Sunday, November 25, 2007

UK Chart Notes

1. Once again holding off the tide of challengers, young Leona Lewis stays on top of the singles chart for a fifth week with "Bleeding Love." She now ties Mika's "Grace Kelly" for the second longest running #1. Rihanna's "Umbrella" is still way out in front with 10 weeks at the top. So where then are the Spice Girls? Read on...

2. Dance act T2 (feat. Jodie) lands at #2 with "Heartbroken." This sounds like the kind of song that would have been big in the late '90s or early '00s. Strange to hear it now, but it's not bad.

6. While last year's X Factor winner continues to rule the roost, 2005's winner, 23-year old Shayne Ward, continues to wear out his welcome, this week debuting at #6 with "Breathless," his 5th top 40 hit, and 4th to reach the top 10. Musically, it's nice enough, but lyrically, it's pretty silly. Something about having a baby with a girl so he can watch her create something. Why not get her a watercolor set instead? To think this beat the Spice Girls. Ouch.

9. This is a surprise, and good one. Girls Aloud's new album, Tangled Up (see review below) came out this week, but "Call the Shots" doesn't get an official release until next week, so its debut this week at #9 on downloads is a realy good showing.

11. Ouch! Let me say that again...ouch! Capping a career that saw them hit #1 nine times, and #2 with a 10th single, the Spice Girls finally reunited this year to tour and release their greatest hits. The release of a new single from them sound have been big. It should have been just as big (if not bigger really) than the reunion comeback of Take That, who've scored two #1 hits in the last year off that. But no, the love for the Spice Girls is gone, and they land their first single ever outside the top 2 all the way down....at #11 for "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)." Ouch.

24. Soulja Boy had a recent big US #1 hit with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," and this week the single moves into the UK top 40 at #24 on downloads. It's not officially out until December 17, so expect this to build over the next month.

Next week: Looks like it will be a 6th week at #1 for Leona. Sean Kingston, who had a big #1 earlier this year with "Beautiful Girls" will try to unseat her with "Me Love." Also out, new singles from The Editors ("Racing Rats"), Uniting Nations ("Do It Yourself") and the fantastic new Girls Aloud single, "Call the Shots."

No comments: