Madonna’s single 4 Minutes has become the fourth consecutive No.1 single to spend at least a month at the top of the UK though her album Hard Candy is unexpectedly pushed to No.2 by Jumping All Over The World, the new album by German techno band Scooter. Wiley’s Wearing My Rolex benefits from its physical release to climb to No.2 while Sam Sparro slides a place to No.3 with Black & Gold

 

1. Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes (1)

 

And so for a fourth week, Madonna and Justin Timberlake rule the charts with 4 Minutes, the first single from Madonna’s current album Hard Candy. While Hard Candy unexpectedly surrenders its albums crown to German techno trio Scooter this week, who top the chart with new album Jumping All Over The World, there is no stopping her on the singles chart. 4 Minutes is now her most prolific No.1 single since 1990’s Vogue, which also managed a month at the top. Should the queen of pop make it five weeks in control next week, it will be her longest running No.1 single ever in the UK. Her appearance as the headline act at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Maidstone should aid the sales of the single and album over the next few days and could put her in a good position to break her personal chart record this time next week. Amazingly, the last time that there were four consecutive chart toppers to spend at least a month in control was in 1972/1973 when Chuck Berry, Little Jimmy Osmond, The Sweet and Slade achieved this rare feat.

 

2. Wiley - Wearing My Rolex (3)

 

Edging up another place, this time due to its physical release, it would seem that No.2 is the new No.1 as Wiley, Sam Sparro, Adele, H ‘Two’ O feat Platnum, Nickelback, Flo Rida feat T-Pain, Britney Spears and Leona Lewis have all discovered so far this year. Wiley’s grime/dance crossover track, the tongue in cheek Wearing My Rolex, is by far the British rappers biggest hit, his previous biggest being his association with the No.11 2005 hit The Avenue, by his group Roll Deep.

 

3. Sam Sparro - Black & Gold (2)

 

Seven weeks inside the top five and British based Australian singer Sam Sparro refuses to disappear with his electro-pop anthem Black & Gold. The song, taken from his self titled top five debut album has moved 4-4-2-3-2-2-3 in its seven weeks inside the top five and is becoming one of the more prolific non-chart toppers of the decade. Other long running No.2 singles of the 2000’s include Shakira’s Whenever Wherever, Take That’s Rule The World, Kate Nash’s Foundations, Mark Ronson’s Valerie and Baha Men’s Who Let The Dogs Out, which all spent at least seven weeks inside the UK top five without ever topping the chart.

 

4. Will.I.Am feat. Cheryl Cole - Heartbreaker (8)

 

Heartbreaker finally climbs into the top five this week following the release of the physical single as well as the download versions that feature the vocals of Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole. It is the first top five single for Will.I.Am, who emulates the solo success that fellow Black Eyed Peas band member Fergie had when London Bridge and Big Girls Don’t Cry reached the UK top five in 2006 and 2007 respectively. It is the first top five success for any Girls Aloud member away from the band, and is indeed the first solo musical project that any member of the band has ever embarked on.

 

5. Usher feat. Young Jeezy - Love In This Club (4)

 

A fourth week in the top ten but down a place this week, is Love In This Club, the comeback single from Usher, and a former US No.1. Usher will be hoping that his forthcoming new album Here I Stand will follow his last album Confessions to No.1 when released on May 26th. Whilst that is not certain in the UK, it is a foregone conclusion in the US where he is one of their biggest stars. Usher helped to make chart history in the UK last week when his song was one of nine urban or dance tracks in the UK top ten. Only Scouting For Girls spoiled the fun, while this week Coldplay and Kylie deny the complete dominance of the two genres.

 

6. Estelle feat. Kanye West - American Boy (5)

 

Now on its 8th week inside the top ten, Estelle’s duet with Kanye West, American Boy, refuses to disappear and is still one of the most played tracks on UK radio. The song, which spent four weeks at No.1 before Madonna toppled her, has gone silver in the UK and is well on its way to cementing its status as a mega hit by appearing at the top end of the charts all over the world. Estelle’s next single Substitute Love is due out next month, while she also features on a version of Taio Cruz’s new single I Can Be.

 

7. September - Cry For You (6)

 

Spending a fifth week inside the top ten, Cry For You by Swedish singer September continues the impressive run of success for both the dance genre in 2008 as well as the record label Hard2Beat. This single will have sold its 100,000th copy this week and Basshunter and H ‘Two’ O have both gone silver in the UK. The next release from the label should be Basshunter’s second single Please Don’t Go, a cover of the KC & The Sunshine Band song that KWS took to No.1 in 1992, while legendary German DJ Sash! has also recently joined the record label.

 

8. Coldplay - Violet Hill (NEW)

 

Making their long awaited return this week, are British superstars Coldplay, who are still yet to have a UK No.1 single, In My Place and Speed Of Sound both peaking at No.2. Their top ten arrival is rather unexpected considering that the new single, Violet Hill, was being given away for free download on the band’s official website last week, when two million people were said to have taken the band up on their offer. However, it is now only available on legal download sites and will not be receiving a proper physical release, although the latest issue of NME has a free 7” version of the single. Why so many people have chosen to pay to download a track that was previously free is a mystery, but considering its current chart topping status on iTunes, it could soon well be the first UK No.1 single not to have been officially released physically.

