Heroes Returns to the Charts

There was no anti-campaign this time, no obstacle in the way. Simon Cowell and his X Factor finalists easily fought off competition as they bowed atop this week’s singles chart with “Heroes.” Originally released in September 1977 by David Bowie, the track wasn’t a hit at that time. Alongside “Rebel Rebel,” this Bowie track has been cited as one of the most covered songs by the singer.

David Bowie wrote the track with U2 producer Brian Eno and it was actually a reference to the German band Neu’s hit “Hero” from 1975. Fast forward to 2010 and this week’s UK No.1. This time around, the Bowie track has turned charity as it’s recorded in aid of the British charity Help for Heroes. The organization supports injured servicemen and women.

It’s definitely not the first time the organization got the help from aspiring talents and one cannot blame the X Factor producer to think outside of the box. In 2008, the finalists covered Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Surely, Help for Heroes can accept contributions made from a song without ‘hero’ in the title.  Last year, the finalists topped the singles chart with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.” It benefited the Great Ormond Street Hospital, so need to put hero in the title then. All three charity singles topped the singles chart. As the BBC chart blog points out, there are a few tracks with ‘heroes’ in the title for further covers.

Quick research shows  some great insight into the world of covers. Ewan McGregor sang the tune in the “Elephant Love Medley” with Nicole Kidman as featured in Moulin Rouge. In 2003, the track was remixed by none other than David Guetta.

Finally, still there are X-Factor Internet campaigning. The 54-year old Wagner Carrilho managed to earn supporters making his Bookmakers Coral odds dropping from 150-1 a month ago to 6-1 before being ejected.  “There was people out there trying to derail this show,” Simon Cowell said to BBC News after Wagner Carrilho left the show this week.

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Check out the lyrics to “Heroes” via Lyrics Depot here.

Listen to Heroes via Spotify:

Life on Mars” – Like You Never Hard It

Watch Michael Jackson’s Brand New Video Here

According to Music Week, the singer will issue the new album Michael on Dec.14. This marks the first album with new material, since the singer’s death in 2009.

This March, Michael Jackson’s record label Sony Music signed a deal with the singer’s estate. To date, one album has been issued – This Is It, which sold 5m copies worldwide. The lead single failed to make any impact on the worldwide charts, to date it has only made the top five in Japan. The track peaked at No.18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Charts.

Michael will include the song “Breaking News,” which was recorded in New Jersey back in 2007. That track is already available on michaeljackson.com. The set was produced by Akon, RedOne and will.i.am amongst others.

Perhaps, some of the new tracks will appear in the new Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. The first leg of the North American tour opens Oct.2 in Montreal, Canada.

To date, Michael Jackson’s Thriller remains the best-selling album of all times with approximately 110 millions copies old worldwide. Released in November 1982, the set spawned seven hit singles.

  • Watch the brand new video here

Lady Gaga Producer RedOne Launches New Super Group

Lady Gaga’s acclaimed producer RedOne made the headlines in Sweden as he recently launched the new super group Love Generation. In an interview with evening paper Aftonbladet, RedOne compares the group with Gaga who “was an unknown talent when they first met.” Née Nadir Khayat, 37 year-old RedOne will collaborate on new material on Kylie Minogue’s upcoming album and his merits includes Mary J. Blige, Sugababes, Mika, Usher as well as Michael Jackson.

The five unknown girls of Love Generation is a collaboration with the star producer and talent scouts Peter Swartling and Jonas Johnson. Swartling spent several years as a jury member of Swedish Idol.

RedOne wrote Love Generation’s first single on a Friday, the girls were hand-picked from 500 contestants last Saturday and a single was recorded the day after. 22-year old Charlie Braun admits that she hardly understands what is happening. “I’ve listened to Lady Gaga’s and RedOne’s songs for a year. Suddenly I’m in a studio with this world-known producer. It’s fantastic,” Braun says to Aftonbladet.

SWV Freed Willy with the Help of Chanting Michael

WelcheMusic takes the time machine back to 1990 when Sisters with Voices formed a gospel group. They later on transformed into the r’n’b act SWV. Their first single “Right Here” charted back in 1992. With the help of producer Teddy Riley, the group was signed to RCA Records. Their debut hit peaked at No.16 on the r’nb chart and the real breakthrough came with “I’m So Into You,” a No.2 hit on the r’n’b chart and a No.6 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNeI_kgPnF0

The international breakthrough came with a remixed version of “Right Here,” interpolating Michael Jackson’s original hit “Human Nature.” The song became a worldwide success, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.3 in the UK. The new version also features Pharell Williams chanting “s…double…u…vee.” That version was also included in the film Free Willy.

The group took a pause in 1999, only to reunite in 2005. Wikipedia hints that there might be a new album out this year, but the group has not charted since 1998 when “Rain” peaked at No.25 on the Hot 100.

So far, SWV only charted in Sweden with “Right Here/Human Nature.” It barely reached the top twenty, eventually peaking at No.21.

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