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The Sound

Digital Spy's music blog has the latest midweek chart updates plus news, videos and more.

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What is Jennifer Lopez doing on the Jubilee line?

Monday, May 21 2012, 14:45 BST
By Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
Rihanna may have caused a media frenzy twice in the past nine months for riding the underground; and legend has it that Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow have managed to sneak on the Tube largely unnoticed.

However, that's nothing compared to a hoard of Jennifer Lopez's boarding the Jubilee line from London's Baker Street Station. Question is, where are they headed?

Jennifer Lopez masks


Here are our suggestions:

1. She's putting the finishing touches to a new studio album.
2. She's about to announce a Greatest Hits collection.
3. She's hauling herself and several stunt doubles over to the O2 Arena to draw up plans for the UK leg of her world tour.

We wouldn't mind any of these three happening, though we know which one we'd prefer. Either way, we'll all be finding out what's going on tomorrow.

Jennifer Lopez masks


Scary.

What do you think Jennifer Lopez is up to? Leave your comments below:

Watch the music video for her new single 'Dance Again' below. The track is available to download now.

Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

Monday, May 21 2012, 11:40 BST
By Robert Copsey, Music Editor and Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks: 'Celebrate' (release date tbc)
The last recording made by the late Whitney Houston was 'Celebrate', a collaboration with Jordin Sparks and the theme song to her forthcoming film Sparkle. Its vintage beats and twinkling melody courtesy of R Kelly provide the perfect backdrop to Houston's powerhouse vocal. RC


Robin Gibb 1949-2012: Five of his best hits - videos

Monday, May 21 2012, 00:40 BST
By Tom Eames, Entertainment Reporter
Robin Gibb CBE poses at his home in aid of The Outward Bound Trust in Oxford

© PA Images / Yui Mok/PA Archive

Robin Gibb sadly passed away this weekend (May 20) after a long battle with colon and liver cancer.

Along with his brothers Barry and Maurice Gibb, he had a hugely successful career with the Bee Gees that spanned six decades and countless hits worldwide.

Also a successful songwriter, he managed to carve himself his own solo career away from the group, scoring hits as recently as 2009, where he secured his first solo UK number one single as part of a Comic Relief record.

To celebrate the life and legacy of the great man, Digital Spy looks back at just some of Robin Gibb's finest moments behind the microphone.

'Massachusetts' - 1967
The first big hit for the Bee Gees back when they still had five members, and saw Robin Gibb take lead vocals. The folk ballad has since become a standard, and went on to be one of Robin Gibb's signature songs during live concerts.



'I Started a Joke' - 1968
This melancholic classic now has an even more haunting nature to it since Gibb's death, but its thought-provoking lyrics, coupled with his fragile singing style, create yet another pop standard from the early Bee Gees years.



'Juliet' - 1983
With Barry Gibb taking on lead vocals for most of the Bee Gees' huge disco-era hit parade, Robin Gibb embarked on a solo career in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with his biggest hit arguably being 'Juliet'. Although never a hit in the UK, this power pop anthem was huge across Europe.



'This Is Where I Came In' - 2001
The last Bee Gees hit, it's also one of their best and is somewhat of a forgotten gem. Robin returns on joint-lead vocal with Barry for a truly great pop-rock track, and the last UK single to feature all three brothers before his twin Maurice passed away in 2003.



'Islands in the Stream' - 2005
Originally written by the Bee Gees but made into a country smash by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, the group later recorded their own version in 2001. Robin Gibb featured as part of a Comic Relief number one in 2009 with Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones and Sir Tom Jones, but here's his moving solo version recorded in 2005.



What are your favourite Robin Gibb hits? Leave your suggestions in the comments box below:

Sunday chart predictions: The Saturdays, Rita Ora

Friday, May 18 2012, 17:11 BST
By Robert Copsey, Music Editor
The Saturdays '30 Days'
On Wednesday's update, Rita Ora was on course to continue her reign atop the singles chart, while Tenacious D stormed into the lead on the albums tally.

