Nick's Top 100 of 2009

It’s that time of year again. Time for my top 100 of the year. Last year this lady topped my chart with her first single, which went to go on to #1 here in January. Since it was at #1 in my chart I couldn’t put it on this years. The same for Beyonce’s Single Ladies which was in my top 10 of last year. But, there were a few songs that were below the top 10 that has now made big jumps on this years chart. Like the song at #1. Once again it is my Gaga. She has the most singles with 5. Last year it was Rihanna….. this year not so much. I hate those first few singles on her album. B.E.P’s take over as well & Beyonce has 4 singles as well. Gaga also closes out the chart with a single that wasn’t released here in the states. Hope you enjoyed my top 100 as much as I did. Here’s to all the new music of 2010!!!!

1. Poker Face/Lady Gaga #1 (8 weeks) Australia/Canada (3 weeks) UK (1 week) US

2. Boom Boom Pow/Black Eyed Peas #1 (12 weeks) US/Australia (4 weeks) UK/Canada

3. I Gotta Feeling/Black Eyed Peas #1 (14 weeks) US/Canada/Australia UK

4. Love Game/Lady Gaga #2 Canada #4 Australia #5 US #19 UK

5. Love Takes Over/David Guetta & Kelly Rowland #1 UK/US Dance #6 Australia #22 Canada #76 US POP

6. Love Story/Taylor Swift #1 Australia/US Country/US AC #2 UK #4 Canada/US POP

7. Circus/Britney Spears #2 Canada #3 US #6 Australia #13 UK

8. My Life Would Suck Without You/Kelly Clarkson #1 (2 weeks) US/UK/Canada #4 Australia

9. Broken Strings/James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado #1 Germany #2 UK #41 Canada

10. Empire State Of Mind/Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys #1 (5 weeks) US #2 UK #3 Canada #4 Australia

11. Party In The USA/Miley Cyrus #2 US #3 Canada #6 Australia #11 UK

12. You Belong With Me/Taylor Swift #1 US AC/Country #2 US POP #3 Canada #5 Australia #30 UK

13. Good Girls Go Bad/Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester #5 Australia #7 US/Canada #17 UK

14. I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)/Pitbull #2 US/Canada #4 UK #6 Australia

15. Bad Romance/Lady Gaga #1 UK/Canada #2 US/Australia

16. Tik Tok/Ke$ha #1 Australia/Canada/US #5 UK (currently charting at #1)

17. Celebration/Madonna #1 US Dance/Italy/Russia #3 UK #5 Canada #40 Australia #71 US POP

18. Halo/Beyonce #1 US Dance #3 Canada/Australia #4 UK #5 US POP

19. Obsessed/Mariah Carey #1 US Dance #7 US POP #13 Australia #15 Canada #52 UK

20. Million Dollar Bill/Whitney Houston #1 US Dance #5 UK #16 US R&B #100 US POP

21. Hotel Room Service/Pitbull #7 Canada #8 US #9 UK #11 Australia

22. I’m Yours/Jason Mraz #1 US AC #3 Australia/Canada #6 US POP #11 UK

23. Paparazzi/Lady Gaga #2 Australia #3 Canada #4 UK #6 US

24. Meet Me Halfway/Black Eyed Peas #1 UK/Australia #5 Canada #7 US

25. Sexy Bitch/David Guetta & Akon #1 Australia/Canada/UK #6 US

26. Knock You Down/Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo #1 US R&B #3 US #5 UK #9 Canada #25 Australia

27. She Wolf/Shakira #1 US Dance #5 Canada #4 UK #11 US POP #18 Australia

28. Sober/Pink #6 Australia #8 Canada #9 UK #15 US

29. Sweet Dreams/Beyonce #1 US Dance #2 Australia #5 UK #10 US POP #17 Canada

30. 3/Britney Spears #1 US/Canada #6 Australia #7 UK

31. I Hate This Part/Pussycat Dolls #1 US Dance #5 Canada #10 Australia #11 US #12 UK

32. Please Don’t Leave Me/Pink #8 Canada #11 Australia #12 UK #17 US

33. If You Seek Amy/Britney Spears #11 Australia #13 Canada #19 US #20 UK

34. Right Round/Flo Rida feat. Ke$ha #1 US/UK/Australia/Canada

35. Use Somebody/Kings of Leon #2 Australia/UK #4 US #8 Canada

36. Untouched/Veronica’s #2 Australia #5 Canada #8 UK #17 US

37. Heavy Cross/Gossip #7 Australia #14 US Dance #37 UK

38. Waking Up In Vegas/Katy Perry #1 US Dance #2 Canada #9 US POP #11 Australia #19 UK

39. Already Gone/Kelly Clarkson #13 US #15 Canada #66 UK

40. Happy/Leona Lewis #2 UK #15 Canada #22 Australia #31 US

41. Don’t Trust Me/3OH!3 #6 Canada #7 US #21 UK

42. Evacuate The Dancefloor/Cascada #1 UK US Dance #3 Australia #4 Canada #25 US POP

43. Fire Burning/Sean Kingston #2 Canada #5 US #12 UK

44. Blame It/Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain #1 (14 weeks) US R&B #2 US POP #7 Canada

45. New In Town/Little Boots #13 UK

46. Fallin’ For You/Colbie Caillat #3 US AC #12 US POP #28 Canada

47. Great DJ/Ting Tings #3 US Dance #33 UK #52 Australia

48. Fight For This Love/Cheryl Cole #1 UK

49. Gives You Hell/All American Rejects #3 Australia #4 Canada/US #18 UK

50. Make Me/Janet Jackson #1 US Dance

51. I Took The Night/Chelley (no chart info)

52. Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)/ A R Rahman & The Pussycat Dolls #1 Australia #3 UK #4 Canada #15 US

