A year or two has now passed. The Britney Spears of today is no longer the Britney Spears of yesterday. This beauty has now become the people's choice. Britney is a superstar BUT she's also a mother. Do you think being a mother is easy? Just ask a mother, better yet, ask your own mother! How about being a superstar? Hundreds of nights on the road, rehearsals day after day, fast foods in town after town, work, work and MORE WORK. No friends or confidantes just people who want something - anything and everything and they want it from you! It can take its toll on a young adult who still hasn't learned some of life's hard lessons; who still can't recognize a wolf when it comes in sheep's clothing.

Today is a brand new day. Britney's new album is set for a December 2, 2008 release date. Her first released single “Womanizer” broke a record in October 2008 as it jumped from #96 on the Billboard Hot 100 to #1. This put her on the top of the charts, the first time since her #1 hit “Baby One More Time” in January 1999. She has now been nominated for a People's Choice Award for her role in How I Met Your Mother. She just did a special cameo at Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour in LA and has anyone noticed

how flaming HOT Britney looks now that she has lost some poundage and toned up her abs and backside? Check out the album cover of her upcoming record "Circus". This is the beautiful Britney that now is! Thirteen tracks will be on Britney's new album. With a new album, comes a new video and with a new video, there comes a brilliant concert.

Yes. Britney Spears has gone through some tests and trials during her young adult life and they have all strengthened and polished her. You'll find she's much wiser now and much more humbler. The swift road to success and the swifter kick to the curb can do that to a person. She has risen up from kissing the dust of the earth and we should all take notes: Though all may think you forsaken and lost, let your determination and will prove true and every doubter a fool.

Every since his 2003 self titled debut, Joe has been keeping his name relevant through the Mood Muzik mixtape series. Now to capitalize on his reentering to the Rap world with an album, Halfway House (Amalgam Digital) shows as a non-prequel prequel to his highly anticipated and pushed back two times sophomore effort The Padded Room.

Even though he had a huge intro the rap world, Joe fits right back into the huge intro with the track entitled "On My Grind". The track is held down by lots of manic guitars, and sets a strong tempo with an overwhelmingly strong of bars filled with punches for days around his solid drive to never give up. On the track entitled "Overkill" he is followed with a solid assistance from an underground New Jersey rapper Joe has under his wing named Heartbreak or HBK. Both New Jersey natives basically have a session of lyrical exercise over a bass filled beat full of stinging battle sounding bars over a quick three minutes of climatic production provided by an up and coming producer named Blastah Beatz.

On the soul sample old school feeled "Check Me Out", Joe finesses all over the track including his like no other signature wit. While exploring his improved maturity attitude, he throws a little quick jab at one of Hip-Hop's biggest name: "They tell me tricking ain't tricking if you got it, I've never heard more false words spoken / So if I tell you I'm going to leave your wrist frozen, I was either lying to you or just joking". And if you don't know who that is its none other than Jay Z.

The collaborations on Halfway House aren't many but Joe Budden managed to get some of the most underrated lyricists in the game today by pulling of a track called "Slaughterhouse". The track features underrated artist like himself like Joell Ortiz, Nino Bless, Royce Da 5'9 and Crooked I, and all five of the rapper don't hold back at all on the Scram Jones produced beat. Fans of Budden's more "mood music" like tracks can look forward to the track on the album like "Under The Sun" and "Just To Be Different".

As with most of Joe Budden's efforts, there are a tracks that will fall short of most peoples expectations. As he trys to fit into the radio and gain commerical success and once again fail very short of the mark with "Touch & Go". With the horrific production and a very annoying voice repeating the hook, this could be looked at as to be a poor man's "Touch It". Additionally, he tells a story of seducing women backed by less then impressive R&B voice sends "One Night F***" right into that category of him attempting to gain commerical success once again.

While Halfway House is slightly down from the expectations that were set forth by the Mood Musik series, it is still well respected album. With this album, Joe Budden proved that he is still one of the game's most underrated rapper at the time being even without a release date.

