It's the summertime, I guess. So this means a lot of new songs on the way.
AFI "Miss Murder"
Points in favor: an album which just recently debuted at #1; high rotation at video channels; a really strong fanbase; a style of music which fits very nicely, thank you very much, into the zeitgeist of the MySpace generation (cf. Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, etc.); already Top 5 at Alternative. All points into account, this should give them a Top 20 placing by mid-summer. Anything past that will be a bonus.
ALY & AJ "Chemicals React"
They might be big biz at Radio Disney, "Rush" might have been a minor hit, and their album had a Top 40 peak. Thing is this really lacks a strong hook and therefore virtually indistinguishable from your Brie Larson or some other run-of-the-mill teen act. Top 40 at best.
BEYONCE feat JAY-Z "Deja Vu"
OK, so it's not "Crazy In Love". But, come on, "Crazy In Love" is, like, one of THE singles of the decade and a surefire bet for Gold rotation for at least 20 years to come. As for "Deja Vu", Top 5 is guaranteed, on the strenght of name alone, as is a fast rise. If it will be the classic fast-rise-even-faster-fall case, that remains to be seen.
CODE RED "Summer Jam"
This sounds like something that wants to be the middle ground between post-New Jack rap-R&B hybrids of the mid-90s (ie, in between R Kelly's "Summe Bunnies" and Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It") and an upgrade of LFO's "Summer Girls". Crap label, and it shows in its mid-to-low budget production. Rappers have very stiff flows. The hook is so sugar sweet it could give you diabetes. This could even be fun in a sort of kitschy way if they didn't try so hard to put an air of artistic integrity into it. Which means that a minor summer novelty song isn't clearly its chart destiny.
DEM FRANCHIZE BOYZ vs KORN "Coming Undone Wit' It"
Does anybody really need a "Collision Course" sequel? I guess not. Top 50, if it gets lucky.
DIXIE CHICKS "Not Ready To Make Nice"
And also not ready to bother Pop radio with this generic AC-styled pop/rock song that leaves anybody who hadn't heard of them yet scratching their heads thinking how they could be considered a Country act by now...
HEDLEY "On My Own"
SUMMER OBSESSION "Do You Remember"
Both go together, since they're so similar in style. Basically it's to say that this kind of summery radio friendly pop-punk clearly had its heyday - Any doubts? Check Simple Plan's and Yellowcard's recent track records - and it won't be these generic singles that will turn that tide. Top 60 at best.
LIONEL RICHIE "I Call It Love"
And I call it midlife crisis. I mean, Scott Storch producing and Ne-Yo having a writing credit?! Maybe I better call it "trying too hard".
MADONNA "Get Together"
Better call it "Get It Together". Simply put it: Madonna's done in the US. The rest of the planet won't want to know about it, as they didn't with "Hung Up" and "Sorry".
MARY J. BLIGE feat BONO "One"
This one has already done big damage in Europe. If Hot AC eats it, then it'll get a chance at Top 15 at Pop. More than that will be a bonus. Otherwise, forget it.
OAKENFOLD feat BRITTANY MURPHY "Faster Kill Pussycat"
Faster, kill, go away! Top 150 won't wait for you, Mr. Superstar-DJ-on-the-career-slide-path-but-with-a-bigger-ego-by-the-day. And Brittany Murphy is as charismatic on the microphone as Cedric The Entertainer is a smooth charmer!
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GIANTS "Mama's Room"
It would be interesting if this kind-of-leftfield alternative ditty did something on Pop radio. Trouble is, this isn't the 1994/1997 season, where summery AND left-of-center songs like The Cardigans' "Lovefool", Luscious Jackson's "Naked Eyes" or Space Monkeys' "Sugar Cane" could make some dent on Pop radio. Hell, I even remember two years ago Junior Senior making a minor splash for one hot minute with "Move Your Feet"! But this is 2006. Sorry, guys! Top 75, and consider yourselves lucky!
