UK Chart Roundup: Calvin Harris & Ayah Marar's "Thinking About You" Goes Top 10

I've said it before, and here it is again: "Thinking About You" is simply the best song on Calvin Harris' 18 Months album. And now it's hopped into the UK Top 10 at #9. The vocals are by Ayah Marar, who also chirped on Calvin's best Ready For The Weekend track, "Flashback."

"Thinking About You" now gives Harris his eighth (!) Top 10 hit off 18 Months (or his ninth, if we're to count Rihanna's tacked-on "We Found Love").

The UK Top 10:

1. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii *3 weeks*
2. "Love Me Again" - John Newman
3. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
4. "Summertime Sadness" - Lana Del Rey
5. "Best Song Ever" - One Direction
6. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
7. "La La La" - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith
8. "Let Her Go" - Passenger
9. "Thinking About You" - Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar
10. "Bang Bang" - Will.i.am

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US Chart Roundup: Capital Cities, Lorde & Justin Timberlake Are Royals

Two songs I honestly never anticipated becoming major US hits have cracked the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week: Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love," which is up to #17, and Capital Cities' "Safe And Sound," now at #20. I like to think that my interview with Capital Cities back in May is what helped propel their single to such great heights. You know — Robbie Daw, hitmaker.

Just outside of the Top 40, Justin Timberlake's controversial, disco-fied new single, "Take Back The Night" — off the upcoming The 20/20 Experience - 2 Of 2 (out September 30) — debuts at #47 after being made available as a download with pre-orders of the new album.



Moving along, Britney Spears' trashy Smurfs 2 track "Ooh La La" is $omehow up to #54, while the Cedric Gervais remix of Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" debuts at #72.



On a final note, 16-year-old New Zealand native Lorde — somewhat of a Lana Del Rey for the tween set — sees her debut single "Royals" climb from #90 to #74 in its second week on the chart.

Sexy.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *6 weeks*
2. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
3. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
4. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
5. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
6. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
7. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
8. "Holy Grail" - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake *new*
9. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
10. "Cups" - Anna Kendrick

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US Chart Roundup: Miley Cyrus & Her Ass Have A 7th Top 10 Hit With "We Can't Stop"

With Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" clogging up the top of every chart in the world yet again (it's not that sexy, everyone), it's best that we instead turn our eyes to Miley Cyrus' twerking, gyrating ass. It's hard to believe that five-and-a-half years have gone by since the onetime squeaky clean Disney chirpstress initially charmed her way into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with "See You Again." Her last foray into the upper tier of the chart was three years ago, when "Can't Be Tamed" was a minor blip on the radar at #8. But here we are, seeing Miley again, as "We Can't Stop" grinds its way to #5 this week.

I can't say that I'm not still a little burned to see Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" continuing its descent, after peaking #2 a few weeks back. (Sigh. The song is now down to #7.) But sometimes life comes along an sticks your tits in a deep frier. What can you do?

This brings us to the other two songs on the Hot 100 worth championing this week: Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love," now up to #24, and Capital Cities' "Safe And Sound," which, at #43, is close to finally cracking the Top 40.

All in all, as we reach the halfway point in 2013, it's been a pretty solid year for pop so far, no?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *3 weeks*
2. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
3. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
4. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
5. "We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
6. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
7. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
8. "Treasure" - Bruno Mars
9. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez
10. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess

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US Chart Roundup: Miley Cyrus And Her P***y Have A Video Now For "We Can't Stop"

Hmmm. Mariah Carey and Miguel's "#Beautiful" seems to be stuck in a holding pattern at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it's eerily reminiscent of MC's lead Emancipation Of Mimi single "It's Like That" a million years ago (eight, actually). That one, if you recall, got sidelined at #16. But here's the good news! The song is a Top 10 hit...in Croatia. And South Korea.

Anyway, Avril Lavigne, another frequently hit-strapped ho, is up to #20 with "Here's To Never Growing Up." Good for her, I say. The business has been unkind to poor Avril, what with radio not playing her material from the past few years and circumstances allowing for her to meet and become engaged to the singer from Nickelflop.

