The first chart of the new year ushers in a new era of the U.K. singles chart. Until now, this chart has been governed by some pretty strict eligibility rules: only songs released as actual physical singles, singles could contain no more than three tracks and could not contain a track already issued as another single’s A-side, singles deleted by their record companies could chart for only two more weeks after deletion, singles could not chart after a year of release without re-release, etc.
Download counts were allowed to qualify starting in the second quarter last year, but had to be linked to singles available physically. Download sales were allowed to count for the week in advance of a physical release, so we had lots of examples of singles debuting lower during their first week of download sales, and then shooting up the chart in their second week when their sales total combined downloads and physical sales. It certainly made things interesting.
This week though, all those rules go out the door, as the chart disengages itself from all chart rules linked to physical singles. Starting this week, any track whether it be a single release, an album cut, a new hit, or an old favorite is eligible to appear on the chart. Clearly this is in response to the heavy decline in physical sales of singles and the steady increase in download sales. I forecast it will lead to a pretty quick disappearance of physical singles in Britain, which will basically mean they disappear for good, having already vanished in the U.S.
So what then did this new chart bring us first week out? Nothing too Earth shattering. Being as it is only the second week after Christmas, it looks like the post-Christmas download sales have something to do with a number of recent hits that re-enter the chart; something that might have happened anyway, even under the old rules. There are a number of previously deleted singles that do manage to re-enter the chart though, namely Snow Patrol, Gnarls Barkley, Nelly Furtado, and The Kooks. Also, an Eminem single that had been deemed ineligible gets its first week on the chart, although quite low, much lower than it would have debuted if these current rules had been in place a month ago.
1. A Moment Like This – Leona Lewis
No change at #1 as the X-Factor winner Leona Lewis spends a third week at the top with her Kelly Clarkson remake.
2. Proper Education – Eric Prydz vs. Pink Floyd
Eric Prydz scored five weeks at #1 in 2004 with his remake of Steve Winwood’s “Valerie,” recast as “Call on Me,” which was one of the year’s trendy House remakes with looped-vocals of short snippet of the song. Here he does the same thing, this time with Pink Floyd’s 1979 classic, “Another Brick in the Wall,” recast as “Proper Education.” It’s a great dance track, and another big hit for Prydz; but for The X-Factor, he’d have had a #1.
4. Window on the Skies – U2
Last time out they hit #2 a few months ago with “The Saints Are Coming,” which also featured popular rock band Green Day. “Window on the Skies” is the other new track included on their recent greatest hits set. It’s also this weeks #1 song on the U.K. airplay chart.
9. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
This is perhaps the most dramatic song to take advantage of the new chart rules. “Chasing Cars” was a huge hit last summer, managing the unusual feat of slowly climbing to its peak position of #6 in its eighth week. After hanging around the chart for another 8 weeks it was deleted to clear the way for Snow Patrol’s next single, “Set the Fire to the Third Bar.” A combination of post-Christmas downloads and the new rules see the single return to the top 10 at #9, an exciting re-entry this week.
22. Too Little, Too Late – Jojo
Jojo debuts at #22 this week with “Too Little, Too Late,” her second U.K. top 40 hit. Her first was 3 years ago, the #2 hit “Leave (Get Out).” The physical single is out tomorrow, with the album following later in the month.
25. Sorry’s Not Good Enough – McFly
This is interesting only because it’s like someone put the breaks on. This tumbled from #3 to #20 last week, but manages to fall only five more spots this week. Interesting.
30. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
A triumphant re-entry for Gnarls Barkley’s massive hit “Crazy,” the #1 single of 2006 in the U.K. It had its chart fortunes cut short though when the single was deleted in June though, therefore vanishing after it’s 11th week after falling only to #5. Now it’s back.
31. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean)
Another rebound, but not too much of a shock here, as it was in the top 40 just a few weeks ago. The single spent 5 weeks at #1 last summer and has been charting ever since, eclipsing the sales of her recent follow-up release, “Illegal.”
32. You Don’t Know – Eminem
Here’s a good story. This single was released about a month ago, but was deemed chart ineligible (broke one of the above rules, not sure which one), but with those rules now gone, Eminem debuts at #32 with his 15th top 40 hit. This actually ruins his perfect record of top 10s though, certainly something that wouldn’t have happened had this single been allowed to chart when it released.
33. Monster – The Automatic
Here’s a surprising downloads re-entry. This was The Automatic’s biggest hit ever, peaking last summer at #4. Current single “Raoul,” actually a re-release of their first single, gets its physical release tomorrow.
37. Breaking Free - Cast of High School Musical (Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens)
Re-entry for the Cast of High School Musical, specifically Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. Not as shocking as some of the other re-entries, as this #9 hit had been in the top 40 just a few weeks ago. Vanessa is set to release her first solo single, “Come Back to Me” in the U.K. later this month.
38. Maneater – Nelly Furtado
Re-entry of a formerly deleted single, charting now on the new downloads rules. A big #1 hit for Nelly Furtado last summer.
39. She Moves in Her Own Way – The Kooks
This is a re-entry, which had left the chart because the CD was deleted, but based on downloads, it’s back. This was a big hit last summer, peaking at #7.
40. You Know I’m No Good – Amy Winehouse (featuring Ghostface Killah)
New entry for Amy Winehouse with “You Know I’m No Good.” The track features rapper Ghostface Killah, and actually appears on his album, More Fish. Amy scored the hit of her career in October with “Rehab,” which peaked at #7, becoming her first top 10 hit. Pretty good song, expect it to rise next week.
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