Hot Video Alert: Ellie Goulding - Burn

Once again, I am feeling completely out of the pop music loop (although I do have a good excuse this time...I moved to NYC!).  Ellie Goulding is releasing a re-packaged version of Halcyon? Say WHAT? Can't say I'm really surprised, as that's the way major labels are doing it these days with their artists. Rather than let an album sink away into obscurity, throw together a couple of new tracks and some remixes and re-release the album. Hell, it works for me. I'll buy it! That being said, first single "Burn" is FAR from a throw away track. It's an epic electropop masterpiece TOTALLY worthy of being on the album the first time 'round.  "Burn" was produced by Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic, Maroon 5, The Wanted), Greg Kurstin (P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Lily Allen), and Sean Stuart (the three of whom also wrote the track alongside with Ellie, Noel Zancanella and Tedder's OneRepublic cohort, Brent Kutzle).  Check out the ENLIGHTENING new video BELOW.  "Burn" was directed by Mike Sharpe.

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Ones to Watch: Matthew Koma

Matthew Koma is a talented singer/songwriter from New York who's about to make a BIG splash here in America and around the world.  Having already hit the mainstream, writing the hook for Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso's SMASH single, "Calling (Lose My Mind)" featuring OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder,  Koma's ready for his closeup.  His debut four-track EP, Parachute is set for release this Tuesday, May 29th via Cherrytree/Darkchild/Interscope Records.  Listen to snippets from the EP BELOW.

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Maroon 5 Breaks Digital Sales Record for a Group, Besting Black Eyed Peas; New Album Out June 26th

Released on iTunes April 17th (June 18th in the UK) "Payphone" is the new Wiz Khalifa-assisted Maroon 5 single.  The LA-based fivesome debuted the song live on the hit NBC reality series The Voice prior to the single release the next day.  Following the song's release, "Payphone" debuted at #1 on the Digital Songs chart.  With nearly 500,000 downloads, "Payphone" broke the Black Eyed Peas previous record for digital sales by a group.  In addition to landing a #1 on Billboard's Digital Songs Chart, the single also managed a #3 debut on the Hot 100 chart. That's INSANE!

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Katharine McPhee's 'Touch Me' Gets the Remix Treatment

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Katharine McPhee's DELICIOUS new single, "Touch Me" was given the royal remix treatment.  Serving as the first single off of the official SMASH soundtrack, "Touch Me" was produced and written by Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson) with Brent Kutzle (Beyonce, Cobra Starship), Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears) and Noel Zancanella (The Wanted, Demi Lovato) serving as co-writers on the track.  "Touch Me" appeared in the March 26th episode of NBC's hit TV show and was used heavily in TV spots for the series.  In it's original form, "Touch Me" is an up-tempo party track with but remixes from Jump Smokers, DJ Kue and Jody den Broeder take it to a whole other level.  "Touch Me" is just BEGGIN' for that #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and with proper promotion and support from the club scene, I think it has the potential to get there.  Listen to the SICK Jump Smokers remix BELOW.

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The Wanted Set to Release Debut U.S. EP April 24th, New Single 'Chasing The Sun' Out Now

I've been championing UK boyband The Wanted here on Music Is My King Size Bed for nearly two years.  My first post was back in June of 2010 when I wrote up a "Hot Video Alert" promoting their debut UK single, "All Time Low." It's amazing to me that it's two years later and the boys are releasing hits here in the U.S.  I feel like a proud Papa!

Gearing up for the release of their debut self-titled U.S. EP, The Wanted have been releasing promotional singles ("Gold Forever," "Heart Vacancy" and "Lightning") on iTunes in the weeks leading up to the EP's release on this Tuesday, April 24th. Released April 17th, the latest single to be lifted from the EP is a banger called "Chasing The Sun," a previously unreleased track.  Co-written by English rapper Example and Alex Smith (Olly Murs), "Chasing The Sun" follows the band's successful electropop formula that gave them their international hit single, "Glad You Came."  Like "Glad You Came" before it, "Chasing The Sun" features a booty-shakin' bass line, lots of sexy synth action, a catchy hook and yes - tons of Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh's. This song is just beggin' to be a summer anthem!  "Chasing The Sun" will be sent to mainstream US radio on May 15th and is set to be released in the UK on May 21st.

