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BRITNEY SPEARS

2008-12-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

From the synthy open of "Womanizer" to the regretful ache spurring "Blur," "Circus" gives Brit pop a whole new meaning, as the singer does double duty as a dance diva and brokenhearted balladeer. It's no easy feat, but when Spears shoves aside the tabloid trauma and hooks up with the right producers—on this album it's Guy Sigsworth, Danja, Dr. Luke and Max Martin—she is in a class of her own. The iPods of the dumped will have "Out From Under" on repeat, and if censors turn a deaf ear to the racy wordplay of the chorus to "If U Seek Amy," it could move beyond the club to radio. One quibble: On beat-blasting tracks like "Circus" and "Kill the Lights" the lyrics rehash the "it's deeply weird to be famous" themes Spears already locked down on "Lucky" and "Piece of Me." Here's to moving on.

Britney Spears

2008-12-04T08:39:00.001-08:00

On Britney Spears' recently released third disc "Britney," the 19-year-old artist sings about the pitfalls of being a teenage pop singer in an adult world. While the majority of tracks are packaged with friendly hip-hop beats and breezy melodies, the lyrics detail an artist in conflict.

This internal discord was confirmed repeatedly on Friday night as Britney's Dream Within a Dream tour came through Cleveland's three-quarters-filled Gund Arena. From feeling trapped by the public's perception ("Born to Make You Happy" displayed Spears as the dancer in an oversized music box) to feeling sheltered ("Overprotected" was a plea for independence) and coming to terms with her own image (during "Lonely," a lowered video screen allowed Britney to dance and dual with a life-size video image of herself), Spears is rebelling with her stage show allowing her to vent through the only medium over which she has total control.

And while she gave her bubble-gum audience (overwhelmingly female and under 18 years of age) plenty to chew on in the form of cloying hits, memorable Britney moments and idealistic positivism, America's pop princess is clearly seeking to separate herself from her earlier girl-next-door persona, and carry herself into the next phase of her career -- a sexually-charged and confident diva who uses her body and mind to get what she wants (Madonna or Janet Jackson, anyone?).

After a video-montage that bordered on the abstract and contained overlapping people incoherently talking with glimpses of Spears, the festivities began with "Oops! ... I Did It Again." Spears appeared on britney spears new mp3 free stage shackled to a hydraulic-powered metal plate that turned her upside down while her eight dancers, dressed in post-apocalyptic "Moulin Rouge" -inspired outfits, played with fire and ran amuck around the main stage and its outer, smaller satellite platform. "(You Drive Me) Crazy" quickly followed with a bare-midriff a blazing Spears sauntering around. Next came the first of many costume changes.

The quick medley of "Born To Make You Happy," "Lucky," and "Sometimes" lead to the lite R&B-sounding "Boys," which britney spears new mp3 free unabashedly exposed Spears' infatuation with Janet Jackson's "Control" era. While nasty boy lyrics were fed to the audience, Spears and her dancers were slapped from behind in the most sexual nature. Considering the age of the audience, this behavior would have crossed a line, that is, if MTV hadn't traversed it more than a decade ago.

Musically, the styles varied from linear rock ("Stronger" and Joan Jett's "I Love Rock'n'Roll") to mid-tempo pandering britney spears new mp3 free ("Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know"), and the crossover pop stylings of Faith Hill meets Shania Twain ("I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman"). Look for the latter track to be her next single.

The playful "Anticipation" and predictably sleazy "I'm a Slave 4 U" ended the main set with Spears returning for the brief encore "...Baby One More Time," britney spears new mp3 free which included a never-before-seen stage effect -- rain. With a circular shower pouring down on the stage, a drenched Spears seemingly cleansed herself of the evening's pelvic-thrust-heavy show.

When taking into account the special effects (pyrotechnics, bungee jumping, precipitation), precise choreography, and a cavalcade of hits, Spears' hour-and-a-half, 16-song performance confirmed her pop britney spears new mp3 free queen status was justified. Considering it was only a few years ago that this Louisiana native appeared overwhelmed onstage, like a clumsy freshman trying out for the varsity cheerleading squad, Spears shared her dream-within-a-dream life with fans, who invariably had their expectations exceeded.

As for openers O-Town, the boy-band phenomenon was in full effect as the players crooned and the little girls swooned. While a gulf separates the talents of this Orlando-based act from the big boys britney spears new mp3 free ('N Sync and Backstreet Boys), you couldn't tell from the screaming audience. Predictably, the boys brought up an elementary-aged girl to sing their piano ballad "Baby I Would." Overall, their linear R&B/hip-hop style and nondescript dancing comes across as second rate.

Beyonce

2008-12-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Beyonce notches her fifth solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," one more than she scored while a member of Destiny's Child. The cut rises 2-1 after selling 228,000 downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

T.I.'s "Live You Life" thus drops 1-2, while another Beyonce song, "If I Were a Girl," holds at No. 3 and T.I.'s former chart-topper "Whatever You Like" stays at No. 4. Newcomer Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis rises 7-5, as Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" slides 5-6.

Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" jumps 9-7, Pink's "So What" sticks at No. 8, Britney Spears' "Womanizer" inches up 12-9 and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" rises 13-10 to round out the top tier.

