Katy Perry’s Fireworks Set the Hot 100 on Fire

Issued at the end of October, Katy Perry’s “Firework” ascends to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The track is produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate and Sandy Vee. Stargate is currently responsible for the two Rihanna hits “Only Girl” and “What’s My Name?” as well as the recent Alexis Jordan hit “Happiness.” According to Billboard, this is the first time in 11 years that a female artist take three straight radio singles from an album to No.1 on the Billboard 100. The title track from Teenage Dream was a No.1 hit this summer,  and was preceded by “California Gurls” – the collaboration with Snoop Dogg. “Firework” has also topped the singles chart in New Zealand and reached No.3 in the UK, but failed to chart in Sweden.

In 1998-1999, Monica managed to pull off the same feat with “The Boy Is Mine” (with Brandy), “The First Night” and “Angel of Mine.”

Ne-Yo Returns with Libra Scale


The American r’n’b singer-songwriter Ne-Yo returns with his fourth album Libra Scale. Née Schaffer Chimere Smith in October 1978, the singer has debuted with “So Sick” back in 2006. The song came about further to Ne-Yo meeting the Norwegian production team Stargate in the halls of Sony Music studio in New York. Stargate recently produced Rihanna’s two current hits “What’s My Name?” and “Only Girl.”

To date, three singles have already been lifted off Libra Scale prior to release. “Beautiful Monster” topped the UK this summer and was quickly followed by “Champagne Life” and “One in a Million.” A fourth single (“Cause I Said So”) is set for release at the end of December.

  • Read more about Ne-Yo topping the UK singles chart in a previous post.

JLS Dethrones Rihanna


British boyband JLS manage to do what Take That couldn’t. Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)” falls to No.4 in the UK as “Love You More” with JLS goes straight to No.1. The group releases the new album Outta This World tomorrow, which includes their former UK No.1 “The Club Is Alive.” Built on “The Sound of Music” from the Julie Andrews 1965 film, JLS topped the charts in July with their rendition.

We’ve covered boy bands before, and this fall sets some sort of record. Take That is back, Westlife returns with new material, but it seems as if the latest acts like The Wanted and JLS sit firm atop the charts. Outta This World contains new songs produced by well-known boy band producers such as Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Stargate.  At least, there is no change in terms of production teams.

The new No.1 – “Love You More” – also serves as the 2010 official Children in Need charity. JLS lost to Alexandra Burke in the 2008 X-Factor series.  Apart from “One Shot” in February 2010, the group’s four hit singles have all the No.1 spot in the UK. In addition, they’ve appeared on two additional chart toppers – The X Factor Finalists 2008’s rendition of Mariah Carey’s Hero and the Helping Haiti charity cover “Everybody Hurts,” that WelcheMusic covered in a previous post.

Coincidentally, JLS performed Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on X-Factor. The very same artist they dethrone this week. This September, the guys even launched their own condom range via Durex encouraging their fans to conduct safe sex.

  • Click here for JLS’ official YouTube channel
  • Please find lyrics to JLS’ hits via Elyrics
  • Listen to JLS via Spotify UK

Ne-Yo takes the lead in the UK

Ne-Yo claims his third chart-topper in the UK as “Beautiful Monster” bows on today’s singles chart. He has previously topped the tally with “Closer” and “So Sick.” The singer debuted back in 2006 and has since worked closely with the Norwegian production duo Stargate. “Beautiful Monster” is taken from his upcoming album Libra Scale, slated for release this October. The single flopped in the US, peaking at No.53 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J2dwFVZHsY]

This means that the boy band The Wanted only got a sole week at No.1 with “All Time Low,” which falls to No.5.  Ne-Yo is trailed by Flo Rida/David Guetta who moves 5-2. The only other new entry on the top ten is much hyped Eliza Doolittle who enters the No.8 positon with “Pack Up.”

The Canadian Indian Rock band Arcade Fire bows atop the album chart with The Suburbs. So far, the album has charted in Australia as well (at No.6). This means that Eminem’s Recovery loses the top position. Lady Gaga’s The Fame adds a 82nd week on the chart maintaining the No.6 position.

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