TOP FIVE BEST HITS OF BARRY MANILOW

Today, we are going to have a throwback. I am listing down five of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists of all time ~ Barry Manilow. Manilow is considered as one of the best selling artists of all time as he sold more than 80 million records worldwide. He is also known for his writings and arranging music for various artists including Dionne Warwick and Bette Midler.  Listed below are five of my personal favorites from Barry Manilow. Enjoy!

TOP FIVE BEST HITS OF BARRY MANILOW

Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 BEST HIT OF BARRY MANILOW

"I CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU"

The song was initially recorded by The Carpenters in 1976 but Barry Manilow's rendition became more recognized. The version was used in various films including Four Weddings and  a Funeral, Deuce Bigalow, Unconditional Love and Hell Boy 2. The song also reached the number one chart in Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

TOP 4 BEST HIT OF BARRY MANILOW

"I WRITE THE SONGS"

Contrary to its title, the song was originally written by Bruce Johnston and is popularized by Barry Manilow. It reached number one spot in Billboard and spent two consecutive weeks. It also won a Grammy for Song of the Year and is nominated for Record of the Year. Interestingly, the "I" in the song is being referred to God and that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us.

TOP 3 BEST HIT OF BARRY MANILOW

"SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD"

The song was recorded by Manilow in 1981. The song was a moderate success reaching #21 in Billboard Hot 100 but the impact here in the Philippines. It captures the taste of the Filipino and it has been recorded by various local artists most notably Nina , Roselle Nava and Martin Nievera.

TOP 2 BEST HIT OF BARRY MANILOW

"I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN"

I Made it Through The Rain is such a very uplifting and empowering song about someone who managed to survive all his trials in life. The song was also a moderate success and the single is part of the hits included in his album Barry. It peaked at #10 in Billboard Hot 100 and # 4 in Adult Contemporary chart.

THE BEST HIT OF BARRY MANILOW

"WEEKEND IN NEW ENGLAND"

Here's one of my favorite ballads of all time. Weekend In New England reached the number one spot in Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number ten in Billboard Hot 100. Interestingly, the title has never been mentioned in the song but it follows a story of a guy who fell in love and had an affair in New England. In response to the song, Reba McEntire also released a song entitled "Whoever's in New England". as sung by the wife of a philandering husband who has an ongoing affair with someone in New England.
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Other Notable songs popularized by Barry Manilow include "Mandy", "Could It Be Magic", "Copacobana", "If I Should Love Again", and "Even Now". How about you? What's your favorite Barry Manilow's Songs?

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TOP FIVE BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Pinoys are certified music lovers and we have a bunch of incredible singers that we should be very proud of. When it comes to music, Filipinos have their own standard. Most of our OPM songs will either fall into a powerful ballad or a slow rock song. Unfortuntely, Pinoys nowadays are embracing most of the foreign music leaving our OPM industry hanging by a thread. On top of that, internet and digital downloading made the industry even more devastating which makes it hard for any Pinoy music artist to earn any music recording sales certification. Have you ever wonder which is the best selling Pinoy album ever made? Listed below are five of the highest grossing and best selling Pinoy Albums of all time. Have fun.

TOP FIVE BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Editor's Note: Just to set some expectations, I excluded Foreign albums from the list made by PARI (Philippine Association of the Record Industry). 

TOP 5 BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUM OF ALL TIME

"JAYA"

(BY JAYA)

Interestingly, Jaya started her career in the US where she was given an opportunity to finish an album that was already started by another artist. Her Album "Jaya" was released in US in 1989 making Jaya the first Filipino artist to chart in the US through her single "If You Leave Me Now" which peaked at 44 at the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Her US career however, didn't do so well until 1996 where she was invited by Pilita Corales to record an album in the Philippines which also served as Jaya's turning point. Her 1996 album entitled "Jaya" made her a successful OPM singer. The album is composed of classic hits including "Dahil Tanging Ikaw". The album sold 280,000 copies.

TOP 4 BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUM OF ALL TIME

"NINA LIVE!"

(BY NINA)

Nina Live! is the third album of Nina which was released on February 2005. Nina has released two successful albums but despite of the success, she is still performing regularly in different bars and gigs and her label wanted to show this side of her , thus, the concept of making a live album was made. Nina Live! is merely composed of cover songs from 70's to 90's. Initially, critics are in doubt whether the album will become a success or not because despite of Nina's incredible talent, showcasing cover songs is not really a wise idea for them. Surprisingly, the album was commercially successful and in fact it earned certified Platinum three weeks after its release. It was a rare feat at that moment considering that during that time, fewer people are purchasing compact discs and cassette tapes. The album remarkably sold 300,000 copies which made Nina Live!, the biggest selling by a local female artists of all time. 

