All About Adele

From Billboard.com:

As Adele spends a seventh week atop the Billboard 200 with her sophomore set "21," the album's lead single, "Rolling in the Deep," becomes the singer/songwriter's first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.

(As for the title's meaning, Adele describes it as an "adaptation of a kind of slang, slur phrase in the UK called 'roll deep,' which means to ... always have someone that has your back, and you're never on your own. I thought that's what I was always going to have, and, um, it ended up not being the case").

Since the Hot 100 adopted Nielsen BDS and SoundScan airplay and sales data, respectively, the week of Nov. 30, 1991 (after the Billboard 200 had converted to SoundScan-fueled figures in the May 25, 1991, issue), Adele is the 14th woman to command each chart simultaneously. (The fairer sex wins bragging rights: 12 solo males have accomplished the feat in that span).

Among the exclusive club, Whitney Houston has spent the most weeks (12) concurrently in charge of each chart, with "I Will Always Love You" from "The Bodyguard" (Dec. 12, 1992-Feb. 27, 1993), while Mariah Carey (three) and Janet Jackson (two) are the only artists to so doubly dominate with multiple albums.

Carey is also the only woman in that stretch to simultaneously rule the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 with two singles from the same set; "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day," with Boyz II Men, each fronted the Hot 100 while "Daydream" dominated the Billboard 200.

Here is a look at the who's-who of female stars who have topped the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 in the same week in the charts' Nielsen data eras:

Artist, Billboard 200 No. 1, Hot 100 No. 1(s), Year(s)
Adele, "21," "Rolling in the Deep," 2011
Ke$ha, "Animal," "TiK ToK," 2010
Leona Lewis, "Spirit," "Bleeding Love," 2008
Alicia Keys, "As I Am," "No One," 2007
Avril Lavigne, "The Best Damn Thing," "Girlfriend," 2007
Nelly Furtado, "Loose," "Promiscuous" (featuring Timbaland), 2006
Mariah Carey, "The Emancipation of Mimi," "We Belong Together," 2005
Beyonce, "Dangerously in Love," "Crazy in Love" (featuring Jay-Z), 2003
Ashanti, "Ashanti," "Foolish," 2002
Jennifer Lopez, "J to Tha L-O! The Remixes," "Ain't It Funny" (featuring Ja Rule), 2002
Janet Jackson, "All for You," "All for You," 2001
Madonna, "Music," "Music," 2000
Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time," ...Baby One More Time," 1999
Mariah Carey, "Daydream," "Fantasy"/"One Sweet Day" (with Boyz II Men), 1995-96
Mariah Carey, "Music Box," "Hero," 1993-94
Janet Jackson, "janet.," "That's the Way Love Goes," 1993
Whitney Houston, "The Bodyguard" (soundtrack), "I Will Always Love You," 1992-93

Britney Spears › Till The World Ends

When you think of the end of the world you think Mayans and really bad movies.. unless you're thinking of something good-sounding like Britney Spears new single. To be honest I've never really been a huge fan of hers but did enjoy the occasional Toxic or Stronger. How long ago was that? She didn't even have any big hits on my chart up until now that she's been soaring with Till The World Ends. So far it's reached a #7 peak, so let's see if it can get any higher.

Onto bigger news for the singer: She just scored her sixth #1 album in the United States with Femme Fatale, matching third place for female artists alongside Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Only Madonna, with 7, and Barbra Streisand with 9 have more.

And the video? Well, it's very I'm A Slave 4 U, but I'm not minding it much at all.



Get Till The World Ends | More music by Britney Spears

And as long as we're here, take a ride down memory lane and watch I'm A Slave 4 U:

Katy Perry & Kanye West › E.T.

I've been raving about the Benny Benassi remix for a while now, but just found out that Katy Perry's new single E.T. (now with a Kanye West version) has scored the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Really? I feel that came out of nowhere. Anyway, this is already her fourth chart-topper from her album Teenage Dream in the United States following California Gurls with Snoop Dogg, Teenage Dream and Firework. The feat has also put her in some pretty good company since it's the first album since Usher's Confessions - from 2004 - to spawn four #1 singles and the first female to do it since Mariah Carey's eponymous debut album in 1990-91. Other artists' albums that accomplished this Billboard Hot 100 milestone include Whitney Houston's Whitney, George Michael's Faith, Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. Way to go Ms. Perry!

Another treat? Well, the music video is already out and it's very sci-fi and very different to her previous ones, which gives it bonus points on my list. Directed by Floria Sigismondi.



Get E.T. | More music by Katy Perry

Keri Hilson › Pretty Girl Rock

Watch this new video by Keri Hilson going through the ages of R&B. It's quite cool actually and has her portraying the likes of Diana Ross in The Supremes, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson and T-Boz from TLC (the back-up dancer looks so much like Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez!). The song is Pretty Girl Rock and is the second single from her upcoming album No Boys Allowed.



Get Pretty Girl Rock | More music by Keri Hilson

Janet Jackson: "Can't B Good" review

Despite Janet Jackson's 10th studio album, "Discipline," debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in February, pop and R&B radio turned a cold shoulder to singles "Feedback," "Rock With U" and "Luv." Perhaps chart conqueror Ne-Yo—16 years her junior—will breathe new life into the project, where staples Rodney Jerkins and Jermaine Dupri faltered. As producer/co-writer of "Can't B Good," Ne-Yo serves up a smooth, jazzy groove and Jackson's soft, supple vocal, fluffed with multiple background layers that duly merit adult R&B love . . . not that previous offerings were any less deserving. Island has been admirably tenacious, but boy, J needs a hit. If there's no payoff this time, well, that can't b good. This is bound to be the final shot for this CD.

Source: Billboard.com

Janet Jackson Dissatisfied With New Album Promo

Janet Jackson has aired her frustrations with Island Def Jam, whom she claims is no longer supporting her label debut, "Discipline." The album has sold 392,000 copies in the United States since its February release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jackson told SOHH.com that Island discontinued promoting "Discipline" after her single, "Rock With U," failed to chart. Additional friction apparently resulted from Island also releasing "LUV" as a single, despite Jackson's wish that "LUV" be worked on its own.

"Luv" peaked at No. 34 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while the first single released from the new album, "Feedback," reached No. 39.

In a statement released exclusively to Billboard, an Island Def Jam spokesperson says, "Unfortunately we haven't experienced the results we would have liked with this new album. But we respect and support Janet."

Jackson further claimed that due to dwindling label support, she won't be able to visit Europe as part of her upcoming Live Nation-promoted Rock Witchu tour, which begins Sept. 7 in Vancouver.

However, the Island Def Jam spokesperson says the label "has nothing to do with Janet's tour."

Source: Billboard.com