I have mixed feelings on charity records. They raise money for good causes, which is great, yet a lot of them rely solely on that factor to sell, not actually being any good. And they always sell well, regardless of quality.

Then there is the fact that Simon Cowell seems to have cornered the market in charity records. He organizes the release of one by The X Factor contestants every year, and he’s now the brains behind the Helping Haiti effort. Which, rather coincidentally, features a plethora of acts from his stable.

Cheryl Cole, Alexandra Burke, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, and Joe McElderry all feature. It’s almost as though Cowell hand picked them to up their marketability or something.

That’s not to say I don’t support it; go out and buy it, and keep it at number one for another week. The money raised will be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and the Helping Haiti campaign.

As well as being the fastest-selling charity single since the turn of the century, Everybody Hurts is likely to end 2010 as the biggest-selling single of the year. Unless, of course, another disaster strikes, another charity single is produced, and even more people buy that one. God forbid.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

JLS performed exclusively for ‘Nokia Comes With Music’ and ‘T-Mobile’ at a secret, invite-only gig at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on Saturday (Feb. 13). Michelle Kitching attended the gig for Brit Music Scene, and her review of the event is after the cut.

Being an avid fan of The X Factor, and a big fan of JLS, the chance to attend this gig was too good to turn down.

It was an afternoon gig at Hammersmith Apollo, a good venue for a show of this size, being both big enough to contain the fans and small enough to feel intimate and to give everyone a good view of the stage. And with JLS being a very visual band, this was important.

JLS fans filled the venue, with a large percentage of teenage girls as was to be expected, and younger kids there with their parents. A few celebrities were also in attendance, but the only one I spotted personally was celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson.

Whether intentionally or otherwise, the gig landed on Aston’s birthday. Which gave the crowd a chance to sing Happy Birthday to him halfway through their full, 90-minute set.

They kicked things off with Private and ended their encore with Everybody In Love. They played pretty much every song from their self-titled debut album along with a few notable covers. This included a Michael Jackson medley where each of the four boys took their turn center stage. Thus proving they can all sing live. They also covered Rihanna’s Umbrella, and the fans who expected it had brought umbrellas for just that moment.

They also performed their new single One Shot and took the opportunity to up their sales by mentioning when it was being released. They spoke briefly about the upcoming Brit Awards and how they would be performing Beat Again during the ceremony. They also mentioned Haiti, and dedicated a song to the victims of the recent earthquake.

It was a simple stage setup, with a backing track rather than a live band, with the exception of a guitarist for one song. As is usual for pop acts there were several costume changes, with the times when JLS weren’t on stage filled by the four male dancers there to back them up. They didn’t dress identically to each other as some boybands do, and this meant each let their own personality shine through.

With the crowd full of young girls some excess screaming and general madness was inevitable. And so it proved. Aston did a few of his trademark backflips, while both he and Marvin made the most of the considerable time they clearly spend in the gym by constantly flashing their abs. And each time they did, the girls in the crowd went mad.

There was the occasional cheesy moment – handing out red roses to the crowd, a couple of the camp dance moves – but these didn’t detract from the music or the overall stage presence.

All in all it was a great performance and JLS brightened up a dreary February afternoon in London.

Full Setlist

‘Private’
‘Heal The Heartbreak’
‘Kickstart’
‘Beat Again’
‘If I Ever’
‘Crazy For You’
‘Close To You’
‘Only Making Love’
‘I Want You Back (Aston)’
‘Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough (JB)’
‘Beat It (Oritse)’
‘The Way You Make Me Feel (Marvin)’
‘One Shot’
‘Keep You’
‘Only Tonight’
‘Umbrella’
‘Beat Again’
‘Everybody In Love’

JLS played the same venue later in the day as part of their UK tour, which continues on around the country until March 5 in Brighton. They’ll then play the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust on March 28.

The boys who started out on The X Factor have clearly grown up over the past year, and are now an act on their own merit. And with loyal fans like those who attended this special one-off gig on their side, I suspect they’ll be with us for some time to come.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

This week’s singles chart has seen Owl City hold off the challenge of Jedward – that awful twin beast of baloney from The X Factor – for the number one spot. The fact that Jedward can’t even make number one with help from Vanilla Ice doesn’t bode well for their future career. Timbaland and Katy Perry jumped 14 places to number three with If We Ever Meet Again, while the rest of the charts pretty much stayed as was.