53. Love Sex Magic/Ciara & Justin Timberlake #5 Australia/UK #6 Canada #10 US

54. Ride My Tempo/Ida Corr #1 (6 weeks) German dance #8 Denmark

55. Fuck You/Lily Allen #1 US Dance #23 Australia #37 Canada #68 US POP

56. Break Your Heart/Taio Cruz #1 UK

57. I Do Not Hook Up/Kelly Clarkson #9 Australia #13 Canada #20 US #36 UK

58. Make Her Say/Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West & Common #11 US Rap #43 US POP

59. Day N’ Nite/Kid Cudi #2 UK #3 US #10 Canada #15 Australia

60. The Climb/Miley Cyrus #4 US #5 Australia/Canada #11 UK

61. Bad Boys/Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida #1 UK

62. Patron Tequila/Paradiso Girls feat. Eve & Lil’ Jon #3 US Dance

63. Run This Town/Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Rihanna #1 UK #2 US #6 Canada #6 Australia

64. Now I’m That Bitch/Livvi Franc #1 US Dance #40 UK

65. Fireflies/Owl City #1 US #2 Australia/Canada

66. Down/Jay-Sean feat. Lil’ Wayne #1 US #2 Australia #3 Canada/UK

67. Mama Do (Uh Oh)/Pixie Lott #1 UK

68. Bulletproof/La Roux #1 UK/US Dance #5 Australia #45 Canada

69. Get Sexy/Sugababes #2 UK

70. Funhouse/Pink #6 Australia #21 Canada #29 UK #44 US

71. The Loving Kind/Girls Aloud #10 UK

72. Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)/Freemason’s feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor #2 UK Dance #13 UK POP

73. Beating My Heart/Jon McLaughlin #18 US Adult Top 40

74. Diva/Beyonce #1 US Dance #3 US R&B #19 US POP #40 Australia

75. The Boy Does Nothing/Alesha Dixon#5 UK #8 Australia

76. Work/Saturdays #22 UK

77. The One/Mary J. Blige feat. Drake #32 US R&B #63 US POP

78. The Spell/Alphabeat #20 UK

79. Krazy/Pitbull feat. Lil’ Jon #11 US Rap #30 US POP #38 Australia

80. Take Me Back/Tinchy Stryder feat. Taio Cruz #3 UK

81. The Fear/Lily Allen #1 UK/US Dance #3 Australia #33 Canada #80 US POP

82. Don’t Stop Believin’/Glee Cast #4 US #5 Australia

83. Doesn’t Mean Anything/Alicia Keys #8 UK #14 US R&B #60 US POP

84. Goodbye/Kristina DeBarge #3 US Dance #11 US Pop #15 Canada

85. I Don’t Believe You/Pink #23 Australia

86. Ego/Beyonce #3 US R&B #6 Brazil #39 US POP

87. Want/Natalie Imbruglia #4 Italy #22 Australia

88. Whatcha Say/Jayson Derulo #1 US #3 Canada/UK #6 Australia

89. Did It Again/Shakira #4 US Latin #26 UK

90. Bottle Pop/Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg #1 US Dance #17 Australia

91. Hush Hush/Pussycat Dolls #1 US Dance #10 Australia #17 UK #41 Canada #73 US POP

92. Thinking Of You/Katy Perry #24 Canada #27 UK #29 US #43 Australia

93. Remedy/Little Boots #6 UK

94. White Horse/Taylor Swift #2 US Country #13 US POP

95. Love Etc./Pet Shop Boys #1 US Dance #14 UK

96. I Want To Know What Love Is/Mariah Carey #2 US Dance #10 US AC #19 UK #40 US R&B #60 US POP

97. Burn/Jessica Mauboy #1 Australia

98. Second Chance/Shinedown #1 US Rock #7 US #29 Canada #19 Australia

99. We Are Golden/Mika #4 UK #5 US Dance #10 Australia #15 Canada

100. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)/Lady Gaga #2 Sweden #15 Australia #68 Canada

The Island of Misfit Boys

If we’re on the Island of Unwanted Toys
We’ll miss all the fun with the girls and the boys
When Christmas Day is here
The most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day of the year!

Another year, another Christmas. My sentiments were wake me up when it ends. Not to say I didn’t have a lovely time. Scott & I hightailed it to the Bronx for my friend & co-worker’s Christmas Eve dinner. I had had such a good time there for Thanksgiving & Anabel’s food is amazing so this was sure to be a goodie. When we stepped off the elevator we could hear the sound of loud club beats. Scott & I looked at each other like ‘alright now’. Even though Anabel had never met Scott & I had not met the rest of her family, they welcomed us with huge open arms. We ate & ate & ate some more. My body was like WTF. We also drank a lot but it was one of those rare occasions that since we ate so much we never got drunk. Which was fine because we were in wonderful company. The music blasted from the speakers & it was old club music I hadn’t heard in a long time. It was definitely a dinner I was not used to. I had brought a Xmas cd that I had made & I laughed & told Anabel had I known it would be club beats I would have just made plenty of those cds. We left with full bellies & by the time I got home all I could do was lie on my bed & wait for all the food to digest. I thought about how it’s funny this year families I had not even known had been so open to me. It made me thankful.

On my wall I have some photo’s of me that marked some happy times through my life. Me as a baby laughing at something I’m sure my stuffed animal was telling me. Me on the beach getting my tan when I was probably around 6. Me with my dance troupe when I first came to NYC. Me with my family the first Xmas I had come down from NYC. It was the last time all of us were together & we looked truly happy. My sisters were really young, Auntie M was with her last husband, my mom actually looking happy, my grandma still with us. Had I known then that she would not be here just a few years after I would have probably embraced the moment longer. But that’s just the way it goes I suppose. Flash forward to now & that picture is just a memory. I’ve still not spoken to my mother & still not sure that I could. I suppose I’m still just not ready to make nice. I haven’t heard from my sisters so I don’t know how to take that. I think I speak to my grandfather maybe once a year. At least my aunt & I still have each other. As long as I can remember we have been the black sheep. Bah bah bah is what we’ll keep singing.