The Fray's "You Found Me" is the top digital gainer thanks to second-week download sales of 145,000, and rises 28-15 on the Hot 100. The chart's top debut comes from Kanye West's "See You in My Nightmares" featuring Lil Wayne, which starts at No. 21.

On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "Single Ladies" begins a third week at No. 1. Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" starts a second week atop Hot Country Songs with "Chicken Fried."

AC/DC's "Rock'N'Roll Train" is in a third week atop the Mainstream Rock chart, while the Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" is No. 1 on Modern Rock for an eleventh.

Creed Hammering Out Reunion Details

2008-12-02T03:37:00.001-08:00

As first tipped here last month, Creed is hammering out details for a lucrative 2009 reunion tour, sources tell Billboard. The Scott Stapp-led group, which was one of the top sellers of the past decade, has not performed since a rancorous split in June 2004.

Stapp promptly embarked on a solo career, while guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips and original bassist Brian Marshall formed Alter Bridge with vocalist Myles Kennedy and released two albums. The 2004 Wind-Up debut, "One Day Remains," sold 496,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan; a 2006 follow-up for Universal, "Blackbird," has moved 227,000.

However, Kennedy is rumored to be the top contender to replace Robert Plant for a tour with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. And following a recent USO tour performing for American servicemen oversees, Stapp is said to be in prime physical and mental condition.

As such, there are "significant dollars" on the table for a Creed trek, according to sources close to the situation, who say an official announcement could be imminent. A spokesperson for Wind-Up tells Billboard, "There have been some talks, but it would be premature to comment on them at this time."

Creed has sold 26.1 million albums in the United States since 1997, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group was also a significant touring presence, having grossed more than $70.3 million from 220 shows reported to Billboard Boxscore between Nov. 1997 and Dec. 2002.

Guns N' Roses

2008-12-02T03:35:00.001-08:00

While mainstream media is touting that the Black Friday weekend started the holiday selling season with a bang, music merchandisers certainly didn't have that experience.

Music sales were down anywhere from 10% to 30% and hit albums released for Black Friday didn't perform up to expectations, according to merchants contacted by Billboard. Sources say Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak" will sell in the range of 425,000-450,000 units, significantly down from 700,000-975,000 units previously projected.

Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is expected to clock in at 250,000-260,000, which is also down from expectations that it would sell anywhere from 300,000-784,000 units.

While some press reports show across-the-board retail weekend sales up 7%, music merchandisers point out that in order to accurately measure the holiday, it should be measured the week containing Black Friday this year, which was the last week in November, versus last year when the day fell in the third week of the month.

At music specialty stores Newbury Comics, sales were down 21% on a comparable store basis for the last two weeks of November, while music sales were down 28%, reports the Brighton, Mass.-based chain's CEO, Mike Dreese.

At big boxes like Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble, label executives report that hit sales were off significantly for the Black Friday weekend, anywhere from 30% to 40%.

On the other hand, as expected, online shopping was stronger than last year, says an executive with a wholesaler that does CD and DVD fulfillment for online stores. But he declined to provide details, other than to say that Friday was better than Thursday, for the first time.

"I hear traffic was high, but overall purchasing wasn't because shoppers were cherry-picking the deals," says one senior distribution executive.

Bruce Springsteen

2008-12-02T03:30:00.000-08:00

Bruce Springsteen has unveiled a second new song from his next album, "Working on a Dream," jointly through Amazon.com and MySpace Music.

Fans can download "My Lucky Day" from the two services exclusively for a week, starting today (Dec. 1). The sites are also hosting the live-in-the-studio video for the song, with Amazon.com featuring an extra two minutes of behind-the-scenes clips.

The title track from the new album, due Jan. 27 from Columbia, is an iTunes exclusive for the time being.

The artist and his E Street Band will return to the live stage Feb. 1 as part of the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show in Tampa, Fla.

50cent new mp3

2008-09-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

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New Kanye

2008-09-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

In addition to crafting tracks for Jay-Z's upcoming album, "Blueprint III," Kanye West is plotting the release of his own as-yet-untitled Def Jam album, according to his management.

West initially named his fourth album "Good Ass Job" several years ago, to follow the thread of "College Dropout," "Late Registration" and "Graduation," however, an official title has yet to be confirmed.

Still, the disc may well hit shelves in the fourth quarter and management says West is seriously contemplating that timeline. Most recently, the MC has been performing a new track called "Love Lockdown," which is rumored to be his first single and to be hitting iTunes in a matter of days.

There's speculation West will perform the song Sunday (Sept. 7) on the MTV Video Music Awards, to which he was added today.

"Graduation," released in September 2007, has sold 2.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Def Jam was unavailable for comment at deadline.

linkin park

2008-09-02T04:31:00.002-07:00

Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right underneath my skin

It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin

I know I've got a face in me
Points out all my mistakes to me
You've got a face on the inside too and
Your paranoia's probably worse
I don't know what set me off first but I know what I can't stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can't add up to what you can but
Everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time they lie
A face that laughs every time they fall
(And watches everything)
So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too
Right inside your skin

Chorus (2x)

The face inside is right beneath your skin (3x)

The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me (Repeat until end)

Chorus (Repeat until end)

One Step Closer

Rihanna - Disturbia

2008-09-02T04:31:00.001-07:00

The Verve Storms

2008-09-02T04:14:00.000-07:00

The reunited Verve delivered a No. 1 U.K. album for Parlophone/EMI yesterday (Aug. 31) as "Forth" debuted at the top. In a double for EMI labels, Virgin's Katy Perry started a fourth week at the singles chart summit with "I Kissed a Girl."

