Sheryl Crow

Jon Stewart Rally Joined By Sheryl Crow, Ozzy Osbourne

30 Oct 2010 19:38:57 EDT

The Roots, Sam Waterston, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more attend 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart at the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear"
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

In between performances from music titans such as Ozzy Osbourne and the O' Jays during Saturday's (October 30) "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear," "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, conservative caricature Stephen Colbert and a cast of funnypeople quipped about everything from Chilean miners to the "Real Housewives of New Jersey." Despite the deluge of laughs, the event's overall message could possibly be summed up by the groovy mantra of the O' Jays feel-good classic "Love Train": People all over the world, join hands.

Philadelphia collective the Roots kicked off the three-hour live event with a 40-minute set packed with a bunch of the band's notable jams. Bundled up in a camel coat, Black Thought led the outfit through their jocular Phrenology joint "Thought at Work" and the How I Got Over album's eponymous cut, in the shadow of The Capitol Building. John Legend joined the Roots crew for "Dear God 2.0" and the musicians' covers of soul classics "Hard Times" and "Little Ghetto Boy" from the collaborative album Wake Up! Legend recounted the story behind Bill Withers' "I Can't Write Left Handed" before launching into a bluesy, soulful rendition powered by a fiery solo from guitarist Kirk Douglas, who also doubled up on vocal duties when the band played "The Seed 2.0." The stars closed the set with Curtis Mayfield's uplifting hit "Move On Up." "MythBusters" hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman engaged the thousands of rally attendees in a few geeky pastimes, including a large-scale version of the Wave and an attempt to create a literal "groundswell" by commanding everyone to jump simultaneously. But the crowd really went nuts when the event's figurehead, Jon Stewart, strolled onstage in khakis and a dark blazer, greeted by a sea of waving hands nearly an hour after the event began. Stewart introduced a patriotic rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung by four U.S. troops, before screaming to the audience, "Are you ready to restore sanity?" After bantering about the racial makeup of rallies — quipping that an event with too many white people is "racist" while an occasion marked by too many people of color means they're "asking for something" such as equal rights — Stewart, with the help of some "Daily Show" correspondents jokingly asked the crowd to count off to ensure the racial composition of the rally matched that of the country. Stephen Colbert, pulled off a dramatic entrance that referenced the odyssey of the trapped Chilean miners, initially speaking to the crowd via camera from his "fear bunker" and ascending from below the stage in a capsule-like contraption. Other highlights of the day included a speech from Father Guido Sarducci, who attempted to pin down the "right" religion, and a poem recited by actor Sam Waterston. Former Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater and "Real Housewives of New Jersey" starlet Teresa Giudice sent video apologies for their famed freak-outs. Comedian Tim Meadows appeared as PK Winsome during a taped skit, urging attendees to splurge on souvenirs, and basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made an appearance. Ozzy Osbourne and Yusuf Islam — formerly known as Cat Stevens — surprised fans with performances of their respective hits "Crazy Train" and "Peace Train," with Colbert supporting the former and Stewart championing the latter. R&B legends the O' Jays followed-up with their well-worn jam "Love Train." Soul great Mavis Staples teamed up with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy for a tender, acoustic version of their collaboration "You Are Not Alone" from the R&B legend's latest album. Rocker Sheryl Crow was accompanied by Kid Rock on the piano for a song that implores listeners to help out, crooning, "I can't stop the war, shelter homeless, feed the poor ... The least that I can do is care." The performance featured a video-taped verse from embattled MC T.I., who wasn't able to attend. Stewart and Colbert also dished out awards, such as the Medal of Reasonableness to citizen Velma Hart for her levelheaded questioning of President Obama and a Medal of Fear to the news organizations who barred their employees for attending the rally. However, when Stewart signed off at the close of the three-hour event, he maintained that the rally wasn't just about poking fun. Instead, he urged the thousands of attendees to remember that the hyperbolic images of political extremists and religious nut jobs that clutter the media are not true representations of the American people. The speech was followed by a brief performance from legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who dished out an a cappella version of "America the Beautiful." The crowd's chants of "USA" rang in the air before all of the show's performers hit the stage one final time to join Mavis for the Staples Singers' 1972 single "I'll Take You There. Did you attend Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Peace"? Let us know in the comments!

