Soul Sweep: October 20, 2012...

Hey folks, it's time for part three of today's "chart sweeps" and now it's time to check out the latest on R&B radio. As I mentioned previously today, Billboard magazine changed its methodology on how it compiles the rock, R&B, and country charts, and for better or worse, incorporated airplay from all formats of radio as well as sales and streaming on internet subscriptions. Now the R&B chart is a little different in the fact that it had taken into accounts some physical sales from "urban markets" (whatever that meant). So as I am now switching to cover just the "airplay" chart, eight of the nine "debuts" on this chart were already on the main list before, so I'll start fresh after this week, and just cover what wasn't here before.

To give the biggest example of how pop airplay/sales/streaming affected the main R&B chart, you don't need to go further than the new #1 R&B/HipHop songs #1, Rihanna's "Diamonds", which leaps from #66 last week. This is where the editorial choosing of "what's R&B" causes a little havoc. Rihanna's music is nebulous across genres, but for the most part she's a "pop" artist. Yes, she's had a lot of successes on the R&B chart, with specifically tailored tracks like "Man Down" and "Birthday Cake", the latter peaking at #2 while missing the top-20 on pop radio. But also there's her huge "pop" hits, like "We Found Love", which topped the pop charts for ten weeks, and managed to get a modest bit of R&B radio airplay, enough to have it chart, but only peaked at #54. It's the same with her last single, "Where Have You Been", a pop top-5 hit that only managed to make it to #56 on R&B. Which brings the question, are those really R&B songs at heart, and how or why can you make that distinction? And if not, what is it about "Diamonds" that is? It's just as much a dance-focused number as the other two (albeit with a slower pace), so how did it rate? It almost makes me fear that there's a committee set up to analyze how "black" a track is, and that's wrong on so many levels. But the only thing to do is wait and see.

On the R&B Airplay chart, Miguel's "Adorn" is at #1 for the fifth week.

The one song that debuts that wasn't on last week's Songs last is by Mississippi newcomer Tito Lopez, who had a minor hit with "Mama Proud" in the summer. He's back at #71 with the followup, "The Blues", which is a smooth, flowing track that brings out a rap that puts out a realistic portrait of urban youth that's more true than the pervasive hip-hop gold-clanging and a delivery wise beyond his years. (NSFW)

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Meanwhile, over on the Adult R&B radio format chart (the soul version of "soft-rock"), Anita Baker commands the top spot for a third week with "Lately". Anita, it's been nine weeks since this came out, where's the video? You're awesome! We want to see ya!

Coming in #31 is the re-release of Whitney Houston's "I Look To You" done as a duet with R. Kelly for her upcoming greatest hits set. Her original version made it to #2 on this chart in 2009, and her followup, "Million Dollar Bill" topped the list as well. It doesn't bring anything really new to the table, but it's nice to at least her Whitney with this under-appreciated nugget.

The other debut is by Fort Lauderdale-based hip-hop singer Urban Mystic, who had a top-5 hit on the chart, "I Refuse", back in 2006,. He returns at #38 with "I Promise", a smooth seductive number meant obviously for the bedroom, maybe it's just a little too literal for me on this one..

That's it for now, next up in 90 minutes is the country chart, where you can hear "country" fans howling from a mile away....


Footnote: One thing I have to say about the revised R&B list. since you have out bisexual Frank Ocean with a song in the top-10...

and ally rapper Macklemore at #47 with a pro-marriage equality track...

That is maybe a sign. Of what I don't know yet.