US Chart Roundup: Ke$ha Is A Legend

This week The Voice (aka Ke$ha) climbs to #7 with "Blow," a song that, as pointed out before, took six people to write and four to produce. Yes, it's that intricate. This now gives K-dolla her sixth Top 10 hit in a row (not counting that "My First Kiss" trash she did with 3OH!3).

But lest you think that's Ke$ha's only triumph on the chart this week, think again! Yes, the Classy Empress Of Pop also had the honor of co-writing Britney Spears' second Femme Fatale single "Till The World Ends," which debuts at #20 on the strength of 117,000 paid downloads over three days (and becomes her 15th Top 20 hit). Meanwhile, Weaveney's "Hold It Against Me" is still hanging in their at #16 in its eighth week. Those two songs were my jams when I was back in Pennsylvania last week.

Elsewhere, Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" falls from its peak position (so far) of #13 to #18, while her sophomore LP 21 is #1 for a second week on the Top 200 album chart.

And waaaaay down at #99 comes the debut of Willow Smith's "21st Century Girl." Cute video, but I'm having a hard time believing radio is going to warm to this song.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Born This Way" - Lady Gaga *4 weeks*
2. "Fuck You" - Cee Lo Green
3. "S&M" - Rihanna
4. "Fuckin' Perfect" - Pink
5. "On The Floor" - Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull
6. "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
7. "Blow" - Ke$ha
8. "E.T." - Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
9. "Tonight (I'm Fuckin' You)" - Enrique Iglesias ft. Ludacris & DJ Frank E
10. ""Firework" - Katy Perry

The "I'm Sick As Hell" Music Roundup: Britney, Avril, Ke$ha, Willow, Lil Kim & Rihanna

I've been sick as a dog since I returned from a trip back to Pennsylvania this past weekend, so sorry for things been quiet around here this week so far. Nevertheless, this morning I dragged myself to the computer to bang out a few thoughts on what's been going down on Planet Pop over the past three days. Read' 'em below.

21st Century Flop



I like the part where Cicely Tyson screams at the beginning of Willow Smith's "21st Century Girl" video—you know, like the Roc Nation bean counters are doing when comparing the budget of the clip to the fact that the song is only #165 on iTunes.

Baby Shut Your Mouth



I've been maintaining that "Inside Out" is the best one of the half dozen Britney Spears Femme Fatale song snippets to pop up in recent weeks, and this lengthier clip that leaked yesterday just goes to prove it.

Blow My Speakers Up



Avril Lavigne covering Ke$ha for Radio 1 Live Lounge is good stuff. Quote from Avril's Billboard interview about her new album, which is out now: "I found myself in a situation on my fourth record with a bunch of people at the label who I didn't know, and they're coming in on my project and saying, 'Here's what we think you need to do for your record,' and giving me their vision. And radio's so rhythmic/dance-driven right now, and that's not where I was going with this record. So I had to fight and say no, but… I ultimately made the record I wanted to."

Notorious K.I.M.

I love a good train wreck, so I ordered Lil Kim's Black Friday mixtape (via PayPal—class!) a few weeks back. And while she appears to have sliced off Nicki Minaj's head on the cover of the 20-track affair, it's her butchering of Rihanna's Loud track "Man Down" that assures me that this was a sound investment.

UK Chart Roundup: The Black Eyed Peas Cock Block Willow Smith, Kylie Has Seen Better Days

So maybe The Black Eyed Peas are simply a singles act now? Their shit new song "The Time (Dirty Bit)" has topped the UK chart, thereby holding Willow Smith back at #2 with "Whip My Hair." Meanwhile, the group's album The Beginning had a disastrous debut at #17 last week but has now managed to scrape its way up to #9.

Kylie Minogue has a dismal chart week with "Better Than Today", which is at #32 in its official week of release. Not since digital-only single "The One" went to #36 has the poor broad has such a tragic showing on the UK chart.

Of course, Kylie doesn't fair nearly as bad as poor Joe McElderry, who lands with a thud at #68 with "Someone Wake Me Up." Yay, X Factor—it's now as relevant as American Idol!

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "The Time (Dirty Bit)" - The Black Eyed Peas *1 week* 
2. "Whip My Hair" - Willow *new*
3. "Your Song" - Ellie Goulding
4. "What's My Name" - Rihanna feat. Drake 
5. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
6. "Like A G6" - Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs & Dev
7. "Heroes" - The X Factor Finalists 2010 
8. "Thinking Of Me" - Olly Murs
9. "Who's That Chick" - David Guetta feat. Rihanna 
10. "Poison" - Nicole Scherzinger

U.S. Chart Roundup: Screw Taylor Swift—Ke$ha Has Landed Her Second #1 Hit

Now, some people will tell you the big chart news this week is Taylor Swift's third album Speak Now selling just over a million copies out of the gate, more than enough to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and post the best sales week for an LP since 50 Cent's The Massacre, back in March 2005. But those people would be wrong.