This week’s albums chart has seen Paolo ‘I wish I was black’ Nutini knocked off the top spot by Alica Keys. I suddenly adore the woman. Corinne Baily Rae entered straight in at number five with second album The Sea, which isn’t bad considering the extended break she’s taken from music. Ke$ha’s Animal and Pete Andre’s Unconditional Love Songs are both new entries in the top ten.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (2) Alicia Keys: ‘The Element Of Freedom’
2. (4) André Rieu: ‘Forever Vienna’
3. (1) Paolo Nutini: ‘Sunny Side Up’
4. (3) Florence and the Machine: ‘Lungs’
5. (-) Corinne Bailey Rae: ‘The Sea’
6. (5) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster’
7. (6) The Chipmunks: ‘Alvin & The Chipmunks 2 – The Squeakquel’
8. (-) Ke$ha: ‘Animal’
9. (-) Peter Andre: ‘Unconditional Love Songs’
10. (7) Mumford & Sons: ‘Sigh No More’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

This week’s U.K. singles chart sees Owl City retain the number one spot with Fireflies, while Iyaz and the cast of Glee swap places in two and three. There are still two versions of Don’t Stop Believin’ hanging around in the top 10 (don’t do it, Joe). Alica Keys and Jay-Z are the big climbers, with Empire State Of Mind (Part II) and Young Forever respectively climbing into the top 10.

This week’s U.K. albums chart has a deja vu vibe about it, with Paolo Nutini somehow climbing back to the top spot. I’m starting to doubt my fellow Brits’ taste in music. This concern is backed by the fact the soundtrack to Alvin & The Chipmunks 2 – The Squeakquel is sitting at number six. Biffy Clyro redress the balance at number nine, while Mumford and Sons further augment my restored faith.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (2) Paolo Nutini: ‘Sunny Side Up’
2. (8) Alicia Keys: ‘The Element Of Freedom’
3. (1) Florence and the Machine: ‘Lungs’
4. (6) André Rieu: ‘Forever Vienna’
5. (5) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster
6. (22) The Chipmunks: ‘Alvin & The Chipmunks 2 – The Squeakquel’
7. (10) Mumford & Sons: ‘Sigh No More’
8. (4) Justin Bieber: ‘My World’
9. (13) Biffy Clyro: ‘Only Revolutions’
10. (7) Pixie Lott: ‘Turn It Up’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

This week’s singles chart has seen Owl City topple Iyaz from the top spot he grabbed last week. Fireflies is Owl City’s first U.K. number one, despite the American singer-songwriter having released three albums. Iyaz only dropped to number two, while the Glee cast climbed to number three with their rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’. The only new entry in the top ten is Won’t Go Quietly by Example.

This week’s albums chart sees the top two stay the same, with the brilliant Florence And The Machine number one, and the frankly ludicrous Paolo Nutini at number two. Three and four see new entries for Lostprophets and Justin Bieber respectively. The hyped Manchester band Delphic were straight in at number eight last week, but have already dropped to number 28.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (2) Owl City: ‘Fireflies’
2. (1) Iyaz: ‘Replay’
3. (5) ‘Glee’ Cast: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’
4. (4) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: ‘Starstrukk’
5. (3) Sidney Samson ft. Wizard Sleeve: ‘Riverside (Let’s Go)’
6. (-) Example: ‘Won’t Go Quietly’
7. (6) Journey: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’
8. (10) Alexandra Burke: ‘Broken Heels’
9. (7) Lady GaGa: ‘Bad Romance’
10. (32) JLS: ‘One Shot’

Top 10 UK Albums Chart

1. (1) Florence and the Machine: ‘Lungs’
2. (2) Paolo Nutini: ‘Sunny Side Up’
3. (-) Lostprophets: ‘The Betrayed’
4. (-) Justin Bieber: ‘My World’
5. (4) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster’
6. (6) André Rieu: ‘Forever Vienna’
7. (10) Pixie Lott: ‘Turn It Up’
8. (7) Alicia Keys: ‘The Element Of Freedom’
9. (3) Vampire Weekend: ‘Contra’
10. (9) Mumford & Sons: ‘Sigh No More’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

Lady Gaga, JLS, Lily Allen, Pixie Lott, and Florence & The Machine have all been nominated for three or more awards. Lady Gaga is up in every category she is eligible for, those being the international awards.

Robbie Williams will be honored for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’, while two new awards have been added as a one-off to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Brits. Artists will battle it out for ‘Best Performance’ and ‘Best Album’ from the last three decades.

The nominations are listed in full, along with my pick of who I think will win (in italics). Although they aren’t necessarily who I want to win, especially in the case of Paolo Nutini.

