WEEK IN PREVIEW: ’03 THREE-WAY!
New Year’s First #1
There are worse things to look forward to in life. For instance... well, we’re sure there’s something. Anyway, for the first Top 50 Albums chart of 2003, we have no big debuts to watch, but an exciting three-way race for #1 is brewing, and that gives us an excuse to write this.
Yes, folks, early tabulations indicate that young chanteuse Norah Jones, whose Come Away with Me continues its upstart sales streak into the new year, even younger and upstartier sensation Avril Lavigne and hip-hop giant Eminem’s 8 Mile soundtrack are duking it out for #1, with sales expected to come in at a little over 100k for each.
Who’s going to take it? Well, as we’re fond of pointing out, it’s anybody’s guess at the moment, but give the early lead to Norah.
In radioland, things are likewise typically quiet for the first week of the year, add-wise. At Top 40, look for Bon Jovi’s "Misunderstood" to see heavy action, as well as NSYNC solo-boy J.C. Chasez’s "Blowin’ Me Up (with Her Love)" from the Drumline soundtrack (Fox Music/Jive).
At Crossover, keep an eye on the aforementioned Chasez track, as well as Craig David’s new one, "Hidden Agenda" (Wildstar/Atlantic). Also making waves will be DMX with "Gon’ Give It To Ya" from the Bloodline soundtrack (Def Jam/IDJ).
At Post Modern, it’s all about mainstays Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose "Can’t Stop," from their latest collection, By the Way (Warner Bros.), appears likely to snag the most adds for the week.
Ordinarily we’d go on with some more padding and assorted drivel to consume yet another valuable moment of your already too-short day, but frankly, we’re just a little tuckered out from the exertion. We’ll write more later—once we re-acclimate to this whole "work" thing.
