https://t.co/pBOG6kUByM?amp=1

 

Interesting read.

Robbie is on here because he had four number one albums in the decade. Thinking on that - if they count Progress that was a fifth and he was only 1700 copies away from a sixth. What an achievement. He's also on the list for his 13th solo album number one. B-)

 

 

It's a great achievement Laura ...

06 August 2020

 

Robbie Williams' Rock DJ was Number 1 20 years ago

Robbie treats us all to a pound of flesh as he takes to the roller-disco for his most controversial video yet, this week in 2000.

 

 

By Justin Myers

 

2000 – or “the year 2000” as they used to call it back then – was a good time to be Robbie Williams. While most acts might be nervous limbering up to release a third album, Robbie’s confidence was unshakeable. So much so that he released what was, at that point at least, easily his most unusual and controversial single.

 

What was so special about Rock DJ? Well, Robbie rapped, for a start. Well, kind of. Over the top of an infectious disco beat sampled from classic tune It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me by soul legend Barry White, Robbie recited his verses in the “cheeky chappy” (ugh) style that would become his trademark. Fans who thought Robbie had abandoned his singing pipes for a career in rap, needn’t have worried. The on-point vocals were back in the singalong chorus.

 

So he raps, there’s a disco sample. He’s dancing for bored people on roller-skates in what you might call a roller-disco if you’re incredibly uncool. OK, maybe not very ‘Robbie 2000’ but what else was so controversial about it? Watch the video, remember what year you’re in, and let us know how you get on. Warning: if you have to look away at the surgical bits in Holby City, you may want to stop watching at around the 2m50s minute mark.

 

 

 

While there have been videos with more violence, and probably even more blood and gore, the very scientific, clinical way, our Robbie rips himself apart caused a bit of a stir at the time. Few people had any objection to Robbie getting muscles out in a vid – it’s when he started to tear them off and chuck them about the dance floor that eyebrows were raised. Except the eyebrows had already been torn off by the looks of it.

 

But there’s no such thing as bad publicity in pop music (within reason) and the fact music channels either refused to play it or yanked it off air just before it all got a bit Saw VI only helped its success.

 

Selling 199,000 copies in its first week, Rock DJ was Robbie’s fourth Number 1, his seventh straight Top 10 hit in a run that would take him all the way to 20 in a row until it was broke by Sin Sin Sin in 2006. It’s sold over 691,500 copies to make it Robbie’s third bestselling single in the UK, behind Candy and million-seller Angels. When streaming equivalent sales are added in, Rock DJ has shifted 973,000 chart sales.

 

MORE: Robbie Williams scores historic 1000th Number 1 album

Rock DJ was the lead single from third album Sing When You’re Winning, which is Rob’s third bestselling album, with over 2.2 million copies sold. Bonius chart fact: Sing When You’re Winning sold a whopping 313,000 copies in its first week on sale. Blimey! Robbie's Official Chart history in full here.

 

So Robbie was ripping up the rulebook and his torso at Number 1; what else was happening in the Top 10 20 years ago this week? Robbie had knocked Craig David's second chart-topper 7 Days down to to 2, and new at 3 was Time To Burn by Storm - the trance duo's biggest UK hit.

 

“As I rock-rock-rock-rock-rock the microphone.” The only Top 10 hit for the Finnish (yes really) drum and bass band. Perhaps the only drum and bass track to mention Celine Dion (if we’re wrong, please do write in and let us know), Freestyler has peaked at Number 2 the previous week, held off Number 1 by Craig David.

 

There was another new entry in the Top 10 for Chester rock band Mansun with I Can Only Disappoint U, their fourth and final Top 10 hit, and UK garage musician Wookie landed what would be his biggest hit with Battle ft. Lain.

 

 

 

Charts

 

Some comeback to European charts.

 

UK Album Charts

47 (87) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (8 WoC) (and #36 in today's midweek)

 

Germany Album Charts

28 (55) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present

 

Austria Top 40 Alben (4.12.2020)

50 (Re-Entry) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (6 Weeks)

 

Swiss Album Charts (6.12.2020)

63 (Re-Entry) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (7 Weeks)

 

Online Charts

 

Album: The Christmas Present

iTunes:

#36 United Kingdom

#39 Germany

#64 United Kingdom

#202 Austria

#216 Switzerland

#289 Russia

 

Apple Music:

#15 Austria

#18 Germany

#24 Hungary

#31 Austria

#35 Germany

#46 Netherlands

#48 Poland

#49 Luxembourg

#49 Slovenia

#73 Panama

#86 Italy

#90 Luxembourg

#101 United Kingdom

#104 Romania

#105 Poland

#107 Denmark

#107 Panama

#107 Slovenia

#111 Sweden

#118 Switzerland

#121 Czech Republic

#130 Switzerland

#134 Latvia

#149 Norway

#159 United Kingdom

#175 Finland

#258 Belgium

#306 Ireland

#362 New Zealand

#487 France

Edited December 7, 20204 yr by Better Man

Thank you, Alex :-) I am always interested in the stats

Yes me too :) thanks Alex

Oh, I didn't know about UK Soundtrack Albums Chart:

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/sound...k-albums-chart/

 

Well, according to this article The Boy In The Dress CD has been Number 2 after first day of sales:

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/what-s-on/reviews..._source=dlvr.it

 

So let's see again this Friday.