Ahead of Sunday's Official Chart, Digital Spy takes a look at Friday's midweeks.

  • Rita Ora remains at number one with 'R.I.P.', 6,000 sales ahead of fun.'s 'We Are Young' which leaps from four to second place.


  • Meanwhile, The Saturdays have slipped to number five, while D'banj's 'Oliver Twist' remains at nine and the Scissor Sisters hold at ten with 'Only The Horses'.


  • Labrinth, Express Yourself
  • Further down the chart, Labrinth falls from 16 to 17 with 'Express Yourself', Emeli Sandé jumps from 25 to 20 with 'My Kind Of Love', and Skepta's 'Make Peace Not War' slips from 23 to 30.


  • On the albums chart, Keane's Strangeland has overtaken Tenacious D's Rize of the Fenix, which is at two.


  • Ren Harvieu's Through The Night drops from three to four, Garbage are at six with Not Your Kind of People, and Rebecca Ferguson is at number ten with Heaven.


  • Gossip, A Joyful Noise
  • Beach House slip seven to 12 with Beach House, and Gossip sit on the edge of the top 40 with A Joyful Noise.


  • Next week's single releases include Jennifer Lopez's 'Dance Again', Paloma Faith's 'Picking Up The Pieces' and The Wanted's 'Chasing The Sun', while fun.'s Some Night and John Mayer's Born and Raised will be making an impact on the album charts.

    Who do you think will be number one next week? Leave your comments in the box below:

    Donna Summer 1948-2012: Five of her best hits - videos

    Thursday, May 17 2012, 17:23 BST
    By Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
    Donna Summer

    © Rex Features

    Donna Summer sadly passed away aged 63 earlier today (May 17) after losing her battle with cancer.

    With a career spanning six decades, the Queen of Disco has a collection of uptempo classics that are regularly played at hen night parties, karaoke bars, wedding receptions and nightclubs across the world.

    In celebration of her life and extraordinary musical legacy, Digital Spy picks five of Donna Summer's finest hits.

    'Hot Stuff' - 1979
    By far Summer's most popular hit, 'Hot Stuff' still remains one of the world's greatest party anthems 33 years after its release.



    'I Feel Love' - 1977
    It's no surprise this track topped the UK chart back in the '70s; its mix of funky bass, synths and tight harmonies served as the pioneer for electronic music.



    'Last Dance' - 1978
    Donna Summer never lost her sparkle while performing her greatest hits, as this clip proves. Performing 'Last Dance' at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2009, the undisputed diva could still deliver powerful performances into her 60s.



    'Bad Girls' - 1979
    There has been many a boozy night when a group of girls have whipped out their hairbrushes for renditions of 'Bad Girls' before a big night out - and we're sure there's many more to come, once again proving Summer's timeless appeal.



    'Love to Love You Baby' - 1975
    Beyoncé's sampling of this track in her hit 'Naughty Girl' reignited everybody's interest in the popular seductive jam, but also reinforced Summer's influence on some of the biggest superstars in today's charts.



    What are your favourite Donna Summer hits? Leave your suggestions in the comments box below:

    The Saturdays review their favourite songs

    Tuesday, May 15 2012, 09:29 BST
    By Robert Copsey, Music Editor
    The Saturdays

    In case you weren't already aware, The Saturdays have a new single out this week, the deceptively catchy '30 Days'.

    To celebrate the release, we've asked each of the girls to tell us about their favourite song at the moment that isn't their new single.

    Vanessa White, The Saturdays
    VANESSA

    Nelly Furtado: 'Big Hoops (The Bigger The Better)'
    "Nelly is totally back on top with this new track - the beat is what really does it for me. The lyrics are a bit out there, but the chorus is massive. It's a good one for us girls to get down low in the club. In my books, the bigger the better is always the right answer - especially in terms of my jewellery, of course!"

