It’s a notable chart week for several factors, not the least of which is the boost — a whopping jump of 3,140% — Amy Winehouse’s 2007 LP Back To Black sees following the London soul singer’s death. Other interesting Billboard Top 200 highlights: Adele’s 21 returns to #1 for an 11th week, Kidz Bop 20 enters at #2, 3 Doors Down’s aptly debut at #3 with Time Of My Life and Beyonce’s 4 is at #4 in its fourth week.

Winehouse tragically passed away at the young age of 27, with news breaking on Saturday. That means Back To Black‘s #9 re-entry on the Top 200 is all the more  impressive, given that Billboard‘s chart cut-off is Sunday evening. The publication noted yesterday that the Grammy-winning album sold 37,000 copies total last week, up from the 1,000 it moved the week prior.

Also re-entering the chart is Winehouse’s 2003 debut LP Frank, at #57 with 8,000 copies sold. Billboard points out that more than 95% of her albums sold last week were digital downloads.

Meanwhile, Adele’s 21 returns to the top of the chart for a 11th non-consecutive week, with an additional 77,000 copies sold.

Other new entries in the Top 10 this week: “I’m On One” mastermind DJ Khaled’s We The Best Forever at #5 (53,000) and 311′s Universal Pulse at #7 (46,000).

The Top 10 Of Billboard‘s Top 200 Chart:

1. Adele, 21 *11 weeks*
2. Kidz Bop Kidz, Kidz Bop 20 *new*
3. 3 Doors Down, Time Of My Life *new*
4. Beyonce, 4
5. DJ Khaled, We The Best Forever *new*
6. Blake Shelton,  Red River Blue
7. 311, Universal Pulse *new*
8. Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
9. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black *re-entry*
10. Selena Gomez And The Scene, When The Sun Goes Down

This week, the pop universe created mucho debate: producer Jeff Bhasker triggered a civil war amongst Destiny’s Child fans when the Beyonce collaborator trashed Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation” on Twitter, Kidz Bop released a child friendly version of “Born This Way” sans gay references, Britney Spears unveiled an alternate version of her legendarily bad “Gimme More” video, and MTV announced their 2011 VMA nominations. Head below to see what our pop-obsessed readers had to say about these developments!

:: kp believes producers in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones: “I like jeff, but ‘motivation’ is a great song, and when it comes to weak beats and melodies, you need to look no further than ‘try sleeping with a broken heart’. the keyboard melody as the chorus starts is the corniest thing i’ve ever heard.”

:: Puhlease found the comments unprofessional: “It’s one thing for fans to root for their favorite artists but for a producer, a successful one at that, to come out with such statements makes me lose respect for him and his work.”

::kelly flopland, however, agreed with Jeff’s commentary: “He is just stating the fact. Motivation is a mess and a childish song. Beyonce is winning with album sales. i wanna see what kelly flopland would sell first week.”

::Real talk felt the same way: “You know what this is the realest dude ever. I know folks are using pity for kelly, but kelly been in the game for too long to come out with such low budget lyrics.”

::Imtheone29 tried to be the voice of reason: “I’m so completely annoyed with the comparisons between Kelly and Beyonce. They obviously have a friendship that has stood the test of time but the media, fans, and now apparently producers want to pit them against each other which is wrong.”

::Maja believed Kidz Bop overreacted by removing all the gay references in their kid-friendly version of “Born This Way”: “Why need to ignore the LGBT issue and edit it out? Not being educated about it will lead ignorance and more hatred in the future.”

::Sakura, on the other hand, found the edits appropriate: “There is nothing wrong with censoring a song that is going to be marketed to CHILDREN. And to the people crying foul about the LGBTQ references being removed–PLEASE, get over it! The core message of the song, which is accepting yourself for who you are, is still there.”

::Ronnie was fine with the overhaul but had a different complaint: “I agree with Sakura but even kids can recognize bad singing. This is horrible. Even my younger brothers can’t stand listen to these kids and they’re the core audience for Kidz Bop.”

