Matt Cardle – When We Collide is the xmas #1 for 2010

Just in case anyone has been living under a rock for the past week or so, Matt Cardle was crowned winner of ITV’s X-Factor for 2010! As his winner’s single, he has covered the Biffy Clyro track Many Of Horror and changed the name to When We Collide. Despite many campaigns to “beat the X-Factor” and “stick two fingers up to Simon Cowell” Matt has emerged victorious, unlike last year when Rage Against The Machine beat Joe McElderry (only for Joe to get his #1 the following week). The original Many Of Horror was a #20 hit for Scottish band Biffy Clyro earlier this year and re-enters at #8 this week.

 

Rihanna – What's My Name rises to #2 and Unfaithful re-enters at #31

Without a doubt this is the week of Rihanna as she is now featured on no less than 5 of this week’s top 40 singles. Leading the way is What’s My Name which features Drake, following an X-Factor performance the track rises 2 places to become xmas #2. Also following an X-Factor duet, her 2006 #2 hit Unfaithful re-enters at #31. In addition, her Eminem duet Love The Way You Lie stays on the top 40 for half a year and is well ahead as the year’s biggest seller despite peaking at … you’ve guessed it #2! The David Guetta track Who’s That Chick drops to #15 whilst Only Girl (In The World) drops to #9.

 

Trashmen – Surfin' Bird enters at #3

Now for something totally different sounding, we have Surfin’ Bird by the Trashmen in at #3 this week. The Trashmen are a rock & roll band from Minneapolis first formed in 1962, with Surfin’ Bird providing the band with a #4 hit over there when originally released. Last year, the animated TV programme Family Guy used the track and it made #50 in the UK. Now a Facebook group has been set up with the aim to get this track to #1 and beat Matt, however it has fallen short by quite some way in the end.

 

John Cage – 4' 33" enters at #21

John Cage was an American music composer, philosopher, poet, mycologist and mushroom collector who was born in 1912, and died in 1992. One of Cage’s many compositions included a piece entitled 4’33” in 1952, essentially comprising of silence, or more specifically … the sound of the surrounding atmosphere. This year, a Facebook group was set up to get this track to xmas #1 and beat the X-Factor, meaning that people would rather buy silence than another predictable cover. This has clearly not been the case as the track enters at #21 and will likely be gone very quickly as the novelty wares off. However the proceeds of this do go to 5 different charities so there are some benefits.

 

Tinie Tempah feat Kelly Rowland – Invincible enters at #32

Rapper Tinie Tempah scores his fourth hit of the year, fifth if you include the Swedish House Mafia track Miami 2 Ibiza. Invincible enters at #32 and features additional vocals from ex-Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland. This follows #1 debut Pass Out, #2 follow up Frisky, #1 third single Written In The Stars and the aforementioned #4 hit Miami 2 Ibiza. All these tracks come from his debut album Disc-overy, Invincible is likely to climb in the coming weeks though.

 

Corey Taylor – X-M@$ enters at #37

Corey Taylor may not exactly be a household name to most, he has been lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour. However he does have his Christmas song enter at #37 this week. Slipknot were active between 2000 and 2008 with their biggest hit being #15 Duality in 2004, Stone Sour only had 1 top 40 hit #28 Bother in 2003.

 

Take That get the xmas #1 Album

Take That extend their run at #1 to 5 weeks this week as Progress can now lay claim to being the Christmas #1 album for 2010. Rihanna rises to #2 with Loud and Mr Bubble drops a place to #3. This week’s highest new entry comes from Michael Jackson with the first collection of songs he was working on prior to his death last year, Michael enters at #4. Not much more of note on the albums front, except that Robbie returns to the top 10 with his hits compilation and top 40 re-entries from Biffy Clyro, Adele and Cee Lo Green.

