GABRIELLA CILMI : Hearts Don't Lie

It's quite possibly our favourite track on the new Gabriella Cilmi album 'Ten', so we're thrilled to the back teeth that it's been chosen as the second single from it. And with the singer set to open Sunday night's Logie Awards with a performance of the track, Warner Music Australia has moments ago premiered the video.
So what's it all about? Well essentially Gab's headed onto the town for a spot of dancing and she's ended up being roped into being the entertainment! There's a neverending supply of colourful costumes (including one that appears to be inflatable) that make the rest of us feel completely inadequate dancing in just jeans and a t-shirt. It's certainly a lot more organic than the 'On A Mission' clip but the result is no less spectacular.

GLEE TAKE THREE

Seems like Australia is about to be gripped with Glee fever all over again. The hit Channel 10 TV show returned last night to an audience of almost 1.2 million people, and songs from the new episodes are already beginning to make their move on the iTunes singles chart.
Sony Music has released the new EP 'The Power Of Madonna' to rave reviews and now comes the third installment of the soundtrack series, 'Showstoppers'. The new album features Glee cast versions of 20 classic tracks, including Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' and 'Bad Romance'.
The new album will hit Aussie retail on May 21.

01. Hello, Goodbye
02. Gives You Hell
03. Hello
04. A House Is Not A Home
05. One Less Bell To Answer / A House Is Not A Home
06. Beautiful
07. Home
08. Physical
09. Total Eclipse of the Heart
10. Lady Is A Tramp
11. One
12. Rose’s Turn
13. Dream On
14. Safety Dance
15. I Dreamed a Dream
16. Loser
17. Give Up the Funk
18. Beth
19. Poker Face
20. Bad Romance

ANGELLO CANCELS CREAMFIELDS

Breaking news just through to the auspOp desk is that respected international DJ Steve Angello has cancelled his appearance at the Creamfields music festivals throughout Australia, less than 20 hours out from the tour's kick-off in Sydney tomorrow.
He'll also be cancelling all other worldwide commitments for the forseeable future, after the DJ rushed home to be by his pregnant wife's side to deal with "a serious family medical issue."
The festivals' other artists will extend their sets to cover his absence.
www.creamfields.com.au

SUNSETS SELL-OUT

As promoters had predicted last night, tickets to Powderfinger's final ever tour have been snapped up in record numbers this morning, forcing organisers to add second dates in a number of cities. But the big news is that even those second dates have also now sold out.
Shows in Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, Townsville and Wollongong all sold out within minutes of going on sale this morning.
Second shows were added to the schedule in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, but even those have also now sold out.
A second show has also been added in Townsville to meet with the high demand.
No word yet on further dates, but this is what the schedule now looks like;

September 01 : Newcastle (Entertainment Centre) SOLD OUT
September 03 : Gold Coast (Convention Centre) SOLD OUT
September 04 : Brisbane (Riverstage) SOLD OUT
September 05 : Brisbane (Riverstage) SOLD OUT
September 07 : Tamworth (Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre)
September 09 : Wollongong (WIN Entertainment Centre) SOLD OUT
September 10 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena) SOLD OUT
September 11 : Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena) SOLD OUT
September 14 : Hobart (Derwent Entertainment Centre)
September 16 : Adelaide (Memorial Drive) SOLD OUT
September 18 : Sydney (Entertainment Centre) SOLD OUT
September 19 : Sydney (Entertainment Centre) SOLD OUT
September 23 : Perth (Supreme Court Gardens) SOLD OUT
September 24 : Perth (Supreme Court Gardens) SOLD OUT
September 26 : Darwin (Gardens Ampitheatre)
September 28 : Cairns (Convention Centre)
October 01 : Townsville (Entertainment Centre) SOLD OUT
October 02 : Townsville (Entertainment Centre) NEW SHOW
October 03 : Mackay (Showgrounds)
October 07 : Rockhampton (Showgrounds)
October 08 : Caloundra (Kings Beach)
October 09 : Toowoomba (University Of Southern Queensland)
October 12 : Canberra (University Of Canberra)
October 13 : Albury (Sports Ground)
October 15 : Bendigo (Showgrounds)
October 16 : Ballarat (North Gardens) SOLD OUT

ALPHABEAT : DJ

By gad but it's a bit quiet on the local pop front for a Friday, so we've decided to give you a look at the new video for Danish outfit Alphabeat. Though their stuff is no longer released in Australia, it's still a whole lots of pop and a whole lot of fun. It's also rather retro in it's sound - sounding like mix maestro Pete Hammond may have had a hand in tinkering. The clip's pretty simple, the band in various guises spinning around on an oversized vinyl. Cute pop.

AT RETAIL ON FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2010

Bloody Beetroots – Romborama (Australian Edition)
B.O.B. – The Adventures Of Bobby Ray
Booka Shade – More!
Courtyard Hounds – Courtyard Hounds
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Celine Dion – Taking Chances World Tour (CD/DVD)
Celine Dion – Through The Eyes Of The World (DVD)
The Futureheads – The Chaos
Gogol Bordello – Transcontinental Hussle
David Hobson – The Enchanted Way
Hole – Nobody’s Daughter
Knaan – Troubadour (Champion Edition)
Lady Gaga – The Remix
Adam Lambert – Whataya Want From Me (CD single)
Amy Macdonald – A Curious Thing
Steve Mason – The Boys Outside
Mobin Master – Get Lucky
N-Dubz – Against All Odds
OST – Clash Of The Titans
Andre Rieu – You Raise Me Up
Rogue Traders – Would You Raise Your Hands (CD single)
Sara Storer – Calling Me Home : Best Of
Sara Storer – Calling Me Home : Best Of (Limited Edition)
Barbra Streisand – One Night Only (DVD)
Various – Bounce Vol.4
Various – Five Years Of Dirtybird
Violent Soho – Violent Soho

GIVEAWAY

We don't know whether you're aware or not, but earlier this week, we had a little natter with the divine Amandah from Operator Please. We chatted about all sorts of bits and pieces - her extreme travel schedule, cassingles and, of course, the band's new album 'Gloves'. (Click HERE to read it).
As an added little bonus to our latest pop interview, the gorgeous team at EMI has given us five copies of Operator Please's new album 'Gloves' to give away to you, our loyal auspOp readers! But see, this is where you come in. If you'd like to go into the draw to win a copy, you can! And here's how;

Simply send us an email containing your name and postal address to auspOp@ymail.com with the subject line "Gloves Please". Then you're in with the chance to win win win! Huzzah!