TOP 3 BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUM OF ALL TIME

"CUTTERPILLOW"

(BY ERASERHEADS)

Cutterpillow is also the third studio album by Eraserheads which was released on December 1995. It was extremely successful and hs a huge cultural impact because most of the songs from this album became common staples in video bars and used in some advertisements and movies. The album debuted number one of the chart and sold more than 125,000 copies on its first week which made the album the highest record set by the band in their entire career. The album became a certified 4X platinum which makes it the fastest selling album in 90's. It is also considered as the biggest selling album by a local band of all time. It includes iconic songs like "Ang Huling El Bimbo", "Overdrive" and "Torpedo". 

TOP 2 BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUM OF ALL TIME

"CONSTANT CHANGE / CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS"

(BY JOSE MARI CHAN)

Technically, Jose Mari Chan is the holder of second and third place respectively as two of his albums were incredibly successful critically and commercially. Constant Change is Jose Mari Chan's sixth album which is entirely composed of iconic love songs including "Beautiful Girl", "Please Be Careful in My Heart", "My Girl, My Woman, My Friend" and more. It was recognized as the Best Album in Awit awards the same year and also the first OPM album to reach Diamond status. Christmas In Our Hearts, on the other hand, became the first OPM album to surpass the Double Diamond status. Both album sold over 800,000 copies making them the biggest selling album of a local artist of all time. 

THE BEST SELLING PINOY ALBUM OF ALL TIME

"NANDITO AKO"

(BY THALIA)

Surprised? Well, I actually felt the same way but technically, Thalia has the biggest selling album in the Philippines. She is not a local artist indeed but her album "Nandito Ako" is purely made for Filipinos. Nandito Ako is a song that is originally sung by Ogie Alcasid and was covered by many artists like Lea Salonga (1993), Sharon Cuneta (2006) and even David Archuleta (2012). But it was Thalia's version that makes it even more successful (commercially). The album was exclusively released in the country due to the success of her telenovelas including Marimar. The songs were recorded after her first major concert in the Philippines. Aside from Nandito Ako, it also features Tagalog version of  "Maria La Del Bario" (Mariang Taga Bario), "El Venao (Chika Lang), and Juana. She also made her own versions of the songs "Tell Me" and "Hey, It's Me" . The album , however, is not included in PARI as it is released prior to the time where they start giving certifications. It sold over 1 million copies. 

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For those who are looking for Regine Velasquez' "R2K", sorry but Wikipedia has some sort of discrepancy in terms of the records but upon checking the official PARI site (pari.com.ph), R2K's record that is stated on wiki site is somehow presented in an exaggerated way.  Regine Velasquez, however, holds the record for having the most number of best selling albums including the R2K, Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, Retro, Drawn, Regine Live and more.

Source: Wiki, Pari, Pep

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TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMERS THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

We have seen a lot of music groups (quintet, quartet, trio, duo or band) who became so popular in the music industry but few of them stay and one of the reasons behind this disbandment is when a member (usually the leader) of the group decided to launch their solo careers. Most of the time, the solo career of these artists will not last for long and they usually failed to establish the same popularity except for these five listed solo performers below. These singers are those who became popular as a group and as a solo performer. This is actually a repost from by 2008 entry but I made some revisions.

TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMERS THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively. 

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMER THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

"DIANA ROSS (THE SUPREMES)"

Before starting her career as a solo performer, Diana Ross was once a part of a trio group known as the Supremes. In fact, Diana is one of those rare artists who got two stars at Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was well recognized as a lead singer of the Supreme and so as being a solo performer. The Supreme has become one of Motown's most commercially successful act but after an 18 year run, the group was disbanded and Diana Ross launched her solo career. Following her departure, she has launched various albums and most of them are commercially successful. Few of her hit songs include Ain't No Mountain High Enough, I'm Coming Out, Chain Reaction, Touch Me in the Morning and more. So far, Diana received multiple Grammy nominations and even some acting awards and a bunch of other recognition and in fact she received a Guinness Book of World Records as one of the most successful female artists in history. 

