October 28, 201113 yr Orson 'No Tomorrow' sales: 05/3 - #5 - 22,237 12/3 - #2 - 21,030 19/3 - #1 - 17,694 26/3 - #3 - 19,181 02/4 - #5 - 18,103 09/4 - #4 - 18,396 So in its first 6 weeks its lowest sale was the week it was number one. Lucky? Perhaps. Undeserving? Definitely not. Shows how important downloads were to its sales that its highest week was when it was download-only and was presumably its first week available in any format. People talk about "Crazy" being the first big download hit, I'd argue that title belongs to "No Tomorrow".
October 28, 201113 yr I echo this, it was brilliant year with amazing rock albums: Free All Angels, Toxicity, Iowa, Is This It... Not to mention "White Blood Cells", and the UK breakthrough for "Hybrid Theory". Years ending in a 1 are usually good for rock music in the mainstream and see some kind of watershed following a dry patch (see Nevermind in '91). 2011 has, unfortunately, bucked the trend. I wonder if that means we also won't see the saturation of the genre in the mainstream that usually comes in the middle of a decade.
October 28, 201113 yr Not to mention "White Blood Cells", and the UK breakthrough for "Hybrid Theory". Years ending in a 1 are usually good for rock music in the mainstream and see some kind of watershed following a dry patch (see Nevermind in '91). 2011 has, unfortunately, bucked the trend. I wonder if that means we also won't see the saturation of the genre in the mainstream that usually comes in the middle of a decade. This year has been disastrous, both in sales and in quality of rock albums whilst the indie releases (PJ Harvey, Bon Iver, M83...) have constantly been brilliant but they've been flirting with the 80s and electronic music. There just not enough interest in rock atm and bands are doing their best to kill the rest of it (Metallica + Lou Reed, eww).. I wonder if, let's say in five years time, there'll be anyone who can honestly say that a rock album released in 2011 was outstanding. I just hope we'll have some new bands like Strokes and White Stripes (quality-wise) next year or soon. The Vaccines sort of tried. But I bet these things go in cycles, and I'm putting my money on QOTSA releasing something brilliant. Off-topic much? :lol: Edited October 28, 201113 yr by SKOB
October 28, 201113 yr Orson 'No Tomorrow' sales: 05/3 - #5 - 22,237 12/3 - #2 - 21,030 19/3 - #1 - 17,694 26/3 - #3 - 19,181 02/4 - #5 - 18,103 09/4 - #4 - 18,396 So in its first 6 weeks its lowest sale was the week it was number one. Lucky? Perhaps. Undeserving? Definitely not. That's such a bizarre sales run - in each of its first 4 weeks on the chart, the sales are moving in the opposite direction to the chart positions!
October 28, 201113 yr The worst thing about Orson's 2nd week was that they were behind Chico of all people.
October 28, 201113 yr This year has been disastrous, both in sales and in quality of rock albums whilst the indie releases (PJ Harvey, Bon Iver, M83...) have constantly been brilliant but they've been flirting with the 80s and electronic music. There just not enough interest in rock atm and bands are doing their best to kill the rest of it (Metallica + Lou Reed, eww).. I wonder if, let's say in five years time, there'll be anyone who can honestly say that a rock album released in 2011 was outstanding. I just hope we'll have some new bands like Strokes and White Stripes (quality-wise) next year or soon. The Vaccines sort of tried. But I bet these things go in cycles, and I'm putting my money on QOTSA releasing something brilliant. Off-topic much? :lol: Very :lol: QOTSA should come back with something great but they've been releasing good albums to diminishing returns ever since "Songs for the Deaf", I can't see that changing. Foo Fighters had everything going for them but have only limped past platinum. The Vaccines were a start, they've done decently but I won't be happy until someone starts delivering decent singles and chart positions to match. I've said it before but I think we'll be waiting for Paramore and Biffy for that. 30STM at a push, but no one in the rock community takes them seriously anyway unfortunately.
October 28, 201113 yr all of the jls number 1s Why? "Beat Again", for example, was #1 for two weeks and sold 110k in the first of that - very big sales for a 2009 #1. And that was without an X Factor performance.
October 28, 201113 yr I'd agree with The Joker, poor Groove Is In The Heart robbed by a ridiculous rule :( Also, didn't Timbaland beat that appalling Kate Nash song by like 7 copies or something ridiculous back in 07? Not necessarily lucky, but I can't see what makes it any less "lucky" than say, Orson during low sales or Example.
October 28, 201113 yr Author Where do you get sales from? what site? I would assume from the archive of Music Week reports on this site?