Christmas day I woke up & decided that I would spend the day at the movies. I had no other plans so why not? I got in the shower & turned the water on. Seconds go by & it was still freezing cold. Another minute. Well I’ll be damned… happy cold shower Xmas. Luckily, my gym was one of 3 NYSC gyms open. So I went there & decided to work out & get my shower on. I expected it to be empty but it was a lil crowded. Jordan had also decided to come to get his fitness on. I thought kudos to you all but if I didn’t have to be here I wouldn’t. I ended up spending Christmas with Jordan at his apt, the apt I had once lived in. We watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation which IS kind of a tradition for me. The old lady never fails to make me laugh & when Randy Quaid’s character say’s ‘The shitter’s full. Merry Xmas!’ always gets a hearty laugh from me as well. We had a lil dinner & listened to music & had some drinks. I was fine until I began to think about my Christmas from 08. A few of us who had no family here got together to have our own little Christmas & we decided to do it at Jason’s. Our little island of misfit boys banded together & had a wonderful time. Had I known that would be my last Christmas with him I would have held onto that moment a little longer. So thinking about that made me a little emotional. I’m always ok until I think about it. I can be the king of locking my feelings away & then I let my guard down & those feelings rush to the surface. I swear I get more emotional as I get older. I guess that’s what life does to you. I was talking with my aunt & we made a pact. This time next year for Xmas we are gonna be together. Somewhere warm would be absolutely perfect. I would like to come back with a tan that’s for sure.

Having time off from work this week is absolutely wonderful. I went out last night which is the first time I’ve been out on a Sunday night since almost a year ago. I normally just have my Chinese & watch my shows. Scott, Sean, Paul, Isaac & I went out to Hiro & had a blast. The music was good & the boys were surely acting like some misfits. I didn’t get home until almost 7 which hasn’t happened in a long, long time. Now I’ll be chilling out until New Year’s Eve. I’m looking forward to it. A new year, the beginning of a new decade. 2009 has been a little rough. I seem to have better times during the even years. SO here’s to this one being better. May you all sip on some champagne or vodka or whatever poison it may be. I will most likely be doing both.

Nick's Top 100 of the Decade

Figuring out my top 100 of the decade was not the easiest of tasks. There have been so so many favorites that I haven’t included because I tried to keep this consistent with other big hits on other charts. I could have easily had all my ladies of pop dominate this but I thought not. Billboard & I agreed who should have the #1 song, but after that we differ. A lot of their songs show up on this one & I also have a lot of songs that were not hits here in the US or missed their top 100. Here’s how I came up with the ones in the top 10. We Belong Together was at #1 for 14 weeks & brought Mariah back to the tops of the chart after not charting in the top 10 with Thank God I Found You in 2000. The Emancipation of Mimi was the biggest selling album of 2005 & not only did she receive the #1 song of this decade but also had the #1 in the 90’s with One Sweet Day. Beyonce is the female artist with the most charted singles of this decade & if you count the ones with Destiny’s Child it puts her even further in front. Madonna toured 3 times & had the biggest selling tour by a female artist with Sticky & Sweet. Music should have made Billboard’s top 100 so I felt the need to pump it up even higher on my chart. The first American Idol winner was Kelly Clarkson & with her single Since U Been Gone, she showed she was more than just a one hit idol wonder. Gaga has become one of my most favorite artist’s with just one album & one EP, but I think she is here to stay. Kylie has been around since the late 80’s & this song put her back on everyone’s map all over the world. It went to #1 in 40 countries around the world. Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis was inescapable & the #1 single in the UK of 2007. This X-Factor winner has grace & poise that is not seen by most pop artist’s out there. Rihanna was unstoppable with her singles from Good Girl Gone Bad & Umbrella was the biggest & most covered song in 2007. It also has the most weeks at #1 by any other artist in the UK. Amy Winehouse may be a hot mess but Back To Black was my favorite album of 2007. Rehab was MY anthem & it was her biggest hit to date. The lone male in this top 10 that isn’t featured is Justin Timberlake who showed he was more than just the curly haired lead of a boy band with his first debut album. But, with his first single from Future Sex/Love Sound he had us all wondering where the hell had sexy been? At least it was back. Big props to Jay-Z for being featured in 2 of the songs in this top 10. I’ve included how many weeks the song spent at its position here in the US but not in other countries. Hope you enjoy the rest!

1. We Belong Together/Mariah Carey #1(14 weeks) US/Australia #2 UK

2. Crazy In Love/Beyonce feat. Jay-Z #1 (8 weeks) US/UK #2 Australia/UK

3. Music/Madonna #1 (3 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

4. Just Dance/Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis #1 (3 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

