UK Chart Analysis, 8/11/2007

1. The Way I Are - Timbaland Featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.

Timbaland spends a second week at #1 in Britain with "The Way I Are." He is the first artist so far to have more than one #1 hit this year, his first, "Give it to Me" with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado having come in April. This is actually a better song. Check out the UK radio version, which has a fun finish.

2. Foundations - Kate Nash

Kate Nash spends a fifth week at #2 without any weeks at the top. I can't recall a recent song having done so. Don't feel sorry for her though--#2 ain't bad.

3. Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie

Fergie climbs back up a spot to #3. The single peaked at #2 three weeks ago, making it her biggest UK hit, followed by "London Bridge" (#3) and "Glamorous" (#6) ("Fergalicious" has not had a UK release). In the US this song is now spending its fifth week atop the Top 40 airplay chart, making it her biggest hit yet at radio.

4. Umbrella - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

It's on its way down now, but I can't not take note of the amazing accomplishment this single has been in the UK this summer. Before being dethroned by Timbaland, "Umbrella" spent 10 consecutive weeks at #1, making it the 6th longest running #1 single of all time (a three-way tie with Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and "Cara Mia" by David Whitfield). That beats the 9 week stay at the top last year for Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" to make it the decade's longest-running #1, longest in fact since 1994's "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet, which spent 15 weeks at the top.

5. With Every Heartbeat - Robyn

I wrote about Robyn a few days about, but here she is with her biggest UK single ever. The only thing that comes close is "Show Me Love," also her biggest US hit, which made #8 in the UK back in the magical spring of 1998 (magical because that was when I was there, duh). #1 next week? A possibility for sure.

7. Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner

A solid placement for newcomer Brit singer/songwriter Newton Faulkner. Great song too. Perhaps he's this year's James Morrison (who was last year's James Blunt).

10. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

The recent US #1 now becomes a UK top 10 hit. Nice song, although I'm afraid it's getting old.

11. Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) - Mika

Interesting. This single peaked last week at #9 despite having been #1 on the airplay chart for the last few weeks. Mika seems to be another artist who's first single sells buckets but whose subsequent singles--despite good airplay support--fail to live up. Same thing happened with James Blunt and the Scissor Sisters latest album.

17. Green Light - Beyonce

I wrote about this on my blog earlier too. Love it. #17 is a bit disappointing though. Perhaps it could climb? I hear there's no physical release planned, so maybe not.

21. Gotta Work - Amerie

Explosive follow-up to top 10 hit "Take Control." Too bad it wasn't top 10 too, as I like this song.

24. Spider Pig - Hans Zimmer

This has to be one of the most bizarre (and shortest) UK top 40 singles ever. It's taken from the soundtrack to The Simpsons Movie, and consists of a choir singing the "Spider Pig" song to the tune of the Spider-Man theme that Homer sings in the movie.

37. Tears Dry on Their Own - Amy Winehouse

This doesn't get a physical release until next week and it's #1 on the UK airplay chart this week, so Amy's probably hoping it will beat the #25 peak of her last single, "Back to Black." If she's paying attention that is.