Much as I hate to admit it, the people putting together the soundtrack for Diablo Cody’s emo-leaning, Megan Fox-enhanced entrant into the vampire genre Jennifer’s Body might very well have compiled an album that will prove to be the 2009 equivalent of, say, the Batman Forever soundtrack (or at least the album accompanying Batman & Robin) as far as summing up a very particular pop aesthetic at a very particular point in time. Well, at least I’m supporting Amanda Seyfried’s acting efforts, I guess. Track list after the jump. More »
The first single from Paramore’s forthcoming Brand New Eyes is “Ignorance,” a tight little rock song that mixes the dark, goth-leaning aspects of “Decode” with the wailing that characterized the band’s breakthrough song “Misery Business.” The hyperactive breakup track is going to be available for download from legit sources tomorrow, so for now, instructions on how to hear it–since every YouTube embed of the song gets dinged with a “copyright restrictions in your country” message for US listeners–after the jump. More »
In an effort to perhaps show the world that it is Really For Real Serious About Bringing Music Back To Its Programming This Time Around, MTV has revived the Movie Awards category that honors the Best Song From A Movie. The category–last seen in 1999, and perhaps retired because Aerosmith’s wretched foray into Diane Warren territory “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” was the winner–has four nominees this year, including one who’s way out of MTV’s target demo. The envelope before the envelope, please: More »
After Billboard launched its Adult Album Alternative singles chart last year, I compared and contrasted it with the two existing rock charts, Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock, and noted how few bands, let alone songs, would be able to make a dent on all three charts. At the time, I wrote: “I’ll be very curious to see what song, if any, will be the first to appear on all three rock charts; my best guess is that it’ll depend on whether U2 or the White Stripes releases a new album sooner.” Not to toot my own horn, but I was right on the mark; the lead single from U2’s No Line On The Horizon became the first song to achieve that feat immediately upon its release. “Get On Your Boots” has been locked at the top spot on Triple-A for the last four weeks; on Modern Rock it entered at No. 8 and currently sits at No. 5; and while it’s made the Mainstream Rock chart, it has so far only climbed to No. 26.
What were the 80 most important musical recordings, artists, trends, events, and performances of 2008? What were the eight things this year that broke our hearts—or, at least, our ears? We’re happy to announce 80 ’08 (and Heartbreak), Idolator’s year-end overview. The list is below the jump.
The music video channel that could Fuse had been running its “Top 40 of 2008” special over the last few days, but I just couldn’t bring myself to watch—Katy Perry wasn’t just performing two songs, she was co-hosting the whole thing. The premise was amusing, matching the year’s “best” videos against each other head-to-head, tournament style, but in the end, it just turned into a battle of who could mobilize their fan club to the greatest effect. Guess what? Even through it all, the followers of Britney can come through in the clutch.
THE GOOD: Paramore defeating the Offspring, Staind and Linkin Park before running into a train called “Womanizer” (and losing by four million votes in the finale)? Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl” and Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” losing in the first round? That’s about all the good news I have, really.
THE BAD: Disturbed won two rounds of voting. Disturbed. In 2008. Two rounds.
THE WHAAA? While the video for “Vida La Vida” is not something Hype Williams should add to his demo reel, losing to Secondhand Serenade isn’t a fate Coldplay should be forced to suffer.
So, Friday night was the 2008 installment of Z100’s end-of-year-fest known as the Jingle Ball, and while this year’s lineup didn’t have any guaranteed swoon objects like last year’s Jonas Brothers fest, the lineup was nowhere near the crapfest that was Zootopia. Kanye West and Ne-Yo and Rihanna (and even Leona Lewis and David Archuleta, to a lesser extent) made me realize that while the ever-shrinking beast that is “pop music” certainly has its problems in 2008, its high points can still bring smiles to faces and twitchiness to butts.
In the current rough climate for recorded music, those companies that were involved in this business of music decided to get creative with their revenue stream—and no avenue of creativity was more popular than the 360 deal, in which companies signed artists to deals that encompassed not just income from recorded music, but merchandise, touring, publishing, and other potential money-making paths as well. Concert-promotion behemoth Live Nation went the “big, splashy deal” route, signing the likes of Madonna and Jay-Z to deals that were valued in the hundreds of millions at the time; Warner Music Group was so into the whole 360 idea, they even signed deals with dead people!