5. Since U Been Gone/Kelly Clarkson #2 US #3 Australia #5 UK

6. Can’t Get You Out Of My Head #1 (4 weeks) UK/Australia/US Dance #7 US POP

7. Bleeding Love/Leona Lewis #1 (4 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

8. Umbrella/Rihanna feat. Jay-Z #1 (8 weeks) US (9 weeks) UK #1 Australia/Canada

9. Rehab/Amy Winehouse #7 UK #9 US #10 Canada

10. SexyBack/Justin Timberlake #1 (6 weeks) US/UK/Australia #3 Canada

11. Lady Marmalade/Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya & Lil’ Kim #1 (5 weeks) US/UK/Australia

12. Yeah!/Usher feat. Ludacris & Lil’ John #1 (12 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

13. Gold Digger/Kanye West feat Jamie Foxx #1 (10 weeks) US/Australia #2 UK/Canada

14. All For You/Janet Jackson #1 (7 weeks) US/Canada #3 UK #5 Australia

15. Toxic/Britney Spears #1 UK/Australia/Canada/US Dance #9 UK POP

16. Fallin’/Alicia Keys #1 (5 weeks) US #3 UK #7Australia

17. Single Ladies/Beyonce #1 (4 weeks) US/UK #2 Canada #5 Australia

18. Boom Boom Pow #1 (12 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

19. Hot In Herre/Nelly #1 (6 weeks) US/Canada #3 Australia #4 UK

20. Poker Face/Lady Gaga #1 US/UK/Australia/Canada

21. Hollaback Girl/Gwen Stefani #1 (4 weeks) US/Australia #8 UK #12 Canada

22. Hung Up/Madonna #1 UK/Australia/Canada/US Dance #7 US POP

23. Don’t Cha/Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes #1 UK/Canada/Australia/US Dance #2 US POP

24. No One/Alicia Keys #1 (9 weeks) US #2 Canada #3 Australia #6 UK

25. Beautiful/Christina Aguilera #1 UK/Canada/Australia/US Dance #2 US POP

26. I’m Real/Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule #1 (5 weeks) US #4 UK #6 Canada

27. Promiscuous/Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland #1 (6 weeks) US/Canada #2 Australia #3 UK

28. Be Without You/Mary J. Blige #1 (16 weeks) US R&B #3 US POP

29. Baby Boy/Beyonce feat. Sean Paul #1 (9 weeks) US #2 UK #3 Australia

30. SOS/Rihanna #1 (3 weeks) US/Australia #2 UK/Canada

31. Lose Yourself/Eminem #1 (12 weeks) US/Australia/Canada/UK

32. I Kissed A Girl/Katy Perry #1 (7 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

33. I Gotta Feeling/Black Eyed Peas #1 (14 weeks) US/UK/Canada/Australia

34. You’re Beautiful/James Blunt #1 US/UK/Canada #2 Australia

35. Chasing Pavements/Adele #2 UK #21 US #28 Canada

36. Just Like A Pill/Pink #1 UK #2 Australia #4 Canada #8 US

37. If I Ain’t Got You/Alicia Keys #1 (6 weeks) US R&B #4 US POP #18 UK

38. Ain’t It Funny(remix)/Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule & Caddillac Tah #1 (6 weeks) US #4 UK #9 Australia #12 Canada

39. U Remind Me/Usher #1 (4 weeks) US #3 UK #4 Australia

40. Womanizer/Britney Spears #1 US/Canada #3 UK #5 Australia

41. Work It/Missy Elliot #1 US R&B #2 US POP #6 UK/Australia

42. Low/Flo Rida feat. T-Pain #1 (10 weeks) US/Australia/Canada #2 UK

43. Touch My Body/Mariah Carey #1 (2 weeks) US #2 Canada #5 UK #17 Australia

44. I’m Yours/Jason Mraz #1 (16 weeks) US AC/UK #3 Australia/Canada #6 US POP

45. Hips Don’t Lie/Shakira Feat. Wyclef Jean #1 (4 weeks) US/UK/Australia #2 Canada

46. Don’t Stop The Music/Rihanna #1 Australia/US Dance #2 Canada #3 US POP #4 UK

47. Say My Name/Destiny’s Child #1 (3 weeks) US/Australia #2 Canada #3 UK

48. Irreplaceable/Beyonce #1 (10 weeks) US/Australia #4 UK

49. Crazy/Gnarls Barkley #1 (9 weeks) UK/Canada #2 US/Australia

50. Makes Me Wonder/Maroon 5 #1 (3 weeks) US/Canada #2 UK #6 Australia

51. Milkshake/Kelis #1 US Dance #2 Australia/UK #3 US POP

52. Buttons/Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg #1 US Dance #2 Australia #3 UK/US POP

53. Apologize/Timbaland feat. One Republic #1 Australia/Canada #2 US #3 UK

54. Family Affair/Mary J. Blige #1 (6 weeks) US #8 Australia/UK

55. Get Ur Freak On/Missy Elliot #3 US R&B #4 UK #7 US POP

56. Doesn’t Really Matter/Janet Jackson #1 (3 weeks) US #5 UK #6 Canada #28 Australia

57. All I Have/Jennifer Lopez feat. LL Cool J #1 (4 weeks) US #2 UK/Australia #6 Canada

58. On A Night Like This/Kylie Minogue #1 Australia #2 UK

59. Can’t Touch It/Ricki-Lee #2 Australia

60. Glamorous/Fergie feat. Ludacris #1 (2 weeks) US #2 Australia #6 UK #12 Canada

61. Broken Strings/James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado #1 Germany #2 UK #41 Canada

62. The Sweet Escape/Gwen Stefani feat. Akon #2 US/UK/Australia/Canada

63. Lose My Breath/Destiny’s Child #2 UK #3 US/Australia

64. Hey Ya!/Outkast #1 (9 weeks) US/Australia/Canada #3 UK

65. Get Busy/Sean Paul #1 (3 weeks) US #4 UK/Australia

66. In Da Club/50 Cent #1 (9 weeks) US/Australia/Canada #3 UK

67. Dance Wiv Me/Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris #1 (4 weeks) UK #13 Australia

68. I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’/Scissor Sisters #1 (4 weeks) UK/Australia #2 US Dance Airplay

69. Let Me Blow Your Mind/Eve feat. Gwen Stefani #2 US #4 UK/Australia

70. Underneath It All/No Doubt feat. Lady Saw #3 US #18 UK #28 Australia #35 Canada

71. Love Story/Taylor Swift #1 US Country/Australia #2 UK #4 US POP/Canada

72. U + Ur Hand/Pink #5 Australia #9 US #10 UK #31 Canada

73. Again/Lenny Kravitz #4 US #19 UK #30 Australia

74. Cry Me A River/Justin Timberlake #2 UK/Australia #3 US

75. Get Right/Jennifer Lopez #1 UK/US Dance #3 Australia/Canada #12 US POP

76. Bootylicious/Destiny’s Child #1 US #2 UK #4 Canada/Australia

77. Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)/Christina Aguilera #1 (3 weeks) US/Canada #3 Australia #8 UK