Competition closes at 11:59pm AET on Thursday May 06, 2010. One entry per person. WInners drawn at random. Five lucky pop kids will each receive a copy of the brand new Operator Please album 'Gloves', with special thanks to the team at EMI. Winners' first names and suburbs will be published on the site on Friday May 07 so that you can gloat to your friends if you win. And don't forget, we keep your details 'secrets in a private room' (borrowing a Kylie lyric there...), pillow talk in the afternoon.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

GLEE WINNERS

How good was it to have Glee back on the TV last night - and with so much drama, so much suspense, so much singing, so much... Lionel Richie!? Anyway, anyway, anyway, next Thursday night is the night we've all been waiting for - the Madonna episode that inspired this little 'The Power Of Madonna' EP that we gave away last Friday here on auspOp. We put out the call to you to see if you wanted to enter and just like a prayer, you answered. Well here is the lucky fivesome who will get to know what it feels like for a prizewinner.
Evan from Pennant Hills in New South Wales, Erin from Glebe in New South Wales, Craig from Collingwood in Victoria, Ian from Brunswick in Victoria and Artin from Castle Hill in New South Wales.

Congratulations to the lucky five - and big thanks to YOU for entering. Bless. More giveaways are coming (within minutes!)

ESMEE DENTERS FTG. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE : Love Dealer

We made mention of the forthcoming Esmee Denters / Justin Timberlake collaborative video in a recent news wrap, but here's the whole thing in all its 'we're standing on top of a building' glory. Although we must admit that now it's here, we're not quite sure what to make of it. There's hardly a breath of tune in the verses, JT seems to have been added in to give the track a little bit of star power, and the video's not up to much, besides giving the twosome a pretty amazing view. Meh.

BROTHERS TEASER

We've just got to get us down to the nearest illuminated suit shop. It's as simple as that.
The Chemical Brothers have given us a sneak peek of their brand new single 'Escape Velocity' with this high-energy, fast-tempo slice of electronica, accompanied by what could be a dancing Christmas tree. We can't tell - it's dark out, you see.
The new album 'Further' is out in Australia on June 11 in standard and deluxe editions.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION : Albania

The countdown to Eurovision 2010 has entered a new phase within the last couple of days, now with less than a month to go before the semi finals get underway in Oslo. A number of entrants will compete in the two semi finals (on May 25 and 27), hoping to progress through to the grand final on May 29.
Albania will take part in semi final No.1 on May 25.

ALBANIA : Juliana Pasha - It's All About You

Albanian songstress Juliana Pasha will turn 20 just five days before she takes to the stage in the first semi final for Eurovision 2010. But don't let her young years fool you - she's been performing since she was still in single figures. The track, co-composed by Albanian music legend and TV presenter Ardit Gjebrea, is very pop. One of those little hidden Eurovision gems, with plenty of tempo, a great chorus and a killer vocal. The video clip is rather artistic and brings even more class to the table. Likey a lot.

SUNSETS SELL-OUT?

Tickets for Powderfinger's last ever tour of the country are set to go on sale at 9am tomorrow, but already publicists are hinting that they'll sell out fast. Fan club allocations of pre-release tickets to all shows have already sold out, with the high demand even causing the band's website to freeze. More fan club tickets were added but also sold out, so according to a statement from the tour's publicists earlier today, "the promoters are now gearing up to look at additional shows in some markets."
General public tickets are on sale at 9am.

HURTS : Better Than Love

Somewhere between the gloriously heady days of '80s disco and the oh-so-now swags of glittery electro-pop dominating our charts lies Manchester outfit Hurts and their debut single 'Better Than Love'.
As we mentioned last week, lead singer Theo's vocals hark back to the new romantic era of the 1980s (think Human League or Spandau Ballet), while Adam's production is a blend of early Pet Shops Boys electronica meets OMD.
The video is set in a ballet studio, where a pride of handsomely-groomed ladies all focus on the dancers before them. And Theo's intent stare hovers somewhere between deep interest and out-and-out creepy.
And anyway, when was the last time you saw a metronome in a video clip?

BJ BONUS

They've been on the release schedule for a couple of weeks and now Universal Music has revealed details of the deluxe editions of the first ten Bon Jovi albums.
They'll feature exclusive packaging (pictured), new artwork, images from each period and a selection of new liner notes outlining the band's various successes throughout the past 25 years, plus bonus live tracks on each CD.
Each album also unlocks special Bon Jovi vaults, giving fans access to exclusive online virtual content including memorabilia, live recordings and photographs.
All ten special edition albums hit the shops on May 21.

ALEXANDRA BURKE : All Night Long

Someone's enjoyed Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' video clip with its cigarette specs so much that they've replicated the look for Alexandra Burke's new video - out of crayons. Well we guess it's much better for your health for starters...
Can we just say before we look too much further at the clip that we just don't like the cover image for the single? Alexandra looks completely terrified at the prospect of having to endure the ridicule of wearing such a silly outfit and possibly one day having to show it to her kids. But we digress...
Essentially the clip is a house party, at which Lexxy's the centre of attention with her sparkly eyelids and uber-chic threads. How she manages to do this with the cornucopia of outrageous outfits is beyond us, but credit where it's due.
It's infectious is what it is. We didn't expect to like it, but we did.

