twostepcub's music chart for February 10, 2012...

Hey everyone, it's time for my weekly rundown of my top 100 tunes of the past week. This week, Adele again takes over the top spot with her third consecutive single, while the Foo Fighters (pictured above) take their third-running single to the top-10. There are some big moves on this weeks chart, including the biggest by Jessie J, Gotye, and Rihanna, while former big hits by Anjulie, Jason Aldean, Seether, and Charlie Wilson drop out. Link-O-Rama is still in effect, so you can click on any of the highlighted artist names to go to their website. Honey Badger don't care!

This Week Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele (3)
2. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw (2)
3. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (1)
4. Levels - Avicii (5)
5. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys (7)
6. Paradise - Coldplay (4)
7. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (5)
8. All Your Life - The Band Perry (8)
9. Good Feeling - Flo Rida (10)
10. These Days - Foo Fighters (14)
11. Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene (15)
12. Cough Syrup -Young The Giant (12)
13. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars (13)
14. Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO (9)
15. You - Chris Young (16)
16. Without You - David Guetta f/Usher (11)
17. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine (21)
18. Hangover - Taio Cruz f/Flo Rida (22)
19. Domino - Jessie J (63)
20. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye f/Kimbra (44)
21. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson (17)
22. Heartbeat - The Fray (24)
23. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat (19)
24. Fool For You - Cee-Lo Green f/Melanie Fiona or Philip Bailey (20)
25. I Don't Want This Night To End - Luke Bryan (29)
26. Drink In My Hand - Eric Church (26)
27. Marry The Night - Lady GaGa (31)
28. Crawling Back To You - Daughtry (28)
29. Hotel Nacional - Gloria Estefan (37)
30. Lights - Ellie Goulding (34)
31. Face To The Floor - Chevelle (35)
32. Reality - Kenny Chesney (32)
33. Stay - Tyrese (33)
34. Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs (36)
35. Keep Me In Mind - The Zac Brown Band (18)
36. Called Out In The Dark - Snow Patrol (40)
37. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (42)
38. Turn Me On - David Guetta f/Nicki Minaj (52)
39. Titanium - David Guetta f/Sia (51)
40. The Sound Of Winter - Bush (30)
41. Too Much In Love - Chris Willis (27)
42. I'm Gonna Love You Through It - Martina McBride (43)
43. Someone Like You - Adele (23)
44. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes (46)
45. Walk - Foo Fighters (45)
46. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (48)
47. Let It Rain - David Nail f/Sarah Buxton (25)
48. When We Stand Together - Nickelback (38)
49. Monarchy Of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers (53)
50. If It Wasn't For Love - Deborah Cox (57)
51. Video Games - Lana Del Rey (56)
52. You Gonna Fly - Keith Urban (54)
53. Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon (39)
54. Love After War - Robin Thicke (60)
55. My Heart Can't Tell You No - Sara Evans (55)
56. Antidote - Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party (66)
57. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson (67)
58. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne (50)
59. Last Drag - Traci Lords (49)
60. Love On Top - Beyonce (64)
61. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine (41)
62. Camouflage - Brad Paisley (62)
63. Party People (Ignite The Night) - Erika Jayne (46)
64. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon5 f/Christina Aguilera (58)
65. You Da One - Rihanna (83)
66. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz (72)
67. Home - Dierks Bentley (69)
68. Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) - Lloyd f/Andre3000 & Lil Wayne (68)
69. Amen - Edens Edge (70)
70. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae f/New Boyz (71)
71. Love's Gonna Make It Alright - George Strait (73)
72. Let Me Be Myself - Rosabel f/Tamara Wallace (74)
73. Pass At Me - Timbaland f/Pitbull (75)
74. Fine By Me - Andy Grammer (78)
75. Aberdeen - Cage The Elephant (80)
76. Alone With You - Jake Owen (81)
77. Naughty Naughty - Porcelain Black (82)
78. Dance On - Blush (86)
79. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (59)
80. Drive By - Train (90)
81. Ours - Taylor Swift (87)
82. Be With You - Erasure (92)
83. Big In Japan - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (91)
84. Ai Se Eu Te Pego - Michel Telo (88)
85. Je L'aime A Mourir - Shakira (85)
86. The Walk - Mayer Hawthorne (95)
87. Mama Do The Hump - Rizzle Kicks (89)
88. Don't Stop (Color On The Walls) - Foster The People (DEBUT)
89. Waiting On You - Ultra Nate & Michelle Williams (DEBUT)
90. Dancing Away With My Heart - Lady Antebellum (DEBUT)
91. Drifting - Plumb f/Dan Haseltine (DEBUT)
92. Bait A Hook - Justin Moore (94)
93. After Midnight - Blink-182 (93)
94. Crazy Crazy - Guinevere (DEBUT)
95. Feel So Close - Calvin Harris (RE-ENTRY)
96. Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry (98)
97. Make Me Proud - Drake f/Nicki Minaj (DEBUT)
98. Heart On Fire - Scars On 45 (100)
99. My Heart Is Broken - Evanescence (99)
100. International Love - Pitbull f/Chris Brown (DEBUT)

There are seven new songs on my list this week, and here they are, along with a little about the artists, with links to their previous hits in orange.