::X thought the new version of “Gimme More” was every bit as bad as the original: “I watched the new one, then the old one, and the old one looked GOOD in comparison. Man oh man what a train wreck. It looks like a $12 video for an amateur that will never, ever have another song ever again.”

::Brandon Hall saw the glass half full: “Look how lively she looked back then, she seems to actually be enjoying herself its so sad to see her zombiefied videos of late.”

::samantha agreed with Brandon: “At least she actually is moving around dancing in this video actually looking like she’s having fun, versus all her new videos where she looks boring and forced.”

::ERIC was outraged by the 2011 MTV VMA nominations: “How were Britney and Rihanna overlooked? Gaga’s videos this era were not that huge I have to admit. But how the hell they didn’t nominate Beyonce’s ‘Run The World (Girls)’ for video of the Year? And putting Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ in that category. There’s too much Katy Perry on this list.”

::Vladimir Movsesian was inconsolable over Britney’s lack of recognition: “VMA 2011 RATINGS FLOP! Britney DO NOT perform there! DO NOT even appear!”

:: And finally, abeljose22 thought that MTV got it just right: “This is awesome! I’m so glad they didn’t nominate people just for ratings cc. Gaga & Britney because they so overrated!! So glad to see Kanye, Katy & Adele leading! This is great!”

Kris Allen apparently hopes to catch some of the career rejuvenation bestowed upon new reality show judges Jennifer Lopez and Blake Shelton. The American Idol Season 8 champ will serve as judge and mentor for Kidz Bop’s 2nd annual Kidz Star USA Talent search, which seeks aspiring singers aged 15 or younger for their web-based competition. Unfortunately, Kidz Bop most likely found Allen’s “Live Like We’re Dying” too appropriate, as no such cover exists to add to this post. Shame. [Via THR, PopDust]

In light of the recent Kidz Bop interpretation of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, we thought it was fine time to take a look at the other hit songs the children’s compilation series has massacred over the years in a quest to be kid-friendly. The results of the company transforming PG-13 and R-rated singles into squeaky clean tunes have been nothing short of hilarious. But it does beg the question, why cover these “risque” songs to begin with? Hop below to listen to our nine favorite inappropriate choices for Kidz Bop covers.

#9 “Club Can’t Handle Me” — Flo Rida and David Guetta. The Babysitter’s Club? The Burger King Kids Club? What kind of club are we talking about here?

#8 “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” — Beyonce. If you like it then you should’ve put a ring pop on it?

#7 “Hot N Cold” — Katy Perry. Hilarious lyric change: “We fight, we make up / we hug, we make up”.

#6 “So What” — Pink. The song still mentions getting in a fight and threatening to kill someone, but “tool” has been changed to “fool”, “husband” has been changed to “boyfriend” and “pay his rent” has been rewritten as “play this way.”

#5 “Love Song” — Sara Barielles. I’m not gonna write you a love song — because I’m 11.

#4 “California Gurls” — Katy Perry. Hilarious lyric change: “Boys break their necks, tryn’ to act a little crazy”. Also, there’s no mention of Daisy Dukes or bikini tops, and as expected, “Sippin’ gin and juice” has been changed to “sippin’ on my juice”. As long as it’s not a Capri-Sun, those suckers are so hard to puncture with that weak plastic straw!

#3 “Party Like A Rock Star” — Shop Boys. How exactly does one party like a rock star when one has an 8 o’clock bedtime?

#2 “Not Myself Tonight” — Christina Aguilera. Hilarious lyric change: “And if you don’t like it — boo-hoo.”

#1 Tik Tok – Ke$ha. Hilarious lyric change: “Before I leave brush my teeth, then I go and pack / Cause when I leave for the night I ain’t comin’ back.” Where are you going? Your parents are going to call the police! However, it’s always good to teach kids about dental hygiene.

Hell hath frozen over — Kidz Bop has taken on the task of covering Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”. In the music vid below, tweens run amok in a shopping mall, all while dancing and singing a super sanitized version of the Mother Monster’s gay anthem. See which of the pop star’s controversial lyrics were altered and which got deleted all together.