THE AUSTRALIAN CD NEW RELEASE SCHEDULE

May 07
Christina Aguilera – Not Myself Tonight (CD single)
Aqualung – Magnetic North
Boy & Bear – With Emperor Antarctica EP
Chickenfoot – Get Your Buzz On Live (DVD)
Miranda Cosgrove – Sparks Fly
Dead Weather – Sea Of Cowards
Dire Straits – Alchemy Live (DVD)
Florence & The Machine – Lungs (Australian Deluxe Edition)
Michael Franti & Spearhead – TBA
Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster (Limited USB Edition)
Propellerheads – A Decade Of Decks & Drums & Rock n Roll
Christian Scott – Yesterday You Said Tomorrow
UNKLE – Where Did The Night Fall
Various – The 5CD Megabox : R’N’B
Various – Best Of Australian Country
Various – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Various – Trance Energy
Rufus Wainwright – All Days Are Nights : Songs For Lulu

May 14
Band Of Horses – Infinite Arms
Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Records
Cloud Control – Bliss Release
Craig David – Signed Sealed Delivered
Dr.John – Tribal
Foals – Total Life Forever
Keane – Night Train EP
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening (Limited Edition)
Moby – Wait For Me : Remixes
Janelle Monae – The Archandroid
Oh No Ono - Eggs
OST – Mary Poppins (Special Edition)
Them Crooked Vultures – Mind Eraser No Chaser (CD single)
Tracey Thorn – Love And It’s Opposite
Various – Best Of Eurovision Song Contest
Various – Dora The Explorer Birthday Party
Various – Girls Only
Various – I Rock
Various – Ministry Of Sound : Sessions Seven
Various – RNB Superclub Vol.10
Washington – Rich Kids EP
Young Sid – What Doesn’t Kill Me

May 21
Bon Jovi – 7800º Fahrenheit (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Bounce (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Crush (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – New Jersey (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (Special Edition)
Bon Jovi – These Days (Special Edition)
Toni Braxton - Pulse
Cog – The Sound Of Three : 12 Years With You (DVD)
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
The Jayhawks – The Jayhawks
Kelis – Flesh Tone
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
The Mayfair Set – The Mayfair Set
Sergio Mendes – Bom Tempo
Midnight Youth – The Brave Don’t Run
Nas & Damian Jr Gong Marley – Distant Relatives
OST – StarStruck
OST – Street Dance 3D
OST – True Blood Vol.2
OST – Underbelly : The Golden Mile
Pendulum – Immersion
Scouting For Girls - This Ain't A Love Song (CD single)
Stone Temple Pilots – Stone Temple Pilots
Tame Impala – InnerSpeaker
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Various – Club Classics Volume 3
Various – Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Various – School Disco Anthems
Various – The World Game : A South African Celebration
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal

May 28
Catherine Britt – Catherine Britt
DJ Havana Brown – Crave Vol.4
Andy Clockwise – Socialite
Katie Melua – The House
OST – The Prince Of Persia : The Sands Of Time
James Taylor & Carole King – The Troubadour Reunion (DVD)
Various – 100% Hits : The Best Of Winter 2010
Various – The Prayer (CD/DVD)
Russell Watson – People Get Ready

June 04
Christina Aguilera – Bionic
Amy Meredith - Restless
Custom Kings – TBA
Free Energy – Stuck On Nothing
Jack Johnson – To The Sea
Little Red – TBA
Willie Nelson – Country Music
OST – Shrek Forever After
Pocket 808 – Proximo
Sex Pistols – Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Swindle
Sia – We Are Born
Broderick Smith – Journal (Best Of)
Suckers – Wild Smile
Trentemøller – The Great Wide Yonder
Various – Now : The Hits Of Winter 2010
Wild Nothing – Gemini

June 11
Chemical Brothers – Further
Chemical Brothers – Further (CD/DVD)
Crowded House – Intriguer
Game – The R.E.D. Album
Jewel – Sweet And Wild
Ke$ha - Love Is My Drug (CD single)
N.E.R.D. - Nothing
Ozzy Osbourne – Scream
P-Money – Everything
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mojo
Kevin Rudolf – To The Sky
Tonic – Tonic
U2 – U2360 At The Rose Bowl (DVD)

June 18
Artisan Guns – Hearts EP
Dandy Warhols – Best Of
Diddy & Dirty Money – Last Train To Paris
Eminem – Recovery
Jez Mead – Beard Of Bees
Robyn – Body Talk Pt.1
Various – Complete Country
Various – Complete Eighties
Various – Complete Memories
Various – Complete Nineties
Various – Complete Party
Various – Complete Rock
Various – Complete Seventies
Various – Complete Sixties

June 25
Bliss ‘N’ Eso – TBA
The Cat Empire – Cinema
Miley Cyrus – Can’t Be Tamed
Miley Cyrus – Can’t Be Tamed (CD/DVD)
Macy Gray – The Sellout
Ocelot – No Requests
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue ‘N’ Cheek (Tour Edition)
Scissor Sisters – Night Work
Screaming Jets – TBA

July 02
Jimmy Barnes – For The Working Class Man 25
ceo – White Magic
Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

July 09
Various – Countdown : Disco Anthems

All release dates subject to change & list is updated weekly

BERTIE BLACKMAN : Peek-A-Boo

While there are some within Australia that would argue that no-one could ever hope to hold a candle to the original 1988 version of 'Peek-A-Boo' by UK outfit Siouxsie and the Banshees, our very own Bertie Blackman has given it a red hot crack.
And it must be said that as far as cover versions go, this is pretty damned decent. Thankfully, Bertie stays pretty close to the original stylistically, adding in more keys and strings to update the sound. She also stays pretty true to the S&TB video, giving the clip a dark and shadowy vibe that simply draws the viewer in. We reckon BB is so hot right now, though for most commercial radio throughout the country she might also be just a little ahead of her time. Shame, 'cause this is such good stuff.

UH-OH - IT'S KYRAH

We know that Mike over at Pop Trash Addicts is a bit of a fan of US songstress Kyrah, but now it's our turn to introduce you to her pop delights. And while there are no plans for an Australian release for her music just yet, the UK picture is just beginning to take shape.
Being lauded as a cross between Britney and Ke$ha, the British born, Los Angeles-based singer is about to hit her country of birth head-on with her debut single 'Uh-Oh', a catchy piece of dance-pop that will undeniably draw widespread comparisons with Ke$ha's worldwide No.1 mega-hit 'Tik Tok'.
And this week, she's dropped the official video, which features the temptress on a bed wearing minimal clothing and smudged make-up (leading us to believe that she's spent the night with that ripped young man).
The single's due to drop in Britain in June. No word yet on an Aussie release.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION : Croatia

The countdown to Eurovision 2010 has entered a new phase within the last couple of days, now with less than a month to go before the semi finals get underway in Oslo. A number of entrants will compete in the two semi finals (on May 25 and 27), hoping to progress through to the grand final on May 29.
Croatia performs as part of the second semi final on May 27.