The Production: 8

It isn't really much to say about the production on Paper Trail other than it is really fast paced and upbeat. T.I. always keeps the same formula that was used on his previous bodies of work and just put out bangers upon bangers. The track Just Blaze produced entitled "Live Your Life" featuring Rhianna, takes a break into the abnormal for T.I. with a sample from "Dragostea Din Tei" and it just possibly just made it the single of the year in many people's eyes. The track Kanye West produced entitled "Swagga Like Us" offers an addictive hook sampled from the artist M.I.A.'s track entitled "Paper Planes" that just assaults everyone's sound system every time its played and became a constant hit in clubs all around the world. For the most part, the album is massively produced by guitar riffs, and heavy drum patterns so if your looking for some music from T.I. that you roll and smoke a blunt to, you wouldn't want any parts of this album. In all, this part of the album is one of the strongest.

The Lyrics: 8

Now before I start praising this lyrics, lets be all the way honest with are selves. There will be so many fans that will be very disappointed in this album. Not because its bad, but because it of all the overwhelmingly new subject matter that T.I. is offering. The album sort of steered away from all of his usual subject matter like drug dealing, killing and trapping. And those weren't the only type of songs he had, but on his other albums, you would hear maybe 3 or 4 songs of him bragging about the activies he was involved in and how he was still living that type of lifestyle in some sort of way. I also think that many of his loyal fans will take this as him spitting in there faces and say that he is selling out and losing his touch. This album, in a way is kind of inspirational. Lots of the songs on this album sound like some type of motivational speeches to all the people that are going through some hard times in life. Paper Trail shows off another aide of T.I. that is eager for a new lifestyle and wanting for the public to look at him differently.

In Conclusion: 8

Opinions may vary, but this a very solid offering from T.I. And in the industry of music that gives off that bad deciption that most hip hop artist have 3 good songs and 11-15 fillers, this is that kind of album that proves them all wrong and shows the artistic side of motivation and stuggle in music that is hip hop, any listeners that are craving good music that actually has a point and message in it will be thankful with everything Paper Trail has to offer to them.

The first time I heard about Kardinal Offishall was way back in the mid 1990’s

Back then he was an aspiring artist with a fresh feel about him, including his lyrical style. But he didn’t break through to the masses.

He has this half Jamaican chat, half American rap style which catches you slightly of guard on some of his tracks. Sometimes his Jamaican, sometimes his American. This inconsistency in his style was probably the reason why he didn’t break through earlier in his career.

But within the underground music scene he was deemed ahead of his time.

To date, he has featured on numerous singles with artists like Sean Paul, Clipse, Busta Rhymes, Bounty killer and many more.

The track that stands out for his inimitable style is the collaboration with the Clipse smash, Grindin.

When you listen to that track, you instantly want him to take over. His gritty style bleeds for space and shoves the other collaborators aside.

Teaming up now with Akon, the super producer, song writer, CEO etc, has taken him to the mainstream. At the moment the world needs an artist like him to stop the factory of pop idles filling the airwaves with that sticky bubblegum pop.

It also gives him the opportunity to work with the likes of, The Dream, T Pain, Glen Lewis and Rihanna.

His new album is called, Not 4 sale.

Best tracks in my opinion are, Burnt, Dangerous, Go home with you and Number 1.

Number 1 features Rihanna and is a cover of Blondie’s 80's hit, The tide is high. This track is a commercial winner and will certainly do well in the charts world wide.

Is Kardinal officially here?

I think so, and when you take a listen to his new album, I think you will think so too.

Peace.

None of this Miami -based artists work is for the faint hearted but this album takes things to another level. The splish splash of someones waste hitting the side of a toilet bowl is of course going to be a little disconcerting but before you turn your nose up in utter disgust, I do suggest you push on and listen some more.

The thing with Otto is, he takes something as crude as bodily waste, registers it as nothing more than sound and cleverly turns it into, dare I say….Music?

