Adele Still Riding High

She's unstoppable!!!

By now everyone knows that Adele has had a year that most singers can only dream of. And as we come to the end of June, the British dynamo continues to dominate the music world.

Her sophomore album 21 is celebrating it's 16th week as the #1 album in the WORLD, and has passed the 6 million mark in sales, making it the best-selling album of the year. It also looks as if it will remain the biggest record of 2011, seeing as Lady Gaga made a big splash in her debut week, but quickly gave up the throne to Adele yet again.

Her single "Rolling in the Deep" has also been #1 in the U.S. for the past 6 weeks, blowing all of the pop-tart-lip-syncing-wannabes out of the water!

I'm not really going out on a limb here, but I'll make the predictions that she will not only win album of the year at the Grammy Awards, but she'll SWEEP the entire ceremony, winning record and song of the year as well!

GO ADELE!!

(Image courtesy of singersroom.com)

Brit's Record Breaking Week

Brit's done it again!!

This week has been a whirlwind of activity for the queen of pop, starting with the news that her 7th studio album, Femme Fatale, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her 6th chart topping album.

This puts her in a tie for second place among women for the most #1 albums in history (tied with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson), only behind Madonna (7) and Barbra Streisand (9).

That's pretty good company if you ask me!

Her latest disc sold 276,000 in its first week, a decline from 2008's Circus (which opened at #1 with 505,00), but given that this wasn't her "huge" comeback and the state of the music biz today, that ain't too shabby!!

Britney also becomes the youngest artist ever to have a number one debut album in THREE different decades. She first did it in 1999 with her classic debut album ...Baby One More Time, and then did it 4 more times in the 2000's with Oops...I Did It Again! (2000), Britney (2001), In The Zone (2003), and the aforementioned Circus in 2008.

The only Britney album to not debut at #1 was 2007's Blackout, which had to settle for #2 after Billboard changed its rules about albums being exclusively sold by only one retailer (long story...).

And she's only 29 years old!!!

With her single "Till The World Ends" continuing to ride high on the charts (not to mention a SICK new music video), it looks like Britney is headed for another monster year.

Congrats!!!!

Adele Storms U.S. Album Chart

Sweet Victory!

UK songbird Adele officially cemented her status as a U.S. heavy hitter today, with her sophomore album 21 debuting atop the Billboard 200 with a reported 352,000 copies sold.

That sum is the biggest opener since Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday debuted back in in December both when they both topped 375,000.

21 has been sitting atop the world album charts for 4 consecutive weeks, and with this hefty debut in the U.S. she almost guarantees at least another week ruling the world of music.

And she's only 21 (hence the album title). You know who else is 21? Taylor Swift, and Adele's voice and songs puts Taylor Lautner's ex to shame!!

Here's a run down of this week's top 10 albums:

1. Adele 21 (352,000)

2. Justin Bieber Never Say Never: The Remixes (102,000)

3. Mumford and Sons Sigh No More (71,000)

4. Now That's What I Call Music 37 (58,000)

5. Justin Bieber My World 2.0 (42,000)

6. Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans (37,000)

7. Eminem Recovery (34,000)

8. Rihanna Loud (33,000)

9. Nicki Minaj Pink Friday (33,000)

10. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (28,000)

(Image courtesy of http://timbretantrum.com/)

Adele Vs. Sophomore Slump = No Contest

Adele's 2008 debut 19 was an international phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide and earning her a gaggle of accolades, including 2 Grammys.

And now it looks like she's about to trounce the dreaded sophomore slump, with her latest single "Rolling in the Deep", and the upcoming release of her 2nd disc 21.

The song is soo insatiable, with Adele's husky, sensual vocals completing a track that will definitely be on many critics top 10 lists.

She even beat out our girl Britney on the UK singles chart, (although Miss Spears is still dominating the charts around the globe.)

Check out "Rolling in the Deep", and then go buy it on Itunes!!!

(Image courtesy of http://myfanwymusic.com/)

I Like To "Do It Like A Dude"

My best gay Jack turned me on to this chica, and she has the possibility of breaking in the States pretttyy sooon!

Jessie J.'s single "Do It Like A Dude" is already a top 5 hit in her home country of the UK and I can definitely see it slithering on to North American soil. A rap-sung track somewhat reminiscent of Nicki Minaj, with a sharp bite and danceable beat.

Check out "Do It Like A Dude" and try to, um...do it like a dude?

(Image courtesy of rap-up.com)

90's Throwback

They are the kings of pop in the UK, with 11 #1 singles, but have to settle for one-hit-wonder status in the U.S.

Take That, Britain's biggest boy band EVER hit the U.S. top 10 in 1995 with "Back for Good", a midtempo ballad along the lines of BSB's "I Want it That Way", but vanished after the song dropped off the charts.

Well, they continued to rack up hit after hit in Europe, until band member Robbie Williams (the best decision of his life) left and the group eventually disbanded.