Another broad who can use a hit: Miley Cyrus. Her "comeback" single "We Can't Stop" is a tad grating — and this week it plunges from #11 to #27 — but at least there's this naughty music video for it, which prominently features Miley's tongue, ass and p***y bouncing around feverishly:



We'll end with Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love," which has risen to #30. In Croatia, however, it doesn't seem to have charted. So Mariah's got that.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *2 weeks*
2. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams 
3. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
4. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
5. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
6. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
7. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
8. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez
9. "The Way" - Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller
10. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX

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US Chart Roundup: Robin Thicke Does The Impossible, Scores A #1 Single

Each time Robin Thicke puts out a new album, I can't help but think, oh, man — nice guy, hot piece of ass, but it's never gonna happen. Case in point: His only Top 40 hit was 2007's "Lost Without U" (which peaked at #14), and his last album didn't even dent the Top 20. I've really just felt Robin's songs were just never really up to scratch.

But in 2013, as Baauer, Macklemore and Daft Punk have shown, anything goes...including Robin Thicke having a worldwide #1 smash hit with "Blurred Lines"! Is it the sample of the Michael Jackson shriek that did it? (Is that MJ or someone recreating the "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" wooooo?) The newly-rediscovered Midas touch of Pharrell Williams? The funky bassline? The sexy and silly video? My guess would be all of the above.



Everyone wants to have a good time in 2013, and this video delivers on all fronts. (Remember, YouTube streams now factor into chart positions, and this clip has over 45 million views.) Et voila — Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" has hopped up from #6 to #1.

Ironically, this comes at a cost for Justin Timberlake, who many had noted jacked Thicke's style for his 20/20 Experience era; "Mirrors" drops from its peak position of #2 to #4.

Elsewhere, the Hot 100 gets turnt up as Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" debuts at #11, Mariah Carey and Miguel's "#Beautiful" jumps to #15 and Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love" finally cracks the Top 40, by climbing to #38.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell *1 week*
2. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
3. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
4. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
5. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
6. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
7. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
8. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez
9. "The Way" - Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller
10. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX

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US Chart Roundup: Miguel Might Need That "#Beautiful" Money For Legal Fees

Jesus, ascending the Billboard Hot 100 can be a slow-moving process, no? Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors," which was released in February (and stuck at #3 for the past month) finally ekes its way to #2, now that Pink's "Just Give Me A Reason" is taking a tumble. Just behind, at #3, is Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," a song that seems inevitably destined to reach the top, if not become one of those annoying "Song Of The Summer" things.

Anyway, Mariah Carey announced yesterday that her new album (no title yet, the teasing minx) will be out on July 23. Lead single "#Beautiful" is up to #17, and that's a good thing — because her duet partner Miguel is gonna need some cash if that broad he decapitated at the Billboard Music Awards last month does indeed sue him.

Elsewhere, keeping with the "slow crawl up the chart" theme, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love" moves up to #42. Quite the opposite, however, is Lana Del Rey's"Young And Beautiful," as it rapidly plunges from #33 to #50.

On a finale note, Capital Cities' "Safe And Sound" is up to #74. I'm going out on a limb and saying this might just be the sleeper hit no one expected this summer. You can catch my interview with the electro-pop duo here.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray *5 weeks*
2. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
3. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
4. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
5. "Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
6. "Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams
7. "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez
8. "Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
9. "I Love It" - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
10. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko 

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Calvin Harris & Ayah Marar's "Thinking About You" Is Deservedly Getting A Single Release

It's the last song on his 18 Months album, but it's the best. Calvin Harris and Ayah Marrar's "Thinking Of You" will now be the ninth (!) official single release from the LP, according to PopJustice.

I wrote a review of 18 Months last fall, which you can read here. And if you're wondering why I'm so up on "Thinking About You," just have a listen:

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UK Chart Roundup: Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" Is The Duo's First Top 10 Hit Since "One More Time"

They started out as hit-makers, took a dip in popularity with 2005's not-very-good Human After All, regained their cool sheen with 2010's Tron: Legacy soundtrack, and are now back on top. Well, almost on top.

Daft Punk's comeback single "Get Lucky" was released around the globe on Friday at 12:01 a.m., and within two days racked up 50,000 paid downloads in the UK. That's enough to see the Pharrell Williams-featuring song go in at #3 on this week's single chart.

The pair's last Top 10 hit in the UK came with 2000's "One More Time," which made it to #2 (a position it also achieved on Chart Rigger's Top 40 Singles Of The '00s list). Previous Top 10 singles in the country include "Da Funk" (#7 in 1996) and "Around The World" (#5 in 1997).

