koganbot | A Year In America November 6, 2008 (Reply)

In the words of Billboard, T.I. replaces himself again atop the Hot 100. And that's the basic chart news, not much movement, though Taylor leaps in with a track that finally is making me not so pessimistic about the album that comes out in five days. And suddenly, after hanging around for months and months, the Lady GaGa song rockets into the Top 40. Why's that? Not that I object, but was there some external event that finally gave it the push? Only one other newbie, and it's one that we heard and discussed ten days ago when it hit in Britland, but it's choice. So a week that's three for three.

Taylor Swift "You're Not Sorry": A weeper that Taylor goes tentative with, stays fragile herself while allocating the big passions to the drums and strings. The lyrics are neither as striking nor as complex as the ones she was writing two years ago, but in this instance that's fine, as she delivers plain feeling. TICK.

Lady GaGa f. Colby O'Donis "Just Dance": A first-rate floor stomper that I'm not as gaga for as I want to be, I think 'cause the vocals slop around where they really should take off. It's a dynamite song, however. TICK.

John Legend f. André 3000 "Green Light": This is unassuming at first, the vocals seemingly geared for smooth radio, but the beats add rough and tumble, and it won't stop pushing. TICK.