Katy Perry

All the pundits have crowned “California Gurls” the song of the summer and that bears out as Katy Perry’s opening salvo from her forthcoming album “Teenage Dream,” spends its fourth week atop the Billboard Hot 100.

However, it looks like Eminem might rain on her parade next week. “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Rihanna, pushes “Gurls” out of the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs, according to billboard.biz and lands at No. 2 on the Billboard 100 (which combines sales and airplay). Additionally, “Love the Way You Lie” is gaining traction at radio, as it surpasses “Not Afraid,” the first single from Em’s charttopping “Recovery” in airplay. “Not Afraid” already reached the top spot on the Billboard 100. As radio samples from “Recovery” and fans cherrypick tracks, seven songs from the album are on the Hot 100, but that won’t last. 

In other Billboard 100 news, Jason Derulo logs his third top 10 hit from his self-titled debut album as “Ridin’ Solo” hits No. 10. Derulo, like many pop acts, is the classic case of an artist (Hello, Flo rida) whose fans are invested heavily in his singles, but don’t feel the need to buy the album. Despite the success of previous Top 10 tunes, “Whatcha Say” and “In My Head,” the album has only sold 170,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Another example is Taio Cruz. His tune, “Dynamite,” captures Greatest Gainer honors on the Billboard 100, moving 31-14 based on an 81% gain in digital sales and a 57% increase in airplay.  The success, following his No.1 hit, “Break Your Heart,” isn’t really moving the needle on his album, “Rokstarr,” which stands at No. 87 on the Billboard 200 this week, one step above Derulo.

On the iTunes Songs chart, Perry still reigns supreme, with “Gurls” at No. 1 followed by Cruz’s “Dynamite” at No. 2.



 

Pharrell

Credit: AP Photo

pharrell-williams" class="autolink">Pharrell Williams has worked with artists from all genres. Most recently, he’s worked with Game on “R.E.D.,” the rapper’s much delayed project, and is working with Jay-Z, although he’s sworn to secrecy about that one. Through his work with the Neptunes, N.E.R.D. and other ventures, he’s collaborated with Britney Spears, Madonna, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Busta Rhymes, Clipse, the Hives, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Maroon5 and dozens more. But there are still a few artists on his wish list.

We talked to Pharrell today about his work on “Despicable Me.” He wrote a number of songs, as well as the score, for the adorable, funny animated 3D movie that stars Steve Carrell. His tunes, especially the delightfully sinister title track and the bouncy “Fun Fun Fun” greatly enhance the movie’s mood. We’ll post our full interview with Pharrell in a few days, but we wanted to reveal who is on his hit list.

“I like working with challenging people across the board,” he tells HitFix. Tops on his list is Eminem. Next comes Lady Gaga. “That could be interesting,” he says. Maybe he can go to one of the Jay-Z/Eminem stadium shows and get Hova to put in a good word for him with Marshall Mathers.

We last ran into Pharrell  at a Bruce Springsteen in 2009 so we had to ask if the Boss also on the bucket list? “I would love to,” Pharrell says, but adds, “I can’t imagine that he would want to or could envision what we do, but I would love to work with him.” 

I don’t know… we’d love to hear what the two could conjure up together.

Bruce Springsteen

Credit: AP Photo

We Springsteen fans have been waiting for a deluxe reissue of 1978’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” for while now—even since word leaked out that there would be a 30th anniversary edition. Well, we’ll settle for a 32nd anniversary package.

E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt told a British radio station that the reissue will be out by year’s end, and that it may include more than 10 outtakes. Van Zandt confirms these are beyond the “Darkness” outtakes that were on 1998’s essential “Tracks” box set, according to Rolling Stone. 

He also adds that similarly to how the Rolling Stones went in and recorded some overdubs on the “Exile on Main St.” reissue, the Boss may do the same.

"We'll go back and he might finish a lyric on one or two, or finish a harmony on one or two, but we'll keep them intact pretty much," he said.

