I'm on the road this week, so updates may be limited...
UK Singles:
1. Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls
It's a second week at #1 for The Pussycat Dolls' "Stickwitu," which now matches the two-week peak at #1 of their first single, "Don't Cha." Nothing else to say about it really. Good pop song.
3. Ugly - Sugababes
The highest new entry of the week is a #3 for the Sugababes and "Ugly," the second single from their current (and 4th) album, Taller In More Ways. It's a great song with a teenage-girl power theme a la TLC's 1999 hit "Unpretty." This is actually a first for the 'Babes--the first time they've had a top 5 hit that wasn't a #1. Sort of strange, considering they'd had nine top 10 hits before this: 4 of them #1's ("Freak Like Me," "Round Round," "Hole in the Head," and "Push the Button") and 5 of them peaking between #6 and #10 ("Overload-6," "Stronger-7," "Too Lost in You-10," "In the Middle-8," and "Caught in a Moment-8"). Overall, it's the groups 14th top 40 hit.
4. You Raise Me Up - Westlife
"You Raise Me Up" breaks a record for Westlife this week: longest stay in the top 10. Until now, no Westlife single had spent more than 6 weeks in the top 10, achieved first by 1999's Christmas #1 "I Have a Dream," and then 2001's "Uptown Girl." They also look set to achieve another first next week: 2 singles in the top 10 at once, as "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" will likely enter in the top 10 (and is favored for #1).
5. Juicebox - The Strokes
A surprisingly high debut for The Strokes with "Juicebox," the first single from their forthcoming album First Impressions of Earth. At #5, it becomes their highest charting single, beating the #7 peak of "12:51," the first single from their second album Room on Fire, which, while good, was a disappointing work to many. "Juicebox" may be their most mainstream single to date, which bodes well for better success for their third album.
7. Listen to Your Heart - DHT Featuring Emdee
Another House-style reworking of an '80s classic makes its way into the top 10, beating out the chart performance of other recent dance tracks (Ai No Corrida and You Don't Have to Take Your Clothes Off, for example) which charted lower than expected. In an odd twist, this was actually a hit in the US first and a big one. The track was all over pop radio all summer (I believe it peaked at #2 on top 40 airplay) and a slow version also became a huge hit at adult radio. Very unusual, since dance music has not done well in the US for some time, with only 1 or 2 dance hits a year.
11. Just Can't Get Enough - Herd & Fitz Feat. Abigail Bailey
Dance music again at #11. A decent, but unremarkable House track. Nice to have though against all the ballads coming from the big acts.
13. Walk Away - Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand scores their fifth top 40 hit this week with "Walk Away," a decidedly mellower (but not mellow) release from their current album, You Could Have It So Much Better.
17. Even God (Can't Change the Past) - Charlotte Church
Charlotte hides the booze and cigarettes for this third single from her pop album Tissues and Issues. The gentle ballad, mostly just piano and vocals, harks back to her old days as a classical singer, perhaps knowing that her old fans may be in stores more often for the Christmas Season and might be shocked into heart attack if they picked up "Crazy Chick." Not a top 10, but this is a decent placing for the single, in my opinion.
22. Heard Em Say - Kanye West (Featuring Adam Levine)
A shockingly low placing for Kanye West's third Late Registration single, "Heard Em Say." It's a slower, easy-going (but with a message) track from West, who just received a sleigh-load of Grammy nominations. This also isn't taking off in the US, even though it's a decent, enjoyable track. I can't believe I'm defending West (I used to find him arrogant and obnoxious), but he's won me over of late.
32. What Else is There - Royksopp
A great track from an unusual band. Downbeat and enjoyable.
35. I Cried For You - Katie Melua
Yes, Katie's an albums artist, but her record company can't be happy about this very low debut. Perhaps it would help if they'd offer her up on digital sales venues. Arg!
39. Under The Weather - KT Tunstall
Huge airplay for "Under The Weather," Tunstall's fourth single from Eye to the Telescope, didn't propel the track into big sales. At #39, it's by far the lowest-charting single from the album and comes on the heels of her biggest hit, "Suddenly I See" #12. I just got this album (expect a review soon) and it really is great.
44. Luxurious - Gwen Stefani
Few artists can get away with trying to release 5 singles from an album and have them all do well; apparently Stefani is not one of them, as "Luxurious" has missed the top 40 altogether, a disappointing end note to a year where she did very well.
49. Merry Xmas Everybody - Tony Christie
The magic is gone. Christie's last single "(Is This The Way to) Amarillo" spent an amazing 7 weeks at #1 and is the best-selling single of the year. Tied into the Comic Relief charity, it was a huge huge hit. But Christmas doesn't give Christie a similar pay off.
53. Amarantine - Enya
Tough week! All these big artists languishing below the top 40. Oh well, the album will move millions.
Albums:
Speaking of albums, Eminem earns a second week at #1 with Curtain Call - The Hits. No new entries in the top 10 this week, but two albums move back into the top 10 on the back of their singles, the Sugababes are up 13 places to #8 with Taller In More Ways and The Pussycat Dolls are up 3 to #10 with PCD. Girls Aloud have the highest debut of the week at #11 with their third album, Chemistry, which is apparently very good.
Airplay:
Madonna is #1 for a sixth week with "Hung Up." Robbie Williams may challenge her for #1 next week, as "Advertising Space" moves up 2 to #3. Also moving up within the top 10 are The Pussycat Dolls at#4 with "Stickwitu" and the Sugababes at #5 with "Ugly." Just outside the top 10 are two pop acts whose singles have sold well this year, but earned them big airplay hits until now. Kelly Clarkson is up from #27 to #11 wtih "Because of You," and Girls Aloud are up from #34 to #12 with "See The Day." Highest new entry within the top 50 is Nizlopi at #34 with "JCB Song."
Next week: Look for Westlife (featuring Diana Ross), Robbie Williams, and Nizlopi to duke it out for #1 on the singles chart.
2 comments:
I agree with your thoughts on Kanye and Adam. Surprised their song didn't rank higher.
Yes. It's interesting when singles you expect to do well fall short in both the US and the UK (as this has). It says something about the universal appeal (or lack) of certain songs.
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