Granted the tunes can be a little over processed, having been churned through DSP software more times than my own stomach has churned while listening to Pukology, the tracks are interesting.

The signature distortion of Cuban and Hip Hop beats, coupled with vocal and instrumental samples produce sporadic waves of electronic rhythm and sound.

This album was born from some interesting inspiration. Fans were asked to submit the nastiest sounds possible and from that request, so this album was born.

As per usual, Schirach has produced something that will offend the neighbours. However, for someone who is known as a master mixer, this album fails to highlight that particular talent. Some of it appears to be too fragmented for my liking. The stopping and starting means you can sometimes be fed a series of sounds, one after another with no relation to the next. Its bittiness is too predictable for a producer of Schirach' standards. Things would be more interesting if he moulded things together a bit more and made a constant, flowing sound out of all the titbits. Now that would be some serious mixing!

As far as genre is concerned, Mr Otto Von sees himself welded into the IDM field. As far as this album goes though, I'm not so sure.

Final Rating: Buy it at a discount.

Here are some of the pop rock artists that stamped their names on the music industry.

1. Alanis Morissette

   
   
   Known for her straightforward, deeply personal lyrics, Alanis Morissette epitomized the modern pop rock singer. To date, she has won seven Grammy Awards, twelve Juno awards, and has sold 55 million albums (beat that)! Her hit songs include Ironic, Under Rug Swept, Oughta Know and One Hand In My Pocket. Alanis also starred in various stage acts and TV shows. Her newest recording album was just launched this 2008.

2. Sheryl Crow

   
   
   Sheryl Crow is a solo artist and political activist who has been hitting the musical charts since the early 90's. Her music involves elements of pop, rock, blues, and country music woven together in one unique sound. To date, she has won 9 Grammy Awards and continues to be a solid influence on young, aspiring artists. Her most popular hit singles include All I Wanna Do, and If It Makes You Happy.

3. John Mayer

   
   
   John Mayer, who went to Berklee College of Music, chose to drop out of school after two semesters and instead decided to try his luck in the real world. Playing beside a friend named Clay Cook, John quickly gained renown performing in local bars and coffee shops. Later he embarked on a solo career and in 2001 released an album entitled Room For Squares. The album quickly gained a following, popularizing hit singles such as Back To You, No Such Thing, and Your Body Is A Wonderland. His subsequent albums, Heavier Things and Continuum, nailed his place on the music industry as one of the best solo male pop rock artists ever.

4. Jewel

   
   
   Jewel Kilcher, more widely known as Jewel, has released singles that just won't get obsolete. People flock up to her albums not merely because of her superb music, but also because of her pretty face and inspiring personality. Her music involves elements of ballad, country, pop, rock, and folk. In fact, she can Yodel very well. Her first album, Pieces of You, became one of the best selling albums of all time. After that debut album, she went on releasing new albums and singles that conquered the music charts and song lists for long periods of time. Her unforgettable singles include Who Will Save Your Soul, You Were Meant For Me, and Standing Still.

5. Michelle Branch

   
   
   Michelle Branch first became popular with the hit single Everywhere, when she was still a 17 year old teenager. Her music and image instantly appealed to youngsters worldwide. As the years went by, Michele Branch and her music gradually matured, playing alongside rock pioneer Carlos Santana. Her two albums Spirit Room and Hotel Paper became platinum record albums, and her collaboration with Santana won a Grammy Award. Some of her best singles include All You Wanted, Goodbye to You, and Breathe. She will release her third solo album this year 2008.

The Grammy Awards or Gramophone Awards are named for small, gilded gramophone trophies which are given away annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the U.S. to appreciate the outstanding achievements of the artists, musical bands, in the record industry. Indeed, the awards which are equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion movies, featuring the highest music honor to its winners.

