Listen To Kylie Minogue's "Put Your Hands Up" B-Side "Silence"

The original press release for Kylie Minogue's US tour from a month ago mentioned that fourth Aphrodite single "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)" would be getting its official release — complete with Pete Hammond remix and edit —  at the end of May. Alas, it's yet to appear on iTunes, and Amazon UK now has it down for a June 5 release.

At any rate, there's a B-side called "Silence" which is kind of good in the context of not having heard any actual new Kylie material since last year, but somewhat lackluster when compared to the rest of Aphrodite and even the album's bonus tracks like "Mighty Rivers."



P.S. Can you believe we first heard that Pete Hammond mix waaaay back in March? How is this year flying by so fast?

P.S.S. It was one year ago today when the video for "All The Lovers" — the first single off Aphrodite — premiered.

Photo From The Kylie Minogue Concert

Here's a nice pic of Dan of This Man's World, Heidi of The Amazon Iowan and yours D'luvvly at the Kylie Minogue concert in Dallas the other night.

Well, nice for them. I look like I have heroin eyes. But that's okay — Kylie did "Better The Devil You Know," "What Do I Have To Do," "Confide In Me" and "On A Night Like This," so all was good.

It's Kylie Minogue And VERBAL's Japan Charity Single "We Are One"

Good lord — it's been so long since we've heard Kylie Minogue do an actual mid-tempo track (well, okay, it's only been about four years). But here she is sounding sweet and full of uplifting pop joy on the chorus of "We Are One," a benefit single for Japan earthquake relief that's a collaboration with Japanese rapper VERBAL.

I actually spoke with Kylie earlier this month during a teleconference (which I took part in for Idolator), and she said, "“I don’t know how soon I would rush in to doing another pop album. I’m definitely looking into opportunities of collaborations or different performances that will keep fans satisfied, keep my interest up."



On YouTube, Kylie and VERBAL state, "We extend our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all who have been affect ed by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and we truly hope for the recovery as soon as possible. Let's all help rebuild the country together!! This collaboration single "We Are One" was especially written deep from our hearts thinking about everyone in the Tohoku regions. We'd strongly like to continue supporting for the future of Japan."

Link to donate: JAPAN UNICEF

Kylie Minogue's Plans, Post-Les Folies Tour

I took part in a teleconference with Kylie Minogue yesterday, and got a few questions in to her regarding the one-week stage show she wants to do after her Les Folies world tour wraps up. (She first mentioned this when I interviewed her for Instinct last spring.)

You can read what she had to say over at Idolator.

Absolute Ear Candy: Pete Hammond Mix Of Kylie Minogue's "Put Your Hands Up"

No sooner did I go and mention the 2009 Pete Hammond mix of City Girls' "Make Up Your Mind" here the other day, did Kylie Minogue go and throw a lyrics video on YouTube for "Put Your Hands Up" which features...a Pete Hammond mix!

This is no doubt the closest we'll ever get to hearing Kylie produced by her original '80s/early '90s musical handlers Stock Aitken Waterman. So live it up!



As I noted on Idolator this afternoon, from the squiggly synths and the chugging NRG bass to the disco violins and retro font used for the lyrics, everything about this video has me reaching to dig out my Bananarama (and, of course, old-school Kylie) CDs!

UK Chart Roundup: Jessie J Should Do A Sex Tape

And so Jessie J's acclaimed reign continues, as the 22-year-old BRIT Awards fave sees her new Dr. Luke-produced single "Price Tag" debut at #1 in the UK. This gives her two jams in the Top 10 three weeks before her LP Who You Are arrives. And I'm still on the fence about her much-hyped output so far.

But let's all raise a glass of class to Kylie Minogue, who has landed her first Top 10 Brit hit since "All The Lovers" last spring with her "featuring" credit on Taio Cruz's "Higher." I really need to give that one a second chance.

Meanwhile, Wigney Spears continues to plummet, falling from #8 to #18 with "Hold It Against Me." Bitch better get that damn video out sooner than February 17 if she knows what's good for her.

