Thursday, January 12, 2006

UK Chart Analysis, 1/14/2006

It's still somewhat boring and stagnant, but the airplay chart offers hope that some good new releases are just around the corner. Shayne Ward tops the singles chart fora third week, while The Strokes score their first #1 album. Click below for the full article.

Singles:

1. That's My Goal - Shayne Ward

It's a third week at #1 for The X-Factor winner Shayne Ward's first single. Snooze. Time for something new, but unfortunately, I don't think we'll be getting it next week, as it appears Mr. Ward is on target for a 4th week at #1 with the only possible competition coming from Richard Ashcroft, who's never had a solo #1.

4. George Best - A Tribute - Brian Kennedy

With Nizlopi and Madonna holding again at #2 and #3, the next interesting item is at #4, a tribute EP that debuted at #21 two weeks ago, and this weeks moves up from #11 to #4. The Brian Kennedy you can find on iTunes is a jazz singer--not sure if that is in fact the Brian Kennedy this single is credited to. He's actually 1 of 2 artists on the EP. Along with Kennedy's rendition of "You Raise Me Up," you also get Peter Corry singing "The Long and Winding Road" and the both of them singing "Bring Him Home/Vincent." Forgive my ignorance, but it appears George Best was a football (i.e. soccer) player who died recently.

10. Munich - Editors

This is a re-release of an earlier single that didn't chart so high. Can't say I've heard it.

The rest of the top 10 isn't that interesting. Some older tracks continue to move up a bit, but will surely plummet once some decent new releases come out.

20. Dancin' - Aaron Smith Featuring Luvli

Another clubby track to take the edge off of all the year-end/new year ballads. Sounds slightly like Jamiroquai--both in style and in the singer's voice. Not bad, but not memorable for sure.

36. Phat Beach (I'll Be Ready) - Naughty Boy

I haven't heard this, but I can only assume it is the first in the series of this year's competition to make the worst vocal-loop house remix of a bad '80s song. Last year, we had Sunset Strippers, Cabin Crew, and Mylo duking it out over remakes of Boy Meets Girl's "Waiting for A Star To Fall." This year, the perennial favorite them to the TV show Baywatch is the victim. Next week, Sunblock's version, which has been getting significantly more attention, will be out.

Albums:

The Strokes' third album, First Impressions of Earth becomes their first to top the UK albums chart. The groups previous two albums, 2001's Is This It and 2003's Room on Fire, both managed to reach #2. Two Katies move back into the top 10; KT Tunstall at #6 with Eye to the Telescope and Katie Melua at #9 with Piece By Piece. No other debuts in the top 50.

Airplay:

While the singles chart is still stagnating and recovering from the holidays, radio is already moving on and priming us with some forthcoming new releases. The top 5 remains about the same as it has for a month (Coldplay's "Talk" is this weeks #1, having finally supplanted Madonna's "Hung Up" last week; Sugababes, The Pussycat Dolls, and Robbie Williams are still hanging around). The bottom half of the top 10 is much more interesting. Starsailor makes a strong debut in the top 50 a5 #6 with "This Time," out Jan. 23. Starsailor's biggest hit remains their 2003 release, "Silence is Easy." At #7, Will Young is up from #20 with "All Time Love," the beautiful second single from Keep On, out Jan. 16. Texas is at #9 with "Sleep," the third single from their recent album, which I believe will chart much better than their last release, "Can't Resist." At #10 is Richard Ashcroft's upcoming "Break the Night With Colour."

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