Matchbox Twenty and Taylor Swift Rule the Charts

90′s rockers Matchbox Twenty grab their first # 1 album on the Billboard 200 this week with their sixth album, North. Surprisingly their massive debut album only hit # 5, but the boys can finally say they’ve hit the top of the album charts. They beat out debuts from Alternative rockers Imagine Dragons, Christian rapper (yes, you read that right) Lecrae and singer/songwriter Cat Power. Debuting outside the top ten with her latest is Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge who comes in at # 18 with 4th Street Feeling. For more on these numbers and this chart, head to Billboard here and check out the new top ten below.

Top Ten Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. North- Matchbox Twenty (debut)
2. Night Visions- Imagine Dragons (debut)
3. Gravity- Lecrae (debut)
4. Now 43- Various Artists (last week~ 4)
5. Blown Away- Carrie Underwood (lw~8)
6. Overexposed- Maroon 5 (lw~ 6)
7. Based on a T.R.U. Story- 2 Chainz (lw~ 7)
8. Eye on It- tobymac (lw~ 1)
9. Chapter V- Trey Songz (lw~ 3)
10. Sun- Cat Power (debut)

Over on the Hot 100, Taylor Swift rides a post-VMA performance wave to return to the summit with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” making it 3 non-consecutive weeks on top of that chart. That also gives it the distinction of being the longest running # 1 country song on that chart. (However, I use the term country loosely, cuz honestly there is NOTHING country about the song. So, I say the record is B.S.)… Anywho, she holds off a surging Maroon 5 and P!nk who flies back into the top ten at # 6 and Alex Clare who lands his first top ten single at # 10 with “Too Close”. Take a look at the new top ten below.

Top Ten Singles on the Hot 100:
1. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”- Taylor Swift (lw~ 2)
2. “One More Night”- Maroon 5 (lw~ 3)
3. “Whistle”- Flo Rida (lw~ 1)
4. “Some Nights”- fun. (lw~ 5)
5. “Lights”- Ellie Goulding (lw~ 4)
6. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”- P!nk (lw~ 11)
7. “As Long As You Love Me”- Justin Bieber w/ Big Sean (lw~ 9)
8. “Everybody Talks”- Neon Trees (lw~ 6)
9. “Good Time”- Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen (lw~8)
10. “Too Close”- Alex Clare (lw~ 15)

And here’s Matchbox Twenty’s latest top 40 hit “She’s So Mean” from their new # 1 album.

Melissa Etheridge is “Falling Up”

Grammy winning rock n’ roll icon Melissa Etheridge is readying a brand new album, 4th Street Feeling, due Sept. 4th and the first single, “Falling Up” just hit the web. It’s another great song from the Oscar winner (she won for her song “I Need to Wake Up” from An Inconvenient Truth), but it also shows a different direction for the singer. “Falling Up” has fun country pop feel. It seems to combine all of her favorite genres: pop, folk, country, blues and of course rock. Take a listen to her brand new track below and see if you like this new direction. The single is out now on Amazon and iTunes and the album which is said to have several “classic” Melissa songs alongside the new lighter vibe ones and should land Etheridge her fourth top ten. Check out Melissa on tour this fall and grab, 4th Street Feeling, Melissa’s 16th album, next week.

Melissa Etheridge “Falling Up”

My American Idol Season 11 Top 4 Buzz Rankings

Last week on American Idol, we saw the sad and premature exit of country firecracker Skylar Laine. It was unfortunate on so many levels, especially considering when all is said and done, she is likely the most commercially viable contender among the top ten. I’m sure she will get a record deal in no time and go on to great success. If Kellie Pickler can land in 6th place, sell around 1.5 million records and have 9 top 40 Country Hits to date, I have no date Skylar can outdo that tenfold. She was a fantastic performer with a great voice who was like the baby of Melissa Etheridge, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Gretchen Wilson. So, while I am really sad to see her go, I have high hopes for Ms. Laine…. Now, on to today’s business at hand. It’s time to rank the top 4 contenders as we head into the strangely themed “California Artists/Songs I Wish I Had Written” week. So, just who has the heat? Check out my all new completely unscientific buzz rankings below.

