Adele Tops UK Singles & Albums Chart, Earns First #1 Single

Adele overload! Wow GIRRRRL! You go! UK singer/songwriter Adele earns her first #1 single this week with "Someone Like You," which quickly rose to the top following an ABSOLUTELY spellbinding performance at the 2011 BRIT Awards. Co-penned by Adele and Dan Wilson, the heartfelt ballad sits atop the chart for the second week in a row, right above Jessie J's "Price Tag" which is sitting pretty in the #2 spot. Rihanna's "S&M" climbs 3 spots into #3, topping Adele's debut single "Rolling In The Deep," which remains in the 4th position, giving Adele 4 singles in the Top 100 this week (along with "Make You Feel My Love" and "Chasing Pavements"). Making it's debut this week, the infectious pop/dance smash "Good Girl" by U.S. singer Alexis Jordan. "Good Girl" is the follow up to "Happiness," which peaked at #3 when it was released last October. Not a bad showing for a second single, eh? I'm still hoping for a U.S. release! In other chart news, Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" dips down 5 spots to #8 this week. Looks like the UK isn't as in love with "Born This Way" as the rest of the world is? I can't say I'm too shocked.

Other new entries this week include the Gwyneth Paltrow/Matthew Morrison Rihanna cover from Glee (#22) and Clare Maguire's second single, "The Last Dance" (#23). Gwyneth also makes an appearence at #31 with her Cee-Lo Green "Forget You" cover (also from Glee).  We'll have to see if next week's new releases unseat any of our Top Ten.  On the schedule we have new tunes from Chipmunk featuring Keri Hilson, James Blake, X-Factor contestant Mary Byrne, McFly, Natalia Kills, Olly Murs, Plan B, Tinie Tempah featuring Ellie Goulding and Willow Smith, just to name a few.  Should be interesting...

Official UK Singles Top 10//March 5, 2011

1. Adele//Someone Like You
2. Jessie J feat. B.o.B.//Price Tag
3. Rihanna//S&M
4. Adele//Rolling In The Deep
5. Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown//Champion
6. Alexis Jordan//Good Girl
7. Bruno Mars//Grenade
8. Lady Gaga//Born This Way
9. Chris Brown//Yeah 3X
10. P!nk//F*kin' Perfect

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

Adele's good fortune continues on the Official Album Chart front as well as 21 spends yet another week at #1. That's 5 weeks now. Impressive to say the least! Not only that but Adele's album, which came out in America last week, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Way to go lady! Her debut, 19 (which sits in the #2 spot this week on the UK Albums Chart) peaked at #10 here in the States so this is pretty epic. The Glee Cast make a strong debut at #4 with Volume 4 of their popular compilation albums. The rest of the Top Ten just doesn't interest me so I won't waste your time. Check out the link below to see the whole 100. Other new entries this week include Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX's new collaboration album We're New Here (#33) as well as...well. That's all I got for you.  Look out for new albums next week from Avril Lavigne, Kanye West, Noah & The Whale, Lupe Fiasco, Marianne Faithfull, Pet Shop Boys and Slash.  I hate to see it but I honestly don't see any of these guys dethroning Adele but who knows. Stranger things have happened.

Official UK Albums Top 10//March 5, 2011

1. Adele//21
2. Adele//19
3. Rihanna//Loud
4. Glee Cast//Glee:The Music - Volume 4
5. Mumford & Sons//Sigh No More
6. Bruno Mars//Doo-Wops & Hooligans
7. Tinie Tempah//Disc-Overy
8. Plan B//The Defamation of Strickland Banks
9. Cee-Lo Green//The Lady Killer
10. JLS//Outta This World

[SEE THE FULL TOP 100 HERE]