Adele's 21 continues to dominate the album chart, and I'm off to watch my hometown team in the Super Bowl.

The UK Top 10:

1. "Price Tag" - Jessie J feat. B.o.B *new *1 week*
2. "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
3. "We R Who We R" - Ke$ha
4. "Rolling In The Deep" - Adele
5. "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" - Enrique Iglesias ft. Ludacris *new*  
6. "Coming Home" - Diddy - Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey
7. "Do It Like A Dude" - Jessie J
8. "Higher" - Taio Cruz feat. Kylie Minogue
9. "Yeah 3X" - Chris Brown
10. "Blind Faith" - Chase & Status feat. Liam Bailey

Chart Rigger just turned 6! Fill out the fun pop blogiversary questionnaire.

The 2011 Brit Awards Nominees

You're looking at the brand spanking new Brit Award, which was designed by Vivienne Westwood. Swanky. It looks like a bowling pin with two strips of bacon wrapped around it.

At any rate, the nominees for the 2011 BRITs were announced today, and as usual there were a few eyebrow-raising choices. For instance, Lip-syncing hag Cheryl Cole is up for British Female Solo Artist and British Single (for "Promise This," which made Chart Rigger's Worst Singles Of 2010 list).

Thankfully there were also nods for Take That (British Group and Album Of The Year), Kylie Minogue and Robyn (both International Female Solo Artist) to offset that travesty.

Totally snubbed: Goldfrapp, whose Head First was album of the year in 2010 in my opinion, and Susan Boyle, who has moved more records worldwide in the past year-and-a-half than Take That and Cheryl Cole combined.

THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2011 BRIT AWARDS:

British Male Solo Artist
Mark Ronson
Paul Weller
Plan B
Robert Plant
Tinie Tempah

British Female Solo Artist
Cheryl Cole
Ellie Goulding
Laura Marling
Paloma Faith
Rumer

British Breakthrough Act
Ellie Goulding
Mumford And Sons
Rumer
Tinie Tempah
The xx

British Group 
Biffy Clyro
Gorillaz
Mumford And Sons
Take That
The xx

British Single
Alexandra Burke feat. Pitbull, "All Night Long" (snooze)
Cheryl Cole, "Parachute" (scam!!!!)
Florence And The Machine, "You've Got The Love" (sure, why not?)
Matt Cardle, "When We Collide" (zzzzzz)
Olly Murs, "Please Don't Let Me Go" (zzzzzzz)
Plan B, "She Said" (okay)
Scouting For Girls, "This Ain't A Love Song" (can't remember it)
Taio Cruz, "Dynamite" (should win)
Tinie Tempah, "Pass Out" (will win)
The Wanted, "All Time Low" (puh-lease)

MasterCard British Album of the Year
Mumford And Sons, Sigh No More
Plan B, The Defamation Of Strickland Banks
Take That, Progress
Tinie Tempah, Disc-Overy
The xx, xx

International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Cee Lo Green
David Guetta
Eminem
Kanye West

International Female Solo Artist
Alicia Keys
Katy Perry
Kylie Minogue
Rihanna
Robyn

International Breakthrough Act
Bruno Mars
Glee Cast
Justin Bieber
The National
The Temper Trap

International Group
Arcade Fire
Black Eyed Peas
Kings Of Leon
The Script
Vampire Weekend

International Album
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
Cee Lo Green, The Lady Killer
Eminem, Recovery
Katy Perry, Teenage Dream
Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown

Critics' Choice
Jessie J

British Producer
Ethan Johns
John Leckie
Markus Dravs
Mike Pela
Stuart Price

Kylie Minogue North American Tour Dates Announced

Today just keeps getting classier! Following her fall 2009 innaugural trek across North America, Kylie Minogue has made good on her promise to return to this neck of the woods. Her Aphrodite LIve 2011 Tour kicks off April 28 in Montreal and wraps up May 22 at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

One observation: while the tour is hitting a lot of U.S. cities throughout the month, the entire midwest - including, strangely, Chicago - seems to have been left out.