October 28, 201113 yr The Joker did outsell Groove Is In The Heart - they had the same 'panel sales' because they're rounded, but Steve's 'actual' sales were about 8 higher. I know which one of the two I still hear frequently though and which one I don't think I've heard ever... :P Nero have been the ultimate 'lucky #1s' of this year on both charts. They managed to perfectly line up the releases of 'Promises' and 'Welcome Reality' with the weeks that would require the lowest sales to get to #1. If that was done on purpose then whoever's behind Nero's release dates is a bit of a GENIUS but if not that's just pure dumb luck striking twice. Edited October 28, 201113 yr by Bré
October 28, 201113 yr Very :lol: QOTSA should come back with something great but they've been releasing good albums to diminishing returns ever since "Songs for the Deaf", I can't see that changing. Foo Fighters had everything going for them but have only limped past platinum. The Vaccines were a start, they've done decently but I won't be happy until someone starts delivering decent singles and chart positions to match. I've said it before but I think we'll be waiting for Paramore and Biffy for that. 30STM at a push, but no one in the rock community takes them seriously anyway unfortunately. Biffy Clyro can definitely score a top 5 hit and hopefully with a good song as well. Personally, I see Paramore are past their best and 30STM have never been interesting imo. The band I want to come back the most are The Killers. And Muse but they've become worse and worse with each album imo.
October 28, 201113 yr Biffy Clyro can definitely score a top 5 hit and hopefully with a good song as well. Personally, I see Paramore are past their best and 30STM have never been interesting imo. The band I want to come back the most are The Killers. And Muse but they've become worse and worse with each album imo. The Killers will always have a mainstream fanbase and will do well as a result, they're like Coldplay-lite in that respect (not musically :lol:) Paramore have age on their side, they started out young and are maturing musically (losing two members may have set that back, but we'll see) and I think their fanbase is as big as it ever has been. Muse-wise I hold their second, third and fourth albums in similar regard but would probably plump for "Black Holes". "The Resistance" was a step backwards but they still have it in them to deliver.
October 28, 201113 yr The Killers will always have a mainstream fanbase and will do well as a result, they're like Coldplay-lite in that respect (not musically :lol:) Paramore have age on their side, they started out young and are maturing musically (losing two members may have set that back, but we'll see) and I think their fanbase is as big as it ever has been. Muse-wise I hold their second, third and fourth albums in similar regard but would probably plump for "Black Holes". "The Resistance" was a step backwards but they still have it in them to deliver. I love Origin of Symmetry, so majestic. Paramore need a great song to finally crack the top ten which I don't think they will have. I did like some songs on Brand New Eyes. It's all about the lead single, for all bands. Florence & the Machine totally screwed it up by releasing a mediocre song first and by the time the "proper" first single was out, the focus was elsewhere, Coldplay was releasing their new stuff for example. Had Foo Fighters started the WL era with Arlandria instead of Rope, they could've get a lot more attention and perhaps a top 20 single. Edited October 28, 201113 yr by SKOB
October 28, 201113 yr In some cases a UK #1 could be considered "lucky" purely from the record companies seeing a week with relatively low competition and bag their sole week at the top with low sales (compared to other #1 hits from the same time). Here are my chosen examples from the 90s: 02.02.97 LL Cool J Ain't Nobody 80,000 The previous two weeks saw the no. 1 selling over 100k, then the following six weeks saw the UK chart toppers also selling over 100k 26.04.98 Boyzone All That I Need 80,049 Timing was everything which includes this forgettable slice of Irish pop. The previous six weeks had seen Run DMC Vs Jason Nevins at the top. Even in its sixth week at no. 1, 'It's Like That' sold more than what Boyzone sold in its first and ultimately only week at the top. 10.05.98 Aqua Turn Back Time 75,000 Only a fortnight later a much more curious chart topper. All Saints butchered 'Under The Birdge' and somehow sold over 100k. Then the week after Aqua, they managed to return to no. 1 benefitting from a quiet sales week. 20.09.98 Mel B feat. Missy Elliott I Want You Back 86,000 Going off sales figures at the time, this is terrible. For the previous eight weeks the UK no. 1 sold over 100k (even 200k for 'Viva Forever' and 'No Matter What) whilst the following three weeks also saw strong sales over 100k. 18.10.98 Spacedust Gym And Tonic 66,000 As much as I like dance music, I hated this at the time and still think it's abysmal. It also recorded the lowest weekly sales tally for a #1 single in the last 6 months of 1998. 21.03.99 B*Witched Blame It On The Weatherman 90,000 Wow, the sales for Boyzone 'When The Going Gets Tough' really decreased from the previous week when it sold roughly 197k. Making way for B*Witched's 4th UK chart topper but selling under 100k (and quickly dropping down the chart after). 15.08.99 Westlife If I Let You Go 90,491 Poor sales usually got Westlife to no. 1 and this is the first example. The UK #1 for the previous 14 weeks all sold more than 90k. The last no. 1 to sell less than 90k was co-incidentally 'Swear It Again' by Westlife with 82k in its second week. The following 9 weeks saw sales of over 100k for the UK chart toppers until... 24.10.99 Westlife Flying Without Wings 92,000 ...Westlife released their third single (non shock). As it is, the rest of the year saw the no. 1 single selling over 100k including ** shock AGOG moment ** Westlife's Xmas no. 1 even selling over 200k in its first two weeks at #1.
