Introducing the new Hilary Duff

Has Hilary Duff done something to her face? She certainly looks extra beautiful in her video for her new hit, Wake Up. And what about her figure? I used to think of her as somewhat stocky but she is not anymore. Now I have always seen Hilary’s arch-rival Lindsay Lohan as drop-dead gorgeous even as a little girl. She is sort of like this generation’s Elizabeth Taylor, a future femme fatale. Hilary though was a different sort, pretty, ever happy, perky and most of all, Lizzie Maguire wholesome. She was every little boy’s first crush and the girl every little girl wanted to be. Now Hilary is still all those things but after some wonderful changes, she is now also beautiful, sexy and a far cry from the bubble gum singer she used to be.

The change came about because Hilary is now openly dating somebody she is in love with. As per the hot news these days in the gossip columns from the US, the credit for Hilary’s stunning metamorphosis should go to her boyfriend, Joel Madden of the rock band Good Charlotte. Hilary is pop and wholesome as apple pie. Joel is punk and wears mascara. He is also 26 years old to her almost 18. She marks her birthday this month. But they must be so in love that they have decided to come out in the open about their relationship at the recent MTV Video Music Awards show where Joel played attentive escort to his pop princess.

Given the way most celebrity relationships go, we certainly do not know if Joel and Hilary will ever make it to ever-after bliss. But even if they don’t, this unlikely pairing has already produced something that they can be truly proud of. That is Hilary’s hit new album entitled Most Wanted which instantly zoomed to the top of the charts on its first week out in the stores and has remained there until today.

Technically, it is not really a new album because it has cuts and remixes taken from Hilary’s early releases and only three new songs. But those new cuts signal an impressive change in the direction of Hilary’s singing career, which is now more punk than pop. That is not only because of the Joel influence. In truth, Joel and two other guys who can certainly rock had a big hand in crafting Hilary’s sound into a most appealing sort of punk. Billed as the Dead Executives, these co-songwriters and co-producers are Joel and his twin brother Benji of Good Charlotte and their friend John Feldman of the group Goldfinger. Hilary wrote the album’s new tracks with them.

Present as remixed or as originally released are Hilary’s biggest sellers, Come Clean, Rock this World, Why Not, Fly, Mr. James Dean, So Yesterday and Metamorphosis. The club-influenced first single Wake Up, plus rockers Break My Heart and Beat of My Heart introduce Hilary’s new sound. She is no Avril Lavigne yet, but given the market response to Most Wanted, we will surely be hearing more of this newly rebellious Hilary.

Billboard’s weekly hit singles

Meanwhile here are this week’s hit singles as per Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100. Take note that leader of the pack is Mariah Carey who occupies both the No. 1 and 2 slots. Here goes: We Belong Together by Mariah Carey; Shake It Off also by Mariah; Don’t Cha by The Pussy Cat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes; Lose Control by Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop; Let Me Hold You by the former Little Bow Wow who has grown up into simply Bow Wow featuring Omarion; Pon de Replay by Rihanna; Like You Again by Bow Wow featuring Ciara; You and Me by Lifehouse; Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson; and Listen to Your Heart by D.H.T.

The Top 10 of the Top 200 albums list is as follows: Most Wanted by two-week leader Hilary Duff; Now 19 by Various Artists; The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey; Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas; Harlem: Diary of a Summer by Jim Jones; Time Well Wasted by Brad Paisley; Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 by Young Jeezy; Demon Days by Gorillaz; Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson and American Idiot by Green Day.