Below are the dates. Those registered at Kylie.com or in possession of an American Express card can take advantage of the pre-sale starting at 10 a.m. this Friday, January 14. Otherwise, tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, January 22.

This means I've got Robyn in February, Kylie now in May in Take That in July. 2011, you're starting to rock.

April 28 - Montreal (Bell Centre)
April 29 - Boston (Agganis Arena)
April 30 - Washington, D.C. (GMU Patriot Center)
May 2, 3 - New York City (Hammerstein Ballroom)
May 6 - Atlanta (Fox Theatre)
May 7 - Fort Lauderdale (BankAtlantic Center)
May 8 - Orlando (Hard Rock Live Orlando)
May 10 - Houston (Verizon Wireless Theatre)
May 12 – Mexico City (Sports Palace)
May 14 – Guadalajara, Mexico (Auditorio Telmex)
May 16 – Monterrey, Mexico (Arena)
May 18 - Dallas (Verizon Theatre at Grand Praire)
May 20 - Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
May 21 - San Francisco (Bill Graham Civic Auditorium)
May 22 - Las Vegas (Colosseum at Caesar's Palace)

The 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2010

It seems like only yesterday when trusty sidekicks in all things pop Moogaboo and D'luv sat down to sift through 10 years of jams to come up with the Chart Rigger list of the Top 40 Singles Of The '00s—yet here we are already doing our first Best list of the new decade.

Sure, radio let itself get clogged with chum on occasion throughout the past 12 months (see our 10 Worst Singles Of 2010 roundup). But here we're highlighting the songs that didn't make you want to go shoot up a strip mall every time you heard them. As usual, the singles listed need only have reached their peak chart position within 2010, even if they were technically released the year prior.

10. Usher, "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love"

Moogaboo says: "Remember that time Usher went on E! and talked about getting a colonic? Well this year he gave his career a colonic, flushing out the r&b sound people stopped liking and infusing his colon—I mean songbook—with more current, classy dance beats. I loved it, and isn't that all that matters?"
D'luv says: "Thank Christ I have no recollection of that. Poor Usher can't sing this song live to save his life, but hey–welcome to the world of having a Max Martin-produced hit. This driving, out-of-nowhere surprise was a radio life jacket amidst a sea of 'Airplanes' and 'Billionaire' this past summer."
Charts: AUS #3, US #4, UK #7

9. Goldfrapp, "Rocket"

D'luv says: "I'm still stunned that the UK treated the Atari-on-the-dancefloor greatness of Head First with all the warmth of Madonna's frozen-over Arctic snatch. Oh, well. The duo got the last laugh by scoring two Grammy nominations."
Moogaboo says: "Goldfrapp were totally having a Flashbeagle moment and I love that it might win a Grammy. 'But I still wanna know/ how she got in the door' is also an adorably bitchy pop lyric."
Charts: US DANCE #1, GER #32, UK #47

8. Adam Lambert, "Whataya Want From Me"

D'luv says: "Glambox could probably sing pages of the phone book and make it sound interesting. But this jam proved that with the right songwriters and right material, he could suddenly go from being good to iconic. Too bad there weren't more tracks like this on his debut album."
Moogaboo says: "Note to Lambo: be P!nk more often."
Charts: AUS #4, SWE #8, US #10

7. Rihanna, "Only Girl (In The World)"

Moogaboo says: "As far as the current wave of nu-dance goes, only RiRi's really gotten the essence of house music's pulsating, hedonistic abandon. No jerky stops and starts for her, which is what makes 'Only Girl' so irresistible: it's almost menacing in its insistence that you dance."
D'luv says: "God bless RiRi and her tireless work ethic. This jam had its haters from the get-go, but I loved the throbbing hotness from the first listen. Seriously, slap on some good headphones, crank it up and try to tell me that bass at 1:16 doesn't make your soul shake."
Charts: US #1, UK #1, AUS #1, CAN #1

