Do you mean 'Alors On Danse' (which was French)?

 

That wasn't a hit here? It was everywhere... Who knew.

Edited August 7, 20195 yr by blacksquare

 

How many UK artists have a huge US hit and then don't even bother releasing it in the UK — a place where they actually need a hit?

I remember these were pretty big US hits but (sadly) did nothing here in the UK:

 

 

 

 

And yeah, what happened in the UK with 'Pocketful of Sunshine' was MADNESS. I was fully anticipating that being a huge UK smash in late 2007. :(

I remember hearing Waka Waka constantly that summer when I was in Europe and then finding out that the UK pretty much paid it dust.

 

Is La Tortura another one? And Chantaje? And Loca? Which she even had a Dizzee Rascal feature on? And then she cancelled the release? What happened there?

And yeah, what happened in the UK with 'Pocketful of Sunshine' was MADNESS. I was fully anticipating that being a huge UK smash in late 2007. :(

 

Did they ever have a reason for that? It was such an obvious smash hit and they just did nothing...

 

Ellie Goulding 'Lights' is another one — I never really did understand why that song became such a big hit over there.

I remember 'Waka Waka' being fairly popular at the time but most people favoured 'Wavin'' Flag' which was absolutely huge... now, I think most will have totally forgotten about that whilst 'Waka Waka' has gone on to become one of Shakira's biggest UK hits.

Vertical Horizon - "Everything You Want" (2000 or 2001); No.1 hit in the U.S. missed the top 40 here

 

Matchbox 20 - "Bent" (2000); No.1 U.S. hit, not released here possibly due to the British-English meaning being a homophobic slur.

'Pocketful of Sunshine' and 'Lights' should have been big here. :(

 

Add 'Want U Back' to the list of UK songs smashing in the US yet flopping here... who knew Cher Lloyd would make it in the states?!

The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles was a no.1 in the US and Canada and a top 10 hit in other countries but wasn't released here.

 

Der Kommissar by the British band After The Fire was a top 5 hit in the US and a big hit in other countries but only got to no.47 in the UK.

 

She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby got to no.1 in Canada and no.5 in the US but only reached no.49 here.

 

 

On my search for 'Ai Se Eu Te Pego' I came across 'I Like' which I had totally forgotten about. Loved it at the time and was sad to see it under-perform. It was the UK follow-up to 'Knock You Down' wasn't it?

Nope! She re-released 'Energy', where it got top 50 and had a flop single with Akon a couple of months before 'I Like'. 'I Like' going on to be any kind of hit was pleasantly surprising at the time iirc. It "only" peaked at 34 but spent about a month top 40! Had radio latched onto it and gave it the plays it deserved I imagine it could've quite easily have been a top 20 hit. There was a remix that went round too which seemed more popular iirc?

Did they ever have a reason for that? It was such an obvious smash hit and they just did nothing...

 

Ellie Goulding 'Lights' is another one — I never really did understand why that song became such a big hit over there.

 

Nope. :( I can only think they were maybe cautious after her second album bombed and 'Love Like This' didn't do much, but it was obvious to anyone this has more potential.

 

I think with 'Lights' they could've pushed it again when it blew up in the US, but in 2012 she was gearing up to begin her second era anyway so it probably wouldn't have been worth their while. Gosh, comparing 'Lights' to where she is now with 'Close To Me' and 'Hate Me' is so painfully sad. :cry:

recently there was also Shakira - Chantaje, one of her best ever but never pushed in the UK

I remember 'Waka Waka' being fairly popular at the time but most people favoured 'Wavin'' Flag' which was absolutely huge... now, I think most will have totally forgotten about that whilst 'Waka Waka' has gone on to become one of Shakira's biggest UK hits.

 

Waka Waka got by FAR the biggest reaction at her show at the O2 last year, which is funny considering how much bigger Hips Don't Lie and Whenever, Wherever feel. It's so well known and loved here now, such a shame it peaked at No.21.

 

And yes, Pocketful of Sunshine situation was so odd, it could have put her back on the map or at the very least given her another top ten hit. But it seemed like Natasha had given up on/wasn't at all bothered about the UK by that point as she was tasting big success in the US.

