Agnes: The Spooky Chart Rigger Interview

Happy Halloween! This year for the fright-filled holiday, I decided to do something a little bit different and d'luvvly—interview Swedish pop minx Agnes Carlsson! After all, she's performing here in Los Angeles (at Cherry Pop—click flier below to enlarge) tomorrow night, on All Hallows' Evening.

Agnes' European hit "Release Me" is currently haunting iTunes, and her second U.K. single "I Need You Now" is set for a November 16 release.

Here now is Agnes talking to D'luv about the delightfully spooky Swedish vampire flick Let The Right One In, cutting her hair to look like Robyn and—shriek!!—Whitney Houston!

ROBBIE DAW: So, you're performing here Los Angeles—or, more exact, West Hollywood, at Cherry Pop—on Halloween. You do realize there are going to be thousands of folks dressed up?
AGNES: Oh, my God! I haven't decided yet, but I don't think I'll be wearing really crazy stuff. Maybe something, because it's Halloween.

RD: Maybe toss on a pair of devil horns, to show what a naughty vixen you are.
AGNES: Exactly! [Laughs]

RD: Oh, who are we kidding? You don't need devil horns. We already know. What's your favorite horror movie?
AGNES: You know, I think those kind of movies are too scary. But if I look at a really scary movie, I have to look at a comedy after. I can say that a movie I really like is The Shining.

RD: Yeah, that one freaked me out as a kid.
AGNES: Oh, yeah. I remember when I saw it, I had my fingers in front of my eyes. It was hard to see anything—I was like, Aaah! I can't look at it!



RD: Did you see the Swedish vampire flick, Let The Right One In? I think it's one of the best horror movies in the past decade.
AGNES: Yeah! It's really good!

RD: It's really sad, too.
AGNES: You've seen it?

RD: Yeah, it came out here in the States last year.
AGNES: Oh, I didn't know that.

RD: It's sad and it's scary. Those two kids in it are really good.
AGNES: I know! It's beautiful, in a way.

RD: You've been to Los Angeles a few times now. Do you ever have time to go shopping while you're here?
AGNES: I haven't, but maybe this time. I love to shop! I hope I'm gonna have some time to just look around.

RD: So, your album Dance Love Pop comes out in the U.K. in November?
AGNES: In December!

RD: When can we expect it here in the States?
AGNES: In January, maybe. I don't know exactly yet. But I'm also going to record some new songs for the U.S. release.

RD: Congratulations on your MTV Europe Music Award nomination, by the way.
AGNES: Thank you! Actually, I'm not going to be there because I'm going to be in Sweden. I think [the show] is in Berlin. I'm not going to do that.

RD: Is it true that when you were younger, you cut your hair to look like Robyn?
AGNES: [Laughs] Yeah, I did! I like her. I love her music. I thought she was so cool. I had to have my hair like her.

RD: You've been traveling nonstop since you won Swedish Idol in 2005. Are you ready to fall over yet?
AGNES: You know, it's exciting, but of course you get tired when you only sleep, like, three hours. But I love it. I'm so happy now that everything is going so well. That gives me energy.

RD: When you go back to Sweden, do you have time to visit with family?
AGNES: I hope so! [Laughs] I'm going back on Monday so I hope to have a day to just meet with my family.

RD: When you're back there, does the paparazzi follow you around?
AGNES: You know, we don't have paparazzi in Sweden. So, no, it's really cool.

RD: Were you surprised at how huge "Release Me" became in England?
AGNES: Well, I remember when me and Anders Hansson, the producer, wrote the song—and also Sharon [Vaughn]—and I remember when we started to record it, all of us said this is a really, really good song. But I'm so happy that a lot of people think that, too. Of course, I was surprised that everything went so well because "Release Me" is on Dance Love Pop—it's my third album and it's also my first album I released outside Sweden. I'm just really happy everything's going so well.

RD: Another artist you've said you always liked is Whitney Houston. Have you heard her new album?
AGNES: I haven't heard her whole new album, but I've heard the single. You know, I saw her when she performed live on Oprah. I think she's really amazing. Of course, she doesn't sound exactly the same, but I think she's still amazing.