First off, there’s nothing more hilarious than watching a 10-year-old lip sync, “My mama told me when I was young.” Do you mean “young” as in, when you were a fetus? You’re still young, child!

Here are some of the changes Kidz Bop made:

• “A different viewpoint is not a sin,” in lieu of “A different lover”.
• Omitted: “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen.”
• Also omitted, “No matter gay, straight or bi/lesbian transgendered life/I’m on the right track baby, I was born to survive.” And even though the vid looks like a United Colors Of Benetton ad, there’s no mention of “Black, white or beige/Chola or Orient made,” either.
• Lastly, “Same D.N.A., but born this way,” was left off the track as well.

What do you think of the “Born This Way” reworking?

[ONTD]

In its fifth week at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Eminem’s unstoppable Recovery sold another 187,000 copies and fended off new albums from Rick Ross and Sheryl Crow. Even more painful—Jonas Brothers’ latest, the Jonas L.A. soundtrack, was beat on the chart by the 18th installment of the Kidz Bop series. See how the album roundup played out after the jump.

First off, Eminem retains the pole position on the Top 200 for a fifth week, while Rick Ross’ fourth album Teflon Don debuts at #2 with 176,000 copies sold. Sheryl Crow’s seventh album 100 Miles From Memphis opens at #3 with 55,000. (Crow’s debut album Tuesday Night Music Club also peaked at #3.)

That brings us to Kidz Bop 18, which—probably much to this guy’s chagrin—enters the chart at #5 on the strength of 43,000 units moved. The compilation of kiddie jams contains such cover versions as “Telephone,” “Whataya Want From Me,” “Nothin’ On You” and “Hey, Soul Sister.” (And—what up, mom and dad—the iTunes edition even has a watered-down rendition of Xtina’s sleazy pop tune “Not Myself Tonight.”)

The soundtrack to the second season of Jonas Brothers’ Disney Channel series proved to be no match for the set of child-friendly hits, though. Jonas L.A. squeaks into the Top 200 at #7, after selling just 32,000 out of the gate. That’s a far cry from the #1 debut of the JoBros previous LP Lines, Vines And Trying Times just over a year ago. OMJ, indeed.

The Top 10 of Billboard’s Top 200 Albums:

1. Eminem, Recovery
2. Rick Ross, Teflon Don *new*
3. Sheryl Crow, 100 Miles From Memphis *new*
4. Drake, Thank Me Later
5. Kidz Bop Kids, Kidz Bop 18 *new*
6. Justin Bieber, My World 2.0
7. Jonas Brothers, Jonas L.A. *new*
8. Various Artists, Now That’s What I Call Music 34
9. Lady Antebellum, Need You Now
10. Lady Gaga, The Fame

YouTube user Michael Barsenas recently took to the online video channel to vent his fury over the G-rated version of Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” that appears on the latest Kidz Bop compilation. “Don’t put Lady Gaga on there and then butcher it just to make it appropriate, when it already was appropriate,” he reasons. The Gaga fan then goes on to discuss his favorite music video at the moment. (And you’ll never guess what it is.) We’re just wondering what he thinks of Kidz Bop’s retooling of “Telephone,” which also appears on the just-released kiddie collection. Hear that one—and watch Michael’s rant—below.

Michael Barsenas’ video blog “Kidz Bop Ruined Alejandro!!!!!!!!!”

“Telephone” (The Kidz Bop version, where no bub is sipped.)

The latest edition of the Super Mega Smash Hits… For Kids (With A Z) series Kidz Bop has been covered in this space before, but having heard their cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless” this morning, I figured it was worth bringing up again. The cover is certainly worth your time and/or your 99 cents, if only because the kids-in-unison take on the chorus adds a melancholia to the proceedings that should definitely be appropriated by Mr. West on his next album about love gone bad. (And the bridge sounds pretty psychotic!) Kanye’s ode to a toxic relationship has been covered by quite a few people lately—for example recent American Idol victor Kris Allen, who himself was “inspired” by the waily adult contemporarists The Fray. So, who wore it better? Our poll, after the jump.