CROATIA : Feminnem - Lako Je Sve

Once contestants on the Croatian version of Idol, Feminnem's love affair with the Eurovision Song Contest actually started back in 2005 when the trio gave their all for Bosnia & Herzegovina, performing the track 'Call Me'. Last year, they tried their hand again, placing third in their national heats. But in 2010, it's Feminnem again, with the new track 'Lako Je Sve' ('Everything Is Easy'). Clever use of sepia tones in the clip, with spurts of colour providing contrast - and some pretty impressive vocals. Liking this.

WELLER ADDS BRISBANE, MELBOURNE

It was over the weekend that touring agent Michael Coppel announced a second Sydney show for UK music icon Paul Weller. Fast forward just four days and Coppel has now announced second Paul Weller shows for both Brisbane and Melbourne. Both shows fall on the night after the original shows in each city and tickets for both are on sale on Tuesday May 04.

October 15 : Fremantle (Fremantle Arts Centre)
October 17 : Adelaide (Entertainment Centre Theatre)
October 19 : Brisbane (The Tivoli)
October 20 : Brisbane (The Tivoli) NEW SHOW
October 22 : Sydney (Enmore Theatre)
October 23 : Sydney (Enmore Theatre) NEW SHOW
October 26 : Melbourne (Forum Theatre)
October 27 : Melbourne (Forum Theatre) NEW SHOW

MILEY CAN'T BE TAMED

Tween darling Miley Cyrus will release her new album 'Can't Be Tamed' in Australia at the end of June. Universal Music made the announcement a short time ago, adding that the first single and title track from the LP will get its exclusive first airing in Australia via TheHotHits.com and Take40.com this Sunday at 10am (AET).
'Can't Be Tamed' the single will be officially taken to radio in Australia on Monday, before its digital release on May 21.
The album will be made available in two formats - a single disc standard edition and a CD/DVD edition, the DVD of which will feature footage from her 'Miley World' tour.
Look for 'Can't Be Tamed' the album in the shops locally on June 25.

ceo AMAZING

If you're like us, it will take you exactly one minute and 39 seconds to get completely hooked on the pop slash art slash mini movie slash prologue to the forthcoming album for new Modular signing ceo.
Check the video out below - preferably in full screen mode.
The album 'White Magic' (pictured) will be released in Australia on July 02. As for further details, we have none. This is what the official press release has to say;

"ceo arises in 1981 and 1891. in 3064 and tomorrow. after ibrahimovic and before nectanebo II. before the dark ages and after spring break. before time was, ceo is.
ceo arises in miami, hell, holzschlag, the andes, sparta, chianti and wall street. in the antennae galaxies, kungsmässan, flushing meadows and the mariana trench. before space was, ceo is.
you may call me sophia, yukio, fanta, eric, kiki and krishna. and wii and whitney.
ceo is the photosynthesis and an aria, it is silence and virginity lost in a gang bang.
ceo is a bird in space and ceo is the space in a bird.
ceo is saliva, patrón, november rain and panic. it is a relief, a citrine and it is broken dreams.
ceo is the harlot, the prince the snake and the shaman. in a spyker c8 laviolette. and on a mirage.
ceo is raspberries and chlamydia, it is the shadow and it is a clapping game.
ceo is auroras and charlotte casiraghi. it is laser beams and a home by the ocean.
ceo is a lost love and rihanna's voice. it is hibernation, the spectacle and every breath you take.
ceo is platinum and it is valium, it is a quasar and it is a lie. ceo is a breech forest and a slamdunk.
ceo is the ashanti and ceo is seinfeld. it is eucalyptus, neon and a smile.
ceo is a war zone and a sanctuary. it is dukkha, dilla and the body of light.
ceo is cashmere, sweat, zooxanthellae and a stiletto. it is implosion technology and it is the match point.

ceo is you and you are me and i am ceo.
in eternity."

There you go then.

SHAKIRA GOES WAKA WAKA

The lovely Shakira has broken the cover image for her forthcoming single 'Waka Waka'.
The track has been chosen as the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is being held in South Africa in June.
Shakira will also perform the track, alongside South African feature artist Freshlyground, at the official closing ceremony for the event, held at the Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium on July 11.
Says Shakira of the new track, "The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about. I am honored that 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”
The track is set for a worldwide digital release on May 12, with the official FIFA World Cup album 'Listen Up' set for release locally on May 28.

CHART WATCH

No change this week at the top of the ARIA albums and singles charts, with Lady Gaga and Brian McFadden respectively still holding firm, but quite a number of debuts and big moves, so let's check them out in our (belated) chart watch.

SINGLES : Brian McFadden has done it again - holding off all comers to stay steady on top of the ARIA singles chart for the second successive week - and with another 20,550 sales in the bag, his new single 'Just Say So' is now a gold certified single after just two weeks on sale.
Even Lady Gaga with her catchy new single 'Alejandro' has to settle for second place with 16,002 sales, displacing Train's former No.1 single 'Hey, Soul Sister' to No.3 (15,329 sales).
Adam Lambert moves silently up one place to No.4 with 'Whataya Want From Me' (12,422) and Richard Vission drops two places to No.5 with 'I Like That' (12,042 sales).
Vanessa Amorosi makes a rather fab 21 place jump - up to No.13 with 'Mr Mysterious' (6334 sales) and David Guetta also impresses with 'Gettin' Over You' - up 23 places to No.20.
Taio Cruz is knocking on the door of the top 20 with his single 'Break Your Heart - up to No.29, while Yolanda Be Cool debuts at No.25 with 'We No Speak No Americano' (3272 copies).
The Temper Trap's 'Sweet Disposition' moves back up - to No.32 - just two places ahead of the band's latest single 'Love Lost', and Jet moves into the top 50 for the first time with 'Seventeen' - at No.40 (2430 sales).
T-Pain also debuts with 'Take Your Shirt Off' at No.42 (2284 sales), while Powderfinger and Kisschasy pop back in at Nos.45 and 47 respectively.
Outside the 50, Ludacris makes a move - up to No.54 with his single 'How Low', Powderfinger's classic 'My Happiness' is back in at No.63 on the back of their final tour announcement and Jack Johnson's 'You And Your Heart' is up from No.94 to No.66.
A No.70 debut for Tinie Tempah with 'Pass Out' (1057 sales), a No.71 debut for Lisa Mitchell with 'Oh! Hark!' (1022 sales) and Lil Wayne pops in at No.80 with 'Drop The World' (933 sales).
LMFO is in at No.91 with 'Shots' (824 copies) and Counting Crows rocket into the 100 at No.96 with 'Colourblind' (790 sales).