The highest entry comes from California-based alt-rock trio Foster The People, who behind singer/songwriter Mark Foster carried an internet giveaway track to be the biggest viral modern rock hit of last year, "Pumped Up Kicks". That was followed by another top-10 rock hit "Helena Beat". For their third chart hit, which also is getting play at adult-pop radio, the trio filmed a 3D video starring Precious Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, who is apparently having the worst driving lesson ever on "Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)"...



The next song pairs two dance/R&B powerhouses as club legend Ultra Nate, who can boast seven #1 dance hits like "Found A Cure" and "Give It All You Got", with Michelle Williams, who as part of Destiny's Child had two #1 pop hits as well as a solo dance #1 with "The Greatest". The two pair up for the top-20 dance hit "Waiting For You"....



Country crossover trio Lady Antebellum are still cruising down my list with the hit "Just A Kiss", which just missed my top-10 year-end chart in 2011, while the second followup to that smash is debuting this week. It was initially released as a leadin to their Own The Night CD, and now has climbed into the country top-20. Here's "Dancin' Away With My Heart"...



Tiffany Arbuckle, who records under the moniker Plumb, has successfully straddled the fence between Christian rock and dance music, and her non-overbearing work has garnered her three top-5 dance hits, including the charttopper "Hang On" and top-3 "In My Arms". For her third, she recruits Jars Of Flood lead singer Dan Haseltine, who already has a top-40 hit of his own with his band's "Flood" from 1996, on the club jam "Drifting"...



Toronto singer Guinivere places her first song on the US dance charts with the seductive "Crazy Crazy"...



Another Toronto native, Drake has had five top-10 singles as a lead artist (the biggest being the #2 debut "Best I Ever Had" in 2009), his biggest hit so far has been his supporting role in ex-girlfriend Rihanna's #1 "What's My Name" last year. "Make Me Proud", his second big hit with rapper Nicki Minaj (after "Moment 4 Life"), is his 2nd #1 R&B hit (after "Best")...



The last debut is the ever-present Pitbull, whose been riding a streak of big dance singles, including "Give Me Everything", his #1 hit that's still on the Billboard top 50 chart almost a year after its debut. This time he's with Chris Brown, for a track that sports the most cheesiest low-rent video from a superstar I've seen in quite a while. Like "Friday" bad. Oh well, they have to pay for plane fare I guess for their "International Love"...

twostepcub's music chart for February 3, 2012...

Hey guys, sorry I've been away a week, but I'm back with my top-100 tunes from the last week. This week Rihanna spends a fourth week at the top, while Flo Rida (pictured above), puts Etta James' sample in the top 10 concurrently with a second tune (along with Avicii). Former big hits by Beyonce, The Script, and Rascal Flatts drop off my list, while tracks by The Swedish House Mafia, Blush, and Beyonce make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red). Link-O-Rama is still in effect, so you can click on any of the highlighted artist names to go to their website. Congrats, Giants!

