Florence

Without a doubt, Florence + the Machine’s inclusion in the Video of the Year category for its “Dog Days are Over” clip left many folks scratching their heads since they’d never heard of the British band.

But one look at the clever “Dog Days” video and it’s easy to see why the colorful, inventive piece ended up alongside the likes of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and “Telephone” featuring Beyonce, Eminem’s “Not Afraid” and B.o.B.’s  “Airplanes” with Hayley Williams.

For Florence Welch (the Florence in Florence + the Machine, and the band’s one stable component), the whole process has been a bit overwhelming. When she learned of the group’s four nominations--it is also up for best rock video, best art direction and best cinematography--she says her immediate reaction was “Is this a joke?” Happily, the answer is no.

With all the chaos swirling around the group-- especially in England where “Lungs” topped the charts--She tells Hitfix the one place she’s found clarity is on stage, especially when singing the challenging “Between Two Lungs” from the group’s debut, “Lungs.”

"Performing is  like a channel, like a totally clear path. It’s like everything is clear. Everything is soaring and everyone in the crowd is there with me, but I’m free,” she tells Hitfix. “I'm free of my mind and my body, but at the same time i’m completely  connected with everyone around me and myself  and the song and with that moment in time." Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Welch isn’t revealing many details about her performance on Sunday night’s show, but tells Spinner that it will incorporate elements of the video, including some of the dancers. We’re rooting for the harpists.

See the video below. And we're sure you'll recognize the song from its endless play in the "Eat, Love, Pray" trailer. While you're at it, check out the album. She's got a great Kate Bush + Lily Allen thing going on.

Maroon 5

Welcome to Adam Levine’s fantasy... pretty stereotypical stuff. For the video for “Give a Little More,” Levine and his Maroon 5 bandmates play a house party before an audience of mainly writhing females, who are driven to some girl on girl action and light bondage by the very sound of Levine’s voice. This is all delivered without the slightest sense of irony. Yawn. Same reaction to the song, which starts with a funky, kicking bass line, before fading into mediocrity. We were hoping for more from the Maroon 5/Mutt Lange marriage.

If the first two clips from the band’s forthcoming album, “Hands All Over,” are any indication,  the videos are serve as Levine’s way of playing out his issues/fantasies with women.  “Misery” was a cartoon-ish look at a man who would go through any amount of torture to get his girlfriend back--and her willingness to provide an endless amount of abuse as a means of foreplay. It also allowed Levine to play out his masochistic fantasies with his real-life girlfriend, Anne Vyalitsyna.

We imagine  Levine isn’t any more sex obsessed than any other rocker out there, but he has no compunction about letting us all in on his dark side. Can it really be that long before we hear about a Levine sex tape?

Eminem

It was a short week, but there was no shortage of action in the music business this week--with the emphasis on business. We know most of you (okay, all of you), have probably never heard of the name Roger Faxon, but the low-key EMI chief executive rocked the music industry this week. As head of EMI, one of the four remaining major record companies, he tossed out most of the key creative players and decided to start over again.  The move comes as EMI’s revenues were up 5% over last year.  Hey, it’s not sexy, but it’s what people are talking about.  But if it’s sexy you’re looking for, Eminem and Katy Perry still manage to make this week’s list.

1) Roger Faxon (not ranked last week): He took over the whole EMI enchilada in June after years of running the publishing division, and, after observing for a little while, he made a few changes this week. And by a few changes, we mean he basically gutted the place, with lots of great execs --from North American head Ron Werre down to the heads of A&R, Billy Mann and Nick Gatfield, and the longtime corp communication chiefs--leaving. With success from acts like Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum, the ship seems to be righting itself, but he clearly wants his own team. It is all too little too late or is he steering EMI into its possible post-Terra Firma days?

2) Disturbed (No. 4):  Hard rock band topples Katy Perry from the top spot on the Billboard 200 and, in the process, lands its fourth consecutive album on album chart. We wouldn’t mind checking into this  “Asylum” and never leaving.

3) The xx (not ranked): Co-ed trio wins Britain’s prestigious Mercury Prize and instantly sees a bump in sales in the U.K. of more than 150%. Someone needs to wake them up to tell them... or it it only me that finds their music a great little sleep aid.

4) Eminem (not ranked): He gets the nod for the prime slot to open the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday and he wins a legal appeal in a royalties battle with his label. Slim Shady’s having some mighty sunny days lately. 