ALBUMS : On the albums side of the draw, it's Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster' that holds steady this week - selling a further 6641 copies for a No.1 place. But look out Gaga, Subo's on the prowl, moving up two spots with her re-packaged 'I Dreamed A Dream' to No.2 (5648 sales).
JBT is down to No.3 (4347 sales) and Mumford & Sons is up to No.4 (3987 sales).
Last year's 'Australia's Got Talent' winner Mark Vincent debuts at No.5 with his new album 'Compass'. It sold 3915 copies for the place.
Powderfinger's 'Golden Rule' moves up 12 places to No.12 after last week's announcement (1958 sales), INXS's 'Platinum' set debuts at No.21 (1470 sales), and Adam Lambert's 'For Your Entertainment jumps ten places to No.27.
Vanessa Amorosi's album 'Hazardous' moves back into the top 50 at No.34, so too Jet's album 'Shaka Rock' - up 57 places to No.40 - and Guy Sebastian's 'Like It Like That' (No.49).
With Regina Spektor in the country touring, her album 'Far' re-emerges in the top 100 - at No.52 (653 sales). The same deal with Jamie Cullum's album 'The Pursuit' - back into the top 100 at No.60.
Doris Day's 'Hits, Hollywood & Broadway' is in the top 100 at No.68 (566 sales), Eric Hutchinson moves back in to No.78 and Bieber fever sees 'My Worlds' back into the top 100 at No.82 (461 sales).

OFFICIAL ARIA CHARTS

INTERVIEW : Operator Please

Operator Please has come a long way since being formed by a series of Gold Coast high school students to take part in a national competition. In the five years since, they've enjoyed top 20 chart success, had their songs used in high profile advertising campaigns and have even been invited to play prestigious music festivals in Europe. With their new album 'Gloves' in the shops this week, we had a natter with OP's frontwoman Amandah Wilkinson (pictured, second from right) about the LP, toilet tours and that song about ping pong.
We start off by asking her if she could have imagined her little 'Battle Of The Bands' entry morphing into something so successful.

"No. I actually really didn’t, honestly. I guess that subconsciously I’ve always wanted to make music, but at high school I always thought that it was something that was really unattainable. So up until year ten I stopped thinking about being in a band or having a career in music. But I started listening to lots of left field lo-fi sort of music and realised that there were no limitations and no rules to the music that you could make. I guess subconsciously, I’ve always wanted something along the lines of that," she said.

The name of the band was to come about rather organically, with Amandah's schoolfriends deciding it was the most catchy from a series of options they'd been considering.

"The name was actually brainstormed. We had a piece of paper and we wrote down words that rolled off the tongue and ‘operator’ and ‘please’ were at two different sections of the piece of paper. I did a loop around them and I thought they looked good next to each other."

Then, armed with an official name and a debut, independently-released EP ('On The Prowl'), the band set about making a name for themselves, playing shows across the east coast to anyone who'd listen. And with the power of the internet behind them, public interest began to grow.

"We were entering a lot of online competitions like 'National Youth Week' where you had the opportunity to upload a song and really expose it to people through every facet of the internet. After doing a lot of that stuff by ourselves, people started to take notice. We started getting local airplay and I suppose the turning point when Australia really got interested in us was when we got asked to showcase to a couple of labels in the US. Everything started snowballing from there.
"I think we’ve always had this thing at the back of our minds that everything should be driven creatively, and regardless of whether you’ve got people supporting you or not, everything still needs to be natural and nothing should ever be forced."

So to say that the band's biggest hit to date ('Just A Song About Ping Pong') was a complete fluke is an understatement. Amandah and her Operator Please co-stars never imagined that 'Ping Pong' would be the song to give them their first taste of chart success.

"It was actually on the very first EP, slotted in the middle of other songs that we thought were better. We put it online and people said, ‘we really like this song’ and we thought ‘wow – that’s really strange you say that because it’s not necessarily our favourite.’ We’d had the song for such a long time and then it came out as a single and it kind of hit everywhere."

And hit it did, rocketing into the ARIA top 20 where it peaked at No.12. It was the first of many chart successes for the band, and one of a number of highlights Amandah mentions as part of the Operator Please timeline.

"Glastonbury is obvious. When you’re starting out, you start from the very bottom and you build yourself up to a certain level. And then when you go overseas, you have to start again. We were going to the UK and doing what I call ‘the toilet tour’. I find that there’s three levels of the toilet tour – there’s the small toilet tour, the medium and then the big toilet tour. And then you start doing the really good venues. So we’d gone back and done those types of shows and we finally got to a point where we were being booked for festivals like Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds in the UK and Hurricane in Germany. It was an amazing experience for us."


The new Operator Please album 'Gloves' marks a slight shift in musical direction for the band. Gone are the spiky, crunching guitars of old, replaced by a fresh new electro-pop vibe that's just ripe for commercial station playlists. Amandah tells us the reason for the band's evolving sound.

"When you’re coming to do your second record, the last thing that you want to do is making the second part to your first record. You can either back pedal or you can push forward. So what I thought was the next logical step was to embrace the more pop side of our writing and really delve into it. So that’s kinda where we went. It was definitely a natural progression for me. I think it was time for me to really be able to show that there was a vulnerable side to my writing and the kind of songs we had. It’s quite stripped back compared to the last record in the sense that the approach to the songwriting was really minimalist and focussed heavily on the melodies within the songs."

