december 2010 – Sida 11 – WelcheMusic.com

P!nk Returns to the US Top with Swedish Help

P!nk returns to the Billboard Hot 100 throne with the help of Max Martin and Shellback. “Raise Your Glass” was the first single to be lifted off the greatest hits album, and one of the new tracks. The final track to be released as a single from Funhouse was “Glitter in the Air” which peaked at No.18 this January.

It’s not the first time Shellback and Max Martin elevates P!nk to the throne. The duo contributed with three tracks on the Funhouse album, including the No.1 “So What.” The 25-year old Shellback was born Karl Johan Schuster and reigns from Karlshamn, Sweden. Before becoming a full-time songwriter, Shellback had a background as a metal/hardcore band member (very similar to Max Martin’s background).

This year, Shellback has written hits such as “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” with Usher and Pitbull as well as the brand new Robyn track “Time Machine,” from her third Body Talk installment.

Check out the new blog post on what tracks Karl Johan Schuster contributed on Britney’s upcoming set.

Will Susan Boyle De-throne Kanye West?

Considered a classic before it was even released, according to a recent Billboard article Kanye West is likely to be knocked off the top spot by Susan Boyle. Despite the Glee cast’s fourth compilation album and Black Eyed Peas’ The Begnning expected to bow, neither one should pose any threat to The Gift – Boyle’s second album. A year ago, the singer topped charts around the world with I Dreamed a Dream. If so, Boyles will return to the top for a second time with The Gift, which entered the top spot a week ago.

Kanye West can’t be too happy about this, or The Black Eyed Peas for that matter. West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has so far reached top in Canada, while debuting at No.16 in the UK and No.19 in Sweden. His biggest hit in Sweden so far is the Jay-Z and Rihanna collaboration “Run this Town” which peaked at No.8 in 2009. In the US, he has scored two No.1s – “Gold Digger” (2005) and “Stronger” (2007).

The latest single to be lifted off the album is “Start It Up” which features Fabolous, Swizz Beatz and Ryan Leslie. The song is struggling, haven peaked at No.105 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has, however, topped the German Black chart. It followed the No.12 hit “Runaway,” which features rapper Pusha T of Clipse. The song was supported by a 35-minute short film directed by West. That hit even made the Swedish singles tally, peaking at No.28.

Xmas song Tops Norwegian Singles Chart

The Norwegian singer Maria Mena tops the Norwegian singles chart this week with the yuletide song “Home for Christmas.” She’s part Norwegian, part Nicaraguan and released her first singe in 2002 (“Fragile (Free)”). Her breakthrough hit was the follow-up “My Lullaby,” which peaked at No.5. Her debut album, Another Phase, reached No.6 in her native country.

Maria Mena has even charted in the US as White Turns Blue (2004) reached No.102 on the Billboard 200. This was helped by a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Only 24 years old, the vocalist has already issued five albums to date. Her last studio album was Cause and Effect in 2008. The Xmas song, “Home for Christmas,” is included on the soundtrack to the movie Hjem til jul.

Back on the Norwegian singles chart, Lissie bows at No.2 with “When I’m Alone,” followed by Madcon & Ameerah’s re-entry at No.3 (“Freaky Like Me”).

Eminem, Rihanna, Grammy, Ray LaMontagne, Cee Lo Green, Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, Lady Antebellum, Last.FM, Haddaway,

Joe McElderry Sings New Narnia Song

Just a few hours ago, the brand new Joe McElderry single was available for digital download. “Someone Wake Me Up” is the third single off his Wide Awake album. The video will contain clips from The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but the song will not appear in the actual movie. Oddly enough, the B-side – “There’s a Place for Us”- will be played during the credits of the film. Joe McElderry made his debut a year ago (“The Climb”), as the X-Factor winner who was denied the Xmas No.1. This October he made a cover of the Norwegian group Donkeyboy’s “Ambitions.”

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