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Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock's 'Lean On Me': The Story Behind The Cover

22 Jan 2010 21:23:00 EST

Bill Withers' 1972 song, performed at 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon, spawned #1 hits and a Morgan Freeman movie.
By Amy Wilkinson

Keith Urban performing at 'Hope for Haiti Now'
Photo: Dave M. Benett/ Getty Images

Country and rock and roll collided Friday (January 22) when Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban and Kid Rock joined forces to perform the hit song "Lean on Me" during MTV's "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief." Written by Bill Withers and released in 1972 on his second album Still Bill, "Lean on Me" was inspired by Withers' small-town upbringing in the mining community of Slab Fork, West Virginia — a close-knit atmosphere Withers pined for after moving to L.A. The song hit #1 on July 8, 1972, and remained on the charts for 19 weeks. In 2004, the song was ranked #205 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

Despite its popularity, the track did not receive a Grammy until it was re-recorded and funkified by the R&B group Club Nouveau in 1987. The quintet also scored a #1 hit with their rendition. Two years later, the song once again stepped into the spotlight with the 1989 Morgan Freeman film of the same name. The biographical drama centered on Freeman's Joe Clark, a real-life inner-city high school principal in New Jersey whose school was at risk of being taken over by the state if students' scores don't increase. The movie's soundtrack featured two versions of the hit, one by Thelma Houston and the Winans and the second by Sandra Reaves-Phillips and the cast. Cover versions have also been released by Bonnie Tyler, Michael Bolton and Rascal Flatts. The song was featured in a 2009 episode of the Fox musical series "Glee" and was re-recorded by Disney star Mitchell Musso for the movie "Snow Buddies." Mary J. Blige performed the song on HBO's "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial. In 2006, Withers reflected on his iconic song's wide-ranging appeal. "I remember visiting a prison and happening to walk by, and the prison choir was practicing, and they were singing that song," Withers told Goldmine magazine. "I remember the kids put me in the sixth-grade play when my son graduated from elementary school. I had to sing 'Lean on Me' with the kids. They got me there. From prisons to churches to children's situations is where I've run into that song. After this amount of time that song has sort of ingrained itself where it almost seems like something that doesn't particularly belong to me. It's like it was something that was there before I got here. If you ask somebody, they might tell you that 'Lean on Me' was 100 years old." Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.

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Usher, Ciara, JC Chasez, More Reflect On Michael Jackson's Influence

26 Jun 2009 20:59:00 EDT

'I feel it's important for me to continue to let my generation know how important he was to music,' Ciara says during 'A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Getty Images

Entertainment and sports stars came together to remember Michael Jackson on the MTV News special "A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV" on Friday (June 26). The special — including several Video Music Awards performances as well as candid moments he spent on the network — brought together Kobe Bryant, Liza Minnelli and Usher, among others, to pay tribute to the departed pop icon. "I think it's probably deeper than people would expect, actually," Kobe Bryant said. "Being out here in L.A., I had numerous conversations, just over the phone and also at his house, just talking about work ethic and paying attention to details. He was extremely inspirational for me because he helped me understand that it's OK to be different. And when I say different I mean different in the sense of being obsessed with your craft ... and working your tail off and being consumed by what you do. He helped mentor me in that department. I think we lost an absolutely brilliant, brilliant mind and just a genuine nice person."