But though the band is forging ahead with something new, the singer also understands that there are plenty of Operator Please purists who'll be none too happy with the change in direction.

"I think it’s always going to be difficult from album to album because I look at writing records and writing songs – it’s like a documentation of a point in time. Of what you were, of what you are. And so I think that for a lot of the time that we were writing this second record, I was thinking that it was shaping up to be quite different to what I had imagined. The demos were different from the first record, but they weren’t a far stretch. Then I started thinking about them as a single entity and not something that was connected to another place and time. You don’t want to do things you’ve already done. You want to push yourself and try new things. I think that’s got a lot to do with shaping your music organically rather than forcing things and thinking that they should sound a particular way," she says, adding "Another really important element of it is to inform the people that are listening to your music on your facets of the internet. Talk to them – and tell them the processes of what’s going on – because I think then it kind of sheds a bit of light on where you want to go with this. And then it makes things seem a little bit more understandable."

In what we've previously described as a complete stroke of genius, there's also a limited edition of the album, which comes complete with a mixtape - on a cassette. An actual proper cassette tape.

"I thought the demos would go perfectly well on a tape because they’re just bedroom demos of me doing little songs I’ve written that are super, super lo-fi and very stripped back and quite vulnerable. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with having that on a CD. So that’s why we went with putting it on a tape. And also because it might also encourage people to go find a tape player and hear the kind of demos that are on it."

We also speak about the shift that we've perceived in the world of pop music throughout the past few years as artists, and more importantly the sound of their music, evolve.

"Pop is no longer that bubblegum thing that it was in 1999 when Britney Spears was first coming out. People have realised that with a lot of genres – you’re ultimately listening to a pop song written within that aesthetic. I think people are realising that it’s about being able to have a certain aesthetic to what you’re doing, but also be able to connect with a large amount of people. And a pop song that connects with a lot of people – that’s hard work. And that’s why you see artists like Lady Gaga owning it right about now – because not only does she write a pop song, she can sing and she is a performer and she’s also a bit kooky, you know. I think, as much as people want to diss her, I think she’s really opening a lot of doors for people who do make pop music."

The band is about to set off on their 'Gloves Off' national tour. It kicks off in Perth on June 18, before visiting Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before finally coming to an end on the Gold Coast. Amandah tells us what fans can expect.

"We’ll be playing some of the first record, but I think that the main thing I’m trying to achieve with this tour is maybe bringing in a little bit of stage set. I think it’s time for us to do that. We’ve played so many shows where we just get up on stage and play a show and that’s the end of the night, but I really want to do something that’s a little bit memorable in the setting and the mood of things."

Something similar to the 'Back And Forth' clip (above) perhaps?

"We could, you know! That’s what I mean – just having an aesthetically pleasing set-up around you so that not only can you enjoy listening to the music, but you can also submerge yourself into the setting."

There's also a Myspace Secret Show coming up this Friday in Brisbane. But exactly where, no-one knows.

"It’s a secret show and then it gets announced. The location is still secret, you see… It’ll be cool because it’s the first all ages show we’ve had in Brisbane for a really, really long time. I think since Valley Fiesta in 2008, so yeah, it should be good."

They have indeed come a long way since battling the bands five years ago, but with a new LP chock-full of fantastic new tracks, a great new direction in sound and a fresh new line-up, it seems the 'Operator Please' battle for chart domination has only just begun. And the gloves are off.

The new Operator Please album 'Gloves' is in-store now.
The band's new single 'Back And Forth' is available digitally now.
Catch Operator Please on their 'Gloves Off' national tour, kicking off in Perth on June 18.

LEE RYAN : Secret Love

Earlier this century, a boy band called Blue were owning charts across the planet - they even achieved eight top 50 Aussie singles, two of which hit the top five. But in 2005, Duncan, Simon, Anthony and young Lee Ryan called it quits.
And though the band officially got back together last year, Lee is forging ahead with what's essentially part two of his solo career, with this hot new single and a forthcoming album.
'Secret Love' takes a handsome young man, introduces him to some '80s pop sensibilities, mixes through a foundation of hot club beats and stirs through distinctly urban vibe. It's all cooked up to become something we can only describe as 'future pop' and has been perfectly baked to go off right about... now. Bing.

ROGUES COMPLETE

Rogue Traders frontman James Ash has revealed via the band's OFFICIAL FORUM that the band's forthcoming album 'Night Of The Living Drums' is now complete.
"It's a great feeling. It's a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction," he said, adding that the band set out to produce the "definitive Rogue's album."
"This album is really for guys, the real fans, supporters and friends of this band. You guys have kept us going through some very lonely and trying times. This album is for those people who kept us smiling with words of encouragement on twitter through some long nights. This album is for all those you who kept putting up with the constant delays & the constant mysteries," he said.
Though an official release date for the LP has yet to be revealed, it's expected the rest of us will 'Night Of The Living Drums' in the second half of the year.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION : Finland

The countdown to Eurovision 2010 has entered a new phase within the last couple of days, now with less than a month to go before the semi finals get underway in Oslo. A number of entrants will compete in the two semi finals (on May 25 and 27), hoping to progress through to the grand final on May 29. Finland will take part in semi final No.1 on May 25.

FINLAND : Kuunkuiskaajat - Työlki Ellää

If you thought the recently erupting Icelandic volcano had a strange and virtually unpronouncable name, get your chops around the name of the Finnish entry for Eurovision, Kuunkuiskaajat. Songstresses Susan Aho and Johanna Virtanen make up the vocal duo, and as you can see from the clip below, they're both rather beautiful, their talents extending to the piano accordion.

SONY'S MOTHERS DAY INSTORES

Sony Music is hoping to get your Mother's Day shopping sorted with two of their brightest local stars heading in-store for a selection of live performances and signings in the coming week. Both David Campbell (pictured) and Mark Vincent will appear, Mark with two Sydney dates, David one each in both Melbourne and Adelaide. They're promoting their respective new albums ('Compass' and 'On Broadway'), both of which are expected to sell strongly in the lead-up to Mother's Day on Sunday May 09.

