These are a few of my favorite things…..

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…. Also cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudles.

Ok in all actuality I AM obsessed with a few things that aren’t flowers, animals or baked goods. Although those are great too. Yum. Streudle…

Anyway, those of you blessed enough to have ALREADY downloaded Carrie Underwoods “Carnival Ride” know why I’m so pleased right now. I don’t really know how to describe it besides as god’s gift to music. I love it. ALL of it. One of the greatest CDs of all time.

Download “Last Name,” her answer to the cross-over-tastic “Before He Cheats,” or “Just A Dream,” which draws more tears than “Austin” does. Honest. If you are a country fan you know what a big, nay huge, statement that is. “If it’s friday night I’m at the ball game, and first thing Saturday, if it don’t rain……”

If in doubt, just get the whole thing. You won’t be disappointed. “Carnival Ride” officially drops next Tuesday October 23rd. Prolly you should just download it here.

Turns out Carrie’s music isn’t the only thing she has to be proud of. The former Idol nabbed the hottest guy on tv too, Nate Archibauld from “Gossip Girl.” If you aren’t watching yet, I feel sorry for you GG is like the OC, but sexier and more urban. Dan is the new Seth except not jewish and not that rich, and Serena is Marissa but way way more awesome. Tune in.

Other things I like right now include the Old Navy commercial featuring all those winter sweaters. When do those Starbucks red cups come out anyway? I’ll answer my own question, Nov 8th.

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

surfing the charts

Hot shot Kanye’s “Stronger” is ALREADY up to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, a dramatic airplay gain from #47 last week. He’s easily poised to enter the top 5 in August like I predicted and then some. I would love to see Timba/Kanye at 1 and 2. The “Stronger” video was nominated for the “video of the year” MTV VMA yesterday. Kanye picked up four nods in total including, “Male Artist of the Year.” Lets hope he loses and goes off like he did at the ’06 MTV Europe Music Awards. Awesome. Set your tivos! (sept 9th)

Carrie’s new tune debuted at #20 on the country charts. No doubt it’s going straight to the top. “So Small” combines the true country soul she displayed in “Jesus Take the Wheel,” and the cross-over mass-market appeal of of “Before he cheats” and wraps it up in a message of “love conquers all.” This song is going to be so NOT small. It’s going to be huge, Jordin Sparks huge.

Timba’s “song of the summer” raises one notch to #4 and pushes Sean Kingston’s gf to #5 which brings me great joy. Its all about the small victorys in life.

Sean, however, is still #1. His  second single also debuted well at #23 and his album his stores this week in the top ten. This is wrong on so many levels. It’s like someone proclaiming britney spears is a sane person, that would be a stupid thing to say. Sean’s success is just that, stupid…. Also silly, needless, dumb, wrong, unnecesary…..

manic music monday

Hate it or love it

I love Daft Punk, and now in association I love Kanye West. I’m obsessed with the dance-tastic “Stronger,” off his next album “Graduation,” Kanyes’ europop follow-up to “Late Registration.” If you’re going to sample, might as well sample something fabulous like Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” I predict it will climb into the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 this August.

Anybody else hate “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston? He is the male Rihanna, but with even LESS talent. Jurys out on who is skankier. Maybe they’ll get together and make the worst album of all time. (Tidbit: Rihanna was born in 1988 and Sean in 1990! Doesn’t that make you feel really really old?)

Making Music History This Fall…

New Timbaland pairings in the works! The mega-producer/platinum-artist can hand pick his match-ups these days. Have you ever heard of a certain songstress named Celine? How about Madonna? Timba’s in the studio with both. I’m more excited for these hits-in-the-making than as I was for ‘Nsync’s “Pop” release in 2001. Oh yes, we’re talking boyband-frenzy kind of anticipation.

Carrie Underwood’s first single off her sophomore effort, “So Small” (and also her first writing credit!) is everything a country song should be. I see it beating out Chesney for the top-spot on the country charts this summer, and crossing over into the top 20 of the popworld on the Hot 100. Can you say multiplatinum five times fast? Her October release is going to KILL.

Blake Lewis. Just wait. That’s all.

Last Words

Timba’s “Way I Are,” is THE song of the summer. Period. The end. No question. Fact.