Chartbreak On Vinyl: Week of April 8, 2012
01 04 01 02 "Wide Awake" Katy Perry (1 week #1)
02 01 01 02 "Love U Betta" Neon Hitch (1 week #1)
03 10 03 02 "Brokenhearted" Karmin
04 DB 04 01 "Dance Again" Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull
05 05 01 10 “Domino” Jessie J (2 weeks #1)
06 03 03 03 "Starships" Nicki Minaj
07 09 07 02 "Masterpiece" Madonna
08 02 02 04 "Girl Gone Wild" Madonna
09 18 01 13 “We Found Love” Rihanna, Calvin Harris (2 weeks #1)
10 06 01 06 "Part of Me" Katy Perry (2 weeks #1)
11 07 05 03 "It All Belongs To Me" Brandy, Monica
12 11 11 02 "Gang Bang" Madonna
13 08 01 12 “Someone Like You” Adele (1 week #1)
14 15 09 04 "Glad You Came" The Wanted
15 RE 10 04 "Rumour Has It" Adele
16 12 04 08 “Better Than I Know Myself” Adam Lambert
17 14 02 06 "Give Me All Your Luvin'" Madonna, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A.
18 DB 18 01 "King of Hearts" Cassie
19 17 01 17 “Criminal” Britney Spears (1 week #1)
20 13 01 11 “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” Kelly Clarkson (1 week #1)


[Number Key - This Week, Last Week, Peak Position, Weeks On Chart]

Chapter One:

The CD That Started It All

Britney Spears ...Baby One More Time

 

           From her infectious dance pop to her sometimes overtly sexual image, Britney Spears has always been one of those people that it’s hard not to have an opinion about. However, as a four year old kid buying a CD for the first time, for me it was all about the music. During a trip to the mall, I decided to make my first album purchase, Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time, after seeing the music video for the album’s title track on MTV multiple times each day. As soon as it was paid for, I rushed to the bench outside the store, and tore the plastic wrapper off the CD. As I opened up the case, I carefully examined the item I had just purchased - the booklet, the poster, the actual CD itself - I was in awe. Little did I know, this one moment would change my life forever.

            The next few days I found myself doing nothing but lying down on my living room floor right next to the stereo and playing the disc over and over. I was overwhelmed by how ecstatic the music made me feel. From the Euro-pop of the title track to the reggae grooves of “Soda Pop” and the cutesy bubblegum ballads like “Sometimes,” I had fallen in love with music. This one CD quickly became two, then ten, then twenty, and by my next birthday, I probably had more CDs than any other five year old in the world. It got to a point that anywhere I was, I was accompanied by at least one compact disc. The more I had, the more I loved music, and the more time I spent listening to it. An obsession is the only way I know how to describe it.

Now, as this album was still being played non-stop in my CD player, I began to watch Britney herself as a performer. Her music videos, her live performances, her interviews - I realized that I had to be a singer for the rest of my life. I began singing around the house, in church, at school talent shows; wherever I could, I would sing. From age five to age ten, I always wanted to sing and I didn’t care who heard. Even though since then self-consciousness has taken hold a bit, I still to this day am determined to sing for the rest of my life, and I wonder if it weren’t for Britney and that album if I would feel the same way about singing as I do.

            As I started growing up, I saw many of my friends take part in activities, sports in particular, and while they were playing sports, I was sitting in my living room playing my music. The album that started my obsession may not only be the reason I love music and singing, but also the reason I never took part in things such as basketball or soccer. I did try baseball once, but I felt it was a waste of my time as I would rather be listening to music which, in my head at least, was more productive to my day. I finally started doing theater, since I got to sing and put myself in the spotlight, and my dreams of performing became greater as I stepped on the stage for the first time.

            Now as I sit here looking at my CD collection, I can’t help but have …Baby One More Time stand out among the rest. The booklet is worn, the CD is heavily scratched, and the label that once graced the front cover is pealed off leaving an ugly mark on the front of the case; but I don’t think I could ever get rid of this copy. It’s kind of like a piece of me. It’s crazy to think how it could have made me into who I am now, but I can’t imagine who I would be without this one CD, as it started the passion for pop music that still burns in me today.

Hope you enjoyed chapter one! Check back next week for the next period of my life told through music. - Daniel xx

Welcome.

About Chartbreak On Vinyl:
Hi, my name is Daniel and welcome to Chartbreak On Vinyl. For starters, I will be using this blog to post my top 20 songs of the week, aka my personal chart. I will also be sharing with you an autobiography I am writing about myself, told through twelve albums that I felt represented me best. I hope you will be patient as I am just starting out and still trying to figure out everything. I would love to add many more features over time. Enjoy. :)