Ones to Watch in 2012: Emeli Sandé

I love it when America discovers someone talented that the rest of the world has known about for months, even years! Today, the talent I'm referring to is Scottish singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé.  Sandé is due to release her debut album, Our Version of Events on June 5th via Capitol Records.  This is HUGE! I'm envisioning lots of promotion, performances on The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (except I think Ellen is on hiatus in the summer), it's going to massive. Capitol better promote the hell out of this supreme being. She deserves some Stateside recognition, for sure!

Sandé is already off to a promising start in her native UK, releasing debut single "Heaven" last August and having it debut in the #2 spot on the UK Singles Chart.  Aside from garnering the adoration of some of her musical contemporaries like Adele and Alicia Keys, Sandé has already won the prestigious BRIT Critics' Choice award (won in the past by Adele and Florence + The Machine), and was nominated for the Breakthrough British Artist award.  We'll have to wait until February 21st to see if she wins.  As if these accolades aren't enough, Sandé was also hand picked by Coldplay to open for the band on their European tour.  Follow up single "Daddy" (featuring Naughty Boy), which came out at the end of November, wasn't as fortunate, only coming in at #21.  We've all seen this before - first single is a top 5 hit, second single just barely outside of the top 20, third single 40+ and BAM. Dropped. I am hoping and praying that this does not become Emeli Sandé's fate.  The third single, entitled "Next To Me" is scheduled for release on February 12th, followed by the album's UK release the next day.

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Hot Remix Alert: Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown - Champion (Suneil S Remix)

Hot on the heels of his Katy Perry remix, Suneil S is back with his take on UK rapper Chipmunk's latest single, the Chris Brown-assisted "Champion." When the single was released on February 6th it made it's chart debut at #2, narrowly beaten to the top by the Jessie J/B.o.B. hit single "Price Tag."

"Champion" is the first official single to be released from Chipmunk's sophomore set, Transition, due out April 18th on Columbia Records. Written by Chipmunk, Eric Bellinger, Erika Nuri and Harmony "H-Money" Samuels (who also produced) the songs seeks to inspire listeners to become champions in their own right.  Chip's first album, 2009's I Am Chipmunk went on to become one of my most-listened to albums that year.  Debuting at #2 on the UK Albums Charts, the disc wound up producing 4 Top Ten Hits including the #1 single, "Oopsy Daisy."  Now, with the release of this new remix from Suneil S, perhaps Chipmunk could inspire some champions on the dance floor as well?

Download the remix HERE and get dancing!  Chipmunk's new single, "In The Air," featuring American R&B artist Keri Hilson, is due out April 3rd.

Chipmunk Feat. Chris Brown - Champion (Suneil S Remix) by Suneil S

Check out Suneil S on the web:

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Adele Maintains Position Atop the Official UK Singles & Albums Charts

For the second week in a row, Adele's beautiful ballad "Someone Like You" remains in the top spot.  Co-penned by Adele and Dan Wilson (who also served as producer) the single started gaining traction a couple of weeks ago after a poignant performance at the BRIT Awards.  So far the single has peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #35 on the Canadian Hot 100.  Check out a magnificent live performance of the song taken from VH1 Unplugged: Adele HERE.  While "Someone Like You" was released as the official single in the UK, elsewhere in Europe, the equally brilliant Fraser T. Smith-produced "Set Fire To The Rain" was released as the official second single.  Below, listen to this brilliant dance remix of "Someone Like You" by The Thin Red Men.