    Watch the 'Big Hoops' video below:



    Rochelle Wiseman, The Saturdays
    ROCHELLE

    Starboy Nathan: 'Who Am I'
    "I absolutely LOVE this tune, and Nathan is such a top boy. I like the sentiment behind the song. I've seen him perform it live and he absolutely smashes it."

    Watch the 'Who Am I' video below:



    Frankie Sandford, The Saturdays
    FRANKIE

    Demi Lovato: 'Give Your Heart A Break'
    "I absolutely love Demi's album Unbroken and this is my favourite track on there. I can really relate to the lyrics - and you believe every word she says. Her vocals are really powerful but at the same time really emotional."

    Watch the 'Give Your Heart A Break' video below:



    Una Healey, The Saturdays
    UNA

    Wretch 32 feat Ed Sheeran: 'Hush Little Baby'
    "A wonderful collaboration from two of Britain's freshest young artists. Although they both hail from separate genres, together this very popular rap/singer-songwriter style works remarkably well for them.

    "When I first heard the title I was expecting the lullaby that I often sing to my little daughter Aoife to help her sleep! Obviously this is not the case. The video is also very clever with loads of things going on."

    Watch the 'Hush Little Baby' video below:



    Mollie King
    MOLLIE

    Emeli Sandé: 'My Kind of Love'
    "This is my favourite song at the moment, and from my favourite album as well! Her lyrics are so powerful - you can tell she is writing from experience. The way she sings really hits you. There's so much dance music out at the moment, it's nice that this is so different."

    Watch the 'My Kind of Love' video below:



    Not a bad selection, we're sure you'll agree.

    The Saturdays' new single '30 Days' is out now. Watch the official music video below:

    Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

    Monday, May 14 2012, 11:06 BST
    By Robert Copsey, Music Editor and Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
    Listen to our ten favourite new releases this week, including Alanis Morissette, The Saturdays, Azealia Banks and Sam Sparro.

    Alanis Morissette: 'Guardian' (out May 15)
    Despite only recently becoming a mum for the first time, Alanis Morissette has insisted that motherhood has had little impact on her forthcoming album Havoc and Bright Lights. It's difficult not to argue with her given the sentiment on lead single 'Guardian', but with its breezy, rock-out chorus and classic Alanis lyrics, we're not going to argue with her. RC



    The Saturdays: 'Turn Myself In' (out now)
    As with all singles from The Saturdays, fans are eager to see what they will come up with for the B-side, as they're often not half-bad. Once again the girls deliver with a studio version of 'Turn Myself In', which is a track they performed during their 'Headlines!' tour last year. Moody electronics underlie a wistful chorus that makes for a very nice song indeed. LC



    Azealia Banks: 'Jumanji' (free download now)
    The Harlem princess has easily released enough material that would make for a very good album already. Continuing her penchant for an online mixtape, 'Jumanji' heads up this summer's Fantastic release. Clap beats, harps and steel drums makes this a must listen. LC



    Sam Sparro: 'I Wish I Never Met You' (out June 11)
    Our interest in Sam Sparro may have waned quickly after 'Black & Gold' and '21st Century Life' back in 2008, but after unveiling his new '80s lounge-pop sound and stunning visuals on 'Happiness' earlier this year, we're officially excited about his sophomore LP Return To Happiness. The latest track from it is a wistful midtempo with unnervingly honest lyrics. RC



    David Morales ft. Roisin Murphy: 'Golden Era' (release date tbc)
    It's been too long since we've heard anything from Roisin Murphy, and even longer since it was in a dancefloor setting. After two years in the wilderness she has re-appeared on a track with house DJ David Morales; and with its retro piano riff reminiscent of her time in Moloko, it's everything we could have hoped for. RC



    R Kelly: 'Share My Love' (out now)
    One of our favourite music stories in recent months is that R Kelly is to host his own Caribbean cruise later this year. His latest track seems almost tailor-made for the occasion; and its funky, soul-soaked groove is giving us strong Barry White vibes. RC