It'll be interesting to see if DP can not only land "Get Lucky" in the Top 40 in the States this week — mostly because their highest charting entries have been "Around The World" and "One More Time," both of which peaked at #61 on the Hot 100 — but have an actual hit that sticks around for bit in the chart.

Elsewhere in the UK, Calvin Harris' Ellie Goulding-featuring "I Need Your Love" climbs to #7, thus marking his seventh consecutive Top 10 hit off 18 Month. Also, PSY's "Gentleman" becomes his second Top 10 hit as it makes an appearance at #10,

The UK Top 10:

1. "Waiting All Night" - Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre *new* *1 week*
2. "#thatPower" - will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber *new*
3. "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk *new*
4. "Need U (100%)" - Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E
5. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess
6. "Hey Porsche" - Nelly
7. "I Need Your Love" - Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding
8. "Feel This Moment" - Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera
9. "Pompeii" - Bastille
10. "Gentleman" - PSY

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Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love" Video, For All You Calvin & Ellie Shippers

I'm not sure if Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding are actually hitting it, but they appear to be very loved up in the video for "I Need Your Love" (aka the best song on Calvin's 18 Months album). Skrillex is probably somewhere shaving his eyebrows in fury.

This video makes me miss L.A.

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US Chart Roundup: Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" Back In The Top 10, Ke$ha Takes A Plunge

It was a brief, one-week stay for Pink's "Try" and Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing" in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, as they get bumped out now for the the likes of the returning "Suit & Tie" by Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5's "Daylight" and Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man." JT's "Suit & Tie" peaked three weeks ago at #4, and is now back up to #8 after two weeks spent outside the Top 10.

Meanwhile, someone who isn't looking to be entering the upper tier of the chart with their latest single is Ke$ha, whose "C'mon" drops from its so-far peak position of #27 to #29. And since it's time once again to check in with Ke$ha Career Death Watch, let's try and locate where her album Warrior is on the Billboard 200.

Hmmmm.

Scrolling.

Scrolling.

Scrolling

Scrolling.

Scrolling.

Scroll...Aha! There it is. #93. Brava!

Elsewhere, Olly Murs continues to climb with his breakout US hit "Troublemaker," which is up to #49, while Rihanna's "Stay" is at #57. Expect it to fly up the chart next week, following RiRi's performance of the snooze dirge of the Grammys and the video's premiere earlier this week.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz *4 weeks*
2. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
3. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
4. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
5. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
6. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
7. "Daylight" - Maroon 5
8. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake
9. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
10. "Beauty And A Beat" - Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj

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US Chart Roundup: Pink, Calvin Harris, Florence Welch & Tegan And Sara All Hop Into The Top 10

On the same week the video for Pink's third The Truth About Love single "Just Give Me A Reason" premiered, her second single off the album, "Try," hops into the upper-most tier of the Billboard Hot 100 (at #9). Including the Christina Aguilera, Mya and Lil Kim collab "Lady Marmalade," this marks Pink's 13th Top 10 hit in the US overall. So basically, despite being sick to death of "Try," I'll be hearing that shit for years to come when I flip on the radio.

Just below that, Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's 2012 UK chart-topping "Sweet Nothing" slides up to #10. This gives Calvin his first US Top 10 as a lead artist, and Florence her first Top 10 overall her. Sexy.

Meanwhile, over on the album chart, Tegan And Sara's Heartthrob debuts at #3, besting the #21 peak of their previous highest-charting album Sainthood.

Scissor!

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz *3 weeks*
2. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
3. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
4. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
5. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
6. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
7. "Beauty And A Beat" - Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
8. "F**ckin Problems" - A$AP Rocky, Drake, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar
9. "Try" - Pink
10. "Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch

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US Chart Roundup: A Rant About Pink's Try," Plus Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" Drops

After owning the same car for nearly 10 years, the stereo has finally decided to give up the ghost, leaving me with the radio as the only option for listening to music while cruising around town. You remember radio, right? Well, if you need reminding, or an update, allow me: it's still the go-to destination for when you want to hear the same seven or eight songs played endlessly throughout the day.

