ETA! You can hear Blake Lewis’s single, “Break Anotha” HERE!
Quick verdict: Ditto what Ken Barnes said below. It’s catchy, danceable. Could be a big club hit…
The press release has been issued! Not to me, of course. But, Ken Barnes over at USA Today’s Idol Chatter blog has heard Blake Lewis’s new single. It’s called Break Anotha. Here is what Ken has to say about it:
The thoughtful folks at 19 also included a link for lucky recipients of the press release to hear the single, which I did. It sounds like a clever maximizing of Blake’s musical inclinations in a contemporary pop context. Or, in plainer English, it’s a heavily produced pop-soul tune featuring a chanted chorus with a striking strings figure and a bit of beatboxing and other vocal gymnastics. Seems to be aimed straight at the Justin Timberlake market, and — with a properly warm radio reception — it could hit the jackpot.
Back in August, Blake told me the first single would be released on October 30th, and would be a re-working of one of his songs–with some help from Chris Richardson. Obviously, those plans changed. Break Anotha is written by Sam Watters (former Color Me Badd member and husband of Tamyra Gray. Yep. He co-wrote the treacly Season 3 coronation song, I Believe, with Tamyra) and producer Ryan Tedder.
The rest of us will get to hear it tomorrow when the song is officially released to radio.
Sign up at blakelewiscomingsoon.com, to receive a message on your cell phone when the single is available to be heard via phone. There’s also a little video posted at the site featuring Blake discussing his upcoming album, Audio Day Dream, set to be released December 4th.
For the latest on Blake, check out my sistas over at Team Plaid. Sarah, from Team Plaid, spoke with Josh Hoge last night at the Elliott Yamin concert (Josh is opening for Elliott) in Orlando, FL:
He wrote two songs that Blake considered, but Blake only ended up recording one, and Josh knows it will be on the album, and thinks it might be a single (at first, he said the first single, but then kinda changed the wording of that to “a” single). I asked him what the title was and he said “Know My Name”. He said he originally wrote it with Ryan Tedder, and that he (Josh) was going to record it. But, since Ryan is producing for Blake, somewhere along the way, Blake heard the song and loved it. So Josh gave the okay for Blake to record it and the rest is history.
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I just posted the link over on etrain. There are some Blake fans over there too.
So maybe it’s released to radio tomorrow and has a later impact date like Jordin? I don’t know… confusing.
Typically, songs seem to get released to radio about two weeks before they officially “go for adds” (when there is a big push to get the song played). Lots of different things are done, though. Some songs never “go for adds”. Some songs are released the same day they “go for adds”. Some songs are sat on for months after the CD is released for mysterious and much speculated reasons. ;-)
Tattoo was released about a month before it went for adds.
For those who want to follow the airplay on their own, here is the Quick Cut information for “Break Anotha” on Mediabase. It will be updated around midnight each night.
http://www.mmr247.com/mmrweb/Reports/Reg/EMD.asp?SOngID=1544670&NumDays=7
LOL Kirsten. It’s all one big, odd game huh?
I know one thing. I will not (pretty much refuse, even) to inundate my local radio station with calls or emails. That myspace comment I left is it, pretty much. I’m not pissing off the dj’s, simply because I think the song is radio-friendly enough to stand on its’ own once the big push (hopefully) starts.
Oh, and yeah - KJ on drums and the Panda Conspiracy guys on horns? Effing awesome. I love love LOVE that he’s getting his Seattle guys in on some of this stuff! *prays that he really does get RA Scion on a track*
ETA: And welcome back, Kirsten! Hope your vacation was great.
But.. Quick! Hide that link! I don’t want round the clock airplay updates at Team Plaid! LOL. ;)
Cool! I hope they enjoy!
What? Clive didn’t send you a fax on that strategy?
Sweet. I bookmarked it, but I promise I won’t post updates each night at midnight.
WORD. KJ is awesome on that track. He’s really effing brilliant. And I love me some Panda. :) They are really great musicians, though, so I’m not surprised they were allowed to play on the track.
Tell you what…I promise I won’t post a link to that other site that relays each time the song is played wherever in the country….though I think the Blaker Girls will find it soon all on their own.
Stock up on advil (or tequila…whatever works for you)
Could I get an English translation of this? I swear, I was only gone for three weeks and there is an entirely new set of names I have to learn. Panda Conspiracy…is that the group that tries to figure out why endangered animals can never get their music played on the Z00 (Z100, New York)? Frankly, I don’t blame the Zoo. I know they are struggling for survival, but if I have to hear the song of the Blue Whale one more time, I’m going to scream. Don’t even get me started on the repetitve grunty sounds those Hairy Nosed Wombats make. Sure, I know that I should be more open to the musical efforts of today’s endangered animals, so call me a fossil, but I prefer the trumpet of a brontosaurus or the dulcet growl of a saber toothed tiger to today’s extinction-wanna-bes.
But, if I want to play along, I’m sure that Clive has something to do with their lack of airplay.
LOL Kirsten. You don’t like the Hairy Nosed Wombats?!
KJ = Kevin “KJ” Sawka, a good friend of Blake’s and drummer of the band Arisawkadoria, the band that played for Blake at the concerts he gave when he went back to Seattle and Bothell to tape the top 3 homecoming segment.
The Panda Conspiracy = Another Seattle band that are good friends of Blake’s. He actually mentioned them in the “pimp” chair one time on the show. Though I do like your explanation more!
KJ plays drums and a couple of the Panda Conspiracy guys play horns on “Break Anotha”, according to Blake’s myspace blog (posted earlier in the thread, I think).
Better? :)
Oh, and
*sigh* Don’t remind me. I’m checking my liquor cabinet and med supply now.
They’re local musician friends of Blake’s. But your theories are more entertaining!
Thanks for the explanations Sarah and PJ!
Must say, I love both Break Another, and Know My Name! They make me want to get up and dance. Love the beats & Blake’s vocals. I’m ready for A.D.D. Hope Blake gets plenty of radio play.
Went to the myspace link posted up above, but that site was only playing Break Anotha. Where can I listen to Know My Name??
Edit: Okay, I found it. Know My Name is another catchy tune, and I have a good feeling Blake will take the Top 40’s by storm!
I didn’t know who KJ was either and call myself a Blake fan.
I’m kind of out of it since I’m trying to avoid AI in order to have a home life, lol.
I checked i-tunes about an hour ago and it’s not there yet. We may see a similar process with Blake like we did with Jordin as far as I-tunes goes but I’m just as out of it as some of you are on how the process works. lol
However, as much as I really love the new single, I must admit that “Know My Name” is my fave of the two.
What I’ve heard is really funky….and to know that Watters wrote it — where has HE been? Both singles are funky and will rocket Blake to the top….I totally believe Amer Idol is a little hit factory….and anybody who dismisses it is crazy.
Look at the alumni:
Blake
Jennifer
Fantasia
Clay
Chris
and it goes on and on. These are some hard working kids, the judges know what they’re doing when they pick these kids.