Recorded after the gargantuan, breakthrough success of 1975’s “Born to Run,” “Darkness” is beloved among hardcore Springsteen fans as one of his rawest, fiercest rock records with such tracks as the blistering “Adam Raised a Cain,”  anthemic “Badlands,”  the sensuous “Candy’s Room,” and, what many fans (me included) consider some of his most poignant, saddest lyrics ever on “Racing in the Street.”

If the outtakes on “Tracks” are any indication, there’s no telling if the previously unreleased songs will follow “Darkness’s” serious themes or be lighthearted, such as “Tracks” outtake “So Young & In Love.”
In an interview I did with Springsteen in 1998 for Billboard about “Tracks,” he talked about his mindset when creating “Darkness.” I had asked him how his choices for album selections were made:

“Take after "Born To Run." At that time, I said, ‘Well, this is a moment when people often go wrong or get lost after the first shot of some success’,” Springsteen said. “So [with] ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town,’ I wanted to make a record that specifically sent a message to my audience that I wasn't going to be blocked in by the success I'd had in terms of what kind of music I created. So the editing on ‘Darkness’ was based around creating a record that had a seriousness of tone. Meanwhile, there were all these bar band records that we had cut [like] ‘Give The Girl A Kiss’ and ‘So Young And In Love.’ So I had all this music that I couldn't use at that time that just got put to the side.”

We know what just went to the top of our Christmas wish list.


 

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam

Credit: AP Photo/Andy Paradise

Pearl Jam’s new video for “Amongst the Waves” is a glorious look at our oceans. Lead singer Eddie Vedder is a fanatical surfer so we don’t know if any of the footage, including the adorable black and white opening of a father and daughter, is him, but the point of view is all his. It’s like a four-minute vacation right there on your computer, with a Pearl Jam concert thrown in.

We also like that, even though you know it has to be coming, PJ lets the video spool out with its natural beauty before ending it with a few heartbreaking shots of the Gulf—post BP oil spill.

The video will be for sale on iTunes starting July 6 with proceeds from the U.S. going to Conservation International’s Oceans Campaign.

If you’ve got a minute, scroll down www.pearljam.com/oceans and see different ways you can help support the clean up in the Gulf from the BP oil spill, but, otherwise, enjoy the gorgeous footage.

 (Note: If you're having trouble buffering the clip, turn off the HD option).

Pearl Jam Oceans from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

Credit: Matador

Matador Records is coming of age and, man, is it throwing a party. The seminal indie label’s 21st birthday bash, slated for Oct. 1-3 at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, will feature the cream of the crop of acts who have passed through Chris Lombardi and Gerard Cosloy’s door since Lombardi founded the New York record company in 1989 (Cosloy joined shortly thereafter).

Guided by Voices, in its most-beloved mid-‘90s configuration, will play its first show in five years. Other headliners includes Belle & Sebastian, Pavement (on a little reunion tour of its own) and Sonic Youth.
Also joining in the fun will be Matador acts past and present including  Spoon, Yo La Tango, Cat Power, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the New Pornographers, Superchunk, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Cold Cave, Girls and more acts to be announced next week. Where’s Liz Phair?

On his blog on Matador’s site, Cosloy said, “We’ll be dropping further hints about the lineup in the days ahead but a final announcement and information about how to purchase tikets will be made here at the trusty Matablog on July 5. Are you as psyched as we are?”

While it seems a little odd to us that a label so associated with smart rock, lo-fi and slightly left-of-center music would go to the oh-so-stereotypical Vegas to celebrate, we get the whole “turning 21” theme and we guess even the cool kids are attracted to its bright lights.

UPDATE: former GBV member Jim Greer just posted on his Facebook page: "Just to clarify: a) I am not playing, nor do I belong, in any "classic line-up" reunion outside my family; and b) yes, there will be more GBV dates than just the Vegas shindig. That is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know."  As a further comment, he added that, sadly, will be out of the country and will miss the shows, but called them "awesome."