Glee Cast Announces Spring North American Tour

Gleeks - get ready for a full scale auditory assault this Spring. The McKinley High New Directions are going on a North American tour, just before heading over to Europe. While this will be the second time the New Directions have gone on tour together, this year's outing will be MUCH bigger. The sixteen-city GLEEK-FEST starts out May 21st in Las Vegas and runs through June 18th in New York.  According to Vulture, 12 Glee cast members will be basking in Rachel Berry's spotlight (to clarify Rachel Berry AKA Lea Michele will be there also...she's the 13th). Also included in the 13 - the lovable, adorable Darren Criss, who's rendition of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" won hearts everywhere.  Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch and the rest of the adults will not be joining the kids but I'm sure they'll all make video appearances of some sort like they did during their X-Factor performance last year.  AMAZING news. Love also that they are coming to Boston.  Sign me up! Check out the full list of tour dates below. (via Idolator & Vulture)

Tour Dates:

May 21//Las Vegas, NV//Mandalay Bay Event Center
May 22//Sacramento, CA//Arco Arena
May 24//San Jose, CA//HP Pavilion
May 27//Anaheim, CA//Honda Center
May 28//Los Angeles, CA//Staples Center
May 29//San Diego, CA//Valley View Casino Center
June 1//Minneapolis, MN//Target Center
June 2//Indianapolis, IN//Conseco Fieldhouse
June 3//Chicago, IL//Allstate Arena
June 6//Boston, MA//TD Garden
June 8//Philadelphia, PA//Wells Fargo Center
June 11//Toronto, Canada//Air Canada Centre
June 13//Detroit, MI//Palace of Auburn Hills
June 14//Cleveland, OH//Quicken Loans Arena
June 16//East Rutherford, NJ//Izod Center
June 18//Uniondale, NY//Nassau Colliseum

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

International Singing Sensation Charice Lands Role on 'Glee'

If I wasn't blogging about music already, I'd be blogging about television.  It's no wonder I love Fox's Glee so much...I mean HELLO!  Music and TV together?! It's an obvious match made in heaven.

From GleeImages.com

Why do I love Glee? Is it the sappy storylines? Well...yes...partially.  Is it the cast? Oh, absolutely! What about the music? Um...DUH!  While the storylines are cute, EVERYBODY tunes in weekly for the spectacular music numbers, that put any REAL high school show choir to shame (I'm sure Fox has a bigger budget than your average public high school).  Not only are people TUNING in to Glee but people are spending money on the music! Digital downloads and albums are both bringing BOATLOADS of $$.  Case in point? Check out this weeks Billboard Charts! The newest Glee EP, Journey To Regionals took the #1 spot on the Billboard 200  (besting even Christina Aguilera's new album) and Volume 3 of the Soundtrack is still in the top ten, after peaking at #1.  Volume's 1, 2 and the Power of Madonna are also still charting.  Singles-wise, on the Hot 100 Singles Chart, seven Glee Cast recordings are featured in the Top 100 (the most recent being Glee's take on Journey's "Faithfully" which debuted at #37).  Not only are NEW Glee songs charting but old ones are RE-charting. The Glee Cast's internationally successful cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"re-entered the Hot 100 at #59, after having peaked at #4.  Glee's got CHART power.

From GleeImages.com

 While we have an ENTIRE summer to go before Glee returns in the Fall, at least we have something to look for.  Entertainment Weekly's own TV Guru, Michael Ausiello reported today that popular Warner Brothers Recording Artist, Charice will be joining the cast next season as a "foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder." BRILLIANT move...for both Charice's career AND for the show. Giving Rachel some proper vocal competiion can ONLY be a good thing, and while I fear this will mean lots more of Rachel Berry pouting and threatening to quit the club, I'm anticipating some KILLER duets.