The Verve's fourth album, its first in 11 years, thus matches the performance of its 1997 predecessor "Urban Hymns," which entered at No. 1 in October of that year. The band's "A Storm in Heaven" debut reached No. 27 in 1992 and "A Northern Soul" topped at No. 13 in 1995.

In an active top five of which four titles were newcomers, Slipknot's "All Hope Is Gone" (Roadrunner) debuted at No. 2. The American rock band's career best in the U.K. is 2001's chart-topping "Iowa," and they reached No. 5 with 2004's "Vol.3 (The Subliminal Verses)," but only No. 53 with 2005's "9.0 Live."

The Script's self-titled debut for Phonogenic/Sony BMG fell to No. 3 after two weeks at the top. The late American vocalist Eva Cassidy got another posthumous album success as "Somewhere" (Blix Street) arrived at No. 4, and the new Michael Jackson compilation "King of Pop" (Epic/Sony BMG) landed at No. 5.

Also new inside the top 10 were the Game's third album "L.A.X." (Geffen) at No. 9, and singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson's most successful release to date, "A Piece of What You Need" (Blue Thumb/Universal) at No. 10.

Perry's "Girl" continued to lead the singles race ahead of a No. 2 debut for Swedish DJ-artist Eric Prydz with "Pjanoo" (Data) and a 4-3 climb for Rihanna's "Disturbia" (Def Jam/Universal). Biffy Clyro's "Mountains" (14th Floor/Warner Music) made a second-week 10-5 climb and Scottish rock band Glasvegas got a second top 20 hit of the year as "Daddy's Gone" (Columbia/Sony BMG) started at No.12.

There was a 21-14 climb for "The World Should Revolve Around Me" (Parlophone/EMI) by Brooklyn-based Little Jackie, which comprises singer/writer Imani Coppola and programmer Adam Pallin. Alphabeat's "Boyfriend" (Charisma/EMI) leapt 35-15 and Metallica's "The Day That Never Comes" (Vertigo/Universal) soared 36-19.

Billboard's pan-European sales charts show Coldplay's reign on European Top 100 Albums extending to 10 weeks with "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Parlophone/EMI), while Perry's hit is in a third week atop Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.

Kid Rock Living Large

2008-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Kid Rock's latest album "Rock'n'Roll Jesus" and its single "All Summer Long" have been two of the biggest hits of the summer. But it's happened without either being available for download via Apple's iTunes Music Store in the United States.

Rock has been an outspoken critic not only of track downloading but Internet piracy. In a "smartass" public service announcement he recently advised people to steal everything. Eschewing iTunes also proves a point, Rock adds.

"I tell people in my organization, 'Do not ever come up to me and say, "This is what everyone's doing and how they're doing it." Don't ever give me that lame-ass bullsh*t,'" he tells Billboard at a Nashville tequila bar. "As soon as someone says, 'You have to be on iTunes ... they're the No. 1 retailer' ... I don't have to. Because I remember being a kid when I heard a song that I liked, I would jump on the bus, ride to Detroit, get a $2.50 transfer and walk a mile to the hip-hop store to buy the new Eric B. & Rakim record. You're not going to stop people from obtaining what they want if it's available at some level."

However, Atlantic president Julie Greenwald says "Rock'N'Roll Jesus" will be available soon digitally in the States as an album via providers like Amazon, walmart.com, Rhapsody and bestbuy.com.

"We get so caught up in technology and ease [of downloading a single] ... there's nothing wrong with listening to a whole record from start to finish," Kid Rock co-manager Ken Levitan says.

In other news, Kid Rock and his Twisted Brown Trucker band recently cut a new song, "Warrior," for a National Guard commercial. It will be downloadable in its entirety on the National Guard's Web site once the commercial airs. He's also looking at launching signature beer and cigar products.

"I like [branding opportunities] when it's something I'm into, and I'm definitely into beer and cigars," Rock says. "You probably won't see me on the cover of a Wheaties box or selling Tide detergent, because it's irrelevant to me."

Fall Out Boy Sets

2008-08-27T02:51:00.000-07:00

Fall Out Boy will release its fifth album, "Folie a Deux," Nov. 4 via Island, the same day as the U.S. presidential election. The project was heralded yesterday (Aug. 25) with the release of an online mixtape, "Welcome to the New Administration."

On it were five Fall Out Boy demos expected to appear on the album, including "Lake Effect Kid," "America's Sweethearts," "I Don't Care," "ALPHAdog and OMEGAlomaniac" and "Catch Me if You Can/Proclamation of Emancipation," the latter featuring Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy.

The album's first single, "I Don't Care," will hit radio Sept. 15, sources tell Billboard.

"Folie a Deux" is the follow-up to 2007's "Infinity on High," which has sold 1.3 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Fall Out Boy will hit the road briefly in October in Europe, beginning Oct. 13 in Paris.