And so, at this point, I have no idea how Pink's "Try" isn't #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (This week it's up to #11.) Now, granted, way back in October when the music video for "Try" premiered, I noted the following: "I've come to realize that the pop world would really suck without Pink in it. 'Try' is a far better single choice than 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)'..." But after being beat down for the past week by this particular mid-tempo number – it truly is playing on all formats around the clock — I don't really believe the world would suck so much without this song in it.

I'm afraid Pink has truly entered the land of Safe Song Choices. Gone is the zest of "Just Like A Pill," the spunk of "Don't Let Me Get Me" and the edge of "U + Ur Hand." Now it's all by-the-numbers stuff about blowing kisses and trying. It's as if Pink's management sat her down after Try This flopped 10 years ago and said, look, do you want to continue being the bad-ass chick of pop and working with rock producers or do you want to have actual hits?

Not the most timely assessment, I know. But cut me some slack; I've got "Try" ringing in my ears and I don't know how to make it stop.

Where were we? Oh, right — Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing" is up to #14 on the Hot 100, making it the Scottish DJ's second-highest chart position (as lead artist) in the US, following the #12 peak of "Feels So Close" last year. 

Just above Calvin, Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" plummets from #4 to #13. Similarly, JT's latest dropped from #3 to #12 in the UK, after initial excitement for his first new material in over six years gave way to mediocre reviews of the retro-sounding Timbaland jam.

Meanwhile, Ke$ha's "C'mon" climbs to #28, Olly Murs' "Troublemaker" makes a big leap to #65 in its second week on the chart and Pitbull (ugh) and Christina Aguilera's (hmmmm) "Feel This Moment" debuts at #99.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz *2 weeks*
2. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
3. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
4. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
5. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
6. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
7. "Beauty And A Beat" - Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
8. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
9. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
10. "F**ckin Problems" - A$AP Rocky, Drake, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar

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US Chart Roundup: Kesha Career Death Watch

Maroon 5's "One More Night" finally takes a tumble out of the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 this week, which allows Swedish House Mafia's John Martin-featuring smash "Don't You Worry Child" to breeze in at #7.

The song, as you know, landed on Chart Rigger's 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2012 list, and recently the kids of the PS22 Chorus performed a cover of "Don't You Worry Child" with Ithacappella, Ithaca College's men's chorus.



Awww. Brings a tear to the eye, doesn't it? You heartless broads.

Elsewhere, Pink's "Try" — inescapable on radio at the moment — is up to #12, while Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing" becomes the Scottish DJ's fourth Top 20 hit in the States by climbing to #20.

Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath" also continues its slow slog up the chart, this week making it to #23. I don't know — it seems that even when her singles don't crack the Top 10, you still hear them played nonstop for years after in elevators, doctor's offices and grocery stores. Kelly's getting her royalty cash, one way or another.

Meanwhile, checking in with Ke$ha Career Death Watch this week: "C'mon," the glitter-addicted diva's second single off Warrior, is up 17 positions to #48, while the album itself plunges from #29 to #46 on the Top 200 in only its sixth week on the chart.

Maybe she just didn't incorporate enough Illuminati iconography into her last five vidoes/photo shoots/single covers?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars *6 weeks*
2. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
3. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
4. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
5. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
6. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
7. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
8. "Beauty And A Beat" -Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
9. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
10. "I Cry" - Flo Rida

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US Chart Roundup: Will.i.am & Britney Spears Scream & Shout Their Way Into The Top 10

Who is still downloading/streaming/requesting/programming Bruno Mars' "Locked Out Of Heaven" enough to keep it at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a fifth week? All of America, apparently. Good job, United States.

Will.i.am finally lands one of his wretched solo attempts at music in the Top 10 for the first time, after a litany of flops that saw him pairing up with the likes of Eva Simons, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj. This time around it's Britney Spears who gives him the boost, with their atrocious single "Scream & Shout," which is up to #8. It's also Wigney's first Top 10 single since "I Wanna Go" reached #7 in summer 2011.

Further down the chart, songs like Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child" that dropped last week after the holidays see a rebound. That's one's up to #11, while Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing" turns course and makes a big jump from #40 to #24. Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath" also moves up, six positions to #30.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars *5 weeks*
2. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
3. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
4. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
5. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
6. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
7. "Beauty And A Beat" -Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
8. "Scream & Shout" - will.i.am & Britney Spears
9. "One More Night" - Maroon 5
10. "I Cry" - Flo Rida

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US Chart Roundup: Ke$ha's Career Is Dying Young

In the week following Christmas, when iTunes gift cards were used at full force — thus propelling older singles like PSY's "Gangnam Style" back into the Top 10 and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" back into the Top 40 (up to #27 from #43)  — several songs take a plunge.

