So, how did I go???

Top 10:-

1 Augie March - 'One Crowded Hour '
2 Eskimo Joe - 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine'
3 Hilltop Hoods - 'The Hard Road'
4 Killers - 'When You Were Young'
5 Scissor Sisters - 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing'
6 Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy'
7 Snow Patrol - 'Chasing Cars'
8 Gotye - 'Hearts A Mess '
9 Muse - 'Starlight'
10 Grates - '19-20-20 '

I picked Gnarls Barkley, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Scissor Sisters and Augie March – so I was half way there!!!
Lily Allen - 'Smile' and/or 'LDN' – scored well at # 15 & #35
Camille – came in at # 26
RHCP - 'Dani California’ - came in at #34
Youth Group - 'Forever Young' – came in at # 21

Top 20 Tips:-

11 Little Birdy - 'Come On Come On'
12 John Butler Trio - 'Funky Tonight'
13 My Chemical Romance - 'Welcome To The Black Parade'
14 OK GO - 'Here It Goes Again'
15 Lily Allen - 'Smile'
16 Peter Bjorn & John - 'Young Folks'
17 Grates - 'Science Is Golden'
18 Muse - 'Supermassive Black Hole'
19 Lupe Fiasco - 'Kick Push'
20 Regina Spektor - 'Fidelity'

Well, I got Lily, because I actually had her down for Top 10…I'll claim that one, because other than that Little Birdy was my only correct one. :o(
Bob Evans - 'Don't You Think it's Time' – secured the # 37 for this track & # 36 for ‘Nowhere Without You’. Go Bobby!!!
The Sleepy Jackson - 'God Lead Your Soul', 'Devil Was In My Yard' and 'I Understand What You Want (But I Just Don't Agree)' - Did not rate at all – devastating and criminal!!!
Angus & Julia Stone – Grabbed the # 43 spot for ‘Paper Aeroplane’ – watch out for these guys debut album this year – will be HUGE!!!

Beyond the Top 20:-

Something with Numbers - # 64; Sarah Blasko - # 79; Kate Miller-Heidke – Did not get in; Ben Harper - # 87, Jet - # 72 & # 76; Hot Chip - # 60; OK Go - # 14; My Chemical Romance - # 13.

So, my yearly wrap up of the Top 20...

1 Augie March - 'One Crowded Hour'
I am thrilled with this result. An awesome track, from an awesome album that was pretty much overlooked at the ARIA's, despite several nominations.
2 Eskimo Joe - 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine'
Got 'Single of the Year' at the ARIA's. You can;t win everything, and lets face it - # 2 is still a great result!
3 Hilltop Hoods - 'The Hard Road'
I am a little embarrassed that I didn't think of these guys - for some reason I thought this songs was in last years...I was wrong. Great track with a killer clip. If you get the chance to see these guys live DO IT!
4 Killers - 'When You Were Young'
I am tipping this band will be the highlight of my Big Day Out experience tomorrow - LOVING them!
5 Scissor Sisters - 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing'
Great track - great position. Bring on the concert in a few weeks :o)
6 Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy'
If this track had not been out for so long it would have been a strong contender for the # 1 spot.
7 Snow Patrol - 'Chasing Cars'
Glad this band is doing so well at the moment (because they deserve it) - shattered that it is because of Grey's Anatomy.
8 Gotye - 'Hearts A Mess'
Sorry, don't know it...
9 Muse - 'Starlight'
Not a Muse fan, but this track is a corker. Looking forward to checking them out at the Big Day Out tomorrow.
10 Grates - '19-20-20'
This band supported the Arctic Monekeys tour to Australia. Lucky to have two songs rating so high - the poor old Monkeys got a little bit forgotten towards the business end of the countdown. Patriotism in the lead up to Australia Day maybe??? Another band that is fantastic live...boundless energy!
11 Little Birdy - 'Come On Come On'
Whoo Hoo! Well deserved from this kick ass band! Check out the new single 'Bodies', it rocks.
12 John Butler Trio - 'Funky Tonight'
So this song got to # 12 having only been out for 3 weeks!?! I didn't even know that it was eligible. Surely with those sort of votes it could have gone # 1 for next years if he had have held off on the release!
13 My Chemical Romance - 'Welcome To The Black Parade'
I don't do Emo, so I will not comment. I'd rather not when I don't know what I am talking about. Shocking hair cut though...
14 OK GO - 'Here It Goes Again'
Who would have thought a treadmill video would generate so much talk! Catchy track...but would it have got this high without the clip???
15 Lily Allen - 'Smile'
A little robbed, 'Smile' should have ranked higher :o(
16 Peter Bjorn & John - 'Young Folks'
This band is developing quite the underground following, will be interesting to see if it leads to any sort of main stream success...
17 Grates - 'Science Is Golden'
Please see comments at # 10.
18 Muse - 'Supermassive Black Hole'
Please see comments at # 9.
19 Lupe Fiasco - 'Kick Push'
Who? Huh?
20 Regina Spektor - 'Fidelity'
Album is selling really well. Described as a more alternative Norah Jones???

To view the complete listing for Triple J (JJJ) Hottest 100 go to:-

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/countdown/

Cheers,

Pop Princess xoxoxo

The Hottest 100 - Hot Australia Day tips!

OK, so I am preparing myself for the traditional Aussie Day BBQ, complete with ice cold beers, plenty of sausages...and of course - JJJ's Hottest 100 countdown.

Have to post my tips now, before it starts! So, the below are my expert opinion on who will rate well. I will post the actual 100 later and see how wrong I got it! :o)

Top 10 Tips:
Lily Allen - 'Smile' and/or 'LDN'
Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy'
Eskimo Joe - 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine' - if it doesn't win (because Aussie's usually do), it is a Top 3 certainty. 'Sarah' will get a look
Camille - Can't pronounce or spell the names of any of her songs! But think she will feature more than once in the 100
Snow Patrol - 'Chasing Cars' will go Top 5, they will have at least one or two other tracks in the count down. (I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Grey's Anatomy fans for ruining what was a magnificent song - by associating it directly with a lame TV show, inciting ludicrous air play from the major radio stations. I urge all of you guilty of this to listen to this album in its entirety, then go and buy 'Final Straw' and try to understand the success this band deserves for their genius - totally SEPARATE for Grey's bloody Anatomy!!!)
The Killers - 'When You Were Young' - hope that 'Uncle Johnny' and 'Bones' also rate.
Scissor Sisters - 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - best song they have done yet!!!
RHCP - 'Dani California'!
Arctic Monkeys - Should give the Top 5 a nudge, and will have multiple entries.
Augie March - 'One Crowded Hour', should do well today in general.
Youth Group - 'Forever Young' - If it is still eligible this year...

Top 20 Tips:
Bob Evans - 'Don't You Think it's Time'; another artist who is likely to have multiple appearances today.
Little Birdy - 'Come On, Come On' - Will feature more than once also.
The Sleepy Jackson - 'God Lead Your Soul' - 'Devil Was In My Yard' and 'I Understand What You Want (But I Just Don't Agree)' should also get a look in.
Angus & Julia Stone - Deserve to feature.

Beyond the Top 20:
Something with Numbers; Sarah Blasko; Kate Miller-Heidke; Ben Harper, Jet; Hot Chip; OK Go; My Chemical Romance.

Happy Australia Day!!!

Pop Princess xo

Concert cancellations, festivals and heroin

Wow, sad moment for the punk rocker - with flowers in her hair. Frontier touring have released a statement saying that due to “Last minute promotional commitments in the UK ” Sandi Thom has cancelled her Australian tour. Is “last minute promotional commitments in the UK ” the new translation for “because she is a one hit wonder and no body cares, and no tickets were sold”??? Surely these promotional commitments could be rescheduled if this was the true reason…

It has been ages since I have been REALLY excited about a movie – but Pans Labyrinth looks amazing! I can’t wait. Trailer is here:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/picturehouse/panslabyrinth/trailer/

Pink has announced a 5th show for Melbourne! Keep 'em coming baby!!!

Can anyone explain to me why Pete Doherty is so famous? Is it one of those "Brit" things we don't get here- like Girls Aloud and Busted? I heard the new Babyshambles EP the other day and it is foul. A newspaper on the weekend was comparing him to John Lennon. Why? From my limited knowledge on the guy he has only released two albums (one with Babyshambles and one with The Libertines), neither of which were much. He is in the news every other minute for doing heroine or boning Kate Moss. Is that what being famous and talented is these days? Being a smaky and rooting a model???? Yawn.

The Big Day Out times and stages have been confirmed. Check them out here...

http://www.bigdayout.com/documents/File/time_melbourne.pdf

I have to honest and say I am a little dismayed at some of the time-tabling decisions. WHY would Lily Allen not be on a main stage, instead playing in The Boiler Room??? Not to mention the fact that she is on at 2:30! Her sold out side show at The Metro is proofthat this is a mistake!

As much as I enjoy Something for Kate and You Am I - how are they on at 5:15 and 7:00 and Evermore on at 1:30??? Even The Killers copped an early 5:30 time slot...suppose it is hard to please everyone - but some of these decisions seem down right bizarre!

Pop Princess xoxox

R.I.P the relationship of Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake. Get in their Britney!!!! You were awesome when you were with Justin....would he go back there now though? Only time will tell...

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all!!! Welcome to 2007 - I think it is going to be a great one for music!!!

The data has been analyzed and ARIA has released the Top 100 selling singles and albums for 2006.

The cringe-worthy, but high selling ditty from Sandi Thom ‘I Wish I was a Punk Rocker (with flowers in my hair)' was officially the highest selling single of the year. How many punk rockers wore flowers in their hair anyway???

TV Rock’s ‘Flaunt It’ was a close second. Funny story about that one – apparently when Jesse McCartney was in Australia for the ARIAs and this song kept getting nominated, and winning; he was in awe. When he first heard the song he thought it was a joke…Unfortunately, no – it was serious! He then proceeded to add the line 'shake what your Mamma gave you' into at least one of his songs at each of his in-store performances in Sydney and Melbourne.

Damien Leith’s ‘Night of My Life’ did alright coming in at the # 11 spot, especially considering it was only released in December!

Nice to see that a quarter of the the Top 20 are Australian bands/artists. But why does the horrible Rhianna have two songs in the Top 20??? She can't sing!!!

List of Top 20 Selling Singles for 2006

1. 'I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)' - Sandi Thom
2. 'Flaunt It' - TV Rock Feat. Seany B
3. 'Hips Don't Lie' - Shakira Feat. Wyclef Jean
4. 'SexyBack' - Justin Timberlake
5. 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
6. 'This Time I Know It's For Real' - Young Divas
7. 'Forever Young' - Youth Group
8. 'Wasabi' - Lee Harding
9. 'Who Knew' - Pink
10. 'Promiscuous' - Nelly Furtado
11. 'Night Of My Life' - Damien Leith
12. 'Love Generation' - Bob Sinclar
13. 'SOS' - Rihanna
14. 'You Raise Me Up' - Westlife
15. 'Goodbye Me Lover' - James Blunt
16. 'Crazy' - Gnarls Barkley
17. 'Buttons' - The Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg
18. 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine' - Eskimo Joe
19. 'Unfaithful' - Rihanna
20. 'Run It!' - Chris Brown

For a complete list of Singles:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21811,21014185-2902,00.html

James Blunt’s ‘Back to Bedlam’ took the honors for highest selling album of the year. This surprised me, as I thought the majority of his sales would have been in 2005 on the back of 'Your Beautiful’. Obviously still a lot of fans buying throughout the year and following the success of ‘Goodbye My Lover’, which also scored the # 15 spot for highest selling single.

Nice to see Pink’s ‘I’m Not Dead’ sitting in the # 2 position – such a great album! I am sure this album will continue to sell for quite awhile yet, especially considering the great reaction from radio to next single ‘Nobody Knows’ and the tour in April.

Half of the Top 20 albums are Australian bands/artists! That is so fantastic! Again, Damien Leith and the 12th Man would have to be happy to sit at # 5 and # 9 – as both were released in December!

List of Top 20 Selling Albums for 2006

1. 'Back to Bedlam' - James Blunt
2. 'I'm Not Dead' - Pink
3. 'Reach Out: The Motown Record' - Human Nature
4. 'Wolfmother' - Wolfmother
5. 'The Winners Journey' - Damien Leith
6. 'Here Come the Drums' - Rogue Traders
7. 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine' - Eskimo Joe
8. 'Stadium Arcadium' - Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. 'Boned!' - The 12th Man
10. 'The Secret Life Of...' - The Veronicas
11. 'All The Right Reasons' - Nickelback
12. 'U218 Singles' - U2
13. 'Tea and Sympathy' - Bernard Fanning
14. 'Dancing In The Street: The Songs of Motown II' - Human Nature
15. 'Eyes Open' - Snow Patrol
16. 'Best Of' - Chris Isaak
17. 'PCD' - The Pussycat Dolls
18. 'See The Sun' - Pete Murray
19. 'Monkey Business' - Black Eyed Peas
20. 'Taking the Long Way' - Dixie Chicks

For a complete list of Albums:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21811,21014183-2902,00.html

I’ve got my gig shoes on and ready to go – it is going to be a busy month or so!!!

Love Pop Princess xo