Since I’ve been blogging about the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards for weeks, I thought I would give you my impressions of the show.  The host, British comedian Russell Brand (the new boyfriend in this year’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall), wasn’t very funny in my opinion.  He starts off with stumping for Barack Obama and bagging on Bush.  I’m not on anyone’s side politically, but I don’t know why a comedian who can’t even vote in this country has any say at all.  He then goes on to make fun of tween dreamboat rock act The Jonas Brothers mercilessly.  He joked about their purity rings, which they each wear vowing not to have sex before marriage.  I could maybe understand him poking fun of them once…but those poor boys were picked on for most of the show!  After fellow purity ring wearer Jordin Sparks responded that “not every guy and girl wants to be a slut, OK?,” Brand sort of apologized, but he made one last jab by saying, “Promise rings, I’m well up for it. [But] a bit of sex, it never hurt anybody.”  I’m no prude or all that religious, but if the Brothers Jonas made a decision to abstain, it shouldn’t be ridiculed so heavily.  This is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, so I wouldn’t deny Brand his right to free speech, but I think that he could have spread the snark around a little to other celebrities instead of ganging up on the J-Bros. (more…)

Even though this is only the second week for the run of Rihanna’s “Disturbia,” the Billboard Hot100 chart is recording historic firsts.  As Puck reported on Thursday, “American Idol” Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta had the best debut on the charts in 18 months with his #2 song “Crush.”  The last time a song debuted in the #2 slot was in January of 2007, when Fall Out Boy’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” debuted (and peaked) there.  It’s also the highest debut for an “AI” alum for a song not originally performed on the show.  Furthermore, it’s the second time that the runner-up from the show has bested the winner on the charts, since winner David Cook’s single “The Time of My Life” only peaked at #3 (though it currently sits at #28 with a bullet this week based on actual radio airplay and not just digital downloads.)  The first time that happened was when Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken peaked at #1 with his song “This is the Night” over winner Ruben Studdard’s #2 song “Flying Without Wings.”  Where do we go from here?  “Disturbia” still has a bullet, but if “Crush” gains some airplay, it may topple Rihanna next week (it isn’t anywhere within the top 25 on the Airplay chart.)  None of the songs within the Top 10 pose much of a threat to Rihanna (except for the Archuleta song)…including the new one by Taylor Swift, whose song “Change” (from the Olympic AT&T Team USA soundtrack) debuts on the chart at #10. (more…)

So Rihanna’s somewhat lackluster tune about her mind going to a scary place has held onto the number one spot for a second week… but barely.  Crush by David Archuleta enjoyed the best debut in the last 18 month’s coming in at #2.  Don’t get me wrong…. I’m not ripping in Rihanna, I just don’t feel that Disturbia is that strong of a tune and the lyrics are somewhat lame.  Sure, it’s got a good beat, but that alone does not make it a great tune.  Here’s proof …. (more…)

Katy Perry’s reign has finally come to an end. The number one slot is now in Rihanna’s hot little hands with her newest radio sensation Disturbia. It’s lyrics may not be as fun, tongue-in-check and scandalous as Perry’s, but the beat is undeniable. Within the first few seconds you find your toes tapping to this disturbingly catchy dance song. As much as I found myself tiring of Miss Perry’s female on female antics, I also find myself longing for the song that can arguably be dubbed as the “summer song of 2008.” Are we really ready for a new #1?

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