Mark signs copies of his sophomore album 'Compass' at the following venues;
May 01 : Richmond (Richmond Records)
May 08 : Miranda (Myer, Westfield Miranda)

David signs copies of his new album 'On Broadway' at the following venues;
May 06 : Elizabeth (Elizabeth Shopping Centre - North Mall)
May 08 : Ringwood (JB Hifi Eastland)

MINI NEWS WRAP

* A few more bits and pieces of music information have come across the desk in the latter part of the day, so we've decided to pop up another mini news wrap for you...
* Warner Music has this afternoon promoed three new tracks to Australian radio - the title track from Michael Buble's latest album 'Crazy Love', Janelle Monae's incredible 'Tightrope' and 'Mousetrap Heart' (pictured), the brand new single from Aussie outfit Thirsty Merc.
* Superstar dance DJ Tiesto has created a brand new track for the Smirnoff Experience South Africa. The new track, 'Dreaming', will have it's debut in South Africa on May 15, with fans able to watch it's unveiling via a live Facebook stream HERE.
* Aussie budget airline Jetstar and retiring rock outfit Powderfinger have revealed they'll be joining forces to raise funds for their respective charities during Powderfinger's farewell 'Sunsets' tour later this year. An announcement regarding a special fundraising event will be revealed in the coming weeks.
* Gunners guitarist Slash has announced an Australia tour. He'll head back to Aussie shores in August for dates in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Tickets for all shows are on sale on Friday May 07.
* And on the eve of their Australian visit as part of Creamfields, Ministry Of Sound has announced that the Bloody Beetroots single 'Warp 1.9' has achieved gold status, for local sales of more than 35,000 copies.
(We thought things might have been a mighty bit busier today, given yesterday's public holiday, but golly, weren't we wrong!?)

LCD, HOT CHIP SIDESHOWS

Both these amazing electro acts are heading to Australia later this year to be part of the incredible line-up for Splendour In The Grass. But now LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip have announced collaborative Sydney and Melbourne sideshows for those not able to make it to wonderful Woodford in late July.
So as the flyer (pictured) suggests, LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip will perform live for Sydneysiders on July 26 at Hordern Pavillion, and for Melburnians on July 29 at Festival Hall. Tickets are on sale on Friday May 07.

July 26 : Sydney (Hordern Pavillion)
July 29 : Melbourne (Festival Hall)

FENECH-SOLER : Stop And Stare

Here's something rather gorgeous that Shock Records have the license to here in Australia - all the way from the United Kingdom, we present to you the delights of Fenech Soler. Dan Soler and childhood friends Ben and Ross Duffy combined with a new drummer to create the four piece that's been slowly garnering rave reviews for their electro-pop goodness. 'Stop And Stare' is released locally (digitally) on Friday. The clip's pretty awesome, but now we've got Paris-sick again and want to go back.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION : Greece

The countdown to Eurovision 2010 has entered a new phase within the last couple of days, now with less than a month to go before the semi finals get underway in Oslo. A number of entrants will compete in the two semi finals (on May 25 and 27), hoping to progress through to the grand final on May 29. Greece will take part in semi final No.1 on May 25.

GREECE : Giorgos Alkaios & Friends - Opa!

Most of us outside Greece would never have heard of Giorgos Alkaios, but the 38 year old performer has been entertaining his homeland for the best part of two decades. With gold and platinum albums under his belt, Giorgos will carry the hopes of his country into battle for Eurovision 2010. The clip (below) takes an eternity to get to the point - a little bit of editing might not have gone astray, but the song explodes into life at around the 90 second mark in a burst of marching drums and bouzouki.

STAN WALKER : Unbroken

We made mentioned of one little issue with the new Stan Walker clip when a little snippet of it appeared a little while back... Given he spends much of the song singing about being 'Unbroken', you'd think that he'd be looking a little happier. In reality, he looks downright miserable. He's walking the streets of Melbourne, taking in some of the sights, and though there's no denying he's got an incredible voice, we're left a little underwhelmed by the track itself.

NEWS WRAP

* A number of new tracks taken to radio this week including this one - the brand new single for Goldfrapp, 'Alive'. It's the second single to be lifted from the 'Frapp's latest album 'Head First'.
* Also at radio this week is the new single for Rihanna, 'Te Amo', the Laidback Luke remix of Moby's 'Wait For Me', and a re-service of the rather amazing Kelis track 'Acapella'.
* Cyndi Lauper fan site Cyndi Lauper News has revealed the tracklisting for her forthcoming album 'Memphis Blues'. It features a number of guest collaborations, including one with the legendary B.B.King. Find out more HERE.
* US songstress Esmee Denters has teamed up with Justin Timberlake for her new single 'Love Dealer'. The video for the single is due to break within the next week, but you can catch a sneak 30 second snippet HERE.
* Warner Music looks about set to begin the hard push to make Toni Braxton a big star in Australia again, sampling mixes of the singer's single 'Yesterday' to club DJs. Mixes come courtesy of Bimbo Jones and Fred Falke.
* Former X Factor singer Diana Vickers has debuted at No.1 on the UK single chart with her first single 'Once'. The track displaced Usher from the top spot, while Chipmunk debuted at No.3. The Tina Turner classic 'The Best' came in at No.9 after a campaign by the Rangers Football Club to get the track to No.1.
* On the UK album chart, AC/DC's Iron Man 2 soundtrack hits the No.1 position, ahead of Paul Weller's new LP 'Wake Up The Nation'. Meatloaf debuts at No.4, Kate Nash at No.8.
* And on the Aussie iTunes chart, Vanessa Amorosi's single 'Mr.Mysterious' has bulleted into the top ten, while the reworked David Guetta track 'Gettin' Over You' continues it's march towards the top. Worryingly for Sony Music, Stan Walker's single 'Unbroken' has stalled.

TWEET TWEET WINNERS

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been treating our Twitter followers to some very exclusive giveaways - just for them. And while the prizes have appeared on the site, we've made sure that they're hidden away, so that only our Twitter followers know when or where they appear. Sneaky? Sure.
So congratulations to the following winners...

