Personal Top 10 of 2009

What are your Top 10 songs of 2009? I'd love for you to share them with me. Here's mine:

Obsessed - Mariah Carey : She's the biggest pop superstar of all time who has set the standard for what all Miss American Idol finalists strive to achieve. Mariah has been in the music business for 19 years now and she can still crank out the hits that are getting huge sales and airplay along side the current crop of new artists who will be forgotten by this time next year. The single for Obsessed sold over a million copies and became yet another catchy sing along smash for Mimi.
Fire Burnin - Sean Kingston : With an urgent and exciting beat Fire Burnin demanded airplay on the dance floor all year long. It is undeniably fun and entertaining and the perfect example of what a great pop song should be.
I Know You Want Me - Pitbull : Having all the entertainment value of Fire Burnin, I Know You Want Me also became required music for every dance party. While the lyrics are somewhat suggestive, it was easy to overlook them as they were sung in Spanish so one could easily claim they did not realize what they were singing along with. Regardless, it was obvious that a good time was being had by all when this song was being played.
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum : The country radio airwaves were dominated all year with three smash hits from Lady Antebellum's debut album. But it wasn't until the first single from their second album, Need You Now, came out that they would hit the top 5 of the Billboard HOT 100. This song is a wonderful introduction of Lady Antebellum to the mainstream pop audience. Who cannot relate the the longing expressed in the lyrics, "It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now"? And it's a wonderful song to do a two step with while holding a special someone close to you.
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift : She became the best selling artist of the year by releasing catching songs like You Belong With Me that fans young and old can relate to. It also helps that when you play it loud while driving in your car you can sing along to it and have a blast!
Battlefield - Jordin Sparks : The Season Six Miss American Idol winner released another collection of great songs in 2009 including the title track and first single, Battlefield. It's a fantastic song that allows Jordin to command the stage and belt out power anthem notes that showcase her full vocal range. It became another top 10 hit for her proving that she is continuing to be a player in the tough game called the music business.
Love Sex Magic - Ciara : Teaming up with Justin Timberlake, Ciara released this infectiously catchy dance groove. Just try to hold back from shaking your hips and moving to the music when this jam is playing.
Just Dance - Lady Gaga : Just Dance was the first of a string of hits that has made Lady Gaga the heir apparent to the title of Best New Artist of the Year. She brings a unique brand of performance art to everything that she does, while at the same time ensuring that the music is fun, catchy and accessible to a mainstream pop audience. This song made us want to see what she was going to do next and we were not disappointed.
My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson : The Season One Miss American Idol winner became the first Idol finalist to hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 with a song that wasn't their American Idol finale single. My Life Would Suck Without You burst onto the scene early in 2009 and has stayed stuck in our heads ever since. It's the perfect example of what the fans want to hear from Kelly.
I Told You So - Carrie Underwood : Only the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four Winner Carrie Underwood could take an old country ballad and make it sound fresh for a new generation. Her fantastic vocals elevated the song, originally recorded by Randy Travis, to a new and vibrant place. Randy himself stated that her vocals are much better suited for the song than his.

Kris Allen takes the record for.....

Kris Allen's self titled album Kris Allen debuts at #11 on the Billboard 200 album's chart with first-week sales of 80,000. It's the first debut album by a Miss American Idol winner not to debut in the top 10. This also makes Kris Allen the new record holder for the lowest first-week sales tally for an Idol winner's debut.

So now the sweet and wonderful Season Six Miss American Idol winner Jordin Sparks doesn't have to hold onto that record anymore when two years ago she debuted at #10 with sales of 119,000.

The Supreme Miss American Idol Season Four winner Carrie Underwood is still in the top 10 this week with with her album Play On garnering more sales than Kris.

Is all the recent publicity going to be enough to get this year's 1st runner up, Adam Lambert some huge sales numbers? We'll know next week....

American Music Awards 2009

Overall the 2009 American Music Awards was quite a lot of musical entertainment. There were hot performances by the biggest hitmakers of the year including Lady Gaga and the Black-Eyed Peas.

Miss American Idol Season Five 3rd runner up Chris Daughtry performed, but he ended up going home empty handed. Even the Supreme Miss American Idol Season Four winner Carrie Underwood, who provided one of the best performances of the night of her current smash hit Cowboy Casanova, had to allow the reigning artist of the year, Taylor Swift, to accept the award for favorite Country Female Vocalist. After Carrie has won it for the past three years, it's acceptable for her to pass the torch to the young woman who would be nothing if she hadn't blazed the trail for her in the first place. One of these days it would be nice if Taylor thanked Carrie when she's up there accepting an award for paving the way and making country music popular with young people again.

Season One Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was also on stage performing her latest hit, but they truly saved the best for last when Season Eight Miss American Idol 1st runner up, Adam Lambert gave the first live performance ever of his new single For Your Entertainment. He gave us all the glam we've come to expect from him with his energetic and showstopping over the top vocal extravaganza. His new album is in stores tomorrow. The perfect holiday gift!!!

Season Eight Miss American Idol winner Kris Allen did not perform, but he was there to present an award. His new album hit stores last week, so we'll see how many copies it sold and where it's gonna land on the charts very soon.

Carrie Underwood back at #1

Carrie Underwood's "Play On" bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, shifting 318,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's the country star and former "American Idol" champ's second album to top the Billboard 200, after her sophomore set "Carnival Ride" bowed in the penthouse with 527,000 in 2007. Underwood's debut effort, "Some Hearts," started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2005 and at No. 1 on Top Country Albums with 315,000.

"Play On's" 318,000 sum is also the largest sales week for an album by a woman in 2009.

This debut at #1 arrives on the same day that the Season Four Miss American Idol winner co-hosts the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley. She performed her smash hit Cowboy Casanova which has been the #1 video on CMT's Top 20 countdown for three weeks now.

The big winner at the CMA's turned out to be the young woman who has been following in Carrie's footsteps all year. 19 year old Taylor Swift ended up winning the awards for Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Entertainer of the Year. Just like Carrie did earlier this year at the ACM's, Taylor ended up snagging the biggest prize of the night from the old boys club.

The next big award show of the season will be the American Music Awards Sun. Nov. 22nd. Once again Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry are the only Miss American Idol finalists who managed to get any nominations. Neither of last years top two, David Cook or David Archuleta, have made a ripple in the music awards season so far. The glaring omission from the 2009 American Music Awards nominations is Season One Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. She had a huge #1 smash early in the year with My Life Would Suck Without You and it is certainly deserving of recognition.

This year's top two, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, are right at the beginning of their opportunity for ongoing success in the music world with new albums coming out this month. We'll just have to wait and see what happens....