No, pop chyldryn—the real news this week is the fact that Ke$ha's latest lyrical blessing, "We R Who We R," has debuted at the top of the Hot 100 single chart. I know, I know—I had to ask myself if this was just Jesus in disguise returning to our mortal plane, too.

This gives Ke$ha a second chart-topping hit after "Tik Tok," and it also makes her sixth Top 10 single (I'm including "My First Kiss," her pairing with the new Lennon-McCartney, 3OH!3). And start curling your toes—the Angelic Queen Of Soul's mini album Cannibal is out on November 22. God bless America!

Another poetic masterpiece makes great gains this week, as 10-year-old Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" jumps from #78 to #11. Elsewhere, Chris Brown's overly-poppy single "Yeah 3X" debuts at #33. (Who let him back into the club?)

Other than that, basically #34 through #100 consists of new tracks from Taylor Swift's Speak Now that lonely teen girls from Kansas who will never get sex are downloading.

So have I mentioned Shayne Ward is on the cover of Gay Times in a wet T-shirt?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "We R Who We R" - Ke$ha *new* *1 week*
2. "Like A G6" - Far*East Movement
3. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
4. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
5. "Just A Dream" - Nelly
6. "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" - Usher feat. Pitbull
7. "Bottoms Up" - Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj
8. "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
9. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
10. "Raise Your Glass" - Pink

Willow Smith Whips Her Hair On 'Ellen'

I have found myself completely mesmerized by this performance. Today marked the first time Willow Smith performed her insanely addictive single "Whip My Hair" on live television, and she impressively belted out the jam on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In the lead-up, she sang the a line from the chorus of Rihanna's "Only Girl (In The World)."



There's something so old-school about the way this song has been marketed—from it first becoming a word-of-mouth thing to 10-year-old Willow's infectious personality and style shining through with each subsequent interview she does.

It's almost enough to make you forget that fact that she has a plentiful reserve of ready-made success—via her entire family (parents and brother Jaden) already being movie stars—to work with.

Pink's "Raise Your Glass" Becomes Her 10th U.S. Top 10 Single

Pink has every right to knock one (or three) back herself this week, as her Greatest Hits...So Far!!! single "Raise Your Glass" climbs up one position to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and becomes her 10th American Top 10 hit (not counting that abomination that was "We Are The World 25," which I've stated before makes me want to swallow glass).

"Raise Your Glass" is also her highest-charting U.S. hit since "So What" reached #1 back in September 2008. (Stick with Max Martin, girl!) And I have to say, this jam is a total grower. I wasn't completely smitten with it at first, but hearing it on the radio over the past couple of weeks has proven to be a pleasant surprise each time. Good on ya, Pink. Looking forward to the greatest hits (out November 15) finding a permanent home in my car next month.

Elsewhere, Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP's international dance hit "We No Speak Americano" climbs up to #29, Shakira's "Loca" jumps up 52 spots to #32 (thus giving British rapper Dizzee Rascal his first American hit) and Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" debuts at #78.

On a final note, Natasha Bedingfield goes in at #95 with new single "Strip Me." Jesus. This song, "Babies"—what is it with these repressed religious girls?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Like A G6" - Far*East Movement *2 weeks*
2. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars" 
3. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
4. "Just A Dream" - Nelly
5. "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" - Usher feat. Pitbull
6. "Bottoms Up" - Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj
7. "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
8. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
9. "Club Can't Handle Me" - Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
10. "Raise Your Glass" - Pink

Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" Video Vs. 'Sesame Street' "I Love My Hair": Which Is Better?

The music video for Willow Smith's absolutely obnoxious, painfully repetitive (read: I'll be loving it after three more listens...maybe) viral hit "Whip My Hair" leaked premiered today, but I can't help finding new Sesame Street jam "I Love My Hair" so much more charming.

Granted, I teared up over Willow's vid, too—but that was more of an "I weep for the future" affair. The Sesame Street one has gone totally viral over the past week, and deserves every view it gets.

Willow Smith & Kylie Minogue: Fashion Friends

Kylie Minogue was snapped with 9-year-old "Whip My Hair" pop terror Willow Smith and her mom Jada over the weekend during Milan Fashion Week. I've already aired my grievances regarding Willow's low rent jam. (Sorry, gays—much like Madonna's undead, thousand-year-old carcass, that's one bandwagon that can come unhitched and roll off a cliff for all I care.)

Jay-Z's Roc Nation recently signed Willow to the label. Again, she's 9. Label deal. Radio clogged with trash. Deep sigh. Spank her, Kylie!

More pics of Willow and her famous pals in Milan over at Idolator.

Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" Is About As Good As Her Dad's Music

Two words with this one, kids: Kriss Kross.

Nine-year-old Willow Smith's obnoxious trash jam "Whip My Hair" now has a teaser video. Why do I have a feeling that with the right forces of evil in alignment, this horse shit will become a giant smash just like all of her dad Will's songs did for an annoying period of time?



The subliminal pink triangles are a classy touch, though. Oh, wait—that's a "W." For "whatever."