 

 

Oh, I didn't know about UK Soundtrack Albums Chart:

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/sound...k-albums-chart/

 

Well, according to this article The Boy In The Dress CD has been Number 2 after first day of sales:

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/what-s-on/reviews..._source=dlvr.it

 

So let's see again this Friday.

 

Great news! :cheer:

Acts with most songs to debut at Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/acts-with-most-songs-to-debut-at-number-1-on-the-official-singles-chart__31500/

30.10.2020

 

While it’s true that most songs are growers, revealing their full potential after multiple listens, some are undoubtedly showers – tracks whose connection with the masses is near-instant.

 

When it comes to the charts, the sign of a true shower is landing straight in at the top of the Official Singles Chart. Just over 530 songs have scored a Number 1 debut in the Official Charts’ 68-year history, its regularity ebbing and flowing over the years.

 

Singles tended to climb to Number 1 in the early days of the Official Chart, but by the early 2000s it was commonplace - in 2003, 19 of 22 Number 1 songs that year debuted at the top. Recent years have seen that number drop significantly; the introduction of streaming and the scrapping of a six-week build up to a single release (yes, this used to be a thing) means hit songs have a tendency to climb rather than make a splash in their first week.

 

In 2018, five songs debuted at Number 1; in 2019 is was just three, while the number has increased slightly this year to eight.

 

MORE: Every Official UK Number 1 single ever

Westlife claim the most Number 1 debuts on the Official Singles Chart, with all 14 of their chart-toppers landing there in their first week. Their first was in 1999 with Swear It Again, followed by a mighty six consecutive Number 1s, with their most recent being 2006’s The Rose.

 

Behind Westlife, by quite a margin, are fellow boyband Take That, with ten of their 12 chart-toppers debuting at Number 1. The group had to wait until their eighth single, 1993’s Pray, to gain their first Number 1, but they were near-unstoppable from then, scoring their last in 2014 with These Days.

 

Three acts have managed to land eight Number 1 debuts, Eminem, Oasis and Spice Girls, with the latter scoring them in quickest succession at five years.

 

Five acts are close behind are close behind on seven chart-topping debuts, most recently Ariana Grande, who lands straight in at Number 1 on this week’s Official Singles Chart with Positions.

 

Acts with the most songs to debut at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart

 

Westlife – 14

Swear It Again (1999), If I Let You Go (1999), Flying Without Wings (1999), I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun (1999), Fool Again (2000), Against All Odds with Mariah Carey (2000), My Love (2000), Uptown Girl (2001), Queen Of My Heart (2001), World Of Our Own (2002), Unbreakable (2002), Mandy (2003), You Raise Me Up (2005), The Rose (2006).

 

Take That – 10

Pray (1993), Relight My Fire ft. Lulu (1993), Babe (1993), Everything Changes (1994), Sure (1994), Back For Good (1995), Never Forget (1995), How Deep I Your Love (1996), Greatest Day (2008), These Days (2014).

 

Eminem - 8

The Real Slim Shady (2000), Stan (2000), Without Me (2002), Lose Yourself (2002), Just Lose It (2004), Like Toy Soldiers (2005), The Monster ft. Rihanna (2013), Godzilla ft. Juice Wrld (2020).

 

Oasis – 8

Some Might Say (1995), Don't Look Back In Anger (1996), D'you Know What I Mean? (1997), All Around The World (1998), Go Let It Out (2000), The Hindu Times (2002), Lyla (2005), The Importance Of Being Idle (2005).

 

Spice Girls – 8

Say You'll Be There (1996), 2 Become 1 (1996), Mama/Who Do You Think You Are (1997), Spice Up Your Life (1997), Too Much (1997), Viva Forever (1998), Goodbye (1998), Holler/Let Love Lead The Way (2000).

 

Ariana Grande – 7

Problem ft. Iggy Azalea (2014), Bang Bang with Jessie J, Nicki Minaj (2014), Thank U, Next (2018), 7 Rings (2019), Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored (2019), Rain On Me with Lady Gaga (2020), Positions (2020).

 

Calvin Harris - 7

Dance Wiv Me with Dizzee Rascal (2008), I'm Not Alone (2009), We Found Love with Rihanna (2011), Sweet Nothing with Florence Welch (2012), Under Control with Alesso, Hurts (2013), Summer (2014), Blame (2014).

 

McFly – 7

5 Colours In Her Hair (2004), Obviously (2004), All About You/You've Got A Friend (2005), I'll Be Ok (2005), Don't Stop Me Now/Please Please (2006), Star Girl (2006), Baby's Coming Back/Transylvania (2007).

