For publication in the Sunday Times of 12th January 2014

Pfeaturing raced to the top of the UK singles chart with the dance pop/folktronisca track ‘Timber’. The achievement came on what is generally a quiet week for the music industry recovering from the festivities. But for ‘ Timber’ the track pushed 139,000 copies to take pole position. The song is inspired by Country flavour of Avicii’s ‘ Wake Me Up’ and ‘Hey Brother’. It also samples the harmonica section from ‘San Francisco Bay’ by Lee Oskar at a faster beat indeed. ‘ Timber’ is taken from the 32 year old US rap star Pitbull’s EP ‘Meltdown’. Fellow US singer Ke$ha does most of the vocals on the song. Rihanna was the artist who was offered the featured role first, but to a prior work schedule with Shakira, in stepped Ke$ha.

‘ Timber’ is produced by Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Sermstyle and Nick Seeley. For Pitbull ‘Timber’ is the second No: 1 song in the UK where Pitbull has been the lead artist after ‘Give Me Everything’ featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer. Pitbull has been at the No:1 spot as a featured artist on Jennifer Lopez ‘On The Floor’.

For Ke$ha it’s been the second time she has been featured act on a UK No:1 song after ‘Right Round’ by Flo Rida. Her own No: 1 was ‘We R Who We R’.

Meanwhile Ke$ha has confirmed in a short statement that she has entered a rehab for 30 days to take care of an eating disorder which needed urgent attention.

Mthe X-Factor winner of 2010 has been admitted to The Priory rehab for being dependent on tranquillisers and sleeping pills. Cardle has thanked his fans for the support extended and says he will be back with a new album this year. He had a solitary No: 1 called ‘ When We Collide’ shortly after wining X-Factor.

Rhas announced that her duet with titled ‘Can’t Remember To Forget’ will be released Tuesday 14th January. The song will ultimately be featured on Shakira’s new English language album in five years later this year.

When the final count of the bestselling songs for 2013 were taken in both the US and UK, ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke with Pharrell Williams and TI came out on top. In the US the song sold 6.5 million copies while in the UK it sold 1.47 million. ‘Blurred Lines’ was loved by some and hated by others for its sexist overtones and banned at some institutions. he Eurythmics will reunite for a one night performance for The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Tribute to The Beatles on January 27 at the Los Angeles

Convention Centre.

MTperformed at a very special New Year’s Eve party in London hosted by Prince Azim of Brunei. The singer, her husband and children were flown on a private jet from the US to London and accommodated at an exclusive suite of the Dorchester Hotel, London. Reports say Carey who performed several songs was believed to have been paid around US $ 1 million. Prince Azim is the 30 year old son of the Sultan of Brunei.

UK Top 10 Singles Chart.