Elsewhere on the singles chart, Jessie J and Rihanna maintain their #2 spots where as Adele drops back to #5 leaving room for Lady Gaga to rise to #4.  Both Chipmunk and Alexis Jordan sink one spot to #6 and #7  respectively.  Singer/songwriter Jessie J, who's album was released this past week must be pleased to see her debut single "Do It Like A Dude" reenter the Top Ten.  As far as new chart entries this week, there aren't too many worth mentioning with the exception of the new Foo Fighters single (#22), and two Jessie J album tracks - "Who You Are" & "Nobody's Perfect" (#40, #81).  Disappointing chart performances include new entries from Alesha Dixon, who's new single, "Every Little Part Of Me" featuring Jay Sean, enters the chart at a measly #78.  Promising beginnings for Britney Spears' who's new single "Till The World Ends" enters at #55 after only being released last Friday and The Black Eyed Peas new single, which was officially released only yesterday in the UK enters the chart at #89.  New singles out this week include "That's The Truth" from McFly, "Mirrors" by Natalia Kills, Olly Murs' "Heart On My Sleeve," Willow Smith's second single, and Tinie Tempah's "Wonderman," featuring Ellie Goulding.  What will happen next week? Do any of these new entries have what it takes to dethrone Adele? We'll have to wait and see I suppose.

Official UK Singles Top 10//March 12, 2011

1. Adele//Someone Like You

2. Jessie J feat. B.o.B.//Price Tag

3. Rihanna//S&M

4. Lady Gaga//Born This Way

5. Adele//Rolling In The Deep

6. Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown//Champion

7. Alexis Jordan//Good Girl

8. Chris Brown//Yeah 3X

9. Bruno Mars//Grenade

10. Jessie J//Do It Like A Dude

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

On the album chart front, Adele also maintains her #1 position for the sixth consecutive week.  This is BEYOND impressive.  What's even more impressive is how well the album's been doing in America, debuting in the #1 spot and selling over 350,000 copies, becoming the highest debut yet of 2011.  Coming in strong at #2 is Jessie J's debut album, Who You Are, which was bumped up by nearly an entire month, all for the best it turns out.  English rock band Beady Eye (made up of former members of Oasis, including Liam Gallagher) debuts at #3 on the UK Albums Chart, while Clare Maguire's Light After Dark makes an impressive entrance at #7 following the #23 debut of her second single, "The Last Dance."  The final new entry in this week's Top Ten, Alexis Jordan, who's self titled debut was released last week slides into the #9 slot, following the #6 debut of her second single "Good Girl" last week.

Other new chart entries this week come from Lykki Li, who's sophomore set Wounded Rhymes enters the chart at #37 (a vast improvement from the #112 debut of 2008's Youth Novels) and Far East Movement, who's debut album Free Wired debuts at #63.  U.S. acapella group Straight No Chaser also enters the chart this week with their latest album, With A Twist, coming in at #91 on the UK Albums Chart.  New albums out this week which should chart next Sunday include Avril Lavigne's Goodbye Lullaby as well as new releases from Lupe Fiasco, Marianne Faithfull, Noah & The Whale and Slash.


Official UK Albums Top 10//March 12, 2011

1. Adele//21

2. Jessie J//Who You Are

3. Beady Eye//Different Gear, Still Speeding

4. Adele//19

5. Rihanna//Loud

6. Bruno Mars//Doo-Wops & Hooligans

7. Clare Maguire//Light After Dark

8. Mumford & Sons//Sigh No More

9. Alexis Jordan//Alexis Jordan

10. Cee-Loo Green//The Lady Killer

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

Jessie J and Adele Top Official UK Singles/Albums Charts...Again

Jessie J has a lot to be thankful for. Her second single, "Price Tag," featuring American rapper B.o.B. remains QUEEN of the UK Singles Chart this week, with it's second week at the top of the charts. Following close behind, the new single from UK rapper Chipmunk, who's first single "Champion" was released last week. The single features controversial American R&B artist Chris Brown. Taken from Chipmunk's forthcoming sophomore album, Transition, "Champion" becomes The Chip Diddy Chip's second highest charting single since 2009's "Oopsy Daisy." The third entry on the chart goes to Lady Gaga and her new single, "Born This Way," lifted off her forthcoming album of the same title. This is pretty impressive for Gaga, considering the single sold 60,000 copies in just 34 hours. Not sure if the single will climb next week or dip. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

Other new entries of note this week include "Stuttering" by Loick Essien feat. N-Dubz (#36), "Time Warp" and "Touch A Touch A Touch A Touch Me" both performed by the Glee Cast (#63 and #72), and "Stuck Like Glue" by American country group Sugarland. Meanwhile, Jay Sean's new single, "Hit The Lights" featuring Lil Wayne managed to debut at a disappointing #67. Let's see what happens next week when Alexis Jordan, Clare Maguire, Brandon Flowers, Good Charlotte, Kanye West, Nadine Coyle and P!nk all release new singles. Sounds like some tough competition.

