Top 5 Songs of Summer

(USER SUBMITTED) - One hundred stars of stage and screen converged on Henson Studios in Los Angeles yesterday to record a new version of iconic 1985 hit "We Are the World." The all-new recording is designed to raise money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Once again produced by Quincy Jones, the song features talents as diverse as Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Wyclef Jean, Pink, Usher, Vince Vaughn, and Snoop Dogg, reports the LA Times . More»

Kanye, record execs come to hear buzzed-about rapper

(NEWSER) - Child-actor-turned-rapper Drake had fans and luminaries like Kanye West enthralled at a small New York show Tuesday, where the as-yet-unsigned artist tried to live up to the buzz.

• “Drake's greatest gift is his ability to translate his love of rap's many styles into his own music,” Chris Ryan writes of the Lil Wayne protégé in the Village Voice. “His stage presence had a degree of effortless charm and showmanship that suggested a real star quality at work.”

Viva la Vida the year's bestselling album

(NEWSER) - Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was the best-selling album in the world last year, the BBC reports, selling 6.8 million copies. Coldplay was one of four British acts to crack the top 10. Here’s the rest of the list:

2. AC/DC: Black Ice
3. The Mama Mia! soundtrack

Beyoncé heads Rolling Stone list of the year's best tunes

(NEWSER) - When it comes to belting out the single of the year, Beyoncé ran (wedding) rings around the competition, says Rolling Stone, which lists its top 10:

1. Beyoncé, Single Ladies: "Irresistible and exuberant."
2. Santogold, LES Artistes: "New Wave guitar hook of the year."
3. MGMT, Time to Pretend: "A magnificent piece of snark about acting like rock stars."

It's not too late to add these tunes to your playlist

(NEWSER) - Salon’s critics pick the songs that sizzle in summer 2008—from Estelle and Kanye West's sartorial lust to Tilly and the Wall's bubble gum New Wave:

1. Estelle with Kanye West, “American Boy”: Elegant English beats blend with in-your-face American lyrics.
2. Jonas Brothers, “Burning Up”: Saccharine silliness that fills a hole in our inner 13-year-old, boy-band-loving hearts.
3. Ida Corr, “Let Me Think About It”: Sexy beats that have kept us dancing (and Corr in the Top 10) for 40 weeks.