007 Chart Commentary - 9th Dec 2012

Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love climbs to #1

We have a new number one single this week as 20 year old singer songwriter Gabrielle Aplin rises from #6 to #1 in her 4th week in the top 10. The Power Of Love now joins the list of songs to make #1 with multiple versions, including Unchained Melody (Righteous Bros, Robson & Jerome, Gareth Gates) and Spirit In The Sky (Norman, Doctor and Medics, Gareth Gates), amongst others. Frankie Goes To Hollywood of course took the original The Power Of Love to #1 in 1984 as their third chart topping single. The Power Of Love was also the title of Jennifer Rush's huge 1985 #1 hit, and also a very different #9 hit that same year for Huey Lewis & The News, as well as for Luther Vandross, Charley Pride and the Everley Brothers. This keeps Bruno Mars at #2 as he finds himself locked out of #1 again, Olly Murs is dumped to #3 because he is a trouble maker!

Pink - Try rises to #8

33 year old US singer songwriter Alicia Moore gets herself a 17th UK top 10 hit as new single Try climbs 18 places to #8 after her performance of the track on the X Factor. This follows up #3 hit Blow Me (One More Kiss) as the second single from her current album The Truth About Love. Pink has released 27 singles in the UK from 6 studio albums and a hits compilation since her 2000 debut with There You Go, only 2 of those have missed the top 40.

Pitbull feat TJR - Don't Stop The Party enters at #16

This week's highest new entry goes to US rapper Armando Cristian Perez - Pitbull, who debuts at #16 with his new single Don't Stop The Party. This is Pit's 5th UK top 20 hit since his 2009 with #4 hit I Know You Want Me, which was followed by #9 hit Hotel Room Service and a few other minor hits. In 2011, he teamed up with Neyo, Afrojack and Neyer for the massive #1 smash Give Me Everything. This was followed up with #28 single Rain Over Me with US country singer Marc Anthony, and #10 hit International Love alongside Chris Brown. Back In Time was Pitbull's last UK chart hit, making #21 earlier on this year. Now he teams up with singer TJR for #16 entry Don't Stop The Party, taken from the Planet Pit album.

Tulisa - Sight Of You enters at #18

X Factor judge/mentor, former N-Dubz member and now solo singer Tulisa Constostavlos gets a 3rd solo top 20 hit with new single Sight Of You, in at #18. As a current X Factor judge, Tulisa took the chance to perform this new single, but can only make a modest #18 debut. This is following #1 Young and #11 follow up Live It Up. Tulisa of course features on 8 top 20 hits as part of N-Dubz between 2006 and 2011, the biggest of which is #1 hit Number One with Tinchy Stryder. It is rumoured that N-Dubz will be getting back together next year.

BURNS - Lies enters at #39

Dance producer, remixer and singer BURNS makes his UK top 40 debut this week at #39 with the single Lies. BURNS (not Robert) has previously produced hits for the likes of Calvin Harris, Mariah Carey and Marina & The Diamonds. This track has been remixed by Otto Knows, who scored a top 20 hits with the dance track Million Voices earlier this year.

Olly Murs album stays at #1

Olly Murs may be a trouble maker but he is still in the right place at the right time, as his album stays at #1 for a second week. Michael Buble's Christmas moves up to #2, One Direction slip a place to #3, Rod Stewart's festive offering climbs 1 to #4 and Neil Diamond's Very Best Of climbs 3 places to #5. Pink, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith and Fun are back up to the top 20. The highest new entry can be found outside the top 20, at #21 for Jools Holland and his Rythm & Blues Orchestra with The Golden Age Of Song. Tulisa's debut album has flopped as The Female Boss can only manage #35, Ke$ha's second album Warrior however misses the top 40 completely.

Personal Opinon

I am happy to see Gabrielle Aplin's gorgeous version of The Power Of Love go to #1, although I'd have preferred to see Olly Murs manage a 3rd week at #1 or even Bruno to get a 4th #1. Great to see Pink get a deserved top 10 with the fantastic Try. Good as well to see all the xmas classics back in the charts, even if it is the same ones each year, they're still very good. Pitbul's new song is atrocious, as is Tulisa's who was rubbish on the X Factor. Not really a fan of that BURNS song, just run of the mill dance to me.