This Week Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (1)
2. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw (3)
3. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele (5)
4. Paradise - Coldplay (2)
5. Levels - Avicii (9)
6. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (4)
7. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys (7)
8. All Your Life - The Band Perry (8)
9. Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO (6)
10. Good Feeling - Flo Rida (11)
11. Without You - David Guetta f/Usher (10)
12. Cough Syrup - Young The Giant (14)
13. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars (13)
14. These Days - Foo Fighters (22)
15. Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene (16)
16. You - Chris Young (21)
17. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson (15)
18. Keep Me In Mind - The Zac Brown Band (12)
19. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat (17)
20. Fool For You - Cee-Lo Green f/Melanie Fiona or Philip Bailey (20)
21. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine (28)
22. Hangover - Taio Cruz f/Flo Rida (26)
23. Someone Like You - Adele (18)
24. Heartbeat - The Fray (25)
25. Let It Rain - David Nail f/Sarah Buxton (19)
26. Drink In My Hand - Eric Church (30)
27. Too Much In Love - Chris Willis (27)
28. Crawling Back To You - Daughtry (23)
29. I Don't Want This Night To End - Luke Bryan (31)
30. The Sound Of Winter - Bush (24)
31. Marry The Night - Lady GaGa (36)
32. Reality - Kenny Chesney (34)
33. Stay - Tyrese (35)
34. Lights - Ellie Goulding (38)
35. Face To The Floor - Chevelle (39)
36. Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs (40)
37. Hotel Nacional - Gloria Estefan (42)
38. When We Stand Together - Nickelback (32)
39. Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon (29)
40. Called Out In The Dark - Snow Patrol (44)
41. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine (33)
42. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (46)
43. I'm Gonna Love You Through It - Martina McBride (45)
44. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye f/Kimbra (54)
45. Walk - Foo Fighters (43)
46. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes (50)
47. Party People (Ignite The Night) - Erika Jayne (37)
48. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (52)
49. Last Drag - Traci Lords (49)
50. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne (51)
51. Titanium - David Guetta f/Sia (61)
52. Turn Me On - David Guetta f/Nicki Minaj (62)
53. Monarchy Of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers (55)
54. You Gonna Fly - Keith Urban (58)
55. My Heart Can't Tell You No - Sara Evans (59)
56. Video Games - Lana Del Rey (60)
57. If It Wasn't For Love - Deborah Cox (64)
58. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon5 f/Christina Aguilera (48)
59. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (56)
60. Love After War - Robin Thicke (68)
61. Brand New Bitch - Anjulie (47)
62. Camouflage - Brad Paisley (66)
63. Domino - Jessie J (DEBUT)
64. Love On Top - Beyonce (76)
65. 1,000 Ships - Rachel Platten (65)
66. Antidote - Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party (82)
67. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson (DEBUT)
68. Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) - Lloyd f/Andre3000 & Lil Wayne (74)
69. Home - Dierks Bentley (71)
70. Amen - Edens Edge (70)
71. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae f/Hot Boyz (73)
72. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz (72)
73. Love's Gonna Make It Alright - George Strait (75)
74. Let Me Be Myself - Rosabel f/Tamara Wallace (80)
75. Pass At Me - Timbaland f/Pitbull (81)
76. Tattoos On This Town - Jason Aldean (53)
77. Tonight - Seether (67)
78. Fine By Me - Andy Grammer (88)
79. Life Of The Party - Charlie Wilson (78)
80. Aberdeen - Cage The Elephant (84)
81. Alone With You - Jake Owen (91)
82. Naughty Naughty - Porcelain Black (87)
83. You Da One - Rihanna (DEBUT)
84. Lotus Flower Bomb - Wale f/Miguel (86)
85. Je L'aime A Mourir - Shakira (89)
86. Dance On - Blush (100)
87. Ours - Taylor Swift (DEBUT)
88. Ai Se Eu Te Pego - Michel Telo (92)
89. Mama Do The Hump - Rizzle Kicks (99)
90. Drive By - Train (DEBUT)
91. Big In Japan - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (95)
92. Be With You - Erasure (DEBUT)
93. After Midnight - Blink-182 (93)
94. Bait A Hook - Justin Moore (94)
95. The Walk - Mayer Hawthorne (DEBUT)
96. Everybody Dance - Gravitonas vs. Roma Kenga (96)
97. Dark Horses - Switchfoot (83)
98. Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry (98)
99. My Heart Is Broken - Evanescence (DEBUT)
100. Heart On Fire - Scars On 45 (DEBUT)

There are nine new songs on my list this week, and here they are, along with a little about the artist, with links to their previous hits on video in orange...

The highest entry goes to English singer Jessie J, who crossed over big in the states with her former UK #1 hit "Price Tag". She scores her second British charttopper with a fun Katy-Perry-esque number that has become her first US Top 10 hit, "Domino"....



Next up is the singer who performed the National Anthem at last Sunday's Super Bowl, Kelly Clarkson, who this week claims her third US #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit (after debut "A Moment Like This" and 2009's "My Life Would Suck Without You") with the title song from her latest CD Stronger. Subtitled "What Doesn't Kill You", she's really trying to work my nerves, between her naively ignorant disregard for her large gay following with her support of Ron Paul, to more importantly the endless shilling of this song with whatever carmaker she's doing the commercial for with this song, making it more of an ad than music at times. Still, dammit, dammit dammit, it's Kelly Clarkson! Hence, debuting at a lofty #67...



Speaking of women who get on my nerves, the more I hear in the gossip, the more I'm convinced Rihanna's "We Found Love" is just a whackadoo love ode to Chris Brown. Complete with graphic video including a bleached-hair black guy (only this one being Irish), coupled with last year's #1 "S&M", makes it feel like we're all being toyed with, no? Anyways her latest is a reggae-thump toss-off with another video (like "S&M") that is being accused of plagiarizing another fashion photographer (this time Norwegian Solve Sundsbo) on "You Da One"...



Taylor Swift made history a little while ago when all seventeen of the songs on her latest CD Speak Now (including the 3 on the "Deluxe Version") have sold enough individually to each chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Out of those seventeen, nine have made the top 40, seven of those made the top-20, and 4 of those reached the top-10 ("Mine", "Back To December", the title track, and "If This Were A Movie", the latter from the Deluxe). Another of the "Deluxe" tracks, "Ours" has now found a home on country radio, moving up into the top-20 there. Here's her "9 to 5" take (making her "Judy"?)...



Next up is the first single from the upcoming followup to California rock band Train's comeback hit Save Me, San Francisco, which produced the megahit "Hey Soul Sister". Since they's been so successful on "Adult top 40" radio, I was surprised to find they only made the all-genre top-20 three other times, with top-5 "Drops Of Jupiter" as well as first hit "Meet Virginia" (#15) and "Calling All Angels" (#19). Here's the mature rock of "Drive By"...