 

Personal opinion

I am actually glad to see this year’s X-Factor winner get the #1 as I think Matt Cardle has been a worthy winner and the song was well chosen, unlike last year’s rubbish from Joe McWhatshisname! I really like What’s My Name now and am happy to see that #2 for Rihanna, I also like Unfaithful and good to see it back. I am glad that terrible Surfin’ Bird didn’t make it near #1 for the appropriately named Trashmen, almost as pointless as that 4½ minutes of silence being passed off as “art” … most deserved flop of the year. Corey Taylor’s song is quite funny I guess in a novelty sort of way, I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it tough. Whilst it is totally wrong to make money out of Jacko’s death, I actually quite like his new album.

Thanks for the Commentary, Suedehead2 - Merry Christmas.

 

If anyone can add to what I'm adding next, then please do so.

Likewise, if anyone spots any errors in it - Thanks.

 

THE TRASHMEN - 'SURFIN' BIRD' (THE OLDEST RECORDING TO REACH TOP 10?)

 

So, 'Surfin' Bird', by The Trashmen, is at No.3.

(It was also a No.50 UK Hit, in the W/E 2nd May 2009 Chart).

 

It was originally a No.4 USA Hit, in 1963.

 

So, the Recording is 47 Years old. I believe that it is the oldest

Recording to reach the UK Top 10. (Ever).

 

BUT - NOT THE OLDEST SONG TO REACH THE TOP 10!

 

The oldest Song, to reach the UK Top 10, was 'Silent Night',

which Bros, took to No.2, in the W/E 3rd December 1988 Chart.

(As a Double 'A' Side, with 'Cat Among The Pigeons').

 

It did this in the Top 10:, 2-4-5-6-8-10

 

The Lyrics for 'Silent Night', were originally written, in 1816, by Austrian

Priest, Father Joseph Mohr. In December 1818, he asked Austrian Headmaster,

Franz Xaver Gruber, to compose the Melody for it. It was first performed that very

Christmas. Of course, it was originally written in German - 'Stille Nacht, Heilige

Nacht''. ('Silent Night, Holy Night').

In 1859, John Freeman Young, published the English translation. He was

a Bishop, in Florida, USA.

 

So, the Melody is from 1818, & the English Lyrics are from 1859.

 

Therefore - when Bros had a Top 10 Hit with it, in 1988, it was

170 Years old, as a Melody, & 129 Years old as an English Song.

 

It was probably the oldest Song, to reach the UK Top 10, in December 1952,

when Bing Crosby took it to No.8. The UK Singles Chart was less than 2 Months

old at the time. The Song was already 134 Years old, (Melody), & 93 Years old,

(English version), when Bing reached No.8, with it.....(W/E December 20th 1952)

 

TOP 10 HITS BASED ON CLASSICAL MUSIC

 

BUT - I know very little about Classical Music, & there may well be Top 10

Hits that utilise parts of the Melody of Classical 'pieces'. I heard that 'A Whiter

Shade Of Pale', by Procol Harum, did that. (No.1 - 1967). But, I've checked.

Whilst parts of the Melody were 'inspired', by 'Sleepers Wake', (Johann

Sebastian Bach - 1731) - it did not actually 'pinch' his Melody.

 

'A LOVER'S CONCERTO' - THE TOYS (1965)

 

I see that this 1965 UK No.5 Hit, by USA Girl Group, The Toys, was based on

a very old Melody. (It was also a No.2 Hit in the USA).

 

The Melody in this Hit was based on 'Minuet In G Major', which is a 1725

'piece', by Johann Sebastian Bach. So, its Melody was 240 Years old, when

The Toys had a Hit with, 'A Lovers Concerto', in 1965.

 

'Surfin' Bird' is really based on 2 Songs, by USA Group, The Rivington's

- 'Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow', (1962), & 'Bird Is The Word', (1963).

 

The Rivington's seem to have had about as much imagination as Simon Cowell.

One of their subsequent Singles was, 'Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow'! (Doh!).

Edited December 19, 201014 yr by zeus555