 TOP 4 MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMER THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

"PAUL MCCARTNEY (THE BEATLES)"

Paul McCartney gained a worldwide success due to his band The Beatles. For the record, The Beatles is considered as one of the most popular and most influential acts in history of  rock music. Before the One Direction or those popular boybands of the 90's, there was once the so called Beatlemania. The group lasted for more than ten years until John Lennon initially announced his departure to the group and followed by the announcement done by McCartney. All the members of the Beatles have launched their own career after the break up but John Lennon and Paul McCartney are the only ones who received wide success with their songs. Unfortunately, Lennon was killed was shot and killed. McCartney is also widely recognized as one of the most successful composer and recording artists of all time. Few of his biggest hits include Yesterday, Ebony and Ivory, The Long and Winding Road, Lucille and more. 

TOP 3 MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMER THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

"JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE (N'SYNC"

Justin Timberlake rose to fame as the lead vocalist and the youngest member of the 90's boy group N'Sync along with JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass. The group sold over 50 million albums during their career and produced hit songs like This I Promise You, Bye Bye Bye, I Drive Myself Crazy and more. The group however, didn't last for long due to some legal issues with their handlers. They announced temporary hiatus two years after their massive success but no albums or singles were produced since then. Year 2007, Bass confirmed that the group was completely disbanded. Justin Timberlake , however, launched his solo album during the hiatus and his songs like "Cry Me a River" and Rock Your Body was a massive success. Timberlake ventured into acting which put his music career on hiatus but he made a successful comeback through his 20/20 Experience Album producing chart topper songs like Suits And Tie and Mirrors. 

TOP 2 MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMER THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

"BEYONCE KNOWLES (DESTINY'S CHILD)"

Beyonce rose to fame in the late 90's as a lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child which became of the best selling girl groups of all time. As a group, they produced hit songs like Dangerously in Love, Say My Name, Survivor, Bootylicious and more. Beyonce is performing along with other members including Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams (former members includes LeToya and LaTavia). Destiny's Child has sold more than 60 million records worldwide to date. In late 2000, Destiny's Child announced to embark on individual side projects, including releases of solo albums which was also the idea by their manager. Both Rowland and Knowles managed to establish a highly successful albums and Beyonce produced hit songs like Crazy In Love and Baby Boy. After the Hiatus, the group launched their final album entitled "Destiny Fulfilled". After her successful solo recording (a feature with Jay Z), Beyonce have launched herself as one of the best selling recording artists in history producing hit songs like Single Ladies, Listen, Halo and a whole lot more. 

THE MOST POPULAR SOLO PERFORMER THAT CAME FROM A GROUP/BAND

"MICHAEL JACKSON (JACKSON 5)"

Michael Jackson is undeniably one of the most successful recording artists in history but before launching his very successful solo career, he was once the lead vocalist of the quintet group of the early 60's The Jackson 5 along with his older brothers. During their six-and-a-half-year Motown tenure, The Jackson 5 was one of the biggest pop-music acts of the 1970s and was one of few in recording history to have their first four major label singles reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 including songs like "I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save and I'll Be There. The group sold 150 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In the early 1980s, Jackson became the dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean". and "Thriller", were credited with breaking down racial barriers and with transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. Some of his other achievements as a solo performer includes multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; 26 American Music Awards, more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century" and "Artist of the 1980s" 

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Other Notable solo performers that came from a group of singers include Ronan Keating of Boyzone, Mel C of Spice Girls and Gwen Stefani of No Doubt

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TOP FIVE LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME

Broadway is basically the oldest, the longest and the busiest street in New York which is popularly known for their musical theaters which emerged since the 18th Century but the term "Musical" was generally used since the early 20th century. The Broadway musicals have evolved dramatically all through the years, producing different variety and genre of musical performances. We can confidently say that Broadway has shaped up both society and Hollywood. Hollywood films, however, and Broadway shows have huge differences in terms of many aspects. Interestingly, most Broadway Musicals have this so-called "Open ended runs" which means the duration of length of their presentation are not set and it could possibly extend or end depending on its critical response. Some of these Broadway shows managed to stay for such an impressive amount of time and listed below are five of the longest running Broadway Shows of all time

TOP FIVE LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME

Author's Note : This list were taken from websites like IBDB (Internet Broadway Database) and Wikipedia. The list are updated as of July 7, 2013. 

TOP 5 LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME 

"THE LION KING"

Number of Performances : 6500. The Lion King Musical debuted on November 13, 1997. Generally, it is not an original Broadway film and is merely based on the successful 1994 Disney animated film with the same name. The show is relatively new compare to the Broadway shows on our list but is considered as a massive success. The amount of performances that they have so far is truly impressive considering the fact that they are running for 16 consecutive years. In addition to that, Lion King, as of April 2012 is considered as the highest grossing Broadway of all time. As of the plot, well, i don't think it needs any more explanation and we all know that it's about Simba and his journey to become the Lion King.  The characters for this play is portrayed by actors in life-sized puppets and costumes. The Lion King have won various awards too including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy. 

