RADIO REPORT: POP! Goes The Picks (April 2014)

If you follow the radio charts like I do, you’ll want to be on top of only the freshest music being serviced across the nation. So, I’m bringing back an early PGTC feature with a bit of a revamp. With this monthly series, I’ll be highlighting some great tracks at a few different radio formats I enjoy that will be fighting for airspace over the next few months. So, what are we waiting for? Let the battles begin.

CHR (*) and HOT AC (**)

A song in the “Wrong”.

NICO & VINZ – “Am I Wrong?” (April 1) (*)
Label: Warner Bros.
Already a top ten hit in several European territories, “Wrong” is currently gaining at the Hot AC format and ranking in the lower rungs of the top 40. The duo was formerly known as Envy and consists of Nico Sereba and Vincent Dery. It may already be touted as the “Song of the Summer” by the label, but this still has a ways to go. We’ll see what happens.

Bringing cartoons to the tunes.

AJR – “I’m Ready” (April 8) (*)
Label: AJR/Warner Bros.
After months of airplay on SiriusXM’s Hits 1 and 20 on 20 as an independent act, the trio of brothers from New York City are partnering with Warner Bros. to bring “Ready” onto the terrestrial airwaves. Looks like they’ll find some life on the charts thanks a guy who lives in a pineapple under the sea. The catchy single is bound to be a summer favorite.

Looking for a H.I.T on the chart.

LADY GAGA – “G.U.Y” (April 8) (*)
Label: Streamline/Interscope
Much has been said about ARTPOP era, but it continues to move on despite the mixed reaction. The third single from the album ranks as one of my top tracks from the disc, and a short film for it (and a few other clips from the effort) is racking up millions of views online. You can currently find her playing a set of shows to close the Roseland Ballroom.

It has a ring to it.

DJ CASSIDY featuring ROBIN THICKE and JESSIE J – “Calling All Hearts” (April 15) (*)
Label: Columbia
It’s rising up the top ten on my personal chart, but a few delays have pushed its radio release to this month. The crazy hot disco jam leads off Paradise Royale, now due in June. A promotional single featuring R. Kelly, “Make The World Go Round”, is also out on the web. The DJ’s debut project is quite an ambitious one, but it sounds like a winner to me.

Keeping things bright.

BIRDS OF TOKYO – “Lanterns” (April 22) (*)
Label: Loma Vista/Republic
Last year, March Fires became the first #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart for this five man band out of Perth. This single was the second lifted from it, peaking at #3 down there and achieving a 3x Platinum certification. With growing spin counts at Alternative and AAA radio, a crossover was bound to happen. It may be a tad bit soon, but the song is good.

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ALTERNATIVE (*) and AAA (**)

Water you waiting for?

VANCE JOY – “Riptide” (April 1) (*)
Label: Atlantic
This former top ten single in Australia and the United Kingdom recently broke the top five on the AAA survey. Now, it’s been picked up by a handful of Alternative stations before its official impact date this Tuesday. It also charted at #1 on the yearly Triple J Hottest 100, one of the most influential radio stations out of Australia. Blimey! That’s great.

Ain’t no other “Man”.

NEULORE – “Shadow Of A Man” (April 8) (**)
Label: Island
Bandmates Adam Agin and William T. Cook formed this act five years ago and have been going steady since it. Back in 2010, they released the independent Apples & Eve, with this single being their first major label release. It was used on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy last year and Hart Of Dixie a few months ago. It’s a solid folk song with great potential.

This is the new year.

NIGHT TERRORS OF 1927 – “Dust And Bones” (April 15) (*)
Label: Atlantic
What’s in a name? Theirs is certainly an intriguing one. Rilo Kiley lead guitarist Blake Sennett and The Honorary Title lead singer Jarrod Gorbel put their talents together two years ago for this project, and following an EP release in November, it’s time to break them on the Alternative survey. Just watch out for that music video… it’s a little freaky.

Not so Lonely anymore.

SAM SMITH – “Stay With Me” (April 15) (**)
Label: Capitol
He’s also over pop radio thanks to hits from Disclosure and Naughty Boy, but we’ve yet to see a solo release from Smith on the radio… until now. Thanks to a well-received Saturday Night Live performance, “Stay” is riding a digital boost, along with the forthcoming album In The Lonely Hour. Like it or not, Smith is coming, and he won’t back down.

More than a feeling…

THE PREATURES – “Is This How You Feel?” (April 22) (*)
Label: Harvest
I first saw these guys at CMJ back in October and they had an awesome performance. After a few more gigs at SXSW, the quintet is ready to go to radio via Harvest Records, a name relaunched a year ago by Capitol. Harvest has yet to place a single at the format, but that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t happen with this. Watch out for more from them.

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Which track(s) would you like to see do well from the list above? Let me know! Comment below or click the “Get Social!” tab to find PGTC on social media.

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: March 30, 2014

Branching out for another week.