First up is Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child," which drops from its peak of #11 to #15. Pink's "Try" also dips from #13 to #18, while Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath" falls six positions to #36 and Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing" drops 14 spots to #40.

Meanwhile, One Direction's dull as shit "Little Things" is up to #33, making the dirge their fourth Top 40 hit in the States, following "What Makes You Beautiful" (#4), "One Thing" (#39) and "Live While We're Young" (#3).

On a final note, waaaaaay down the chart, Ke$ha's second Warrior single "C'mon" squeaks up to #97. Unfortunately, the album itself is languishing at #46 in its fourth week on the Top 200.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars *4 weeks*
2. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
3. "Diamonds" - Rihanna 
4. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
5. "Beauty And A Beat" -Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
6. "Gangnam Style" - PSY
7. "Die Young" - Ke$ha
8. "One More Night" - Maroon 5
9. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
10. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

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US Chart Roundup: The #1s Of 2012 (And When Are The Swedish House Mafia Guys Gonna Bang?)

Bruno Mars still rules the Billboard Hot 100 on the first official chart of 2013 (dated January 5). Or you can look at it like the last chart published in 2012. Whatever.

Here's a rundown of the 13 singles that hit #1 this year:

1. "Sexy And I Know It" - LMFAO (2 weeks)
2. "We Found Love" - Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris (2 weeks in '12)
3. "Set Fire To The Rain" - Adele (2 weeks)
4. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson (3 weeks)
5. "Part Of Me" - Katy Perry (1 week)
6. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae (7 weeks)
7. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra (8 weeks)
8. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen (9 weeks)
9. "Whistle" - Flo Rida (1 week)
10. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift (1 week)
11. "One More Night" - Maroon 5 (9 weeks)
12. "Diamonds" - Rihanna (3 weeks)
13. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars (2 weeks)

Only one of those trash ("Diamonds") jams landed on Chart Rigger's 10 Best Singles Of 2012 list, which tells us all one thing: the iTunes-downloading public's taste blows, while my own is impeccable.

Back to this week's chart, another entry on Chart Rigger's Best list, Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child," is up to #11. Elsewhere, Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's former UK chart-topper "Sweet Nothing" is up to #26, while Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath" cracks the Top 40 by flying up to #30.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars *3 weeks*
2. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
3. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
4. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
5. "Beauty And A Beat" -Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
6. "Die Young" - Ke$ha
7. "One More Night" - Maroon 5
8. "I Cry" - Flo Rida
9. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
10. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

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US Chart Roundup: Bruno Mars Throws Rihanna Off A Cliff

That Rihanna reign just let up, and she got bitch-smacked off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 by Bruno Mars and his Police knockoff "Locked Out Of Heaven." Ah, good old Bruno Mars. He came dangerously close to topping Chart Rigger's 10 Worst Singles list last year. Only Beyonce's colossally floptastic string of 4 noise saved him from that fate. That said, I will concede that "Locked Out Of Heaven" is far better than "The Lazy Song." Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for this year's Worst list, coming in a matter of hours!

Now where we? Right — Swedish House Mafia. I'm still waiting for these three to offer a livestream where they all take turns effing each other sideways in a shopping cart. Until then, we'll just have to make due with their US triumph with single "Don't You Worry Child," which rises to #14.

Another previous UK #1 that's climbing the Hot 100 is Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing," up 14 positions to #44. Look for it to be Calvin's fourth US Top 40 hit and Florence's second this time next week.

We'll end on another UK doll, Ellie Goulding, whose aptly-titled "Anything Could Happen" is stuck at #56 again. Perhaps the success of "Lights" eclipsed anything she'll do after that? Or maybe "Anything Could Happen" is just on the same slow trajectory that "Lights" was?