One Of My favorite bands of all time, Erasure has plugged on for over 25 years now, racking up 16 UK top-10 hits, as well as 15 US dance top-10s with two charttoppers (1987's "Victim Of Love" and 2005's "Breathe"). Their second single from their latest is climbing the top-20 dance list here, and it's "Be With You"...



Now for one of my unknown faves of the moment, American blue-eyed soul singer Mayer Hawthorne, who has got the retro yet edgy vibe down pat. Here he is going full-on Brangelina in his top-3 AAA single "The Walk"....



Back from a five-year hiatus and another reshuffle of band members, Amy Lee and Evanescence return with a third CD that at least made #1 on the album charts. They'll have to live with the three pop top-10 they've accrued ("Bring Me To Life", "My Immortal", and "Call Me When You're Sober"). Their latest is meandering in the adult top-40 chart, which is a shame, cause it's as good as her best, and it's "My Heart Is Broken"...



The final debut this week comes from a song that's received exposure on the TV show Grey's Anatomy. Last year it was a sleeper hit on AAA (adult album alternative) radio, and now it's crossed to adult pop thanks to McDreamy, McSteamy, and McWhatever. Performed by British rockers Scars On 45 (nice pun), here's "Hearts On Fire"...



Until this weekend, stay warm!

twostepcub's music chart for January 20, 2012...

Hey folks, it's time for my weekly roundup of my top 100 tunes for the week. Rihanna and Calvin Harris stay on top for a second week, while Adele (pictured above) finally gets her third hit from the awesome CD 21 into the top-10. The biggest jumps are made by tracks by Gloria Estefan, Lady GaGa, and Gotye (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red). Link-o-Rama is still in effect, so you can click on the highlighted name of any of the artists to go to their website...

This Week Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (1)
2. Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO (2)
3. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (3)
4. Paradise - Coldplay (4)
5. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw (7)
6. Without You - David Guetta f/Usher (5)
7. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys (9)
8. All Your Life - The Band Perry (8)
9. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele (11)
10. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars (10)
11. Levels - Avicii (15)
12. Keep Me In Mind - The Zac Brown Band (13)
13. Good Feeling - Flo Rida (14)
14. Someone Like You - Adele (12)
15.Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson (6)
16. Crawling Back To You - Daughtry (16)
17. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat (17)
18. Cough Syrup - Young The Giant (19)
19. Let It Rain - David Nail f/Sarah Buxton (21)
20. Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene (20)
21. Fool For You - Cee-Lo Green f/Melanie Fiona or Philip Bailey (24)
22. The Sound Of Winter - Bush (18)
23. You - Chris Young (25)
24. These Days - Foo Fighters (30)
25. Heartbeat - The Fray (26)
26. Countdown - Beyonce (22)
27. Too Much In Love - Chris Willis (27)
28. When We Stand Together - Nickelback (23)
29. Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon (29)
30. Hangover - Taio Cruz f/Flo Rida (31)
31. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine (28)
32. Drink In My Hand - Eric Church (36)
33. Brand New Bitch - Anjulie (34)
34. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine (48)
35. I Don't Want This Night To End - Luke Bryan (37)
36. Reality - Kenny Chesney (40)
37. Stay - Tyrese (38)
38. Party People (Ignite The Night) - Erika Jayne (42)
39. Easy - Rascal Flatts f/Natasha Bedingfield (32)
40. Lights - Ellie Goulding (44)
41. Walk - Foo Fighters (39)
42. Face To The Floor - Chevelle (47)
43. Tattoos On This Town - Jason Aldean (33)
44. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (43)
45. I'm Gonna Love You Through It - Martina McBride (45)
46. Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs (51)
47. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon5 f/Christina Aguilera (46)
48. Called Out In The Dark - Snow Patrol (54)
49. Last Drag - Erika Jayne (53)
50. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes (50)
51. Marry The Night - Lady GaGa (68)
52. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (52)
53. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne (57)
54. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (58)
55. Give - LeAnn Rimes (55)
56. Hotel Nacional - Gloria Estefan (78)
57. I Like How It Feels - Enrique Iglesias f/Pitbull (35)
58. Lego House - Ed Sheeran (60)
59. Nothing - The Script (49)
60. My Heart Can't Tell You No - Sara Evans (62)
61. Tonight - Seether (56)
62. Monarchy Of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers (66)
63. You Gonna Fly - Keith Urban (69)
64. Video Games - Lana Del Rey (64)
65. We Owned The Night - Lady Antebellum (41)
66. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye f/Kimbra (82)
67. 1,000 Ships - Rachel Platten (67)
68. Camouflage - Brad Paisley (74)
69. Stay Together - Ledisi f/Jaheim (71)
70. Amen - Edens Edge (70)
71. You & I - Lady GaGa (61)
72. Love After War - Robin Thicke (73)
73. Home - Dierks Bentley (75)
74. Party - Beyonce f/Andre3000 (76)
75. Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) - Lloyd f/Andre3000 & Lil Wayne (77)
76. Titanium - David Guetta f/Sia (83)
77. You Make Me Feel... - Cobra Starship f/Sabi (65)
78. Life Of The Party - Charlie Wilson (72)
79. Love's Gonna Make It Alright - George Strait (79)
80. She Doesn't Mind - Sean Paul (80)
81. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae f/New Boyz (81)
82. If It Wasn't For Love - Deborah Cox (86)
83. Dark Horses - Switchfoot (63)
84. Love On Top - Beyonce (84)
85. Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute (85)
86. Turn Me On - David Guetta f/Nicki Minaj (DEBUT)
87. Lotus Flower Bomb - Wale f/Miguel (87)
88. Ni**as In Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West (88)
89. Aberdeen - Cage The Elephant (93)
90. Care - Kid Rock f/Martina McBride & T.I. (90)
91. Wherever You Are - Military Wives (91)
92. Let Me Be Myself - Rosabel f/Tamara Wallace (97)
93. Je L'aime A Mourir - Shakira (95)
94. Fine By Me - Andy Grammer (94)
95. After Midnight - Blink-182 (DEBUT)
96. Bait A Hook - Justin Moore (96)
97. Lucky Now - Ryan Adams (DEBUT)
98. Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry (100)
99. Fade Into Me - David Cook (99)
100. Ai Se Eu Te Pego - Michel Telo (DEBUT)

