Tuesday 29 December 2009

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Noughties Random Facts (2000-09) - Biggest digital downloads US

This was the decade when the digital download in the form of the ubiquitous MP3 file became a real rival to CDs for delivering music. Almost all musical charts (at least those with any with credibility) now record a combination of digital (MP3) downloads and sales of physical units to determine chart performance.

We look back over the years 2000 -2009 and find out what biggest digitally downloaded singles of the last decade.

The Digital Download (MP3) US Top 10.

1.
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, "Low" (2007) - 5,214,000

2.
Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis, "Just Dance" (2008) - 4,690,000

3.
Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours" (2008) - 4,619,000

4.
Timbaland feat. OneRepublic, "Apologize" (2007) - 4,439,000

5.
The Black Eyed Peas, "Boom Boom Pow"(2009)  - 4,349,000

6.
Soulja Boy Tell'em, "Crank That" (2007) - 4,315,000

7.
Lady Gaga, "Poker Face" (2008) - 4,200,000

8.
Coldplay, "Viva la Vida" (2008) - 4,140,000

9.
Taylor Swift, "Love Story" (2007) - 4,005,000

10.
Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold" (2008) - 3,945,000

Noughties Random Facts (2000-09) - Biggest Films of the Decade

The noughties was the decade of the movie franchise as the box office was dominated  by mutli-series films with Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings all featuring multiple times in the top ten grossing films of the decade.
 
1
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 
Studio - New Line Cinema
Earnings - $1,119,110,941
Year - 2003

2
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 
Studio - Walt Disney Pictures
Earnings - $1,066,179,725
Year - 2006

3
The Dark Knight 
Studio - Warner Bros.
Earnings - $1,001,921,825
Year - 2008

4
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 
Studio - Warner Bros.
Earnings - $974,733,550
Year - 2001

5
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 
Studio - Walt Disney Pictures
Earnings - $960,996,492
Year - 2007

6
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 
Studio - Warner Bros.
Earnings - $938,212,738
Year - 2007

7
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 
Studio - Warner Bros.
Earnings - $929,359,401
Year - 2009

8
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 
Studio - New Line Cinema
Earnings - $925,282,504
Year - 2002

9
Shrek 2 
Studio - DreamWorks Animation
Earnings - $919,838,758
Year - 2004

10
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 
Studio - Warner Bros.
Earnings - $895,921,036
Year - 2005

Noughties Random Facts (2000-09) - One hit wonders

The following artists have all had ONE number one selling single (only) in the UK in charts but have not managed another Top 20 hit ... ever! The one hit wonders of the noughties

2000 - Black Legend - You See The Trouble With Me
2000 - Spiller - Groovejet
2000 - Rui da Silva - Touch Me
2001 - DJ Pied Piper - Do You Really Like It
2002 - Las Ketchup - The Ketchup Song (Asereje)
2003 - Tomcraft - Loneliness
2003 - Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules - Mad World
2004 - Frankee - F.U.R.B (F U Right Back)
2004 - 3 Of A Kind - Babycakes
2005 - Steve Brookstein - Against All Odds
2005 - Nizlopi - The JCB Song

Friday 25 December 2009

Pope Benedict attacked on Christmas Eve (Video)

Pope Benedict was unfortunately attacked and knocked down by a woman before the Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's Basilica – he was unhurt, and completed the ceremony.

The woman, said to be mentally unstable, managed to grab him by his vestments near the neck as a security guard tried to overwhelm her.

The Vatican said she had also tried to jump at the Pope last year. French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, was standing a few metres away and fell and broke his leg during the incident.


In a sign of the times the event was captured instantly by one of the millions of phone cameras that are part of our lives....

Sunday 20 December 2009

Rage Against The Machine storm to Xmas No.1

It is probably the biggest chart upset in recent times.Tonight it has been announced that US rock group has topped the UK charts to grab the Christmas No.1

Over the last few years the best selling single at Christmas has always been held by the winner of the X-Factor competition. Shayne Ward (2005), Leona Lewis (2006), Leon Jackson(2007) and Alexandra Burke (2008) all won the X-Factor and went on to have Xmas No.1's

2009 X-Factor winner Joe McElderry was expected to repeat the formula with his début single 'The Climb', however it was not to be. A Facebook based campaign that had started in protest of The X Factor's dominance of the Christmas Number 1 title and pushed Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" as an alternative, proved a formidable competitor.

In a sign of how times have changed the upset was achieved on the back of Facebook and Twitter campaigns, and the song being available as an internet download only. Rage of the Machine sold 500,000 to beat McElderry's 450,000 which was sold as both an Internet download and physical CDs.

