UK Singles Chart, 4/26/2008

1. 4 Minutes - Madonna and Justin Timberlake

After bouncing around the top 10 for the last few weeks, Madonna defies the odds, bounding up to #1 with "4 Minutes." This despite the fact that last week the physical release still wasn't available--this was a climb based only on the download, which had already been out a few weeks. Bizarre, but cool. "4 Minutes" gives Madonna her 13th UK #1, edging ahead of her 12 U.S. #1s. It's her first since "Sorry" spent a week at the top in February 2006. It's also Justin Timberlake's third #1, following his appearance last year on Timbaland's "Give it To Me" and his 2006 #1, "Sexyback." Hard Candy is out next week.

5. Cry for You - September

September scores a top 5 upon its physical release with the great dance track, "Cry for You." It's the third top 5 hit this year from the Hard2Beat dance label, who scored #1 with Basshunter's "Now You're Gone" and #2 with H two O's "What's It Gonna Be." Personally, I like this track better than both of this, but competition at the top is really tight right now, with Madonna, Estelle, Sam Sparro and Flo Rida refusing to give up the top 4 this week.

6. Love in This Club - Usher Featuring Young Jeezy

Usher scores his 12th top 10 hit this week with "Love in This Club," moving up 8 spots to #6. Usher had his first UK #1 10 years ago with "You Make Me Wanna..."

9. The Age of the Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets

Arctic Monkey Alex Turner's side project--along with Miles Kane of the Rascals--lands its first single in the top 10 this week. The album, of the same title, will surely top the UK albums chart this week. This is Alex's 6th top 10 hit, if you count his five with the 'Monkeys. The Rascals have never had a top 40 hit. Their debut album is actually due out in June. Wonder whether Kane will spend more time promoting that or this. Seems like there's more $$$ to be made here. But how dare I suggest $ would be the motivating factor.

15. Break the Ice - Britney Spears

Britney makes a poor showing at #15 with "Break the Ice." This is only her third single to miss the top 10, and her lowest-charting single so far, falling just below the #12 peak of "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" and the #13 peak of "I Love Rock & Roll." To be honest, "Break the Ice" is a far better single than either of those two duds, so it's too bad it couldn't place higher. Maybe next week.

25. Happiness - Goldfrapp

Also falling a bit short is Goldfrapp, with their second Seventh Tree single, "Happiness." This is more akin to a typical Goldfrapp single than their previous, "A&E," yet that it misses the top 20 is a shame. The band had 3 top 20 hits from their last album, including top 5 hit "Ooh La La."

35. Time to Pretend - MGMT

This came out a few weeks ago, but after falling off the chart, MGMT rebounds to score their first top 40 hit this week with "Time to Pretend," one of the best songs from their debut album, Oracular Spectacular.