Charting the internet pop world one blog post at a time.
Here’s what my iTouch shuffled for me today on my way home from work:
Pet Shop Boys “So Hard”
Breit Brothers “Feel My Body Shakin'”
David Usher “We Are Wolves Here (Electric City)”
Bob Seger “Hollywood Nights”
Demi Lovato “Here We Go Again”
Hugh Masekela “Don’t Go Lose It Baby”
Level 42 “Starchild”
Cyndi Lauper “She Bop”
Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins “It’s Like That” (video below)
The shakedown of favourites is beginning on this edition of my personal chart. I have a bit of a ‘recurrent’ rule – songs drop off the chart automatically after 10 appearances (20 weeks), and 3 of my favourite songs of the year will do just that as Dan Black’s “Symphonies”, Gary Go’s “Wonderful” and Mans Zelmerlow’s “Rewind” hit that pinnacle.
But there are plenty of great tunes that remain, as Dan Black and Mika both continue their reign at the top of the chart. That same Dan Black is back in the Top 5 with “Pump My Pumps”, while Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Michael Buble, and Lady GaGa all arrive in the Top 10.
As with two weeks ago, Simon Curtis is a talent to watch with the very hit-worthy but free download “Delusional” once again the fastest riser on the chart (I’ll be blogging about Simon’s latest free download preview of 8Bit Heart called “Diablo”, too!). Lifehouse is back in hit territory with “Halfway Gone”, and Luigi Masi has a new EP out called On Your Radar which features his previously free download “Radar”. Other debuts from last week by Roisin Murphy, Michael Buble, and Kris Allen get stuck in a logjam but should soar in two weeks.
It seems hard to believe, being in December, but I’ll have only one more chart before my year end Best of 2009 is published. Watch for it!
This edition has three debuts. Those producers extraordinaire, Sweden’s Bloodshy & Avant, along with American singer Andrew Wyatt, comprise Miike Snow, and their latest catchy piece of business is “Black And Blue (Savage Skulls Remix)”, available for free download using the link on the chart. The previously blogged-about medley of “Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing” by Pet Shop Boys is also a new arrival to the chart. But my focus this week is on new UK vocalist V.V. Brown, who you may have heard this past summer with “Shark In The Water”. I wasn’t a big fan of that song, and I am hardly one for cover versions (yet I’ve also charted PSB’s version of “Viva La Vida”…hmmm), but her version of one of my favourite Rolling Stones songs, their 1978 #1 “Miss You”, is a stunner and is my highest debut.
You can find the full chart here or in a link on the right sidebar. Enjoy!
I’m the worst one to want to talk about anything to do with the holidays until later in November, but knowing that Pet Shop Boys have an intriguing EP in store for us makes it all seem a little warmer. News came from Twitter @petshopboys yesterday.
1. It Doesn’t Often Snow At Christmas
2. My Girl (cover of a Madness song)
3. All Over The World
4. Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing (medley)
5. My Girl (“Our House” mix)
It’s one of their lesser songs and videos, but it is their latest, and here’s the video for “Did You See Me Coming”.
I was thrilled to interview Pet Shop Boys in 1987 just as their second album “actually” was being released in Canada. Though I have my tape-recorded conversation with them in my files, I had mislaid my written copy of the actual interview until recently, when I found them safe and sound during a house-cleaning session, along with a lot of my other writing from the time.
I’ve had requests over the years to transcribe this particular interview, but could never find the copy.
That time has finally come – I’ve posted the interview HERE for anyone who is interested in reading it. Personally, I think it’s one of my finest moments 
Enjoy!
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