Sunday, November 16, 2008

UK Singles Chart, 11/22/2008

1. Hero - The X Factor Finalists

It's a third week at #1 for The X Factor brood, now officially the biggest selling single of the year, surpassing Duffy's "Mercy." A fourth week at #1 is a possibility, although they may be potentially unseated by another X Factor-related product. More on that in a bit at #10.

2. Live Your Life - T.I. Featuring Rihanna

T.I. and Rihanna shoot up 37 spots to land at #2. While this may look like the sort of meteoric rise associated with first week sales from a physical release, this is still selling on early downloads, as the CD single isn't out until Nov. 24. This is a dramatically better showing than his last single, "Whatever You Like," which hit #47 last month. Both singles have recently been #1 in the US ("Live Your Life" is still). This is Rihanna's fourth appearance in the top 10 this year.

4. Human - The Killers

The Killers have this week's highest debut at #4 with "Human," the first single from their new album Day and Age that is out in 2 weeks. This is the band's fourth top 10 hit, the biggest being the first single from their last album, "When You Were Young," which hit #2.

5. The Boy Does Nothing - Alesha Dixon

Alesha Dixon rises three spots to just scrape into the top 5 with her mambo-inspired "The Boy Does Nothing." During the midweeks, this wasn't in the top 5--first it was Girls Aloud, then Katy Perry, so it's nice that come the weekend it pulled itself up. Great song.

10. Forgive Me - Leona Lewis

Second week on the chart and Leona Lewis's "Forgive Me" dives to #10. For those fearing Miss Lewis won't be around the chart this holiday season, never fear--for she already has a new single waiting in the wings. In fact, her newly recorded studio version of Snow Patrol's "Run" is out as a digital single tomorrow, and reportedly will get a physical release in December. Her performance of the song on The X Factor Saturday is sure to generate interest. It would be a really cool thing to see "Run" become a massive hit and unseat "Hero" next week. It's a long shot, but it could happen.

14. If She Knew - Lemar

Lemar, the former Face Academy contestant (yes, that other UK reality series that never had as much cache as Pop Idol or X Factor) misses the top 10 with "If She Knew," the first single from his fourth album. Frankly, the song is just okay, certainly no "If There's Any Justice" or even "It's Not That Easy," his last top 10 hit.

22. Rain on Your Parade - Duffy

Duffy's fourth top 40 hit debuts just one notch short of where her last single, "Stepping Stone," peaked. I'm hopeful this will be top 10 (top 5?) next weekend after it arrives in shops tomorrow.

24. Breakeven - The Script

After scoring a massive hit late in the summer with "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," the Script fail to make lightning strike twice with that single's follow-up, which rises 10 spots to #24 this week upon its physical release.

27. Chinese Democracy - Guns N Roses

It's been 13 years since Guns N Roses appeared on the UK singles chart. Their last was #9 single "Sympathy for the Devil" in 1995. They are now, after fits and starts, officially back, with their first album in 15 years, Chinese Democracy, finally getting a release later this month. This is the band's 17th UK top 40 hit. They've never had a #1, but they have had 12 top 10 hits including "Sweet Child O Mine" (#6), "You Could Be Mine" (#3), "November Rain" (#4), and "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (#2).

2 comments:

Myfizzypop said...

I'm surprised actually that I Stay In Love by Mariah didn't chart after her x factor performance last week, and of course Grace by William Young fell out the 40 which doesn't bode well for it's single release (though of course there has been no promo since his x factor performance). I do think run will be a stunner though and shoot right up the charts.

Cook In / Dine Out said...

It would be nice if Radio 1 would pay attention to Will. They playlisted "Switch it On" and "All Time Love," but nothing since. I noticed that iTunes in the UK didn't add the Leona deluxe edition today. Shouldn't it have? Doesn't seem like there was any way to download "Run" today.