Kidz Bop Kidz – “Heartless” [vin. poésie. vertu.]
[Kanye pic via Complex; Kidz Bop pic via Kidz Bop]

Nestled among the kid-centric covers of “Boom Boom Pow” and “1-2-3-4″ on the forthcoming 16th (!) installment of Kidz Bop is a song called “LOL”—and no, it’s not a Trey Songz cover. It’s by Sinai Rose, and it sounds kind of like a lost Lil Mama track, with attitude all over the place, a super-distorted guitar that sounds lifted right out of Rebirth, and a chorus that turns the old “cell-phone interference” excuse into a directive to text, not talk. Also: lots of acronyms, some of which I can’t decode for the life of me. Is our children learning? Find out, after the jump.





Sinai Rose is touted as an “up and coming star” in her Kidz Bop promo material, and I’m curious to see if having her featured on a Super Fantastic Mega Smash Hits For Kids collection will help boost her profile, or at least get her a couple of Radio Disney spins. Here’s the full Kidz Bop 16 tracklist:
1. Boom Boom Pow
2. Circus
3. Fire Burning
4. The Climb
5. How Do You Sleep
6. If I Were a Boy
7. You Found Me
8. I Hate This Part
9. Heartless
10. If Today Was Your Last Day
11. Live Your Life
12. Please Don’t Leave Me
13. Second Chance
14. Goodbye
15. Hoedown Throwdown
16. LOL – Sinai Rose
17. Candle (Bonus Track)
18. That’s Not My Name (Bonus Track)
19. 1234 (Bonus Track)
20. Halo (Bonus Track)


“Halo” but no “Already Gone”? Aw.


Kidz Bop 16 Deluxe [kidzbop.com; HT scroll]
LOL – Sinai Rose [YouTube]

Next Tuesday sees the release of a Motown compilation. Big deal–there are approximately 875,000 Motown compilations. But Motown for Kids promises to be a little different.

OK, it isn’t different at all: all 14 of its songs are proven warhorses. Nevertheless, Universal has seen the Kidz Bop series and raised the ante: “Finally there’s a series made for children that adults will love!” goes one tag line. Here’s another: “Introduce your kids to the classic Motown hits with Motown for Kids, a new CD in a series from Universal Music Family developed specifically to entertain kids and not drive parents crazy. Motown for Kids features original songs from their original artists. No annoying cover songs!” We know they’re just covering their markets where they can–and with kids’ albums one of the few places sales are booming, why not?–but it’s kind of sad to see some of the greatest music ever made reduced to a tolerable variation on third-grade classes chirping “4 Minutes.”

Motown for Kids [Amazon]

The Kidz Bop juggernaut has slackened a bit over recent years, with recent entries in the series not selling as well as previous installments. (I think that the cover of Modest Mouse’s “Float On” irrevocably broke the whole system by turning it into a source for too many LOLs.) But even though it’s less popular than before, a modified version of the group–with the faceless singers of background “oohs” and “ahhs” replaced by slightly older counterparts–is on a summer-vacation tour right now, holding all-ages shows in the afternoons, when clubs are normally closed. The Washington Post hit up a recent Kidz Bop tour stop at the 9:30 Club, and the whole spectacle does sound kind of strange, although it’s comforting to know that even in this jaded age, kids can still get embarrassed when their parents wave their arms along with the Shop Boyz.

The Kidz Boppers who sing on the CDs are ages 6 to 10, but the ones on tour range from 11 to 16. This tour only lasts the summer so the kids don’t have to miss school, although most of the kids are home-schooled so they can be groomed for careers in show business. The current bunch consists of Emily Arrington, Lauren Brianna Chavez, Jade Gilley, Coleman Keffer, Nathaniel Carter and Antony del Rio. But you don’t exactly need to memorize those names. Turnover makes them nearly anonymous: There are new Kidz every year, harvested through nationwide auditions. The current ones aren’t even named on the Kidz Bop Web site. And the ones who tour aren’t the same ones who sing on the albums.