L-R - Charice, Glee's Lea Michele

Charice, who hails from the Phillipines has been paraded around the U.S., garnering support from the likes of David Foster and Oprah, to name a couple.  Her self-titled Reprise Records release marks Charice's international debut.  Her first single, the Diane Warren-penned/David Foster-produced "Note To God," (also heard on JoJo's The High Road album and on Charice's Oprah appearance) peaked at #44 on Billboard's Hot 100.  Second single, the Iyaz-assisted "Pyramid" peaked at #56 but made it all the way to #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Songs with the help of remixes by Barry Harris, Jonathan Peters, Dave Audé and Ruff Loaderz.



While Glee doesn't seem to need any help at the moment, the addition of Charice is only going to enhance the musical element of the show.  Fall can't get here soon enough!

Check out Charice on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

Watch Glee's Brittany (Heather Morris) Doin' the 'Single Ladies' Dance with Beyoncé!

AHHH. It all makes sense now. So...you all know that I LOVE Glee. While I have special little places in my heart for ALL of the characters, Brittany (Heather Morris) is fast becoming one of my favs. If you watch the show then you've probably noticed Morris KICKING ass with all of the choreography. Good reason! She's an AMAZING DANCER. Case in point, check out this video of Beyoncé performing "Single Ladies" at last year's American Music Awards. Check out the cute blond doing the "Single Ladies" dance to Beyoncé's left. HEATHER MORRIS! Amazing! I have even more respect for this girl.

Heather Morris as Brittany

Did you know that Morris taught the cast of Glee the "Single Ladies" dance? No wonder! Morris toured with Beyoncé last year. This girl is hilarious. Check out a little mini interview with Morris in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly with Sue Sylvester herself, Jane Lynch, on the cover. Thank GOD Morris has been upgraded to a series regular for next season. More witty one liners I hope!

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

Upcoming Release - Glee: The Music, Journey To Sectionals

While recent episodes seem to be focusing more on the cheesy story-lines rather than on musical numbers, at least the folks at Glee keep releasing the music from he show for us Gleeks to get our hands on. First, we have Glee: The Music, Volume 1, released last fall, followed by Glee: The Music, Volume 2 in December. More recently, an EP, Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna was released and even MORE RECENTLY (on Tuesday in fact) Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers was released. Well, that's not all! Not only has every song been released on iTunes but we're getting at least one more EP before the season is over. Glee: The Music, Journey To Regionals comes out on CD June 8th.

Tracklisting:

1. Faithfully

2. Any Way You Want It / Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

3. Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version)

4. Bohemian Rhapsody (featuring Jonathan Groff)

5. To Sir With Love

6. Over The Rainbow

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

The Power Of Madonna (+ Glee)

Glee Cast - The Power Of Madonna

I might be dying right now.  As soon as I saw this artwork I just about flipped.  I'm a huge fan of Glee (of course) so naturally, when I heard that Madonna gave the go-ahead for the Glee cast to interpret some of her music for the show, I was BEYOND ecstatic.  THEN - a couple of weeks ago a little glee promo made an appearance during American Idol.  The promo spot starts with Rachel (Lea Michelle) singing "Like A Prayer" before showing various scenes from the end of the first season. AHHH! Dying.

Looks like this little 7-track EP will be released both digitally and in CD-format on Tuesday April 20th, the same day the Madonna episode airs. I'm beyond excited about this whole thing! Not quite sure who's singing what so if anyone knows, please shoot me an email!  Check out the track listing below and let me know what you think!  Don't forget to watch Glee when it returns on Fox Tuesday April 13th after American Idol.

1. Express Yourself

2. Borderline/Open Your Heart

3. Vogue

4. Like A Virgin

5. 4 Minutes

6. What It Feels Like For A Girl

7. Like A Prayer

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

Album Review: Glee - The Music, Volume 1

I knew back when the pilot episode aired that Glee was going to be one of my favorite shows. It has everything a TV/music lover like me needs - Top 40 Songs, a good looking cast, Jane Lynch and pounds and pounds of cheese. Glee is PURE PERFECTION in my mind.

