Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off'

Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' Single Review: The Country Superstar Goes Full Pop

On Taylor Swift's blockbuster 2012 album, Red, the country superstar explored several stylistic shades: arena rock, confessional folk, even dubstep. But the foundation of the project was undoubtedly bubble-gum pop. Swift's fourth studio album — the last to sell more than a million in a week, by the way — found her tapping hit producers like Max Martin and Shellback, who helped dress her big pop hooks in country trappings to ensure her new sound would still be palatable to her core audience.

On new single "Shake It Off," the first from Swift's forthcoming fifth album 1989, she reteams with Martin and Shellback, but the trio is done toeing the line. The song suggests the world's biggest country star now belongs to a different genre entirely. The completed transition is jarring, but the impeccable pop stylings make it easy to swallow.

Red hits like "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "22" paired their fizzy melodies with slick guitar strums, but "Shake It Off" disregards the instrument altogether, instead coiling its verses around a subtle saxophone line. It's not exactly a "Thrift Shop" nod, but Swift and company clearly have been paying attention to radio trends. On the track, Swift strikes back at the snark lobbed her way with every award win and rumored romance. "Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate," she sings, vowing to brush off tabloid takedowns. Defensive? Maybe, but her kicky delivery, especially on the pseudo-rap bridge (she has been hanging with Ed Sheeran a lot, after all), makes it sound like she's simply having more fun than her faceless detractors.

Few musical artists would dare to reinvent their sound so brazenly, especially with expectations so high. But with "Shake It Off," Swift proves why she belongs among pop's queen bees: As you may have guessed, the song sounds like a surefire hit; it also previews an album executive-produced by Swift and Martin. Swift will probably catch some flak for moving away from her bedrock sound, but she has never colored inside the lines. And, as "Shake It Off" shows, Swift can handle the criticism.

Via:Billboard.com

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1

  Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 - Full Soundtrack

1. Blue Swede - Hooked On a Feeling (0:00)
2. Raspberries - Go All the Way (02:52)
3. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In the Sky (06:13)
4. David Bowie - Moonage Daydream (10:15)
5. Elvin Bishop - Fooled Around and Fell In Love (14:57  )
6. 10cc - I'm Not In Love (19:31)
7. Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (25:35)
8. Redbone - Come and Get Your Love ( 28:35)
9. The Runaways - Cherry Bomb (31:58)
10. Rupert Holmes - Escape (The Pina Colada Song) (34:15)
11. The Five Stairsteps - O-O-H Child (38:52)
12. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (42:06)

 

Guardians of the Galaxy is the film score for the Marvel Studios film, Guardians of the Galaxy. Composed by Tyler Bates, the score was released by Hollywood Records on July 29, 2014. A separate soundtrack album titled Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) featuring the songs and artists seen on Peter Quill's mixtape in the film, was also released on the same date, along with a deluxe version featuring both albums.

^{Via:Wikipedia}

Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" video: Love it or hate it?

Nicki Minaj's new "Anaconda" video, unleashed at midnight on Wednesday, has simply taken the social media world by storm since its arrival.

So much for Taylor Swift's new "Shake It Off" video, which caught our attention earlier this week or even Miley Cyrus' twerking skills. 

Nicki Minaj's new "Anaconda" video, unleashed at midnight on Wednesday, has simply taken the social media world by storm since its arrival. By Wednesday afternoon, the video received nearly 5 million YouTube hits. Minaj even chimed in on how the clip continues to trend:

The twerk-heavy, sexual, racy -- and very NSFW music video -- has garnered praise from some fans, while others are left scratching their heads. The clip, which also finds Minaj giving rapper Drake a lap dance (which seriously ups the "wow" factor here), has opened up a slew of questions, too.

Is Minaj trying to one-up fellow female rapper Iggy Azalea and her summer hit "Fancy"? Is the video too racy? Does it empower women or do just the opposite? What about the shock value? And how do you explain it to your children if they come across it? 

Whichever side you're on, this video certainly has people talking and likely will for a little while. And we can't stop thinking about Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 rap classic "Baby Got Back" while watching. 

Minaj is slated to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Will she perform "Anaconda"? We wonder if Drake will make a special appearance. Time will tell.

Via:CBSNews

Michael Jackson's 'A Place With No Name' Music Video to Premier WORLDWIDE

It’s time! The first ever premiere of "A Place With No Name" right now on Twitter 

 

 MICHAEL JACKSON’S “A PLACE WITH NO NAME” MUSIC VIDEO TO PREMIERE WORLDWIDE

FIRST LOOK TO AIR DURING A SPECIAL MICHAEL JACKSON THEMED EPISODE OF FOX’S SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

Epic Records and The Estate of Michael Jackson, announced today that “A Place With No Name,” the next single from this year’s critically acclaimed, chart-topping Michael Jackson album XSCAPE [MJJ Music/Epic Records], will make history when it premieres on Twitter (twitter.com). At 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday August 13, 2014 the short film will be tweeted through @MichaelJackson allowing the Twitter universe to be able to view the video within a tweet. And for those fans in New York City, “A Place With No Name” will be shown on the massive Sony screen in Times Square at the very same moment.