Erykah Badu performs at the first date of the 2010 Lilith Fair tour

Credit: AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh

Amid reports of cancellations and soft ticket sales, a relaunched Lilith Festival kicked off Sunday night (27) at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta.

The female-fronted fest, co-founded by Sarah McLachlan, is back after an 11-year hiatus. McLachlan is on every date. Among the 100 artists playing at least one show are Sheryl Crow, Sugarland,  Mary J. Blige,  Martina McBride,  Sia, Queen Latifah, Colbie Caillat and many more. With the rumor that more cancellations were coming, dates in Nashville and Phoenix have already been pulled off the slate. The opening show drew around 9,000 (out of a capacity of 11,000), many of them walk-ups. Many new reports said snafus kept fans waiting in line for more tha an hour.

Reviews were mainly positive, but some outlets found the environment sterile. USA Today, which praised performances by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals,  Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and McLachlan, also noted that the Lilith Village, which features baby bands and vendor stand hardly set the right tone for the festival:, “A few audience members tried to get into the festival spirit by putting down blankets on the asphalt, but for the most part the dispirited crowd just stood around. The lack of festival atmosphere permeated the main stadium area, which was devoid of folksy festival touches such as vegetarian food stands and craft vendors.”

The Vancouver Sun also praised Crow: Sheryl Crow had the crowd on their feet from her first song. Her soaring run through Our Love is Fading, from upcoming album 100 Miles from Memphis, established a R&B revue-type groove right from the start. It was followed up by a soulful take on Every Day is a Winding Road, in which she played up the festival's maternal feel by having her funky toddler dance along with some shakers. She was already having the crowd sing along by song three, a powerful charge through Can't Cry Anymore that morphed into a cover of Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now.

The Calgary Sun loved Crow, Erykah Badu and Sugarland, but saved some of its most radiant praise for Canadian favorite daughter, McLachlan: "Her voice was as beautiful as ever as she ran through such classics and 'Angel,' ' Aida' and 'Building a Mystery' as well as new material from her latest album, 'Laws of Illusion'."

Despite any money woes, Lilith remains committed to donating $1 from every ticket sold to a local charity: Sunday night, McLachlan presented a $9,000 check to the Calgary Women’s Shelter.

The tour continues tonight in Edmonton, Alberta. For a complete schedule, go to www.lilithfair.com.

Prince

Credit: Matt Sayles/AP

If you’re going to be in the U.K. July 10, you get a bonus: Prince’s new album for free. Prince, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards this past Sunday, is replicating a promotion he instituted in 2007. Then, he gave away his album, “Planet Earth,” with copies of the newspaper, Mail on Sunday.

This time, he is distributing 2.5 million copies of “20Ten” via the Daily Mirror and Scotland’s  Daily Record. He’s expanding to Germany: the album will also be bundled with Rolling Stone’s German edition in July.

Various ticket giveaways and Prince’s first British newspaper interview in a decade are part of the package.



 

Big Boi

Credit: John Bazemore/AP

You’ve already heard great tracks like “Shutterbugg,” “General Patton” and “Shine Blockas.” Now you can stream Big Boi’s “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty” in its entirety.

The solo album from one-half of Outkast doesn’t come out until July 6, but you can hear it on his myspace page here.

Of course, if you’re truly a Big Boi fan, you have already ordered your Converse limited edition Chico Dusty shoes.
 

Chris Brown during the 2010 BET Awards

Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles

Right off the bat, I admit that I have no idea if Chris Brown’s breakdown while performing Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” on Sunday’s BET Awards was real or a publicity stunt.

Regardless, it has ripped off whatever scab had started to form over the self-inflicted wound caused by his beating up then-girlfriend Rihanna 16 months ago.