RD: She's still had an amazing career. I hope your career turns out just as well!
AGNES: Yes, but without the drugs! [Both laugh]

RD: Well, just don't marry Bobby Brown, doll.
AGNES: Exactly!

RD: Who are you listening to these days?
AGNES: I love La Roux! And I love the song with Kelly Rowland and David Guetta...

RD: "When Love Takes Over!"
AGNES: Yeah! I love that song. I always work out to, [singing beautifully]"When love takes over—"

RD: [Singing horribly off-key, a bird falls out of the sky and plummets to its death] "Yee-aaah!" Speaking of working out, you look great! Do you work out every day?
AGNES: I try to. I have a book, Give Me A Quarter Every Day. The workouts you can do at home, in your hotel room—[she's interrupted by someone correcting her]—[Laughs] Oh! I mean Give Me 50 Minutes Every Day! [Both laugh] It's a really good way to work out when you travel a lot and you don't have a gym everywhere.

RD: Well, you have very nice legs.
AGNES: Oh, thank you!

RD: I posted your U.S. video for "Release Me," and a lot of people have commented on your hairstyle changing. Do your fans bring up your hair a lot?
AGNES: I think they talk about everything! [Laughs] But I just wanted to do something different.

RD: Alright, have a safe flight to L.A. from San Francisco!
AGNES: Are you coming when I perform?

RD: Well, if you twist my arm I might.
AGNES: I hope I can meet you then.

RD: Sold!

Download "Release Me" from U.S. iTunes or the Amazon MP3 store.

Damn You, Sinitta!

So, the other day, my copy of Sinitta's The Hits+ Collection 86-09: Right Back Where We Started From arrived from Amazon U.K. I pulled into the driveway, and there Sinitta was, slumped over against my front door like a hooker making a house call. Yay!

Cut to Thursday, when I went to visit my friend Lisa, and decided to give her a crash course in the magic of Sinitta. But while the paper-thin jams of Simon Cowell's ex were dazzling all within earshot, my car was being towed away outside. I only realized it when I went out to grab my sweatshirt, which I'd left in the car. Something about me parking in front of a school—yeah, as if kids need to go anymore, now that there's XTube and TMZ!

$207 later, after rescuing my wheels from the dregs of North Hollywood, we got right back to where we started from: Torturing Lisa's neighbors with Sinitta at full volume!

The moral of the story is this: The 12" Mix of Wicked album track "I Just Wanna Spend Some Time With You" is why God invented ears, pop kidz!

I Can't Believe Owl City Is #1!

Wow! I never in a million years would have predicted Owl City—aka one-man band consisting of cute indie dude Adam Young—would reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with "Fireflies." It's almost as if the Black Eyed Peas clogged things up for 26 weeks, then came the Drano and the anything-goes floodgates were finally opened!

I honestly feel like "Fireflies" has to be one of the first dreamy synth-pop jams to hit #1 since, like, Tears For Fears' "Everybody Rules The World" back in 1985, or something! And, yeah, it's nice when Britney Spears occasionally tops the charts with her Auto Tune sex jams—but let's face it, her best tunez are long behind her. I always believed that "Fireflies" truly deserved to be a hit, and here it is now—at #1!

Let's have that video one more time:



Over on the Top 200 Albums chart, Owl City's Ocean Eyes jumps from #23 to #8, as well. This is so cool! Ha! I mean, this guy recorded this album in his basement!

So, anyway, Beyonce's sixth single off I Am... Sasha Fierce, "Sweet Dreams," now becomes her fourth to enter the Top 10 (at #10).

Also, Kesha (or Ke$sha)—who D'luv warned you back in March would soon be pop's biggest pole dancer since Samantha Fox—sees her Dr. Luke jam, "TiK ToK," leap from #55 to #22. Speaking of which, Cascada crawls up to a new high of #29 with "Evacuate The Dancefloor."

And Adam Lambert's single "Time For Miracles"—despite what his fans will tell you about it not being a single—debuts at #50. Someone anonymously commented last night that they can't believe how gays aren't supporting Lambert. I'd like to point out that I've written about Adam every f-ing day this week! Sure, I don't like "Time For Miracles," but even some of Adam's lambs have admitted the song is a snooze. Not supportive! Sheesh!