Fabolous, who has sampled Jackson's music in his songs, said he learned a lot from watching Jackson as a kid. "I was just very disappointed the whole day ... I grew up on Michael Jackson," he said. "One of my first albums my mom bought me was Thriller, so just to see him pass was like a big loss to me and everyone who grew up around me." JC Chasez, who performed with Jackson along with 'NSYNC at the 2001 VMAs, described the show as "a childhood dream come true." "It was kind of like my life had come full-circle at that point. First you dream about being able to dance like him and the next thing you know you're standing next to him while you're dancing. As a professional, you want to reach the top of your game. Then you find yourself on the MTV awards and you share that moment with him. He's a language. He's a piece of vernacular when you talk about dancing, singing ... entertainment." Sheryl Crow toured with Jackson for two years in the late '80s, and she was one of the people lucky enough to get to know the personal side of Jackson. "I did a couple of duets with him. He reached out to me on a couple of occasions and invited me to come up to his hotel room to watch movies," she recalled. "A big room with a couple of bodyguards and us throwing popcorn across the room at each other. He was just very childlike and loved to practical joke ... very childlike and innocent and then he'd walk out onstage and you'd see this magnetic, very strong artistic talent up there." Teddy Riley, who worked with Jackson on both "Dangerous" and "Remember the Time," is still reeling from the loss, but feels honored to have had a chance to work with the King of Pop. "Such a huge impact he had. A lot of the major people out there, they've grown up to Michael Jackson., and I've grown up to Michael Jackson, and it's been a dream to work with him ... he made my dreams come true. It's a big impact and I think everyone out there is going to miss him," he said. Liza Minnelli, who called in to the show along with Usher, remembered the days they'd spend together. "We would hang together when we were in New York. We would go to [dancer and choreographer] Martha Graham's. I would take him to Martha Graham and he'd say, 'Oh, I got to learn that,' and we'd run upstairs to practice. Anyway, I loved him." Usher, who was significantly influenced by Jackson, added, "It's pretty hard right now, man. Michael Jackson transcended culture. He transcended love, man. He changed the barrier of life and the way we looked at things." One woman who has definitely used some of the Jackson aesthetic in her own career, Ciara, admits that MJ was her biggest inspiration. "He was part of the reason why for me," she said. "Whenever someone asks me who inspires me to do what I do, I always say Michael. That's it for me. He's everything to me. He's really a part of the reason why. He's going to be remembered in so many ways for me. I feel it's important for me to continue to let my generation know how important he was to music." MTV will be paying tribute to MJ throughout the weekend with music videos, exclusive performances and calls and tweets from celebrity admirers and friends. For everything we've got on the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered." Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson Was 'Truly Innovative,' Sheryl Crow Says

25 Jun 2009 22:26:00 EDT

'I can't speak highly enough about what I got to witness every single night for nearly two years,' Crow says of her time on tour with the King of Pop.
By Kyle Anderson

Sheryl Crow and Michael Jackson perform in 1988
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Thursday evening (June 25), on the MTV special "Michael Jackson: A Tribute," Sheryl Crow called in to share her memories of Jackson and her thoughts on his passing. Crow spent nearly two years on the road with Jackson as a backup singer during his world tour for Bad and also appeared in the video for "Dirty Diana." Like many of the stars who spoke to Kurt Loder about Jackson's death, she looked back on his career with a sense of awe. "I can't speak highly enough about what I got to witness every single night for nearly two years, which was the brilliance of someone who was truly innovative," Crow said. "Before 1984, no one had ever seen moves like that."

Crow was candid about Jackson's demeanor on the tour, suggesting that he was already recoiling from the rest of the world. "When I started working with him, I think that was when he really started to isolate himself," she explained. "I think he started to take into his own hands what he was going to try to project as his legacy, so everybody in the band and in the crew was kind of held at arm's length." Despite his reservations, Jackson still got close to Crow. "I got to go out and sing with him twice every night on 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You' and 'The Way You Make Me Feel.' So I had more interaction with him than most. One thing I remember him telling me was that he really felt like he was sent to the planet for the children. I thought that was really telling, because he considered himself to be eternally childlike." She also said that she believes Jackson's legacy is visible every day. "You can see how much of an impact he's had when you see Usher and Justin Timberlake. They're still using those moves, they're still sounding like him and using those riffs. You can see how deeply effective he was as an R&B artist." MTV will be paying tribute to MJ throughout the weekend with music videos, exclusive performances and calls and tweets from celebrity admirers and friends. For everything we've got on the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered." Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below. Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Huffington Post Inaugural Ball Packs In Celebs From Pete Wentz To Don King

