007 Chart Commentary

Posted June 1, 201015 yr

Dizzee Rascal gets the new #1 with Dirtee Disco

UK grime rapper Dylan Kwabena Mills first came to prominence in 2003 with debut album Boy In Da Corner, along with several minor to mid hit singles and critical acclaim. His commercial breakthrough came in 2008 when Dance Wiv Me hit #1 alongside Calvin Harris, followed by #1s Bonkers (with Arman Van Helden) and Holiday (also with Calvin Harris) in 2009. These 3 #1s and #10 single Dirtee Cash are featured on his hit album Tongue n Cheek. New single Dirtee Disco which becomes his fourth will also appear on the deluxe edition of said album and samples the 1972 Staple Singers track I’ll Take You There. Dizzee takes this to the top!

Iyaz – Solo enters at #3

The battle for #1 this week was between Dizzee, BoB and this track from Iyaz, which comes in at #3. Solo is the second single from Virgin Island born singer Keidran Jones, better known by his stage name of Iyaz. Discovered by Sean Kingston last year through MySpace, Iyaz scored a UK #1 with his debut Replay and now #3 with the second single Solo. On his last single he complained about his iPod being stuck on replay, probably the reason that he is now solo!

Eminem – Not Afraid enters at #5

US rapper Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) makes a return to the upper reaches of the UK charts to show us that he’s not afraid! Slim Shady made his debut in 1999 when the Slim Shady LP spawned his first hit single My Name Is which hit #2 amidst controversy. The controversy, headlines and hits continued until 2005 when he announced that he was taking a break. Then in 2009, Eminem returned with the album Relapse and top 5 hits Crack A Bottle and We Made You, as well as #12 hit Beautiful. In at #5, Not Afraid is now Eminem’s 22nd UK top 40 hit so far, only 2 have missed the top 10.

N-Dubz feat Bodyrox – We Dance On enters at #6

This week hip hop collective group N-Dubz notch up a seventh UK top 40 hit as new single We Dance On debuts at #6, making it their second highest charting. This comes just a few weeks after Say It’s Over was a #20 hit for the group as the third from their Against All Odds album. We Dance On is taken from the soundtrack to the film Street Dance and featured dance house music DJ Bodyrox whose biggest hit Yeah Yeah came in 2006.

K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag enters at #16

Now for the next football related song to enter the UK charts, step forward Somalian rapper / singer K’Naan with Wavin’ Flag. K’Naan appeared alongside Keane on their latest single Stop For A Minute which got to #40 a fortnight ago, and another of their album tracks. The song Wavin’ Flag has been chosen as Coca Cola’s promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also featured in the video game NBA 2K10. The song has been a massive hit in Switzerland and in Canada, where a Haiti charity version also became a hit. Wavin’ Flag is now a UK top 20 hit as it enters at #16.

Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug climbs to #18

US singer Ke$ha notches up a third top 20 hit of her own to be lifted from her debut album Animal. This follows top 5 debut single Tik Tok which took 9 weeks to peak at #4 late last year, and #11 single Blah Blah Blah alongside 3 Oh 3.

Danielle Hope – Over The Rainbow enters at #29

In March this year, a new BBC series started fronted by Andrew Lloyd Webber to find the new Dorothy for a new Wizard Of Oz stage production. The eventual winner of the series entitled Over The Rainbow was Danielle Hope, whose rendition of the title song enters inside the top 30 at #29 this week. The song Over The Rainbow was originally sung by Judy Garland for the original 1939 film Oz, and covered by many others since including Katie Melua/Eva Cassidy, Cliff Richard and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet re-enteres at #38

It’s amazing what a high profile TV show appearance can do for you! Canadian singer Michael Buble finds many of his tracks regaining popularity this week, following his Audience With programe last weekend. Never really a singles artist but more of an album seller, Haven’t Met You Yet peaked at #4 and has proven to be a huge hit for Mr Bubble. This comes back at #38, along with Home, Feeling Good, Cry Me A River and Everything outside the top 40 also.

Pendulum top the albums chart with Immersion

Pendulum have the UK’s very first drum & bass album chart topper this week. Topping the UK album charts for the first time with their third studio album Immersion, following on from #4 single Watercolour. Hot on their heels at #2 is the resurgence of Michael Buble with Crazy Love as it leaps 19-2. Glee Cast get their fourth album chart entry of the year entitled The Music vol 3 – Showstoppers, in at #3. In at #4 is Katie Melua with her forth studio album entitled The House, marking a bit more of a dancier sound for her. Other new entries come from Stornoway (named after a lovely Scottish island), Billy Joel (reissued hits compilation) and flops from Agnes, Vera Lynn and Elvis.

The opinionated bit … according to 007

I was rather hoping we’d see an end to all this urban drivel at the top of the charts, alas Dizzee gets his fourth rubbish chart topper (no idea how he’s managed that)! On saying that I don’t mind the new Iyaz song, not as good as Replay but still listenable. Also listenable but not great is Eminem’s new song, but I do get the feeling that we’ve heard it all before. Same also can be said for N-Dubz who dish out another pile of rubbish which even Bodyrox can’t save from me not liking! I’m not a big fan of K’Naan’s Waving Flag, Ke$ha’s drivel or of Danielle Hope’s Over The Rainbow … for completely different reasons. To end on a positive note … HURTS new song is very good and Better Than Love surely deserved to make top 40 at least.