DISTURBIA

2008-08-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
What's wrong with me?
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Why do I feel like this?
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
I'm going crazy now
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

No more gas in the rig
Can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it
All my life on my head
Don't want to think about it
Feels like I'm going insane Yeah

It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort ohhh

Throw on your break lights
Here in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must faulter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight? Disturbia
Your mind's in disturbia
Ain't used to what you like Disturbia Disturbia

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Faded pictures on the wall
It's like they talkin' to me
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/P6lo ]
Disconnectin' unknown calls
Your phone don't even ring
I gotta get out
Or figure this shit out
It's too close for comfort (ohhh)

It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
I feel like a monster

Throw on your break lights
Here in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must faulter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight?
Your mind's in disturbia
Ain't used to what you like Disturbia Disturbia

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (ba da da de din da)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (ba da da da din daa)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (disturbia ahh ohh)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Release me from this curse I'm in
I'm trying to maintain
But I'm struggling
If you can't go oo oh oh hoo
I think I'm going to ah, ahh, ahhh,ahhhhhh

Throw on your break lights
Here in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must faulter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight? (ahahaha)
Your mind is in disturbia
Ain't used to what you like Disturbia Disturbia (oh ahhahah)

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (bum ba da din da da da)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (bum ba da dida di daa)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (ohohhohohohh ohhh)
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (ohohoh oh ahhah)

Madonna Starts 'Sticky And Sweet' Tour In Wales

2008-08-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

Even at 50, the queen of pop just can't stop courting controversy. As Madonna kicked off her international "Sticky and Sweet" tour Saturday night in Cardiff, Wales, she took a none-too subtle swipe at the presumptive Republican nominee for U.S. president.

Amid a four-act show at the packed Millennium Stadium, a video interlude carried images of destruction, global warming, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Zimbabwe's authoritarian President Robert Mugabe -- and U.S. Senator John McCain. Another sequence, shown later, pictured slain Beatle John Lennon, followed by climate activist Al Gore, Mahatma Gandhi and finally McCain's Democratic rival Barack Obama.

The rest of the show had the usual Madonna fixtures: sequins, fishnets, and bondage-style outfits drawn from the 3,500 items of clothing reportedly whipped together by 36 designers specifically for the tour. Dancers sauntered across stage in top hats and tail coats, and Madonna tried her hand at break-dancing and pole-dancing.

Some 40,000 fans, many in pink cowboy hats and boas, were treated to a heavy metal version of "Borderline," while "La Isla Bonita" served as backdrop for a flamenco routine. The show, billed as a musical mishmash of "gangsta pimp," Romanian folk, rave, and dance, was an homage to Madonna's continuous reinventions over the past three decades.

She took a playful take on her variegated career, mocking dancers dressed as her previous incarnations -- including the "Material Girl" and "Blonde Ambition"-- before they sank into the stage to the tune of "She's Not Me." Madonna finished off the concert with her thumping "Give it 2 Me" from her new urban-inspired album, "Hard Candy."

Following Cardiff's opening concert, "Sticky and Sweet" moves across Europe, hitting London's Wembley Stadium on Sept. 11 and Paris on Sept. 20. From there, it goes to North America in October before wrapping up Dec. 18 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

'Mamma Mia!'

2008-08-21T00:37:00.000-07:00

Universal aims to pump up Labor Day weekend grosses for its hit movie musical "Mamma Mia!" by presenting "Mamma Mia! The Sing-Along Edition" in select theaters nationwide.

Powered by ABBA tunes, the musical starring Meryl Streep has grossed more than $320 million worldwide. Domestically, it has grossed nearly $117 million and is close to surpassing "Hairspray" (whose box-office take was nearly $119 million) to become one of the top-grossing musicals of all time, ranking below "Grease," "Chicago" and "The Sound of Music."

For the sing-along engagements, the movie's prints will include subtitled lyrics to all the songs so that audiences can sing along. "Sing-along" showings of movie musicals have become popular on the festival circuit, and last summer New Line also employed the strategy several weeks into its run of "Hairspray."

The "Mamma Mia!" soundtrack falls 2-1 this week on The Billboard 200. It has sold 686,000 copies in the United States so far, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jay-Z biography