Throughout his entire career, Michael has always stood on the cutting edge of groundbreaking technological advancements. With “A Place With No Name” launching exclusively through Twitter, he continues to set the pace of pop culture and music yet again. Follow @MichaelJackson to watch the historical moment from the “King of Pop” unfold.

Increasing anticipation, a preview of the video is set to make its network television debut on the special Michael Jackson themed episode of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance broadcast that same evening beginning at 8PM ET. The show will open with a Top Eight group performance featuring “A Place With No Name” choreographed by the Emmy award-winning Travis Payne, who worked as both back-up dancer and choreographer for Michael Jackson. During the program, all of the Top Eight remaining contestants will compete with new all-star partners and each performance will feature a different Michael Jackson song, including songs from XSCAPE.

Michael re-envisioned America’s 1972 classic “A Horse With No Name” to convey a narrative following a man whose car breaks down and is led by a mysterious woman to a utopian place where “no one is in fear” and “no people have pain”. It was a collaboration with Elliott Straite [Dr. Freeze] done in 1998 at Record Plant Recording Studio.

The beautifully shot short film, directed by iconic award-winning director Samuel Bayer, whose credits include seminal videos from Nirvana and The Rolling Stones, has been created by following Michael’s overall vision for short films which tell the song’s story, in this case, of a man enticed into a magical “place” by a mysterious woman. The short film also includes outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage of Michael shot during the production for “In The Closet” short film, which have been kept in the vault since 1992.

Upon its May release, XSCAPE reached #1 in 52 countries and went Top 5 in 87 more territories. Stateside, it debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, simultaneously landing at #1 on Amazon and Spotify. The album’s first single, “Love Never Felt So Good,” a duet by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake soared to the Top in the U.S. and achieved 17 #1 and 67 Top 5 positions around the world. The single also made for Michael’s highest Billboard chart debut since 1995 and fourth highest ever at #20 as his 49th smash hit. The album also generated his 50th top 10 Billboard chart with “Slave To The Rhythm” making Michael the first artist to ever have a Top Ten hit in each of six consecutive decades.

# # #

ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON:

Michael Jackson is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time. He was also a dedicated philanthropist and an astute business professional. To date Jackson has sold 1 billion records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards including 8 in one year, a record in itself, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award. Jackson defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking short films as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the classic "Thriller," which in 2009 became the first and only music video inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. In his short films “Black or White”, “They Don’t Care About Us”, “Bad and “Smooth Criminal” and others, Jackson set an aesthetic standard for video production that remains unsurpassed even today. The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have produced two top shows: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour is one of the top grossing tours of all time; and MICHAEL JACKSON ONE, a permanent show at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, which is breaking box office records and receiving critical raves. Jackson’s sound, style and dance moves continue to inspire today’s performers and new generations of fans worldwide continue to discover his artistry.

Via:michaeljackson

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MAGIC!'s Rude Tops Hot 100 of Billboard

MAGIC!'s 'Rude' Tops Hot 100; Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy' Falls to No. 2

 

The Canadian pop/reggae group ends Iggy Azalea's seven-week reign with 'Fancy.' Plus, Disclosure's 'Latch,' featuring Sam Smith, reaches the top 10

Maybe this will finally impress the father in the song?
 

MAGIC!'s "Rude," the Canadian pop/reggae group's tale of a groom-to-be who won't be denied, regardless of his potential father-in-law's disapproval, adds to the protagonist's case as it rises 2-1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rude" dethrones Iggy Azalea's "Fancy," featuring Charli XCX, after seven weeks at No. 1, as the latter drops to No. 2. Meanwhile, Disclosure's "Latch," featuring Sam Smith, enters the top 10, climbing 11-10.

Let's kick off our weekly rundown of the Hot 100's top 10 and more with highlights of MAGIC!'s coronation.

No 'reg'-ular No. 1: "Rude" (the 1,037th Hot 100 No. 1 all-time) brings reggae stylings back to the chart's summit, marking a rarity. Other reggae rulers in the Hot 100's nearly 56-year history: Sean Paul's "Get Busy" (2003); Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel" (both in 2001); Ini Kamoze's "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (1994); UB40's "Red Red Wine" (1988) and "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1993); fellow Canadian Snow's "Informer" (1993); Maxi Priest's "Close to You" (1990); Eric Clapton's "I Shot the Sheriff," written by reggae king Bob Marley (1974); and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972).

(Reader, and Canada's own, Blair Buchta recently pointed out in an email that "Israelites" by Desmond Dekker & the Aces was one of the first reggae hits to reach the top 10, rising to No. 9 in 1969.)

Canada can: The ascent of "Rude" to No. 1 marks the first time in more than 12 years that a Canadian band (all four members of MAGIC! are from the Toronto area) has topped the Hot 100. Nickelback began a four-week command with "How You Remind Me" the week of Dec. 22, 2001.

Other Canadian bands to control the Hot 100: Barenaked Ladies ("One Week," 1998), Sheriff ("When I'm With You," 1989), Bachman-Turner Overdrive ("You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," 1974) and the Guess Who (the Stateside-themed "American Woman").