2008 Grammy Nominees

Rehab and Back to Black, Amy Winehouse

These two songs have been documented in my article, The Best English Songs, Which Won Five Top Awards of the 50th Annual Grammies. You can listen to her song there. Amy Winehouse won five awards at the 2008 Grammy Awards (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album).

Candyman, Christina Aguilera

The song combines a gene of soul, and swing-jazz and was written by Linda Perry and Christina Aguilera. It was released as Aguilera's third studio album, Back to Basics in 2006. It was charted on major charts in Europe and parts of America. In UK alone, the single gained over 100,000 digital downloads. On January 28, 2007, its music video was filmed with the theme of 1940s World War II. “Candyman” came live on TRL and later on MTV's MakingThe Video on February 22, 2007.

1234, Feist

This Indie pop song was Feist's most successful single which was recorded in her third studio album, The Reminder. It was initially written by a Melbourne, Australia singer-songwriter, Sally Seltmann under the name of New Buffalo. The song was digitally released via iTune Music Store, and subsequently it was used extensively in an iPod nano commercial. This song was #2 at the US Hot Digital Songs, #8 in the US Hot 100, #34 at the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, #10 at the US Pop 100, #34 in the Triple J Hottest 100, #19 on the Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. By April 6, 2008, “1234” received the Juno award for Single of the Year in Calgary. Time magazine once ranked “1234” as number two out of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, while the writer, Josh Tyrangiel called the song as a masterpiece and said, “with a mixture of wisdom and exuberance that's all her own.”

2007 Grammy Nominees

Be Without You, Mary J.Blige

This is the song written by American singer-songwriter Mary J.Blige, Bryan Michael Cox, Johnta Austin, and Jason Perry for Blige's album called The Breakthrough. This song won the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song categories at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. This was also Blige most successful R&B song as it topped the Billboard chart for 75 weeks, U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for 9 weeks, and has also topped the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

You re Beautiful, James Blunt

This is the song co-written by British singer James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sasha Skarbek for Blunt's album called Back to Bedlam. This song won him an Ivor Novello Award for airplay in 2006, entered #1 in several countries, and was in the Billboard Pop 100, Adult Contemporary, Hot Digital Songs, and was in the top-10 on most major charts. With this song, Blunt received three nominations of Song of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, while in the video category; he won the Best Male Video, Best Cinematography and MTV Award.

2006 Grammy Nominees

It s Like That, Mariah Carey

This song was written by Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Johnta Austin, and Mariah Carey to be included in Carey's first single and tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi which was released in 2005. It was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2006 Grammy Award. “It's like that” was one of Carey most successful song as it was Carey's first platinum digital single as certified by the RIAA. This song was charted at the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay, Pop 100, Top 40 Tracks, Cadena 100 Hot List, and J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Airplay chart. It reached the top twenty in Norway, France and Germany, and the top ten in Australia and United Kingdom.

Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson

This song has a punk-pop influence in drums and guitar riffs, and was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald. It was recorded by Kelly Clarkson as in her second single album, Breakaway in the U.S. and the first in Europe in 2004. This song was successful that it reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian airplay chart, and was charted at the Pop 100, Mainstream Top 40, Hot Dance Airplay. Clarkson received the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song at the Grammy Awards of 2006. In March 2006, over 500,000 digital downloads and over 1,800,000 downloads sold in January 2008, bringing the song to another plateau and breakthrough milestone.

2005 Grammy Nominees

You Raise Me Up, Josh Groban

This is an inspiring popular song written by Secret Garden's Rolf Løvland with its lyrics by a songwriter, Brendan Graham. Originally, the song was released on the 2001 Secret Garden album, “Once in a Red Moon” and sung by an Irish singer, Brian Kennedy as the commemorations of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2003, Josh Groban was invited to record the song which later became popular in the US. His version charted the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and he was also invited to perform it in a special NASA commemoration for the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbiadisaster atSuper Bowl XXXVIII. The song was then nominated for a 2005 Grammy award. The single was successful that it was recorded separately in Spanish by ll Divo and Paul Potts of the song entitled “Por Ti Seré" and in Japanese by Korean-American singer, Lena Park as the opening theme to the Japanese TV anime series Romeo x Juliet. “You Raise Me Up” was also included in the album of Westlife as in my article, The Best Pop Hit Song Ever.

