The music industry cognoscenti are all atwitter on the Material Girl’s 50th birthday (not to mention the fact that both Michael Jackson and Prince are celebrating their Big Five-Oh’s this month, as well). Pundits all over the mainstream media are truly gushing over Madonna’s iconic influence within the strange but compelling world of popular culture over the past quarter century. From the moment of her debut in 1984, she hit the charts with such a force, even the most jaded music snob had to take notice of her certain longevity.

All of which got me to thinking: who is this decade’s Madonna? While said pundits and music snobs could debate this issue until the end of the 2010’s, I’ll just suffice it to say, that in terms of immediate Billboard chartistry, Rihanna would have to be at the top of the list.

Since debuting with her Music Of The Sun collection in 2005, she has scored no less than nine top ten hits, either as a featured or main artist, and has had four of those ascend all the way to #1. The most recent of those is the addictive “Disturbia”, an upbeat yet melancholic party jam whose video stoked the Internet flames in its journey to cerebral-nagging bliss.

For the moment, the song does its job, succeeding in getting her silly but equally addictive “Umbrella” out of my noggin’, and it’s also the subject of this week’s Music Club. Hmmm. Is this what ear candy really tastes like? | LINK

Unfortunately, the subject of this week’s Music Club entry passed today. Isaac Hayes, the guy whose unmistakable deep baritone set the standard for the likes of Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass , and other soul crooners of the day, was found dead next to a still-running treadmill. He hailed from my hometown, Memphis; and as a child, I fondly remember hearing his signature 70s soul jams on our heritage station, WDIA (the first U.S. radio station programmed by African-Americans [1948], now a news-talk outlet).

Of course, no obit would be complete without mention of his certain pièce de résistance moment, the Oscar-winning theme from the ‘71 blacksploitation flick of the same name, Shaft (Billboard Hot 100 #1, 1971). But, bucking the trend today, DP presents what has to be his magnum opus: the contemplative “Walk On By” (Billboard Hot 100 #30, 1969), the Bacharach composition whose opening bars have been endlessly sampled by hip-hop heads unknowingly paying tribute to this artist’s fine body of hot buttered soul all along. | LINK

Betcha thought that this weekend’s theme would be one of the flag, apple pie, barbecue…you know, the run of the mill 4th of July identifiers. Well, not this weekend. I’m taking full advantage of the fact that regular Doctor Pundit devotees may be expecting the same ol’ Independence Day themes by promoting music that deserves to be promoted. I’ve got two words for you today. Chrisette Michelle. On her major label debut, I Am, this twenty-four year-old chanteuse knows how to belt out a ballad in the torch song tradition, yet jam in the flavor of hip-hop with a mature sensibility. Check out the cuts “Be OK” and “If I Have My Way“. Simply flawless, and the featured act of this week’s Weekend Music Club. Enjoy.

Could it be that what the critics are saying about Coldplay are correct? That Viva La Vida could be the band’s seminal breakthrough? Who knows… The band does have one thing going for it, though: sole possession of the #1 song in the country, the ebullient title track. I’m a little partial to the opus, “Violet Hill“, however. Coldplay — this week’s Music Club entry. Enjoy.

A DP reader recently sent me an email asking if I had suspended the (popular?) Weekend Music Club portion of the blog. Well, no. I just changed the rules a bit. It was originally the focus of this section of the blog to spotlight two musical acts per week: one on Saturday, and of course, the other on Sunday. The tedium it took to pontificate on two acts in two days gave me every reason in the world to nix that notion.

Consequently, the spotlight ration was decreased to once weekly (either Sat. or Sun., depending on how (un)inspired I felt). Again, my music critic muse’s dry spells prevented a weekly (without fail) Club spotlight act. So, it has come to this: starting today, the Weekend Music Club will, at its best, remain a fixture on Doctor Pundit, but its posts will constitute only an occasional feature — a diversion, if you will. Remember, just as in healthcare, quality over quantity is definitely king.