6. Kylie Minogue, "Get Outta My Way"

D'luv says: "There seemed to be such a rush of love for Kylie's Aphrodite right out of the gate that it appeared to have dried up by the time second single 'Get Outta My Way' arrived (except on the U.S. dance charts, where dreams—no matter how irrelevant—still come true, kidz). Still, there's no denying this was the giddy standout on an already A+ album."
Moogaboo says: "Kylie's career is getting to the point where there aren't many options left between 'completely spent' and 'desperate', so I love that she managed to do something that sounded somewhat effortless and fun. This was the most-played song of 2010 at chez Moogaboo, so of course that means it had to flop."
Charts: US Dance #1, BEL #5, UK #12

5. Hurts, "Wonderful Life"

D'luv says: "If the New Millennium conjured up Lady Gaga as its answer to Madonna, then surely Synth-Pop Land needed a modern-day Pet Shop Boys, too. The drama-soaked beats of 'Wonderful Life' deservedly made Hurts a buzz-y act in 2010, while the Arthur Baker mix only added extra sparkle to the duo's cool factor."
Moogaboo says: "These babes won me over with their stylish sense of drama. If they don't make out with each other next year, I'll be totally over it! But yes, it was all about that Arthur Baker mix with it's rattling polyrhythms and Shannon-derived whipcrack."
Charts: POL #1, GER #2, SWI #4, UK #21

4. Alphabeat, "DJ"

D'luv says: "A Danish pop act making an album of songs inspired by late '80s/early '90s Italo house act Black Box (a staple on the stereo D'luv during the teen years)—why, how could it fail? Don't answer that. I effing love this album, and 'DJ' never ceases to make me grin from ear to ear."
Moogaboo says: "Martha Wash is waggin' a sassy finger at Alphabeat from her perch up in heaven! (I know she's still alive, but I bet she has an all-access pass to universes both real and mythological.)"
Charts: DEN #6, UK #116

3. Cee Lo Green, "Fuck You!"

D'luv says: "I liked this song. Then I loved this song. Then I was over this song. Now I kinda love it again. It could have been higher here on our Best list were it not for the sheer novelty factor. Like, can you picture Cee Lo having another solo hit this big (without an expletive in the title) ever again?"
Moogaboo says: "Well, no, I can't. But who can say for sure? Maybe he's the next Kylie! And even though he seems to have scammed this idea from the inimitable Lily Allen, I'll give him points for upping the bile and attaching it to an even funkier faux-Motown beat."
Charts: UK #1, AUS #5, SWE #6, US #9

2. Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"

D'luv says: "And now we get to the song that both perplexes me and fills me with whimsical butterflies to no end. I absolutely, hands-down love 'Teenage Dream' and think it's one of the best pop songs in recent memory. That said, when I think of Katy Perry and her Jesus tits, I wanna wrap both hands around her neck and spare the universe from ever having to hear her low-rent, bottom-of-the-barrel live vocals again. But look—I'm just chalking the quality of this jam up to maestros Dr. Luke and Max Martin. If a real singer (say, Kelly Clarkson) had belted this out, it would have been #1 here."
Moogaboo says: "I agree, Kelly could more convincingly portray the protagonist of 'Teenage Dream'—a forty-something, out-of-shape suburbanite yearning to recreate the exploits of youth with the lanky new paperboy. What a missed opportunity. However, Katy's bubbly personality and bouncy boobsiness still manage to put this one over the top. Pop heaven."
Charts: US #1, POL #1, UK #2, GER #6

*POP SINGLE OF THE YEAR*

1. Robyn, "Dancing On My Own"
D'luv says: "No one does stunning, addictive dancefloor heartbreak as deftly as Robyn. And while the broad made us wait nearly half a decade for new material, 'Dancing On My Own' made me realize that patience is indeed a virtue, and that crying under a strobe light is the most bittersweet kind of joy."
Moogaboo says: "Oh, Robyn—you glittering disco sad-sack. I love your highly effective heartbreak tunes. Truth be told, I never thought you'd top 'With Every Heartbeat', 'Be Mine!' or 'Show Me Love'. Then you go and do it again with this, the perfect soundtrack for shedding tears beneath said strobe light while that hunk you just met in the men's room makes out with some ho across the dancefloor. Go on breaking my heart."
Charts: SWE #1, US Dance #3, UK #8



