Hot Video Alert: Demi Lovato - Give Your Heart a Break

Here is the video for Demi Lovato's newest single, "Give Your Heart a Break," taken from her third studio album Unbroken. Maybe my age is to blame for this one, but I keep getting Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez confused.  Am I crazy?  There are so many similarities between the two girls, how can you not get them confused?  Let's see; they are both signed to Hollywood Records; they are both 19 years old; they both starred in Disney Channel series (Selena - Wizards of Waverly Place; Demi - Sonny with a Chance). Are they not the same person?  I'm still a bit confused.

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Justin Bieber Protege, Carly Rae Jepsen Lands UK #1 with Second Fastest Selling Single of 2012

As if the sudden rush of notoriety here in America wasn't enough for Canadian singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, now she's become an overnight success in the UK as well. Pretty effing fantastic.  Jepsen's smash single, the uber-catchy "Call Me Maybe" not only crashed into the top ten on Billboard's Hot 100 chart but following it's release last week in the UK, the former Canadian Idol contestant has the pleasure of having the SECOND fastest selling single of 2012 to date, with nearly 107,000 sold in the first week and an impressive out of nowhere #1 debut on the UK Singles Chart.  Pretty impressive.  Jepsen comes in only second to the DJ Fresh & Rita Ora jam "Hot Right Now" which sold an impressive 128,000 in it's first week of release back in February.  Whichever way you slice it, this is no small feat and Carly Rae Jepsen has a lot to be happy about.

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Hot Video Alert: Selena Gomez & The Scene - Hit The Lights

Fan Art by mikayla156 via Coverlandia

Well it certainly appears that pint-sized pop princess Selena Gomez has found her pop music niche.  Unfortunately for Gomez, that niche - catchy-but-generic dance/pop - is one that I'm quickly growing tired of.  Case in point, her latest single.  The Dreamlab-produced "Hit The Lights" (released all the way back in October) was co-penned by Leah Haywood, Daniel James (both part of the production team Dreamlab) alongside Tony Nilsson.  Like her last single...and the single before that...and the single before that...and the single before that, "Hit The Lights" is an up-tempo dance/pop number infused with all the personality of a rusty nickel.  Sure, the beats are pumping but it's just another generic dance tune in a long line of generic dance tunes.  While I'm about as interested in hearing Selena Gomez sing a ballad as I am in watching paint dry, I was hoping for something a little different.  Call me crazy!

I guess one can't fault Gomez for trying to keep the momentum up, after releasing four #1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs singles ("Naturally," "A Year Without Rain," "Who Says," and "Love You Like A Love Song") but come on! Diversify!  "Hit The Lights" wasn't even remixed for the clubs (at least not yet) which is a bit surprising.  Maybe Gomez's label, Hollywood Records, requires a song to go at least Top 40 on the Hot 100 Chart before making it into a dance remix? I say this because not one of Gomez's singles has charted in the Top 20, yet all have made it into the Top 40...with the exception f two...her debut single "Falling Down" (#82) and "Hit The Lights" (as yet uncharted).  While the song pretty much flopped in the U.S., it did show itself internationally, peaking at #15 on the Belgian chart, in Slovakia at #33 and in #60 in Canada.  So I guess it's not entirely a failure...just mostly.

"Hit The Lights" is the third single to be lifted off of Selena Gomez & The Scene's ('The Scene' being her band: Greg Garman, Ethan Roberts, Joey Clement, Dane Forrest) third studio album, When The Sun Goes Down, released last summer. The album went on to peak at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the young starlet's highest charting debut to date.  Say what you will about "Hit The Lights," Selena Gomez is a little workhorse with a fierce work ethic so she at least deserves credit for that.  Pulling a Rihanna and releasing an album a year for the past three years, I'm definitely a fan of Ms. Gomez.  I think she just needs to take a little break, pool her creative resources and come up with something fresh and excited, because let's face it...the last thing pop music needs is another generic kiddy club anthem.

Check out Selena Gomez & The Scene on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Selena Gomez & The Scene - Love You Like A Love Song

Disney girl Selena Gomez seems to be doing quite well for herself post Wizards of Waverly Place (she has one season left to go), both as an actress AND as a singer. Gomez made her theatrical debut in Ramona & Beezus and currently stars in the teen girl romp Monte Carlo, alongside Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy. In the music department, Gomez just released a new album with her band, 'The Scene' on June 28th through Hollywood Records. "Love You Like A Love Song" is the second single taken from the band's third album, When The Sun Goes Down which debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200. Written by Antonina Armato, Tim James (both of production team Rock Mafia) and produced by Rock Mafia, "Love You Like A Love Song" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #72, giving Gomez two concurrent Hot 100 singles, with "Who Says" rising from 22 to 21.

