Old and new songs on Angels soundtrack

The movie Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, the second flick based on the old TV series starring Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew, may turn out to be just another vapid display of over-produced action scenes, inane comedy scenes and the mind-blowing sight of feminine pulchritude in three, or come to think of it, or more, because Demi Moore is also in the movie. But that does not matter anymore though. In fact, music lovers should take their hats off to the film’s soundtrack producers. These guys deserve a lot of praise for coming up with a soundtrack album that effectively combines the fun flavor of the first TV series and the high energy of the new movie versions.

I cannot think of any song that best describes a Charlie’s Angel than the Beach Boys’ classic Surfer Girl. Whether it is Cameron, Lucy or Drew or the original girls, Farrah Fawcett, Jacklyn Smith and Kate Hudson, you can easily put any of them under the sun and on the surf in abbreviated bikinis with lots of hair being blown by the wind. Surfer Girl puts on the ’60s spin to the collection while taking care of the other eras are Bon Jovi with Livin’ on a Prayer, Natalie Cole with This Will Be (an Everlasting Love) Donna Summer with Last Dance and one of hip hop music’s first big stars MC Hammer with U Can’t Touch This.

Pop diva Pink, who would make a good and truly interesting Charlie’s Angel herself, sings the danceable lead single composed by Beck, Feel Good Time, which also features producer William Orbit. The top pick of the mixed collection though comes from the eternal chameleon David Bowie. A true pop star for all the ages, Bowie, does not just contribute one of his old hits. He serves up instead a new, very updated version of his own big seller from the ’70s, Rebel, Rebel. This means that Bowie has now ran the gamut of pop stardom, going as he did from the then unplaceable Major Tom to the new Charlie’s Angels. And as with everything he does, this one also comes off very well.

Today’s top sellers

The situation abroad is no different from what is currently happening in the Philippines. Tunes from Meteor Garden, Can’t Lose You (Baby, Baby) by F4 Star for a Night, To Love You More by Sarah Geronimo and from the daily variety show Eat, Bulaga!, The Spaghetti Song by the Sexbomb Dancers, are today’s top sellers. TV is also proving to be the driving force behind the hit sounds in the US. Billboard Magazine’s latest Hot 100 tabulation has two contestants from the American Idol talent show lording it over all other releases.

Truth to tell, much is being made out in the tabloids and talk shows about who should have won in the recent finals, top favorite Clay Aiken, who lost or the man they are now calling the Velvet Teddy Bear, Ruben Studdard, who won. Both are turning out to be winners though with hit singles on their first time out and debut albums for RCA now being produced by the legendary Clive Davis. This is the man who propelled the careers of Barbra Streisand, Simon & Garfunkel, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and so many other big names to the top.

Hit lists

Here is the top ten from the Hot 100: This is the Night by Clay Aiken; Flying Without Wings by Ruben Studdard; 21 Questions by 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg; Get Busy by Sean Paul; Magic Stick by Lil’ Kim featuring 50 Cent; Crazy in Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z; I Know What You Want by Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey featuring The Flipmode Squad; Bring Me to Life by Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy; Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) by Ashanti; and Unwell by matchbox twenty.

Here now are the top ten albums with seven new releases. The "oldies" are by 50 Cent, Norah Jones and the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack: Dance with My Father the latest by the ailing Luther Vandross; St. Anger by Metallica; Hail to the Thief by Radiohead; Bare by Annie Lennox; Honkytonkville by George Strait; 2 Fast 2 Furious by various artists; Get Rich or Die Trying by 50 Cent; Joe Budden by Joe Budden; Everything Must Go by Steely Dan; and Come Away with Me by Norah Jones.