DEBUTS
40. Andy Grammer – Back Home
39. A Great Big World – Already Home
36. Foster The People – Best Friend
26. Passenger – Scare Away The Dark | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
22. Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne – Rather Be (29) | BIGGEST MOVER (tie)
21. Rixton – Me And My Broken Heart (26)
12. Phillip Phillips – Raging Fire (19) | BIGGEST MOVER (tie) — three weeks
06. Coldplay – Magic (11)

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. Eric Hutchinson – Tell The World (10) | PEAK: #10
09. Christina Perri – Human (06) | PEAK: #01 for six weeks
08. MAGIC! – Rude (04) | PEAK: #02
07. DJ Cassidy featuring Jessie J & Robin Thicke – Calling All Hearts (08) | PEAK: #07
06. Coldplay – Magic (11) | PEAK: #06
05. The 1975 – Settle Down (07) | PEAK: #05
04. Gary Barlow and Elton John – Face To Face (05) | PEAK: #04
03. Foster The People – Coming Of Age (03) | PEAK: #03
02. Bastille – Bad Blood (02) | PEAK: #02
01. Neon Trees – Sleeping With A Friend (01) | PEAK: #01 for five weeks

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Vance Joy – Riptide (1)
2. Chromeo – Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (3)
3. Sheppard – Geronimo (7)
4. Taylor Henderson – When You Were Mine (6)
5. O.A.R. – Peace (5)
6. Benny Tipene – Make You Mine (2)
7. One Direction – You & I (10)
8. Gary Barlow – Since I Saw You Last (9)
9. Christina Perri – Burning Gold (-)
10. Sebell – Till The Sun Burns Out (-)

In The Mix:
5 Seconds Of Summer – She Looks So Perfect
Augustana – Ash And Ember
Avril Lavigne – Give You What You Like
Betty Who – Heartbreak Dream
Daughtry – Battleships
Grizfolk – The Struggle
Hot Chelle Rae – Don’t Say Goodnight
Hunter Hayes – Invisible
Imagine Dragons – Bleeding Out
Katy Perry – Birthday (new)
Matt Cardle – Hit My Heart
Miner – Hey Love
Ray LaMontagne – Supernova
Sam Smith – Stay With Me (new)
Strange Talk – Young Hearts
The Seasons – Apples (new)

Chart Notes:

• This week, two songs tie for the Biggest Mover. One of them is “Raging Fire” by former American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, who leaps from 19-12 this week. It’s his third charting single. Even though he shares the title this week, it’s his third consecutive frame of earning the distinction. Will he push that to four next week? Even if he doesn’t, he’s quite likely to break the top ten.
• The other Biggest Mover this week is the first hit for Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne, “Rather Be”, up 29-22 in its third week on the chart. It recently spent four weeks at #1 in the United Kingdom and remains in the top ten in over two dozen countries. Now that’s some chart power, and I think there’s no place they’d “rather be” than ruling the rankings.
• At #26 is the week’s Highest Debut and the biggest one of the year so far. It’s no surprise that it belongs to Passenger, whose latest single is “Scare Away The Dark”. It’s the first radio release from his new album Whispers, due in June. The 29-year-old singer took over my chart last year with three #1 hits in a row: “Let Her Go” (12 weeks), “Holes” (5 weeks) and “The Wrong Direction” (2 weeks). “Go” also ranked as the #1 song of 2013.
• While “Coming Of Age” remains put in the top 5, rockers Foster The People are already debuting with their followup single to it. “Best Friend” is at #36 this week and is one of my favorites from their sophomore album Supermodel. Look for it to make a splash at Alternative radio in the next few months.
• The final two debuts of the week are all about “Home” because, well, there’s no place like it. Duo A Great Big World enter with “Already Home” at #39; it’s the followup to their #2 ballad, “Say Something”, which fell off recently. Andy Grammer also returns to the countdown this week with “Back Home”, debuting at #40. It’s his fourth chart single and his first time in the top 40 since January of last year with his former #1 “Miss Me”.

(See my full chart on the M4BCC message board)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: March 27, 2011

From D to J – place your (alpha)bets.

Welcome back for another edition of Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my new top 40 goes up for the week, I’ll be featuring a past countdown straight from chart files of Adam’s Top 40. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on. This week, we go back to Junior Year of college, when I was studying hard during the day and fundraising on the telephone at night. Meanwhile, here’s what was happening on my chart dated March 27, 2011:

Debuts:
40. ONEREPUBLIC, “Good Life”
39. LIFEHOUSE, “Falling In”
38. HANSON, “Give A Little”
36. THE CARS, “Sad Song”

Biggest Mover:
BRITNEY SPEARS, “Till The World Ends” (31-23) (8 spots)

10. COLBIE CAILLAT, “I Do”
The daughter of Fleetwood Mac producer Ken Caillat was making some moves with this sweet single. “Do” led Caillat’s third album All Of You and landed her a fourth top 40 hit on the Hot 100. On my chart, it was her fifth to go top ten. She last charted in early 2014 with “Hold On”, which quickly faded away. No plans have surfaced for a followup release yet.

09. PARACHUTE, “Something To Believe In (Jeremiah)”
Third time was the charm for this Virginia act, who previously charted in 2009 with “She Is Love” and “Under Control”. The leadoff single from The Way It Is climbed to #1 for three weeks and remains their biggest single to date. Their most recent album, 2013’s Overnight, didn’t place any singles on my survey. They’re currently touring with Gavin DeGraw.

