Timberlake Turns His SexyBack on Music

While the WelcheMusic team looks forward to the up-coming flick The Social Network, we’re just as disappointed to learn that Justin Timberlake is done making music. According to a recent The Sun news piece, the singer does not have plans for a new album. His latest set Future Sex/Love Sounds was issued in September 2006 and spawned no less than six hit singles.

Justin Timberlake plays Napster founder Sean Parker in The Social Network and the trailer includes a choir version of Radiohead’s “Creep,” far from the usual r’n’b routine from Timberlake.

Although Timberlake hasn’t put out any music as a solo artist, lately he’s been featured on hits with Jamie Foxx, Esmee Danters, Timbaland and Chiara.

Flo Rida Reigns in the UK with the help of French Guetta

Flo Rida claims his second UK No.1 in his career with “Club Can’t Handle Me,” lifted from the Step Up 3D soundtrack. The track features French DJ David Guetta, who produced the track with Frédéric Riesterer. Guetta recently topped the UK singles chart this May with “Gettin’ Over You.”

This means that Ne-Yo loses the top position as “Beautiful Monster” falls to No.5 in its second week. As mentioned earlier, that track failed to become a success in the US as it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No.53. “Club Can’t Handle Me” moves 33-24 on this week’s Hot 100 in its sixth week on the chart. Usually, these two acts enjoy far great success Stateside than in the UK or the rest of Europe.

Flo Rida topped the singles chart back in March 2009 with “Right Round” (featuring Ke$ha). The rapper has collaborated with a range of artists such as Timbaland, will.i.am, Ne-Yo and Nelly Furtado throughout his career.

Eminem and Rihanna reverse their drop on the chart and move 4-2 with “Love the Way You Lie.” The highest new entry comes from pop group The Saturdays, whose “Missing You” bows at No.3. It’s the group’s ninth top ten single and is lifted from the upcoming mini album and EP Headlines.

This week also welcomes British grime vocalist Tinchy Stryder back to the chart. “In My System” enters at No.10 and bests the previous hit “You’re Not Alone” fron November last year. On the album chart, Eminem reclaims the top spot with Recovery. Canadian rock act Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs falls back to No.2 after a sole week atop. Lady Gaga’s The Fame continue its top ten presence, climbing 6-5 in its 83^rd week on the chart.

Edward Maya Follows “Stereo Love” with “This Is My Life”

Edward Maya’s collaboration with Vika Jigulina adds a second week on top of the Swedish singles chart. In times where hits break through simultaneously around the world, it’s interesting to note that the song was originally released back in October 2009. Maya is hopeful to add “This Is My Life,” to his successful discography. The track was issued earlier this year and has so far charted in Holland, France and Romania.

We’ve already covered the worldwide success of “Stereo Love,” and according to the track’s Wikipedia entry it will become available in the UK in May. Not surprisingly, Maya’s A listed on the BBC Radio 1 playlist alongside Timbaland/Katy Perry, Kelis, Scouting for Girls amongst others.

The first two countries to embrace Edward Maya’s “Stereo Love” were Holland and France back in November last year. Today, it tops the charts in Slovakia and Sweden.

Will Darin Manage to Beat Timoteij and Bergendahl?

With only one week left to the final of Melodifestivalen, we will soon know who will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo this May. This week’s singles tally is, not unexpectedly, dominated by singles from the contest. Anna Bergendahl claims the top spot with the finalist entry “This Is My Life.”

The girl group Timoteij managed to oust Darin in the competition with “Kom,” and they also beat him on the singles tally. Timoteij trails Anna Bergendahl at No.2, while Darin enters at No.9 with “You’re Out of My Life.”  Last week’s chart-topper Play falls back 1-5 with “Play,” while Lady Gaga remains at No.3 with “Bad Romance.” Brolle falls 2-7 with “Anything She Wants” and Donkeyboy’s “Ambitions” moves one notch to No.8.

UK No.1 Jason Derulo returns to the charts with “In My Head,” which enters at No.14.  His “Whatcha Say” peaked at No.4 last fall. It’s also interesting to note that Timbaland and Katy Perry bows at No.58 with “If We Ever Meet Again.” It’s the second single to chart from Shock Value II, following the No.14 peak of “Morning After Dark.”

The Playtones remains at No.1 with Rock’n’Roll Dance Party while Sade remains at No.2 with Soldier of Love. The highest new entry comes from Sophie Zelmani, who is back on the charts after a two years hiatus with her ninth album I’m the Rain. Her biggest success to date is the 2008 set The Ocean and Me.

Helping Haiti Still on Top of UK Singles Chart

The charity constellation Helping Haiti remains on top of the UK singles chart in its second week. It is trailed by Florence + the Machine and Dizee Rascal single “You Got the Dirtee Love,” which was performed on last week’s BRIT Awards. Owl City, Timbaland & Katy Perry and Alicia Keys are pushed back one place. Rihanna moves 10-6 with “Rude Boy” in its sixth week, while the Glee Casts keep two of its singles in the top ten. “Don’t Stop Believin’” adds a tenth week on the chart and falls 5-7, while “Halo/Walking on Sunshine” remains at No.9. The only other new entry in the top ten is Lemar’s “The Way Love Goes” at No.8. Both Glee Cast’s and Lemar’s track are featured on the WelcheMusic compilation, found here. 3!OH!3 rounds up the top ten with “Startstrukk.”

Other new entries on the chart come from Chris Brown with “Crawl” at No.35.  The track is produced by The Messengers and peaked at No.53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when issued at the end of last year. It will get its official single release this March. Leona Lewis’ “I Got You” already made an impact on the chart as well, entering at No.40 although it won’t be offically released until tomorrow. The track was written and produced by Arnthor Birgisson, the man behind Darin’s entry in the Swedish Melodifestivalen contest. “I Got You” is the second track to be lifted from Leona Lewis’ sophomore set Happy, suceeding the title track. It’s also worth mentioning Lewis’ inclusion in the blockbuster Avatar. The lead theme “I See You” peaked at No.28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and was written by James Horner of “My Heart Will Go On” fame. Horner’s composed the music to both Titanic and Avatar.

