UK Singles Chart, 7/26/2008

1. Dance Wiv Me - Dizzee Rascal Featuring Calvin Harris & Chrome

Dizzee Rascal remains on top of the chart for a third week, ending the recent rather rapid turnover at the top of the chart. Earlier this year, the first four #1 hits of 2008 each spent 4 or more weeks at the top, a spell that was broken by The Ting Tings' "That's Not My Name," which spent a sole week in pole position. The four following #1s each spent just 1 or 2 weeks at the summit. Conventional wisdom would have said this single would have followed suit, to have been knocked from #1 by this week's #2...

2. One for the Radio - McFly

...But that wasn't to be. McFly, Britain's poppier answer to Blink-182 and Good Charlotte, have had seven #1 hits this decade--second only to the 10 #1s scored by Westlife. Despite the fact that McFly's #1s have a tendency to plummet from #1 like stones, at least they reach the summit. "One for the Radio" is the first single from the group's forthcoming fourth album, Radio:Active, and by missing #1 (it surely won't rise to the top next week), becomes their first lead single from an album not to hit the top spot. Oh, and despite the title, the single is only #23 on the airplay chart, which is actually rather good for them (they never get airplay).

3. All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Kid Rock scores his biggest ever UK hit with "All Summer Long," charging up to #3 upon its physical release this week. His previous best was "American Bad Ass," which hit #25. Unlike McFly, this track is one for the radio (it's #7 on the UK airplay chart), and it really does sound great while headed to the beach (or so I'd wager, as I haven't yet headed to the beach this summer).

7. Give It 2 Me - Madonna

Jumping up 10 spots upon its physical release, Madonna scores her 62nd UK top 10 with "Give It 2 Me." Go Madonna! Okay, with the celebration aside, let's talk about why this is actually a very disappointing chart performance. First, this ties "Get Together" as the lowest Madonna has charted with a follow-up to a #1 hit. All others were top 5 (many were even #1s themselves). Second, the is the lowest the second single from a Madonna album has charted since "Take a Bow" missed the top 10 in 1994. Even "Hollywood," the second single from widely derided American Life, hit #2.

Radio in general for this and Hard Candy's last single, "4 Minutes," has been rather tepid for Madonna. "4 Minutes," despite being #1 for 4 weeks, never hit #1 on the airplay chart, and "Give It 2 Me" peaked at #8 a couple of weeks ago. In contrast, "Hung Up" spent 8 weeks at #1 and its follow-up, "Sorry," spent 5 weeks at the radio summit--both were #1 on the sales chart.

Let's hope this is a fluke and not a downward trend, as Madonna has a great third single waiting in the wings in "Miles Away."

9. Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings score their second top 10 hit with "Shut Up and Let Me Go," the third single from their debut album, We Started Nothing. It's fully released today, making it a top contender to unseat Dizzee Rascal for #1 next weekend. Their last single, "That's Not My Name," is still selling strong, down one spot to #15 this week.

34. About You Now - Sugababes

Sugababes make a surprise return to the top 40 with their former #1 "About You Now." The sales go not to the single version but a Radio 1 Live Lounge acoustic recording, recently featured on the TV show Hollyoaks.