ALSO SEE:
* The 10 Worst Singles Of 2010
* The Top 40 Pop Singles Of The '00s
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2009
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2008
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2007
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2006
* The Best Pop Singles Of 2005

Take That And A Bunch Of Naked Guys Do The 2010 Royal Variety Performance

Take That, Kylie Minogue and way less talented people who lip sync like Chart Rigger 10 Worst Singles Of 2010 honoree Cheryl Cole took to the stage at London's Palladium last night for the Royal Variety Performance.

The That did their UK hit "The Flood" and "SOS", and during the former they had an army of practically naked dudes on stage with them, apparently acting out the poses on the cover of new album Progress—which, let's be honest, isn't really really as weird as choosing "SOS" as the next single instead of "Happy Now."

Wonder if the Queen dug it?



Here's Kylie:

UK Chart Roundup: The Black Eyed Peas Cock Block Willow Smith, Kylie Has Seen Better Days

So maybe The Black Eyed Peas are simply a singles act now? Their shit new song "The Time (Dirty Bit)" has topped the UK chart, thereby holding Willow Smith back at #2 with "Whip My Hair." Meanwhile, the group's album The Beginning had a disastrous debut at #17 last week but has now managed to scrape its way up to #9.

Kylie Minogue has a dismal chart week with "Better Than Today", which is at #32 in its official week of release. Not since digital-only single "The One" went to #36 has the poor broad has such a tragic showing on the UK chart.

Of course, Kylie doesn't fair nearly as bad as poor Joe McElderry, who lands with a thud at #68 with "Someone Wake Me Up." Yay, X Factor—it's now as relevant as American Idol!

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "The Time (Dirty Bit)" - The Black Eyed Peas *1 week* 
2. "Whip My Hair" - Willow *new*
3. "Your Song" - Ellie Goulding
4. "What's My Name" - Rihanna feat. Drake 
5. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
6. "Like A G6" - Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs & Dev
7. "Heroes" - The X Factor Finalists 2010 
8. "Thinking Of Me" - Olly Murs
9. "Who's That Chick" - David Guetta feat. Rihanna 
10. "Poison" - Nicole Scherzinger

Kylie Minogue Does 'This Is JLS', Christina Aguilera And Rihanna Do 'The X Factor'

With The X Factor wrapping up this weekend, the show pulled out the big guns for the musical performances. Kylie appeared on ITV's This Is JLS special with the pop quartet beforehand—and too bad she didn't perform "Better Than Today" last night rather than a month ago on The X Factor. Otherwise it might not be sitting at #90 on the UK iTunes chart during its official week of release.

Oh, well. Here's JLS and Kylie doing "All The Lovers"...



...Christina Aguilera on X Factor doing "Express"...



...and Rihanna performing "What's My Name". (Where can I get a version of this without Drake on it?)

It's Kylie Minogue Performing On NBC's 'Christmas At Rockefeller Center' Special

A bunch of pop dames like Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Susan Boyle, Sheryl Crow, Annie Lennox and 10-year-old Pittsburgh native (hometown represent!) Jackie Evancho crooned away  during the annual NBC Christmas At Rockefeller Center tree-lighting special.

And, yeah—Mimi was totally lip-syncing. But I love her pregnant ass anyway.

Kylie Minogue's Super-Cute Performance With The PS22 Chorus

Kylie Minogue paid the PS22 elementary school in Staten Island a visit yesterday and performed with the kids in the chorus. She made a point of noting that this was technically her first live performance of Aphrodite jam "Put Your Hands Up."



And naturally she wasn't going to get away without doing "Can't Get You Out Of My Head." Absolutely loving this arrangement. Watch through the end, where Kylie teaches the kids how to give a proper sassy snap.

UK Chart Roundup: I'd Hit It With Olly Murs

I really don't have the strength to bother with this week's #1 single on the UK chart. Utter shit.



