Rodney Jerkins – WelcheMusic.com

Chris Medina Honored Utøya Victim at Funeral

CHART REFLECTION. Pop singer Chris Medina sang “What Are Words” at the funeral of Utøya victim Monica Iselin Didriksen earlier this week. The appearance was broadcasted by NRK and attended by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Monica Iselin Didriksen’s parents asked Chris Medina to perform at the funeral as it was one of her favorite songs. “What Are Words” was originally issued at the end of February this year a day after the singer was eliminated from American Idol. The song was written for Chris Medina’s fiancée who was seriously injured in a car accident. Haven reached the Billboard Hot 100, the hit single struck a chord with Scandinavian audiences. It topped the Norwegian singles chart for twelve weeks, haven notched up six weeks atop the Swedish singles tally. “What Are Words” is co-written/produced by Rodney Jerkins, who co-wrote Brandy & Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” and Lady Gaga’s “Telephone.”

Black Eyed Peas Can’t Get Enough in Germany

CHART SPOTLIGHT. Following the global success of “The Time (Dirty Bit),” Black Eyed Peas returns to the charts with another single off The Beginning. Produced by will.i.am, DJ Ammo and Rodney Jerkins (who produced “Telephone” w/Gaga-Beyoncé), the track vaults into No.9 on the German singles chart this week. The track has so far peaked at No.38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Black Eyed Peas is just behind Chris Brown’s “Yeah 3x” which bows at No.8. In a busy week, last week’s newcomer Lena drops 2-7 with “Taken by a Stranger.” Bruno Mars still remains at No.1 with “Grenade,” followed by Adele and Taio Cruz/Kylie Minogue.

Will Jennifer Lopez Return to Her Former Glory?

There was a time when Jennifer Lopez was synonymous with a Billboard Hot 100 hit. She’s managed to score four No.1 hits in the US, but since the release of “All I Have,” a duet with L.L. Cool J things hasn’t looked good for Lopez. That collaboration managed to top the Hot 100 and even reached No.2 in the UK back in 2003.

The track was included on her This Is Me…Then set, which was led by the single “Jenny from the Block.” It featured, then, boyfriend Ben Affleck in a video inspired by all the paparazzis in their lives. In 2005, Jennifer Lopez released the album Rebirth. The set included the No.12 hit “Get Right” and “Hold You Down,” a duet with Fat Joe that peaked at No.64.

Latin album Como ama una mujer was issued in 2007, the year when Brave also saw the light of day. The latter album was led by “Do It Well,” a No.31 hit – far worse than the UK peak at No.11. When Jennifer Lopez collaborates with The-Dream and Tricky Stewart and performs at the 2009 American Music Awards, things are looking good. “Louboutins” made it to No.13 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Songs chart, but failed to reach any other upon its release in December last year.

Her new album Love? includes collaborations with Darkchild and Danja and last month, Epic announced it will part ways with Jennifer Lopez. No announcement has been made on what label will pick this project up, but rumours say that it’s Island Def Jam after Lopez being spotted to the record label’s chairman L.A. Reid, tha famous songwriter.

According to Wikipedia, “Everybody’s Girl” is expected to be the second single from the set. According to the German radio station, this was praised a stand out track. WelcheMusic hopes that “Story of My Life,” a track signed Rihanna/Ne-Yo production team StarGate. It’s usually bound for success.

Will Beyoncé Return Soon?

Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins was the hottest producer awhile back when hits such as Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay,” Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name” and Brandy & Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” ruled the charts. Now he’s reportedly in the studio with Beyoncé, working on new material which is scheduled to be released sometime later this year. Released in October 2008, her I Am…Sasha Fierce album spawned eight hit singles. Some were only released in certain territories. “Broken-Hearted Girl” was never officially issued in the US, but charted anyways due to strong downloads. Rodney Jerkins co-wrote and produced the upcoming Lady Gaga single “Telephone,” where Beyoncé sings guest vocals.