And, finally, while we're on the topic of utterly boring cack, Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" enters the Hot 100 at #100. (That's actually quite high for that trash.)

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Fireflies" - Owl City *1 week*
2. "Watcha Say" - Jason DeRulo
3. "Down" - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne
4. "Party In The U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus
5. "Run This Town" - Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
6. "Paparazzi" - Lady GaGa
7. "Meet Me Halfway" - Black Eyed Peas
8. "3" - Britney Spears
9. "I Gotta Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
10. "Sweet Dreams" - Beyonce

Adam Lambert Is Aiming To Achieve Stunning Blake Lewis-Type Greatness

During my nightly bout with insomnia, I was sitting there thinking, where have I seen that ill-advised purple space background on Adam Lambert's album cover before?

What other American Idol runner-up could possibly have used it? Ah, right—Blake Lewis!

Here's hoping For Your Entertainment has the same success Audio Day Dream did, too! Oh, shit. Wait a minute...

JoJo Defends Gay Marriage, But Her Songs Are Yanked Off iTunes

JoJo posted this pic on her Twitter account the other night, but quite frankly, I was too scandalized by Adam Lambert's bedazzled album cover to make my fingers work enough to upload it!

JoJo has joined the campaign against California's Proposition 8, which defines marriage in the state as being between a man and a woman. In other words, the gays can't get hitched here.

I think JoJo also needs to join the campaign to get her old jams put back on iTunes! Has anyone else noticed that her two albums have been removed (probably following her drama with her label)?

Bring back "Too Little, Too Late"! Also, if you've never read the greatest piece of literature ever unleashed upon humankind—aka, Chart Rigger's JoJo banterview—do it now!

JoJo's third album is due out in January.

All Adam Lambert's Album Cover Is Missing Is Pink Glitter And A Rainbow Brite Doll

Well, this more than makes up for those irked that Adam Lambert was posing with lady box jammed in his face in his Details photo shoot.

The cover of the painted Lamb's album, For Your Entertainment, basically leaves no question about the rocker's sexual leanings. Because, after all, blue hair = gay. Let's hope the traxxx live up to the attempted glam sass.

And, sorry, you thousands of broads who thought you'd one day have your thighs wrapped around the Idol runner-up's face like a feedbag—that mouth ain't for your entertainment.


ALSO SEE:
* It's Time For A Miracle, Adam Lambert!
* Move Over, Rihanna—Adam Lambert's Got 2009's Most Boring Song

The Killers Shack Up In 'Hotel California,' Ready New Holiday EP Offering

The Killers Latin-tinged cover of the Eagles' "Hotel California" has been available on Rhythms Del Mundo's Classics album since August. (You can grab it off iTunes.)

Now the track—which is kind of a snooze—is said to be included on next month's (November 30) Killers EP with yet another of the band's annual holiday offerings for the Red campaign, "Happy Birthday, Guadalupe."

I think that's what I like most about this band—even when they're on "off time" from their studio albums and singles, they still release plenty of goodies in the interim.

That said, as far as their holiday jams go, I don't think they've topped "A Great Big Sled."

Somebody Made A Boo Boo: Grab Cheryl Cole's Album While It's Free!

Girls Aloud's most chav stripper, Cheryl Cole, has found her entire 3 Words album (read Pop Trash Addicts gut-busting review) popping up on Last FM, with each track being available as a free download!

Someone at Polydor's gonna get beaten with a reed over this one. Meanwhile, Cole's single, "Fight For This Love," debuted at #1 on the U.K. singles chart Sunday.

As for 3 Words, it's like when a hooker cries—no one wants to hear that shit, let alone pay for it.

It's Time For A Miracle, Adam Lambert!

Well, after the premiere of Adam Lambert's "Time For Miracles" vid last week—which initially propelled the single to #9 on the iTunes daily downloads chart—the dirge has flizz-opped down to #49 a mere five days later.

Crikey! Has 2012 arrived already and rained down biblical doom upon poor Adam's pop career so soon? Maybe it's just God's will.

