NZ Music Month Arrives

Chartbitz:
Wednesday, May 4 2011

by Andrew Miller

NZ Music Month Arrives

It’s the month we celebrate our music. So it's fitting that 40 per cent of the week’s new entries are local. And, in fact, more than 25 per cent of the spots on the Official Top40 Album Chart this week are occupied by Kiwis.

Legendary local crooner, the Kawerau Kid John Rowles is currently in Australia rehearsing for gigs there, prior to commencing his farewell tour here with the North Island leg kicking off in June. JR has three #1 singles under his belt, but his 1978 #6 This Is My Life remains his highest-placed album thus far. Hits And Love Songs is the biggest new album of the week at #10, bettering the #30 peak of 2008’s The Singer And The Songs.

Newcomer Janice Bateman proves age no barrier to making a chart debut as the 49-year-old’s debut Here I Am inks at #13. Janice is a previous winner of TV2’s Opportunity Knocks talent show back in the day.

The Harbour Union is a collaborative set for a group of Lyttelton musicians led by duo The Eastern which was recorded at home in the Port town and launched at the Wunderbar (which reopened post-quake this past weekend). It’s new at #18.

Former Clean mainman David Kilgour teaming with the Heavy Eights and places Left By Soft at #31, higher than either of his mid-90s albums.

The New Singles

#21 Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)

Beyonce Giselle Knowles turns 30 in September, but comes of age with her 21st solo hit. Run The World (Girls) is the week’s highest entry at appropriately #21. It precedes her untitled forthcoming fourth solo set. Of Beyonce’s tally, four made #1 and five got to #2. Later in the year she teams with Director Clint Eastwood on a movie remake of A Star Is Born.

#28 Glee Cast - Loser Like Me
Having played it on a recent episode, the Glee Cast gains their first original hit Loser Like Me. Placing at #28, it’s their third and highest debuting thus far.

#32 Jessie J - Nobody’s Perfect

Jessie J’s great year continues. Do It Like A Dude made #8, follow-up Price Tag debuted in the top spot (logging two frames at #1, and for the last eight straight weeks sitting at #2). Debut album Who Are You is also Top10 and gives Jess a third hit in just over three months, Nobody’s Perfect inking at #32.

#37 Marvin Priest - Own This Club

Marvin Priest’s dad Maxi had eight hits over an 11-year period with #2 Close To You the biggest. Now the next generation joins as Marvin’s first hit Own This Club debuts at #37. The Londoner is signed to Island Records Australia.

#39 Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne - Look At Me Now

Chris Brown’s Beautiful People peaked Top10, and while it still rates he notches a 19th hit. Both feature on #7 album F.AM.E. (#12 this week). New hit Look At Me Now has heavyweight help from Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne notching the pair a 17th and 15th chart appearance respectively.

The New Albums

#10 John Rowles - Hits And Love Songs

See story above.

#11 Glee Cast - Glee: The Music-Warblers

The choristers of Glee’s batting average is a chart album every two months. Their eighth, Glee: The Music-The Warblers, arrives at #11 but doesn’t include their new #28 single Loser Like Me. That’s on the #9 album this week Glee 5.

#13 Janice Bateman - Here I Am

See story above.

#14 Band Of The Welsh Guards - A Royal Tribute

Band Of The Welsh Guards becomes just the second brass band to make the Albums Chart. The honour previously belonged exclusively to the NZ Army Band who did it twice in the '80s. The first time was for Charles and Di’s 1981 wedding, making #27. Now the Welsh Guards do it with A Royal Tribute marking the nuptials of William and Kate. It’s new at #14.

#18 The Eastern - The Harbour Union

See story above.

#31 David Kilgour And The Heavy Eights - Left By Soft

See story above.

#34 Alison Strauss And Union Station - Paper Airplane

It’s the first time Grammy winners Alison Krauss and Union Station have charted together here. Paper Airplane does the numbers for the bluegrass act. Previously Krauss has placed twice, the biggest being her Grammy-winning #3Raising Sand collaboration with Led Zep lead singer Robert Plant.

#35 Snoop Dogg - Doggumentary

Snoop has a very impressive track record in his 18-year New Zealand chart career, 25 hits (including three chart-toppers) and now 13 albums. The latest is Doggumentary at #35, including Top10 hit Sweat.

#37 Roy Orbison - The Monument Singles Collection

The late Roy Orbison passed away aged 52 in December 1988 when he was a member of the Traveling Wilburys. His 10th time in the Albums list, The Monument Singles Collection is the sixth comp and eighth posthumous solo appearance for the Rock N Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

#39 TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light

New Yorkers TV On The Radio’s Nine Types Of Light, new at #39, follows their 2008 #25 Dear Science into the New Zealand Charts.
ends

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