Yet Another Year In Pop: 12

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Lady Gaga nabs her second number one with the slow-burning 'Poker Face' and Beyonce elbows her way into the top ten with 'Halo'.

[Poll #1370346]

Lower reaches watch: Heads Shoulders Kneez & Toez just misses out on the top 40, plus there are some new entries from Royksopp, Skepta and that 'I Love College' song argh. Also, Ronan Keating covering Cyndi Lauper = NO THX.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I don't think country codes as "old" at all...I mean, that's not the impression I get from its home fanbase, anyway. It's still odd to get into as a British person, I feel more removed from its context (the community and lifestyle of its artists and fans) than anything else so that's a barrier, but then I listen to Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert and it's really not a million miles from any other given singer-songwriter that I like, except with tighter songwriting and more hooks.

[poptasticuk.livejournal.com]

Well, it is mostly older people who listen to country in the UK, isn't it? You'd be much more likely to hear it on Radio 2 than Radio 1. Of course in America its fanbase is related more to where people live than what age they are, and within those areas different age groups like different kinds of country. On American Idol last week it was country week, and one girl from the south said that "everyone loves country" where she came from. You're right that these young girls are not so different to other singer-songwriters. If I had to compare Taylor's album to one I already have, I'd definitely go for Michelle Branch.