UK Singles Chart, 10/11/2008

1. So What - Pink

Fall, the season of great chart battles, has definitely arrived. This was a very competitive week, seeing the release of new singles from Pink, Oasis and the return of Boyzone. In the end, Pink is triumphant, scoring her third UK #1, first since "Just Like a Pill," the third single from her second album Missundaztood, hit #1 in September 2002. "So What" is quickly proving to be another career high water mark for the 29 year-old singer, having hit #1 recently also in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It's from her forthcoming fifth album Funhouse, out at the end of the month.

3. The Shock of the Lightning - Oasis

Trailing behind at #3 is British rock band Oasis. During the '90s, they ruled Britain, more or less as heir-apparent to the Beatles, being heavily influenced by the Fab Four, while also honing their own modern sound as head of the Britpop pack. Tomorrow they put out their seventh album, Dig Out Your Soul, which is already garnering positive reviews about them maintaining their "comeback" momentum from 2005's Don't Believe the Truth. "The Shock of the Lightning" delivers a chart shock this week by not hitting #1, and in doing so, becomes the first time that a first single from an Oasis album (other than their very first before they made it big) is not a #1 hit. "Some Might Say," "D'You What I Mean," "Go Let It Out," "The Hindu Times," and "Lyla" all made it to the top.

4. Girls - Sugababes

The Sugababes climb four spots to #4, still selling on downloads in advance of this single's physical release tomorrow. It's a strong contender for #1 next week.

5. Love You Anyway - Boyzone

Following in the footsteps of the tremendously successful comeback of Take That from 2 years ago, Irish boyband Boyzone have now also reunited to give it a go. Theirs is modeled more off the Spice Girls comeback attempt of last year, the reunion being centered around a tour and greatest hits collection. Didn't Boyzone already release a greatest hits collection? Of course, and this collection offers very little new besides this new single recorded for the ocasion. The boys have certainly fared a lot better than the Spice Girls on the singles chart, landing at #5 to maintain their perfect striking record of having every one of their now 17 singles land in the top 5 (Spice Girls saw their perfect record of top 2 hits shattered when "Headlines" peaked at an embarassing #11). While they never quite achieved the level of success of Take That, or their own successors Westlife, they did score a respectable six #1 hits between 1996 and 1999.

14. Angel in the Night - Basshunter

Despite hovering in the 20s on pre-release downloads, the fully released "Angel in the Night" fails to catapult Basshunter into the top 10, making his third single to miss out on the honor.

20. Love Shy (Thinking About You) - Platnum

Dance act Platnum made a name for themselves earlier this year, when they were featured on H Two O's "What's It Gonna Be," which spent 3 weeks at #2 in March. Now they're back with their own single, selling this week on downloads, out in full next week.

39. Kids - MGMT

Finally, a quick mention of MGMT, who score their third UK top 40 with "Kids."

Next week Sugababes will challenge Pink for the top spot, while new singles from Kaiser Chiefs and Platnum hope to land in the top 10.