It's a mystery, folks. A g.d. mystery.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars *1 week*
2. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
3. "Die Young" - Ke$ha
4. "Ho Hey" - The Lumineers
5. "One More Night" - Maroon 5
6. "I Cry" - Flo Rida
7. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
8. "Some Nights" - fun.
9. "Beauty And A Beat" -Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
10. "Let Me Love You" - Ne-Yo

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UK Chart Roundup: Over-The-Hill Robbie Williams & Calvin Harris Are #1

Robbie Williams' "Candy," co-written by fellow Take That member Gary Barlow, has become his first #1 single in the UK since 2004's "Radio." And just think, he and Gary didn't even have to pretend to mouth-joust like they did in the video for their 2010 duet "Shame"! Interestingly, Radio 1 apparently refused to add "Candy" to its playlist because Robbie, 38, was deemed to be "too old."

Meanwhile, the much more age-appropriate Calvin Harris (28) sees his third LP 18 Months go in at #1 on the UK album chart. Ironically, The Kylie Minogue, who gave Calvin his big break in 2007 by enlisting his production skills for X, has to settle for a #2 debut with The Abbey Road Sessions — a chart position that matches that of her last studio album, 2010's Aphrodite.

The Abbey Road Sessions is out in the US this coming Tuesday (November 6).

The UK Top 10:

1. "Candy" - Robbie Williams *new* *1 week*
2. "Beneath Your Beautiful" - Labrinth feat. Emeli Sande
3. "Can You Hear Me (Ayayaya)" - Wiley feat. Skepta, JME & Ms D *new*
4. "Don't You Worry Child" - Swedish House Mafia
5. "Skyfall" - Adele 
6. "Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch
7. "Gangnam Style" - PSY 
8. "Diamonds" - Rihanna
9. "One More Night" - Maroon 5
10. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift

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US Chart Roundup: I'll Be Thinking About You

I'm as confounded as anyone as to how Maroon 5 are at #1 for a seventh week, with what has to be one of their blandest singles — and they've had some really dull ones. Still, there "One More Night" sits, holding off PSY's "Gangnam Style" for a sixth week. At this point, I kind of wish the Korean rapper would just get it over with already and knock Adam Levine & Co. out of the top spot, then tumble into obscurity.

Anyway, the rest of the Hot 100 is pretty flat this week, and of course the big news is Taylor Swift's fourth album Red selling 1.208 million copies in its first week — obviously enough to debut at #1 on the Top 200 album chart.  

But eff her and all this other shit. Personally, I'm pretty smitten with Calvin Harris' new album, 18 Months (just released this week). The Ayah Marah-featuring "Thinking About You" is totally my new jam.



The U.S. Top 10:

1. "One More Night" - Maroon 5 *7 weeks*
2. "Gangnam Style" - PSY
3. "Some Nights" - fun.
4. "Die Young" - Ke$ha
5. "Diamond" - Rihanna
6. "As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Bieber feat. Big Sean
7. "Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
8. "Too Close" - Alex Clare
9. "Let Me Love You" - Ne-Yo
10. "Don't Wake Me Up" - Chris Brown

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US Chart Roundup: Ke$ha Is Beethoven

Can you believe it? There actually isn't a single song "featuring" somebody in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 this week. Technically there wasn't last week, either, since "Good Time" is actually credited as Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen, but you get the point.

Anyway, Ke$ha's "Die Young," at #5, is now not only her seventh consecutive Top 10 single as a lead artist, but also her fourth song to land in the Top 5, following "Tik Tok" (#1), "Your Love Is My Drug" (#4) and "We R Who We R" (#1). Her singles that missed the Top 5: "Blah Blah Blah" (#7), "Take It Off" (#8) and "Blow" (#7).

Elsewhere, Rihanna's "Diamonds" becomes her latest Top 10 hit as the Sia co-write jumps up to #8, while her trashy boyfriend Chris Brown is up to #11 with his Madonna reject "Don't Wake Me Up."

Meanwhile, Adele's James Bond theme song "Skyfall," which debuted at #8 two weeks ago, had a short life in the Top 40; this week it's down from #13 to #45. Below that, Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath" debuts at #54, while Christina Aguilera's "Your Body" flounders at #59 in its fifth week on the chart and Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen" rises 11 positions to #64.

On a final note, this week's UK chart-topper, Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing," debuts at #96.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "One More Night" - Maroon 5 *6 weeks*
2. "Gangnam Style" - PSY
3. "Some Nights" - fun.
4. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift
5. "Die Young" - Ke$ha
6. "As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Bieber
7. "Too Close" - Alex Clare
8. "Diamond" - Rihanna
9. "Let Me Love You" - Ne-Yo
10. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink

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