There are just four new songs on my list this week (highlighted in yellow), and here they are, along with a little about the artists, with links to their previous hits on video in orange.

The highest entry is by French superDJ David Guetta, who now has three songs on my list, including his former 2sc #1 "Without You" with Usher and the climbing international hit "Titanium" with Australian singer Sia. The third is supported by rapper-singer-fashion icon Nicki Minaj, with a track that sounds not much like her usual squeak. Here's "Turn Me On"...



California rockers Blink-182 follow up their comeback hit "Up All Night" with another late-time ode, "After Midnight". It follows the former track into the modern rock top-10, where they've scored two #1's, with "All The Small Things" from 1999 and "I Miss You" from 2004.



Alt-country rock bad boy Ryan Adams has graced adult pop radio in the US with just his first single, "New York, New York", before dangling on the fringe of rock culture, though he has had a couple more top-40 hits in England, including his Grammy-nominated cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall". His latest is from his top-10 album Ashes & Fire, and it had made the top-3 on Triple-A (adult album alternative rock) radio. Here's the poignant "Lucky Now"...



And 180 degrees from that comes the next big European soccer anthem, this time courtesy of Brazilian singer Michel Telo. Telo's live number "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" (Portuguese for "Oh, if I catch You") got major exposure after soccer superstar Christiano Ronaldo danced to it with another player to celebrate a goal, and the track's popularity spread like wildfire to #1 status in Spain, Holland, Italy, and Belgium, and #2 and climbing fast in Germany, and it quite reminds me of the "Lambada" of the 80's....



That's it, now get to bed!

twostepcub's music chart for January 13, 2012...

Hey folks, it's time for my top-100 tunes for the week. This week Rihanna takes over from the politically ignorant Kelly Clarkson, while the Black Keys (pictured above) move into the top-10. Tracks by Lady GaGa, Hot Chelle Rae, and Deborah Cox make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red), while former big hits by Dev and The Red Hot Chili Peppers drop out. Link-O-Rama is still in effect, so you can click on any of the highlighting artists to go to their website. Yay! The internet tubes are fixed!