TOP 4 LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME 

"LES MISERABLES"

Number of  Performances : 6,680. I believe that this Broadway show is still fresh in our minds after its highly successful film adaptation last year. Les Miserables debuted on March 12, 1987 and ended on May 18, 2003. Therefore, there is a huge possibility that Lion King can outrank the Les Miserables in the near future. Les Miserables is also not an original Broadway piece and is adapted from the book of the same title written by Victor Hugo. It is considered as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. It is a story of a young peasant named Jean Valjean who was once an ex-convict and became a successful businessman under a new identity. The Broadway, the book and the film are all commercially successful. Les Miserables won various awards from Tony, Drama Desk and Grammy. The song " I Dreamed a Dream" has become one of the most popular and highly embraced Broadway musical shows of all time. 

TOP 3 LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME 

"CHICAGO"

Number of Performances : 6909. Chicago is originally based on a 1926 play of the same name which tells a story of  two women who were both suspected and later acquitted for murder in which reporter Maurine Dallas Watskin is assigned to cover at Chicago Tribune. The original play debuted in 1975 (with 936 performances) but was later revived on Broadway in 1996 making it as the longest musical revival on Broadway history. It is also considered as the longest running American musical in Broadway. The play was also adapted into film in 2002 which is also a commercial success and earn recognition in different award bodies like Oscars. 

TOP 2 LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME 

"CATS"

Number of Performances: 7485. Cats is another highly successful Broadway show which is originally based on a collection of whimsical poems entitled "Old Possum's : Book of Practical Cats. The musical is composed by Andrew Llyod Webber which tells a story of a tribe of cats called Jellicles and their ritual known as the Jellicle choice in which they have to decide which cat should ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. The Cats debuted on 1982 and ended last 2000 so basically, there is a possibility for the "Chicago" to outrank the show. Interestingly, the show was performed in many parts of the world and has been translated to 20 different languages. It also introduced the song "Memory" which was also recorded by different successful artists including Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, Sarah Brightmand and Celine Dion. 

THE LONGEST RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS OF ALL TIME 

"THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA"

Number of Performances : 10,583. If Hollywood has James Cameron who directed two of the highest grossing and most successful films of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber is probably his equivalent in Broadway. The Phantom of the Opera is another musical created and composed by him and is undeniably the longest running Broadway show. It is originally based on a French novel of the same title which tells a story of a beautiful soprano who became an obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius. The play is a massive success grossing an estimated amount of  $5.6 Billion (including West End and other international plays). It also gained awards and recognition from Tony and Drama Desk. 

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The list is generally based on the number of performances as listed and compiled in Wikipedia and IBDB (check it here) but if we are going to list down top five of those Currently running shows, we will come up with this list (from greatest to least): 1. The Phantom of the Opera , 2. Chicago , 3.The Lion King, 4. Mamma Mia! and 5. The Wicked.

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PHOTO AND INFO CREDITS : HERE

You might also want to check these TOP FIVE ENTRIES too

►TOP FIVE MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM A BROADWAY MUSICAL

►TOP FIVE HIGHEST GROSSING MOVIES OF 2009

TOP FIVE BEST IDOL PERFORMANCES OF CANDICE GLOVER

And Finally, a Female Idol Winner was hailed after five consecutive years of waiting. The conspiracy of white guy with guitar is finally over and the curse of Kristy Lee Cook is already broken. Now, American Idol crowned the fifth female winner, the first female after Jordin Sparks way back 2007 (when American Idol is still embracing the highest rating ever [check the Top Five Reasons Why American Idol is Losing the Ratings]). She is also the fourth Black idol winner in history (including Ruben Studdard (Season 2), Fantasia Barrino (Season 3) and Jordin (season 6). She is also the  first idol winner who auditioned for the show three times (S9, S11 and S12). Candice Glover, as we all know managed to deliver flawless performances in almost every round (an achievement that only few idols can make notably including Melinda Doolittle of Season 3, David Archuleta of Season 7 and Adam Lambert of Season 8. Candice performed a lot of notable performances in the season and in fact, of you are going to list down the top 10 performances made in American Idol Season 12, most of the entries will probably belong to her ( though i must give credit to others icluding Angie Miller's You Set Me Free performance. To make this entry short, here are five of the best American Idol performances by Candice Glover [also check Top Five Greatest American Idol Season 11 Performances] and [Top Five Greatest Idol Performances of All Time]

TOP FIVE BEST IDOL PERFORMANCES OF CANDICE GLOVER

[Author's Note : This entry is listed subjectively. Feel free to comment your suggestion or any violent reactions LOL]

TOP 5 BEST IDOL PERFORMANCE OF CANDICE GLOVER

"STRAIGHT UP"

 I know that there's a lot from Candice's performances that is way far better than this song but the fact that she managed to transformed a mid tempo dance song into a very powerful rendition is truly impressive. If you're going to compare this performance from the originl Paula Abdul hit, you will realized how Candice made a drastic improvement. She managed to retain the beat but made it more current and despite of being an upbeat song, Candice managed to showcase her impressive vocal ability. Simply impressive.

