The Year in Music: February 2010

So many different things happened in the world of music this year that instead of making a limited “best-of” list, it’s better to take a look at things one month at a time. Just as we previously highlighted January 2010’s happenings, here is a look at the next month in music history.

Superbowl XLIV‘s half-time show is helmed by the Who. The National Anthem was performed by Carrie Underwood, marking the third straight year that a former American Idol contestant received the honor.

The Jonas Brothers take a short break as Nick Jonas & the Administration releases the debut album, Who I Am.

Doug Fieger, former lead singer of the Knack dies of lung cancer at age 57. The My Sharona writer stayed active in the business by touring and performing Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” on an episode of Hit Me, Baby, One More Time.

Sade’s first album in a decade, Soldier of Love debuts at No.1 on the charts with 502,000 copies sold in its first week of release.

Before beginning a year-long prison sentence for weapons charges, rapper Lil’ Wayne releases a highly-criticized rock album entitled Rebirth.

“Susie Q” hitmaker Dale Hawkins dies from colon cancer at the age of 73.

Folk harpist Joanna Newsom releases a triple album, Have One on Me.

John Mayer causes controversy in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine by using a racist term and making lude personal comments about his love life.

Johnny Cash’s third posthumous album, American VI: Ain’t No Grave, made up material recorded four years ago, is released.

Nicki Minaj records a guest rap on a remix single of Mariah Carey’s “Up Out My Face”. The resulting music video, featuring the two as Barbie-type dolls in various situations, was praised by MTV and Entertainment Weekly.