 

9. Flo-Rida feat. T - Pain Low (7)

 

Still falling but incredibly in the top ten now for a tenth week is Low, the first UK single from US rapper Flo-Rida and everyone’s favourite co-star T-Pain. The song has been in the UK top forty for thirteen weeks in total after it entered at No.40 on download sales initially and it has sold well over 200,000 copies now. The next single from the rapper, Elevator, which features Timbaland and also comes from the debut album Mail On Sunday, is scheduled for release on May 26th.

 

10. Kylie Minogue - In My Arms (46)

 

Incredibly soaring into the top ten after poor initial download sales, Australian superstar Kylie Minogue keeps in tact her unbroken run of top ten hits in this decade so far, which started almost eight years ago with her huge comeback single Spinning Around. In My Arms, the third single from Kylie’s tenth album X, is produced by Calvin Harris and has already been a huge hit across Europe where it was the second single. The physical success of this single proves what a devoted fanbase the singer still has.

 

Other notable movers and shakers in the top 40:

 

14. Kelly Rowland feat. Travis McCoy Daylight (36)

 

Continuing her impressive run of UK success, Daylight soars into the top twenty this week for Ms. Kelendria Rowland following its physical release and is her seventh consecutive UK top twenty hit. The song features vocals from Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, who had success exactly a year ago with Cupid’s Chokehold. It is taken from the re-release of Kelly’s second album Ms. Kelly which is due out on Monday and features a few new tracks including the Freemasons remix of Work, which was a No.4 success for the ex-Destiny’s Child member earlier in the year.

 

15. James Fox Bluebirds Flying High (NEW)

 

The second hit single for British male singer James Fox, Bluebirds Flying High is the Cardiff City FC FA Cup Final song, and its sales have been largely physical, most likely predominantly from Wales. James Fox, who was discovered on BBC talent show Fame Academy where he finished 5th in 2003, first reached the UK top twenty in 2004 when his UK Eurovision entry Hold Onto Our Love reached No.13. The song finished 16th in the contest.

 

17. Duffy Warwick Avenue (29)

 

Rising into the top twenty for the first time, where it joins Duffy’s huge No.1 single Mercy (which has now sold 400,000 copies in the UK and gone gold), is the gorgeous ballad Warwick Avenue. Still a couple of weeks away from a physical release on May 26th, the song seems on course to be a future top ten hit but its her album Rockferry that will arguably reap the benefits, and the album notches up another week in the UK top three this week. It has not left the top five since its release over two months ago and is well on course to a million sales by the end of the year.

 

19. Nelly & Fergie Party People (22)

 

Climbing yet again albeit not by much, is the new duet from rapper Nelly and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie. The song is still charting on downloads and is gradually on its way up, this time into the top twenty for the first time, although the chance of it making a major chart impact seem fairly limited now and the best that it can hope for is surely the low top ten. Party People has been a surprisingly small hit so far in the US considering that Fergie was one of their biggest stars of 2007. It is currently at No.46 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

22. Ne-Yo - Closer (NEW)

 

American R&B singer Ne-Yo had his first UK success two years ago with the ballad So Sick, which topped the chart. He has had further success with Sexy Love, Because Of You and his Rihanna duet Hate That I Love You. Closer is the first single from his new album Year Of The Gentleman and debuts on downloads alone this week following early airplay although it is not released physically until June 30th, which could seriously hinder its chances as a potential future UK No.1.

 

24. The Pigeon Detectives This Is An Emergency (NEW)

 

The comeback single from British indie band The Pigeon Detectives, This Is An Emergency is a radio friendly anthemic song from the quintet, which does not stray too far away from the sound of their first album. Favourites of the Radio 1 A-list, the band were barely off the radio last year with the top twenty hits I’m Not Sorry, Take Her Back and Romantic Type. The single debuts on downloads this week and is released physically on Monday where the band will hope that it will be their first top ten hit in the UK.

 

30. Sara Bareilles - Love Song (52)

 

Having been picked up by Napster in the US for use on a commercial a few months ago, unknown Californian singer songwriter Sara Bareilles was propelled to No.4 in the US Billboard chart and remains in the top ten now, after a number of months. Love Song is the first UK release from Sara’s debut album Little Voice and charts on downloads alone with the physical single due out on June 2nd. It has already started to pick up significant airplay here and the quirky but charming video will surely only help it on its way to much bigger things.