Look, it's not that I have anything against Adam. Though, after being told to "die in a fire you insufferable prick" and that "by not supporting Adam, you're a traitor to gays" by several Lamb-tards over the past few months, you'd think I ought to.

I just want the 17 people in charge of the American Idol runner-up's career this month to make better choices for him. After all you don't want him to end up dropped and rooming with Bo Bice in a Tarzana studio apartment, huffing Ajax all day while playing "Time For Miracles" on a continuous loop as the credit card companies keep calling endlessly to make Idol threats into the voicemail that's about to be disconnected—now do you?

The days of a huge blockbuster flick starring Kevin Costner Nicolas Cage Bruce Willis John Cusack producing a hit Diane Warren-esque ballad went down like Monica Lewinsky about 11 years ago.

Adam needs to go about etching out his hit-song career the tried-and-true way: By leaking a sex tape.

Cheryl Cole Might Be A Fat Has-Been Someday

Probably the only thing that could further boost Girls Aloud broad Cheryl Cole's profile these days is if she did an entire episode of the X Factor while sitting on fellow judge Dannii Minogue's lap and bounced up and down like an impatient teen stripper eager to tackle the pole for the first time.

Then, and only then, might Cheryl's debut solo single, "Fight For This Love," have sold a tad more. Instead, the tune still sold an impressive 290,000 copies this past week to debut at #1. This also marked the fastest-selling single in the Britain for 2009. (Geez, if only same magic had worked when American Idol judge Paula Abdul was shilling her attempted "comeback" ditties!)

Here's "Fight For This Love":

Not a bad jam overall. But look, baby—Gary Barlow's first two solo singles went to #1, too. Then before you knew it, he was a porked-out wash-up who got chucked into the flop dumpster.

Speaking of which, Whitney Houston jumped up to #5 with "Million Dollar Bill"! But more exciting is Calvin Harris, whose superb "Flashback" debuts at #30 two weeks ahead of its official release.

Yee-horsey!

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Fight For This Love" - Cheryl Cole *new* *1 week*
2. "Bad Boys" - Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida

3. "Oopsy Daisy" - Chipmunk

4. "Bodies" - Robbie Williams

5. "Million Dollar Bill" - Whitney Houston

6. "Break Your Heart" - Taio Cruz

7. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas
8. "Empire State Of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

9. "Haven't Met You Yet" - Michael Buble
10. "I Got Soul" - Young Soul Rebels *new*

Please Please Please Get Well, Morrissey!

Morrissey collapsed on stage last night after performing one song in Swindon last night. You gotta get better Moz! :*(

Exploring Saint Etienne's 'Foxbase Beta' + Remembering The Kid Who Bought 'Alpha'

I'm listening to the commentary now on the second bonus disc on the limited edition of Saint Etienne's Foxbase Beta—the remixed version of their debut album, Foxbase Alpha.

If you're a Richard X fan, you really oughtta pick this up (if it's still available?), because he pretty much leads the conversation in the commentary on the second disc, Foxbase Extra! It's a bit surprising, since Richard X—to me, at least—always seemed like such a mysterious figure. I guess I just didn't know much about him other than his groovy mixes (Pet Shop Boys, etc.) and productions (Richard X Presents His X Factor, Annie, Liberty X, Sugababes).

I don't wanna go on about the commentary too much, but there's much to gleen from it—such as how much of a complete Etienne fan Richard X has been from day one, not to mention all the little stories and origins of certain tracks and between-song snippets.

Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs also revisit what it was like to be young guys exploring London for the first time, trying to make their first record. That's always been Saint Etienne's charm—at once revealing, while also building up, the mystery and allure of London.

I was 17 when I first bought Foxbase Beta on cassette (along with Bananarama's Pop Life) one Sunday afternoon in 1991 at Disc Jockey, at the local shopping mall in my hometown. There was a dance music radio station in Pittsburgh at the time that occasionally played "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," so the group was on my radar, I suppose.

Jumping to Foxbase Beta, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"—a song I rarely play in its original form now—is totally punched up with the full-on Richard X treatment.