08. THE BAND PERRY, “If I Die Young”
After “Hip To My Heart” became a minor single on the Country radio chart in early 2010, this Tennessee trio of talented siblings (say that five times fast) got a little musically morbid with this depressing ditty. However, the single impressed a few different audiences and crossed over to CHR radio. “Young” climbed to #2 on my top 40 and spent two weeks there.

07. JESSIE J featuring B.O.B, “Price Tag”
Her days of judging The Voice in the U.K. may be over, but the British singer is going back to what made her a star in the first place. Her second European single became her first song to rank on my chart. “Tag” peaked at #2, her biggest single on my top 40. She’s currently featured on the collaboration “Calling All Hearts” with DJ Cassidy and Robin Thicke.

06. AVRIL LAVIGNE, “What The Hell”
The name of her album was Goodbye Lullaby, and while Lavigne said goodbye to RCA after the release of this album, she certainly wasn’t done on the charts. She last made my top 40 a year ago with “Here’s To Never Growing Up”, which came close to a top ten peak, reaching #13. After touring South America, she’s opening for the Backstreet Boys this summer.

05. DURAN DURAN, “All You Need Is Now”
Nearly three decades after first hitting the Hot 100, the band from Birmingham, then recording as a quartet, was on the verge of scoring their first #1 on my chart since 2005’s “What Happens Tomorrow”, which became my top single of that year. “Now” was co-written by producer Mark Ronson. Is there anything new coming from the group in 2014? We’ll see.

04. JASON ALDEAN featuring KELLY CLARKSON, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
Coming off a run of two weeks at #1 on the Country chart, “Stay” was crossing over to the mainstream airwaves, and was about to start its first of four weeks at the top of my own chart. It was one of the biggest duets of 2011. Clarkson remains a chart mainstay and while Aldean continues to regularly rank on Country radio, he hasn’t entered my survey since this.

03. ADELE, “Rolling In The Deep”
The last time I featured 2011 on the Flashback, this single was “rolling” its way up to six frames in the #1 spot. However, even musical miracle workers can’t rest at the top forever, and thus, it was holding at #3 and on its way down. What can I say that hasn’t been said about 21 and all the support for it and its singles? It was the kind of era we may never see again.

02. ANDY GRAMMER, “Keep Your Head Up”
One of the worst records I can think of when it comes to the charts is possessing the single that spends the most weeks at #2 without ever hitting #1. Well, Grammer holds it on my survey with this song, which spent eight weeks knocking on the door to the top, only to leave empty-handed. Luckily, he’s recovered very nicely with three consecutive top five singles.

01. PINK, “F**kin’ Perfect”
Spending a second week in a row at the top was this pop anthem, the first #1 for the singer on my top 40 since 2008’s “So What”. “Perfect” was the second of two songs released from Greatest Hits… So Far!!!, which has been certified Platinum in the States. I guess that proves she’s not just an acrobat in concert; she can really swing on those spectacular successes. The colorful chanteuse last charted last fall with “Walk Of Shame”, a single exclusive to Australia that missed my top 20.

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback and don’t forget to follow the blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.

ALBUM REVIEW: Christina Perri – Head Or Heart

A Perri good effort indeed.

Life changed pretty quickly for singer Christina Perri during the summer of 2010 when her debut single, “Jar Of Hearts”, was featured in a performance on the FOX show So You Think You Can Dance. Three weeks later, she was signed, and her single took the slow and steady approach up the radio charts, breaking the Hot AC top ten by January 2011 and eventually topping the 3 million mark in sales. Her first full-length album, lovestrong., followed in the spring and debuted in the top 5 on the Billboard 200. Three more singles, a 2012 Christmas EP and lots of tour stops later, she’s returned with a gorgeous new album titled Head Or Heart; you’ll have to use both to pick up a copy of this.

The majority of the album is spearheaded by the great British producer Jake Gosling, who does an amazing job with the cuts he worked on. He’s previously worked with acts like Ed Sheeran and One Direction, and he gives the tracks he created with Perri such a life and energy that the experience is not only entertaining, but a genuine one. Head Or Heart marks a set of songs about a woman and her newfound romance, one who has overcome a lot and yet still has some doubts amongst her many desires. Yet, the days of lovestrong. are gone. This is a new era, and this is a new Christina Perri.

It all begins with opener “Trust”, one of the more emotive songs on here and one that seems to be influenced by the new age genre. Perri takes a direct approach in the lyrics: “I knew better than to trust myself, to trust someone else/To trust the lies that slip from my mouth, trust the heart I’m so quick to sell.” That’s some pretty strong language, but they are words from a matured and experienced singer. Following that is second single, “Burning Gold”, an emphatic expression of passion as co-written by Tom Hull, better known as musician Kid Harpoon. The result is a piece not unlike Florence + The Machine, whom Hull also worked with, dazzling in a percussive-driven pop radiance.