Having sung in show choir throughout high school and college, this show really speaks to me. While my high school experience wasn't nearly as extreme as it is at William McKinley High School, I can relate to the students in the Glee Club. I love that this show is a big ensemble and while there are certainly stars that shine brighter than others - the cast really looks and sounds good together.

The main stars of Glee: The Music, Volume 1 (released November 3rd) are Rachel Berry (played by Lea Michele), Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and Finn Hudson (Corey Monteith). Supporting the main cast are Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), Noah Puckerman (Mark Salling), Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron), Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz), Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) and a couple of brilliant performances from guest star Kristin Chenoweth.

My only initial hesitation came when I learned that Glee was the brain child of Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy. Nip/Tuck is anything but innocent and sweet. Some might even call it raunchy, dirty, perverse, violent and semi-pornographic. Not necessarily the makings of a family-friendly television show. Well, rest assured, Glee is a far cry from Nip/Tuck and while there are still some groups that claim the show isn't family friendly (i.e. - characters deal with teen pregnancy, homosexuality, infidelity, etc.), on the whole it's quite safe.

The soundtrack starts out on a strong note with a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin," which has received over 1 Million plays on MySpace and peaked at #4 on the U.S. charts (#5 in Australia). Lead vocals are performed by powerhouse alto Lea Michele and her character's on-screen crush Cory Monteith. While Michele's vocal range and ability is clearly stronger than Monteith's - he holds his own on the track. Backed by the rest of the cast, this is truly one of the album's strongest ensemble numbers.

Monteith doesn't fare so well on his own singing the REO Speedwagon classic "Can't Fight This Feeling," but that's OK. He's cute and can sing. His problem is he can't sing AS WELL as the female leads. It's still a sweet and tender performance. Who knew that "Gold Digger" would fare so well as an ensemble piece. While it definitely loses some of the gritty urban appeal present in the original, this new arrangement serves as a worthy introduction to Amber Riley. What a voice!

I'm going to go ahead and say this right now - Lea Michele can do no wrong in my opinion. While her voice definitely sounds more "Broadway" than it does pop, there's no denying the vocal prowess of this young singer. In "Take A Bow," Michele sounds absolutely beautiful, blowing Rihanna's version out of the water (in my opinion). Another standout track on the soundtrack is Amber Riley's rendition of the Jazmine Sullivan jam "Bust Your Windows." Unlike some of the other tracks on this album, I distinctly remember the scene from the show when Riley literally busted some windows.

Michele's cover of Celine Dion's "Taking Chances" is another opportunity for the young singer to shine and shine she does. I love that the album takes full advantage of one-time guest star Kristin Chenoweth (present here in 2 tracks). Hers and Matthew Morrison's cover of Heart's "Alone" is brilliant. "Maybe This Time" (Cabaret) pairs Chenoweth, a veteran Broadway performer, with Michele - who also has some Broadway experience (Les Misérables, Spring Awakening).

My absolutely FAVORITE track on the entire album is the cast's cover of "Somebody To Love," originally performed by Queen. The whole cast shines on this group number, although

Monteith and Michele are spotlighted more. The more chances we have to showcase Amber Riley's talents the better. Riley tackles Jill Scott's "Hate On Me" with ferocity and vocal maturity. Brilliant performance. "No Air," originally by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown is performed in Glee by Lea Michele with additional vocals from Dianna Agron and Mark Salling.

This track leads right into Dianna Agron's solo cover of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On." In my opinion, Agron is weakest link here and this performance goes on to prove

just that. With virtually no vocal range to speak of, on the show she can rely on her good looks but on the soundtrack her performance just falls flat.

"Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne originally, serves as yet another chance to showcase Michele and Monteith. As much as certain cast members are featured, there are plenty of ensemble tracks on this album to balance everything out nicely. The Glee Cast arrangement of Young MC's "Bust A Move" gives Matthew Morrison a final opportunity to "act a fool" and

rap. Silly yet comical all at the same time. "Sweet Caroline" gives super cute mo-hawked jock Noah Puckerman (Mark Salling) the chance to sing. While Salling's vocals aren't very impressive, neither are Neil Diamond's (in my opinion) in the original. This song works.

