Estelle/Kanye West - "American Boy"

[musicfanpete]

This song is approaching the top 30 nationally and is getting played on WTMX in Chicago. Apparently it was just played an hour ago on the Mix, but I did not catch it. Does anyone know if there is a "Hot AC" version of this song without the Kanye West rap? Also I would be interested in seeing how far up the chart others think this will go.

[iceman]

The only one without Kanye West that I've heard is the soulseekerz radio edit which I think is better anyways. I'd be curious if these Hot AC stations are playing a different version as well.

[Minor Scratch]

Is Hot AC leaning a bit more Pop these days or has it always been this way?

[atlantaboy]

^Naw HAC has been leanin more and more CHR over the past few years, IMO mostly cause of the lack of big Modern AC hits out there...it's either lean CHR, or play tons of recurrents and golds (or be really progressive and be Modern AC but for some reason that only seems to be workin out West nowadays)

[Pulse]

Wow, this is charting on HAC? Usually the pop songs that chart are at least pretty big on Pop, while this song is doing alright, but not that well

[KelownaGuy20]

There is a version without Kanye West. If you ask me, it kinda lacks something. Kanye just seems to make this track.

We've been spinning the Kanye version here in Kelowna for a little over a month now. It gets pretty decent requests (right behind Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis).

It's also number 15 or so on the Canadian Top 20 this week, the syndicated HotAC countdown for the country.

[musicfanpete]

Aug 19, 2008 20:29:52 GMT -5 Pulse said:

Wow, this is charting on HAC? Usually the pop songs that chart are at least pretty big on Pop, while this song is doing alright, but not that well

This song is now #15 on the pop chart, but you're right. Usually songs like this start making an impact on the HAC chart once the hit the top 10 on the pop chart. But this song got an early start on HAC and is well on it's way toward the top 30:

30 28 TRISTAN PRETTYMAN Madly 468 480 -12 2.042
33 29 JONAS BROTHERS Burnin' Up 413 400 13 1.831
34 30 PUDDLE OF MUDD We Don't Have To Loo... 394 378 16 2.117
Rank Spins
lw TW Artist Title TW lw Move Aud/mill
35 31 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Last Name 389 377 12 1.784
36 32 JON MCLAUGHLIN Beating My Heart 379 355 24 1.381
39 33 STAIND Believe 359 307 52 1.242
41 34 ESTELLE American Boy f/ Kany... 340 284 56 1.162
40 35 LESLEY ROY I'm Gone, I'm Going 314 296 18 0.493
38 36 PANIC AT THE DISCO Nine In The Afternoo... 301 350 -49 1.028


With some relatively weak songs ahead of her, I think Estelle has a great shot at the top 30 if her momentum continues, particularly from the CHR leaning HAC stations. It will be interesting to see which stations are playing the Kanye West version and which stations are playing the edited version.

[musicfanpete]

Aug 20, 2008 0:17:51 GMT -5 KelownaGuy20 said:

There is a version without Kanye West. If you ask me, it kinda lacks something. Kanye just seems to make this track.

We've been spinning the Kanye version here in Kelowna for a little over a month now. It gets pretty decent requests (right behind Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis).

It's also number 15 or so on the Canadian Top 20 this week, the syndicated HotAC countdown for the country.

Just heard this song on the Mix in Chicago. Not surprising that they are playing the version without Kanye West, though ironic considering that they just started playing "Stronger" by Kanye West in overnights a few weeks ago! Don't know if they are just trying to gage listener reaction or what, but I don't mind the Estelle only version of "American Boy" (unless they are playing the Kanye West version overnights, but I don't know for sure).

It does feel a bit different without West, but for those of us who don't like rap music, I think this version will do.