Paul from Concord West in New South Wales picks up a copy of 'Blazin' 2010'.
Wong Chee from Malaysia picks up a copy of the Boyzone album 'Brother'.
Kelly from Brisbane bags herself the Nick Jonas album 'Who I Am'.
Richard from St.Clair in New South Wales will received Lil Wayne's 'Rebirth'.
And finally Jordan from Eltham in Victoria picks up Justin Bieber's 'My World'!

Congratulations to our lucky Twitter winners and a big thanks to everyone who entered!
Don't forget, we're currently in the midst of giveaways of the brand new Glee 'The Power Of Madonna' EP! Hit the giveaway link in the sidebar to find out how to enter!

MAX GETS U2 WATCH

The gang over at pay TV network MAX have scored somewhat of a most magical musical coup, signing on the dotted line to bring you the exclusive Australian television premiere of U2's incredible 360º live show this Saturday night.
Filmed in front of a record breaking 100,000-strong crowd at The Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, the show was U2's biggest on American soil and covers plenty of their classics, plus material from the band's most recent album 'No Line On The Horizon'.
Catch the Australian TV Premiere of U2360º this Saturday night (May 01) at 6:30, exclusive to MAX.
(The show is repeated on Sunday May 02 at 5:00pm).

CHART WATCH DELAY

Our apologies for the delay in the delivery of this week's 'Chart Watch'. This is due to the Anzac Day public holiday. We're hoping to have all the info you love and desire up on the site by 11am tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

COUNTDOWN TO EUROVISION : Azerbaijan

Can you believe it? The excitement is building, we can feel it in our waters... Yesterday marked just one month before the first semi final in Eurovision 2010. Just one month before some of the kitschest, the campest and the most colourful music in the world takes to the stage in Oslo for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Once again, the competition is broken down into the two semi finals (on May 25 and 27) and the grand final on May 29. And we continue our look at some of the entries that will compete for European music's ultimate prize.

AZERBAIJAN : Safura - Drip Drop

She may be just 17 years of age, but that hasn't stopped Safura Alizadeh from fulfilling a dream to represent her country at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Safura was chosen as this year's Azerbaijani entry by public vote at the beginning of last month, with the song 'Drop Drop' - a track that's apparently already garnered the No.1 airplay spot in nearby Bulgaria. It's all about the cheating boyfriend who's causing these tears (drip drop, drip drop). It's okay, but we doubt very highly that it'll walk away victorious on May 29.

BIEBER CONCERT CANCELLED

Police in Sydney have taken the extraordinary step of cancelling this morning's planned Justin Bieber concert at Circular Quay, after fears for public safety. A 7000 strong crowd turned up for the event, with reports that some had been camping out since yesterday morning in the hope of being closest to their teen idol.
Some young fans had travelled from as far away as Cairns and Perth just for the show.
Around a dozen young fans fainted in the crush, with police cancelling the event after repeated calls for the crowd to back away went unheeded.

MOST ADDED

RADIO'S MOST ADDED
WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY APRIL 26, 2010

01. TAIO CRUZ : BREAK YOUR HEART
02. SCOUTING FOR GIRLS : THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
03. DAVID GUETTA & CHRIS WILLIS FTG. FERGIE & LMFAO : GETTIN' OVER YOU
04. POWDERFINGER : SAIL THE WILDEST STRETCH
05. YOLANDA BE COOL & DCUP : WE SPEAK NO AMERICANO
06. WASHINGTON : RICH KIDS
07. CHERYL COLE : FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE
08. BASEMENT BIRDS : WAITING FOR YOU
09. CROWDED HOUSE : SATURDAY SUN
10. CHIDDY BANG : OPPOSITE OF ADULTS

Most added tracks to Australian radio courtesy of The Music Network.

KATIE MELUA : The Flood

Every now and again, a track comes along that completely takes your breath away. For us, Katie Melua's new single 'The Flood' is one of those tracks. It's sweeping, majestic strings couple brilliantly with Katie's extraordinary vocals to create an inspired piece of music, blending middle eastern influences with out and out pop. The clip too is rather amazing, and we especially love the piano. Heck, if Gaga can set hers on fire, why can't Ms Melua have hers rocking back and forth!? It's superb. And we're now very very excited about her forthcoming album, due for release late next month.

DOKO GO LALA

After gigging around the country throughout the past few years with her electro band She Said Yes, former Bachelor Girl vocalist Tania Doko has finally released her "official solo pop/rock" EP, called 'It's Time'.
And it would seem that the time is most certainly right for the singer songwriter, who's currently bunkered down in Los Angeles, establishing herself as a songwriter, recently signing a US management deal.
From L.A., it's onto both London and Stockholm for more song-writing, and a possible (performance) side trip to Mykonos and Ibiza for the European summer is also not out of the question.
Meanwhile, the EP 'It's Time' features six tracks, including some previously released through She Said Yes. But the EP also includes three brand new tracks. 'Settle Down' and 'Simple Mind' were both co-written with Cameron McGlinchey (formerly of the Rogue Traders) and 'Come Another Day' was written by her former Bachelor Girl co-star James Roche.
Check Tania's OFFICIAL MYSPACE for more information and click HERE for the iTunes store.

BOYZONE : Love Is A Hurricane

It has to be said that the boys from Boyzone aren't looking too bad in their birthday suits in the clip to their new single 'Love Is A Hurricane'. The track is the second to be lifted off their latest album 'Brother', which was released in Australia a couple of weeks back, and was written by Gregg Alexander, the same gentleman responsible for penning Ronan's solo hit 'Life Is A Rollercoaster'. So if it sounds familiar, it probably is.
The clip? Well it's a bit dusty and dirty, with girls in rather sheer fabrics teasing and tantalising the boys so much that they have to have a cold shower - or in this case bath.

GLORIA ESTEFAN : Here We Are

It's not often we pop ballads up as our 'Lookback' pop clips, but when we're talking about the first lady of latin music, we can most certainly be forgive. Australia didn't really get behind the Gloria Estefan juggernaut as much as they did in the US and the UK, but 'Here We Are' was her first foray into our charts two decades ago. The smooth ballad introduced us to a stunning young woman with an incredible set of pipes, a penchant for tickling the ivories and hair. Plenty of big, dark, permed hair (hey, it was all the rage back then...). Great love song, great lookback.