UK Singles Chart, 6/27/2009

1. When Love Takes Over - David Guetta & Kelly Rowland

Nice to see dance music at #1 again in the UK isn't it? Especially when it's this good. French DJ David Guetta scored a major hit 3 years ago when he hit #3 with "Love Don't Let Me Go (Walking Away)." He followed it a year later with another top 10 hit, "Love Don't Let Me Go." Paired now with Kelly Rowland, the former member of super girlgroup Destiny's Child, Guetta scores his first #1 hit. Rowland's got to be happy about it as well. Although her solo career has seen more success in the UK than back home in the US, she hasn't hit #1 since being featured on Nelly's "Dilemma" 7 years ago. This is the second DJ/performer collaboration to hit #1 recently--Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden's "Bonkers" having topped the chart for 2 weeks last month. Another such matchup may be a #1 contender next week (more to follow).

5. Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo

It's third week in the top 10, Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down" climbs a spot to #5, making it her second top 5 hit after "The Way I Are" (w/Timbaland). Over the course of the last week, I've grown to actually quite like this song, and I'm glad to see it continue to climb. I'm hopeful in the US it will be a #1 hit.

8. Paparazzi - Lady GaGa

Lady GaGa looks ready to fight for a third #1 hit. Still a couple weeks away from a physical release and "Paparazzi" is already #8. "Poker Face," her last #1, crept around the top 40 for 9 weeks before hitting the top spot.

9. Said It All - Take That

After "Up All Night" petered out at #14, I was worried that Take That's Circus looked like it had already run out of steam. Thankfully, the third single turns things around a bit, becoming the group's 21st top 40 hit, and the 18th to make it to the top 10.

11. Battlefield - Jordin Sparks

Also ready to do battle for #1 so is Jordin Sparks, whose "Battlefield" is up 10 spots to #11 this week, one week ahead of its CD release. Among the three singles from her first album, only "No Air" was a top 10 hit, peaking at #3.

15. Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer - Freemasons Featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Here's that other DJ/performaner collaboration, the 10th top 40 hit for dance pop diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor. La Bex, as she is known affectionately by fans, brokeout huge early this decade when she hit #1 with Spiller of "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" and a string of top 10 hits including "Murder on the Dancefloor" and "Get Over You." Recently, however, her chart fortunes have dipped a bit, as only one single from her third album--"Catch You"--made it into the top 10 (and it was a crying shame "Me and My Imagination" wasn't a bigger hit, as I still adore that song). Freemasons are quite probably the most successful DJ act of this decade. While most remixers work in the shadows, their remixes actually become hits in their own right--even #1 hits like Beyonce & Shakira's "Beautiful Liar." Under their own name the highest they've charted was #8 in 2007 with their remake of Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited." Perhaps this will do better next week, maybe even #1.

17. Stone Cold Sober - Paloma Faith

With so many new female pop acts making their mark lately (Pixie Lott, Agnes, Little Boots, La Roux), it was inevitable that one with a great single wouldn't score so well on the chart. So Paloma Faith sees her pretty cool "Stone Cold Sober" miss the top 10 and settle at #17. Comparisons to Pixie Lott are pretty obvious: both are definitely trying to fill the void left by Amy Winehouse's lack of a follow-up album. Perhaps single #2 will fare better.

18. Hush Hush; Hush Hush - Nicole Scherzinger's Pussycat Dolls (Featuring Nicole Scherzinger)

Nicole Scherzinger, er The Pussycat Dolls, are really on a roll these days. Quickly following "Jai Ho," their second best-selling single after "Don't Cha," is "Hush Hush; Hush Hush." Originally just two "hushes," the single was revamped for the album's re-release, which included blending it with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" (as if it wasn't obvious enough that it was source inspiration). "Hush Hush x2" is up 7 spots to #18 this week and isn't due for physical release until July 13.

22. The Show - Lenka

Here's another new on the scene female pop act. Lenka is up 11 places to #22 with "The Show," her first top 40 hit. This song doesn't really do it for me. She sounds a lot like Feist.

36. 15 Minutes - The Yeah You's

Here's a new English band The Yeah You's, likely hoping they will hit the top 10 with this next week (it's out in shops today).

40. Heavy Cross - The Gossip

Finally The Gossip climb two spots to #40, giving them their second top 40 hit. It's a far cry from "Standing in Way of Control," which hit #7 in 2007. This song is pretty decent though, but not a major hit.

So next week should be interesting. Keri Hilson, Freemasons/La Bex, and La Roux all have new singles out hoping to unseat Guetta & Rowland. Should be exciting chart next week.