hit, the video for this promo single certainly played up Sky’s Lolita-esque vibe. I have a feeling her age will play an important role in her marketing campaign, similar to Britney’s days as a naughty school girl in “…Baby One More Time”. Her first single in the UK, “One”, produced by Bloodshy & Avant, is perfect for the European market. With its highly stylized video and electro-pop vibe, it should do well on the charts. However, I don’t think it would do well in the US and her label seems to be on the same page. Last week, a clip of “Obsession”, Sky’s first proper American single, leaked. Not only is it her first non-numeric titled release, it sounds like a bonafide pop smash. Although it’s produced by Ryan Tedder, it (thankfully) doesn’t sound anything like a typical Ryan Tedder production. I don’t like to draw comparisons, but I will anyways. It sounds a bit like a hybrid of “Womanizer” and “Cooler Than Me”, and I’d be surprised if top 40 didn’t jump on it. She’s Miley Cyrus without the Disney sheen and a throwback to Britney’s jail bait days. What more could someone ask for?

Besides their age, Taylor Momsen and Sky Ferreira don’t have much in common. While I said Sky was like Miley without the Disney sheen, Taylor is more likely to set Disney World on fire (literally). While I heard about some of her “eccentric” interview responses before I actually listened to her music, I was impressed with what I finally heard. Looking beyond some of her kooky quotes, she actually has a great voice. She sounds much older and more mature than 17, and actually has a really interesting tone and quality. I was especially impressed with her acoustic version of “Just Tonight”, the only song on her album that I think has any legitimate chance of becoming a top 40 hit. I honestly don’t even know if a top 40 hit is something she’s vying for, but this could do the trick. (The 30-second album clip of “Just Tonight” sounds even better with fuller instrumentation.) While Taylor’s definitely seems a little out there, her voice and songs certainly speak for themselves. Even though a lot of her music is a little heavier than what I usually listen to, the songs are well written and some even border on legitimately catchy. She’s certainly not Cindy Lou Who anymore, that’s for sure!

…SHOULD BE MORE FAMOUS

Sometimes, I’m baffled as to how an artist didn’t make it big (or even score a legitimate hit). Jon McLaughlin is one of those artists. He’s a great singer, songwriter, pianist, and also has a great look. While his first album was a little dull, I really like quite a few tracks on his more pop-oriented sophomore effort. Check out both “Dance Your Life Away” and “Four Years”, two tracks which could have easily followed “Beating My Heart”. I honestly don’t know what he’s up to at the moment, but IDJ never really gave him the push he deserved. I feel like IDJ had two perfect package artists, Jessie James and Jon McLaughlin, but weren’t able to break either of them. What’s up with that?

SHOULDA, COULDA, WOULDA

This will be another recurring post, because a lot of great songs often go unreleased. For whatever reason, labels rarely choose singles wisely. Almost every album has that one song that should have been a single, but wasn’t. In Leona’s case, the label gave up on “Echo” after “Happy” underperformed and “I Got You” flopped. I personally like “Echo” more than “Spirit”, but unfortunately things didn’t get off to a great start with the first two singles and most people still only know Leona as the girl who sings “Bleeding Love”. While I can see why they were reluctant to release “Outta My Head” in the US, it would have undoubtedly been huge internationally. Leona needed a change of pace to reignite interest and this track could have definitely done the trick. I know it’s hard to turn things around after two unsuccessful singles, but I hate when labels (and artists) give up on an album after only a few months. There were definitely more singles on “Echo”, and “Outta My Head” could have been another pop hit for Leona. I guess she’ll just be singing “Bleeding Love” for a couple more years…

BREAKING & ENTERING

I rarely hear songs for the first time on the radio, but this was an exception. Although “If I Die Young” isn’t usually the sound I gravitate towards, there was something about the lyrics and Kimberly Perry’s vocal delivery that really made me stop and listen. I love that this song has a unique subject matter and I think the lyrics are actually very clever. I admit, I’m not one to pay too much attention to lyrics, but they really make this song. I think this will end up being a big hit for The Band Perry, relative newcomers to the country music scene. It is #34 on iTunes (#4 on country iTunes behind Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and Sugarland), which is very impressive for a new country act. I’ve also seen the songs lyrics on some Facebook statuses, which is a sure sign that it’s connecting. Could The Band Perry be the next big thing in country music?