Oh, almost forgot. This week’s Music Club spotlight falls upon the owner of the #1 song in the country this week, rapper Lil’ Wayne.  Again, my muse fails me, which is the reason for this week’s selection. Enjoy? | LINK

She’s been compared to Whitney Houston in her creative infancy, and she’s one of the last nurtured acts at the hand of famed über-producer Clive Davis (who, of course was responsible for Houston’s meteoric rise). She’s also just hit #1 in both the U.S. and her native U.K. with the debut track “Bleeding Love”. She’s Leona Lewis, and she doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. Good thing, because who would we give the “Best New Artist” Grammy to at the 2009 ceremonies? | LINK

She’s finally done it. Mariah Carey has eclipsed the milestone held by Elvis Presley for almost 40 years — sole possession of second place for the most #1 hits in the rock era. With her 18th #1, the instantly forgettable “Touch My Body“, the diva proved her infamous 2001 meltdown (which pales in comparison to the career mishaps shared by the likes of Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, and just about any rapper) did relatively little damage in the record label-sponsored drive toward that holy grail of all pop music records — the act with the most #1’s in rock era history. (She can at least tie the record with her current CD.) Currently, that title is held by the Beatles, whose record 20 #1’s looks pretty precarious on that perch it has held since 1970. Still, it is quite a feat for Mariah, and it all started almost 18 years ago with this song.

The sixty year-old rocker Gregg Allman, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twelve years ago, is reportedly undergoing treatment for hepatitis C infection. Best known as the founding member of the Allman Bros. Band, Allman has developed personal career niches in his own right — utilizing his talents as a blueser, keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter in the process. News of his medical issues this week are not surprising due to his much storied history of booze, cocaine, and heroin consumption. To his credit however, he has been sober for much of the past 12 years, and he is this week’s installment of the Weekend Music Club. Here he is, performing “Come And Go Blues“.

Many casual fans of Bruce Springsteen may not know of The Boss’s songwriting talents, but they are on full force in the classic 1977 #1 hit by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, “Blinded By The Light”. If you listen closely, you can even hear how Springsteen himself would have sung it (or, you could just click here). The song essentially made the group relevant once again in the late 1970s. Just a decade earlier (known just as Manfred Mann), they were the purveyors of the post-UK invasion Brit pop sound; today, they are this week’s occupants of the Weekend Music Club. Enjoy. | LINK

How often does this happen? An American Idol winner who possesses the actual chops to carry a tune manages to ensnare critics and fans alike with her homespun class and stylish performance — at the same time copping a concert tour, opening up for headliner Alcia Keys? Ask Jordin Sparks, and she would probably be pretty coy about it. She sings with R&B star Chris Brown on her latest pop Top Ten hit, “No Air”. It’s this week’s Weekend Music Club entry. Enjoy.

Her most recent CD, Discipline, came out last week, but it’s the 1990s incarnation of the superstar I enjoy watching the most. Dubbed “the normal Jackson” by critics and comedians alike, Janet hasn’t been immune to the likes of minor scandals (well, okay, there was that Super Bowl thing in 2004), but — in spite of a couple of recent flopped albums — she has always managed to stay relevant and stylish. One video which showcases her stunning presence in glorious black and white is the clip for the 1996 song, “Twenty Foreplay“. The song is this week’s Weekend Music Club entry. Click & enjoy.

Kinks frontman Ray Davies just released a new CD last week, “Working Man’s Cafe”. Davies appeals to the “once and future” lead singer axioms, as he really never left the glory that comes with the association of such a cool party band which last performed together almost 12 years ago. Known for taking his time with the artistic process (his first solo effort came out in 1985), he takes on social commentary with a focus on the (mostly economic) changes occurring in this country since he first visited over 40 years ago. The timing apparently couldn’t be more apropos during the current economic downturn. The title cut is viewable here. Ray Davies is this week’s Music Club entry.

I know. I know. A total one-hit wonder. A big hit it was, too, reaching #10 on the Billboard hot 100 in 1983. Stupid and cheesy, yes, but I just like the video. “She’s A Beauty,” this week’s installment of the Weekend Music Club.