20 Jan 2009 12:13:00 EST

Performances by Will.I.Am, Sheryl Crow distract guests from the overcrowding.
By Sarah Maslin Nir

Photo: Joe Kohen/ Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was billed as D.C.'s "most exclusive party," but the Huffington Post Pre-Inaugural Ball certainly was crowded. Make that can't-move-without-spilling-your-drink, can't-talk-without-shouting, sardines-in-a-tin-can packed. Held at the ultramodern Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue, the party took place amid giant models of laptop computers and interactive journalism terminals that partygoers played with at random. Calling the bash "our inauguration," the liberal online newspaper aimed to galvanize the public into taking action for the future of America. The site's founder, Arianna Huffington, was interviewed by Larry King at the party. "The theme of tonight's party is that it's not just Barack Obama being inaugurated tomorrow, it's all of us being inaugurated," she said. "It's imperative not just to look at him as a knight in shining armor who is going to do it all for us. We have to take responsibility." Toasting that aim was a roster of celebrities fit for an Oscar fete. But despite the heavy star wattage, the night was all about Obama. Even flashy MC Hammer refused to bust a trademark move, saying the event was not about him. Demi Lovato, fresh from a performance for the first lady and first daughters at the "Kids' Inaugural" with Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, gushed about the thrill of hugging Michelle Obama. Shakira and Rosie Perez spoke rapturously about the impact Obama has had on Latinos. In a bedazzled denim suit covered in pictures of Jesus and Obama was Don King, the flamboyant boxing promoter who discovered George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. Preaching and yelling, King said that in a knockdown fight between the president-elect and McCain, "Obama would win, no contest." Jesse Jackson competed for reporters' time with the effusive King and shared red-carpet space with Josh Groban. Groban had the honor of singing the national anthem at Sunday's "We Are One" concert. Groban was still marveling about the experience a day later. He recounted standing between Will.I.Am and Samuel L. Jackson at the gig, giddy "like schoolchildren" as they waited for Obama to come shake their hands. Other celebs crammed into the crowd included Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, John Cusack, Ben Affleck, Robert De Niro, Teri Hatcher, David Arquette, Larry David and Sarah Silverman. Musicians represented, too: Members of Fall Out Boy and Maroon 5 hobnobbed with the press. Pete Wentz, who'll perform at MTV's "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural," said he'd step down as FOB frontman if Obama wants to grab the mic. Spirits at the uncomfortably crowded party lifted when Sheryl Crow took the stage and sang "Everyday Is a Winding Road," a song fitting for the challenging path to the presidency. Then Will.I.Am got even the stiffest of senators waving their arms. Sting capped off the night with a rousing set. While dignitaries and celebs abounded, one of the evening's most important guests flew under the radar, clad not in a tuxedo but in a military uniform with a half-dozen medals pinned to his lapel: Todd Bowers, a Marine Corps reservist who was almost finished with his studies at George Washington University when he was sent on two tours of duty in Iraq. Bowers showed up at the event with a piece of shrapnel in his cheek, where the bullet that nearly killed him hit home. Even so, he said he couldn't wait for the inauguration, when the world would welcome his new commander in chief. "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow.

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Beastie Boys Tour The Swing States Before Election Day Because That's Where 'Every Vote Matters'

22 Oct 2008 16:35:00 EDT

Mike D calls upcoming vote 'the most important election of our lives.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Tim Kash

Beastie Boys
Photo: MTV News

The Beastie BoysBeastie Boys have plenty in store for fans on their upcoming Get Out and Vote Tour — and not all of it has to do with, you know, voting. "We're going to work on a lot of dance steps and stuff, because we're setting aside a block of time just for dance stuff. Maybe an hour," Ad-Rock laughed. "And, you know, then the rapping. We've got to work on the rapping stuff. And then just basically physique and toning and tanning. Work on our core. You know, we're going to work on that."