I was driving the other morning when I heard this new version, and I gotta say—that's the best thing to be doing the first time you hear this:

Here, "Girl VII" and "Stoned To Say The Least" are given an equally adrenalin-quickening boost. "She's The One" sounds like classic Richard X. And "Carnt Sleep," while being completely overhauled, somehow retains its minimal, dreamy quality. Also, "Like The Swallow" just completely rawks.

I guess what surprised me was that there are only 13 tracks on Foxbase Beta. That "Kiss And Make Up" and "People Get Real" were never on the original U.K. version of Alpha was completely lost on me all these years! (Apparently they were recorded after the initial British album, but done in time for the U.S. release.)

Yes, this release is definitely worth grabbing for those asking for a review in the comments on my post from earlier this week. I believe only 3,000 of the two-disc version were pressed. Mine is #1909. Check out Saint Etienne.com to see if this one's still available.

If not, the single disc version is going to be made available at some point.

Last thing I wanna say is that with the advent now of album re-releases with commentary, it's often a music geek's dream to find out all the backstory.

But sometimes, there's still that 17-year-old in me stuck in his suburban bedroom, who prefers the unknown—and likes only being able to guess about the places and people these strangers are making music about.

Robbie Williams Will Be An Outstanding Brit

Robbie Williams' comeback is on a roll! The onetime Take That crooner has been singled out to receive the Outstanding Contribution To Music award at the BRITs—i.e., the same prize the Pet Shop Boys were given earlier this year where they did that really rad medley of their hitz with Brandon Flowers and Lady GaGa—in February.

And, kudos to Rob—it's certainly been a banner year for him. Well, banner week, at least. "Bodies" debuted at #2 on the U.K. singles chart this past Sunday, and his Trevor Horn-produced album Reality Killed The Video Star is out November 9.

Hey! The Pet Shop Boys also worked with Trevor Horn on their 2006 Fundamental album. Hmmm.

Robbie is noted for having won 11 BRIT Awards in the past, more than any other artist. So what's one more to stuff in a box up in the attic?

Could This Be The Most Pop Top 10 This Decade?

That headline may be a bold statement—especially given that Britney Spears spent a lone week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "3," and has now been bumped down to #5 by Jay Sean—but hear me out!

With rockers Kings Of Leon now kicked out of the Top 10, Black Eyed Peas have hopped in again in with their their third single off The E.N.D., "Meet Me Halfway." And while we've all railed against the Peas 26-week reign at the top of the chart with what eventually came to be two of the most grating jams in recent years thanks to radio overkill, "Meet Me Halfway" is possibly their most pop offering to date.

Granted, Fergie does sound like an excited teen tramp in denim singing into her mirror before sexing up the biggest metalhead at Hooker High...

Chalk it up to the Cyndi Lauper/"Time After Time"-esque woah-oh-ohs, but I'm actually on board with this BEP choon—well, for the first five weeks or so, at least.

All else remains rather static, save for Cascada doing the Euro-jiggle from #39 to #31 with "Evacuate The Dancefloor" and Pink moving up to #60 with "Funhouse," the fourth single off her same-titled album.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Down" - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne *2 weeks*
2. "Watcha Say" - Jason DeRulo
3. "Party In The U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus
4. "Run This Town" - Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
5. "3" - Britney Spears
6. "Paparazzi" - Lady GaGa
7. "Fireflies" - Owl City
8. "I Gotta Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
9. "Meet Me Halfway" - Black Eyed Peas
10. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift

Move Over, Rihanna—Adam Lambert's In The Lead For Most Boring Song Of The Year

Wonder if when Details cover star Adam Lambert envisioned himself totally rawking out, man! back during his wildest American Idol dreams, he ever pictured himself singing a ballad as bland as "Time For Miracles"?

Kind of makes Rihanna's new gun dirge sound like a peak-hour floor filler.

Plus, didn't Green Day already stake their claim on the "brooding rocker with black hair walking through a storm of angst" front already?

Of course, I mean this all in the kindest way. Kudos to Adam for coming this far. I mean, it's not like we hear Kris Allen crooning the theme song to Avatar or anything.