Tracks three and four on the album are the most single-worthy of the bunch, led by the sweet sounds of “Be My Forever”, a bubbly and charismatic tune that matches Perri with singer Ed Sheeran to an absolutely perfect result. (Although, shhh… I would’ve secretly loved to hear co-writer Jamie Scott as the male lead on it.) From one lover to the other, Perri gleefully sings, “We’re on top of the world, now darling, so don’t let go.” This has future wedding song written all over it, regardless of the season, although it does lend itself nicely to a warm spring or autumn day. From there is the dramatic, but truly real “Human”, co-written by Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls. With a tender build, enhanced by a lyric about the flaws we all possess and try to look beyond, it’s a stellar number and, as you may know from reading my chart, spent six weeks at #1 and currently ranks as one of my top songs of 2014 thus far. It’s beautiful.

You probably don’t want to hear me go on for hours about this, but the thirteen tracks that encompass Head Or Heart make for one cohesive listening experience. Other favorites from the list include the dreamy “One Night”, about a woman “so out of breath and hungry” for her love that she wants to “be the moon hanging over” and “the star falling where you are,” as well as “Sea Of Lovers”, which brings Perri into metaphorical mode against an arrangement reminiscent of Coldplay‘s “Yellow”. She sings, “You’re the only way out of this sea of lovers losing time/…will you let me follow you wherever you go?/Bring me home.” Ballad “The Words” introduces a slightly darker tone into the mix, perhaps comparable as the “Jar” of this album, as does “Butterfly”, which slightly resembles the Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram duet, “Somewhere Out There”. I also have give props once again to Jamie Scott, who co-wrote “Shot Me In The Heart”, which is just pure pop goodness.

Like any album, this one could’ve had a tweak or two particularly about two-thirds into it, but it’s not serious enough to put a damper on it. Believe me, Head Or Heart was one of my most anticipated albums of this year since first heard “Human” in the middle of November, and it’s far from disappointing. With all the new writers, producers and collaborators participating on the effort, it’s wonderful to see that the time and work all paid off. To see the confidence boost and growth in any artist is admirable, but to also love their love is something really special. Since “Human” is still growing at radio, and Perri’s base of fans is growing along with it, my own confidence in the record is pretty high as well. You won’t want to pass it over.

As she states at the end of closer “I Believe”, “This is not the end of me/This is just the beginning.” We can all believe in that.

(Stream and pre-order Christina Perri’s Head Or Heart, due in stores April 1)

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (March 25)

Her hits (and hips) don’t lie.

Rumor has it that there’s a she wolf in the closet and yet another animal on the loose in record stores today. Welcome to the jungle. Here’s what you need to know about on the schedule for the week of March 25:

• Her collaboration with Rihanna, “Can’t Remember To Forget You”, may have been a dud on the radio charts, but Colombian singer Shakira is still soldiering with her new self-titled album. The current single from it is titled “Empire”. It will likely debut somewhere in the top 5 with a smaller sales total from her last English effort, 2009’s She Wolf. (iTunes)
• Already responsible for a pair of big hits on the R&B survey, “Gas Pedal” and “Red Nose”, California rapper Sage The Gemini is out with his debut album, Remember Me. This will also likely find a spot in the top 5 as a third single makes it onto radio. (iTunes)
• As singer Jerrod Niemann once sang, “What’s so wrong with one more drinkin’ song?” Well, “Drink To That All Night” is now a major Country hit, and his High Noon album makes it into stores this week. It should break into the top 15, if not the top ten. (iTunes)
• Swag pop duo Karmin wanna raise Pulses with their debut album and first major release since their EP Hello two years ago. Unfortunately, given their relationship with the record label, that probably isn’t going to happen. The has produced two charting U.S. singles, “Acapella” and “I Want It All”. (iTunes) (My review of Pulses)
• Can you believe that Elton John‘s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is 40 years old? Featuring classics like “Candle In The Wind”, the title track and “Harmony”, it deserves to be celebrated. So, a new deluxe edition is out in several different packages, including a remastered edition with bonus tracks and a companion disc with acts like Ed Sheeran, Fall Out Boy and The Band Perry all putting their own spin on cuts from the album. (iTunes)
• From out of the archives and now out to the public, a series of shelved recordings dating back to the 80’s from the late Johnny Cash, titled Out Among The Stars, is now available. (iTunes)
• For soundtrack releases this week, check out the compilation from the upcoming film Rio 2 (iTunes), featuring songs from Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, as well as second volume of music from the fourth season of AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead. (iTunes)
• Other releases out this week include: Animals As Leaders‘s The Joy Of Motion (iTunes), Asia‘s Gravitas (iTunes), Barry Manilow‘s Night Songs (iTunes), Miles Davis‘s The Bootleg Series, Vol. 3: Miles At The Fillmore (iTunes), My Chemical Romance‘s May Death Never Stop You (The Greatest Hits 2001 – 2013) (iTunes), QUE‘s Who Is QUE. (EP) (iTunes), Rod Stewart‘s Live 1976-1998: Tonight’s The Night (iTunes), Sleeper Agent‘s About Last Night (iTunes) and The Hold Steady‘s Teeth Dreams (iTunes).

New digital-only EPs and singles that you can buy this week include:

• “Crazy Lucky”, a new single from rockers Better Than Ezra. (iTunes)
• “Crazy Stupid Love”, the first radio release from newcomers My Crazy Girlfriend. (iTunes)
• “Fever”, the first single from The Black Keys‘s new Turn Blue album. (iTunes)
• “Whispers”, a new track from Passenger‘s forthcoming album. (iTunes)

Next week, Christina Perri‘s Head Or Heart leads the pack of new albums, with the She Looks So Perfect (EP) from 5 Seconds Of Summer also making some waves. How will they chart, along with Dan & Shay and MKTO? A full preview is coming in seven!