That said, Olly Murs latest jam "Thinking Of Me" is worthy of its #4 entry, while Jessie J's "Do It Like A Dude"—which the blogosphere collectively masturbated over but nobody bought—flops in at #25.



Elsewhere, Kylie Minogue flies up to #40 with "Better Than Today" two weeks ahead of the single's official release date. (For more on mine and other bitches' thoughts on Jessie J and Kylie's singles, see the latest edition of Pop Trash Addicts' Pop Panel.)

Over on the Brit album chart Take That retain the top spot after selling more than 208,000 copies of Progress in week number two. That gives the LP a grand total of 728,000 copies moved since its release.

Zippity-doo-dizzy.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Heroes" - The X Factor Finalists 2010 *new* *1 week* 
2. "Your Song" - Ellie Goulding
3. ""Love You More" - JLS
4. "Thinking Of Me" - Olly Murs *new*
5. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna 
6. "The Flood" - Take That
7. "Like A G6" - Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs & Dev
8. "Firework" - Katy Perry
9. "Make You Feel My Love" - Adele
10. "What's My Name" - Rihanna feat. Drake

It's Kylie Minogue On A Duck Float In The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In cased you missed Kylie's (brief) televised appearance this morning in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, here she is looking cute in her fuzzy coat on a duck float singing "Get Outta My Way."



Well, okay—she's lip-syncing, as they all do during the parade. But at least she was there, braving the cold. (Unlike Carrie Underwood, who performed from the confines of some indoor Hard Rock stage.)

Take That, Kylie Minogue, JLS And Cheryl Cole Do 'Children In Need'

Take That and Kylie Minogue performed at yesterday's annual BBC Children In Need charity telethon in London, along with JLS and amateur slag Cheryl Cole. The That, who's new album Progress has been selling like Cheryl outside the Euston Tube station at 3:17 a.m., belted out their 1995 UK #1 single "Never Forget".




Kylie, "Better Than Today"



Cheryl Cole, "Promise This"



JLS, "Love You More"

It's Kylie Minogue's "Better Than Today Video

Today Kylie Minogue offered up the video for "Better Than Today," her third single off Aphrodite. (Jesus—where did this year go?) I think I'd be a bit more over the moon for this colorful Pac Man extravaganza if we hadn't already seen the routine and screen projections on The X Factor two weeks ago.

Still, The X Factor was a good gig to get, and if it keeps "Better Than Today" from suffering the same lackluster chart placing in the UK that "Get Outta My Way" did, then I'm all for it.



"Better Than Today" is officially out the week of December 5.

Shayne Ward & Kylie Minogue Turn 'The X Factor' Into The Sex Factor

You'd be hard pressed to find a better-looking pair of performers for The X Factor than Shayne Ward and Kylie Minogue, who each belted out their latest jams tonight on the UK talent show.

Grated, I wasn't crazy about Shayne's casual jeans and t-shirt look—I thought the least he could have done for the fans that have been waiting three years for his return is come out on stage completely naked—like this. (Where's the consideration, Shayne?)

He performed his new single "Gotta Be Somebody," which was made available for download on the UK iTunes store today (official release tomorrow).



Kylie did her upcoming third Aphrodite single "Better Than Today," and I effing love the new Pac Man routine/dancers/red dress, etc. Let's face it—we were all ready for some new moves from Lady Minogue after enduring the chair routine over and over for the past three months.

Love how judge Dannii Minogue gives her sister a "10 out of 10."



Two really great performances from two of the nicest UK-based pop stars out there.

Kylie Minogue Does The 'Tonight Show' Backed By Rickey Minor's Live Band

Kylie Minogue went from her appearance on Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday to the Tonight Show With Jay Leno last night. The difference was that this time she actually performed "Get Outta My Way" with a live band, led by Tonight Show (and American Idol) musical director Rickey Minor.

The slick, overproduced (and overloaded with lyrics) chorus still required the help of backing vocalists and a backup track. Nonetheless, Kylie looked like she was having a ball.

If only Cheryl Cole was even one-third as talented.