Saturday, Jul 4

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Has Whitney still got it?

So, Whitney Houston's comeback single has popped up online. The big question: what's her voice like? Well, she sounds deeper and raspier than you might remember, and her range isn't really what it was, but on this evidence she can still carry a tune better than most in the business.

The almost-as-big question: what's the tune like? Hmm... not great to be honest. It's a Diane Warren-penned empowerment ballad called 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength' that sounds as if it could have been recorded at any point in the last 15 years. Like most recent Diane Warren songs, it's a bit lacking in the chorus department and the lyrics are positively dripping with clichés: "Hold my head up high", "Survived my darkest hour", "Wondered how I'd get through the night"... we could go on.

Let's hope there's fresher stuff to come - we're hoping for an album that will position Whitney at the forefront of modern R&B, while still offering nods to her classic sound, much as 1998's My Love Is Your Love did.

What do you think of 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength'? Has Whitney still got it? Use the space below to have your say.

Posted Friday, July 3 at 15:25 by Nick Click to see and add comments (7)

Update: Michael Jackson, Cascada, Jordin Sparks

Right at the stroke of noon, here's the lowdown from Friday's midweeks.

  • 'Man In The Mirror' is still holding off 'Evacuate The Dancefloor' and 'Bulletproof' at the top.


  • Elsewhere, however, the MJ effect seems to be waning. 'I Want You Back' has slipped out of the top 40, while the 13 Jacko classics that remain are generally a couple of places down on Wednesday.


  • Jordin Sparks's 'Battlefield' has returned to the top 20.


  • The Saturdays' 'Work' has finally found some upward momentum and is now a few places outside the top 20.


  • 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)', the US smash from rapper Pitbull, is comfortably inside the top 40, but there's no sign of Black Eyed Peas' 'I Gotta Feeling' yet.


  • It's still looking good for La Roux over on the albums chart.


  • So, MJ or Cascada for number this Sunday - what do you reckon?

    Posted Friday, July 3 at 12:00 by Nick Click to see and add comments (13)

    B-side: Jordin Sparks hits the dancefloor

    With much of the country sweltering under record temperatures, most of us can't wait to hit the park, the beach or the garden to make the most of the glorious sunshine. Of course, no alfresco frolics are complete without a suitable soundtrack, which is where DS's B-side of the week comes in handy.

    Having remixed singles for Girls Aloud, Britney Spears and Pixie Lott in recent months, UK dance producers Bimbo Jones have now worked their magic on Jordin Sparks's triumphant new single 'Battlefield'. Dragging this soft rock monster onto the dancefloor with some throbbing beats and trancey synths, they've transformed it into a summer anthem almost as scorching as the midday sun.

    The full version is available on the 'Battlefield' CD single and download bundle, out Monday, but here's a 30-second snippet for now:



    What do you think of the Bimbo Jones 'Battlefield' remix? Use the space below to leave your comments.

    Posted Thursday, July 2 at 12:05 by David Click to see and add comments (3)

    Hurrah! It's time for Britney's 'Radar' video

    What's got lots of horses, Britney lusting over a man who isn't her boyfriend and, pretty much at the halfway mark, an outfit that reminds us of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (the bit where she goes to a polo match, not the bit where she's a hooker)? Why, it's Britney's 'Radar' video of course! Truth be told, this isn't the most exciting promo clip of the Blackout/Circus era, but it captures what the song's about decently enough and Britney looks cracking throughout. Press play below to give it a go.



    What do you think of Britney's 'Radar' video? How do you think the single will perform on the charts? Use the space below to have your say.

    Posted Wednesday, July 1 at 16:11 by Nick Click to see and add comments (25)

    Update: Michael Jackson, Cascada, Lady GaGa

    Right then, here's today's update from the MJ-dominated midweeks.

  • 'Man In The Mirror' is still in pole position, but Cascada's 'Evacuate The Dancefloor' has leapfrogged La Roux's 'Bulletproof' to become its nearest challenger.


  • There's one fewer Jacko track in the top 40 today - for the record, it's 'Ben' that's slipped out - but those that remain are in roughly the same positions as yesterday.


  • Lady GaGa's 'Paparazzi' has slipped a place since Sunday but is still in the top five.


  • Jamie T's 'Sticks 'N Stones' has now climbed into the top 15.


  • Jordin Sparks's 'Battlefield' is a couple of places outside the top 20 - we know, we feel the same way you do.


  • Oh, and 'Work' by The Saturdays is stuck between the 25 and 30 posts.


  • So, is there anyone else you'd like to know about on Friday?

    Posted Wednesday, July 1 at 11:25 by Nick Click to see and add comments (26)

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