SINGLE REVIEW: Andy Grammer – “Back Home”

“Home” is where the chart is.

(Listen to “Back Home”) (Download “Back Home” on iTunes **APRIL 8**)

Shortly before Halloween in 2010, I discovered a video from a newcomer that really caught my eye. In the clip, you could choose which direction you wanted it to continue in from a series of two options, a bit like the Goosebumps books I’d read as a kid. Well, it took a few months for the song behind it to finally be serviced to radio, but when it did, it became the first hit for a then 27-year-old singer named Andy Grammer, and what a ride it’s been for him since.

With three singles ranking on the Hot AC chart, two making the Hot 100 and achieving Gold (“Fine By Me”) and Platinum (“Keep Your Head Up”) certification, and a solid album to boot, it’s been a great first few years for both Grammer and S-Curve Records, who signed him four years ago. Since third release “Miss Me” peaked, however, not much has been known about his second album. An EP from the singer, consisting of the live-tested “Crazy Beautiful” and “I Choose You”, made their debut in May, but neither saw much promotion besides a small appearance on The Bachelorette. When I interviewed producer and songwriter Matt Radosevich in early December, he noted that he was involved in the sessions for the effort, but wasn’t sure when it would be out. Now, we have our first official taste of it in a new single called “Back Home”.

Mixing Grammer’s signature sound with a noticeably more folk-driven twist, the now 30-year-old singer’s latest tune is an ode to the good ol’ days and sticking to your roots, one that’s particularly infectious, I might add. Lyrically, the song tells of he and friend, presumably at the bar, toasting to “nights that you can’t take back” and how “we live hard, but we love to laugh.” He sings of how they planned to “get rich fast” by means of relocation, only to realize that money “don’t compare to the friends that last.” Yet, through the troubles and uncertain times that occur with growing up, hometown pride is also a constant: “We won’t forget where we came from/This city won’t change us/We beat to the same drum.”

This sentiment continues in a sing-along chorus, ending on the message that “we always find our way back home.” Into the second verse, the two friends reminisce about the memories of “cheap sunglasses/Red Bull and minivans/And people who had your back when the world didn’t understand.” Now that time has passed and their experiences have returned them to the place where they started, they two realize that despite the changes and much like they began their night, “we’ll still be raising our cups to the same damn things.” It’s a concrete story and one that I’m sure is relatable on more than one level to  Grammer’s core audience. While many recent acts have cruised into that pop-folk crossover, this single, thankfully, does not sound as forced and should be enjoyed for what it is: a nice song with a positive vibe.

Even though the material is worthy of being a hit and I’m sure his base will come out when the song is up for downloading, the radio situation is a little bit concerning at the moment. S-Curve doesn’t have as much pull at radio as it did a few years ago with acts like Duran Duran and We The Kings, mostly because the landscape of the formats have changed and so have the panels in terms of their ratios of large company stations versus independent ones. However, given that Grammer is one of their bigger artists at the moment, perhaps they’ll be able to build up their resources in order to deliver on giving him a proper leadoff to his second album.

Look out for “Back Home” on a radio station playlist near you when it’s serviced later this week and be sure to support the latest project from Andy Grammer by downloading his new single when it hits digital retailers on Tuesday.

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: March 23, 2014

Lighting up the chart again.

DEBUTS
39. Guy Sebastian – Like A Drum
38. Hedley – Crazy For You | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
29. Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne – Rather Be (36)
26. Rixton – Me And My Broken Heart (32)
19. Phillip Phillips – Raging Fire (29) | BIGGEST MOVER — two weeks
15. Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better (21)
11. Coldplay – Magic (18)
08. DJ Cassidy featuring Jessie J & Robin Thicke – Calling All Hearts (13)

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. Eric Hutchinson – Tell The World (10) | PEAK: #10
09. Grouplove – Shark Attack (06) | PEAK: #03
08. DJ Cassidy featuring Jessie J & Robin Thicke – Calling All Hearts (13) | PEAK: #08
07. The 1975 – Settle Down (08) | PEAK: #07
06. Christina Perri – Human (04) | PEAK: #01 for six weeks
05. Gary Barlow and Elton John – Face To Face (07) | PEAK: #05
04. MAGIC! – Rude (02) | PEAK: #02
03. Foster The People – Coming Of Age (05) | PEAK: #03
02. Bastille – Bad Blood (03) | PEAK: #02
01. Neon Trees – Sleeping With A Friend (01) | PEAK: #01 for four weeks

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Vance Joy – Riptide (3)
2. Benny Tipene – Make You Mine (1)
3. Chromeo – Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (9)
4. Foster The People – Best Friend (-)
5. O.A.R. – Peace (7)
6. Taylor Henderson – When You Were Mine (10)
7. Sheppard – Geronimo (-)
8. Aer – Says She Loves Me (2)
9. Gary Barlow – Since I Saw You Last (-)
10. One Direction – You & I (-)