 

Arianas Love Me Harder didn’t go top 40 here but was top ten in US. (I think that counts)

Rihanna’s Needed Me too was a low top 40 here but top ten in US (but it was a hit here it’s sales are high just low peak).

Nope. :( I can only think they were maybe cautious after her second album bombed and 'Love Like This' didn't do much, but it was obvious to anyone this has more potential.

 

I think with 'Lights' they could've pushed it again when it blew up in the US, but in 2012 she was gearing up to begin her second era anyway so it probably wouldn't have been worth their while. Gosh, comparing 'Lights' to where she is now with 'Close To Me' and 'Hate Me' is so painfully sad. :cry:

 

I'm glad someone has said it.

 

I certainly didn't expect Ellie Goulding would become an artist of faceless and calculated Spotify-playlist fodder.

recently there was also Shakira - Chantaje, one of her best ever but never pushed in the UK

 

It's easy to forget just how many massive global hits she has — especially when you look at her chart placements in the UK.

Edited August 7, 20195 yr by blacksquare

Nope! She re-released 'Energy', where it got top 50 and had a flop single with Akon a couple of months before 'I Like'. 'I Like' going on to be any kind of hit was pleasantly surprising at the time iirc. It "only" peaked at 34 but spent about a month top 40! Had radio latched onto it and gave it the plays it deserved I imagine it could've quite easily have been a top 20 hit. There was a remix that went round too which seemed more popular iirc?

Ah yes, I remember her re-releasing 'Energy' now (I also suddenly remember 'Return the Favour', was that before or after 'Knock You Down'?). I think the 'I Like' remix is Jost & Grubert which is the one I remember hearing and have just re-listened to on Spotify (the original doesn't seem to be on there?).

"La Passion " by Gigi d'Agostino topped the charts in Austria and Belgium, and got to no2 in Germany, Romania and over here in Ireland in the early 2000s. It was a huge hit over here in Ireland, getting lots of TV and radio airplay and I remember being surprised that it never charted in the UK especially given its Irish chart position of no2!

 

"L'Amour toujours" was an even bigger hit, making top 10 in ten countries, narrowly missing out making no11 in Canada and making no18 over here in Ireland. Again, no sign of it in the UK charts! Which is a huge shame as it's a total classic. At least Dynoro did redress the balance somewhat by interpolating it into "In My Mind" which was a big UK hit last year.

"La Passion " by Gigi d'Agostino topped the charts in Austria and Belgium, and got to no2 in Germany, Romania and over here in Ireland in the early 2000s. It was a huge hit over here in Ireland, getting lots of TV and radio airplay and I remember being surprised that it never charted in the UK especially given its Irish chart position of no2!

 

"L'Amour toujours" was an even bigger hit, making top 10 in ten countries, narrowly missing out making no11 in Canada and making no18 over here in Ireland. Again, no sign of it in the UK charts! Which is a huge shame as it's a total classic. At least Dynoro did redress the balance somewhat by interpolating it into "In My Mind" which was a big UK hit last year.

 

It's especially interesting when songs smash across Europe and Ireland too (as the UK and Irish charts often tend to share similar hits and peaks) but somehow completely bypass the UK.

 

Gigi d'Agostino could have had at least three hits here with a push - La Passion, L'Amour Toujours and The Riddle, and probably others.

 

Also, one of my favourite ever songs, All I Really Want by Kim Lukas (which I first heard on the radio in Tenerife in early 2000) was big in Canada, which did seem more keen on Eurohits than the US, and smashed in many European countries but was given no UK release despite Kim being British.

Edited August 7, 20195 yr by gooddelta

Ah yes, I remember her re-releasing 'Energy' now (I also suddenly remember 'Return the Favour', was that before or after 'Knock You Down'?). I think the 'I Like' remix is Jost & Grubert which is the one I remember hearing and have just re-listened to on Spotify (the original doesn't seem to be on there?).

RTF was her first solo hit and was the single before KYD. I *think* Energy was the debut single elsewhere in the world though, so maybe it wasn't a "re-release" and that we just got Energy as the third single?

 

Ah yes. That was it. Such a good remix :wub: It elevated it so much.

 

I just need new Keri :(