Burn, Usher

This is a song that combines R&B and ballad genres along with some robotic noises, synthesized strings and guitar lines. It was written by an American singers-rappers and songwriters Usher, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri with its lyrics constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form. The song was released as Ursher's fourth studio album, Confessions in 2004 which topped various charts around the world. This single was certified gold for selling 500,000 units by the Recording Industry Association of America, and platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 70,000 units. Internationally, the song received very good praises from Denmark, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Norway and Ireland.

2004 Grammy Nominees

Dance with My Father, Luther Vandross

This song is the thirteenth and final studio album by American R&B/Soul singer, Luther Vandross which was released on June, 2003 to be included in Vandross's 2003 album Dance with My Father. It was written by Richard Marx and Luther Vandross. It has also been performed by other artists like Steve Brookstein, Kellie Coffey, Celine Dion, and Tamyra Gray during the FOX TV drama Boston Public. This song won Vandross #1 at the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

I'm With You, Avril Lavigne

This is a pop rock song written by Canadian singer, Avril Lavigne and The Matrix (Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards, Scott Spock) and was included as Lavigne's first ballad album, Let Go. This song attained number one in Mexico, number seven in the UK, number thirteen in Canada, and number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was also used in the film Bruce Almighty and was channelled via radio and television airplay in Australia.

2003 Grammy Nominees

A Thousand Miles, Vanessa Carlton

This is a piano-driven pop song written by Vanessa Carlton, an American singer who had her debut album Be Not Nobody recorded in 2002. This single appeared to be Carlton's breakthrough hit as it entered the top ten in the United States, France, Italy, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It was the most successful album in Australia. All Music Guide once wrote: “as it moves from its solo piano opening to bombastic orchestral-backed choruses, the result isn't overwhelming; it's sweet, multi-layered, and appealing.”

“A Thousand Miles” was particularly popular among the U.S. troops serving in Iraq in 2003. Carlton replied, “Perhaps, "A Thousand Miles" conveys the feelings and longing and desperation that the U.S. soldier feel for their loved ones. I don't know. But whatever peace I am able to bring to the hearts of the people at war is a contribution that I am proud of.”

7 Days, Craig David

This song was written by an English R&B singer songwriter, Craig David and was recorded as his second single debut album Born to Do It. Its lyrics is about how David spend a week with a girl he met on Monday, and he felt to have a social connection with her by taking her out for a drink on Tuesday, causing him to “make love” with her on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This song has the biggest worldwide hit earning him to receive a Gold certification sale in the UK. It hit # 1 at the UK Singles Chart, #10 at the Billboard Hot 100 and hit the top ten in the U.S.

2002 Grammy Nominees

Shape of My Heart, Backstreet Boys

This song was written by Max Martin, Rami and Lisa Miskovsky. It was recorded by the American pop band as their first single album, Black & Blue which was released in October 2000. The song debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #1 on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream, Hot 100 Airplay and Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for a consecutive 16 weeks, #3 on the Canadian (CHR) chart, #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary (AC) chart for 14 weeks. The song was also played on 170 out of 171 of the Top 40 stations in the US.

You Rock My World, Michael Jackson

This is a popular song by singer-songwriter, Michael Jackson which was included in his album, Invincible in 2001. The song was immensely successful considering its achievement at #10 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #1 in the United World Chart. At the 2002 Grammy Awards, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The music video for this song was found to be a premier worldwide on September, 2001 which won him a NAACP Image Award for Best Music Video.