In The Mix:
5 Seconds Of Summer – She Looks So Perfect
Andy Grammer – Back Home (new)
Augustana – Ash And Ember
Avril Lavigne – Give You What You Like (new)
Betty Who – Heartbreak Dream
Christina Perri – Burning Gold
Daughtry – Battleships
Grizfolk – The Struggle
Hot Chelle Rae – Don’t Say Goodnight
Hunter Hayes – Invisible
Imagine Dragons – Bleeding Out (new)
Matt Cardle – Hit My Heart
Miner – Hey Love
OneRepublic – I Lived
Parmalee – Carolina
Ray LaMontagne – Supernova
Sebell – Till The Sun Burns Out
Strange Talk – Young Hearts

Chart Notes:

• In three weeks, the latest from Coldplay has gone from 28-18-11 on the chart, titled “Magic”. It’s gaining airplay at four U.S. radio formats, including Alternative and Hot AC. Should it break the top ten on the Hot 100, it would be the first magical title to rank there since “Magic” by B.o.B featuring Rivers Cuomo peaked at #10 in 2010, and the first by a band to do it since America‘s “You Can Do Magic” went to #8 in 1982.
• “Raging Fire” once again captures the title as the Biggest Mover of the week for 23-year-old Phillip Phillips. The song jumps from 29-19 as it also advances in the top 20 at Hot AC radio. “Raging” leads Phillip’s sophomore album, which is due later this spring.
• Fresh off a good first adds week at U.S. radio, the former U.K. #1 smash from Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne, “Rather Be”, climbs from 36-29 this week. Despite a small amount of airplay thus far, the single is already making its way up iTunes and looks to sell about 5,000 copies this week. It’s a start! Watch out for this one on the Hot 100 this summer.
• Their single “Anything” peaked at #32 earlier this year; now, Hedley returns to my chart with “Crazy For You”, debuting at #38. It’s currently hovering around the top ten on Canada’s Hot 100. “Crazy” is the second single taken from Wild Life, which was released last November in Canada and sees a U.S. release in May.
• The only other debut this week is from Australian singer Guy Sebastian, inat #39 with “Like A Drum”. Last fall, it hit #4 down under. It’s his first hit to reach my chart, though he’s been reaching the ARIA Singles survey at a good rate since his debut in 2003.

(See my full chart on the M4BCC message board)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: March 25, 2012

They’re on each other’s “Team”.

Welcome back for another edition of Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my new top 40 goes up for the week, I’ll be featuring a past countdown straight from chart files of Adam’s Top 40. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on. The idea of graduating from college was all too real at this point during Senior Year. It was one crazy time. Meanwhile, here’s what was happening on my chart dated March 25, 2012:

Debuts:
40. THE FRAY, “Run For Your Life”
39. COLBIE CAILLAT (featuring COMMON), “Favorite Song”
37. DANIEL POWTER, “Cupid”
35. CARLY RAE JEPSEN, “Call Me Maybe”

Biggest Mover:
GRAFFITI6, “Stare Into The Sun” (36-28) (8 spots)

10. ADAM LAMBERT, “Better Than I Know Myself”
Nowadays, you might call him Starchild, the nickname of his character on the FOX show Glee. However, in the spring of 2012, Lambert was in the middle of promoting his album Trespassing. “Better” peaked for two weeks at #8, his third top ten single on my chart. During the summer, he’ll be touring with Queen and then releasing his third album later in 2014.

09. KATY PERRY, “Part Of Me”
Originally written and recorded in 2010 for the album Teenage Dream, the finalized version of “Part” (with an alteration in both lyrics and production) didn’t see a release until early 2012 when the album was rereleased. It entered at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to strong digital sales and a pretty large airplay debut. She still tops the charts two years later.

08. ADELE, “Set Fire To The Rain”
From her sophomore album 21, you know this song well and yes, you can actually produce a flame in rain. It just takes a little bit of chemistry. No demonstrations, please. What this song was demonstrating, however, was mighty chart muscle. “Set” was the third #1 in a row from that album following “Rolling In The Deep” and “Someone Like You”. That’s too hot.

07. THE SCRIPT, “If You Ever Come Back”
Released as the third single from Science & Faith, “Back” became the fifth top 5 single in a row for this Irish trio, going as high as #4. It wasn’t nearly as successful on any national charts and was only released in a handful of countries. Several months later, the group would return to the #1 spot for four frames with “Hall Of Fame”, a collaboration with will.i.am.

06. GRAFFITI6, “Free”
Not only did the duo of Jamie Scott and Tommy Danvers have the week’s Biggest Mover with “Sun”, but they were also working their way down the top ten with their former #1. “Free” spent four weeks at the top and became my top single of 2012. Though a new album from the two has yet to be released, Scott is previewing material from a new solo project live.

05. ONE DIRECTION, “One Thing”
After the ballad “Gotta Be You” just missed making my top ten during the fall of 2011, the five guys from London headed in a, well, different Direction. The energetic and fun “Thing” was at its peak on my chart a few weeks before it started to build on U.S. radio. The quintet is currently on my survey with two songs, “Story Of My Life” and “Midnight Memories”.