We suspect he's joking (except for the rapping bit), because the Beasties actually have some rather big ideas for the tour — which kicks off October 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will make stops in five other crucial swing states in the week leading up to Election Day. To them, this is the most important election in recent memory, and they hope to get that message across to young voters. "The decision to play the swing states was like, 'OK, we're here in New York City. It's a foregone conclusion what's going to happen here' — same in California and some other places," Mike D explained. "But let's really get to the places where ... you've got a younger demographic of voter, and they're saying, 'Well, is my vote really going to make a difference? Is it really going to count? Is it really going to be counted?' And I think in this election, in those states, absolutely. Every vote matters. And I think the last two elections were a great precedent — not how they ended up, necessarily — but in terms of if you look at [how the election was] decided by 2,000 votes in the state of Florida. That's a great example of how clear it is that every vote matters." "And it's a great example of how bad things can get if the wrong person gets into office," MCA added, drawing laughs from his bandmates. The lineup for the Beasties' tour changes with each city — Jack JohnsonJack Johnson, Ben HarperBen Harper, Norah JonesNorah Jones, Sheryl CrowSheryl Crow and Tenacious DTenacious D are just some of the acts confirmed — but the message remains the same at each stop: Your vote matters. You can make a difference. This is very important. "We found ourselves — like a lot of people throughout this whole country — sitting around realizing this is going to be the most important election of our lives, for a variety of reasons," Mike D said. "You've got a huge economic crisis, we're engaged in two wars, Social Security is about to run out, [and there are] huge environmental issues and environmental crises. So I think in terms of our lifetime, we thought, 'What can we do to make sure that this is something that's decided by the overwhelming population of the people and not just a few thousand people in one state?' " The tour wraps in Denver on November 3 — the day before millions head to the polls — and if you're thinking about showing up but worried that a late night might make you groggy on Election Day, don't worry. The Beasties have you covered. Like we said, this is a pretty big deal to them. "We finish in Colorado, in a very important swing state ... and yes, everyone needs to get up early and get to the polls. So we're going to give them all a gift certificate for coffee in the morning," D laughed. "Actually, I just made that up, so it's sort of a lie, but it's a good idea. I'm going to put that forward to our people. We'll see what happens."

Get informed! Head to Choose or Lose for nonstop coverage of the 2008 presidential election, including everything from the latest news on the candidates to on-the-ground multimedia reports from our 51 citizen journalists, MTV and MySpace's Presidential Dialogues, and much more.

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Jonas Brothers To Play Thanksgiving Halftime Show In Dallas

13 Oct 2008 12:19:00 EDT

Brothers also announce premiere date for 'Lovebug' video: October 19.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

The Jonas BrothersJonas Brothers aren't necessarily three young men you'd normally associate with football, what with their curly locks and their love of skinny jeans. But they'll be on hand to perform at the halftime show during the Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, The Associated Press reports. The performance kicks off the 2008 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign, which has raised more than $1 billion since the Cowboys began partnering with the program in 1997. That money has been used to help 30 million people each year. "I was born in Dallas, which makes performing with my brothers at the Cowboys' halftime on Thanksgiving an incredible honor," youngest brother Nick said, according to MarketWatch.com. "This year, more than ever, the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign will make a huge impact for families at Christmas and throughout the year," Kevin said. "It's very important for us to give back. We'd like to thank Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, Israel Gaither and the Salvation Army for inviting us to be part of this awesome Thanksgiving tradition. We'll remember this for a long time to come." In the past, "American Idol" winners Kelly ClarksonKelly Clarkson and Carrie UnderwoodCarrie Underwood have performed at the game, in addition to Sheryl CrowSheryl Crow, Destiny's ChildDestiny's Child and Jessica SimpsonJessica Simpson. Last year, the campaign, which runs through Christmas Eve, raised a record $118 million. The guys also recently revealed more info on their latest video, "Lovebug," a "Notebook""Notebook"-inspired clip that they made with director Philip Andelman. The brothers told People.com that Camilla Belle (10,000 BC10,000 BC, When a Stranger CallsWhen a Stranger Calls) makes a cameo in the video, which will debut October 19 on the Disney Channel.

