Summer
Singles Heat Up Airwaves
From
Christina & Missy to Aerosmith, Stars Ready Radio Onslaught
As
the winter thaw sets in, record labels scramble for the hits that
will be booming from speakers through the long, hot summer
months. Fans of every musical genre can rest easy knowing
summer always means the best music - and there's never a better time
to be a radio listener.
Hot
on the heels of her "Best Female" Grammy, Macy Gray lends
her distinctive vocals to the thumping beat of The Black Eyed Peas'
"Request. Line." Channels clamoring for new material
from Gray should jump to add this to their playlists, and fans her
breakthrough hit "I Try" will certainly appreciate this
cut. Meanwhile, don't miss the intensely enjoyable bass-heavy,
hip-hop remixes.
Speaking
of remixes, disco fanatics should check out the latest from Daft
Punk. With a full-length effort, "Discover", in
stores now, look for this Grammy nominated group to once again
inundate dance-floors with their unique Euro-pop sound. It's
certainly more enjoyable than the watered down beats of novelty acts
like ATC [whose "Around the World (La La La La La)" was
cute for about 15 minutes, which is about

Janet's
new album cover |
10
minutes longer than their fame will be].
Equally
dance-floor friendly is the latest from Janet. The smoldering
"All For You" only hit radio weeks ago, but it already
seems like a mainstay. Expect Miss Jackson (because we know
you're nasty) to rack up her tenth Billboard #1 single en-route to
the release of her forthcoming full-length disc. |
The
same can easily be said for "Survivor," the latest
girl-power anthem from Destiny's Child. As the group readies
its third album, the follow-up to their platinum-selling "The
Writing's On the Wall," they stand poised to continue the
dominance that yielded three chart-topping singles. (Rumors
that the quartet-turned-trio will begin |

Will
Destiny's Child be a "Survivor" through the summer? |
regularly
adding members and then vote one out after every hit, to support the
"Survivor" theme of the album, appear to be false.)
Rock
fans shouldn't fear. With Aerosmith's "Just Push
Play" in stores, and "Jaded" planted in the Top 10,
Boston's favorite bad will certainly serve up a blockbuster-sized
summer smash. Odds-on favorite is "Outta Your Head,"
a hip-hop influenced track that shows the band is capable of growing
without losing sight of their rock roots.
Additionally,
Nelly
Furtado's
stellar "I'm Like a Bird" is finally catching on at
multiple formats. This young Canadian is finding a home at
stations from Top 40 to album-oriented rock - so a needed injection
of fresh young talent is on the horizon.

Country
chantuese
Jamie O'Neal |
Over
at country stations, Jamie O'Neal - the knock-out blond from
down-under - is set to follow her breakout #1 single "There Is
No Arizona." Regardless of which track she selects from
the amazing "Shiver" CD, it's bound to be a hit, and radio
programmers should jump at the chance to play it. Hopefully it
will be the blues-inflected "The Only Missing In My Life (Is You)."
Possibly
the hottest single being serviced to radio is the multiformat remake
of the 1976 smash "Lady Marmalade (Voulez Vous Couche Avec Moi
Ce Soir)." Even as her single "Free" climbs |
the
charts, Mya joins all-stars Christina Aguilera, Li'l Kim, Pink and
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott on this smokin' retooling of
the LaBelle disco classic. Expect the familiarity of this song
about a New Orleans prostitute to combine with the respective stars's
popularity to make it the summer's most sure-fire hit.
Whatever
type of music you enjoy, summer will bring your fix. Now just
roll down the window, put the top down, and turn the radio up.
Written
by Paul E. Pratt
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