TOP 4 BEST IDOL PERFORMANCE OF CANDICE GLOVER

"YOU'VE CHANGED"

This song is purely emotional and Candice nailed it and gave this classic Billie Holiday song the justice it deserves. The song was delivered fluidly and i am not surprised why she received a standing ovation from the judges. It was a stellar performance indeed just like what the judges said and i couldn't agree more. 

TOP 3 BEST IDOL PERFORMANCE OF CANDICE GLOVER

"WHEN YOU BELIEVE"

The last idol contestant that i remember who performed this song remarkably was David Archuleta of Season 7 until Candice made another stunning rendition and what makes it more special is the fact that she sang it in front of Mariah Carey who collaborated with the late Whitney to make this song possible. At this point, Candice proved herself that she can do and perform almost anything. She is a certified diva and she really deserved to win. 

TOP 2 BEST IDOL PERFORMANCE OF CANDICE GLOVER

"I (WHO HAVE NOTHING)"

I (Who Have Nothing) was notably performed by Jordin Sparks and Haley Reinhart. Both of them delivered it satisfyingly and in fact, Jordin Spark's rendition remained as one of the most remarkable performances in Idol history but it seems like it is hanging now by a thread because Candice Glover performed it way far better than any of them. It was haunting and something that will give you goosebumps. She performed it twice and she made it even better in the finale where she sang the first part of the song in a capella. 

THE BEST IDOL PERFORMANCE OF CANDICE GLOVER

"LOVESONG"

If I (Who Have Nothing) will give you goosebumps, Lovesong will make you jump out of your chair simply because it's incedibly amazing. If Fantasia Barrino has Summertime, Carrie Underwood has Alone , Blake Lewis has You Give Love a Bad Name and Jessica Sanchez had her I'm Telling You I'm not Going last year, Candice make this song as her own and it's probably one of the greatest perfomance in American Idol History. She didn't just received a standing ovation from the judges but Mariah even walked on to stage to throw her some glitters. It was indeed a spectacular performance that will be remembered for the rest of Idol history.

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TOP FIVE REASONS WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

I am a big fan of American Idol since Season 3. That as actually my very first time to watch the said show because Jasmine Trias made a huge buzz in our country and I was hooked to the show since then. As we all know , American Idol is currently facing some disappointing feedbacks especially about their ratings. They did some gimmicks , they did some modifications but it seems like none of these worked out. I listed some of the possible reasons why American Idol, an iconic Reality Show , is losing the rating game? 

TOP FIVE REASONS WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

TOP 5 REASON WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

"TENURITY"

If Businesses have their Tenured employees, I guess in the industry of reality shows, American Idol is already considered as Tenure. It's been twelve years and I believed that people grew up tired of seeing the same show every year. I think Idol is lacking now of charisma, the charisma that that had 11 years ago. Well it's just like a routine, and if you keep on doing the same thing over and over again, you will eventually get bored to it and look for other ways to entertain yourself. Same thing goes with American Idol, we see them doing the same routine, doing the same judging and doing the same performance and as a result, people lose all their excitement. 

TOP 4 REASON WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

"COMPETITORS"

American Idol used to embrace the spot light for being the most watched singing reality show but not anymore. Thanks to their competitors which offer a much more exciting and thrilling mechanics. This is actually in relation to what I have mentioned earlier. If people get tired of the same routine, they will eventually look for other things to entertain them. If they do not have much option before, now, they have many creative shows to choose from. We have The Voice (and their cool rotating chairs), we have the X Factor (and their super cool productions) and a whole lot more. I don't think it would be nice for the show to mimic the other shows and American Idol should come up with something more original and unique. 

TOP 3 REASON WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

"SAME THEMES"

One of American Idol's highlights is the Song theme but this thing is becoming more and more predictable. If you are an avid fan of the show, you can definitely list down those themes that are commonly being used over and over and over again. We have the Beatles, the motown, The Birth song, and more. Yes, these songbooks are broad but don't you think they should come up with something new? On top of that, even though the songbooks are broad , the contestants used to pick the same set of songs. Sigh..

