UK Singles Chart, December 5, 2009

1. The Official BBC Children in Need Medley - Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band
2. You Are Not Alone - The X Factor Finalists

One novelty charity record replaces another at the top of the UK singles chart this week. Leading the pack is this year's Children in Need single, a medley of popular songs performed by popular, mostly British, children's television characters (familiar faces included Paddington Bear, Bob the Builder, Scooby Doo and the Teletubbies, among many many others). The medley is of The Jackson's "Can You Feel It," Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," AR Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls' "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)," Chumbwamba's "Tubthumping," Take That's "Never Forget," The Beatles' "Hey Jude," and Elbow's "One Day Like This." It's an unusual mix of songs, that doesn't quite go together, but the video is rather fun.

This is the first Children in Need single to top the chart since Girls Aloud's "I'll Stand By You" in 2004. The last couple of years in particular the annual single had lost its luster, as the Spice Girls' "Headlines" and McFly's "Do Ya" failed to reach the top 10. Credit goes comedian and Executive Producer Peter Kay, who's become quite the charity single maestro, being responsible for such big ones as Tony Christie's "(Is This The Way to )Amarillo," a Comic Relief single that was the biggest-selling single of 2005, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles" with the Proclaimers and Andy Pipkin," also a major #1 hit, and last year's reality TV singing competition spoof, "The Winner's Song."

Also worth noting is that this is the 7th week in a row that the #1 single has sold over 100,000 copies (, a stretch of 100K+ sellers unseen since early 2002, when singles from Enrique Iglesias, Westlife, Will Young and Gareth Gates. Finally, this is the first #1 hit since early October that didn't reach #1 after being performed on The X Factor.

5. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa

Lady GaGa climbs three spots scoring her fourth top 5 hit.

6. Russian Roulette - Rihanna

Rihanna earns her 11th top 10 hit with "Russian Roulette," the first single from her fourth album Rated R. This is actually a bit low for her, as the first singles from her previous three albums all landed at #1 or #2. The song's dark themes have no doubt made it less commercial than her sunny previous hits--songs like "Umbrella" and "S.O.S." However, she performed this on The X Factor this weekend, which could boost the single next week, at least into the top 5.

7. Tik Tok - Ke$ha

Ke$ha holds steady this week on downloads but is in stores tomorrow. How high will it go next week? Could it be a #1? I would think a second week at #1 for Peter Kay would be more likely, but anything is possible.

9. Wild Horses - Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle--SuBo as she's sometimes referred to--has her first top 10 this week. Her album, I Dreamed a Dream, is an international smash hit, topping the UK albums chart this week with over 400,000 copies sold (in the US, it's expected to outsell Eminem's 600,000 bow with Relapse in May). "Wild Horses" is a lovely song, good enough to make me interested in what else her album holds.

16. Cry Me Out - Pixie Lott

Pixie Lott climbs four notches to #16 with her third single, "Cry Me Out." No physical release for this one--an odd choice, given that her last two singles were both #1s. Seems to indicate a lack of confidence.

19. I Want to Know What Love Is - Mariah Carey

This did a big belly flop in the US, but at least makes the top 20 in the UK. It's the first top 40 hit for Carey from her latest album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which didn't get released in the UK until this week, despite coming out in late September or early October most other places. I don't think "Obsessed," was officially released in the UK, as it peaked at #52. Bought on imports maybe?

30. Telephone - Lady GaGa feat. Beyonce

Lady GaGa's next single, "Telephone," charts early due to being available as a download from The Fame Monster. It's her 7th top 40 hit.

37. I Dreamed a Dream - Susan Boyle

And finally, Susan Boyle charts with a second track, her version of "I Dreamed a Dream," the song she sang on Britain's Got Talent that made her famous.