TRACKLIST REMODELING

Putting together track lists and picking out singles should be a pretty easy task. However, record labels often screw this up and it can really derail an entire album era. While “Circus” was undoubtedly a successful comeback for Britney, a few things could have been tweaked to make it even better. Based on all the songs I’ve heard from “Circus”, here is how I would have complied the track list…

1. Circus (The first change is minor, but opening the album with “Circus” is a no-brainer. “Womanizer” and “Circus” should have been switched.)
2. Womanizer
3. If U Seek Amy
4. Kill the Lights (On the actual album, “Kill the Lights” follows “Out from Under”. This would have been fine, except “Kill the Lights” opens with, “Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music…” Seriously, did they not even listen to the track list in order?)
5. Unusual You
6. Amnesia (Both “Amnesia” and “Quicksand” deserved to be on the album. I’m surprised they cut both GaGa-penned tracks, especially since they were much better than some of the songs included. I honestly think they both could have made great 4th and 5th singles, too.)
7. Quicksand
8. Shattered Glass
9. Mannequin
10. Trouble
11. Phonography (While “Phonography” was included in the deluxe edition, it should have been on the album, along with “Trouble”. Neither of these songs would cut it as singles, but they certainly make better album tracks than “Blur”, “Mmm Papi”, or “Lace and Leather”.)
12. Out From Under (I would have closed the album with “Out From Under” instead of “My Baby”. I know “My Baby” is probably a very personal song for Britney, but it is pretty terrible. I just about die every time I hear, “I smell your breath/It makes me cry”. At least I get a good laugh at the end!)
13. Anything, but “Radar” again!

BRITISH INVASION

When I first saw Cheryl Cole (then Tweedy) in Girls Aloud’s “Sound of the Underground” video back in 2002, I knew she was a star. While she wasn’t the best singer in the group and was years away from becoming one of Great Britain’s “national treasures”, there was just something about her. Since then, I’ve been waiting for Cheryl to release something in the US. While I don’t think a group like Girls Aloud would work over here, I do think Cheryl could bring her successful solo career, as the Brits would say, “across the pond.”

Cheryl’s fame in the UK can be attributed to more things than just her music. Cheryl went from tabloid fodder, after being arrested for attacking a nightclub attendant in 2003, to media darling over the course of a few years for a couple of reasons. First, she married high-profile footballer Ashley Cole in 2006. While that was one step in the right direction, it was even better when Ashley Cole’s affairs were made public, and Cheryl won over the sympathy of the entire nation. Around the same time, Cheryl also became a judge on one of  England’s most popular shows, the X Factor. In order for Cheryl to have the same kind of success and coverage in America, she needs to break through with more than just her music.

Now that Cheryl is dating Derek Hough, I wouldn’t be surprised if she winds up on Dancing with the Stars. While this is usually has-been central, for someone who is virtually unknown in the United States, thirty million viewers a week isn’t bad. This could certainly help launch Cheryl as a popular figure, as well as a musician. Also, it could set her up for a spot on the US edition of the X Factor set to begin in the fall of 2011.

I know, I’ve barely talked about any of Cheryl’s actual music. That’s because, I don’t know if any of it would smash in the United States. Out of all the songs on her debut album, the only one I would even consider to release here is “Fight for This Love”. While it was a huge #1 in the UK, it was fueled by Cheryl’s media coverage and X Factor performance (check that out here)–two things she doesn’t have in America. However, based on the producers lined up for her second album, she’s going for a more Americanized sound, leading me to believe that Cheryl has her sights set on breaking the American market…

A GOOD WEEK FOR MUSIC VIDEOS

Good music videos either have to be aesthetically pleasing or tell a decent story. Most of the time, we get neither, leaving us to watch an artist lip-synch in front of a plain background for approximately three minutes. Because labels aren’t willing to shell out big bucks for music videos anymore, I’ve (unfortunately) gotten used to clips that look like they were filmed on a $5 budget. This week, I was pleasantly surprised by two music videos that both make sense and are aesthetically pleasing. While many people argue that music videos don’t matter, in my opinion, they are just as important as the song. I love when a music video looks like both time and money were spent on it. If you haven’t already, check out Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” (which has already logged over 14 million views on YouTube since Thursday) and Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue”.