Where is Anthony Mandler, director of over 10 Rihanna videos, when we need him? Rihanna's video for the hit single "Hard" was directed by Melina. I must confess that I do fail to understand the point of Rihanna humping the gun turret of a pink tank dressed in Mickey Mouse ears. It seems pains were taken to make the setting look like Afghanistan or Iraq with the other actors looking as close to real military personnel as possible. Then we have the star of the show strutting around in panties and naked breasts with black electrical tape over nipples and elsewhere treating a tank as a sex toy. Does Def Jam, Rihanna's label, need to be reminded that this comes on the heels of sadly sending off an additional 30,000 troops from our country to real war? In my mind this is one of the most tasteless, offensive moves by a major pop artist in recent memory. Take a look at the video below if you wish, and let us know what you think.

• Watch "Hard"

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_{Photo courtesy Def Jam}

It has been no secret that television personality and music magnate Simon Cowell has an interest in bringing his massive UK hit series X Factor to America. However, recent reports seem to indicate it could be the death knell for American Idol as well. The Times of London is reporting that Simon Cowell is finalizing agreements with Fox Television and Britain's ITV that would result in filming beginning on an American X Factor in September 2011. The newspaper also reported that Cowell is considering not judging American Idol in 2012. According to the New York Post these moves would have the impact of ultimately bringing American Idol to an end.

The positive side of this news for fans is that it seems a national talent show aimed at producing a new pop star is in the works for many years to come. Whether it uses the American Idol or X Factor format may be immaterial. Meanwhile, X Factor has just concluded a gloriously entertaining season six in the UK crowning Joe McElderry as the UK's newest pop star.

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_{Photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images}

The Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle is dominating the album chart like no one else has in recent memory. There is more action on the pop singles chart. Check out the stories in this week's coverage of the US pop music charts.

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_{Photo courtesy Syco}

Three weeks after its initial release Susan Boyle's debut album I Dreamed a Dream is a music industry phenomenon. Only seven other albums have been able to sell 500,000 or more copies in the first three weeks of release since SoundScan started digital counting in 1991. No other female soloist has achieved this feat. The last album to do so was 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' back in 2003. It is also quite possible that Susan Boyle will rack up another 500,000 in sales this week.

Susan Boyle has now sold a total of 1.8 million copies of I Dreamed a Dream which does put her within striking distance of Taylor Swift's 2.7 million copies of Fearless for the title of bestselling album of the year. It seems that Taylor Swift is likely to sell another 300,000-400,000 copies of her album so Susan Boyle will need to average over 400,000 a week for the rest of the year. The race is on. These are the only two albums to spend three weeks or more at the top of the album chart in 2009.

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_{Album cover courtesy Columbia Records}