TOP 2 REASON WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

"MORE PREDICTABLE , LESS SURPRISING"

American Idol is no longer giving us any surprise. It is very predictable indeed. Perhaps, the judges made mistakes in choosing their finalists. Every season, there is always someone who will stand out from the rest almost every week which is really not a good thing because it feels like there is no longer a competition at all. But hey, this strong contender will not be declared as the winner because there's always a dark horse who will emerge from the final and win the crown. 

THE BEST REASON WHY AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING THE RATINGS

"THE DRAMA AND THE JUDGES"

If there is one thing that I hate about American Idol, it's the Drama. I hate the fact that the show is trying to focus more on the judges rather than the contestants. It is a singing competition and not a drama series. I also hate when the judges will give some irrelevant comments for the sake of saying something about the performance done by the contestants.  Who cares about their Drama anyway? To make it short, it seems like the show is losing its focus. I think they should give more time or focus to the finalist to build up their identity. 

This list is done subjectively, if you have suggestions or violent reactions, just feel free to say so ^_^

Image Source : [1][2][3][4][5][6]

TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUPS OF ALL TIME

Here comes our first Top Five List for June. But before we proceed, I just want to inform you that I'm going to make series of Repost starting this month. I'm trying to sort out my Top Five List and divide them into separate categories. This is an ideal way too to refresh my previous entries for the past four years. Though, I also prepared some new entries for this month too.

A girl Group as what the term suggests, is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together. Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production values and backing by top studio musicians. In later eras the girl group template would be applied to disco, contemporary R&B, and country-based formats as well as pop. Listed below are five of the most popular girl group in the music history.

TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUPS OF ALL TIME


TOP 5 MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME
"GIRL'S GENERATION"
Okay! Actually i was about to put TLC for this spot but because K-pop has become increasingly significant in the entertainment industry, with its influence breaking the confinements of Asia and spreading to America and Europe, I guess Girl's Generation is deserving enough to take its place. Girls Generation or SNSD , is a nine-member South Korean pop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The leader of the group is Kim Taeyeon. The other members are Jessica Jung, Sunny, Tiffany, Kim Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, Choi Sooyoung, Im Yoona and Seohyun.

TOP 4 MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME
"PUSSYCAT DOLLS"

The Pussycat Dolls are an English-American pop girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe. After attracting national attention, Antin negotiated a record deal with Interscope Records in 2003 turning the group into a music franchise, which developed a global image and commercial brand. The first recording group (Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt and Carmit Bachar) produced two albums and numerous singles between 2004 and 2009 including the world-wide hits "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", "Beep", "Buttons", "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)". "Stickwitu" earned a 2005 Grammy Award nomination, and the Dolls brand diversified into merchandise, reality television programs, a Las Vegas act, product endorsements, spin-off recording groups (Girlicious, Paradiso Girls) and other ventures. By early 2010, the first Dolls recording group had disbanded. In 2009, Billboard ranked the Pussycat Dolls as the 80th most successful musical act of the 2000s.


TOP 3 MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME
"DESTINY'S CHILD"

Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme. After years of performing underground, they were signed to Columbia Records as Destiny's Child, comprising Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett. Destiny's Child was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall, which contained the number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name". During their career, the group sold over 40 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling recording artists in the United State Billboard magazine ranks the group as one of the greatest musical trios of all time, the ninth most successful artist/band of the 2000s, and placed the group 68th in its All-Time Hot 100 Artists list in 2008.


TOP 2 MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME
"SPICE GIRLS"
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group comprised Victoria Beckham (née Adams), Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30 countries and helped establish the group as a "global phenomenon". Credited for being the pioneers that paved the way for the commercial breakthrough of teen pop in the late 1990s, their debut album, Spice, sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in music history. They have sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time. The group became one of the most successful marketing engines ever, with their global grosses estimated at $500–800 million between 1996 and 1998, and the group earned up to $75 million per year. They were the biggest popular cultural icons of the 1990s, according to a survey carried out by Trivial Pursuit, winning by 80 percent in a poll of 1,000 people, stating that "Girl Power" defined the decade. They are cited as part of the 'second wave' '90s British Invasion of the US.

