The year is 2008.

As the teen-pop princesses of the 90s step into womanhood with loud, proud and career-defining releases, a new artist named Lady Gaga emerges into Myspace Kid/Limewire world dominated by the likes of MIA, VV Brown, Luciana, Robyn, Diplo,Santogold and Space Cowboy.

In that year, as another fresh-faced starlet named Katy Perry dominated the charts with tales of girl on girl action, the indie-feeling Gaga used YouTube (still in its infancy) to cultivate fan base with help from original content shot to support her debut album ‘The Fame.’

Meet us below to revisit the movie the entertainer released to accompany the album.

Coco, Dada, Dina, Constellation and Gaga are waiting below…

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re getting reacquainted with ‘Stranger in My House’ – the 2001 top 10 hit from R&B diva Tamia.  Meet us inside:

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week it’s all about ‘All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do)’ – the inaugural Hot 100 top 20 hit of R&B veteran Joe.
(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week Lauryn Hill‘s ‘Ex’ marks the spot.  Join us inside:

(more…)

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature carved out to celebrate TV and Film’s glorious past.

Today, we honor the British music series Top of the Pops.

Premiering on January 1st 1964, the show was created to serve as a chart show / promotional vehicle for Pop fans and their “idols” alike and would reveal which song stood as the highest-seller of the week every Friday!

Ending its historical weekly run in 2006, TOTP now broadcasts as a  Christmas and New Year’s Day special.

Over the course of its mammoth tenure, the show played host to a number of stars from home and away.

Ready to revisit it? Press play below…

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’ll unlock the sweet sounds of Sade‘s 1985 hit, ‘Sweetest Taboo.’  

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’ll go on to relive the magic of Celine Dion‘s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ – one of the most successful singles of all time.  Penned by Will Jennings and Walter Afanasieff (most famous for co-writing some of Mariah Carey‘s greatest hits), the heart-tugging tune – selected to kick off the soundtrack to James Cameron‘s historical film, ‘Titanic’ – was an immediate hit.  Debuting at #1 on the Hot 100 this week in 1998, ‘Heart’ – despite spending only 2 weeks atop the tally – went on to amass sales and accolades over the following year rivaled only by the blockbuster success of Whitney Houston‘s ‘I Will Always Love You’ (from ‘The Bodyguard’ soundtrack) a few years prior….

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re shining a light on Prince classic ‘Diamonds and Pearls.’  A fan favorite from the music legend’s storied catalog, ‘Pearls’ – the title track from the Prince & the New Power Generation LP –  was released in November 1991.  A borderline Rock power ballad for its masterful fusion of heavy drums and soaring guitar riffs, the song’s R&B undertone helped make it staple on both Pop and R&B formats for months after its debut.

Eventually peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week 27 years ago), ‘Pearls’ may have not earned its own RIAA certification but it undoubtedly helped power its parent album to sales of over 2 million in the United States alone.

Curious to see who joined him in the top 25 this week in 1992?  Look below to see:

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we believe it’s time to pay tribute to Whitney Houston‘s ‘I Believe In You & Me.’  Penned in 1982 and first brought to fame by  The Four Tops, ‘Me’ -a moderate success for the legendary R&B group – was revamped and revitalized once Houston put her signature belt on it.  Tapped to kick off the singer’s third soundtrack album in less than 4 years, The Preacher’s Wife’ (starring Houston & Denzel Washington), the tune was released in December 1996.  Less than a month after its release it shot to the top 10 of the Hot 100 where it would meet a #4 peak this week in 1997.

Marking a personal milestone for the pop icon as her 16th top 5 hit, ‘Me’ eventually earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and lodged itself as a “fan favorite” among the singer’s most prized hits.  Look inside to relive the tune and see who joined Houston in the top 25 this week 22 years ago:

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

Next, we only have eyes for Ashanti Douglas’ 2004 hit, ‘Only U.’  Released October that year, the tune – penned by Douglas, Irv Gotti, and more with production credited to 7 Aurelius – was tapped to launch the singer’s third LP, 2004’s ‘Concrete Rose.’  A sonic departure from the lighter R&B offerings of her first two albums, ‘Only’ – though decorated with a rhythmic undertone – was a darker, rock-tinged effort that prominently featured a ringing guitar riff at its intro and outro.  Accented by an equally dark video that saw the then 24-year-old not only unveil her sexiest fashion ensembles to date but also experiment with choreography in measures absent from her previous offerings, ‘Only’ shone as a turning point in the singer’s career manyfold.

Sadly, the risky experiment did not prove lucrative.  Peaking at #13 this week in 2005, the song became the first lead single of an Ashanti album to miss the top 10 of the Hot 100.  Some 14 years later it remains her last appearance in the tally’s top 20.  Going on to push past the RIAA’s Gold certification threshold, ‘Only’ can at least boast status as a fan favorite in the singer’s impressive discography.

Look inside to see who joined her in the top 25 on this week’s ‘Chart Rewind’:

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we fast backward to Christina Aguilera‘s 2006 hit, ‘Hurt.’  The second single from her chart-topping ‘Back to Basics’ album, the tune – produced and co-penned by Linda Perry (also responsible for Aguilera’s 2002 hit ‘Beautiful’) – comes as one of the singer’s most heart-tugging releases as it tells the story of a young woman coping with the hurt of her father’s death.  Inspired by Perry’s real life experience, ‘Hurt’ went to chart battle in late 2006 and eventually worked its way to #19 on the Hot 100 where it was found this week in 2007.

Certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just five months after its release, the song has since passed the threshold for platinum certification with reported sales of over 1 million in the U.S. alone.  Look below to see who joined Aguilera’s modern Pop classic in the top 25 this week 12 years ago:

(more…)

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’ll turn our attention to ‘Soon As I Get Home’ – the second single from Faith Evans‘ 1995 eponymous debut album.  Written by Evans and produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, the tune came as a worthy follow-up to the singer’s debut single, ‘You Used To Love Me’ (which peaked at #24 on the Hot 100).  ‘Home’ would not only best its predecessor’s chart success, but this week in 1996 became the highest charting release from her debut project when it peaked at #21.

Eventually securing a Gold certification from the RIAA, ‘Home’ – a precursor of her chart success to come – has secured a spot as fan favorite for followers of Evans and continues to endure as one of the 90’s best R&B offerings.  Relive the cut inside and see who joined her in the top 25 this week 23 years ago:

(more…)