New Picks of the Week November 21, 2010

It’s always nice to hear stories about artists that rise to the top unexpectedly. 24-year old Edward Maya is from Romania where he is finishing up at Bucharest Conservatory as a music student. As a performer, composer and producer, he has recorded many original songs. One of these, “Stereo Love” featuring vocalist Vika Jigulina caught on in his native Romania before becoming a mega hit at clubs around the world. Now, the song has crossed over to pop radio and this week hits the national Top 40 in the U.S. The song features a hook on Edward’s main instrument, accordion.

From a completely other side of the world as Edward and Vika is Charmaine out of Sydney, Australia. Charmaine is looking for a way to bring Christian hit music to us in a different way than the typical pop/rock format. She leans toward electronica which means she is leaning my way. The techno beats along with her perfect voice for this format makes “Run” an easy fit at nightclubs. But the message is definitely Christian which is awesome. The song is also part of the new Rock Band 3. Check it out!

Another Christian rock band that is closer to home that you should check out is Echoing Angels. Out of Atlanta, Georgia, this band has been around since 1999. They didn’t hit it big on the national scene though until 2007 with the release of their album “You Alone” which appeared on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Their latest effort called “Say What You Believe” caught my attention with the great horn line and then the great outspoken message that all Christians should adhere to.

Chart Update:

Returning to #1 this week after a two-week hiatus is “Like A G6” by Far*East Movement featuring Cataracs & Dev. The song just spent two weeks at #2 while Ke$ha took a turn at #1 with “We R Who We R” followed by Rihana with “What’s My Name?” featuring Drake.

Rihanna isn’t done threatening the top spot. She moves from 4-2 this week with “Only Girl In The World”. And yet another diva is closing in on #1. P!nk is up from 7-4 this week with “Raise Your Glass”.

It’s another big Glee Cast week this week. The group which is now overtaken the Beatles for most Hot 100 hits in the rock era adds three more to the Top 40 this week. The list is headed up with “Teenage Dream” at #8. It’s of course a cover of the Katy Perry #1 smash from this summer which still resides at #13 on the pop chart this week. The Cast then has two medleys bow lower on the chart. They are at #31 with “Start Me Up/Livin’ On A Prayer” and at #38 with “Stop In The Name Of Love/Free Your Mind”.

Also making a big debut this week is Black Eyed Peas. They roll in at #12 with “The Time (Dirty Bit)” which samples the “Dirty Dancing” 1980’s classic “The Time Of My Life”. It is the Peas‘ 12th career Top 40 single. Two songs tie for the biggest move up the Top 40 this week. Country superstars Sugarland are up from 25-17 with “Stuck Like Glue”. And Cee Lo Green is up from 30-22 with “Forget You”.

Also debuting in the Top 40 this week are the aforementioned Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina with the Top 10 Dance smash “Stereo Love”.