AFI "Miss Murder"
Points in favor: an album which just recently debuted at #1; high rotation at video channels; a really strong fanbase; a style of music which fits very nicely, thank you very much, into the zeitgeist of the MySpace generation (cf. Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, etc.); already Top 5 at Alternative. All points into account, this should give them a Top 20 placing by mid-summer. Anything past that will be a bonus.
ALY & AJ "Chemicals React"
They might be big biz at Radio Disney, "Rush" might have been a minor hit, and their album had a Top 40 peak. Thing is this really lacks a strong hook and therefore virtually indistinguishable from your Brie Larson or some other run-of-the-mill teen act. Top 40 at best.
BEYONCE feat JAY-Z "Deja Vu"
OK, so it's not "Crazy In Love". But, come on, "Crazy In Love" is, like, one of THE singles of the decade and a surefire bet for Gold rotation for at least 20 years to come. As for "Deja Vu", Top 5 is guaranteed, on the strenght of name alone, as is a fast rise. If it will be the classic fast-rise-even-faster-fall case, that remains to be seen.
CODE RED "Summer Jam"
This sounds like something that wants to be the middle ground between post-New Jack rap-R&B hybrids of the mid-90s (ie, in between R Kelly's "Summe Bunnies" and Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It") and an upgrade of LFO's "Summer Girls". Crap label, and it shows in its mid-to-low budget production. Rappers have very stiff flows. The hook is so sugar sweet it could give you diabetes. This could even be fun in a sort of kitschy way if they didn't try so hard to put an air of artistic integrity into it. Which means that a minor summer novelty song isn't clearly its chart destiny.
DEM FRANCHIZE BOYZ vs KORN "Coming Undone Wit' It"
Does anybody really need a "Collision Course" sequel? I guess not. Top 50, if it gets lucky.
DIXIE CHICKS "Not Ready To Make Nice"
And also not ready to bother Pop radio with this generic AC-styled pop/rock song that leaves anybody who hadn't heard of them yet scratching their heads thinking how they could be considered a Country act by now...
HEDLEY "On My Own"
SUMMER OBSESSION "Do You Remember"
Both go together, since they're so similar in style. Basically it's to say that this kind of summery radio friendly pop-punk clearly had its heyday - Any doubts? Check Simple Plan's and Yellowcard's recent track records - and it won't be these generic singles that will turn that tide. Top 60 at best.
LIONEL RICHIE "I Call It Love"
And I call it midlife crisis. I mean, Scott Storch producing and Ne-Yo having a writing credit?! Maybe I better call it "trying too hard".
MADONNA "Get Together"
Better call it "Get It Together". Simply put it: Madonna's done in the US. The rest of the planet won't want to know about it, as they didn't with "Hung Up" and "Sorry".
MARY J. BLIGE feat BONO "One"
This one has already done big damage in Europe. If Hot AC eats it, then it'll get a chance at Top 15 at Pop. More than that will be a bonus. Otherwise, forget it.
OAKENFOLD feat BRITTANY MURPHY "Faster Kill Pussycat"
Faster, kill, go away! Top 150 won't wait for you, Mr. Superstar-DJ-on-the-career-slide-path-but-with-a-bigger-ego-by-the-day. And Brittany Murphy is as charismatic on the microphone as Cedric The Entertainer is a smooth charmer!
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GIANTS "Mama's Room"
It would be interesting if this kind-of-leftfield alternative ditty did something on Pop radio. Trouble is, this isn't the 1994/1997 season, where summery AND left-of-center songs like The Cardigans' "Lovefool", Luscious Jackson's "Naked Eyes" or Space Monkeys' "Sugar Cane" could make some dent on Pop radio. Hell, I even remember two years ago Junior Senior making a minor splash for one hot minute with "Move Your Feet"! But this is 2006. Sorry, guys! Top 75, and consider yourselves lucky!