The 2010 Brit Awards Nominations In Full

British Male Solo Artist

Calvin Harris
Dizzee Rascal
Mika
Paolo Nutini
Robbie Williams

British Female Solo Artist

Bat For Lashes
Florence And The Machine
Leona Lewis
Lily Allen
Pixie Lott

British Breakthrough Act

Florence And The Machine
Friendly Fires
JLS
La Roux
Pixie Lott

British Group

Doves
Friendly Fires
JLS
Kasabian
Muse

Mastercard British Album

Dizzee Rascal – Tongue ‘N Cheek
Florence And The Machine – Lungs
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up

British Single

Alesha Dixon – ‘Breathe Slow’
Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida – ‘Bad Boys’
Cheryl Cole – ‘Fight For This Love’
Joe McElderry – ‘The Climb’
JLS – ‘Beat Again’
La Roux – ‘In For The Kill’
Lily Allen – ‘The Fear’
Pixie Lott – ‘Mama Do’
Taio Cruz – ‘Break Your Heart’
Tinchy Stryder ft. N-Dubz – ‘Number 1′

International Male Solo Artist

Bruce Springsteen
Eminem
Jay-Z
Michael Buble
Seasick Steve

International Female Solo Artist

Lady GaGa
Ladyhawke
Norah Jones
Rihanna
Shakira

International Breakthrough Act

Animal Collective
Daniel Merriweather
Empire Of The Sun
Lady GaGa
Taylor Swift

International Album

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On Dream
Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
Lady GaGa – The Fame

British Producer of the Year

Jim Abbiss
Paul Epworth
Ethan Johns
Steve Lillywhite

Critics’ Choice Award

Ellie Goulding

Outstanding Contribution to Music

Robbie Williams

Brits Performance of 30th Year

Bee Gees – ‘Stayin’ Alive’ / ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ (1997)
Bros – ‘I Owe You Nothing’ (1989)
Coldplay – ‘Clocks’ (2003)
Eurythmics and Stevie Wonder – ‘Angel’ (1999)
Girls Aloud – ‘The Promise’ (2009)
Kanye West – ‘Gold Digger’ (2006)
Kylie Minogue – ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ (2002)
Michael Jackson – ‘Earth Song’ (1996)
Paul McCartney – ‘Live And Let Die’ (2008)
Pet Shop Boys – ‘Go West’ (1994)
Robbie Williams and Tom Jones – Full Monty medley (1998)
Scissor Sisters – ‘Take Your Mama’ (2005)
Spice Girls – ‘Wannabe’ / ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ (1997)
The Who – ‘Who Are You’ (1988)

Brits Album of 30 Years

Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Dido – No Angel
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
Duffy – Rockferry
Keane – Hopes & Fears
Oasis – What’s The Story Morning Glory
Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
Sade – Diamond Life
The Verve – Urban Hymns
Travis – The Man Who

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

Overall, album sales in the UK were down by around 3.5 percent to 128.9 million, continuing a longterm trend which the music industry blames on illegal file-sharing. 16.1 million of this total were legal downloads.

Overall, single sales were up a whopping 32.7 percent to 152 million. This was explained by way of an increased number of downloads, and a whopping 98 percent of all singles sold were legal downloads.

The BPI also detailed the top-selling singles and albums for the year, which were as follows:

Top 10 UK Albums Of 2009

1. Susan Boyle – ‘I Dreamed A Dream’
2. Lady Gaga – ‘The Fame’
3. Michael Buble – ‘Crazy Love’
4. Black Eyed Peas – ‘The End’
5. Kings Of Leon – ‘Only By The Night’
6. JLS – ‘JLS’
7. Beyonce – ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’
8. Paolo Nutini – ‘Sunny Side Up’
9. Lily Allen – ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’
10. Robbie Williams – ‘Reality Killed The Video Star’

Top 10 UK Singles Of 2009

1. Lady Gaga – ‘Poker Face’
2. Black Eyed Peas – ‘I Gotta Feeling’
3. Lady Gaga – ‘Just Dance’
4. Cheryl Cole – ‘Fight For This Love’
5. Joe McElderry – ‘The Climb’
6. La Roux – ‘In For The Kill’
7. Black Eyed Peas – ‘Boom Boom Pow’
8. Rage Against The Machine – ‘Killing In The Name’
9. Alexandra Burke Ft Flo Rida – ‘Bad Boys’
10. Black Eyed Peas – ‘Meet Me Halfway’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

Joe McElderry, who famously lost out on Christmas number one to RATM, only held the top spot in the singles chart for one week. Lady Gaga, who occupied the top spot before Christmas, has returned there with Bad Romance. The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha and Chipmunk are all big climbers.

