Pop Sweep: September 6, 2014...

It's time to kick off the first of today's five-part "chart sweeps", checking out the songs making the various charts in Billboard magazine this week. As usual, I'll start on the pop side of things, then later in the day move on to rock, R&B, country, and dance music. And away we go....

On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which combines tallies of radio airplay, sales, and internet streaming (like Spotify and YouTube), there's a new "sheriff" in town, and it's Taylor Swift, who lands her second #1 hit on the list with the first single from her upcoming pure-pop album 1989, "Shake It Off". She last led in 2012 with the initial release from her last album Red, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", which created a maelstrom of controversy over Billboard topping its first "combined airplay" country chart with the decidedly non-country single. I guess they've learned their lesson as the song is absent of that chart, even though it did garner enough airplay to reach the Country Airplay list (I'll cover that later on today). Although it keeps newcomer Meghan Trainor's incredibly infectious "All About That Bass" from the top, it thankfully also prevents Nicki Minaj's poor remake of "Baby Got Back", "Anaconda", from #1 as well, as it jumps from #39 to #2 from the release of the soft-porn video. And without the tarnish of being labelled "country", the song is cute, a little self-serving considering, but cute (though it seems a little late to the party from Trainor's similar empowerment theme, which comes off more universal that personal)....

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Another high-profile release is the second-biggest debut; Blake Shelton's "Neon Lights" shines in at #81. It's the first single from his upcoming ninth album Bringing Back The Sunshine. The top-ten on this chart has alluded the Voice "coach" so far, though he came close last year with the god-awful "Boys 'Round Here", which peaked at #12. (I'll write more on this on this week's "Country Sweep")...

As Blake's Voice "co-star" Adam Levine prepares for the release of his band Maroon 5's V record, the second "official" single from the set, "Animals", arrives at #86. The first, "Maps", went to #6 a few weeks back and sits currently (with a bullet) at #14.This one borrows a lot from hip-hop and dance, something necessary to try to keep relevant in the youth-based pop market these days, though it doesn't lend to memorable melodies. It sounds a little like a handful of their other hits (and OneRepublic's for that matter)...

Dutch soul singer Mr. Probz (aka Dennis Stehr) takes his worldwide hit "Waves", which has caught on like wildfire with a dance remix by German producer Robin Schulz, to American shores at #88. The ultra-cool single ready-made to be played in hip urban bars has already been to #1 in Germany, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, where it led for two non-consecutive weeks...

Another revamped dance track entering the chart this week is American DJ Steve Aoki with Scotsman Chris Lake and German Tujamo, with "Delirious (Boneless)" featuring rapper Kid Ink at #96. The original of "Boneless" went top-20 on the American dance club play chart last year. And now you've got the "sticky like okra" line. Nothing special, just pure Jersey Shore-style fist-pumping beach music...

 The final new entry of the week at #99 comes from rapper Rich Homie Quan, who follows up his debut hit "Type Of Way", which peaked at #50, with "Walk Thru", featuring Problem. The artist, born Dequantes Lamar, was injured on the set of this video when he fell after heat exhaustion caused a seizure. He also appeared as a featured artist on YG's #19 single "My Hitta/My Nigga" last winter. This track is in the top-10 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart this week. As for the song, typical bragger-rap. Meh.

And now on to the pop radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel, Sam Smith stays on top for a second week with "Stay With Me", while the aforementioned "Shake It Off" is the top entry at #12, and "Waves" is in at #40...

The other debut at #38 is singer/rapper Jake Miller from Florida with "First Flight Home". Oofdah. This is like this years Pat Boone, appropriating hip-hop culture and bleaching it for the Disney Channel crowd. If you're an eight year old girl, I'm sure you'll love this.

Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, Sam Smith climbs to #1 with "Stay With Me", while Taylor Swift rockets in at #9 (the highest ever debut on the chart).

Katy Perry lands at #33 with "This Is How We Do", the fifth single from her Prism album. I guess the promotion for this song has finally kicked in, though its not as fun as the surprisingly overlooked "Birthday" was (that was her first single to miss the top-10 on this list since "Thinking Of You" from her debut album in 2009)...

Singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson comes in at #40 with "Headphones" featuring soul singer Lolo, who appeared on Panic At The Disco's top-10 alternative rock hit "Miss Jackson". This sounds like Matt's going for his big pop break here, and while it's a little dumbed down from his normal fare, he still wins my "Pop Pick of the Week" this week. Matt went to #9 on this format back in 2008 with "Come On Get Higher"...

Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary (or easy-listening) radio chart, "Stay With Me" reigns for a third week, while "Shake It Off" arrives at #21...

Colbie Caillat's "Try" moves in at #22 on this list, the same rank it's at on Adult-Top 40. Like "Shake It Off" and "All About That Bass", it's part of the rash of female-sung feel-good-about-yourself songs out right now...

Another crossover from Adult top-40 where it's at #12, "Believer" from American Authors drops in at #24. It follows "The Best Day Of My Life", which remains at #4 after a peak of #2....

O.A.R.'s "Peace" has already been off the A-40 chart for a few weeks, but it finally pops in on this format at #27. They previously went to #14 here with "Shattered (Turn This Car Around)" in 2008. Perhaps the delicate sweetness of this track was too serene for pop radio, and will do a better job on this format...

That's it for the start of today's musical journey....I'll be back in 90 minutes with the latest on rock radio...