UK Chart Analysis, 6/10/2006

Sandi Thom climbs to the top ending Gnarls Barkley's amazing 9-week run at #1, while Orson's debut disc tops the albums chart. Click below for more details.



UK Singles:

1. I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair) - Sandi Thom

Last week I wrote about how Sandi launched herself on the internet, so I won't bore you with those details now. The singer tops the chart with her debut, "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker." She climbs up a notch in her third week, ending Gnarls Barkley's run at #1 after 9 weeks at the top. Barkley's "Crazy" was deleted by record companies, and thus can remain on the chart for only 1 more week.

3. Is It Any Wonder? - Keane

My prediction was that these guys would be the ones to end "Crazy's" run at the top, but instead have to settle in at #3, matching the peak of their debut single, "Somewhere Only We Know." "Is It Any Wonder?" is the first single from their forthcoming Under the Iron Sea, out in 1 week and 1 day.

5. Who Knew - Pink

Pink scores her 7th top 5 hit with "Who Knew," the second release from I'm Not Dead, which manages to chart just 1 place lower than her previous, "Stupid Girls." By hitting the top 5, "Who Knew" bests the performance of second singles from her last 2 albums--"God Is A DJ" hit #11 and "Don't Let Me Get Me" hit #6.

6. All Over Again - Ronan Keating Featuring Kate Rusby

Ronan Keating scores his 14th top 10 hit this week with "All Over Again," a sappy by-the-numbers ballad to join all the others he's put out. Thank god he hasn't tortured us yet with his remake of Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," which was the first single chosen for some countries. At #6, "All Over Again" does better than the first single from his last album, "Lost For Words," which gave him a career low peak of #9. I don't know who Kate Rusby is, but she can't be that interesting if she's singing with Ronan. I liked Ronan at one time--still love "Lovin' Each Day"--but he's gotten so boring now.

7. Faster Kill Pussycat - Oakenfold Featuring Brittany Murphy

Oakenfold, the performance name of DJ Paul Oakenfold, had a huge dance hit in 2002 with "Starry Eyed Surprise," which hit #6 in August of that year. He's back now with actress Brittany Murphy (Clueless, Uptown Girls) and has another hit on his hands with the sultry "Faster Kill Pussycat," which is up from its downloads-only debut last week at #37.

8. Maneater - Nelly Furtado

Speaking of downloads, Nelly Furtado scores a massive debut on downloads alone this week with "Maneater," in all the way up at #8. In doing so, the track has already out-charted all 3 singles from her last album, and has a strong shot of being #1 next week. The folksy-pop sound of her last 2 albums has been replaced with a strong urban-pop sound, featuring tracks produced (and even guest starring) Timbaland.

11. (Is This The Way To) The World Cup - Tony Christie
19. Stan's World Cup Song - Stan Boardman
38. World at Your Feet - Embrace

World Cup fever is here, and the inevitable batch of cheezy tie-in songs will assault the charts over the next few weeks. First impact is here with Tony Christie milking last year's surprise novelty hit for all its worth with a World Cup sendup of the same song (Is This The Way to Amarillo). Gag. At least Embrace's song is a respectable original track that can stand on its own merits, charting this week at #38 on downloads.

22. And It Feels Like - Leann Rimes

Feel's like what Leann? Certainly not another hit like "How Do I Live."

23. Monster - Automatic

A downloads debut for the new rock band, sure to vault top 10 next week.

30. You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson

That's right Michael, I'm not alone. But you really should be.

37. Love Sensation '06 - Loleatta Holloway

I thought this would do better. Oh well, such is life.

40. Trouble Sleeping - Corinne Bailey Rae

Now here's a real disappointing debut. I had to look up this track's release date again, just to be sure this wasn't a downloads-only debut. Nope. This is its official full week of physical sales debut. Her last single, "Put Your Records On," was a massive #2 hit that spent more than a month at #1 on the airplay chart and propelled her debut album to #1. Follow-up "Trouble Sleeping" limps onto the top 40 at #40. Ouch!