78. My Immortal/Evanescence #1 Canada #7 UK/US #11 Australia

79. Bad Day/Daniel Powter #1 (4 weeks) US #2 UK #3 Australia #7 Canada

80. Breathe/Faith Hill #1 US Country #2 US POP

81. Don’t Tell Me/Madonna #1 Canada/US Dance #4 US/UK #7 Australia

82. My Life Would Suck Without You/Kelly Clarkson #1 (2 weeks) US/UK/Canada #4 Australia

83. Independent Women (part 1)/Destiny’s Child #1 (11 weeks) US/UK/Canada #3 Australia

84. Black & Gold/Sam Sparro #2 UK #4 Australia #8 US Dance Airplay

85. How Many Licks?/Lil’ Kim feat. Sisqo #11 US Rap #36 US R&B #75 US POP

86. Try Again/Aaliyah #1 US #5 UK/Germany #8 Australia

87. The Way You Move/Outkast feat. Sleepy Brown #1 US #7 UK/Australia

88. Always On Time/Ja Rule feat. Ashanti #1 (2 weeks) US #2 Canada #3 Australia #6 UK

89. Shake It Off/Mariah Carey #2 US #6 Australia #9 UK/b-side of Get Your Number

90. Dilemma/Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland #1 (7 weeks) US/UK/Australia/Canada

91. Thank You/Dido #1 US AC/Canada #3 UK/US POP

92. Mr. Brightside/The Killers #10 UK/US

93. Girlfriend/Avril Lavigne #1 US/Canada/Australia #2 UK

94. Goodies/Ciara #1 (7 weeks) US/UK/Canada #19 Australia

95. I Knew I Loved You/Savage Garden #1 (4 weeks) US/Canada #4 Australia # 10 UK

96. Hero/Enrique Iglesias #1 US Latin/UK/Australia #3 US POP

97. Unwritten/Natasha Bedingfield #1 US Dance/AC #4 Canada #5 US POP #6 UK

98. Before He Cheats/Carrie Underwood #1 (5 weeks) US Country #4 Canada #8 US POP

99. Mercy/Duffy #1 (5 weeks) UK #11 Canada # 26 Australia #27 US

100. Foolish/Ashanti #1 (10 weeks) US #4 UK #6 Australia

A Jason State of Mind

It’s been a rough week. A few days ago I tripped just walking on the street & fell down & bloodied up my knee & my hand. (No I was not inebriated, which makes it even sadder that I was this clumsy) I pulled something in my arm working out yesterday. I got upset with someone who I don’t like to be upset with. Most importantly, one of my best friends passed away.

I got a call last Monday morning from my friend’s cousin telling me he passed away the night before in the hospital. As I stood there in shock outside of St. Pat’s a wave of emotions overflowed & I could not hold back the tears. I tried to hold it together at work but in the end I had to leave. I went home & cleaned & did laundry & did anything to not think. I’ve gone through all the emotions & it seemed like everyday I felt a different way. Today I have finally decided that I need to get the crazy out of me & write.

Eight years ago I met a guy named Jason at Pop Rocks. It was one of my favorite places to go back then. Nothing but pop music played & I spent many a Thursday night there. I was busy doing a breakdown to one of my jams at the time when this guy was trying to get my attention. To no avail he started chatting with my friend Krizia & asked her about me. He would always go on to tell people that I didn’t pay him any mind when he tried to hit on me. But once I did I was smitten. It was hard not to notice him. He was beautiful & all the boys loved him. He had an energy about him & if I had a dollar for every friend I’ve had in the years that had a crush on him I would have a LOT of money. He was my first real boyfriend here in the city. It’s funny to look back at the pics of us. Nights at the Roxy, him wearing glitter, me with my natural hair color. Even when we ended our relationship it was on good terms. He would become one of my best friends that I have had while living here in NY. My friends here in NY have been my family & losing him has been like losing a little piece of my heart that I can not get back.

It’s weird to think I won’t hear his voice again. I found myself scrolling through texts just so I could read them. He was loved by so many people & he made an impact on so many lives. Reading the posts on his facebook page was hard as well as all the pics that were posted. I’ve done my best to think about all the good times & not be angry that I won’t have any more of these. We did a lot of growing up together. When I went through my tumor he was one of the many that supported me & was there when I needed him for anything. But, that’s just the kind of guy he was. He was a wonderful dancer. He was an awesome cook. He was an extremely talented architect. He loved his dog Gem more than anything. He was a generous soul. He was so many things.

For the first few nights I couldn’t sleep well. Dream after dream would occur. One of them was so vivid & it felt so real. We were upstairs at the Roxy. We were with all of our mutual friends. We were young. Dancing & having a good time & no care in the world. The dj was playing Love Affair by Kylie which happened to be our favorite song then. As I looked around seeing all my friends I noticed someone was missing. ”Where’s Jason?” I asked over & over & then it was like all of a sudden I realized & woke up.

Now that I’ve had some time to process everything that dream makes a little more sense to me. It marked a time in my mind that I will always cherish. So that is how I want to think about him. He’s somewhere dancing & forever youthful & nothing can harm him. He’s just waiting for us to get there.