2001 Grammy Nominees

Breathless, The Corrs

This song was co-written and produced by Shania Twain's producer and her husband, Robert John “Mutt” Lange. It was then recorded by Irish pop-rock group, The Corrs in their third studio album, In Blue which was released in 2000. The band was considered to have their breakthrough worldwide hit, when the song hit at #1 in Ireland, and topped all major international charts, giving them a status as number I in the UK.

Bye Bye Bye, NSYNC

This song was written by Andreas Carlsson, Jake Schulze, and Kristian Lundin. It was the first single by American boyband, NSYNC recorded as their second album, No String Attached in 2000. The song was said to receive two Grammy nominations of “Record of the Year” and “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.” It was debuted at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the UK Singles Chart, and charted the top ten of the Hot 100 singles chart for 12 weeks. The song won a Radio Music Radio award for Best Song of the Year, three Teen Choice Awards (Choice Single, Choice Music Video, and Song of the Summer) in 2000. A year later, it won Blockbuster Entertainment Award in the category of Favorite Single.

2000 Grammy Nominees

Baby One More Time, Britney Spears

This song was written by the Swedish music producer, Max Martix. It was recorded by a pop singer, Britney Spears, which was released as her debut single album, Baby One More Time in 1998. The song was the most successful singles as it has over 14 million copies sold since its release in 1998. When it was released in February, 1999 in the UK, it has sold over 460,000 for the first week and hit #1 in the UK Singles Chart. Hence, it was considered as the fastest selling and most successful debut single.

I Want It That Way, Backstreet Boys

This pop song was written by Andreas Carlsson and Max Martin. It was recorded by the Backstreet Boy in their 1999 album, Millennium, which was considered as the biggest hit of their signature song. It was then released on their group's biggest hit album, The Hits: Chapter One in 2001. This single broke the record of most major radio stations, reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts for 14 weeks, Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart, Top 40, and peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for three Grammy awards. The song also successfully hit #1 the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Italy, Spain and Austria.

1999 Grammy Nominees

My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

This pop song was written by James Horner and Will Jennings and was recorded in Celine Dion's album, Let's Talk About Love. In 1997, this song was selected as the theme song of the blockbuster film, Titanic. It was Celine Dion's biggest love ballad hit and the best selling singles in her musical career. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks, Billboard Hot 100 Airplay for 10 weeks, 2 weeks on the Hot 100 Singles Sales and peaked at number 34 on the Japanese Oricon chart. Within a few weeks, 687,000 limited copies of the song were sold out and was certified gold in the US. It became the biggest worldwide hit when this song won her the 1997 Academy Award Best Original Song, winning 4 awards of the Grammy Awards in 1999 (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance), the Golden Globe Award in 1998, Billboard Music Award for the Soundtrack Single of the Year, Japanese Gold Disc Award for the Song of the Year, Japan Record Award for the Special Achievement, Blockbuster Entertainment Award for the Favorite Song from a Movie, and lastly, Billboard Latin Award for the First English-language Song to Top Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks Chart.

Everybody, Backstreet Boy

This pop song was written by Max Martin and Denniz Pop. It was recorded as the first single for the Backstreet Boys' second international album, Backstreet's Back in 1997 and their US debut album was released in 1998. This song was the most successful for the band as it hit #2 in the charts of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, #6 in New Zealand, #3 in the UK Single Chart and in Austria, #5 in the Nerherlands, and #4 in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The singles had 2.1 million albums sold out and was certified platinum in the US.

1998 Grammy Nominees

I Believe I Can Fly, R.Kelly

This is a song that combines R&B, gospel, pop and ballad genes. It was written and sung by R&B singer, R. Kelly. This song was included in his album, I Believe I Can Fly in1998 and it was the theme song of the movie, Space Jam. The song made a breakthrough success when it hit #1 on both the UK charts and R&B Singles chart, and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and ranked #406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, besides winning three Grammy awards. It is also a popular song during NBA games, and it is also popular to be played for many high school graduations.