Until 2005, when they reunited and came back in a BIG way. 2006's Beautiful World became one of the biggest albums of the year. And now in 2010, with Robbie Williams back in the mix, their latest album Progress has sold 900,000 copies in the UK in just 3 weeks, cementing the band's status as European icons.

So here's to you, Take That. May you have one more hit in the U.S. before you're gone for good!

(Image courtesy of http://www.livingtv.co.uk/)

Love the Machine

There's been some great female UK acts that haven broken big in the U.S. over the last couple of years; Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Leona Lewis...the list goes on, and now it looks as if there's another destined to make it big.

Florence and the Machine, aka Florence Welch, is a British singer-songwriter who's already scored a multi-platinum album in her home country, but there's a chance she could come to this side of the pond as well!

After taking home the BRIT award (The UK equivalent to the Grammys) for Best Album for her debut Lungs, the songstress saw her album shoot back up into the upper reaches of the album charts.

Her single "You've got the Love" is fantastic, with soaring vocals and an energy that must be electrified even more if you were to see her perform live.

Take a listen to "You've got the Love."

(Image courtesy of lastgasstation.files.wordpress.com)

Blunt has Decade's Top UK Album

British soft-rocker James Blunt earns bragging rights as having the decade's best-selling album in the UK, with his debut Back to Bedlam selling 3.1 million copies since its release in 2005.

Although Blunt only scored one hit in the States with "You're Beautiful", he's been able to maintain his popularity across the pond with successful albums and singles.

Dido's debut album "No Angel" finished second for the decade, while train wreck Amy Winehouse sophomore set "Back to Black" was the third biggest seller of the 2000's.

No U.S. artists cracked the top 10, and the only Non-British act was the Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut, which came in at #9 for the decade.

(Image courtesy of www.swotti.com)

Dance Track of the Day

Lily Allen is one of my favorite British imports. The singer/songwriter may not have super strong pipes, but her songs and lyrics are clever and fun, not to mention a little sassy.

Allen's single "F*ck You" moves in to the #1 position on Billboard's Dance/Club Play songs, and although it is probably a remixed version for the clubs, the original is great!

Some people (Perez Hilton) think Allen is a train wreck in the making with no talent, but she is legit talented!

Check out the tune below!

Lily Allen F*ck You

(Image courtesy of gossipcheck.com)

New Music: Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis has released the first single from her upcoming second CD. The track is called "Happy", and although Lewis' vocals are definitely on point as usual, the song just doesn't do it for me.

It doesn't have that certain something that made you listen to "Bleeding Love" 35 times in a row before you got sick of it.

She performed on the finale of America's Got Talent, check out her performance below!

As an homage to Leona's young career, I've also put a link on from her days when she was competing for the top spot on the British show X Factor (which she won and was the platform for catapulting her into superstardom.) Her performance of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" will give you chills!

Check out both performances!!

"Happy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LrsXRg7ZM8

"I Have Nothing"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5EKgqqfHK0&feature=related

(Image courtesy of images.hitfix.com)

Dance Track of the Day

There's a great new dance track that's been getting some heavy airplay on dance radio, it's the Noisettes "Don't Upset the Rhythm," and it has this great retro feel to it!

The band is from London and have already scored chart success on their side of the pond, and now with "Don't Upset the Rhythm" moving up to #4 on the Dance/Club Play Charts, they are now reaching the USA!

Follow the link below and check it out below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gnXo-ipXHI

(Image courtesy of www.cafemaroon.com)

Noel Gallagher Quits Oasis

Noel Gallagher, lead guitarist and songwriter for one of Britain's biggest bands, Oasis, has quit the group.

On his band's website he posted a note saying "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

Intense! Considering that Liam is his brother! The two have always been known to butt heads over their long career, but who'd have thought it would end the group!

Oasis had one of the best albums of the 90's with What's the Story Morning Glory?, which became a massive success all over the world. Although they continue to be very successful in Europe they have not had a hit in the USA for quite some time.

Looks like they won't have one in the upcoming future either...

(Image courtesy of blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)

Dance Track of the Day: British Invasion

The band is called La Roux, and their song "Bulletproof" is beginning to catch on at dance radio, and I love it! They're like a combination of Robyn and the Ting Tings, very catchy, very eclectic!

The band is up for the Mercury Prize for their self-titled album, and I hope it wins! The Mercury Prize is awarded to the artist or band with the best album in the UK and Ireland.

Check them out below!

"Bulletproof"

No Nevah in Million Yeehs Yo Nahsty

Lily Allen is a tabloid fixture, and a lot of people (perez) trash on her.

She's awesome. Period. Allen's music is clever, sassy and fun. Her sophomore album It's not Me, It's You debut at #1 in the UK and Australia, and #5 in the US.

I think people need to give her more credit than she gets. Ignore her wild drinking antics and focus on what's important: The music!

Check out Lily's performance of her #1 hit "The Fear," a great acoustic rendition!

"The Fear"