A similar occurrence in the albums chart, with Paolo Nutini returning to the top spot with Sunny Side Up, an album that first hit number one in June 2009. There must be a lot of disappointed people who were given the frankly terrible album for Christmas. Florence and The Machine and Muse both climbed back into the top ten, with all three artists benefiting from the albums being lowered in price for New Year sales.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (3) Lady GaGa: ‘Bad Romance’
2. (1) Joe McElderry: ‘The Climb’
3. (6) Black Eyed Peas: ‘Meet Me Halfway’
4. (10) Ke$ha: ‘Tik Tok’
5. (4) Cheryl Cole: ‘3 Words’
6. (5) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: ‘Starstrukk’
7. (7) Journey: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’
8. (8) Rihanna: ‘Russian Roulette’
9. (9) Robbie Williams: ‘You Know Me’
10. (13) Chipmunk ft. Talay Riley: ‘Look For Me’

Top 10 UK Albums Chart

1. (15) Paolo Nutini: ‘Sunny Side Up’
2. (4) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster’
3. (2) Susan Boyle: ‘I Dreamed A Dream’
4. (1) Michael Bublé: ‘Crazy Love’
5. (3) Black Eyed Peas: ‘The E.N.D.’
6. (26) Florence and the Machine: ‘Lungs’
7. (9) Will Young: ‘The Hits’
8. (35) Muse: ‘The Resistance’
9. (8) Snow Patrol: ‘Up To Now’
10. (5) JLS: ‘JLS’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

This week’s singles chart is a little bit boring coming off the back of the battle for Christmas number one. But Joe McElderry finally managed to overcome the might of Rage Against The Machine to take the top spot. Rage dropped to 2. Joe’s mentor on The X Factor, Cheryl Cole, climbed from 7 to 4, while Ke$ha sneaked back into the top ten.

The albums chart also saw a role reversal from Christmas week, with Susan Boyle finally being knocked off her lofty perch by Canadian heartthrob crooner Michael Buble. The only other movers of note were Will Young entering the top ten with his The Hits album, and Cheryl Cole doing a Ke$ha and sneaking back into the top ten.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (2) Joe McElderry: ‘The Climb
2. (1) Rage Against The Machine: ‘Killing In The Name’
3. (3) Lady GaGa: ‘Bad Romance’
4. (7) Cheryl Cole: ‘3 Words’
5. (5) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: ‘Starstrukk’
6. (10) Black Eyed Peas: ‘Meet Me Halfway’
7. (9) Journey: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’
8. (8) Rihanna: ‘Russian Roulette’
9. (6) Robbie Williams: ‘You Know Me’
10. (11) Ke$ha: ‘Tik Tok’

Top 10 UK Albums Chart

1. (2) Michael Bublé: ‘Crazy Love’
2. (1) Susan Boyle: ‘I Dreamed A Dream’
3. (3) Black Eyed Peas: ‘The E.N.D.’
4. (4) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster’
5. (5) JLS: ‘JLS’
6. (6) Robbie Williams: ‘Reality Killed The Video Star’
7. (10) Take That: ‘The Greatest Day – The Circus Live’
8. (7) Snow Patrol: ‘Up To Now’
9. (11) Will Young: ‘The Hits’
10. (14) Cheryl Cole: ‘3 Words’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

The singles charts was all about the battle for Christmas number one between Joe McElderry and Rage Against The Machine. RATM managed a surprising victory, as you can read about here. There was 50,000 units in it in the the end, with Killing In The Name selling 500,000, and The Climb managing 450,000. Last week’s number one, Lady Gaga, dropped to number three, while the atrociously named 3OH!3 and Journey having new entries in the top 10.

Susan Boyle secured the Christmas number one album, making it four weeks in a row in the top spot with I Dreamed A Dream. The rest of the charts stayed pretty much the same as last week, except Robbie Williams and Leona Lewis managed to climb back into the top 10 after briefly dropping out of it. They were no doubt helped by people buying last minute Christmas gifts.

Top 10 UK Singles Chart

1. (-) Rage Against The Machine: ‘Killing In The Name’
2. (-) Joe McElderry: ‘The Climb’
3. (1) Lady GaGa: ‘Bad Romance’
4. (2) Peter Kay’s Animated All Star Band: ‘The Official BBC Children In Need Medley’
5. (-) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: ‘Starstrukk
6. (15) Robbie Williams: ‘You Know Me’
7. (14) Cheryl Cole: ‘3 Words’
8. (3) Rihanna: ‘Russian Roulette’
9. (-) Journey: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’
10. (4) Black Eyed Peas: ‘Meet Me Halfway’

Top 10 UK Albums Chart

1. (1) Susan Boyle: ‘I Dreamed A Dream’
2. (3) Michael Bublé: ‘Crazy Love’
3. (4) Black Eyed Peas: ‘The E.N.D.’
4. (2) Lady GaGa: ‘The Fame Monster’
5. (5) JLS: ‘JLS’
6. (11) Robbie Williams: ‘Reality Killed The Video Star’
7. (10) Snow Patrol: ‘Up To Now’
8. (7) Westlife: ‘Where We Are’
9. (12) Leona Lewis: ‘Echo’
10. (8) Take That: ‘The Greatest Day – The Circus Live’

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene