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

A very musical Christmas!

Sooo, the final ARIA Chart of the year. How crap am I with my predictions!!!

1. Damien Leith – 'The Winners Journey'
I am ashamed that I did not see this coming. When I heard they were holding off and letting the Idol winner take their time and write some of their own material to record, I should have realised that they would have something up their sleeve for Christmas!

2. 12th Man – 'Boned'
I was spot on here! Personally, I don't find it funny. But then, I don't like cricket either...

3. U2 – '18 Singles'
I got this too.

4. Human Nature – 'Dancin’ In the Street: The Songs of Motown 2'
Wow, got this one too! 3 out of 20…not bad! People better stop buying this soon, or we will be inflicted with a 'Songs of Motown 3' next Christmas!

5. Pink – 'I’m Not Dead'
I underestimated Pink at #8…good on her! 4 Melbourne shows for her tour…again, good on her. No international acts bother to do that many shows here anymore.

6. Snow Patrol – 'Eyes Open'
Thought this would be #9…underestimated the band…or Grey’s Anatomy? Snow Patrol are touring here again in early 2007, on the back of the renewed album success.

7. Il Divo – 'Siempri'
Hmmmm – again, should have seen this coming…cereal Christmas release!

8. The Beatles – 'Love'
Not #5, but still, not a bad effort for an album that Noel Gallagher finds revolting!

9. Robbie Williams – 'Rudebox'
OK, I may have got a little excited with my #1 prediction – mind you, if the ‘And Through it All’ DVD sales were added to the ‘Rudebox’ sales - he would have gone close!

10. Young Divas – 'Young Divas'
OK – I didn’t think the public was this lame. I was wrong.

11. Eskimo Joe – 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine'
This is much better than my anticipated #18. A fantastic effort for the Aussies this Christmas chart!

12. Wolfmother – 'Wolfmother'
This was in my “may make it, but can’t fit it in” list…HUGE considering the album has been in the charts for 60 weeks!

13. Kylie – 'Ultimate Kylie'
#6 was my expectation, but I suppose, how many previous Greatest Hits has she had?

14. David Campbell – 'The Swing Sessions'
Picked it for #16, that’s only 2 spots off. Again,pleasestop buying this -there is no need for a 'Swing Sessions Part 2'!

15. Chris Isaak – 'The Best Of'
This was in my “may make it, but can’t fit it in” list...Am I the only one who fins his music severely depressing???

16. Gwen Stefani – 'The Sweet Escape'
My #7 prediction was before hearing the album. Having heard it, the #16 spot is a gift – it doesn’t deserve to be in the Top 40.

17. Il Divo – 'The Christmas Collection'
Please see above “Divo” comments….

18. The Killers – 'Sam’s Town'
#12 was ambitious – but watch it fly back into the Top 10 when they get here for the BDO. I have to say that I am loving the new single 'Bones'.

19. Justin Timberlake – 'Future Sex/Love Sounds'
Overestimated Justin (#14), but ‘My Love’ is getting plenty of air play and clip play!

20. Pussycat Dolls - 'PCD'
Had the chicks at number 19…just one off!

Albums I thought would make it – but didn’t!

10. Keith Urban – 'Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing'
Came in at #36. Not too bad for an album with no Promo and the artist in rehab. I thought that Keith-y may come and meet Nic here for Christmas…thus pushing it up the charts. That was not to be. But keep an eye on this album, with a new single, him out of rehab, not to mention in the country.

11. Jet – 'Shine On'
I cannot understand how this came in at # 41. If anyone can tell me why this amazing Australian album is not selling can you let me know please??? Are people just over it, and on to Wolfmother or what?

15. My Chemical Romance – 'The Black Parade'
This came in at # 28. After a strong couple of weeks, they are probably happy with holding Top 30 in a difficult Christmas chart.

17. Evanescence – 'Open the Door'
Evanescence grabbed the #23 spot, again, not bad at this time of year.

20. Guy Sebastian – 'Closer to the Sun'
I wonder how Guy feels, sitting at #29, with Damien sitting pretty at #1???