October 28, 201113 yr I love Origin of Symmetry, so majestic. Paramore need a great song to finally crack the top ten which I don't think they will have. I did like some songs on Brand New Eyes. It's all about the lead single, for all bands. Florence & the Machine totally screwed it up by releasing a mediocre song first and by the time the "proper" first single was out, the focus was elsewhere, Coldplay was releasing their new stuff for example. Had Foo Fighters started the WL era with Arlandria instead of Rope, they could've get a lot more attention and perhaps a top 20 single. You reckon? "Rope" to me is a straight cross between "Learn to Fly" and "All My Life" - the former was a massive US radio hit, the latter their second biggest in the UK. It was as good a lead single as any and seeing that both RHCP (who were always the bigger of the two) and Blink both managed to miss the top 40 with their lead singles, #22 on hype alone is pretty damn good. With a decent video and a held back release it'd have probably gone top 10, "Arlandria" may have done as well I guess.
October 28, 201113 yr You reckon? "Rope" to me is a straight cross between "Learn to Fly" and "All My Life" - the former was a massive US radio hit, the latter their second biggest in the UK. It was as good a lead single as any and seeing that both RHCP (who were always the bigger of the two) and Blink both managed to miss the top 40 with their lead singles, #22 on hype alone is pretty damn good. With a decent video and a held back release it'd have probably gone top 10, "Arlandria" may have done as well I guess. Oh somehow I remembered Rope did much worse. #22 is good for a rock single in 2011. But I still prefer Walk and Arlandria.
October 28, 201113 yr 2000 The bolded tracks are easily the "luckiest" in terms of sales and comparing sales with other chart toppers from the same period: 13.02.00 Oasis Go Let It Out 180,000 20.02.00 All Saints Pure Shores 199,084 27.02.00 All Saints Pure Shores 154,000 05.03.00 Madonna American Pie 139,000 12.03.00 Chicane feat. Bryan Adams Don't Give Up 75,470 19.03.00 Geri Halliwell Bag It Up 106,000 26.03.00 Mel C feat. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez Never Be The Same Again 144,000 02.04.00 Westlife Fool Again 82,776 09.04.00 Craig David Fill Me In 165,000 16.04.00 Fragma Toca's Miracle 187,859 23.04.00 Fragma Toca's Miracle 116,000 30.04.00 Oxide & Neutrino Bound 4 Da Reload 70,700 07.05.00 Britney Spears Oops!!! I Did It Again 124,000 30.07.00 Craig David 7 Days 149,000 06.08.00 Robbie Williams Rock DJ 199,307 13.08.00 Mel C I Turn To You 121,000 20.08.00 Spiller feat. Sophie Ellis Bextor Groove Jet (If This Ain't Love) 202,617 27.08.00 Madonna Music 115,000 03.09.00 A1 Take On Me 82,000 10.09.00 Modjo Lady (Hear Me Tonight) 142,000 22.10.00 Steps Stomp 48,250 29.10.00 Spice Girls Holler 106,000 05.11.00 Westlife My Love 112,252 12.11.00 A1 Same Old Brand New You 60,500 19.11.00 LeAnn Rimes Can't Fight The Moonlight 113,500 26.11.00 Destiny's Child Independent Woman (Part 1) 109,000 03.12.00 S Club 7 Never Had A Dream Come True 144,000 10.12.00 Eminem feat. Dido Stan 198,805 17.12.00 Bob The Builder Can We Fix It? 214,963 24.12.00 Bob The Builder Can We Fix It? 359,639 As GD rightly pointed, Steps' sales for no. 1 were appalling. Even A1's not exactly brilliant opening week of sales looks decent in comparison.
October 28, 201113 yr Most of these 'lucky #1s' aren't so much lucky as they are record labels taking advantage of quiet weeks (especially in Westlife's cases). I would say songs like 'No Tomorrow' and 'The Lazy Song' which looked like being #2 hits but managed to sneak in a week at the top anyway due to dead weeks are more 'lucky' to have got there.
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