04. ED SHEERAN, “The A Team”
Holding in place at #4 for a second week was the debut hit for Sheeran, whose song peaked at #3 the previous summer in the United Kingdom. “Team” would spend a week at #1 in April and earned him a nomination for Song Of The Year at the GRAMMY Awards. The performer returns with a second album later this year. Look for a new single in about two weeks.

03. KELLY CLARKSON, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Here’s one of the top singles to reach my chart from the former American Idol winner. She’s gone to the top three times, but unfortunately, “Stronger” got stuck at #2 for four weeks behind an even stronger #1. It was very close. The singer’s been back into the top ten two times since this song, going to #9 with “Catch My Breath” and to #6 with “People Like Us”.

02. TRAIN, “Drive By”
The Save Me, San Francisco did wonders for this trio, responsible for four consecutive top ten singles on my chart. Two years ago, they followed it up with California 37, and “Drive” took the highway to #1 for three weeks. All in all, this era also landed four songs in the top ten, and it sets up the band particularly well for whatever is next. Looking forward to it!

01. GOTYE featuring KIMBRA, “Somebody That I Used To Know”
It was the biggest duet of 2012 and with sales of 7.5 million copies in the U.S. alone, it also ranks as one of the top-selling hits of all-time. Who knew a simple song from Australia would travel around the world and strike it so big? Thankfully, it was an awesome tune, and it spent seven weeks at #1 on my personal chart. Both acts have made my top 40 since this fell off the chart: the former rose to #7 for three weeks with “Eyes Wide Open” and the latter got to #30 with “Settle Down”.

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback and don’t forget to follow the blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.

Be Good Johnny: The “Doe” Re Mi Of Chart Ditties

From dusk ’til “John”.

The latest single from B.o.B is a collaboration with Priscilla on a song called “John Doe”. For the North Carolina rapper, it’s his sixth top 40 hit on the CHR chart as a main credit act, while it becomes the second for the singer who once charted as Priscilla Renea. (You may remember her minor 2009 entry called “Dollhouse”.) Sometimes, it’s all in the name, and in this case, a first name that’s been used in a lot of other hit singles throughout the decades. Considering that it was the 75th most popular name for boys last year, there’s quite a few more of them in the world.

So, with all the “John” song titles out there, I’ve limited it to just those that hit the top ten. After all, we can only hope that “John Doe” rises to the same region this summer. There’s some classic tunes among the handful of titles, plus a few fluffy numbers that are just so sugary sweet. Get ready to take attendance, because the pop pupils are all here:

Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode” (#8, 1958)
He’s an icon and a pioneer of early rock ‘n’ roll music in the 1950’s. Released during the summer of 1958, “Goode” peaked just a few weeks before Billboard introduced its Hot 100 chart and climbed to #8 on what was then known as the Top 100.

Jimmy Dean, “Big Bad John” (#1, 1961)
Before breaking into the Breakfast business, Dean was a Country singer, and his biggest single topped that chart along with the Hot 100. After a string of hits in the 60’s, he would last break the Hot 100 in 1975. Dean passed away in 2010 at age 81.

Shelley Fabares, “Johnny Angel” (#1, 1962)
Known for her role on The Donna Reed Show, Fabares went from actress to singer and scored a #1 hit with her debut chart single. She managed another moderate hit for Colpix Records, a followup called “Johnny Loves Me”, which peaked at #21.

Joanie Sommers, “Johnny Get Angry” (#7, 1962)
The singer from Buffalo, NY broke into Billboard’s top ten in 1962 with what’s considered one of the more unusual songs in her catalogue of jazz and standards. It was her only top 40 single, and by the 1970’s, she began to pursue commercial work.

The Beach Boys, “Sloop John B” (#3, 1966)
Now, this “John” obviously isn’t a person; it refers to a sail boat of sorts, and it cruised through the chart waters to the high tides of the top 5. The origins of the song date back to the 1920’s. “Sloop” has been covered by several acts since it charted.

Dion, “Abraham, Martin and John” (#4, 1968)
After a string of flops, the former teen idol turned to religion, got clean, and recorded the original version of this tribute to four important American figures. It was a much-needed comeback, becoming his biggest song in five years and going Gold.

In 1971, a medley of this song along with “What The World Needs Now Is Love” went to #8 in a unique composition by disc jockey Tom Clay. It also featured interviews and clips from political figures of the time.

The Beatles, “The Ballad Of John and Yoko” (#8, 1969)
As “Get Back” topped the Hot 100 for five weeks, this tune was released as a followup to it, spending three straight weeks at #8 in July. Some radio stations at the time objected to playing the song due to religious issues. Of course, it’s all fine today.

El DeBarge, “Who’s Johnny?” (#3, 1986)
After leaving his family group at the end of their most successful era, he scored as a solo act in 1986 with a single from the film Short Circuit. Neither of the two followups from a self-titled album out later that year on Gordy Records went top 40.

For more games with names and titles with titles, follow the blog below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab.

Record Store Day 2014: Adam’s Top Picks

Shop ’til you drop.

It’s time yet again for another round of setting your Saturday morning alarm clock for 7AM, hopping out of bed and taking a trip to the local independent record store for another edition of Record Store Day. The seventh edition of this massive music fest is on April 19, so get ready to add to your collection with another set of exclusive CD and vinyl pieces. Heck, it may be even better than Christmas. Just remember to get there early, or you may miss out on what you want!

