“I can’t complain, though, “Go On Girl” is probably my favorite strummy Stargate production since ‘Irreplaceable.’”

I wish I could agree with you on that tip buddy, but Chris Brown’s With You [though it took some time] takes the cake for me when it comes to Stargate’s strumtacular post Irreplaceable tracks.

Maybe Lil Mama’s album will come out now. I’m hoping it does- she’s pretty awesome, even if she does look exactly like Bow Wow.

Whoops — and I knew that, too (mentioned it in a previous column re: Weezy). Thanks, I edited the above to reflect that. (”Soldier” is still his biggest hit.)

@Tauwan: What about Kelly Clarkson’s 52-to-1 vault following the CD single (ah, the good ol’ days) release of “A Moment Like This” in 2002?

I see your point with six years’ hindsight, but back then? No way. The first American Idol winner? We had no idea back in 2002 that the chart points would line up, each and every time, to give the winner a guaranteed No. 1 hit. It might not have been a total, hit-me-over-the-head shock, but when Clarkson went to No. 1, I definitely remember thinking at the time, Wow, I guess this show really is huge. Prior to that, not so much. (Remember, Idol was a successful summer show and seeming cultural fad, not a total ratings juggernaut, in ‘02. Clarkson beat Justin effin’ Guarini, for crying out loud.)

Also, Clarkson was on the chart all of two weeks before shooting to No. 1; even if you half-predicted that moonshot, the speed was breathtaking. This Mariah single? We’ve been waiting for this thing to reach No. 1 for six weeks now. So, yeah, I reiterate what I said above.

@Tauwan: I’m all for stupid hits. This one just isn’t doing it for me. I reserve the right to change my mind later; I’ve been an easy lay for a dopey hook before.

I was riding shotgun in my girl’s ride on Easter Sunday when Sexy Can I came on the radio. This was my first time hearing it. [Funny how I only hear popular songs I manage to escape on a day-to-day basis when I am riding in someone's car]. And you know what? I was transfixed. Like started off laughing and being all like “are you kidding me?” to eventually “sitting in silence enjoying the ride and the track and bobbing my head” transfixed. Ffing innocuous hip-hop and R&B tracks.

And that is why Sexy Can I is inching towards the top.

Though it must be said that Sexy Can I doesn’t even come close to matching the head nobbing, ass shaking ear candy greatness of Wait A Minute, that old single of his feat, Lil Kim.

What about Kelly Clarkson’s 52-to-1 vault following the CD single (ah, the good ol’ days) release of “A Moment Like This” in 2002? That too was a foregone conclusion, arguably more so than “Touch My Body.”

Also, “Sexy Can I” is lewd and maybe does capitalize on Ray J’s sex tape notoreity in a weird way (”it’s a Kodak moment” has never sounded so gross), but I don’t really understand why you’re characterizing it as a fad/novelty song along the lines of “My Humps.” Sounds like pretty garden variety 2008 radio R&B to me.

Interesting to see the 4th single from Ne-Yo’s last album finally cracking the Hot 100, 2 and a half months after the video released and actually after the lead single from his next album leaked. I can’t complain, though, “Go On Girl” is probably my favorite strummy Stargate production since “Irreplaceable.”

. . . with auto-tune to spare.