Twostepcublog

Right now I've got part two of today's "chart sweeps" sampling the new songs making their way on to the weekly music charts in Billboard magazine, and this time out it's the latest on rock radio. On the aggregate Rock Airplay chart, Imagine Dragons reign for a third week with " Radioactive ". The top debut of the week belongs to British art-rock band Alt-J with "Breezeblocks" at #46. It's growing on Modern Rock radio, moving up to #25 on that chart this week... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Hey gang, it's time to kick off today's five-part "chart sweep" of the latest songs making their way on to the weekly singles charts in Billboard magazine. As always, I'll start with the pop side, as well as the "big" chart. On the Hot 100 , the joke continues as that 30-second meme remains at #1 for a fifth week. Ridiculous. And I have not seen one positive reaction to this anywhere. Good going, guys. The top debut of the week at #77 is rapper French Montana with his second lead-artist Hot 100 hit, "Freaks", featuring American Idol judge du jour Nicki Minaj. It follows " Pop That ", which made it to #36 last year. Now, can we please proclaim the "airhorn" trick "over" already? Lord. (NSFW) (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Today, March 23rd, marks Chaka Khan's 60th birthday... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

David Bowie - " Modern Love " from the album Let's Dance (1983) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's Song of the Day is by the Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie , who transformed himself into a big pop superstar in 1983 with his Let's Dance album. After the title track reached #1, and the followup " China Girl " made the US pop top-10, Bowie released the concert favorite "Modern Love" as the third single. With Nile Rodgers producing (and fellow Chic-man Tony Thompson on drums) as well as his usual touring band, this was his bounciest, most blindly fun track to date... "Modern Love" became David's third top-40 hit from the album (the only time he's done that), as well as the third top-10 rock radio hit in the States. In Britian, it raced up to #2, like it did in Canada. (Click below to see the rest of the post)

It's time for my top-100 tunes for this past week, as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis hang on for a fourth week at #1, while Carrie Underwood (pictured above) moves into the top-10. Songs by Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, and Imagine Dragons make the biggest jumps on the list (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red). Countdown is progressing! This Week              Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Wanz (1) 2. Better Dig Two - The Band Perry (3) 3. Tornado - Little Big Town (4) 4. Try - Pink (2) 5. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons (10) 6. Catch My Breath - Kelly Clarkson (7) 7. Troublemaker - Olly Murs f/Flo Rida (5) 8. Carry On - fun. (8) 9. Two Black Cadillacs - Carrie Underwood (11) 10. Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris f/Florence Welch (6) 11. Mountain Sound - Of Mo...

Today, March 22nd, marks the 70th birthday of jazz/soul guitarist and singer George Benson... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Rod Stewart - " What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So In Love With You) " from the album Body Wishes (1983) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #35 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 3 Today's Song of the Day is by British vocal icon Rod Stewart , who started out 1983 with his twelfth studio album Body Wishes and a top-40 hit (that topped the UK charts) with " Baby Jane ". He followed it up with a keyboard-driven semi-tropical pop confection of "What Am I Gonna Do", written by Stewart and a couple band members, and complete with a knock-off of Duran Duran's Rio video... Like its predecessor, "What Am I Gonna Do" was another big hit in the UK, peaking at #3, while reaching the top-40 in the States. By his next album, though, his fortunes would be reversed. (Click below to see the rest of the post)