Max Martin – Sida 4 – WelcheMusic.com

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.

Britney’s New Single Leaks

CHART SPOTLIGHT. No, we won’t hold it against you Brit. A demo of Britney Spears’s latest single “Hold It Against Me” featuring the singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee was leaked online earlier today. Picked up by the mainstream media and the blogosphere, WelcheMusic thinks the song is nothing short of phenomenal.

Or, in our ears it sounds a lot like ‘90s euro techno pop à la Sweden – think Da Buzz and E-Type. Pair that with contemporary dance techno such as Tim Berg. Back to Spears – “Hold It Against Me” is produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin and written by McKee herself.

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

Bonnie McKee has recently collaborated on compositions such as Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream” as well as Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.”

Will Kylie or Travie McCoy Take Taio Cruz ‘Higher’

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2010 CHART REWIND. We’re definitely sure that Taio Cruz doesn’t look back on 2010 in anger. Few UK artists have earned such great success in the US as Cruz. His hit single “Break Your Heart” topped both the UK and US singles charts, while “Dynamite” reached No.2 Stateside while topping the tallies in the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

As Swedes, WelcheMusic is particularly pleased about “Dynamite” being co-written by pop genius Max Martin. Another interesting note is that “Break Your Heart” was written for Cheryl Cole.

So, what is waiting in the wings for Cruz in 2011? In February his next single “Higher” will be released in the UK. The track has already charted internationally, peaking at No.10 in Austria, No.7 in Germany and No.5 in Switzerland. The track was co-written by Taio Cruz and the French song-writer Sandy Vee and has actually been released in four different versions.

Most territories will chant to Kylie Minogue, while Travie McCoy (of “Millionaire” fame) was chosen for the US market – the track has yet reached No.41. A third version is available with vocals from the local girl band K3, while a fourth is a solo version.

“Higher” follows the recent hit single “Shine a Light” which was released last November as a collaboration with British boy band McFly. The track peaked at No.4 in the UK, charting in France, Portugal and Scotland as well. It was McFly’s 15th top ten hit in the UK.

Don’t Hold It Against Britney

CHART SPOTLIGHT. WelcheMusic is not the only blog to get all excited about Britney Spears’s upcoming track “Hold It Against Me” which is scheduled to premiere on Jan.7. The track will precede the upcoming album next March. The track is produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke. According to New York radio station Z100’s program director Sharon Dastur, fans won’t be disappointed. “The beat that they give her is really unique compared to other artists – this infectious bass beat beneath the song,” says Dastur in a comment via Entertainment Weekly. “Plus, the hook is just amazing.”

Britney Spears’s breakthrough came almost exactly eleven years ago – “…Baby One More Time” was issued on Jan.12 in 1999. The single amassed sales of 25m around the world. To date, Spears has issued six studio albums.