Here in the moment I belong
In a waking dream
The night is young
But isn’t long
If you know what I mean
Oh it’s beautiful
The thought of what might be
Close your eyes so you can see

I am only here for a little while
Would you like to take me out tonight
Maybe we could talk for a little while, baby

Now we’ve only just begun
We’re running out of time
I don’t want to think about the sun
No not tonight
Oh it’s wonderful you being here with me
Close your eyes so you can see

I am only here for a little while
Would you like to take me out tonight
Maybe we could talk for a little while, baby
Don’t hold back it’s time for a love affair
Take my hand lead me to anywhere
Maybe there’s something in the air, baby

Together here, Together now
In the moment that we met
Remember here remember now
It’s too easy to forget

For You, For Me... A Funhouse

Somewhere along the line, October came & slapped me in the face with excitement. I realize this blog was due weeks ago but I’m just now trying to catch up so go back with me a little bit if you may. I got to see Pink at MSG which was awesome & that word could definitely be used for some of the concert goers there. There was a ride range of people from your str8’s to your gays to your lesbians to women who looked they had either been on a Rock of Love show or had at least auditioned for it. At one point a girl behind me was yelling out, “I freaking love you Alicia!” Another goes, “Who is Alicia?” She responded, “That’s Pink’s real name bitch!” Totally saying it in a Rock of Love I had too many tequila shots kind of way. Amazing, and the same can be said for Pink. Baddest str8 lesbian pop singer around. My highlights were ‘Family Portrait’ done with just the piano & I loved the acoustic section with ‘I Don’t Believe You’ & some other tracks. She did a few too many covers which left me wondering why she didn’t do some other of her older songs but I still had an amazing time. Her cover of The Divinyls ‘I Touch Myself’ was uber sexed up & I loved it. All in all a really fucking awesome show! Sorry, my inner lesbian came out.

No lesbians could be seen at my next show a week after. It was gays galore at Kylie Minogue’s show at the Hammerstein Ballroom. I had been looking forward to her show for months because this was her first time touring in the states ever. I had met her at a Virgin megastore signing during the release of Fever & as I think I have stated many times before I’ve been a fan since she came out with ‘The Loco-Motion’ in 88. For me, the show was absolutely great. I had made my way to the front with my friend Danny. Somehow everyone else got really far away from me, but when it comes to getting close to a diva I tend to lose all my peeps. Musically, the show was brilliant. She took portions from all her past shows (which I have on DVD) and put them into this show. I can also say this was the gayest show I’ve seen from any of my divas. There were boys dancing with boys & girls dancing with girls while Kylie sang her heart out. There was even this whole locker room scene with the guys that got us all hot & bothered. Highlights (besides these) were ‘The Loco-Motion’, ‘Confide In Me’, “The One’….oh hell I loved the whole damn show. I look forward to her coming back to perform again. She apparently was at a club I went to on Halloween with Fergie but I did not see her. Then again, I was too drunk for my own good so who the hell knows.

Ahhhhh Halloween. It wasn’t as great as the year before but don’t think I didn’t have a good time. We started out at my friend Dana’s house party. So many of my friends were dressed as ladies it was hilarious. Brad as a Hooters girl, Rob as crazy Britney with pink wig was tons of fun. I was incredibly proud of Scott running around in a cape & just his undies looking like a devil. Vadim was dressed as well an even crazier version of himself than normal. For once I actually had on more clothes than them. I know, this is shocking. It was to me too. I was going for this whole 80’s sports work out but got everything from that to ‘Are you an 80’s porn star?’ to are you trying to be a certain friend that shall remain nameless. By the end of the night though the wig had come off, shirt barely tucked in my tiny shorts with jock strap peeking through. Where are these pics you ask? Haha I managed to escape those for once.

We had a Halloween soiree at work as well a few days later & the theme was to be a rock star…. living or dead. My co-worker Sophia came as Rick James, complete with ho’s(back up singers) & she looked amazing! We had Wayne & Garth, Tupac & Biggie Smalls, Pat Benatar, The Blue Brothers, Theo as this ultimate rock star… there were so many good ones. I had no idea what I would be but then at the last minute used the wig to my advantage & came up with the idea of a Beach Boy with shorts & tank top. Turns out I wasn’t the only one with that thought which was cool. I asked him if we were getting the band back together. And speaking of band, we had one performing for us & they were also getting people to sing. My co-worker Morgan rocked out some Pearl Jam that I was not ready for. Absolutely fricking awesome. Craig worked it out but I was expecting him to be brilliant anyway since he is also a musician. I sang ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis & I totally forgot what it was like to sing with a band. The hoots & hollers & yells definitely helped & next thing you know the dude told me I should sing some more. Well 4 more songs later it was like a mini Nick concert. Absolutely awesome & to even have one of the grouchiest people who works here come up & smile & say ‘You’re such a good singer!’ was a shock. Well after feeling like a rock star & way too many drinks I found myself at an after party one of the band members had told us about.

Now here is where things got scandalous. It should be said that I don’t act crazy at work unless it’s just a few of my crew & we have some drinks after work in an office on a random Friday. But, I was dancing with married ladies & dipping them across the floor. Before, some of you think this is going somewhere don’t! The husband was nearby totally digging it. If anything they probably had an even better time once they got home alone lol. At one point I may have rolled across a floor & broke out into a dance breakdown. Maybe. My shirt may have come off at some point. Ok, so it did. Luckily there are no pics of this but a certain Creative Director tells me he took a video of it. I haven’t seen it but maybe I should scour youtube for it hmmmm. Anyway, it was a blast that’s for sure. The next morning I was just sure I was going to be embarrassed to see everyone but one by one I was praised & people calling & saying, “Most of the time things with co-workers are lame & people are all shy & you just killed it.” What I killed I am not sure but I do love that I brought some excitement. The head of our production department now refers to me as a rock star & was like ‘I had NO idea you had that in you.’ But those that KNOW me know it was only a small part of how I normally get down. I told him, “It’s either go hard or don’t go at all.” It’s not like I live this way everyday of the week. The whole beginning of the week is spent work, gym, home, watch my shows on tv & then repeat. I rarely even go out for drinks unless it’s someone’s birthday. It just me being chill. But when I’m ready to get down, watch out. Because for you, for me…. I like to make it a FUNHOUSE.