Selena Gomez & The Scene (guitarist Ethan Roberts, bassist Joey Clement, drummer Greg Garman, keyboardist Dane Forrest) formed in 2008, releasing their debut album, Kiss & Tell the next year. While Kiss & Tell did make a splash, debuting in the Billboard 200 top ten, the band's first single was a chart failure, with "Falling Down" only managing to peak at #82 on the Hot 100. Their luck started to change, with the release of single #2, "Naturally," which came in at #29, a vast improvement over #82. The single also earned Selena Gomez & The Scene their first #1 Dance Single in the States, boasting an impressive remix package with mixes by Dave Audé, Ralphi Rosario and Disco Fries.

Not wasting any time, the band released their sophomore album, A Year Without Rain, in September of last year, when it debuted in the #4 spot on the Billboard 200 becoming the band's first top 5 album. As with the last album, Gomez released only two singles - "Round & Round," and the infectious title track, both of which were big hits on the Billboard Dance charts, peaking at #2 and #1 respectively. Stylistically, the new album didn't stray too far beyond their debut, dipping into pop/rock/dance territory, thanks in large part to producers Rock Mafia, Toby Gad, and Superspy who worked on both albums. Added to the roster on this second album, RedOne and Kevin Rudolf, who lent their hitmaking talents, in the end creating a much stronger album than it's predecessor.

Continuing on in the tradition of releasing an album every year, When The Sun Goes Down became the band's third album in a three year span and their second top 5 record.  The new album featured production from past collaborators Rock Mafia & Toby Gad plus new additions including Dreamlab, Greg Kurstin, Sandy Vee and Espionage, and was preceded by first single, "Who Says," which became the band's highest charting Hot 100 hit, peaking at #21. On the dance charts, "Who Says" also did fairly well, peaking at #5, becoming their fourth consecutive top 5 dance hit.

With the early on success of their supremely catchy new single, "Love You Like A Love Song" there's no question that it will continue to climb the Hot 100 charts, and with inevitable dance remixes, Selena Gomez & The Scene are certain to have another club hit on their hands. My only hope this time around is that Hollywood Records milks more than just two singles out of this album. I know Selena Gomez is a busy movie star now, but come on! You can't let this album go to waste! In case you missed the George Greville & Geremy Jasper-directed video's June 23rd premiere on VEVO, watch it below. Download When The Sun Goes Down on U.S. iTunes HERE.

Check out Selena Gomez on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Selena Gomez & The Scene - A Year Without Rain

Disney star Selena Gomez is becoming QUITE the little pop star. To date, Selena Gomez (together with her band, The Scene) have released 4 singles, the latest being "A Year Without Rain," the title track of of Gomez' sophomore album.  The song is an infectious dance/pop number complete with a nice big chorus and synth-driven beat. Appearing alongside Gomez we have the "The Scene" which is comprised of Ethan Roberts on guitar, Joey Clement on bass, Greg Garman on drums, and Dane Forrest on keyboards. "A Year Without Rain" is the follow up to "Round & Round" which managed to peak at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on Hot Dance Club Play chart. The new single was written by Lindy Robbins (Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis) and Toby Gad (Alicia Keys, Beyoncé) (who also served as producer). The track was released on September 7th in the U.S. and on the 17th internationally.  The beautifully shot video, directed by Chris Dooley, was shot in the desert in Lucerne Valley, California. So nice to see Gomez graduating from teenybopper bubblegum pop to something slightly more sophisticated. I love this song!

Check out Selena Gomez on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Selena Gomez and The Scene - Round & Round

Check out this fun video for Disney-darling Selena Gomez and The Scene's new single "Round & Round." "Round & Round" is the first single off of Gomez's new album (which as of now remains untitled). The video is fun, showing Gomez playing a sexy spy. Having liked her last single, "Naturally," I was expecting something similar with the new single and I got it. "Naturally" received some unexpectedly good remixes so here's hoping her label continues with that trend and gives "Round & Round" some fun remixes as well.