Official UK Singles Top 10//February 19, 2011

1. Jessie J feat. B.o.B.//Price Tag
2. Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown//Champion
3. Lady Gaga//Born This Way
4. Bruno Mars//Grenade
5. Adele//Rolling In The Deep
6. Chris Brown//Yeah 3X
7. Ke$ha//We R Who We R
8. Taio Cruz feat. Travie McCoy & Kylie Minogue//Higher
9. Enrique Iglesias feat. Ludacris//Tonight (I'm F**kin' You)
10. Diddy Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey//Coming Home

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

On the album chart front, Adele maintains her position at #1 for the third week in a row, selling 134K this week bringing the grand total sales to nearly 500K. WOW. I can't WAIT to see what kind of damage she does here in America. It appears that the demand for Adele is greater than I imagined here in the States, considering tickets to her Boston show this May sold out in less than 30 minutes. Thankfully, I managed to secure tickets but WOW. I was NOT expecting that at all. 21 is due out in the U.S. via Columbia Records on February 22nd. Elsewhere on the charts, the Chase & Status album drops down 3 spots, Bruno Mars' moves up to #2, Rihanna moves up to #3 and Eva Cassidy moves up to #4. Making debuts this week...Mike Skinner (AKA The Streets) with his fifth and final album as The Streets, Computers And Blues comes in with a strong showing at #8, one spot lower than their 2008 album Everything is Borrowed. Folktronica artist James Blake enters at #9 with his debut self-titled album. Signed to Universal Republic in the States, the album was digitally released on February 8th. James Blake is AMAZING. I love his whole vibe and the fact that he covered a Feist song makes him even more appealing.

Other new Album Chart entries worth noting? How about the sound latest Glee soundtrack, The Rocky Horror Glee Show coming in at #23. Next we have U.S. country duo Sugarland coming in at #43, followed by Cut Copy and their third album Zonoscope, landing at an unpleasant #82. Can Adele maintain her top spot for four weeks straight? With releases planned by Far East Movement, Glee Cast, and Jay Sean, I think the chances are pretty good.

 Official UK Albums Top 10//February 19, 2011

1. Adele//21
2. Bruno Mars//Doo-Wops & Hooligans
3. Rihanna//Loud
4. Eva Cassidy//Simply Eva
5. Chase & Status//No More Idols
6. Adele//19
7. Rumer//Seasons Of My Soul
8. Streets//Computers And Blues
9. James Blake//James Blake
10. Take That//Progress

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

HOT SINGLE ALERT! Young Soul Rebels - I Got Soul (War Child Charity Single)

Where have I been? I just learned about this fantastic charity single out in the UK on October 19th. The video is one of those "behind-the-scenes" videos interspersed with clips of happy children dancing and singing. You can see the impressive roster of Island Records talent singing their parts and rehearsing in and around the recording studio. Included on this single: V.V. Brown, Bashy, Chipmunk, Domino Go, Egypt, Frankmusik, Pixie Lott, Ironik, Kid British, McLean, Mpho, N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder and the London Community Gospel Choir.

Produced by Fraser T Smith (whom I know from his remixes but also has worked with Tinchy Stryder and James Morrison), the track is being released by Island Records and the War Child charity to raise funds for children affected by conflict around the world. Recorded back in July, the song, "I Got Soul" is a re-written cover version of The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done" The hook - "I got soul but I'm not a soldier" is one of my favorite lyrics of all time, and very touching to hear in this new single.
According to War Child in a statement, the new record is "a defining moment for the UK's music scene, which is currently ablaze with world class talent." It continues to say that "the song is the perfect way to educate British youth on the plight of thousands of children across the globe. UK urban and soul music has never been bigger - the artists here have featured on five number one singles already this year."
Well said. Well done all around. This is the feel-good-charity single of the moment. Love it.