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SOUND BITES Fans still managed to go to the record stores last week, pushing several new releases into the top 10 on the Billboard chart. Jay-Z's ''The Blueprint'' debuted at No. 1, selling 426,550 copies, according to SoundScan. Nickelback's new ''Silver Side Up'' followed at No. 2, with sales of 177,975. Following Alicia Keys' ''Songs in A Minor,'' which dropped one spot to No. 3 (161,000 sold), was Fabolous' ''Ghetto Fabolous,'' debuting at No. 4 (143,175 units). Bob Dylan's ''Love and Theft'' opened at No. 5 (133,775 copies).
Debuting at No. 6 was P.O.D.'s ''Satellite,'' while Mariah Carey's ''Glitter'' soundtrack opened at No. 7. Linkin Park's ''Hybrid Theory'' dipped one spot to No. 8. ''NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 7'' dropped five places to land at No. 9, and Aaliyah's self-titled CD fell seven spots to No. 10....
Whitney Houston's rendition of ''The Star-Spangled Banner,'' which has been pouring out of seemingly every radio this week, will be rereleased as a single. Houston performed the national anthem 10 years ago at Super Bowl XXV, during the Gulf War, and the recording played a similar morale-boosting role then. Proceeds from the single will go to the families of the rescue workers who died at Ground Zero....
Britney Spears announced she will donate a dollar from each ticket sold on the 31 dates of her upcoming U.S. tour to the families of the rescue workers. She said she also hopes to raise $2 million for victims' families by selling merchandise and auctioning off some front-row seats at the concerts. She denied, however, that she and boyfriend Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync will be participating in Michael Jackson's all-star benefit recording of ''What More Can I Give''....
Among rappers, Dr. Dre has pledged $1 million to a relief drive organized by Los Angeles radio station KPWR-FM. Underground rappers The Arsonists will donate half the royalties from their new release ''Date of Birth,'' which came out September 11, the day of the attacks. Other hip-hoppers who've donated to relief efforts include Tyrese, RZA, Swiss Beatz, and Fat Joe.
Jennifer Lopez will celebrate her Puerto Rican heritage this weekend with two concerts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that will be taped for an NBC special in November. ''It's going to be something very beautiful, and I really believe it's a show that comes from my soul and my heart,'' said the Bronx-born singer, speaking in Spanish on at a Tuesday press conference in San Juan....
Limp Bizkit has often been accused of inciting violence at the band's live performances, but guitarist Wes Borland has posted a message at the group's website decrying the violence that has been reported against individual Muslims or people who have been mistaken for them, and he urged fans not to commit such acts. ''I understand that everyone is angry about what happened, but taking your anger out on people who had nothing to do with these incidents is horribly wrong. These were not the people who attacked us. No matter what people around you are saying about someone, I urge you to think before you act,'' Borland writes. ''Please try to understand that these are hate crimes against innocent people who are your neighbors. This needs to be a time for reaching out to others, not accusing them. Don't be a racist. Don't be a racist. Don't be a racist.''...
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who has written the lyrics to dozens of patriotic and religious songs and released seven CDs, wrote a new one on Monday as a response to last week's tragedy. It's called ''Americans United.'' Hatch will probably send the lyrics to his usual collaborator, Utah-based composer Janice Kapp Perry, to set the words to music.