This Week Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (2)
2. Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO (4)
3. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (5)
4. Paradise - Coldplay (6)
5. Without You - David Guetta f/Usher (3)
6. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson (1)
7. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw (7)
8. All Your Life - The Band Perry (8)
9. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys (12)
10. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars (11)
11. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele (15)
12. Someone Like You - Adele (10)
13. Keep Me In Mind - The Zac Brown Band (13)
14. Good Feeling - Flo Rida (16)
15. Levels - Avicii (19)
16. Crawling Back To You - Daughtry (9)
17. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat (17)
18. The Sound Of Winter - Bush (14)
19. Cough Syrup - Young The Giant (20)
20. Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene (21)
21. Let It Rain - David Nail (23)
22. Countdown - Beyonce (22)
23. When We Stand Together - Nickelback (18)
24. Fool For You - Cee-Lo Green f/Melanie Fiona or Philip Bailey (24)
25. You - Chris Young (27)
26. Heartbeat - The Fray (26)
27. Too Much In Love - Chris Willis (28)
28. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine (25)
29. Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon (31)
30. These Days - Foo Fighters (37)
31. Hangover - Taio Cruz f/Flo Rida (39)
32. Easy - Rascal Flatts f/Natasha Bedingfield (32)
33. Tattoos On This Town - Jason Aldean (33)
34. Brand New Bitch - Anjulie (36)
35. I Like How It Feels - Enrique Iglesias f/Pitbull (35)
36. Drink In My Hand - Eric Church (41)
37. I Don't Want This Night To End - Luke Bryan (38)
38. Stay - Tyrese (40)
39. Walk - Foo Fighters (30)
40. Reality - Kenny Chesney (42)
41. We Owned The Night - Lady Antebellum (29)
42. Party People (Ignite The World) - Erika Jayne (49)
43. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (43)
44. Lights - Ellie Goulding (48)
45. I'm Gonna Love You Through It - Martina McBride (47)
46. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon5 f/Christina Aguilera (44)
47. Face To The Floor - Chevelle (51)
48. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine (56)
49. Nothing - The Script (34)
50. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes (52)
51. Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs (55)
52. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (54)
53. Last Drag - Traci Lords (61)
54. Called Out In The Dark - Snow Patrol (58)
55. Give - LeAnn Rimes (57)
56. Tonight - Seether (46)
57. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne (59)
58. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (63)
59. We're All No One - Nervo f/Afrojack & Steve Aoki (50)
60. Lego House - Ed Sheeran (60)
61. You & I - Lady GaGa (53)
62. My Heart Can't Tell You No - Sara Evans (66)
63. Dark Horses - Switchfoot (64)
64. Video Games - Lana Del Ray (68)
65. You Make Me Feel... - Cobra Starship f/Sabi (45)
66. Monarchy Of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers (72)
67. 1,000 Ships - Rachel Platten (67)
68. Marry The Night - Lady GaGa (78)
69. You Gonna Fly - Keith Urban (70)
70. Amen - Edens Edge (71)
71. Stay Together - Ledisi f/Jaheim (73)
72. Life Of The Party - Charlie Wilson (65)
73. Love After War - Robin Thicke (74)
74. Camouflage - Brad Paisley (76)
75. Home - Dierks Bentley (77)
76. Party - Beyonce f/Andre3000 (80)
77. Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) - Lloyd f/Andre3000 & Lil' Wayne (85)
78. Hotel Nacional - Gloria Estefan (DEBUT)
79. Love's Gonna Make It Alright - George Strait (81)
80. She Doesn't Mind - Sean Paul (84)
81. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae f/New Boyz (91)
82. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye f/Kimbra (DEBUT)
83. Titanium - David Guetta f/Sia (89)
84. Love On Top - Beyonce (88)
85. Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute (62)
86. If It Wasn't For Love - Deborah Cox (96)
87. Lotus Flower Bomb - Wale f/Miguel (97)
88. Ni**as In Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West (94)
89. Arrow Through My Heart - Eddie Amador & Kimberly Cole (90)
90. Care - Kid Rock f/Martina McBride & T.I. (95)
91. Wherever You Are - Military Wives (DEBUT)
92. Cannonball - Little Mix (92)
93. Aberdeen - Cage The Elephant (93)
94. Fine By Me - Andy Grammer (DEBUT)
95. Je L'aime A Mourir - Shakira (99)
96. Bait A Hook - Justin Moore (98)
97. Let Me Be Myself - Rosabel f/Tamara Wallace (DEBUT)
98. Forever Yours - Alex Day (DEBUT)
99. Fade Into Me - David Cook (DEBUT)
100. Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry (100)

This week there are a lucky seven new songs on my list (highlighted in yellow), and here they are, along with a little about the artists, with links to their previous hits in orange.

The highest entry is by Gloria Estefan, who roars on my list with the second single from her Little Miss Havana CD, and the first song by a female performer to debut at #1 on Billboard's Latin Songs chart. She's had a dozen song top that list, including and pop charttopper "Don't Wanna Lose You" and personal fave "Oye". Here's "Hotel Nacional"...



Next up is the first international hit by Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter Gotye (real name Wally de Backer - Gotye is a bastardized spelling of the French version of his first name). Before this hit, he's only had minor success in Australia, but featuring New Zealander Kimbra, "Someone That I Used To Know" has became this year's first viral worldwide hit, ascending to #1 not only in the Antipodean lands, but also in Belgium, Germany, and Austria. It's just starting to get play here in the States, just debuting on Billboard's Hot 100, but on YouTube this song is a phenom, even spawning a viral cover by Canadian band Walk Off The Earth that's just as awesome. But I'm still in love with the original, and feel it could be this year's "Someone Like You" given the chance...



The coveted #1 UK Christmas single last year went to a choir formed by conductor Gareth Malone for a BBC television show last fall. The group consists of wives and girlfriends of British soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, and made for compelling television. With lyrics compiled from letters from the women to their mates, "Wherever You Are" was first performed live on Remembrance Day in Royal Albert Hall in London. They went on to sell a staggering 555,000+ singles in the first full week, and what better of a tribute than that.



Angelino Andy Grammer follows up his top-5 adult-pop hit "Keep Your Head Up" with "Fine By Me", with a clip featuring YouTube star Keenan Cahill...