But here's hoping his full album is a tad more exciting than this first new offering. Fingers crossed for the Max Martin stuff, at least?

The Postman Always Rings 'Foxbase Beta'

Did you order the Richard X mixed re-imagination of Saint Etienne's first album, Foxbase Beta? I'd forgotten all about it—and, lo and behold, it arrived today in the mail!

My butt is dead tired, but I'm gonna pop this trash in and drift off to sleep soon while listening. As a side note, I also got the Saturdays new one on import. Kind of a grower.

That said, it is growing. Though that second song that shamelessly rips off Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown's "No Air" suuuuuucks.

Rihanna's New Album Is 'Rated R', But Her New Single Should Be Rated ZZzzzzzzz

Rihanna's upcoming album, out November 23, is titled Rated R. First single, "Russian Roulette," is produced by Ne-Yo. Here's the single cover:

Ryan Seacrest premiered the single this morning on his KIIS FM morning show and on his blog. Initial thoughts: Snoooooooooooooooze.

Ah well, at least it's likely to do better than Chris Brown's latest, "I Can Transform Ya." Double snooze.

Lily Allen And Elton John Are Kings Of Comedy In The 'Who'd Have Known' Video

Lily Allen is feeling the King Of Comedy vibe—ahem!—in her new vid for my favorite track off It's Not Me, It's You, "Who'd Have Known."

In said Martin Scorsese flick, Robert De Niro and Sandra Bernhard kidnap Jerry Lewis, then Sandy ties him up with—Saran Wrap, is it?—at her apartment and tries to seduce him. It's super classy stuff, and had I not been eight years old when it came out, I probably could have written that scene myself! (Well, I probably could have then, anyway.)

What the F are we talking about again? Oh, right—so in Lily's new clip, she nabs Elton John and drags him back to her flat where she tries to seduce him, as well.

Comedy!

You'll recall that this is the song where Lily didn't have the time (or couldn't be bothered) to clear the rights with Take That, since the piano riff borrows heavily from their own hit single, "Shine." So it almost didn't make it onto her album.

In the end, however, the That gave their full blessing to the mouthy pop starlet.

Alexandra Burke Knocks Robbie Williams Aside, The Saturdays Hit A Sophomore Snag

Alexandra Burke had been outselling Robbie Williams all week, so it's really no surprise that "Bad Boys" pipped "Bodies" to #1 on the U.K. singles chart, really. What is surprising—and, perhaps, what Williams' fans should be celebrating—is that the former Take That member has landed his highest-charting single since "Tripping" reached #2 exactly four years ago this month.

In fact, Robbie hasn't had a #1 single since October 2004's "Radio"—and before that it was his duet with Nicole Kidman, the cover "Something Stupid," back in 2001. So, smile, Robbie Williams fans! Don't toss "Bodies" in the morgue just yet.

I will say this—it seems like forever ago since "Bodies" first popped up. Sometimes you gotta wonder why these labels just don't throw the singles out while the iron's still hot, you know?

Speaking of forever ago, Alexandra Burke first won The X Factor last December, and her cover of "Hallelujah" spent a hookertastic three weeks at #1. Now she's has her second big smasheroo. If only the same could happen for the much maligned Shayne Ward!

Finally, while we're still on the subject of forever ago, maybe forever really is over for the Saturdays, as their same-titled single drops from #2 to #8 this week. The gals' sophomore LP Wordshaker seems to have arrived in full-on slump, mode, too—it debuts with more of a wobble than a shake, at #9 on the album chart.

Hopefully they can get through their, uh, issues. (Ouch!)

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Bad Boys" - Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida *new* *1 week*
2. "Bodies" - Robbie Williams *new*

3. "Oopsy Daisy" - Chipmunk

4. "Break Your Heart" - Taio Cruz

5. "Empire State Of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

6. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas

7. "She Wolf" - Shakira
8. "Forever Is Over" - The Saturdays

9. "Haven't Met You Yet" - Michael Buble *new*
10. "Sexy Bitch" - David Guetta feat. Akon

Sacre Bleu: Timbaland & SoShy's New Single 'Morning After Dark' Est Ooh La La!