Fast Love with Boys, Boys, Boys

It’s fall here in the city & there is more than a hint of chill in the air. The chill has found it’s way to my bedroom as well. It’s hard to believe that summer was just a few weeks ago. The summer was full of delicious scandals which by now I can’t even remember why it was so delicious. It’s like it was a blockbuster for one weekend & then was not talked about by the next because there was a new hotness to discuss. There were tons of new friends made & I was just sure that they would make the fall season premiere episode. But, just like ‘Tori’ on Saved By the Bell they were quickly nixed & more attention was paid to the core cast. (Even if some members HAD dropped off the face of the earth) What has somehow been consistent & a story line that has spilled over from summer would be what is my love life.

Boys boys boys
We like boys in cars
Boys boys boys
Buy us drinks in bars
Boys boys boys
With Hairspray and denim
Boys boys boys
We love them!

Now some of you may some may scoff & roll your eyes & say this topic is no different than any other season in your life Nick. Boys in the morning, boys in the evening & boys at suppertime. You have boys to warm you up in the winter, boys that try to give you golden showers in the spring (to that I say ewww never!) and boys that you trip over trying to get to the next one in the fall. To this I say, “Whatevs bitches, you don’t know me!” What I am confused about is this trend that started shortly before my bday. Somehow everyone I have met that I have been interested in has had a boyfriend. In the beginning I didn’t mind at all. I think I welcomed it actually. It was a perfect example of let me get mine, you get yours so you can get the fuck out.

Looking for some education
Made my way into the night
All that bullshit conversation
Well baby can’t you read the signs?

I won’t bore you with the details baby
I don’t even want to waste your time
Let’s just say that maybe
You could help to ease my mind
Baby, I ain’t Mr. Right

But if you’re looking for fastlove
If that’s love in your eyes
It’s more than enough
Had some had bad luck
So fastlove is all that I’ve got on my mind

I’m not the only one with this opinion. In a city where the next brand new hotness is just down the street it’s so easy to not get caught up over someone. Especially if you have already done the relationship thing & it hasn’t worked out. I was talking to a friend the other day & asked how his date went. Virtually shrugging he said, “Eh, it was ok but I don’t need to take it any further.” And it is kind of true. You can see where something is going pretty early on & if it isn’t going anywhere then there is no need to string something(one) on. I probably sound jaded. Most of my friends probably sound the same way. I know it’s a far cry from my desperate to be in love state in my mid twenties. I’m just trying to explain how I didn’t mind meeting the hot guys with bfs…. at first.

Hey there sugar baby
Saw you twice at the pop show
You take just like glitter
Mixed with rock and roll
I like you a lot lot
Think you’re really hot hot

I’m not loose, I like to party
Let’s get lost in your Ferrari
Not psychotic or dramatic
I like boys and that is that
Love it when you call me legs
In the morning buy me eggs
Watch your heart when we’re together
Boys like you love me forever

Boy after boy & especially around my bday I was meeting guys that either had bfs or were semi-attached. There was one occasion I think I was used to make someone jealous. Which is something I’m not shocked about. What did shock me was somehow I was attracting these guys one after one. 7 guys later I have to say I’m annoyed. A few weeks ago I was talking about this matter with some friends having pre-drinks at my apt before we went out. Then, we go out & a really hot guy started to kick his game with me. After investing a whole 15 minutes in him (it may have been longer), I thought to ask him a question. ”Do you have a boyfriend?” He stopped and goes, ‘If I did, would that be a problem?” I rolled my eyes & said politely for him to get the fuck away from me. Ok, so it wasn’t polite & I probably looked like I was bucking for best dramatic actor at a gay club opening. But people, seriously the count is at 8! Meanwhile, my dating life over the past year & a half has been almost a blank slate. It’s a sad thing when you realize that you’ve had more ‘dates’ with an ex than you have actually had with other people.

In the absence of security
I made my way into the night
Stupid cupid keeps on calling me
But I see nothing in his eyes
I miss my baby, oh yeah
I miss my baby tonight
So why don’t we make a little room
In my BMW babe
Searching for some peace of mind
Hey I’ll help you find it
I do believe that we are practicing
The same religion
You really ought to get up now

It’s funny that recently I have totally missed those feelings of having someone there to count on other than myself. Those feelings like I wasn’t alone & had someone that actually loved me. I got the news that I would go back on medication to stop the seizures from happening again. Which I’m ok with. But, I was told that there is still basically a tumor left in my brain. They had gotten the majority of it but could not get the smallest bit of it so basically they have to monitor it & make sure it doesn’t grow. If it does, then I would have to go through radiation therapy or have surgery again. So please picture my face when I got this news. I feel like all of this should’ve been told to me properly a long time ago but somehow it wasn’t. But to avoid sounding like an angry crazy person about to go on a Kanye rant, I look at it like this: I’ve been fine since the tumor was removed (most of it) & I had one little set back. I will not let it get me down & just keep doing what I do. I can’t worry about what the future does or does not hold. I’ll end up missing the present. I’ll keep looking for affirmation. Hopefully this also means that the ones with bf’s will not be looking for me. I may not be looking for Mr. Right but somehow I need something a little more than Mr. Right Now.