For those who missed it, after saluting Jackson in a scintillating dance medley in which Brown, once considered an heir apparent to the King of Pop, tried to sing the reflective “Man in the Mirror” and could barely choke out a word. Then he quit trying, dropped to his knees, and let the crowd lead the singalong.
Who knows what prompted the mini-collapse. Brown’s not talking yet—we’re sure even if this breakdown wasn’t planned, whom he first talks to about it is being micro-managed like Gen. McChrystal’s next interview. Was he overcome with his love for Jackson?  Was it regret over his own misdeeds? Was he truly hearing the lyrics to the song for the first time and vowing to “change his ways?”

The question of the day—second to if this little performance was staged—is if we’re ready to forgive Brown.  As if this is a collective decision. That seems a ridiculous question to me. Some crimes are so heinous, they don’t deserve forgiveness and only each individual can determine if he or she feels this way about Brown. There are so many other factors here. Brown is 21. He was 19 when he was arrested for assaulting Rihanna. That’s young, but certainly old enough to know better. But other than some misguided shots of Brown jet-skiing shortly after the attack, he’s been a model citizen. He’s done his community service; he’s apologized again and again and tried to show that he has learned his lesson.Do we give him no shot to redeem himself?  (Clearly, the British don't: As is its right, the U.K. declined to issue Brown a visa to allow him to tour in England earlier this month).

It would appear that some  portion of his fan base has forgiven him—in abundance. Last night he also won the fan-voted AOL Fandemonium Award. We don't know how many people voted, but it was sizeable enough for him to win the honor, therefore, some fans have not only forgiven him, but are actively rooting for his return. During his acceptance speech, he vowed not to let us down again.  He also was recently voted one of the sexiest performers in a tacky Billboard.com poll.

Musically, his redemption has been slower to take hold. After seven months, his third solo album, “Graffiti, has fallen off the Billboard 200 and the three released singles never really captured people's attention. Was that because radio listeners aren’t ready to forgive or it is simply that the songs weren’t that good?

Several artists are rallying around Brown today, as if that’s worth anything, but it remains a thorny issue. Can you be a fan of Brown’s music without condoning what he did? Can you separate the man from his music? That's a question that Jackson himself found there to be no easy answer for and it's a little ironic that both face the same challenge. Many fans, especially those outside the U.S., were completely able to shake off the child abuse allegations against Jackson, while they permanently tainted him stateside. (Jackson was never found guilty of any wrongdoing).

I believe Brown should be given a second chance—both as a person and as a performer. But if I had a daughter, I sure as hell wouldn’t want him within 50 yards of her. Hypocritical? You bet.
 

Lady Gaga and Elton John

Lady GaGa unveiled a new song, “You and I,” at Elton John’s annual White Tie & Tiara Ball.

Affecting a fake accent, she declared it was the first time she’s played the song live "evah." She also says it’s a “rock and roll tune,” which means “it most likely won’t ever get used as one of my singles, so I guess it’s okay if I play it tonight.”

The song reminds us a little bit of any number of 4 Non Blondes tunes and Katharine McPhee’s very underrated tune, “Had It All.”

The mid-tempo track is probably about as straight-ahead a love song as we’re going to get from Lady Gaga as she reminisces about a lost love that still has a bit of a hold on her as she strolls down memory lane. It’s a strong, though not exceptional song, and she’s probably right not to think of it as a first single, but we could certainly see if as a fourth or fifth single off her new album. The piano banging at the end is a nice little homage to Elton, with whom she’s become fast friends.

And here’s something else we’re wondering. This is fairly grainy footage seemingly taken by a fan, whose previous clips have no more than 25,000 hits or so, yet this one has already hit half a million thanks to a little help from Perez Hilton. It would seem Lady GaGa’s label is trying to start a viral campaign since they’re not trying to take down this or “Changing Skies,”  the other song that leaked last week.

We know we’re playing grammarian here, but even a fifth grader knows it’s “about you and me,” not “about you and I,” so that part is like a sharp poke with a stick every time we hear it. C’mon, Lady GaGa, you don’t want all your little monsters sounding like they don’t know their grammar, do you?

What do you think of "You and I?"