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John Legend, Will.I.Am, Stevie Wonder To Close Democratic National Convention

28 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Sheryl Crow also reported to perform at convention's final night.
By Jocelyn Vena

John Legend at the DNC in Denver Monday
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

will perform at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Thursday (August 28), the final night of the event, at which Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination, CNN reports. The Denver Post reports that John Legend will also entertain the convention-goers. The performances are expected to take place at Invesco Field at Mile High. It's also being reported that Will.I.Am will recreate his now famous "Yes We Can" video live with a full gospel choir. Earlier this week, MTV News caught up with the Black Eyed Peas rapper, who discussed how important Obama's speech is, not only for supporters, but for Americans. "This speech is important because the time is important," he said. "It's important, 'cause it's engaging the people who have supported him. "There's people who are going to be skeptical," he added, "but with the momentum of the victory, that's going to propel us up the hill. It's beyond just black and white. It's American — and I'm just happy to be here." Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem at the final night of the convention, according to CNN. Sheryl Crow, who is currently on tour, is expected to perform three songs early in the evening before hitting the stage at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon, for her own concert. As of Wednesday, a spokesperson with the Democratic National Convention Committee would not confirm the reports. "We have not announced any entertainment for tomorrow's event at this time," the spokesperson said. Our ongoing convention reporting continues Thursday night with coverage of Obama's acceptance speech — with live blogging from Pete Wentz, Bun B, Solange Knowles and other artists at newsroom.MTV.com.

Don't miss out on the action: MTV News and our Street Team '08 will be on the ground at both conventions to sort through all the speeches, streamers and ceremony to find the information you need to choose our next president. And head to Choose or Lose for nonstop coverage of the 2008 presidential election. And after history is made in Denver, MTV News will help you make sense of it all in "Obama Decoded," premiering Friday, August 29 at 7:30.

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Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, More Get Grammy Sales Boost, But Jack Johnson Still Tops Billboard

20 Feb 2008 12:43:00 EST

Herbie Hancock, Daughtry, Foo Fighters also benefit from the post-awards bump on the albums chart.
By James Montgomery

Jack Johnson's Sleep Through Static
Photo: Brushfire

It's an annual tradition, and probably one of the only reasons artists still bother showing up for the Grammys (well, that or the gift bag): the post-awards sales bump, which sends albums by nominees, winners and performers — and pretty much anyone who landed a few minutes of Grammy face time (if Jason Bateman had an album, it'd probably be sitting at #1 right now) — rocketing up the Billboard albums chart. And this year was no exception. Because while Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static will retain its hold on the #1 spot on next week's chart, with sales of more than 179,500 copies, the rest of the Top 200 is stuffed with albums posting colossal Grammy-bump numbers, according to SoundScan data. It all starts with the album sitting at #2, Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, which sold more than 115,300 copies (a 368 percent increase from the previous week's sales), thanks in no small part to the Beehived One's five Grammy wins — including Record and Song of the Year — and her high-profile, live-via-satellite performance. Coming in at #3 is Alicia Keys' As I Am, which has taken up a permanent residence in the top 10 since being released in November, but still saw sales rise by 36 percent (more than 108,800 copies this week) after Keys' two Grammy performances and her win in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. Following behind Keys is the 2008 Grammy Nominees compilation, which sold 72,400 copies, a 40 percent increase from the previous week. Landing at #5 is the man who shocked pretty much everyone by taking home the Grammy for Album of the Year, Herbie Hancock, who saw sales of River: The Joni Letters top the 53,800 mark, an amazing 967 percent spike from the previous week. Clearly, winning has its privileges. The rest of the top 10 is rounded out by the "Juno" soundtrack (more than 53,200 copies sold), Best New Artist nominee Taylor Swift's self-titled debut (52,100 copies), Sheryl Crow's Detours (51,700 copies), Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains (48,600 copies) and the soundtrack to "Step Up 2 the Streets" (more than 45,200 copies). The post-Grammy mania continued outside the top 10 too. Daughtry didn't take home an award (going 0-4), but sales of their self-titled album still rose by more than 43 percent from the previous week, landing the "Idol" finalist and his band at #15 with about 38,200 copies sold. The Foo Fighters' Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace won a pair of Grammys (for Best Rock Album and Best Hard Rock Performance), and it sold more than 33,400 copies — a 160 percent increase — to land at #22. Other winners and performers who experienced big-time sales bumps include Carrie Underwood (almost 30,000 copies of her Carnival Ride album, a 43 percent increase from the previous week); Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad (27,000 copies, a 60 percent increase); Kanye West's Graduation (more than 22,600 copies, a 74 percent increase); and Feist, who left the Grammys with just a slice of pizza but still sold almost 14,800 copies of The Reminder, a 70 percent increase from the previous week. Aside from all the Grammy goings-on, next week's chart will also showcase a couple of debuts. Simple Plan's serious, self-titled disc sold more than 39,200 copies to open at #14. Jam-meisters Widespread Panic bow at #78 with their Free Somehow disc, and Natalie Grant's Relentless debuts at #81.

