Now 43: That's What I Call Music

Usher, Maroon 5, M83, Luke Bryan, Pitbull, David Guetta, Tristan Prettyman, Katy Perry, Halestorm, Justin Bieber, Ellie Goulding | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 7, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B008BCH9NU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,642 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2012 release, the 43rd installment in the American version of this popular series. Features 20 tracks including cuts from Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber, Usher, David Guetta, Maroon 5, Pitbull, M83 and many others.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars DEAR MUSIC APPRECIATORS August 7, 2012

By Andrew H. Lee

Format:Audio CD

Dear Music Appreciators,

If you don't already know most of these songs, then welcome to the world of popular music during the second decade of the twenty-first century. What kind of music is popular these days you ask? Well, it's mostly big, thumping, tricked-out electro pop songs performed by sexed up solo acts (just five out of the twenty tracks are from a "band" in the traditional sense of the word). These are songs primarily about relationships, self-affirmation, and sex delivered in a top forty style that is great for dancing, working out, or driving fast.

But this collection isn't purely corporate hit machine pop music - refreshing diversions from the typical sounding, thumping hit pop songs include "Lights," "Too Close," Midnight City," "Drunk On You," "Here's to Us," and "My Oh My." It's also notable that this collection includes contributions from a country star, a few rock bands, and a number of singer-songwriter types.

If you listen regularly to top forty type radio stations, then whether you know it or not you will already be familiar with most of the tracks here. Although every track here has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, just two have made it all the way to number one.

For those who are interested, here are some details about the origin of each song. Single release dates are not considered, except where a studio album has not been released yet.

1. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen - from the studio album (EP) CURIOSITY released on 02/14/12
2. "Part of Me" - Katy Perry - from the studio album TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION released on 03/26/12
3. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 - from the studio album OVEREXPOSED released on 06/26/12
4. "Titanium (feat.... Sia)" - David Guetta - from the studio album NOTHING BUT THE BEAT released on 08/26/11
5. "Lights" - Ellie Goulding - from the studio album LIGHTS released (in the U.S.) on 03/08/11
6. "Boyfriend" - Justin Bieber - from the studio album BELIEVE released on 06/15/12
7. "Scream: - Usher - from the studio album LOOKING 4 MYSELF released on 06/08/12
8. "Let's Go (feat. Ne-Yo)" - Calvin Harris - released 03/30/12 as a single for an upcoming unamed LP
9. "Back in Time - Pitbull - originally intended to be included on MIB3 movie soundtrack, but released as a stand alone single instead on 03/26/12
10. "Want You Back: - Cher Lloyd - from the studio album STICKS + STONES released on 11/07/11
11. "One Thing" - One Direction - from the studio album UP ALL NIGHT released on 11/18/11
12. "Give Your Heart a Break - Demi Lovato - from the studio album UNBROKEN released on 09/20/11
13. "Too Close" - Alex Clare - from the studio album THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR released on 07/11/11
14. "Midnight City" - M83 - from the studio album HURRY UP, WE'RE DREAMING released on 10/18/11
15. "Everybody Talks" - Neon Trees - from the studio album PICTURE SHOW released on 04/17/12
16. "Drunk On You" - Luke Bryan - from the studio album TAILGATES & TANLINES released on 08/09/11
17. "Here's To Us" - Halestorm - from the studio album THE STRANGE CASE OF... released on 04/10/12
18. "My Oh My" - Tristan Prettyman - from the forthcoming studio album CEDAR + GOLD to be released on 09/25/12
19. "Love Actually" - Cady Groves - stand alone single released 06/29/12, eventually to be included on a debut LP?
20. "I Don't Like You" - Eva Simons - stand alone single released 03/26/12, eventually to be included on a debut LP?

Sincerely,

Constant Listener Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Current hits and then some September 6, 2012

By Edgar Olivares

Format:Audio CD

As always, this is a great sampler of today's music and of course there's something for everyone here. It features some newcomers such as Carly Rae Jepsen, M83 and Alex Clare along with familiar names like Maroon 5, Usher and Katy Perry among others and a few of the tracks here are still currently climbing the charts. The last four tracks are fine but again time will tell if any of them break through. An enjoyable collection overall.

Billboard Hot 100 peak positions (first 16 tracks):

Call Me Maybe-#1
Part Of Me-#1
Payphone-#2
Titanium-#7
Lights-#2
Boyfriend-#2
Scream-#9
Let's Go-#17
Back In Time-#11
Want You Back-#12
One Thing-#39
Give Your Heart A Break-#16 This Week
Too Close-#15 This Week
Midnight City-#72
Everybody Talks-#6 This Week
Drunk On You-#16 (#1 Country)

TT 70:57

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now 43 December 23, 2012

By K R

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bought this CD because I recognized most of the song titles on it. I hate buying a CD for 1 song and finding out I don't care for the other 13 or so.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Volume but... August 15, 2012

By G. Hembrough VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a good volume. Lots of song I like from the radio and my CD plays much clearer than the radio, plus I don't have to listen to people talk about nonsense and I can choose the song I want to listen to. My only complaint really is that I was disappointed that the Maroon 5 song "Payphone" didn't have Wiz Kahlifa's verse. I know it didn't list his name, as a previous NOW listed Lil Jon and STILL left him out of the song, but the radio plays his verse and I just expected to hear it. I'm still not a fan of "NOW WHAT'S NEXT". I still think it's a way to rip people off by giving you less good current songs but what can you do? I suppose it's good for the artists since lots of people will hear their songs, but I wonder how many of them actually make it big afterwards? In short, purchase this album if you, like me, collect the NOW series (even the horrible ones - however, I only collect the numerical ones. I do not collect spin off's such as NOW #1s.) or you really like the songs on the radio right now and don't want to buy individual albums. I've grown tired of individual albums. I can't listen to one artist that long, especially in the car where I play most of my CDs. I suppose there are always MP3 downloads, but I am still stuck in the past listening to CDs.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Recent Great Pop Hits. August 7, 2012

By M. Mariba TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

The popular Now series : That's What I Call Music is back with probably the most musically accessible compilation recently in 'Now 43' : wonderful recent popular (pop) hits including dance hits like the melodical "Titanium" by David Guetta featuring Sia, R 'n B, some rap/hip hop like "Back In Time" by Pitbull (song from the movie MEN IN BLACK 3) & the delightful only one country hit "Drunk On You" by Luke Bryan. The Now series have country music & rock series too which may explain less of these genre inclusions recently. There is also much less rap/hip hop in this compilation as compared to 'Now 42 : That's What I Call Music' which had mixed bag of appreciation by fans. This new compilation 'Now 43 : That's What I Call Music" (20 tracks including 4 bonus tracks) seems to have hit the right chord with the fans as it's certainly getting well received : it has great 'middle of the road' pop songs. Stand-outs/gems/solid tracks include "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson (pop track with wonderful melody & vocals), "Payphone" by Maroon 5 (incredible melody & great vocals by Adam Levine. This is my favourite track from this great compilation CD), "Give Your Heart A Break" by Demi Lovato (another wonderful pop track with an infectious melody), "Drunk On You" by Luke Bryan (great country hit) & "Here's To Us" by Tristan Prettyman (bonus track, beautiful track at that).

On overall, recent pop hits (2011 & 2012 chart toppers) are well represented in this new compilation (mainly pop & dance hits) that should thrill fans now all in one CD. A highly recommended CD listening.