The best and brightest in the music business were honored last week, as the jury for the American Music Awards sized up all artists and their signature anthems before handing out their precious plums. But while the critics have their own picks, Pinoys also have their say on just which artist with which song deserves time on the airwaves, and the Ultimate Music Countdown is still right here to keep tabs on the hottest hits of the past seven days. So check back in on this chart of charts and check out which songs are going strong—and for which songs things seem to be slowly going wrong.

10. Kailan – Bamboo (Points: 16)

Ultimate Music Countdown regular “Kailan” by Bamboo is the first track on the chart this week, though it occupies a considerably lower rank compared to where it was before. The stirring OPM single placed fifth in last week's countdown and a notable third in the edition before that, but it has now plunged to last place. One avid reviewer has other ideas on where “Kailan” could also find itself, though. “'Kailan' is an inspiring anthem for the youth and the hopeless,” he says. “I wouldn't be surprised if this song turns up in leadership seminars.”

9. Mrs. Officer – Lil' Wayne feat. Bobby Valentino (Points: 19)

Fall For You – Secondhand Serenade

Lil' Wayne delivers the only fresh entry in this edition of the Ultimate Music Countdown with “Mrs. Officer”, a song that's not just getting him more than ample time on the airwaves but praise from the very best of his peers. In fact, at the recently-concluded American Music Awards, Kanye West bagged the Favorite Rap/HipHop Album award but ultimately paid tribute to Lil' Wayne with it. “I'm a fan of music,” West said as he accepted his prize. “I got my opinion. And I want to give this award to Wayne , for this year. If it was last year, this would have been my award. This year's Wayne's award; we'll see what happens next year.”

8. Lucky – Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat (Points: 20)

Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat return to the chart at #8, having previously found their collaboration “Lucky” in seventh and tenth places a few weeks ago. Fans of singer/songwriters who pen soulful melodies may have found this duet between established artist Mraz and rising star Caillat special right from its release, but Mraz recently shared a piece of trivia that makes “Lucky” all the more unique. According to Mraz, he and Caillat recorded the song together, instead of having their separate recordings pieced together later, as is now usually done. “I grew up watching classic music videos, where people share the microphone and earphones on one ear,” he said. “When you do a duet, it's got to be a real duet.”

7. Happily Never After – Nicole Scherzinger (Points: 22)

Crush – David Archuleta

David Archuleta retains his #7 ranking as his groundbreaking single “Crush” continues to make him look like he wasn't just a runner-up on American Idol. The debates have even moved on from who between he and David Cook should have really won the popular singing contest to who between them would win the most awards in their professional careers. This week, Archuleta shares seventh place with Nicole Scherzinger, another artist who is back on the chart after missing the cut last week. The lead Pussycat Doll had secured spots in the countdown three consecutive times before disappearing from last week's edition, but momentarily losing a spot should have been no big deal for the pop star. Aside from gracing the American Music Awards with a host of other stars, she's been busy lately celebrating with celebrity racer boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, who won the Formula 1 World Championship on November 8.

6. Your Universe – Rico Blanco (Points: 29)

Things haven't gone as brightly for Rico Blanco ever since his “Your Universe” topped the Ultimate Music Countdown two weeks ago. Since then, he's slipped to the fourth spot and is now down to sixth place. The former Rivermaya frontman's comeback, hinged on the album also entitled Your Universe, thankfully seems to be still going ever as smoothly. Where his carrier single has stumbled, his comeback album has shone. Says The Philippine Star of the 10-track product: “Featuring collaborations with some of the best musicians in the industry, Your Universe is a diverse sound trip that will keep listeners at the edge of their seats, wondering what musical twists and turns lie ahead.” One can only wonder what countdown fortunes await Rico Blanco too.

5. Just Stand Up! - Artists Stand Up to Cancer (Points: 30)

Just stand up, indeed. Everyone should give a standing ovation to “Just Stand Up”, the charity theme that features a voice from almost every corner of the music business. From R&B queens Mariah Carey and Rihanna to pop hotshots Fergie and Natasha Bedingfield to country artists Carrie Underwood and Sheryl Crow, almost anyone's who been someone in the music industry has lent her talent to this pro-active anthem. Their fifteen astounding voices have all contributed to one astounding feat: ten straight weeks in the Ultimate Music Countdown.

4. Mad – NeYo (Points: 41)

In his hottest new single, Ne-Yo pleads “Girl, I don't wanna go to bed mad at you / And I don't want you to go to bed mad at me.” There might not be a need for him to keep up with his earnest sentiments, however. It looks—or sounds—like nobody is close to getting angry with the R&B crooner anyway; nor does Ne-Yo have any reason to go to bed in a bad mood. His performances of “Miss Independent” and “Closer” were rated among the best showings at the American Music Awards. Moreover, his “Mad”, the freshest entry in the Ultimate Music Countdown's previous edition, has risen five places from #9 to #4. How's that for a follow-up to a breakthrough performance?

3. Decode – Paramore (Points: 46)

So Ne-Yo's “Mad” climbed from the ninth spot to the fourth. But what made Paramore's track leapfrog from #8 last week to #3? It can't be too hard to “Decode” that exploit. Paramore has been rocking the music scene lately, as their popular single, featured on the soundtrack of the film Twilight, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart while the album itself debuted as Billboard's #1. The fact that the vampire movie it complements is a box-office phenomenon all on its own also might have something to do with it. Stronger than ever at #3, this love song shouldn't be anywhere near the twilight of its run in the Ultimate Music Countdown.

2. Womanizer – Britney Spears (Points: 58)

Sometimes you've got to wonder. Sure, it's fantastic that Britney Spears' “Womanizer” is at #2 for the third straight week—the princess of pop doesn't deserve any ranking below the top three, does she? But does this comeback single deserve to always be second fiddle? One thing you can expect (or hope to expect) from Britney, though: the only “circus” you'll be getting from her soon is her 13-track new album of the same name, out in stores on December 2. The once-troubled starlet recently told Rolling Stone that she feels she has matured, and the future seems bright for her too. Says manager Larry Rudolph of the upcoming Circus: “This is going to be the album that cements her legend status.”

1. If I Were A Boy – Beyoncé (Points: 59)

Over the course of seven days, the one and only Beyoncé turned up the heat at the American Music Awards, saw her single “If I Were A Boy” catapult to #1 in the UK Singles chart and edge all other songs on the Pinoy airwaves by topping the Ultimate Music Countdown for the second straight week. What's the indomitable Beyoncé going to conquer next? According to sources, it might just be the White House. No, the diva is nowhere near running for the presidency of the United States, but word has it that she's set to perform at Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony on January 20 along with Jay-Z and Leona Lewis. Whether or not that pushes through, this superstar singer can live it up as the first lady of the music charts—at least for one more countdown-winning week.

Photo by kk+, taken from Flickr.com. Licensed under Creative Commons license number BY-NC-ND-2.0-DEED.EN.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."