Here’s an update to some recent Popservations:
No mere mortal can resist: Thriller 25, the expanded anniversary edition of Michael Jackson’s classic album, sold 166,000 copies in its first week of release (guilty as charged), and 63,000 in its second. There was some debate as to whether Thriller 25 should have been included on the Billboard Top 200 tally, where it would have fittingly received the silver (a #2 debut behind Jack Johnson’s latest). The set was instead deemed a reissue, relegating Jacko’s re-masterpiece to the Pop Catalog Chart but giving him a first-place finish.
Hear here: Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand: “Let Me Think About It” remains #1 on Billboard‘s Hot Dance Airplay chart. It’s the first import track to achieve that feat, as there is no current U.S. release. [Update: Purchase “Let Me Think About It” via Amazon, iTunes.] But thanks to the power of the Interwebs, here’s the video, which is very “Robert Palmer Goes Shopping at Frederick’s of Hollywood”:
Whatever happened to: Taylor Dayne: Continuing my mini round-up of current Billboard charts, “Beautiful,” her first single off Satisfied, is doing well on the Hot Dance Club Play and Adult Contemporary lists. ABC is using “Crash,” another track from Dayne’s album, in its new “back-from-the-Writers’-Strike” network promo. The song’s rhythm section is way reminiscent of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”.
Super, man: will.i.am has released a second Barack Obama-inspired music video. “We Are The Ones” takes its cue from a crowd chant of the Illinois senator’s last name, rather than one of his rousing speeches:
If all goes well for Obama when Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont go to the polls on Tuesday, can we expect a threequel?
Sister Christian: Chris “To Hair Is Human” March received farewell kisses from Heidi Klum on the most recent episode of Project Runway. On Wednesday we find out how remaining designers Rami Kashou, Jillian Lewis, and Christian Siriano fared during Fashion Week in Bryant Park. I’m still gunning for Christian to be crowned queen of Season 4.
The devil you don’t know: Reaper, one of my favorite new shows, is back on The CW’s schedule in a new time slot. This Thursday’s episode, “Cash Out,” is a repeat, exploring the developing attraction between Sam (the devil’s bounty-hunter) and Cady (the devil’s possible daughter). The ep’s especially worth catching if you’re new to the series, since several recurring characters get screen time. Read up on the Reaper “funderworld” by checking out the Entertainment Weekly cheat sheet.