5) Katy Perry (No. 2):  “Teenage Dream,” the album, may have only lasted one week atop the Billboard 200, but the single of the same name builds up enough steam to knock Eminem’s ‘Love the Way You Lie’ off the top of the Billboard Hot 100; an accomplishment no other song could achieve in seven weeks of trying.

6) Lou Reed (not ranked):  Nice work, Lou, making a mentally unstable woman cry.  The Velvet Undergound founder got more publicity than he’s gotten in decades when he nixed Boyle’s performance of his Perfect Day” for “America’s Got Talent” at the last minute.  But maybe he should have taken a walk on the mild side and let this one go.

7) Ping (not ranked): Despite pinging from tech pundits who found it severely lacking (or as one Business Insider’s Jay Yarrow said, it “kinda sucks,”  Apple’s new social media music service signs up more than 1 million users in its first 48 hours. Of course, without the battle with FB, we would have been adding at least one zero behind the 1 million.

8) Google (not ranked): Its music service is full-speed ahead as the labels greet the idea of a true competitor to iTunes with open arms. Now if they could just find someone to run the damn thing...

9) MTV (not ranked): No, not the cable channel, silly.  The internet component of MTV Networks, including MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com,, sees a surge of more than 165% in viewership over the past year, according to Comscore Media Metrix, as the web continues to be the main (i.e.: only) outlet for music videos (in other words, expect MTV to show 24/7 “Jersey Shore” marathons and leave Lady GaGa to the website). Somehow, “I want my MTV.com” doesn’t have the same ring.

10) Live Nation (not ranked): The world’s biggest promoter sees analysts downgrade its stock from buy to hold, citing to much supply and not enough demand (duh). Even though this is bad news, what affects Live Nation reverberates through much of the touring world.


 

"Vampire Diaries"

“The Vampire Diaries” will be the latest TV show to try to take a bite out of your wallet with the release of a soundtrack featuring exclusive tracks from Smashing Pumpkins and Gorillaz. "True Blood" put out its second soundtrack earlier this year.

The Oct. 12 EMI release includes 16 tracks, all of which were either heard in season one of the popular CW series or in the upcoming Season Two, which starts, coincidentally enough, tonight. The first single is Sky Ferreira’s “Obsession.” She is working on her full-length debut with such producers as Linda Perry and Dallas Austin.

Track Listing - The Original Television Soundtrack: The Vampire Diaries



1. Stefan's Theme - Mike Suby

2. Running Up That Hill - Placebo


3. Currency of Love - Silversun Pickups 


4. Hammock - Howls


5. Sleep Alone (909s in the DarkTimes Mix) - Bat for Lashes 


6. Bloodstream (Vampire Diaries Remix) - Stateless


7. We Radiate - Goldfrapp


8. Obsession - Sky Ferreira 


9. Head Over Heels - Digital Daggers 


10. Down - Jason Walker 


11. Beauty of the Dark - Mads Langer 


12. Cut - Plumb 


13. All You Wanted - Sounds Under Radio featuring Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy 


14. The Fellowship - Smashing Pumpkins 


15. On Melancholy Hill (Feed Me Remix) - Gorillaz 


16. 1864 - Mike Suby

Katy Perry

Can a Katy Perry/Eminem duet be far behind? 

One week after she claimed the top of the Billboard 200, Katy Perry dethrones Eminem this week as “Teenage Dream” knocks “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Rihanna out of the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Love,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1, falls to No. 2.

“Teenage Dream,” the title track from Perry’s sophomore album, is the second single from the set to climb to the pole position on the singles chart, following “California Gurls,” which drops 7-10.  “Dreams” is also No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart, despite dropping 15% in sales, according to Billboard.

The last female to have back-to-back No. 1s on the Hot 100 was Lady GaGa, who performed the feat with “Just Dance” and “Poker Face” in 2009. The last male was Eminem, who preceded his “Love” No. 1 with “Not Afraid.”

Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” remains at No. 3, while Bruno Mars’ sweet “Just the Way You Are” climbs 6-4. Enrique Iglesias’s “I Like It” featuring Pitbull slides 4-5.

Also worth noting: Nelly’s “Just a Dream” jumps 13-9, making the song his first entry in the top 10 in four years since 2006’s “Grillz.”  Cee-Lo’s “Forget You,” the radio-friendly version of “Fuck You,” leaps 96-33.

Willow Smith

Credit: Roc Nation

Should Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith ever go through a career slump, they are grooming the next generation to support them.  Following son Jaden’s breakthrough in the “Karate Kid” remake, comes word that daughter Willow has signed a record deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Records. Oh, did we mention that Willow is 9?