THE MOST POPULAR GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME
"THE SUPREMES"
The Supremes was an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco. They were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and are, to date, America's most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The Supremes rivaled The Beatles in worldwide popularity, and their success made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown. During the mid-1960s, The Supremes achieved mainstream success with Ross as lead singer. In 1967, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left to pursue a solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell, at which point the group's name reverted to The Supremes. After 1972, the lineup changed more frequently; Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all became members of the group during the mid-1970s. The Supremes disbanded in 1977 after an 18-year run.


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By the way, if you have time, feel free to visit me at my personal blog ~ It's Me! BlueDreamer. Just look at what we've caught this morning! I would appreciate if you leave your comment too. I used to update this blog more often than my Top Five so feel free to visit my site. See yah!

TOP FIVE MOST FAVORITE SONGS FROM CELINE DION

Woot Woot! I'm Still here!! haha sorry for my late update. Since the Celine Dion theme in my Song to Remember Blog is about to end this month (which took almost 2 months), i can now choose five of my most favorite Celine songs. I'm not a big fan of her but i love some of her songs.
Again, this is my personal list and not objectively done. Enjoy.

MY TOP FIVE MOST FAVORITE SONGS FROM CELINE DION
MY TOP 5 MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM CELINE DION
"THE POWER OF DREAM"

You know what, this is a very rare song from Celine and i really love it's melody and instantly became one of my favorites. "The Power of the Dream" was written and produced by David Foster and Babyface for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Dion performed it in front of more than 100,000 people, in addition to over three and a half billion television viewers. She gave away the money she received for the occasion, to support Canadian athletes.


MY TOP 4 MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM CELINE DION
"IT'S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW"

This song became the highlight of her English-language recording career. This powerful ballad (which is also considered as one of the most passionate romantic songs) was actually not an original Celine Song. It was first recorded by a female group called "Pandora's Box" though Celine Version became the most notable. Love the music video as well.


MY TOP 3 MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM CELINE DION
"MY HEART WILL GO ON"

If you don't know this song then you're probably not a human!! LOL. Well, if I will base my list objectively, this song might get the top spot. The song was as successful as the movie Titanic, it went to number 1 all over the world, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. It became Dion's biggest hit, and one of the best-selling singles of all time, and was the world's best-selling single of 1998.

MY TOP 2 MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM CELINE DION
"BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME"

I really really love this song. It became of her signature song and was used for the film "Up Close & Personal" The song was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as four Grammy Awards. It won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (award went to Diane Warren), and was nominated for the Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

MY MOST FAVORITE SONG FROM CELINE DION
"IMMORTALITY"


One of my favorite songs of all time. Immortality is one of the most soothing song i have ever heard. Not too soft, not too loud, just right enough to relax your ears. Bee Gees wrote this song especially for Celine who can also be heard in background vocals.
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After The Celine Dion Theme, Song To Remember will be hitting Country Music as I will feature 2 of it's greatest male singers, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson as requested by one of my reader.

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Foongpc
Gagay

MM: Thia Megia ~ Out Here On My Own

This Season is better than the previous ones. It is packed with so many talented contenders and is very unpredictable. Who would have thought that Naima Adedapo's "Dancing in the street" (not to mention her silly dancing moves) will make her an instant favorite last performance night. Casey Abrams is an early favorite but no one predicted that he will be in the bottom 3 last elimination night.
I just hate the drama going on in the Idol Stage as if the producers are making this for ratings. I just hate the saving part too. Don't you think it is kinda unfair for the remaining Top 10 who did their best to encourage the audience to vote for them? Don't you think it's kinda unfair for the voters too? This is American Idol not Judges' Idol.
One more thing! I want Simon back! Randy, Jennifer and Steven have their own favorites which is unfair for other contestants. If Simon is in there, he will not tolerate this favoritism.
Okay... now i'm the one making the drama here.

Thia is one of my bet here though i can't see her as the winner but i wish she could stay there for awhile. I like her not because she's a Filipina but because of having this unique and distinct voice. I have to admit, i didn't like her last performance (Heat Wave) as she sounded like Miley Cyrus (and that's not a good thing haha). So here's my MM entry for this week. I just love her "Out Here on My Own" version.

This week, they will be hitting Elton John songs... So it is time for Thia to shine since her expertise are into ballads. I wonder what Elton John Songs will suit her Voice... "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" is a big no no for her or else she will be dubbed already as a Disney Girl after performing "Colors of Wind" from the Disney Film Pocahontas. Maybe she can sing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" though this song was performed by so many former idols already including David Archuleta from season 8 and Clay Aiken of Season 2 and oh our very own Jasmine Trias did her own version too. I would love to her playing her guitar.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Holes in th The Floor of Heaven

Woohoo not too late for my Music Monday Entry. This week, i'll be sharing a country song from Stevie Wariner. I love the message of this song. It is simply heartwarming. Do you believe that when someone who is very close to our heart passed away, he or she can see us from heaven? I do believed that my late grandma is always watching me from heaven and comfort me out whenever i feel down and so i always include her and thank her through my prayers. Hope you like the song as much as i do guys.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.



PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Also, if you have time, please leave a comment on my SmartBro Broadbandest entry here

Music Monday: Kiss From A Rose by Seal

Hi guys, i didn't know what to share for my Music Monday today until i was reminded by this Batman movie and it's very wonderful Theme song from Seal. As far as I remember it was also performed by American Idol finalist Danny Gokey during the Audition Day. Hope you like it too!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

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Lady Java
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TOP FIVE BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGERS

Today, i will be sharing my personal list of
TOP FIVE BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGERS
I'm actually not into this kind of music but i just love compiling these girls in one category. Hope you like it.

TOP 5 BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGER
"BRITNEY SPEARS"
The discography of Britney Spears, an American pop music singer, consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, thirty singles and six video albums. In 1997, Spears signed a recording contract with Jive and released her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time, in January 1999. The album opened at number one on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified fourteen-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and three-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. It features the global hit single "...Baby One More Time", which notably topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart and is one of the best-selling records of all time in Britain, "(You Drive Me) Crazy" and the British number-one hit "Born to Make You Happy". Sixteen months later after the release of ...Baby One More Time, Spears released her second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, which became the fastest-selling album ever by a female act in the USA with over 1.3 million copies sold in its opening week. According to her label, Spears has sold over 67 million albums worldwide in the past decade, making her one of the best-selling music artists in the history of contemporary music. Spears also is the world's most successful teenager recording artist with over 37 million albums sold worldwide before she turned 20, with only 2 years of releasing music.


TOP 4 BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGER
"BEYONCE KNOWLES"
Knowles' music is generally contemporary R&B, but she also incorporates pop, funk, hip hop, and soul genres into her work. While she almost exclusively releases English songs, Knowles did record several Spanish records for the re-release of B'Day. Destiny's Child had already recorded a Spanish song and received favorable responses from their Latin fans. Her discography, as a solo artist, began in 2003 and includes three studio albums, twenty singles as a lead artist, ten as a featured artist, ten soundtrack and promotional singles, two live albums, one extended play and eight video albums. In June 2003, during the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Knowles released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, which became one of the most successful albums of that year, and signaled her viability as a solo artist. The album was a commercial and critical success, spawning the worldwide hits "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy", "Me, Myself & I" and "Naughty Girl". Knowles became the first female artist (and the fifth artist ever) to top both the singles—with "Crazy in Love"— and albums chart simultaneously in the United States and the United Kingdom, following The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Rod Stewart, and Men at Work. Beyoncé is currently the only artist in history to have all her studio albums win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and debut at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 throughout her solo music career.

TOP 3 BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGER
"SHAKIRA"

In 2001, aided by the extreme popularity of the music video for "Whenever, Wherever", Shakira broke through into the English-speaking world with the release of Laundry Service, which sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Four years later, Shakira released two album projects called Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Both reinforced her success, particularly with the best selling song of the 2000s, "Hips Don't Lie". She has won two Grammy Awards, seven Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been Golden Globe-nominated. She is also the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, and the second most successful female Latin singer after Gloria Estefan, having sold over 60 million albums worldwide according to Sony Music. Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", was chosen as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with its Spanish language version, titled "Waka Waka (Esto es África)". The song has received generally positive critical reception, and has become a worldwide smash hit, selling more than 4 million copies worldwide, becoming the biggest selling World Cup song of all time.

TOP 2 BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGER
"PAULA ABDUL"
In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Her six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 tie her for fifth among the female solo performers who have reached #1 there. She won a Grammy for "Best Music Video - Short Form" for "Opposites Attract" and twice won the "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography".

THE BEST DANCE-ORIENTED FEMALE SINGER
"JANET JACKSON"
In 1991, she signed the first of two record-breaking, multi-million dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest paid artists in the industry. Her debut album under the Virgin label, Janet (1993), saw Jackson develop a public image as a sex symbol as she began to explore sexuality in her work. By the end of the 1990s, she was named the second most successful recording artist of the decade. All for You (2001), became her fifth consecutive studio album to hit number one on the Billboard 200 album charts. Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Jackson is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music. She has amassed an extensive catalog of hits, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again" and "All for You" among her most iconic. Her longevity, records and achievements reflect her influence in shaping and redefining the scope of popular music. She has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers.


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Foongpc
Mariuca