Interestingly both labels are signed to Sony records so the competition which boosted sales for both artistes would not have been unwelcome.

Hollywood Actress Brittany Murphy has died aged 32.

Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy has died suddenly at the age of 32. She passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center near Beverly Hills after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.

Murphy was married to British screenwriter Simon Monjack. The couple lived in Los Angeles.

Reports said the LA fire department responded to a medical call at Murphy's home in West Hollywood at 0800 local time (1600 GMT). Two hours later, she was pronounced dead at hospital.

Britanny  was best remembered for her roles in hit Clueless as well as 8 Mile where she appeared alongside rapper Eminem.

Murphy once dated Ashton Kutcher, who co-starred with her in the 2003 romantic comedy, Just Married.
Kutcher tweeted Sunday morning about Murphy's death: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine."
"My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon," his tweet said.

Thursday 17 December 2009

Can American Idol survive without Simon Cowell?

Love him or loath him it is indisputable that the real star of American Idol is a certain Mr Simon Cowell, the nastiest Judge to hit America since Isaac Parker in the 19th century.

Well it looks like Simon is tired of being Mr Nasty in some else's show, despite being paid over $35 million to do so, and wants to be Mr Nasty in his own show. Press reports suggest that he is preparing to bring his his mega-successful show X-Factor from the UK to the USA.

Cowell, whose "Idol" contract expires in May and who has been in talks with Fox since last summer, is preparing to announce the new arrangement with Fox early next year which will see him leaving AI in 2011 to front a US version of the X-Factor.

"There are discussions going on with 'American Idol' and also about the possibility of bringing 'X Factor' to the United States, but no decisions have been made, and nothing has been finalized," Cowell's spokesman Max Clifford said.

"The X Factor" is a British phenomenon produced by Cowell, who's also a judge on the show. Unlike on "Idol," Cowell and two other judges mentor the "X Factor" contestants, adding competition as the judges -- as well as the musicians -- are competing against one another.

"X Factor" also allows groups to compete in addition to solo singers; "Idol" does not. But just like on "Idol," viewers vote on which singers stay or go.

Since its debut four years ago, "The X Factor" has been one of the most popular shows in Britain. More than 19 million people, the show's biggest audience ever, tuned in Sunday night to watch singer Joe McElderry win in the finale. The winner of the show's third season, Leona Lewis, has become an international recording star.

Will AI survive the loss of Cowell, it could possibly if the right panel is found, however the likely hood is that FOX current home of "Idol" and future home of the American version of the X-Factor is likely to support both and that ultimately would prove the death knell for AI.

As Simon would say "I am sorry...it is a no from me!

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Christmas Gift Ideas....Last minute Christmas ideas

More Christmas Gift ideas from us. This time we have teamed up with Argos with a great idea for the last minute Christmas gift bargains.

The great thing as about Argos is you can shop online from the comfort of your home and avoid the last minute Christmas gift rush.

"You can do that with any online company!" you say. Ah! but do you get the choice of having it delivered or going to pick it up at your convenience - I don't think so
and that's just what Argos offers.

Forget about waiting at home between 9am and 5pm waiting for a delivery man who eventually turns up at 4.59pm, now you have the choice.

If you buy online before 11am on the 22nd, your Christmas gift will be delivered to you at home by the 23rd.

You also have the choice of ordering online and picking up your gifts from one of Argos's 740 stores across the UK.

So what Christmas preszzies do Argos have to offer...


Christmas gifts for men



Wii console (console, sports, sports resort, motion + controller) + big beach sports + Accessory Kit + docking station - £169.99 (Buy now or reserve for pickup)



Xbox Arcade for £139.99 and get Fifa 10 and Forza for free (Buy now or reserve for pick up)

Christmas gifts for women




Half Price - Kodak 7in Digital photo frame - Was £69.99, Now £29.99
(Buy now or reserve for pickup)


Juicy Lucy I Love You Sister Necklace - 19.79. (Buy now or reserve for pickup)



Christmas gifts for boys

Transformers/Transformers - Revenge Of The Fallen £34.97 (Buy now or reserve for pick up)





Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 from £37.99
PC Version (Buy now or reserve for pick up) | XBOX 360 Version (Buy now or reserve for pick up) | PS3 (Buy now or reserve for pick up)

Christmas gifts for girls

Go Go Pets Hamster Car and Garage. £14.99 (Buy now or resrve for pick up)



Fur Real Teacup Bunny £21.99 (Buy now or reserve for pick up)

And you can search for items like this from some of Argos's thousands of products with mega hot deals on offer each day at prices only available on the Internet.


Argos