American Idol Season 11 Top 4 Buzz Rankings

1. Jessica: ok, ya’ll may think I’m crazy for ranking her this high. However, I have a feeling the superior vocalist in the competition is ready to roll over her competitors. Her vocals are astounding week in and week out and we saw more personality from her last Wednesday too. The scary almost elimination is still on people’s minds, and I’m hoping America pulls their heads out and makes her our next Idol. I mean, hello, she could be the next Rihanna with a Jennifer Hudson voice but without the douchebag abusive boyfriend. (last week~ 2)
2. Phillip: seriously, this guy needs to go home! Oops, wait, I’m not critiquing his latest performance, I’m talking about his chances of winning the race. And those chances are real, real good. He’s never been in danger of elimination despite all of his songs sounding exactly the same. And he’s also had several bad performances lately but glides by unscathed. His winning personality and looks are clearly keeping him a front-runner. (lw~ 3)
3. Joshua: now, you may be wondering why I have dropped Mantasia to third despite one very solid and one incredible performance last week. Well, here’s the reason~ he’s getting boring. We all know he will sing incredibly week in and out taking us to church. However, I still don’t see how he will appeal to anyone outside the R&B or Gospel fan base when the show is over. And his awkward interviews and interchange with Phillip last week could turn people off. Honey, we all know who you are. It’s ok to hug Phillip. No one is gonna think anything they don’t already think. Be proud of who you are and then sang! (lw~ 1)
4. Hollie: I have become a big fan of Hollie’s over the past few weeks and I’d actually love to see her take on Jessica in the finale. Unfortunately, despite two weeks in a row with her best performances and tremendous vocals, she still was in the bottom two. She has far to go in the competition, but she could do it. I’m rooting for our super cute Irish/Texan dark horse. (lw~ 5)

And there you have it. That’s who I think is buzziest this week. Do you agree? Am I letting my personal preference for Jessica cloud my rational thoughts? Should boring blah Phillip be on top? Can Hollie take them all down? Sound off below and watch American Idol tonight on Fox.

Never Forget Matthew Shepard

Thirteen years ago today, Matthew Shepard passed away after being the victim of a horrible hate crime. The young man’s tragic story has since brought awareness to the hate that still infects our communities, schools, families and the country as a whole. We must never forget about this terrible loss and always keep up the fight for equality and humanity. There is nothing wrong with being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender and out and proud. For more on Matthew, his life and his legacy and how to support the cause, head to the Matthew Shepard Foundation here.

And here’s a beautiful video about Matthew’s story set to the song Melissa Etheridge wrote about him after his passing, “Scarecrow”

Melissa Etheridge rocks Broadway in American Idiot

Grammy winning rocker Melissa Etheridge is about to become a drug dealer… on the Broadway stage that is. You see, Etheridge, one of my favorite music artists ever, is joining the cast of the Tony winning rock musical American Idiot for one week beginning tomorrow Feb. 1st. She’ll be replacing Green Day frontman and Idiot composer/producer Billie Joe Armstrong in the role of the drug dealing punk rock powerhouse St. Jimmy. According to Billboard, Etheridge was rather wary of performing without her signature guitar, but soon warmed up to the challenge. I have no doubt she’ll be awesome and if you’re in New York, I highly recommend seeing this incredible show… As for Armstrong, he’ll return to the show to finish his limited engagement next week… For more on the show, head to the American Idiot website here.