Rosabel is the moniker for the collaboration between US DJs Ralphi Rosario and Miami's Abel Aguilera. Rosario was one of the leaders of house music in the 80s and 90s, with Xaviera Gold's "You Used To Hold Me" one of the all-time classics of that genre. Together as a duo, they have scored five #1 US dance hits between 2000 and 2006, including "Don't You Want My Love" with Debbie Jacobs and "Cha Cha Heels" with Jeanie Tracy. They return with a track featuring singer Tamara Wallace, with whom they had a #2 hit with "C'mon Get Funky" a year ago. Here's "Let Me Be Myself"...



Along with the Military Wives' single, a few other records had active campaigns to be the British #1 Christmas record, including Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the holiday novelty record "Dominic The Donkey", and this tune, sung by YouTube personality Alex Day, with most of the proceeds going to charity World Vision. It managed to make #4, which ain't bad for an unsigned artist at all. Here's "Forever Yours"....



The final debut is by seventh-season American Idol winner David Cook, who after winning sent three songs into the adult-pop top-10, including "winner's song" "Time Of My Life", and followup "Light On". Admittedly his sophomore effort is struggling, with the two singles hanging around in the bottom half of the adult-pop top-40. Here's the second, "Fade Into Me"...



Till next week!

Let them eat pie....

Dear Governor Christie, using a pie reference, especially with an "infinite" quality, only highlights your gluttony, dillweed.

And talking to the public like an asshole doesn't make you a "straight-talker", but pretty much of a douchebag.

Now go away.
Toodles,
twostepcub

twostepcub's music chart for January 6, 2012....

Hey folks, it's time for my first music list of the new year, and thanks for hanging around (or droppin' in). This week Kelly Clarkson takes over the top spot, while the Band Perry (pictured above) moves up in the top-10. Former big hits by Miranda Lambert, Nicole Scherzinger, and Foster The People drop out, while songs by Florence + The Machine, George Strait, and LeAnn Rimes make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red). Link-O-Rama is still in effect, so you can click on any of the highlighted artist names to go to their official website (rightclick, with you can use a different tab or window and keep this up). Happy Birthday, Heather Rose!

This Week Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson (2)
2. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (3)
3. Without You - David Guetta f/Usher (1)
4. Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO (4)
5. The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (6)
6. Paradise - Coldplay (7)
7. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw (9)
8. All Your Life - The Band Perry (10)
9. Crawling Back To You - Daughtry (5)
10. Someone Like You - Adele (8)
11. It Will Rain - Bruno Mars (15)
12. Lonely Boy - Black Keys (16)
13. Keep Me In Mind - Zac Brown Band (14)
14. The Sound Of Winter - Bush (12)
15. Set Fire To The Rain - Adele (19)
16. Good Feeling - Flo Rida (18)
17. Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat (11)
18. When We Stand Together - Nickelback (13)
19. Levels - Avicii (29)
20. Cough Syrup - Young The Giant (21)
21. Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene (26)
22. Countdown - Beyonce (24)
23. Let It Rain - David Nail (25)
24. Fool For You - Cee-Lo Green f/Melanie Fiona or Philip Bailey (28)
25. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes f/Adam Levine (23)
26. Heartbeat - The Fray (30)
27. You - Chris Young (31)
28. Too Much In Love - Chris Willis (38)
29. We Owned The Night - Lady Antebellum (17)
30. Walk - Foo Fighters (20)
31. Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon (41)
32. Easy - Rascal Flatts f/Natasha Bedingfield (34)
33. Tattoos On This Town - Jason Aldean (35)
34. Nothing - The Script (22)
35. I Like How It Feels - Enrique Iglesias f/Pitbull (37)
36. Brand New Bitch - Anjulie (40)
37. These Days - Foo Fighters (46)
38. I Don't Want This Night To End - Luke Bryan (43)
39. Hangover - Taio Cruz f/Flo Rida (49)
40. Stay - Tyrese (42)
41. Drink In My Hand - Eric Church (45)
42. Reality - Kenny Chesney (44)
43. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (39)
44. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon5 f/Chrisina Aguilera (36)
45. You Make Me Feel...Cobra Starship f/Sabi (33)
46. Tonight - Seether (32)
47. I'm Gonna Love You Through It - Martina McBride (51)
48. Lights - Ellie Goulding (54)
49. Party People - Erika Jayne (61)
50. We're All No One - Nervo f/Afrojack & Steve Aoki (50)
51. Face To The Floor - Chevelle (60)
52. Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes (56)
53. You & I - Lady GaGa (47)
54. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (58)
55. Dance With Me Tonight - Olly Murs (66)
56. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine (76)
57. Give - LeAnn Rimes (71)
58. Called Out In The Dark - Snow Patrol (62)
59. Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne (67)
60. Lego House - Ed Sheeran (65)
61. Last Drag - Traci Lords (72)
62. Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute (52)
63. Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith (77)
64. Dark Horses - Switchfoot (64)
65. Life Of The Party - Charlie Wilson (57)
66. My Heart Can't Tell You No - Sara Evans (70)
67. 1,000 Ships - Rachel Platten (69)
68. Video Games - Lana Del Ray (78)
69. In The Dark - Dev (59)
70. You Gonna Fly - Keith Urban (75)
71. Amen - Edens Edge (73)
72. Monarchy Of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers (86)
73. Stay Together - Ledisi f/Jaheim (74)
74. Love After War - Robin Thicke (87)
75. Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie - Red Hot Chili Peppers (55)
76. Camouflage - Brad Paisley (80)
77. Home - Dierks Bentley (81)
78. Marry The Night - Lady GaGa (DEBUT)
79. Didn't I - James Wesley (79)
80. Party - Beyonce (83)
81. Love's Gonna Make It Alright - George Strait (96)
82. Our Day Will Come - Amy Winehouse (82)
83. Geronimo - Aura Dione (85)
84. She Doesn't Mind - Sean Paul (92)
85. Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) - Lloyd f/Lil' Wayne & Andre3000 (89)
86. 5 O'Clock - T-Pain f/Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen (91)
87. Bad - The Cab (88)
88. Love On Top - Beyonce (90)
89. Titanium - David Guetta f/Sia (RE-ENTRY)
90. Arrow Through My Heart - Eddie Amador & Kimberly Cole (DEBUT)
91. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae f/New Boyz (DEBUT)
92. Cannonball - Little Mix (DEBUT)
93. Aberdeen - Cage The Elephant (99)
94. Ni**as In Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West (94)
95. Care - Kid Rock f/Martina McBride & T.I. (95)
96. If It Wasn't For Love - Deborah Cox (DEBUT)
97. Lotus Flower Bomb - Wale f/Miguel (DEBUT)
98. Bait A Hook - Justin Moore (100)
99. Je L'aime A Mourir - Shakira (DEBUT)
100. Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry (DEBUT)