2008-08-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Embodying the rags-to-riches rap dream, Jay-Z pulled himself up by his bootstraps as a youth to eventually become the reigning rapper of New York City and, in turn, a major-label executive following his short-lived retirement from music-making. In the wake of his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z's albums sold millions upon millions with each release, and his endless parade of hits made him omnipresent on urban radio and video television. He retained a strongly devoted fan base and challenged whatever rivals attempted to oust him from atop the rap game, sparing most memorably with Nas. Jay-Z and his Roc-a-Fella associates greatly influenced the industry and established many of the trends that pervaded during the late '90s and early 2000s. He consistently worked with the hottest producers of the day (Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Teddy Riley, Trackmasters, Erick Sermon, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz), and if they weren't hot at the time, they likely would be afterward (the Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder). He similarly collaborated with the hottest rappers in the industry, everyone from East Coast contemporaries like the Notorious B.I.G. ("Brooklyn's Finest") and DMX ("Cash, Money, Hoes"), to the best rappers from the South (Ludacris, Missy Elliott) and the West Coast (Snoop Dogg, Too Short). After his self-declared retirement from rapping in 2003, he assumed the presidency of the seminal rap label Def Jam and, as an industry executive, embarked on another phase in his illustrious career. Born and raised in the rough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, NY, Jay-Z underwent some tough times after his father left his mother before the young rapper was even a teen. Without a man in the house, he became a self-supportive youth, turning to the streets, where he soon made a name for himself as a fledging rapper. Known as "Jazzy" in his neighborhood, he soon shortened his nickname to Jay-Z and did all he could to break into the rap game. As he vividly discusses in his lyrics, Jay-Z also became a street hustler around this time, doing what needed to be done to make money. For a while, he ran around with Jaz-O, aka Big Jaz, a small-time New York rapper with a record deal but few sales. From Jaz he learned how to navigate through the rap industry and what moves to make. He also participated in the group Original Flavor for a short time. Jay-Z subsequently decided to make an untraditional decision and start his own label rather than sign with an established label like Jaz had done. Together with friends Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, he created Roc-a-Fella Records, a risky strategy for cutting out the middleman and making money for himself. Once he found a reputable distributor, Priority Records (and then later Def Jam), Jay-Z finally had everything in place, including a debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996). Though Reasonable Doubt only reached number 23 on Billboard's album chart, Jay-Z's debut eventually became recognized as an undisputed classic among fans, many of whom consider it his crowning achievement. Led by the hit single "Ain't No Nigga," a duet featuring Foxy Brown, Reasonable Doubt slowly spread through New York; some listeners were drawn in because of big names like DJ Premier and the Notorious B.I.G., others by the gangsta motifs very much in style at the time, still others by Jay-Z himself. By the end of its steady run, Reasonable Doubt generated three more charting singles -- "Can't Knock the Hustle," which featured Mary J. Blige on the hook; "Dead Presidents," which featured a prominent sample of "The World Is Yours," a 1994 hit by Nas; and "Feelin' It" -- and set the stage for Jay-Z's follow-up, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). Peaking at number three on the Billboard album chart, In My Lifetime sold much more strongly than its predecessor. The album boasted pop-crossover producers such as Puff Daddy and Teddy Riley, and singles such as "Sunshine" and "The City Is Mine" indeed showcased a newfound embrace of pop crossover. Yet there were still plenty of hard-hitting songs such as "Streets Is Watching" and "Rap Game/Crack Game" to lace In My Lifetime with gangsta rap as well as pop crossover. Jay-Z's next album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (1998), released a year after In My Lifetime, was laden with hit singles: "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" broke the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, while "Cash, Money, Hoes" and "Nigga What, Nigga Who" also charted. Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life ended up winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Like clockwork, Jay-Z returned a year later with another album, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter (1999), which topped the Billboard 200 and spawned two hits: "Big Pimpin'" and "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)." The album was Jay-Z's most collaborative to date, featuring ten guest vocalists and a roll call of in-demand producers such as Dr. Dre and Timbaland. Jay-Z then scaled back a bit for Dynasty Roc la Familia (2000), his fifth album in as many years. The album showcased Roc-a-Fella's in-house rappers: Beanie Sigel guests on seven of the 16 tracks, Memphis Bleek guests on six, and both Amir and Freeway also make guest apperances. On Dynasty Roc la Familia, Jay-Z also began working with a few new producers: the Neptunes, Kanye West, and Just Blaze. The Neptunes-produced "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" became a particularly huge hit single this go-round. Jay-Z's next album, The Blueprint (2001), solidified his position atop the New York rap scene upon its release in September. Prior to the album's release, the rapper had caused a stir in New York following his headlining performance at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2001, where he debuted the song "Takeover." The song features a harsh verse ridiculing Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Jay-Z accentuated his verbal assault (including the lines "You's a ballerina/I seen ya") by showcasing gigantic photos of an adolescent Prodigy in a dance outfit. The version of "Takeover" that later appeared on The Blueprint includes a third verse, this one dissing Nas, who, in response to the Summer Jam performance, had called out Jay-Z, "the fake king of New York," in a freestyle known as "Stillmatic." As expected, "Takeover" ignited a sparring match with Nas, who responded with "Ether." Jay-Z accordingly returned with a comeback, "Super Ugly," where he rapped over the beats to Nas' "Get Ur Self a..." on the first verse and Dr. Dre's "Bad Intentions" on the second. The back-and-forth bout created massive publicity for both Jay-Z and Nas. In addition to "Takeover," The Blueprint also featured "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," one of the year's biggest hit songs, and the album topped many year-end best-of charts. Jay-Z capitalized on the runaway success of The Blueprint with a number of follow-up projects. He collaborated with the Roots for the Unplugged album (2001) and with R. Kelly for Best of Both Worlds (2002). He then went on to record, over the course of the year, 40 or so new tracks, 25 of which appeared on his next record, the double album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002). Though billed as a sequel, The Blueprint² was considerably different from its predecessor. Whereas the first volume had been personal, considered, and focused, the second instead offered an unapologetically sprawling double-disc extravaganza showcasing remarkable scope. As usual, it spawned a stream of singles, led by his 2Pac cover "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (featuring his glamorous girlfriend, Beyoncé Knowles from Destiny's Child). Furthermore, Jay-Z guested on a pair of summer 2003 hits: Beyoncé's chart-topping "Crazy in Love" and the Neptunes' Top Five hit "Frontin'." It was then that Jay-Z announced his imminent retirement after the release of one more album. That LP, The Black Album (2003), was rush-released by Def Jam and soared to the top spot in the album charts at the end of the year. As always, it spawned a couple big hits -- "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" -- and inspired a popular mash-up bootleg, The Grey Album, by Danger Mouse. The subsequent year (2004) was a whirlwind for the retiring Jay-Z. He embarked on a farewell tour that was topped off by an extravagant Madison Square Garden performance documented on the Fade to Black DVD, and he also embarked on an ill-fated arena tour with the embattled R. Kelly that resulted in an exchange of ugly multi-million-dollar lawsuits. With his final album behind him and his reputation better than ever, Jay-Z accepted an offer to assume the role of president at Def Jam Records. The seminal rap label was struggling and needed someone to guide it through a rocky transitional phase. Jay-Z accepted the challenge and took over the company began by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin roughly 20 years earlier. (As part of its deal with Jay-Z, Def Jam's parent company, Universal, bought Roc-a-Fella, which resulted in some bitterness among certain associates upset by the buyout.) Considerable fanfare met the presidential inauguration, as Jay-Z became one of the few African-American major-label executives in the business, and he also became one of the few rappers to transition into that side of the business. Numerous rappers owned or operated their own boutique labels, but none had ever risen to such major-label heights. And the rapper-turned-president didn't take his job lightly, either, at least judging by his initial year in office. Within months of assuming his position, he fostered a string of newfound talents -- Young Jeezy, Teairra Marí, Rihanna, and Bobby Valentino, all of whom enjoyed considerable commercial success -- and only had a few setbacks (disappointing returns on albums by Memphis Bleek and Young Gunz). In 2005 Jay-Z came out of retirement for the I Declare War concert in New York City. The ambitious show featured a parade of high-profile guest stars, including Diddy, T.I., Kanye West, and in a peacemaking move, Nas. With this longstanding beef squashed, Jay-Z announced he was coming out of retirement for good. He made it official when Kingdom Come hit the shelves in late 2006. Less than a year later, Jay-Z returned with another post-retirement album, American Gangster (2007), this one inspired by the concurrent film of the same name.