If the singers aren’t the point, then how do the albums do so well? Though sales have slackened with the last few Kidz Bops, nine of the first 10 CDs were gold-certified, meaning they sold over 500,000 copies. The albums are advertised on the Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and other kid-friendly TV channels; they’re sold first by mail order, then in retail stores, for nearly $20 each.

For one thing, parents love the idea of cleaned-up lyrics and so are willing to buy the albums. Most of the songs are already PG, but the kiddie voices in the background make anything sound more cheerful. Although it’s still a little creepy to hear kids singing Christina Aguilera’s “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You).”

Hey, it was a little creepy when Aguilera sang it, given that she was just out of the blush of Mickey Mouse Club-dom at the time, and the video had those “unzipping zipper” wipes. Although the forthcoming Kidz Bop 14, in which the kidz cover Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” might top it. I mean, how are they going to clean up those surgery metaphors?

For Kidz Bop, 9:30 Checks Attitude, Not IDs, at the Door [WP]

With sales of ten million discs over their thirteen volumes, there are few music acts more profitable these days than the incredible, anonymous parade of voices known as Kidz Bop. Just like last year, the Kidz are hitting the road, including a somewhat odd appearance at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Below the cut, a preview of what you’re in store for: a lead singer who must be wondering if dropping out of college was the best idea, and a stirring moment previously hidden in all the noise by those hacks in the All-American Rejects. If you’re finding those Jonas Brothers just a bit too original, the dates are down there as well.

Here are the dates (noticeably lacking an appearance in Phoenix…hello, Kidz Bop overlords!)

June 2008
18 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
19 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s at the Strand
21-22 – Langhorne, PA – Sesame Place Theme Park
24 – Torrington, CT – Warner Theatre
27 – Albany, NY – Sawyer Theatre at The Egg
28 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus
29 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent

July 2008
2 – Beverly, MA – North Shore Music Theatre
3 – Gifford, NH – Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion (2 shows)
5 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
12 – Dallas, TX – Meyerson Symphony Center
13 – Austin, TX – Long Center for Performing Arts
15 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadowbrook Music Festival (2 shows)
17 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
19 – Lakewood, OH – Lakewood Civic Auditorium
20 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion
22 – Dubuque, IA – Dubuque County Fair
24-26 – Edmonton, Alberta – Capital Ex Fair (6 shows)
29 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre (2 shows)

August 2008
2 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre (2 shows)
6 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Center @ The Grand
8 – Westwood, CA – Royce Halll/UCLA
10 – San Diego, CA – Spreckels Theatre

For good measure, here’s everyone’s favorite Kidz Bop clip, “Since U Been Gone”:

Youngsters get ready to rock with Kidz Bop Live [Live Daily]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit it a sticky-floored ampitheater, watching in terror as an army of moppets scream out the lyrics to Smashmouth’s “All Star” at the top of their lungs? Then you’ll be happy to know that the Kidz Bop franchise is set to hit the road this year, with a live-show tour that will play in more than 80 markets. According to a press release:

Designed as an introduction to a real live rock show experience – in the same kind of kid-friendly environment KIDZ BOP is known for providing – the KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR features a full band, with vocal duties shared by adults and kids alike. Like the KIDZ BOP brand itself, the KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR encourages kids to get up and sing and dance along. With local participants, dance contests, video screens and song voting, kids will be the biggest part of the show.

Playing in theaters and small arenas nationwide (full tour schedule to be announced), this is KIDZ BOP’s first full-scale venture into the world of live family entertainment. “There have been few live events geared toward that elusive 6-11-year-old market,” observed Chenfeld and Balsam. “This demo loves the KIDZ BOP CDs, and we are confident that they will embrace this exciting new show.”

Thank goodness that the “6-11-year-old market” will finally get served–those lazy little rugrats were spending too much skipping rope and daydreaming, and not enough time buying merch. We just can’t wait until the Smoking Gun unearths the tour rider, which is sure to stipulate a quarter-keg full of Ssips and “Two (2) alligator-shaped kazoos” per stop.

Welcome to On The Shelf, Idolator’s weekly look at the new releases hitting store shelves and digital-music services. This week, we look at fresh albums from Maroon 5, The Used, KRS-One and Marley Marl, and the National, as well as the latest offering in the Kidz Bop series.

