Countdown to Avril Lavigne’s ‘Goodbye Lullaby’


CHART REFLECTION. WelcheMusic counts down to the March release of Avril Lavigne’s fourth album Goodbye Lullaby. The album re-unites Lavigne with the Swedish producer Max Martin. The Canadian pop star got her breakthrough in 2002 with Let Go which included the debut single “Complicated.” Lavigne’s  last album The Best Damn Thing was released in April 2007 peaking at No.1 in both the US and the UK. The set was preceded by “Girlfriend,” which became the singer’s first Billboard Hot 100 No.1.  The track was co-written and produced by Dr. Luke of Britney Spears and Ke$ha fame.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk

What the Hell” was commercially released earlier this month. Co-written by Avril Lavigne, Max Martin and the Swedish producer Shellback, the track was produced by Max Martin. It’s the lead single off the album and has so far reached its highest peak in Belgium (No.21). Expect it to chart in the US upon its Jan.11 release. The song was given away for free via Avril Lavigne’s Facebook page, further to its radio premiere on New Year’s Eve.

Lavigne got recognition from the r’n’b collective as Rihanna recently sampled “I’m With You” on “Cheers” which is featured on the latest album Loud. Leona Lewis also covered “I Will Be,” initially featured on Lavigne’s last album The Best Damn Thing on its limited edition. The song was released as Leona Lewis’s third single in the US.

(Update 6/2):  The track has peaked at No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.6 on the Billboard Hot Digital Chart.

(Update 13/3): “What the Hell” made its debut on the UK singles chart on Jan.23. It bowed at No.29, only to fall to No.45 in the second week. This week, it reaches a new peak at No.16.

No Swedish Jury in This Year’s Melodifestivalen


CHART REFLECTION. Germany will host this year’s Eurovision Song Contest further to Lene’s winning entry “Satellite.” Today, news broke that there will be no Swedish jury groups in the Swedish leg – Melodifestivalen. An entirely international jury will decide what entry to send to the Eurovision finals.

This year’s final will take place on 12th March and eleven jury groups will rule the verdict along with the Swedish public. The measure has been taken as to improve Sweden’s disastrous results in the recent Eurovision finals.

“We’re hoping to achieve a great result in Eurovision, and we hope this is a way to achieve this,” says Christer Björkman who’s responsible for the format.

Anna Bergendahl, who won last year’s Melodifestivalen with “This Is My Life” failed to make the final.

UPDATED 02-07: Lene Meyer –Landrut will be competing for Germany in this year’s Eurovision 2011 as well. On January 31st, the first semi final of Unser Song für Deutschland took place. The singer performed six songs, three of them will be competing in the national final on the 18th February.

Timo Räisänen Honors Gothenburg in Energy Campaign


CHART REFLECTION. The Swedish pop musician Timo Räisänen has written new material specifically for the energy company Göteborg Energi, carrying its name of its hometown Gothenburg. The new ad campaign is a testament to the city, with imagery of the harbor and trams. The ad’s tagline says “There’s no other city for us.” The campaign is produced by the local ad agency Valentin & Byhr.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnOkpdm9TSY&

WelcheMusic’s favorite Timo Räisänen album is the 2008 set “…And Then There Was Timo.” It included 16 covers including the major hit “About You Now” originally a hit for Sugababes.

Bruno Mars Set to Top UK Singles Chart


CHART REFLECTION. Despite the official UK release of Bruno Mars’s Grenade” is a few days away, WelcheMusic bets that it will become his second No.1 hit over there. Already attracting lots of airplay in the UK, Mars is only beaten by Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” on Music Week’s chart listing the most popular tracks on radio ahead of release.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs

“Grenade” has alread reached No.1 in the US, but had to give up the top position to Katy Perry’s “Firework” which rebounded this week.

The former single “Just the Way You Are (Amazing)” rebounds 9-3 on the UK radio airplay chart, behind Matt Cardle and Cee Lo Green.  Mars had the No.3 top selling of 2010 in the UK with that one. His debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans will get its official UK release on Jan.24.

Read more about Bruno Mars:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...