Jonas Bros

2008-08-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

As expected, the Jonas Brothers score their first No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 this week with "A Little Bit Longer." The Hollywood effort bows with 517,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, the third biggest sales frame this year behind Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (1,006,000) and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (721,000).

The trio also scores the rare feat of having two albums simultaneously in the upper-most echelon of the chart, as their self-titled sophomore set rises 11-10 with 31,000 (-4%) in its 54th chart week. It's the first time a group has scored two concurrent top 10 albums since 'N Sync on the chart dated Jan. 2, 1999, with "Home for Christmas" at No. 10 and "'N Sync" at No. 2.

But that's not all. The soundtrack to the Disney film "Camp Rock," which stars -- you guessed it -- the Jonas Brothers, stays put at No. 8 for a second week with 50,000 (+6%).

This week, Nos. 1-7 have all spent time in the penthouse on the big chart, a first since Billboard began publishing its all-encompassing pop albums chart in 1963. Last week's chart-topper, the Decca soundtrack to "Mamma Mia!," slides to No. 2 with 110,000 (-16%), as Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" (Atlantic) experiences a 12% sales surge to 101,000, climbing 4-3. Another Hollywood effort, Miley Cyrus' "Breakout," slips 2-4 with a 17% sales decline to 85,000.

Selling 67,000 (-27%), Sugarland's Mercury Nashville album "Love on the Inside" falls 3-5. Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal) descends 5-6 with 62,000, and "Viva La Vida" follows suit, moving 50,000 on a 10% decline and slipping 6-7. Rihanna's SRP/Def Jam set "Good Girl Gone Bad" keeps the No. 9 spot warm for a second week after a 3% decline to 42,000.

Only three other albums debut inside the top 50 on The Billboard 200 this week. Daddy Yankee's soundtrack to "Talento de Barrio" (Machete) moves 26,000 to land at No. 13. Yung Berg's debut Epic set "Look What You Made Me" starts at No. 20 with 19,000.

At No. 22 with 19,000, New Kids On The Block return with "Greatest Hits." The Columbia set doesn't contain any of the recently reunited group's new material; its reunion album, "The Block" arrives Sept. 2 via Interscope.

At 7.33 million units, sales this week are up 2.5% from last week's sum but down 13.4% from the same week last year.

'American Idol' Top 10 Comes To Jersey

2008-08-12T10:40:00.001-07:00

There couldn't be a better mantra than "practice makes perfect" for the "American Idol" contestants. Although these kids are a far cry from perfection, by the time the top 10 head out on tour after the season wraps up, each has grown considerably from nerves-plagued amateurs into passable performers.