 

Robbie Williams – 7

Millennium (1998), She's The One/It's Only Us (1999), Rock DJ (2000), Eternity/The Road To Mandalay (2001), Somethin' Stupid with Nicole Kidman (2001), Radio (2004), Candy (2012).

 

Tinie Tempah - 7

Pass Out ft. Labrinth (2010), Written In The Stars ft. Eric Turner (2010), R.I.P with Rita Ora (2012), Tsunami (Jump) with DVBBS & Borgeous (2014), Crazy Stupid Love with Cheryl (2014), Not Letting Go ft. Jess Glynne (2015), Turn The Music Louder with KDA, Katy B (2015).

 

 

He's been quite unlucky with having a few debut at number two hasn't he - Kids, Bodies, Freedom - any others? :huh:

He's been quite unlucky with having a few debut at number two hasn't he - Kids, Bodies, Freedom - any others? :huh:

 

Don’t forget Shame!

 

I forget Patience didn’t debut at number 1. But, WCIWUWY, RTW and The Flood all narrowly missed out on their first week

Don’t forget Shame!

 

I forget Patience didn’t debut at number 1. But, WCIWUWY, RTW and The Flood all narrowly missed out on their first week

 

Yes! I thought there was another one :)

Also Old Before I Die and Tripping were Number 2.

Also Old Before I Die and Tripping were Number 2.

 

So he's had six songs that missed the UK top by one place?

 

That's such a shame.

UK Album Charts (11.12.2020)

40 (47) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 WoC)

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/

 

Germany Album Charts (11.12.2020)

28 (28) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (10 WoC)

http://www.mtv.de/charts/70tgrf/album-top-100

 

Austria Top 40 Alben (11.12.2020)

28 (50) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (8 Weeks)

https://austriancharts.at/charts/alben

 

Swiss Album Charts (13.12.2020)

47 (63) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (8 Weeks)

http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/alben

 

Australia ARIA Top 50 Albums (11.12.2020)

31 (50) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (8 Weeks)

https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart

 

Scottish Album Chart (11.12.2020)

35 (50) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 Weeks)

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/

 

Belgian Ultratop Album Chart (11.12.2020)

175 (Re) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (8 Weeks)

https://www.ultratop.be/nl/albums/?page=4

 

p.s. https://acharts.co/

Belgium 175 :o

UK Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 (18.12.2020)

9 (56) Robbie Williams - Can't Stop Christmas (4 weeks)

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singl...ownloads-chart/

 

-----

 

Austria Top 40 Alben (18.12.2020)

18 (28) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 Weeks)

https://austriancharts.at/charts/alben

 

Germany Album Charts (18.12.2020)

22 (28) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (11 WoC)

http://www.mtv.de/charts/70tgrf/album-top-100

 

Australia ARIA Top 50 Albums (18.12.2020)

29 (31) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 Weeks)

https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart

 

New Zealand NZ Top 40 Albums (18.12.2020)

33 (Re) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (6 Weeks)

https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums

 

Scottish Album Chart (18.12.2020)

34 (35) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (10 Weeks)

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...-albums-chart/

 

Swiss Album Charts (20.12.2020)

42 (47) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 Weeks)

http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/alben

 

UK Album Charts (18.12.2020)

41 (40) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (10 WoC) - 4k

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/

 

Belgian Ultratop Album Chart (18.12.2020)

148 (175) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (9 Weeks)

https://www.ultratop.be/nl/albums/?page=4

 

Dutch Albums Top 100 (19.12.2020)

93 (Re) Robbie Williams - The Christmas Present (6 Weeks)

https://acharts.co/dutch_albums_top_100

 

 

p.s. https://acharts.co/

p.p.s. by the moment TCP has sold 247k (231k - 2019; 16k - 2020) in UK.

I believe another 10k more to come during this period but not more, so it should reach 257k in total. It's underperformed in my opinion.

Edited December 23, 20204 yr by Better Man

The single has done pretty ok,, amazing Fairy Tale of New York is top 5 year after year, a real classic that song

 

 

p.p.s. by the moment TCP has sold 247k (231k - 2019; 16k - 2020) in UK.

I believe another 10k more to come during this period but not more, so it should reach 257k in total. It's underperformed in my opinion.

 

It's certainly not going to match Buble that's for sure and that's what he wanted.

 

In future years if there's no promo - it won't be heard of again. It's a shame.

Edited December 20, 20204 yr by Laura130262

Buble did what Robbie did with his swing album: He recorded a Christmas album as contemporary artist like Rob recorded a swing album as contemporary artist. Both had been very successful and still sell.

Since then everyone and his do does swing (not even half as good as Rob) and has recorded a Christmas album. There is an avalanche. None of the newer ones will match Buble's not even the superstars of the moment. So I am not surprised.

Agree with you.

Plus for a normal promo there is need a full Xmas tour to get other artists' audience to your side.