Timbaland has been pretty quiet from since the great Madonna Hard Candy disaster of 2008. That's because the pop pimp has been spanking up Shock Value 2, his new collection of jams due out November 23!

First single "Morning After Dark" premiered on Miss Seacrest's KIIS FM morning show yesterday here in Los Angeles. It features French broad SoShy, who looks like Megan Fox. But, like, she's French, so she probably eats a lot of cheese and is into really quirky sex.

Here's "Morning After Dark," which in D'luv's book, gets four gold starz:

Other bitches appearing on Shock Value 2 include Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake (duh!), Nickelback (wretched!) and Esthero (hott!).

Have A Listen To New Lady GaGa Jam 'Alejandro'

Caliente! "Alejandro," one of the eight new tracks on Lady GaGa's upcoming Fame Monster album re-release, has leaked. Between this and "Bad Romance," it's sounding like there might not be much in the way of filler on this record.



When she says "Fernando," it makes me think of ABBA. And when she says "Roberto," it makes me tingle in the cellar.

Lady GaGa Flashes Her 'Fame Monster' Tracks + 'Bad Romance' Single Cover

Lady GaGa fan site GaGa Daily whipped out the busty, pint-sized pop stripper's track listing for upcoming album re-release, The Fame Monster (out November 24).

And hold on to your hats, kidz—there's a song called "Teeth":

1. Bad Romance
2. Alejandro
3. Monster
4. So Happy I Could Die
5. Speechless
6. Dance In The Dark
7. Telephone
8. Teeth

You know, I saw that indie flick Teeth last year, and it had me crossing my legs for a month afterward.

At any rate, here's the official cover for brand new single "Bad Romance":

Same Difference: Baby We Aren't Done

Last year brother-sister duo and former X Factor contestants Same Difference became a brief flash in the pop pan when Simon Cowell signed them and tossed out their aptly-title U.K. album, Pop.

I bought said CD on import, and managed to spill a bottled water all over it in my car one night. Now the damn booklet inside is warped beyond belief.

Anyway, in case you're wondering where these kids are after being unceremoniously dropped from their label, Paul over at Fizzy Pop (pictured above) spanked up a rather fantastic interview with Sean and Sarah last week, wherein they reveal that Pete Waterman is considered to be a god in Japan, and, yes, they were highly guilty of aping High School Musical in their "We R One" video.

"We R One" peaked at #13 last November.

Industry Unveil Third Single 'In Your Arms'

You may recall waaaay back in April when yours d'luvvly posted a 30-second clip of Industry's ballad "In Your Arms."

Now the song is slated as the Irish act's third single, following up the #1-charting "My Baby's Waiting" and "Burn."

Here's the video for "In Your Arms," which was written by hot blondie Lee Hutton:

I don't know—three singles in and these two guys still have their clothes on. How does this band expect to go anywhere?

ALSO SEE:

* Chart Rigger's Interview With Industry's Donal Skehan

'3' Appropriately Becomes Britney Spears Third #1 + The Great Beyonce/La Bouche Scam

Geez, it was only a year ago that Britney Spears kicked off her cleaned-up comeback by nabbing only her second #1 single, "Womanizer," in her 10-year career. And now pop's Energizer Bunny has landed a third Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper with "3."

Britney's classy ode to threesomes also marks the fourth #1 for writer/producer Max Martinin the past year-and-a-half, after Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl," Pink's "So What" and Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You."

As well, "3" actually debuted at #1—something that hasn't happened here since Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud" back in 2006.

Here's a screen shot of the video, which Brixxxey threw up on Twitter yesterday:

Elsewhere on the chart, Owl City deservedly enter the Top 10 this week with "Fireflies," which slides up from #11 to #9.

Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams" is up to #12. Which brings me to pointing something out—has anyone noticed how similar "Sweet Dreams" sounds to La Bouche's 1998 single, "You Won't Forget Me"?

And let's not forget La Bouche also had a hit in 1996 with a song called "Sweet Dreams." You won't forget me indeed, Sasha Fierce.

