Better late than never…or not. More »
The Black Eyed Peas returned to the music scene today (July 17) with “Yesterday.” But there’s no sign of Fergie. More »
Plus Black Eyed Peas are now managed by Scooter Braun. Also see which artists will be performing on television today. More »
This week’s installment in the sorta-halfhearted scuffle between songs that are biding time at the top of the Hot 100 until the Black Eyed Peas return to the No. 1 slot for the kajillionth week this year: Jay Sean’s “Down” reclaimed the top spot after last week’s No. 1, Britney Spears’ Real Dollish “3,” sagged in sales by 33% and fell to No. 5. (It’s gaining in airplay, though, so don’t count her out just yet.) Rounding out the top 5 is a trio of familiar tunes to any chart-watcher: Jason DeRulo’s “Whatcha Say” (No. 2), Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The U.S.A.” (No. 3), and the Jay-Z/Rihanna/Kanye collab “Run This Town” (No. 4). [Billboard] More »
Apparently the ’80s-tastic CGI of the Black Eyed Peas’ “Meet Me Halfway” video would have shocked me a lot less if I was a college football watcher; last night I caught the above clip-referencing during the Phillies-Dodgers telecast, and I was initially surprised by how fast the clip’s turnaround from “current cultural product” to “easily referenced bit of minutiae” was. (Other ads for the satellite-TV service have, you may recall, referenced curios much older, like Back To The Future and Star Trek.) But as it turns out, I was dumb for underestimating the Peas’ ability to quickly ride any cross-promotional wave! More »
“‘I Gotta Feeling’ also holds at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the 12th straight week. This matches the 12 weeks that the Peas held the top spot with ‘Boom Boom Pow’ immediately prior to this hit. Since 1955, only two other acts, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, have had two or more singles that logged 12 weeks at No. 1. Now, here’s the amazing part: With just two No. 1 hits, the Peas have spent more weeks at No. 1 than such heavyweights as Diana Ross & the Supremes, which amassed 12 No. 1 hits, and George Michael, who had 10 (counting his hits with Wham!).” [Chart Watch] More »
Seriously, Seth Stevenson of Slate–you’re just now noticing that the Black Eyed Peas are very interested in increasing the Black Eyed Peas’ bottom line by any means necessary. You dare fling the slightly dated epithet “sellout” in their direction? Do you think that they don’t know that they’re one of the most overexposed acts of this young century–and that they don’t relish every minute of it? More »
The Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D. leaked yesterday, thanks in large part to its Japanese release date being six days ahead of its American one (and a whole 13 days in advance of its street date in Argentina). All things considered, having an album not show up online until its first official street date is kind of an impressive achievement–if one that doubles as an argument for the standardization of international release dates, given that the versions pinging their way across the Internet now are taken straight from the retail version and not inferior rips of sanctioned streams. Just a thought! [Google Blog Search] More »
The Black Eyed Peas’ “Meet Me Halfway” is an attempt to show the group’s sensitive side, with lyrics that are about heartache and commitment and don’t mention how the band’s members have more money than the majority of their target audience even once. It’s a pretty serviceable dance-ballad that recalls DJ Sammy’s cover of “Heaven”–and speaking of that song, I’m kind of impressed that the Peas avoided playing the sampling Kenny Loggins card in order to evoke cheap sentimentality. Growth! [iamwill] More »