Maroon 5, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
The artist: Hall & Oates revivalists who command a nice chunk of change.
The sound: Blue-eyed soul with a lot of surface appeal.
The first in line: Suburban women who think Robin Thicke is a little too “edgy.”

The Used, Lies For The Liars
The artist: Utahan rockers who have a brewing beef with My Chemical Romance.
The sound: The first-ever emo dis record. (We think.)
The first in line: Gerard Way.

KRS-One and Marley Marl, Hip Hop Lives
The artist: Godfathers of hip-hop respectfully offering a rebuttal to Hip Hop Is Dead.
The sound: Wise words and fresh beats being passed down to the next generation.
The first in line: Nas.

The National, Boxer
The artist: Brainy, blog-adored Brooklynites.
The sound: Weary, gorgeous, horn-tinged rock and roll.
The first in line: Weary, gorgeous, and brainy urbanites.

Kidz Bop Kidz, Kidz Bop Country
The artist: The cheeriest sixth-grade chorus ever committed to tape.
The sound: Scrubbed-up versions of “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” “Life Is A Highway,” and other twangy hits.
The first in line: Elementary school gym teachers in the heartland.

On The CD Front [Pause & Play]

A tipster stumbled across this job listing today:

Based in New York City, KIDZ BOP is the best-selling kids’ CD series in the country and has sold over 9 Million CDs while garnering 9 GOLD records. The Coordinator will work with the KB Team to extend the brand further into licensed products, DVD products, Live Touring and various marketing and promotional opportunities. The KIDZ BOP Brand coordinator works with the Vice President for the KB Brand and the Vice President for KB Sponsorships. This position is also responsible for conducting research on companies and competitive products, creating & distributing “sales” materials, scheduling meetings and maintaining contact databases of the two executives. This is a great position for anyone interested in kids’ media, working with seasoned experts in kids’ creative and kids’ business-to-business relationships.

We’re posting this as a service, because we know that deep down, all of you want this job. Right? (Come on, be honest.)

Coordinator Jobs In New York, NY [careerbuilder.com]

Judging by Internet/blogosphere reaction, last night’s American Idol rendition of “Float On” is clearly the most disturbing thing to ever happen to our country’s yup-rock taste-barons–more disturbing than Vietnam (the war) and Vietnam (the band) combined. But the Idol singers weren’t the first youth-skewing group to cheese up Modest Mouse:

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you’re viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Kidz Bop Kidz – Float On [MP3, link expired]
American Idol kids — Float On [Bestweekever.tv]

Welcome to On The Shelf, Idolator’s weekly look at the new releases hitting store shelves on Tuesday. After the jump, a look at new records from the Kidz Bop Kids, Kittie, and Charlie Louvin, as well as a tribute to Ennio Morricone.

Kidz Bop Kids, Kidz Bop 11
The artist: The world’s No. 1 song-sanitizer.
The sound: The top 40 charts meet sixth-grade chorus arrangements.
The first in line: As long as Razor & Tie keeps pumping these albums out, parents and music teachers will keep buying them; the last installment of Kidz Bop moved 116,500 copies in its first week. But we have one question: Who on earth decided that a Hinder cover was a good idea?

Kittie, Funeral For Yesterday
The artist: Canadian metal chicks who have seen 50% lineup turnover since their last record.
The sound: Crunching riffs buried underneath almost-lilting vocals.
The first in line: Disgruntled Flyleaf fans.

Charlie Louvin
The artist: Country music legend’s first album in 10 years is backed by an all-star cast, including Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, and members of Lambchop.
The sound: Old-school twang with alt-country touches.
The first in line: Nashville diehards; Wilco completists.

Various Artists, We All Love Ennio Morricone
The artists: Metallica, Celine Dion, Andrea Boccelli, and Bruce Springsteen, among others, pay tribute to the Italian film composer.
The sound: As you might expect, it’s all over the map, but there are also a few Morricone-conducted instrumentals.
The first in line: These guys.

On The CD Front [Pause & Play]