Divas Live

Last night I was able to attend Divas Live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. I had scored some casted seats & I brought my friend Chase as my guest. For years I have been hoping they would bring back the show. I had always watched it since the first one in 98. I have so many favorite moments from the years:

Mariah running around with big hair Making It Happen, singing Chain Of Fools with Aretha, Aretha looking like she may just eat every diva on the stage as an appetizer, Carole King just singing for all she’s worth even though you can’t hear a peep out of her mouth, Celine beating herself in the chest because she is the greatest singer in the world, Shania rocking some really hot pants

Cher, Tina & Elton bringing the house down, Tina & Elton having their own semi bitch fight while bringing the bitch back, Whitney sweating like she had done rails of coke for days (oh wait she probably had)

Mariah opening the 2000 show with Heartbreaker/Love Hangover, her whole Supreme’s number with Diana Ross (broken dress straps & all), Destiny’s Child when they were undergoing their whole line up change

Wait! With the way I’m talking you would think I am only eating up the drama of it all. Ok don’t we all? But what it really is all about is the singing. So when I found out who I was gonna get to see I was very excited. I have followed Leona Lewis since she started on X-Factor (thank goodness for you tube). I was loving some Bleeding Love MONTHS before she had even released it here. I actually like her version of A Moment Like This better than Kelly’s. I’ve been a fan of Kelly since the beginning of Idol. The whole Breakaway album was amazing. One of my favorite songs by her has to be Sober because that came to be my anthem for 6 months after the whole tumor situation. Chasing Pavements was my theme song as well when I was trying to look for an apt in the first few months of 08. Adele’s album is absolutely brilliant & I hope the follow up is just as wonderful. Jordin Sparks is a wonderful talent in her own right as well. Her new single is quite infectious as well. The gays LOVE some Jennifer Hudson! When I saw Dreamgirls the night it opened in the Ziegfield theater it was like watching a Broadway show. People clapping & cheering & standing o’s at the end. Then there was Miley Cyrus. Wait, hold up, what? Is someone pulling my leg? I always wanted to get to 6 foot but just missed it unless I’m wearing my big boy shoes. It was like that classic phrase ‘One of these things is NOT like the other’.

So when Chase & I got there everything was a little disorganized & we were waiting around for seats for a while. Then someone asked us if we wanted to be down in the pit. Now mind you, my shoulders STILL hurt (yes 3 weeks later) & I wasn’t sure about standing the whole time. Also, Chase is about 8 feet tall so he didn’t think that would work out. BUT, we did it anyway & can I say it was totally worth it. We got to see everything up close & very personal. From Paula’s opening of dancing to old hits & lip-syncing her ass off to The Desperate Housewives going on & on while Chase was right behind them. The stage seemed quite small even though on tv it looks a little bigger. The set looked wonderful & the dancers were wonderful. We were able to see plenty of celebs. My fav had to be my man Ryan from True Blood. LOVE that Aussie accent! Our pit coordinator Kiki kept trying to get some of the people in the pit to be more crazy. At one point she told a bunch of kids that the need to fake it like how Meg Ryan faked it in ‘When Harry Met Sally’. I bursted out laughing when they all had blank faces. I looked at her & reminded her that they were not old enough to even know that movie. I have actually never even seen that movie but just knowing that made me feel old. I looked at one of the kids & asked who they were there for. A bubbly little blonde girl squealed ‘Miley!!!!’

Ok so I have to be honest I have liked some of her songs. See You Again, The Climb, Fly On the Wall & Party In The USA are really catchy. She annoys me but the kid is 16. I was probably just as annoying at that age. So imagine my surprise when she came out & performed. Her voice leaves a little to be desired BUT she sang everything live. Which seems to be a hard task for others. She mingled with the audience & I really liked her duet with Sheryl on If It Makes You Happy. How cheeky that she got to sing the line about ‘I still get stoned’. I’m sure parents & the blogs will comment about that. It kind of makes me like her more. Guess I’m gonna have to come out of the closet now. Yep, I like Miley Cyrus. I still think she’s got years to become a diva but to each his own.

Some gays on the other side of the pit went buh nan uzzz when Jennifer Hudson came out. She opened with Spotlight & I love that song. She looked great & fresh with a little baby weight. When she performed with Stevie I was semi bored because I didn’t know the song. Then, they started riffing & breaking it down & I began to hoot & holla! When she was done she was really humble & gave the gays her love.

Jordin Sparks got the crowd excited with her new single S.O.S. She was looking all glammed up & posing & strutting on the catwalk. She is definitely coming into her own. Her duet with Martina McBride was really beautiful as well & they both sounded wonderful.

Kelly Clarkson came out in a lovely green dress to do her newest single Already Gone. It sounded really nice. I loved the whole acoustic vibe of it. Much will be said about her weight. I saw her on the cover of Self magazine recently & once again I don’t know who that person. She must have eaten Kelly bc that girl on the cover was way slim. But whatevs, Kelly likes to eat & she is a good role model showing that you don’t have to be stick then & look like those bitches from the Hills. When they came out I was bored to tears. I can not stand those girls & they have no talent what so ever. So to Kelly, Rock ON! And that is exactly what she did when she closed the show with Melissa Etheridge, who I am a BIG fan of. Mmmhhmm that’s right, this gay can get his inner lesbian rock star on when he listens to her. So I was actually jumping up & down when they went into Bring Me Some Water. It was awesome & a perfect way to end the show.

Adele was the only one who came out & said hello to everyone before the beginning of the show. She really seems like a lovely girl & I was hoping that she would do Hometown Glory. It’s one of my favorites from the album & I’m so glad she did it. She sounded amazing & barely got the last note out because everyone was yelling so loud. Her duet with India Arie was awesome & I enjoyed it immensely.

I have to say Leona was my personal favorite because I simply love her voice. The new single is destined to repeat a #1 success, mark my words. She looked stunning & flawless & I especially liked the dancers for this number as well. It was very fitting. Her duet with Cyndi Lauper was awesome. This was the same arrangement that Cyndi did on Idol with that rocker chick & I loved being able to hear it live. Cyndi is timeless & she’s gonna be 90 yrs old still singing about some True Colors. But it’s all good because she’s bad ass like that.

I was hoping I would be able to take actual pictures throughout the show but alas, security wasn’t having it. So the only time I managed to snap away was the end when they were all standing together. At least I have it in my memory and it is on tv so I can watch over & over to see myself. I watched a little when I got home & you can see Chase throughout the whole thing. I had an awesome time & so glad that I got to go.