For AI Season 7's batch, it was obvious during the second night of the group's two-night stand at Newark, N.J.'s Prudential Center that the weeks and weeks of performing in front of millions of TV viewers and a critical judging panel has paid off. Runner-up David Archuleta no longer looked like a deer in headlights as hundreds of people screamed his name; Kristy Lee Cook (mostly) lost the uneasy waver in her voice that used to pop up from time to time. All were, at the very least, confident, which speaks volumes to how far they've come in such a short time.

In a different twist from the costumed, cabaret-like numbers and awkward between-song banter of last year's tour, this year saw each contestant singing a minimum of three songs solo, kicking off with the first-eliminated and ending with the winner, David Cook.

Stand out performances came courtesy of Carly Smithson, the tattooed 24 year old from Ireland and arguably best singer this season who met her fate too soon, and Chikeze, who fell victim to poor song choice and was the first contestant voted home. Smithson showcased her vocal prowess by tackling Heart and Celine Dion, as well as Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life," an uncharacteristic song choice that her range matched perfectly. Chikeze meanwhile had an infections spirit about him and an ear-to-ear grin that was hard to beat, winning over the crowd with a slick take on Usher's "Caught Up."

An entire row of middle-aged women were devoted Jason Castro fans, waving around washcloths decorated with a cartoon picture of the heartthrob's dreadlocked hair. "He's just TOO cute," gushed one woman before screaming hysterically when he appeared onstage. He sang a sweet, ukulele-backed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as he did on the show, but seemed to lose the audience after launching into Gnarls Barkly's "Crazy." The same happened during Brooke White's cover of Feist's "1, 2, 3, 4," which left the elementary-schoolers in the audience with looks of confusion on their faces.

Third-place contestant Syesha Mercado aimed a bit too high by covering Rihanna, Alicia Keys and Beyonce. Her big hair and short, flashy outfit looked the part of superstar diva, but her voice didn't come close to topping the originals. The adorable Ramiele Malubay was spunky but a bit flat, and Aussie hunk Michael Johns was borderline bad karaoke as he bounced around the stage, but still an entertaining watch.

Archuleta offered a soulful, piano-led rendition of Robbie Williams' "Angels" as well as One Republic's "Apologize," which proved a good fit for the 17-year-old singer and his youthful fanbase. His stage presence was more assured and steady, and his vocals were one of the strongest and most improved.

Sporting dark, heavy eye makeup, a bright pink "BAD" T-shirt and a sparkly belt, Cook looked like he was taking his hard-rock image into glam territory. He revisited his wildly popular rock-tinged covers of Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," which didn't provide the same impact as his first performances. Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" sounded a bit rushed, and his take on the Foo Fighters' "My Hero" was the best of his set.

Much like the show, the Idols Live tour had its ups and its downs, and more product placement than most entertainment vehicles out there ("Guitar Hero," anyone?). It's a great venue in which to see your favorites from the show truly shine in person, and though still not perfect, it brings the contestants one step closer.

Staind: Room To Grow

2008-08-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Staind guitarist Mike Mushok calls the forthcoming "The Illusion of Progress" "a very different record for us, but better different."

The same can be said for the way Flip/Atlantic is bringing the rock quartet's sixth studio album to market in advance of its Aug. 19 street date.

While first single "Believe" is making an impact at active and alternative radio, the Massachusetts band's traditional base of support, the label is planning an intensive and ambitious viral campaign to launch and sustain the album via a broad array of Web sites and platforms.

Staind has created an exclusive edition of "Illusion" that contains three bonus tracks and a one-year membership to the group's fan club. The "fan pack" will be sold at retail outlets but, according to Atlantic senior VP of pop/rock marketing Dane Venable, will encourage buyers to link to the group's Web site and expose them to Staind's online community, including access to a special 30-minute documentary on the making of the album.

"In the past two years they've gotten very, very active on their Web site, and they've seen results," Venable says. "That provides them with the motivation to do even more. They've completely embraced it."

The cycle started while Staind was recording the new album with producer Johnny K in frontman Aaron Lewis' barn in Massachusetts, creating what Lewis considers "probably the most musical record we've made yet." It comes in the wake of three consecutive albums—2001's "Break the Cycle," 2003's "14 Shades of Grey" and 2005's "Chapter V"—that have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and have sold at least platinum.

Besides taking "Believe" to radio, where it is No. 9 on the Mainstream Rock chart after just four weeks, the label released it for sale on iTunes and premiered it on MySpace, generating more than 200,000 hits in its first week. The song's video premiered July 24 through AOL, and Flip/Atlantic is planning a multiweek Staind promotion with imeem that will include advance listening parties and exclusive content.

iTunes began selling an exclusive Staind bundle July 22, which includes two bonus songs, a video and access to an "instant gratification" download track. The digital retailer and the label are working on an iTunes Originals as well.

While on its current tour, Staind plans to perform Aug. 28 on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The group will play two weeks of European dates with Nickelback in September as part of its first concerted campaign overseas, then return to North America for a headlining tour from October through December, with more touring expected in 2009.

Mushok says Staind is looking forward to seeing how the new initiatives play with its fan base but likes the fact that everything that's planned "gives a little bit more back to the fans. It gives them more options and ways of getting more from us."