Nasri No. 1: MAGIC! frontman Nasri Atweh joins his bandmates in their first visit to the Hot 100's summit, but he'd previously reached the top 10 as a co-writer on three songs. Fellow Canadian Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" reached No. 8 in 2011 (featuring Jaden Smith) and "As Long as You Love Me" (featuring Big Sean) climbed to No. 6 in 2012. Atweh scored his third top 10 writing credit when Pitbull's "Feel This Moment" rose to No. 8 last year. Atweh made his Hot 100 debut as a writer on New Kids on the Block's "Summertime," which reached No. 36 in 2008.
 
Oh, oh, it's 'Magic': "Magic" becomes the first word to serve as the title of a No. 1 Hot 100 song and an act with a Hot 100 leader (excluding the exclamation point at the end of the band's name …) Olivia Newton-John spent four weeks at No. 1 in 1980 with her song "Magic." (Reader Jeff Lerner first pointed out the potential doubling up in last week's "Ask Billboard" reader mailbag. Honorable mention to Mariah Carey's "Emotions" and the group The Emotions, whose "Best of My Love" led for five weeks at No. 1 in 1977.)

'Rude'-ness rewarded: Of the approximately 26,000 songs ever to hit the Hot 100, only two have included the word "rude" in their titles … and both have reached No. 1. Rihanna's "Rude Boy" charged to No. 1 for five weeks in 2010.

(Just one such act has hit the Hot 100, and "rude" was its middle name: The Rude Boys' "Written All Over Your Face" peaked at No. 16. Starting the trend of "rude" hits scoring chart success, the song topped Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a week in 1991 and won the Billboard Music Award for No. 1 R&B single that year.)

How did "Rude" rise to the top of the Hot 100? It rebounds 2-1 (after two weeks at No. 2) for a second week atop Digital Songs with 185,000 downloads sold (up 3 percent) in the week ending July 13, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It pushes 4-2 on Radio Songs with a 9 percent surge to 152 million all-format audience impressions and lifts 3-2 on Streaming Songs, up by 8 percent to 8.3 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen BDS. "Rude" concurrently crowns the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart, climbing 2-1 (3.3 million on-demand streams, up 8 percent).

"Rude" narrowly takes over the Hot 100's top spot: it gains by 2 percent in overall points, while "Fancy" decreases by 5 percent. "Rude," thus, wins the race to No. 1 by a mere 1 percent points margin. Last week, "Fancy" held a 6 percent advantage over "Rude."

Now, where were we before we were so "Rude"-ly interrupted?

Ah, Iggy Azalea. "Fancy" falls to No. 2 on the Hot 100, although it leads Streaming Songs a ninth week (10.6 million, down 1 percent). It dips 3-4 on both Radio Songs (138 million, down 5 percent) and Digital Songs (154,000, down 10 percent); it led the lists for three and four weeks, respectively. Meanwhile, "Fancy" tops Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for an eighth week and Hot Rap Songs for a 13th frame.

Despite their drop from the top, both Azalea and Charli XCX charge ahead on the Hot 100 with follow-up singles. Azalea's "Black Widow," featuring Rita Ora, vaults 97-65 as the chart's top Digital Gainer (41,000, up 118 percent), while Charli XCX's "Boom Clap" climbs 20-16, led by a 10-8 lift on Digital Songs (100,000, up 3 percent).

Via:Billboard

MAGIC! - Don't Kill the Magic

This Week In Billboard Chart History: Guns N' Roses Celebrate 'Sweet' Success

Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history

℗ 2014 Sony Music Entertainment International Limited
From the album "Don't Kill the Magic".

If you want space (you could have it)
If you want change (you could have it)
Sleep on your bed (you could have it)
Pull it to my head (you could have it)

If you want love! (you could have it)
The way that you love (you could have it)
If you want time (you could have it)
I'll tell you no lie (you could have it)

Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
I'm not ready to give up just yet
We could stay until we both forget
So baby, don't kill, (don't kill) don't kill the magic (ohhh)
Oooooh...

If you want space (you could have it)
If you want change (I'll make it drastic)
Sleep on your bed (I'll be your mattress)
Pull it to my head (you could blast it)

Ohh! If you want love! (I'll be tragic)
The way that you love (I can match it)
If you want time (I'll be elastic)
Tell you no lie (You can have it)
No lieee

Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
I'm not ready to give up just yet
We could stay until we both forget
So baby, don't kill, (don't kill) don't kill the magic (ohhh)

Take my arms, take my legs, take my vision
Take my tongue, take my lungs, if you need it
Hold my knees, hold my knees, hold my knees, I beg
Hey ey ey ey ey

You know I said I'm trying fix this baby
Let me be in my heart god's pleasure
I will do, I will do anything instead

Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
Just don't kill, don't kill the magic (ohhh)
I'm not ready to give up just yet
We could stay until we both forget
So baby, don't kill, (don't kill) don't kill the magic (ohhh)
You could have it...you could have it...
You could have it...you could have it...
You could have it...you could have it...

Via:Youtube