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Jack Johnson Surfs Past Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow To Second #1 Debut

13 Feb 2008 13:47:00 EST

Sleep Through the Static is year's best-selling release so far; Lenny Kravitz, k.d. lang LPs crack Billboard album chart's top 10.
By Chris Harris

Photo: Brushfire Records

We're not even two months into 2008, and already a disturbing trend has developed for the ever-slumping music industry: So far this year, only two of the records to assume the Billboard album chart's peak position have sold more than 100,000 copies. Of course, six-digit sales figures used to be the norm — without them, most records never stood a chance at claiming the chart's #1 spot. After Radiohead's In Rainbows sold more than 122,300 copies during the first week of '08, earning it Billboard's coveted apex, each subsequent #1 album has failed to come even remotely close to matching that sales total. Alicia Keys' As I Am spent the next two weeks on top, selling 70,300 and 60,500 copies, respectively. Then, the "Juno" soundtrack took over, after moving close to 65,000 units. Keys' LP returned to the #1 position just last week, having sold just 61,300 copies. But this week, before the release of the generally high, post-Grammy sales figures, surfer-turned-crooner Jack Johnson has reversed the tide, at least for the time being. With little more than 374,600 copies sold during week one, Johnson's latest studio offering, Sleep Through the Static, has become the year's best-selling new release. That means it is 2008's first bona fide "hit" record, according to the latest SoundScan data. But being on top is a sensation Johnson knows well. While his 2003 LP, On and On, and 2005's In Between Dreams both entered the top 200 at #3, his 2006 effort, Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film "Curious George," debuted at #1, with sales clocked at just under 163,000. Johnson's new one even robbed music vet Sheryl Crow of a #1 debut. Her latest album, Detours, bows at #2 on next week's chart, after generating just 92,300 scans. A whopping 22 new releases enter next week's top 200, with four opening in the coveted top 10. Lenny Kravitz's latest, It Is Time for a Love Revolution, opens at #4 with 73,300 copies snatched up, right behind Keys' As I Am, which drops two spots to #3 with 80,200 sold. The 2008 Grammy Nominees compilation holds at #5 with 51,700, while the "Juno" soundtrack trails in the #6 slot, selling another 47,200 units. Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains closes out the week with 44,600 in sales to finish at #7. The last newcomer to the top 10 checks in at #8: k.d. lang's Watershed, which sold 41,000 copies. Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus follows at #9, scanning an additional 40,000 units, while Taylor Swift's self-titled debut rounds things out at #10 with sales reported at 38,700. The next highest-charting of the week's newcomers comes in at #13. The soundtrack to "Step Up 2: The Streets," featuring tracks by Flo Rida, Missy Elliott, Cassie, T-Pain and others, sold close to 31,500 units; and next week's #14, Kenny G's Rhythm & Romance, generated first-week sales of 31,000 and change. Nada Surf's Lucky enters the chart at #81 with 9,200 sold, while Hot Chip's Made in the Dark opens at #108 with sales of 7,100. The HorrorPops' Kiss Kiss Kill Kill bows at #148, with 5,200 scans. They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s sits in the #171 hole, with 4,500 carried away from the nation's record stores. Finally, Bob Mould's District Line just makes the list at #190, with 4,000 scans, and Al Green's What Makes the World Go Round enters at #197, selling 3,700 copies.