1. This Ain't a Love Song - Scouting for Girls
Finally some excitement on the UK singles chart! Leading the pack this week is the new single from British rock band Scouting for Girls, who score their first #1 hit with "This Ain't a Love Song," the upbeat first single from their forthcoming second album. Their eponymous debut scored three top 10 hits--"She's So Lovely," "Heartbeat" and "Elvis Ain't Dead," which, although none peaked higher than #7, managed to stick around for quite a long time, as well as garner a lot of radio play. With none of those making an instant big impression, but working together to creating a lasting one, it's no surprise the band is out the gate so strong this time, after a year-and-a-half hiatus. It's been quite a while since a British rock band appeared at the top of the singles chart--almost 2 years in fact--the last single to do so being Coldplay's "Viva la Vida," which was #1 in June 2008. This is a great song, although it's introduction sounds suspiciously like the beginning of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know." Listen side by side--they are VERY close. Probably the fact that both are produced by Andy Green has something to do with it.
3. She Said - Plan B
With Duffy and Amy Winehouse on hiatus at present, the recent British pop revival of '60s soul has been threatened with extinction. In walks with Plan B with the quite thrilling single "She Said." It the second single from the rapper's album The Defamation of Strickland Banks, a concept album about a soul singer accused of a crime and sent to prison (it's released April 12). It's his biggest hit, beating the #9 peak of his last single, "Stay Too Long." Song a song than a rap, it's got a great horns-drenched chorus. I'm definitely intrigued by the album now.
4. History Makers - Delirious?
When was the last time a Christian rock single was a big hit in Britain? Like many things these days, this started as a Facebook fad--get a single from Delirious?, a well-known English Christian band that had a handful of top 20 singles in the late 90, onto the charts for Easter. Their song "History Maker" was the chosen one, released last week as a download in both studio and live versions (hence "History Makers" plural for the title). Not a bad song actually--goes along nicely with the one from Scouting for Girls.
8. OMG - Usher feat. Will.I.Am
It's been a struggle getting Usher's latest album Raymond v. Raymond to market. Promotional singles have been coming out from this for months, but nothing's seemed to stick. "Papers," a song about his divorce, hit the US top 40 but just barely, as well as its follow-up "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)." Neither were released in Britain, perhaps for the best, for it paves the way for "OMG" to take off on its own right. It's a great single, with a clubby electronic feel we haven't heard from Usher before (courtesy of Black Eyed Peas producer extraordinaire Will.I.Am).
16. Carry Out - Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake
The Timbo brothers climb 13 spots to #16 this week with "Carry Out," their latest collaboration. This is the third UK top 20 hit from Timbaland's Shock Value 3. I've actually never been into this single that much (its release was reversed in the US with the Katy Perry single "If We Ever Meet Again," which I like better). Justin Timberlake seems content to just appear on other people's singles these days, having not released a proper single off an album of his own in nearly 3 years now. It's working for him, hitting #1 with Madonna and top 10 with T.I. and Ciara. Still, he's overdue for a new long-player, but as far as I've heard, nothing's in the works.
27. Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast
28. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Who is still buying these? Apparently a lot of people, as they've stuck around the chart all year.
30. Memories - David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi
David Guetta is up 8 this week with "Memories," the fourth single from One Love, who last single "One Love (feat. Estelle)" missed the top 40 after the album's first two singles--"When Love Takes Over" and "Sexy Bitch (Chick)"--were #1s. This gets a digital single release tomorrow, so it could climb a bit.
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Next week, Inna's "Hot" gets a physical release, and Joshua Radin's debut single "I'd Rather Be With You" comes out, following its rather notable airplay build up.
2 comments:
i am quite pleased about SFG at number one, it's a nice tune :) And ditto Plan B having some success, i'm ok with that too. The "featuring JT" single just makes me want a JT solo album. I remember reading somewhere that he thought it took up so much effort that he was happy just to appear on other people's tracks for now :/
Yes, I read that too. I might have even said something about it at some point.
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