Later today, you’ll be able to see the full of release on the official RSD website. For now, here are ten vinyl releases that are already confirmed that I hope to pick up! (Thanks to Wax Poetic for their coverage as well.)

AMERICAN AUTHORS & THE MOWGLI’S – “In A Big Country”/”You Make My Dreams”
Format: 7″ single

It’s been four months since “Best Day Of My Life” hit #1 on my chart, but the band originally from Boston and now based in Brooklyn puts their spin on the 1983 Big Country single, which they performed on The Carrie Diaries last fall. On the flip side, the California pop septet take on a 1981 classic from Hall & Oates, a live favorite of theirs. It should be a fun release.

BASTILLE – “Of The Night”
Format: 10″ EP
View artwork

“Night” is a former #1 single on my top 40 for two weeks and it also went top 5 in multiple European territories. The lineup on here is the same as its release overseas, with the album cut, the Icarus and MNEK mixes, and a live version of “Oblivion” recorded at the Capitol Studios in Hollywood. This is also one of the few picture discs of the bunch. I highly recommend it!

BLEACHERS – “I Wanna Get Better”
Format: 7″ single
View artwork

In addition to an EP I’m looking at by fun., which you’ll see later down in the list, this new Jack Antonoff led band is also putting out a release of their own. “Better” is already soaring towards the top 20 on my weekly list and I’m quite excited to hear what the full album sounds like. The 7″ features an album version and a remix by Vince Clarke from the duo Erasure.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – The ’69 Singles
Format: 10″ EP
View artwork

They were one of the biggest acts of the late 60’s and today, they’re all over Classic Rock radio. Celebrating 45 years since some of their greatest successes, this 10″ EP combines four consecutive hit singles from the band: “Proud Mary”/”Born On The Bayou”, “Bad Moon Rising”/”Lodi”, “Green River”/”Commotion” and lastly, “Down On The Corner”/”Fortunate Son”.

FUN. – Point And Light
Format: 10″ EP

In 2012, the trio released a RSD-exclusive EP titled The Ghost That You Are To Me. (I was able to find a copy of it.) Their latest vinyl EP, five tracks in total, is a collection of demos from their first album, Aim and Ignite, released on Nettwerk in fall 2009. The track list includes “At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)”, “I Wanna Be The One” and “The Gambler”.

MAYER HAWTHORNE & SHINTARO SAKAMOTO – “Wine Glass Woman”/“In A Phantom Mood”
 Format: 7″ single

This split single featuring a cut from Hawthorne’s Where Does This Door Go? (a fantastic album, I might add) and a 2012 song from the Tokyo singer. Hawthorne has another RSD release this year as Jaded Incorporated, in which he partners with producer 14KT. That 7″ single, “Black Future”/”People Change”, is shaped like a triangle and costs significantly more.

NEON TREES – “Sleeping With A Friend”
Format: 7″ single
View artwork

This Utah band is also back for another RSD: two years ago, they issued a heart-shaped vinyl single of their hit “Everybody Talks.” However, not everybody was talking, because I was never able to find it. Very sad indeed. However, with this song being the current #1 single on my personal chart, I would hope there’s a better chance of locating this one. Stock up, folks.

ONE DIRECTION – “Midnight Memories”/“Rock Me (Live)”
Format: 10″ vinyl EP
View artwork

I know what you’re saying: this can’t be right, Adam. However, it very much is. The quintet is putting out a 10″ picture disc for the big day, which features their current U.K. single on the a-side and a live version of a fan favorite from their concert picture, One Direction: This Is Us, on the b-side. Have you seen the cover? It’s totally tubular, for sure. I love the 80’s fun.

RAY PARKER, JR. – “Ghostbusters”
Format: 10″ single
View (original) artwork

Speaking of the 80’s, I think you better call someone to pick up this release, which turns 30 years old in 2014! I apologize if that makes you feel old. Containing the original edit and dance mixes/dubs, along with an instrumental version, the record itself is also glow in the dark, which is a cute little novelty. Plus, who can resist a classic pop song? Let’s party like it’s 1984.

R.E.M. – MTV Unplugged: The Complete 1991 And 2001 Sessions
Format: 4 LP set
View artwork

This is bound to be one of the most sought after releases this season, which combines both performances by the band from Unplugged in 1991 and 2001. In addition to what aired on MTV, there are eleven unaired numbers on here: five from the former show and six from the latter. The trio’s always been pretty generous with their RSD givings, and this is no different.

More awesome pop choices:
BETTY WHO – “Heartbreak Dream”/”Somebody Loves You (Acoustic)” (7″ single)
COLDPLAY – “Magic”/“Midnight” (7″ single)
HAIM – “Forever” (12″ single)
MKTO – “Classic” (7″ single)
PARAMORE – “Ain’t It Fun” (12″ single)
RAY LAMONTAGNE – “Supernova”/”Pick Up A Gun” (7″ single)
THE STANDELLS – “Dirty Water”/”Twitchin’ Clear” (7″ single)

Are you looking forward to the RSD celebration and is there another release not listed here that you’ve got to have? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter: click the “Get Social!” tab above to find us on there.