On a final note, Kelly Clarkson cracks the Top 20 at #19 with "Already Gone," and Cascada re-enter the Top 40 with "Evacuate The Dancefloor"—which sits once again at its previous peak of #39.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "3" - Britney Spears *new* *1 week*
2. "Down" - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne

3. "Party In The U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus

4. "Watcha Say" - Jason DeRulo

5. "Run This Town" - Jay-Z feat. Rihanna and Kanye West

6. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas

7. "Paparazzi" - Lady GaGa

8. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift

9. "Fireflies" - Owl City

10. "Use Somebody" - Kings Of Leon

Check Out The Calvin Harris 'Flashback' Video

Perhaps no other pop song has resonated so deeply with me this year than Calvin Harris' urgent "Flashback"—which, thankfully, is slated for a proper single release on November 2 in the United Kingdom (complete with mixes by David Guetta and Eric Prydz).

I did a freelance gig at for ABC's website over the summer, and I'd blast this song each night as I was driving home in the August evening.

Here's the video clip:

Maybe it's the way 2009 has slapped so many around like badminton birdies, but these lines seem to ring so true:

If I could change my state of mind, then I would disappear...

Why can't I realize I'm fighting for my life?

Or then again, maybe it's just that the fact that this sounds like an early '90s D:Ream jam...

With Robin Thicke, Leighton Meester Finds A Decent 'Somebody To Love'

This must be why Gossip Girl's gone down the can this season—Leighton Meester's too busy crafting sexy pop jams with Robin Thicke!

Check out her new single, the electo ditty "Somebody To Love":

Careful, L—hooking up with Robin could put you in the thick of having a sizable career outside the realm of all things Blair Waldorf. Though, judging by this season's ratings, jumping that sinking ship just might keep you afloat.

Anyway, not bad, eh? That squealing diva you hear chirping at the beginning and end of the vid clip above is Ryan Seacrest, who premiered "Somebody To Love" this morning on his 102.7 Los Angeles radio show.

Michael Jackson's New Song 'This Is It'

Below is the "new" Michael Jackson song, "This Is It." Wikipedia's entry for the tune says that, while there's no confirmation on when "This Is It" was recorded, there's speculation that it was a reject from the Dangerous (1991) album.

To me it sounds very mid-'60s-era Motown, by way of a slowed-down "Will You Be There"-esque beat—if you can call those finger pops a beat. It kinda needs some drums.

But overall, not bad.

Aw, Nuts! Chipmunk Beats The Saturdays To #1

This week the Saturdays nab their second song to chart at #2 in the U.K., as "Forever Is Over," the lead single off Wordshaker, settles for being the runner-up to Chipmunk's "Oopsy Daisy."

The chirping strippers had to settle for #2 back in March, as well, when their Comic Relief cover of Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough" debuted under Flo Rida and Ke$ha's "Right Round."

Nonetheless, the Saturdays have now racked up their fifth Top 10 single, and have somewhat redeemed themselves after "Work" scraped in at #22 over the summer. Wordshaker, in the meantime, is released tomorrow.

Next week should prove to be quite a shakeup, thankfully, for some of the American hip hop acts currently crowding the Brit Top 10—since Robbie Williams and Alexandra Burke each have new single out.

And will the Saturdays hang in there? Guess we'll have to wait till Sunday to find out. Ba-da-boom-TSCH!

A bit further down, Whitney Houston finds a country willing to give her some chart love with "Million Dollar Bill," as the jam debuts at #12. (It's also peaked at #5 in Japan and #7 in Belgium.)

This makes Whixxxey's first appearance in the U.K. Top 40 since "Whatchulookinat" hooker-hobbled to #13 in 2002.

It's also her highest-charting track there since her duet with Enrique Iglesias, "Could I Have This Kiss Forever," made it to #7 in October 2000.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Oopsy Daisy" - Chipmunk *1 week*
2. "Forever Is Over" - The Saturdays *new*

3. Empire State Of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

4. "Break Your Heart" - Taio Cruz

5. "Sexy Bitch" - David Guetta feat. Akon

6. "Sweet Disposition" - Temper Trap

7. "She Wolf" - Shakira
8. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas

9. "Hotel Room Service" - Pitbull
10. "Run This Town" - Jay-Z feat. Rihanna & Kanye West