Pop Sweep: February 9, 2013...

Hey gang, it's time to drop back in for the first of today's five-part "chart sweeps" of the latest music to make the weekly singles charts at Billboard magazine. This time out it's the newest on the pop side.

On the all-inclusive Hot 100, which tallies airplay, sales, and internet streaming, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis stay on top for a second week with "Thrift Shop".

The top new entry at #68 is by southern California rapper Tyga, who went to #7 in 2011 with "Rack City". The new track, "Dope" feautring self-proclaimed mogul and "shooting target" Rick Ross, is five minutes of misogynist sex and violence and glorified racketeering. I'll pass. Grade: F

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Country singer, current CMA Female vocalist of the Year, and Grammy country album nominee Miranda Lambert sees the fourth single from her Four The Record album, "Mama's Broken Heart", come in at #89. She's had three singles reach the top-40 here, with the Grammy-winning "House That Built Me" reaching # 28 in 2010. This new one is a perfect match of traditional country two-step and rock-like swagger. Grade: B+

L.A. rapper Kid Ink, who scored a top-20 album last year, gets his first Hot 100 single at #90 with "Bad Ass" featuring Meek Mill & Wale, the latter who had a top-40 hit with "Lotus Flower Bomb". Apparently the "Bad Ass" in question belongs on a stripper. More posturing. Ugh. Grade: F+

..and now for something different, country duo Florida Georgia Line, who took their debut single "Cruise" to #1 on the country chart and #16 on the Hot 100, arrive at #96 with the follow-up, "Get Your Shine On". The "shine" here is of the "moon" variety, and unfortunately it's another cliche'-filled come-on record, with just a little too much Auto-tune going on, but at least sounds a little more promising if they can hone their songwriting. Grade: C-

Another country singer, Chris Cagle, has the second single from his "comeback" album Back In The Saddle, "Let There Be Cowgirls", arrive at #97. The first, "Get My Country On", made it to #86 last year, and the singer previous took "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out" to #35 on the Hot 100 in 2001..Grade: C+

Cuban-American rapper Pitbull has the last entry at #99 with "Feel This Moment" featuring Christina Aguilera on vocals. Pit has previously made the top-10 four times as a lead artist, with "Give Me Everything" topping the Hot 100 in 2011.It's the fourth song from his Global Warming album to make the chart, as "Don't Stop The Party" is still in the top-40 at #27. What is hysterical (and infuriating at the same time) is that the staff at Billboard include this track on their new "Dance/Electronic Songs" chart yet exclude "Don't Stop...", even though the latter has made the danc airplay and club play list, is a dance song that interpolates a dance song by TJR, while this track, which samples a-ha's pop song "Take On Me", is in there. Why not both? I asked their chart editor and was explained "this has dance elements" but no explanation as to what elements he's talking about. Really. You know guys, I've been a following (and buying/subscribing to) the mag for 30 years now, and never have I seen a song excluded from the genre's chart that was getting airplay on those stations. In-freaking-credible. (Steps off soapbox). Anyway, this new one if fun, of course nothing essential (as most of his stuff), but there's a reason he's everywhere - he's top game at what Pit does. Grade: C+

Meanwhile on the Mainstream Pop radio format chart, Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" stays at #1 for a second week.

The top new entry is by rapper Nelly, who will be releasing his first studio album in three years, M.O., and the first single "Hey Porsche" is at #36. Wow, this sounds almost Discney-Channel-esque. (I know that sounds weird after the Tyga clip, but there is a middle ground here). Grade: C-

At #37 is singer Skylar Grey (real name Holly Brook Heffernan) with "C'mon Let Me Ride" featuring Eminem. Oh Jesus, the Buckwild-chic era has begun to be shoved down our throats. And Eminem? "Condoms are for practice"? Please. Grade: D-

The aforementioned "Feel This Moment" debuts here at #38...

While New York alt-pop trio fun. march in at #39 with "Carry On". Grade: A-

Over at the Adult Top-40 radio format chart, the Lumineers hang on to #1 for a sixth week with "Ho Hey"...

The top debut at #36 is Bruno Mars' followup to his #2 Hot AC hit "Locked Out Of Heaven". "When I Was Your Man" is a ballad in his classic songwriting style, like he's the long lost son of Motown. Grade: B+

Trash-pop queen Ke$ha succeeds her top-20 hit on this chart "Die Young" with the even more simplistic "C'mon". Grade: C-

Black Eyed Pea will.i.am and Britney Spears make it onto the Adult Pop chart at #39 with their horrendous "Scream & Shout". Grade: F+

The last entry here is by Oklahoma alt-rockers All-American Rejects, who went to #1 on this chart five years ago with "Gives You Hell". They're back at #40 with "Heartbeat Slowing Down", the second single from their Kids In The Street album. Grade: B-

 

Lastly, on the Adult-Contemporary (soft-rock, or "easy") format, Phillip Phillips' "Home" stays on top for a second week...

There's only one new song here, "Wanted" by country newcomer Hunter Hayes, who arrives at #28. Hayes is up for a Grammy for Best New Artist, as well as Country Solo and Album, and the crossover success of this song may help his chances. Grade:A-

 That's it for the pop side....I'll return in 90 minutes with the latest on rock radio....