And here’s a taste of Billie Joe and the cast on “The Time of Your Life”

And here’s Melissa’s first appearance on Broadway from last summer as she was a one night only guest performer for the jam session that follows the hit Million Dollar Quartet (co starring my friend Tony winner Levi Kreis)

Melissa Etheridge and Crystal Bowersox collaborate for Pinktober

As I reported a month back, American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox joined one of her own idols on stage as she sang with Grammy award winner Melissa Etheridge to celebrate the beginning of Pinktober. The concert headlined by Etheridge helped bring awareness too October as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Etheridge, a breast cancer survivor herself, and Bowersox dueted on her anthem “I Run for Life”, and now it’s available at iTunes with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation. It’s a great song for a great cause, so head to iTunes and pick it up today.
Here’s a taste of it below.

Melissa Etheridge duets with Crystal Bowersox for Pinktober!

Grammy winning rocker Melissa Etheridge battled and beat breast cancer a few years ago, and she has worked to promote awareness and raise money for the cause ever since. This year is no different as she is celebrating Pinktober, breast cancer awareness month. To kick off this year’s campaign, Melissa performed at the Hollywood Hard Rock Cafe and she was joined by recent American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox who is one of Melissa’s biggest fans. Crystal opened the show for her, then Melissa took the stage and they even did a couple of songs together making Crystal’s dreams come true. Check out the videos below and watch for Melissa on tour now and Crystal’s debut album in late 2010/early 2011. Plus to contribute and learn more about Pinktober and the fight against breast cancer, click here.

Melissa Etheridge and Crystal Bowersox “Come To My Window”

Melissa Etheridge and Crystal Bowersox “I Run for Life”

It’s Kelly Clarkson Duet Day!

As you all know, I’m a little obsessed with the best American Idol winner ever, Grammy winner and multi-platinum superstar Kelly Clarkson. And it’s been entirely too long since I posted about her. Well, recently she tweeted about recording a duet for her new album that will be out at the end of the year. She was mysterious about just who she would be singing with, but I’m thinking it may be fellow Idol fave Chris Daughtry. There were rumors of a Kelly/Daughtry duet to be included on his band’s second album, Leave this Town. However, that song never surfaced. Perhaps we’re getting an even better treat on Kelly’s 5th album… Regardless of who it is, they better step up to the plate because we all know Kelly can wail big time. As soon as I hear who that guest performer is, I’ll let you know. In the meantime check out these great Kelly duets below and let me know just who you think she will be recording with. For more on Kelly, go here.

Kelly Clarkson & Reba McEntire “Because of You” (a top 40 pop and # 2 country smash that netted them a Grammy nom for Best Country Collaboration)

Kelly Clarkson & Daughtry “Fast Car”

Kelly Clarkson & Melissa Etheridge “Bring Me Some Water” (from VH1′s Divas Live)

Kelly Clarkson & En Vogue “Free Your Mind”

Kelly Clarkson & Martina McBride “Does He Love You”

Kelly Clarkson & Rascal Flatts “What Hurts the Most”

Kelly Clarkson & Fantasia “Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child”

New Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge just can’t stop it… the wanting of you! Hello, I’m just talking about her new song. She doesn’t really want you. Well, maybe a few of you ladies since she’s single again. Nonetheless, for the rest of us, we can enjoy her awesome new single “The Wanting of You” from latest incredible album Fearless Love. Check out her new video below and catch this fantastic Oscar and Grammy winner rocker on tour this summer. For everything Melissa, click here.

Melissa Etheridge “The Wanting of You”

Melissa Etheridge rocks Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet

Grammy and Oscar winner Melissa Etheridge is currently touring around the country to support her fantastic latest album Fearless Love. However, she still managed to squeeze in a little time on the Great White Way. After the June 23 performance of Million Dollar Quartet, Melissa joined the “band” onstage for an impromptu jam session. This was a tradition that started with the show’s Chicago run as well known artists would join the characters in the show Elvis Presley (Eddie Clendening), Carl Perkins (Robert Britton Lyons), Johnny Cash (Lance Guest) and Jerry Lee Lewis (played by my friend and recent Tony Award winner Levi Kreis) and play some rock n’ roll classics together. Check out Melissa’s Broadway debut below and catch Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway. For more info and tix, click here.

Melissa Etheridge and the Million Dollar Quartet