UK Chart Notes

• It's a third straight week at #1 for Leona Lewis and "Bleeding Love." The track also finally reaches #1 on the UK airplay chart, having been beaten the last couple of weeks by Sugababes and Take That. Even in its third week, the single is still raking in 6-digit sales, about 112,000 copies this week. When you consider that only one other #1 single this year managed to sell in the 6-digits range in one week, and Leona's now done it 3 weeks in a row, it's really quite something. With the added sales, "Bleeding Love" is now officially the biggest selling single of the year in Britain. All this bodes well for Leona's debut album, Spirit, which hits shelves in UK music stores today (I'm listening to it right now in fact--expect a review soon).
• Despite its good fortune, this may be "Bleeding Love's" last week at #1, as a serious challenger emerges to next weekend's chart: Kylie Minogue. After an almost 3-year chart absence due to her battle with breast cancer, Kylie has made a triumphant return with "2 Hearts," the first single from her 10th album, X, out in 2 weeks. "2 Hearts" is this week's highest debut at #12 on digital sales, and with the album's physical single out today, expect it to be a serious contender for #1 next weekend. "2 Hearts" gives Kylie the significant milestone of now having had 40 top 40 hits in the UK chart, a career that spans nearly 20 years back to her first single, "I Should Be So Lucky," a #1 hit in early 1988. If "2 Hearts" does reach #1, it will be her eighth chart topper.
• Some of the biggest UK acts from the '90s have reunited lately to stage hyped up comebacks. First there was All Saints, who sadly flopped, and Take That, who have been surprisingly resilient. These acts were huge in their day, but the real phenomenon from that period was the Spice Girls, who after a 7-year wait, have finally released their Greatest Hits collection and are using the occasion to reunite for a massive world tour. First single "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" was released digitally this week, and debuts at #20. Not shabby for a single not due in shops until Nov. 19, although maybe a bit disappointing considering their cache. What is surprising is the airplay for this single, which had been rising, but makes a sudden downturn from #23 to #28. By comparison, Kylie's "2 Hearts" has been in the airplay top 10 for several weeks now, up to #3 this week. Still, I wouldn't count the girls out until this plays out fully. Come Nov. 25th, it is still possible the group will have scored its 10th #1 hit.
• Back to the top 10, the biggest new single there is the latest release for UK pop/R&B sensation Craig David, who drives up 12 places to #7 upon physical release with "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)." This is one of those hate it or love it singles, depending on whether you feel his liberal use of David Bowie's classic "Let's Dance" is inspired or travesty. Count me in the former, as this is one of the most fun singles he's ever done. This is David's 11th top 10 hit, 13th if you count his two Artful Dodger appearances. The parent album Trust Me, Craig David's 4th, is out Nov. 20.
• Also making a splash in the top 10 this week is American R&B sensation Alicia Keys, who's third album, As I Am, is out next week in the UK (this week in the US). "No More" is her latest single, rising up to #9 this week. This is only her second UK top 10 as a soloist, her first being her 2001 debut, "Fallin'." She has appeared in the top 10 two other times with other artists, on Eve's "Gangsta Lovin'" in 2002 and Usher's 2004 hit "My Boo."
• Kanye West hit #1 earlier this year with "Stronger," but misses the mark quite a bit with its follow-up, "The Good Life," which rises 19 spots to #23. This follows the pattern set with his last album's singles. After "Gold Digger" became a big #2 hit in 2005, its follow-up, "Heard 'Em Say (with Adam Levine)" only made it to #22.
• Amy Winehouse makes a surprise top 40 debut at #35 with "Valerie." Wait--wasn't that already a big hit? Isn't it still on the chart at #4? The version of "Valerie" at #35 is a live version that first appeared as a B-side on "Back to Black" and now appears on second disc of rarities with the Back to Black deluxe album re-release that just came out. Unlike the big hit version, which is credited to Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, this version is all Amy.
• Last but not least at #40 is "Taking Chances," the 24th top 40 hit from French-Canadian sensation Celine Dion, and first since she hit #27 in 2003 with "One Heart/I Drove All Night." Her biggest UK hit remains "Think Twice," which spent 7 weeks at #1 in early 1995. At only #40 though, this is decidedly a flop.
• Next week Kylie will duke it out with Leona for #1, Alicia Keys will hope for the top 5 upon physical release, and new singles from Bloc Party (Flux), Fergie (Clumsy/Fergalicious), Hard-Fi (Can't Get Along Without You), and Rihanna (Hate that I Love You) will hope for the top 10.