First single, “Whip My Hair,” about, yes, taking on haters and whipping your hair back and forth, has caused an internet sensation. Smith sounds like a pint-sized Rihanna--startlingly so--full of attitude and brio more than pure singing talent. The verses are much better than the endless repeating of “I whip my hair back and forth,” which is whiplash-inducing. No word on if she’s working on an album or if she wrote the song. 

Oh, by the way, the press release also calls Willow “a trendsetter.” From the picture released with the announcement and her red carpet appearances, I guess that’s what you call a kid who dresses like she’s 9 going on 25 these days. I smell a fashion line forthcoming. The whole thing makes me slighty queasy, but I’m sure Willow’s parents felt her talent simply couldn’t be denied.

Stay tuned. We expect by the end of the week Suri Cruise will announce a five-picture deal at Sony.

Listen below and tell us what you think about the song and about a 9-year old having a record deal.

Sheryl Crow

Ready to soak up the sun? Okay, how about some serious moonlight?

We’re offering one lucky winner a pair of tickets to see Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 10. That’s this Friday night, people. Both will be doing songs from their newest albums, including Crow’s splendid “100 Miles from Memphis.”

To win,  follow Hitfix  and me  on Twitter. Then email me at melinda@hitfix.com.

The first person to do the following correctly in the email, gets the tix.

1) Correctly answer who is Caillat’s father and what seminal album he produced from the ‘70s.

2) Include your full name, address, email address, date of birth and phone number.

3) Provide your Twitter name so we can make sure you’re following us.
 

Allison Iraheta

Credit: AP Photo

Allison Iraheta has left Jive Records, a spokesman for 19 Management confirms to Hitfix.

The magenta-haired singer, who finished fourth on “American Idol” in season 8, released one album through Jive, the criminally-underrated “Just Like You,” last December. The teenage Iraheta is a cross between Pink and Kelly Clarkson as she showed on tracks like “Friday I’ll Be Over U” and the superior “Don’t Waste the Pretty.” The singles never caught on a radio and now she’s, as they say, undoubtedly looking for “new opportunities.”

Her management company isn’t saying much other than to confirm the departure, which “American Idol” followers starting blogging about over the weekend after her name disappeared from Jive’s roster. She is currently on tour opening for fellow “Idol” Adam Lambert.

Here’s an idea:  What about pairing Iraheta with Orianthi The two worked on a version of “Don’t Waste the Pretty” and we think they make a pretty good duo. They could be a next generation Heart (yeah, we know that aren’t sisters), but we could use some good new female rock-oriented popsters and this could be a case where 1 +1 = 3.

Usher

OMG! Usher is finally going on tour. His 25-date “OMG” arena tour kicks off Nov. 10 in Seattle at Key Arena.

The singer will perform hits that span his career, but he’s been tremendously prolific lately between his platinum album “Raymond v. Raymond” and the follow-up, “Versus,”  scattering such songs as “OMG,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,”  and “Lil Freak” far and wide.

Tickets for the AEG Live-promoted tour go on sale Sept. 17. Contrary to popular rumors, Chris Brown is not opening.

Can’t wait until Nov. 10? Catch Usher on the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12.

For a complete list of tour dates, click here.

Bruno Mars

“Hey Mommy, what is that contraption that Bruno Mars is making figures out of in his video for ‘Just the Way You Are?’”

“Honey, that’s called a cassette and he’s using the tape inside it to create different images.  About 25 years ago, that’s how people made music portable. Cars had cassette players. Then the CD made them extinct. What? I didn’t hear you? What’s a CD?”

Not only is Mars’ video a sweet paean to love, but it’s a musical history lesson.  We know for promotional value ---and so we can pick him out of a line-up---the record company needed to show the actual Mars canoodling with the object of his affection, but we wish the whole video had been comprised of cassette tape images. The piano is really awesome, as is the portrait of his girl with the hair made out of cassette tape. That could catch on as a way to recycle any remaining cassette tapes: make wigs out of them.

Oh, I’m getting horribly sidetracked. That could be because there’s really nothing going on here other than the cute cassette tape origami. We applaud the message in a pop world rife with images that make girls feel like they aren’t good enough, but we wish the song had a little more oomph to it. Plus, Mars and the girl have zero chemistry. She seems to be amazing the just the way she is because she can rock a pair of Daisy Dukes and an off-shoulder t-shirt and put her hand in front of her mouth and look coy. Aim a little higher, Bruno.

Now he would have really impressed us if he’d used an 8-track cartridge, but you’d have to be old enough to remember another little song called “Just the Way You Are” to know about those relics.