Max Martin and RedOne Rule Billboard Hot 100

WelcheMusic regularly covers Swedish songwriters’ success Stateside and today our national newspaper Expressen notes that five songs in the top 10 involves either Max Martin or RedOne. Neither one of them enjoys their first glimpse of success, but this is one of few weeks where their dominance is so great.

Expressen’s music editor Anders Nunstedt compares this phenomenon to five out of the top ten Hollywood’s box office hits being Swedish, a most unlikely event. WelcheMusic reveals that although Americans embrace the hits below, Swedes are more reluctant. Only one of the tracks has actually made it to the top ten – Katy Perry’s collaboration with Snoop Dogg (“California Gurls”). Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” is on its way to break the top 20, and the track vaulted into No.1 in the UK only a few days ago.

The chart positions in brackets denotes current position on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the peak position in Sweden.

• Taio Cruz – Dynamite (2/21)
• Katy Perry – Teenage Dream (3/33)
• Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull – I Like It (4/30)
• Usher feat. Pitbull – DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love (5/31)
• Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg – California Gurls (8/8)

Max Martin has collaborated on four of the tracks above, with the exception of Enrique Iglesias “I Like It.”

Lady Gaga Producer RedOne Launches New Super Group

Lady Gaga’s acclaimed producer RedOne made the headlines in Sweden as he recently launched the new super group Love Generation. In an interview with evening paper Aftonbladet, RedOne compares the group with Gaga who “was an unknown talent when they first met.” Née Nadir Khayat, 37 year-old RedOne will collaborate on new material on Kylie Minogue’s upcoming album and his merits includes Mary J. Blige, Sugababes, Mika, Usher as well as Michael Jackson.

The five unknown girls of Love Generation is a collaboration with the star producer and talent scouts Peter Swartling and Jonas Johnson. Swartling spent several years as a jury member of Swedish Idol.

RedOne wrote Love Generation’s first single on a Friday, the girls were hand-picked from 500 contestants last Saturday and a single was recorded the day after. 22-year old Charlie Braun admits that she hardly understands what is happening. “I’ve listened to Lady Gaga’s and RedOne’s songs for a year. Suddenly I’m in a studio with this world-known producer. It’s fantastic,” Braun says to Aftonbladet.

Blowsight Turns Lady Gaga into Pop Metal Punk

The Swedish group Blowsight has turned Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” into a pure pop metal punk.

Kid Cudi interpolated the “Poker Face” on “Make Her Say” and to date cover versions have been issued by the likes of dance act The Booty Babes and rock group You Me At Six.

Lady Gaga included the “Poker Face”on her debut album The Fame and the song first appeared as a single back in September 2008. North America saw a release in December 2008 and the single wasn’t released in the UK until January 2009. The renewed interest will definitely result in more royalties for songwriters RedOne and Lady Gaga herself.

Blowsight has previously covered Britney Spears’ “Toxic” from 2004.

Dion, P!nk, Kanye Sing “We Are the World” 2010

Only a week after Simon Cowell’s feat to assemble Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart and Leona Lewis in the same room, comes the anniversary of “We Are the World.” Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie had already plans on making a re-record the track to commemorate the 25th anniversary in benefit for Haiti. Swedish producer RedOne has produced the track alongside Wyclef Jean and legendary Quincy Jones.

The new version was recorded on Feb.1 this year and luckily many of the artists were already in L.A. to attend the Grammy awards.  More than 75 musicians participated and the song was recorded at the same place as in 1985. The 2010 line-up is a walk of fame. Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion sing alongside Vince Vaughn and Jeff Bridges. Newcomers Jonas Brothers and Justin Bieber contributes as well as the hip-hop stars Kanye West, Akon, Drake and Cudie.

The new video premiered during NBC’s coverage of the Opening Cermony of the WinterOlympics last night and the video has been directed by Paul Haggis of Crash and Million Dollar Baby fame.