    Mayer Hawthorne ft. Rizzle Kicks: 'The Walk' (UK: May 21)
    Although Mayer originally premiered 'The Walk' back in October, he has now given the track a little face-lift with the help of Rizzle Kicks. The track still contains Hawthorne's mix of slow guitar jams and soulful tones, which has gained him fans such as Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Snoop Dogg. LC



    Owl City: 'Shooting Star' (out now)
    Of all the artists Going Dance of late, Adam Young aka Owl City wasn't one we'd have put money on. That said, the Guetta-esque rave-up 'Shooting Star' - which sounds like a mash-up of the French DJ's recent hits - feels less forced than we expected. The result leaves us more intrigued than we thought for his new album, which is due out this summer. RC



    Icona Pop: 'I Love It'
    Every now and then a song surfaces that is primed for a wild crowd at a nightclub or festival, and Icona Pop's 'I Love It' is one of those songs. After a few bevvies, its mix of rumbling bass and strident beats will easily get you on your feet. By the time the chanting chorus comes in, you'll probably forget you're actually in public. LC



    Frankmusik: 'One Mile'
    After 2011 album Do It In The AM, which was bursting with heavy beats and distorted vocals, it's refreshing to see Vincent Frank showcase his impressive vocal over a minimal acoustic track. Evocative of early '90s George Michael, 'One Mile' proves that despite the woes surrounding his last album, Frankmusik certainly isn't out of the game yet. LC



    Which are your favourite songs on this week's playlist? Leave your comments in the box below:

    Sunday chart predictions: Rita Ora, Keane

    Friday, May 11 2012, 12:57 BST
    By Robert Copsey, Music Editor
    Rita Ora, R.I.P
    On Wednesday's (May 9) chart update, Rita Ora was on course to top the singles tally, while Keane were set for their fourth chart-topping album.

    Ahead of Sunday's Official Chart, Digital Spy takes a look at the final midweek numbers to find out what's changed.

  • Rita Ora and Tinie Tempah are still at number one with 'R.I.P.', followed by Tulisa's 'Young' and Alex Clare's 'Too Close' at spots two and three respectively.

  • Meanwhile, Far*East Movement and Justin Bieber remain at seven with 'Live My Life', and Rihanna has jumped from 13 to 10 with 'Where Have You Been'.

  • Rihanna: 'Where Have You Been'
  • Further down the chart, Emeli Sandé slips from 24 to 25 with 'My Kind of Love', and LMFAO's 'Sexy and I Know It' has sneaked into the edge of the top 30.

  • On the albums tally, Keane hold at the top with Strangeland, while Emeli Sandé's Our Version of Events has climbed to two, pushing Richard Hawley to three with Standing at the Sky's Edge.

  • The Cribs are at five with In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, and Cover Drive lift from seven to six with Bajan Style.

  • Cover Drive
  • Outside the top ten, Rihanna's Talk That Talk jumps from 18 to 14, and B.o.B remains at 24 with Strange Clouds
  • .

    Next week's single releases include The Saturdays' '30 Days' and Scissor Sisters' 'Only The Horses', while Gossip's A Joyful Noise and Niki & The Dove's Instinct will be hoping to make an impact on the albums chart.

    Who would you like to see at number one on the charts next week? Leave your comments in the box below:

    Who are the best British live acts ever?

    Thursday, May 10 2012, 12:21 BST
    By Robert Copsey, Music Editor
    Adele / Someone Like You BRIT Awards, 2011

    © PA Images / Joel Ryan/AP


    For those not yet aware, next week sees the first 'Music is GREAT Week', which will include a series of yet-to-be-announced events over the course of seven days.

    We're not sure why "great" has been capitalised, but given that music is indeed GREAT, we're happy that certain people in high places want to shout about it's GREATness.

    Kicking off the festivities is a DVD - out next Monday (May 14) - of what have been labelled the 15 greatest live performances by British acts ever. It's a rather brilliant list which you can click through in the gallery below:
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