Everyday Is a Winding Road, Sheryl Crow

This is a rock song written by Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow and Brian MacLeod. It was recorded by American rock star, Sheryl Crow in her album in 1996. The song peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart, and at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was included in Prince's album in 1998, and was made used in the films of Phenomenon and Erin Brockovich.

1997 Grammy Nominees

Un-Break My Heart, Toni Braxton

This is a song that combines R&B, pop, soul and ballad genes. It was written by music impresario, Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. The ballad was recorded in Braxton's second studio album, Secrets in 1996 and it was considered as the biggest single and signature song of Braxton. The song became a success to hit #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and stayed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later re-recorded by Braxton in Spanish, Regresa a Mi (which means “Come Back to Me”) in 2004, included by a popular Mexican singer Yuridia in her album Habla El Corazón, and was also recorded by a pop singer Alla Gorbacheva in the Russian album, Сердце не плачь (which means “Heart, don't cry”). Braxton became a famous first artist when she won a Grammy Award of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for this song. Her other song, You're Makin' Me High won her a Grammy Award of Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. This song was included in the album, Voices from the FIFA World Cup, and was played as one of the official songs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion

This pop song was written by Diane Warren and was released as the first single of Celine Dion in February, 1996 in the United States, Latin America, Canada, and Japan. It was produced by David Foster to be included in the film, Up Close & Personal. The song was Celine Dion's smash hit as it won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, topped the charts of Hot 100 Airplay, Hot 100 Singles Sales, Top 40 Mainstream, ARC Weekly Top 40, Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks, Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, United World Chart, Global World Chart, and the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Recurrents Chart. It has also become a worldwide hit in Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Poland and New Zealand. In 1999, a live version of this song was included in the album, A New Day….Live in Las Vegas, when Celine Dion was invited to perform her show, A New Day for as long as five nights a week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

1996 Grammy Nominees

Let Her Cry, Hootie & the Blowfish

This is a rock song by Hootie & the Blowfish. This is their successful song that was recorded in the album, Cracked Rear View in 1994 with its lyrics telling the story of how a patient man keeps trying to tie with a relationship with an irresponsible alcoholic woman whom he falls in love. The single which was released a year later along with a music video, winning them number two on the American Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart, number four on the Australian ARIA Charts, and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also won them Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 1996 Grammy Annual Award.

You Are Not Alone, Michael Jackson

This is R&B song written by R&B singer-songwriter, R. Kelly. It was released as the second single for Michael Jackson's album, HIStory-Past, Present and Future, Book I which emerged as a hit in the Billboard Hot 100. This is his third successful single after his other songs, “Black or White” and “Earth Song.” “You Are Not Alone” became the number one hits in countries like New Zealand, France, Switzerland, the U.S., Ireland and the UK. The single once broke the record on a Billboard in the U.S. It reached number one on the Hot 100 Singles chart, R&B chart, Billboard R&B Sales chart, Billboard's R&B Airplay chart for seven weeks; number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Sales chart, Hot 100 Airplay chart; and number three on the Billboard Maxi-single Sales chart.

1995 Grammy Nominees

Streets of Philadelphia, Bruce Springsteen

This is an Academy Award-winning rock song written and sung by American singer, Bruce Springsteen. It was recorded for the film, Philadelphia in 1993. The song is characterised by its sad, slow and mournful melody as its lyrics are about the AIDS's life. The song gained huge popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany and France. It was then included in the album, All Time Greatest Movie Songs released by Sony in 1999. The song won several awards, including Academic Awards for Best Original Song, four Grammy Awards of 1995 (Song of the Year, Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture) and MTV Video Music Awards.

I ll Make Love to You, Boyz II Men

This R&B song was written by Babyface. It was a smash hit single by R&B group, Boyz II Men in 1994. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for as long as 14 weeks, topped the U.S. R&B chart, Adult Contemporary charts, and remained as top ten in the UK in the same year. It was certified platinum single and won them Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1995 Grammy Annual Award, and two awards from American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Single and Favorite Pop/ Rock Single.