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[Review] Cheryl Cole's 'Call My Name' Hits UK Radio

Hey Americans!  I know most of you (MuuMuse-excluded) didn't stay up till 3:00 AM to catch the UK radio debut of Cheryl (Cole)'s new single, out June 10th, so I've got the rundown for you.  At 8:10 AM UK time, radio stations all over the country premiered "Call My Name," giving fans a tease of what's to come from her third album, A Million Lights, due June 18th through Polydor Records.  

From the second you hit "PLAY," you know this is a Calvin Harris joint.  The beats are eerily reminiscent of  Harris' Rihanna collaboration, the international #1 hit "We Found Love," (not to mention his NEW RiRi collab, "Where Have You Been") but "Call My Name" is not a clone. Not by any means. Hey, if you have a formula that works (and Calvin does) why not test it out on different artists, tweaking it here and there as necessary? Ryan Tedder worked it out with both Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé a number of years ago.  While by no means pop innovators here, Calvin & Cheryl know what the people want this summer and that's booty-shakin' dance-pop gold, which is exactly what they deliver on "Call My Name."  The thumping disco-ball beats are steeped in 90s house glamour from beginning to end, making it awful hard not to shake your groove thang.  

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Hot Video Alert: Gavin DeGraw - Sweeter

Photo credit: Debra Rothenberg/PictureGroup

"Sweeter" serves as the title track and second single from American singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw's fourth studio album.  Written and produced by DeGraw and Ryan Tedder, "Sweeter" is a worthy follow up to "Not Over You," which was released all the way back in May of 2011. Why the wait Gavin?  "Not Over You" peaked at a reasonably decent #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart so you'd think that the label would have been a bit more aggressive with album promo.

Starting out with a funky, head-boppin' guitar solo, DeGraw comes in and starts showcasing his skills on the piano.  DeGraw really exhibits well-roundedness on this song, coming in strong vocally at the beginning of each verse, and showing restraint towards the end of each line, all the way through dazzling us with his beautiful falsetto.  He really sounds his best on those big wailing choruses, mixing the gritty & gruff hard elements of his sound with the soft & delicate falsetto.  This is DeGraw really in his funky pop/rock element and I love it.

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Katharine McPhee 'SMASHES' Through with 'Touch Me', Smash Soundtrack Due May 1st

If you watch Smash, NBC's brilliantly addictive prime time musical drama then you likely heard Katharine McPhee's song featured in last week's otherwise bland episode.  Co-penned by OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder (Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis) and Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Taio Cruz, Britney Spears) "Touch Me" is utter electropop magnificence.  While this dance pop gem is an awkward fit in a show that chronicles a team of Broadway producers, writers and actors trying to fast track a new Marilyn Monroe themed musical, as a standalone pop single it's PERFECTION.

"Touch Me" serves as the lead single from the forthcoming Smash soundtrack album, due out May 1st on Columbia Records.  McPhee, who turned in a series of impressive performances during her season of American Idol (before losing to nobody Taylor 'Where Is He Now' Hicks), shines on this up-tempo club stomper.  Bradley Stern of MuuMuse really hits the nail on the head in his review:

"Think Kelly Rowland‘s “Commander” meets Britney‘s “Hold It Against Me.” Not only is “Touch Me” pure dark, sexy club-pop euphoria, but it’s one of McPhee’s most thrilling pop productions yet. Actually, it’s probably her greatest song to date."

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New Music: Jordin Sparks' Battlefield

Photo available at JordinSparks.com

The new Jordin Sparks single has leaked in full and it's AMAZING (Popjustice thinks so too!). I love it! The track was written by Ryan Tedder (of OneRepublic) who has written & produced songs for the likes of Leona Lewis ("Bleeding Love"), Hilary Duff, Jennifer Hudson, Shayne Ward, Natasha Bedingfield and countless others.

I agree with The Prophet, who compares it to Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." It totally straddles the line between R&B and Top 40 pop and I can see this doing well on the radio here in the States. The single is released digitally in the States tomorrow (May 12th), goes to radio on May 25th and comes out in the UK on June 22nd.

Sparks is also expected to perform the new single on Wednesday's American Idol results show, with Ryan Tedder accompanying her on the guitar. Sparks doesn't always sound brilliant live so I'm hoping for the best with her live performance. Either way, I can't wait for this song! JAM!

EDIT: I forgot! I just received my German CD Maxi of Jordin's "One Step At A Time" with 4 remixes (Jason Nevins, Mike Rizzo, Tonal & Grayson). Yay! Not the best Jordin Sparks single, but I love me some remixes! Get yours at Perfect Beat while supplies last!

Check out Jordin Sparks on the web: Official Site/MySpace/Facebook/Twitter/YouTube