There are eight new songs to bring on the new year, and here they are, along with a little about the artists, with links to their previous hits on YouTube in orange....

The highest debut belongs to Lady GaGa, who brought in the New Year inexplicably making kissy face with Mayor Bloomberg wearing a rhinestone faceplate. Her latest single, the fifth official single from Born This Way, carries a video that's one-third Flashdance, one-third Robocop, and one-third Trainspotting. I still have no idea what her emerging from a burning car has to do with a dancer's auditioning struggle, but no mind. Here's the epic "Marry The Night" in its 14 minute splendor...



American DJ/producer Eddie Amador has his first hit on my chart, though he's placed a top-30 hit on the US dance chart with "Save Me" in 2006, and a UK top-20 hit with "Rise" in 2000. He's back with some help from Kimberly Cole, who a couple years back had a top-5 dance hit of her own with "Smack You". They collaborate together on the US top-20 dance hit "Arrow Through My Heart"...



US group Hot Chelle Rae follow up their debut top-10 hit "Tonight Tonight" with a song featuring rap duo New Boyz, who had a top-40 hit of their own last year with "Backseat". Here's the similarly simple-titled "I Like It Like That"...



The winners of the UK version of the X Factor beat out the British "Christmas #1" battle by going on sale a week earlier, with a cover of the Damien Rice alt-rock hit "Cannonball". It's the first group to win the series, and the young girls can claim a charttopper without the rush..



The next entry is by singer Deborah Cox, who for a time held the record for the longest stay at #1 on the R&B charts with her 14 week stay with "Nobody Supposed To Be Here" in 1998. She's also racked up ten #1 dance hits from 1996's "Who Do U Love" to 2008's "Beautiful U R". Her latest effort has reached the top-10 so far, "If It Wasn't For Love"...



Washington, DC rapper Wale has his first US top-40 hit and his first R&B charttopper with a song featuring a singer that had Billboard's #1 R&B hit of 2011, Miguel ("Sure Thing"). Wale himself collaborated with Lady GaGa a couple years back with his UK top-20 hit "Chillin".. his latest R&B winner is the seductive "Lotus Flower Bomb"...



The next entry is a song by Colombian siren Shakira, but unlike her previous Latin-ized hits like her #1 "Hips Don't Lie" and "Whenever Wherever", this one is in French, taken from her Paris Concert video, and the #1 song in that country for the last 3 weeks. It's the somber "Je L'Aime A Mourir" ("I'd Love to Die")...here's her half-Spanish half French version ("Frannish"?)



The final new song is by country-rock duo Montgomery Gentry, who after six albums on the Columbia label, and five #1 country hits including "Roll With Me" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me", released their first studio CD on indie Average Joe's and are back in the top-20 with the jingoistic "Where I Come From"...



and finally, as a bonus, one song re-enter's my top-100, the excellent collab between French DJ David Guetta and Aussie alt-pop singer Sia, and "Titanium", now complete with cool video....



And let 2012 be 10X better than last year!