Wheel-chair bound Artie Abrams gets his well-deserved solo in a cover of Generation X's "Dancing With Myself." Interesting fact: Kevin McHale (who plays Artie) was once a member of the boy band NLT (Geffen/Interscope 2003-2009). The boy can sing so I can't say that

I'm too shocked. "Defying Gravity" pairs Michele with Chris Colfer in this arrangement of the song from Broadway's Wicked. Michele very much reminds me of a young Idina Menzel (who played Elphaba in the original cast) and while Colfer doesn't so much remind me of Kristin Chenoweth, it's a sweet duet. Depending on where you purchase your copy of the album, there are a variety of bonus tracks. On iTunes you get the lackluster "I Say A Little Prayer," performed by Dianna Agron. Target's version features "I Wanna Sex You Up," featuring Matthew Morrison and the Acafellas as well as "I Could Have Danced All Night," featuring cast member Jayma Mays (playing Emma Pillsbury) . Finally the Target edition also offers fans Matthew Morrison's rendition of "Leaving On A Jet Plane." Whatever version

of the album you get, it's a solid album through and through.

If you can't wait for more Glee, make sure and check out iTunes each Tuesday before new episodes as new tracks are added weekly. Also on the horizon, a special cast recording of George Michael's "Last Christmas" in time for the holidays, an all Madonna episode, Bill Joel music, an episode full of original music as well as Glee: The Music, Volume 2, due out December 8th via Columbia Records. Oh...and don't forget various inevitable solo projects from the cast members. I'm a total GLEE-ADDICT.

Glee: The Music Volume 1 Tracklisting:

1. Don't Stop Believin' (Glee Cast Version)
2. Can't Fight This Feeling (Glee Cast Version)
3. Gold Digger (Glee Cast Version)
4. Take A Bow (Glee Cast Version)
5. Bust Your Windows (Glee Cast Version)
6. Taking Chances (Glee Cast Version)
7. Alone (Glee Cast Version)8. Maybe This Time (Glee Cast Version)
9. Somebody To Love (Glee Cast Version)
10. Hate On Me (Glee Cast Version)
11. No Air (Glee Cast Version)
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On (Glee Cast Version)
13. Keep Holding On (Glee Cast Version)14. Bust A Move (Glee Cast Version)
15. Sweet Caroline (Glee Cast Version)
16. Dancing With Myself (Glee Cast Version)
17. Defying Gravity (Glee Cast Version)

BONUS TRACKS

I Say A Little Prayer (iTunes)

I Wanna Sex You Up (Target)

I Could Have Danced All Night (Target)

Leaving On A Jet Plane (Target)

Glee: The Music, Volume 2 Tracklisting (Due December 8th)

1. Proud Mary (Original by Creedence Clearwater Revival)
2. Endless Love (Original by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)
3. I'll Stand By You (Original by The Pretenders)
4. Don't Stand So Close To Me/Young Girl (Original by The Police)
5. Crush (Original by either David Archuleta)
6. (You're) Having My Baby (Original by Paul Anka)
7. Lean On Me (Original by Bill Withers)
8. Don't Make Me Over (Original by Dionne Warwick)
9. Imagine (Original by John Lennon)
10. True Colors (Original by Cyndi Lauper)
11. Jump (Original by Van Halen)
12. Smile (Lily Allen cover)
13. Smile (Charlie Chaplin cover)
14. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (Original by Jennifer Holliday)
15. Don't Rain On My Parade (Original by Barbara Streisand)
16. You Can't Always Get What You Want (Original by The Rolling Stones)
17. My Life Would Suck Without You (Original by Kelly Clarkson)

Check out Glee on the web:

Official Site//Myspace//Facebook//Twitter//iTunes//Youtube