One Day As a Lion

2008-08-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

A new Los Angeles-based duo featuring Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha and former Mars Volta member Jon Theodore, One Day As a Lion kicks up a tough-minded rap-rock racket on its debut EP. The music is stripped-down but robust, with de la Rocha on vocals and keyboard and Theodore on drums. There's no guitarist or bassist in One Day As a Lion, but you wouldn't necessarily know it from the sound of these five tracks, which throb with fuzz and groove. On opener "Wild International" de la Rocha describes his tongue as being "dipped in funk arsenic," and that gives you an idea of his outraged lyrical focus here. (Let's just say he hasn't warmed up to the Bush administration since Rage started playing shows again last year.) A bracing introduction.

Bohemian Rhapsody

2008-07-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Bohemian Rhapsody
Here is a list of Queen lyrics. Try to find matching music videos or video codes for all of the lyrics by searching with the correct keywords using the search button. Other users might find this page by searching for Queen Letras, Queen Song lyrics, Queen Song texte, Queen paroles or Queen testo. On the right you might find the best lyrics artists and also video codes if we have them.

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me

Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody - I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo - (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

Guitar Solo

I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolts and lightning - very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro - magnifico

But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from his monstrosity
Easy come easy go - will you let me go
Bismillah! No - we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let me go
Will not let you go - let me go (never)
Never let you go - let me go
Never let me go - ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
for me
for me
for me

Guitar Solo

So do you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So do you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh baby - can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out - just gotta get right outta here

Guitar Solo

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really mattered - nothing really mattered to me

Ne-Yo

2008-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Ne-Yo scored his second U.K. No. 1 single yesterday (June 29), as "Closer" (Def Jam/Universal) climbed 2-1, while Coldplay started a third week atop the album chart with "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Parlophone/EMI).

Ne-Yo topped the British singles survey in March 2006 with "So Sick" and visited the top five in each of the following two years, with "Sexy Love" (No. 5 in July 2006) and "Because of You" (No. 4 in April 2007). "Closer," from Ne-Yo's upcoming third album "Year of the Gentleman," drops 28-25 on the current Billboard Hot 100.

Ne-Yo replaced Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" at the top of the new U.K. singles chart. That song fell to No. 2 as Jordin Sparks' recent top three U.S. hit "No Air" (Jive/Sony BMG) featuring Chris Brown climbed 10-3 across the Atlantic. Brown saw his own "Forever," also on Jive, move 5-4 in the U.K., while "We Made It" (Interscope/Universal) by Busta Rhymes featuring Linkin Park climbed 14-10.

London DJ Ironik debuted at No. 11 with "Stay With Me" (Asylum/Warner Music) as Sam Sparro's former No. 2 hit "Black & Gold" (Universal Island) rebounded 15-12. The Jonas Brothers climbed 16-13 with "SOS" (Hollywood/EMI) and Scottish rock band Glasvegas scored its first top 40 hit as "Geraldine" (Columbia/Sony BMG) arrived at No. 16. "Elevator" (Atlantic/Warner Music) by Flo Rida featuring Timbaland rose 27-20.

Coldplay's third week atop the album chart kept them ahead of Duffy's "Rockferry" (A&M/Universal) in an unchanged top four. Icelandic band Sigur Ros made a No. 5 debut with, "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust" (EMI), which translates as "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly."

Two climbers in the singles chart scored top 10 album debuts, as Chris Brown's "Exclusive" came in at No. 16 and the Jonas Brothers' self-titled set arrived at No. 9. The Ting Ting's "We Started Nothing" climbed 20-11 and Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black -- The Deluxe Edition" (Universal Island) rose 25-13.

Coldplay climbed 4-1 on European Top 100 Albums with "Viva La Vida...," while Duffy's "Mercy" leads Eurochart Hot 100 Singles for a third straight week, and fourth overall.

Jay-Z

2008-06-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

The tents are packed up and most of the 140,000 music lovers have made their weary way home, but memories of this year's Glastonbury festival, and its headline act Jay-Z, are likely to linger.

The choice of the U.S. rapper to perform on the main stage at a festival best known for its guitar-based rock acts was widely criticized, and Oasis' Noel Gallagher riled the musician by saying the organizers were wrong to pick him.

Jay-Z's response was emphatic. He opened his show with a film using Gallagher's now infamous comments and a montage of clips parodying him, before launching into an acoustic rendition of one of Oasis's biggest hits, "Wonderwall." Most fans and critics were impressed.

"His performance will go down in Glastonbury history," wrote the Independent in a review of the festival.

Rather than being booed off stage as some predicted, "both audience and artist rose to the occasion and turned in a moment of real, euphoric, pop-culture history," added the Times.

The Guardian concluded: "It's brilliantly staged, utterly thrilling and it makes Gallagher look a bit of a berk."

The Daily Mirror tabloid, however, described his performance as dull. "I felt seriously short-changed as I walked away from this performance," it said.

Bon Jovi

2008-06-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

New York officials say Bon Jovi will play at a free concert in Central Park on July 12. The concert is billed as a prelude to the July 15 Major League Baseball All-Star game, which will highlight the final season at Yankee Stadium.

The event will be announced this afternoon during a press conference at New York's City Hall, including details of ticket distribution.

Bon Jovi wraps its North American tour with a July 14-15 stand at New York's Madison Square Garden.