Rod Stewart, Susan Boyle and Mariah Carey Join Forces on New No.1

As expected, charity constellation Helping Haiti easily grabs the UK No.1 position this week with the rendition of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.” The track entered the Swedish singles chart at No.36. As previously reported, Simon Cowell has assembled Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Susan Boyle and Miley Cyrus among others to re-record the track to benefit the Haitian victims. Expect “We Are the World” to appear on European charts in due course.

This means that Owl City falls 1-2 with “Fireflies,” while Timbaland and Katy Perry remains at No.3 with “If We Ever Meet Again.” This is better than the No.6 peak of the previous hit “Morning After Dark.” The Drake collaboration “Say Something” hasn’t been released in the UK, while the Justin Timberlake duet “Carry Out” has reached No.33 on the UK r’n’b singles chart.

Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” moves 5-4 in its ninth week, switching places with the Glee Cast’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The stars of the highly succesful TV-series enters the chart at No.9 with the double-sided single  “Halo” and “Walking on Sunshine” and at No.14 with “It’s My Life” coupled with “Confessions Part II.” Add that “Somebody to Love” falls seven places to No.33.

Rihanna rises 20-10 with “Rude Boy,” while Jedward’s novelty hit “Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)” falls 2-12. Sade is the highest new entry on the album chart at No.4. Soldier of Love was, however, unable to challenge Alicia Keys, André Rieu and Paolo Nutini who remains in the top three. Massive Attack’s new album Heligoland is new at No.6 and it’s interesting to note that pop act Peter Andre manages to climb 9-7 with Unconditional Love Songs, a romantic cover collection.

“Ice Ice Baby” Returns to the UK singles Chart

Owl City’s “Fireflies” remains atop of the UK singles chart in its fifth week. The single was initially released in July last year and has so far topped the charts in the US, Australia, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands. The UK version is slightly shorter as the record label has chosen to shorten the intro and remove the first chorus. Expect “Vanilla Twilight” to be the follow-up hit.

The highest new entry comes from the Irish duo John & Edward. They have recorded a mashup of The Queen’s and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.” Not an amazing feat, as the latter was built on Queen’s 1981 hit. Vanilla Ice reached No.1 in both the US and the UK back in 1990. So, who are John & Edward? Well, we’re not done with X-Factor 2009 as the duo performed this song on the program in November last year.

Timbaland and Katy Perry moves 17-3 this week with “If We Ever Meet Again,” pushing the Glee Cast’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” 2-4.  As WelcheMusic predicted, Alicia Key’s ballad version of “Empire State of Mind” has cracked the charts as it moves into the top five this week.

The second highest new entry comes from Ke$ha’s “Blah Blah Blah”  at No.11. Welsh act Marina and the Diamonds enters at No.12 with her second single “Hollywood,” lifted from the debut set The Family Jewels.

Keri Hilson’s German No.1 to Break in the Rest of Europe

The American r’n’b singer Keri Hilson surely isn’t the first name that pops up when you think of artists secretly breaking it big in Germany. Born in Georgia back in 1982, Keri Hilson had already established herself as a credible songwriter before her breakthrough came as  guest vocalist on Timbaland’s “The Way I Are” and “Scream” in 2007.

Her debut album came in 2009 when In a Perfect World… collected hit singles such as “Knock You Down” and “Energy.” So, how come that she topped the German singles chart last December? Strangely enough, the song “I Like” is the hit single off the soundtrack to Zweiohrküken (Chicken with Two Ears).  It’s a German romantic comedy revolving around the a yellow press reporter  and his girlfriend.

Keri Hilson’s hit single was written and produced by David Jost and Robin Grubert and will be featured on a re-issue of the In a Perfect World… album. The track has already been added to the German version of the set, and “I Like” was recently released in Sweden (it currently sits at No.46 on the singles chart). There are two versions available of the track, the Jost & Grubert mix as well as a Manhattan Clique remix.

In a Perfect World… has so far produced five hit singles. “Energy,”  “Return the Favor” and “Turnin’ Me On” were released back in 2008, while “Knock You Down” preceded the immediate release of the album in March 2009. A fifth single, “Slow Dance,” was released in July 2009. This January, Keri Hilson and Akon released the charity single “Oh Africa” to benefit underprivileged youth in Haiti. According to Wikipedia, “Tell Him the Truth” is also slated for single release in 2010.

WelcheMusic “Beat” Radio1

We’re the first to admit that WelcheMusic’s inspiration partly comes from what’s being picked up around the world. Buzz on Billboard, Radio 1’s playlists and so on. Having said that, it’s totally in line with this site’s focus when three of this week’s additions to the Radio 1 playlist already have been featured on our compilations. These are Timbaland feat. Katy Perry’s  “If We Ever Meet Again,” Muse’s “Resistance” and Jay Sean’s “Do You Remember.” And as mentioned earlier, Erik Hassle made the cut with “Hurtful.” Download vol.1 here and vol.2 here.

Katy’s back – but she’s not alone

So, the wait was finally over when Timbaland returned with Shock Value II, and according to Radio 1, the second single to be lifted from the album is the cheeky pop gem “If We Ever Meet Again.” Katy Perry made her breakthrough with the album One of the Boys last year including the smash hits “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot N Cold.” For those who cannot wait for either new Katy solo material or the Timbaland single, look out for “Starstrukk” – another collaboration with the American electronic music group 3OH!3.