 

32. Wideboys feat. Shaznay - Lewis Daddy O (50)

 

Is this the end of the garage revival? One of the most heavily hyped bassline tracks of the year limps into the top forty this week after its full release. It seems to have everything going for it. It’s an infectious track with a catchy chorus and vocals by All Saints singer Shaznay, and it has had its fair share of rotation on music channels and on some radio stations. The fact that it has faltered after such hype has surrounded it can only be a sign of bad times for a genre that had looked to have found its feet again

 

37. Santogold – L.E.S Artistes (51)

 

American singer/songwriter Santogold’s first UK single creeps into the top forty this week, though it almost reached the top fifty on download sales alone this week. The unique song takes a few listens to get into and may yet climb in the coming weeks though this week’s climb comes courtesy of its physical release. The singer, who is often compared to M.I.A, appeared on Pretty Green, a track from Mark Ronson’s Version album, and has also written songs recently for Ashlee Simpson.

 

Next weeks chart

 

Can Madonna do what Estelle couldn’t and get a fifth week at the top with 4 Minutes? In her amazing career, the singer has never managed a five week chart topper in the UK so far! She faces stiff competition from current iTunes No.1 Coldplay, Wiley, and Sam Sparro who will all fight to climb to No.1 with their current singles. There are physical releases due from Cardiff City Fans, Cassie, Chanelle Hayes, David Jordan, Hot Chip, Pigeon Detectives and The Ting Tings, all of whom should reach the top 75. The Ting Tings are releasing their download at the same time and should score their first top ten hit next week. There are notable download releases due from Rihanna, Sandi Thom and Andy Abraham. Scooter will look to capitalise on their unexpected No.1 album by staying there for a second week but they face competition from Madonna and Duffy who will reap the benefits of their Radio 1 Big Weekend performances. Notable new album releases are due from Pendulum, Neil Diamond, Santogold, Jay Sean, Kelly Rowland, Moby and Amy Winehouse, who releases a deluxe edition of debut album Frank on Monday.

regrettably, the chart commentary will have to be a lot simpler from next week because I have to start a full time job starting on Friday and won't be here for the chart again as I have to work until 6 on Sundays...I have for the last few weeks been spending all of Sunday researching and typing this up, but I'll have to try and do it in an hour from now on so I will proabably revert back to my old format...

 

unless anyone wants to takeover from me of course :o

weres adele?

down to No.26

unless anyone wants to takeover from me of course :o

You should somehow continue not anyone else :o

Brill review! As Usual!

 

I hope Cassie gets a Top 40 hit next week with her best song IMO Is It You! :wub:

 

Hope Rihanna can go Top 10 on Downloads alone next week! But anywhere inside the Top 40 would be brill for Download only! ^_^

unless anyone wants to takeover from me of course :o

 

:o unless you do bit by bit each day, than just put nos on a Sunday.

 

Brill review! As Usual!

 

I hope Cassie gets a Top 40 hit next week with her best song IMO Is It You! :wub:

 

Hope Rihanna can go Top 10 on Downloads alone next week! But anywhere inside the Top 40 would be brill for Download only! ^_^

 

thanks Johnjo! Not sure about Cassie :o she could well scrape in by the looks of it! Rihanna will definitely go top 10 with the beautiful Take A Bow :wub:

:o unless you do bit by bit each day, than just put nos on a Sunday.

 

not sure yet...if I'm having to individually reviw the fortunes of 20 songs plus do a next week prediction, it becomes very time consuming...I'm pretty sure I'll have to simplify it again, plus it won't be up at 7pm anymore as I'll need to have dinner before typing it up :P

regrettably, the chart commentary will have to be a lot simpler from next week because I have to start a full time job starting on Friday and won't be here for the chart again as I have to work until 6 on Sundays...I have for the last few weeks been spending all of Sunday researching and typing this up, but I'll have to try and do it in an hour from now on so I will proabably revert back to my old format...

 

unless anyone wants to takeover from me of course :o

 

I loved the old format so would be more than happy reading the report as it used to be.

Thanks for your effort and good luck with the new job.

 

Good look with the new job Rich. :cheer: Great read as usual!

I loved the old format so would be more than happy reading the report as it used to be.

Thanks for your effort and good luck with the new job.

 

might do that then :D hope other people don't mind...

Good look with the new job Rich. :cheer: Great read as usual!

 

cheers Jonny, although its more like going back to the old job but full time instead of part time :o

Great commentry as usual, always a great read.

Just a couple of points ...

Chuck Berry, Little Jimmy Osmond, The Sweet and Slade achieved this rare feat end of 1972 & start of 1973.

Please dont't go is a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's hit from 1979 which KWS covered in 1992.

Great commentry as usual, always a great read.

Just a couple of points ...

Chuck Berry, Little Jimmy Osmond, The Sweet and Slade achieved this rare feat end of 1972 & start of 1973.

Please dont't go is a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's hit from 1979 which KWS covered in 1992.

 

cheers Paul, will correct :D

Great commentry as usual, always a great read.

Just a couple of points ...

Chuck Berry, Little Jimmy Osmond, The Sweet and Slade achieved this rare feat end of 1972 & start of 1973.

Please dont't go is a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's hit from 1979 which KWS covered in 1992.

 

but shouldnt that be: Please dont't go is a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's hit from 1979 which KWS ripped off an Italian dance act because Network Records couldnt get the rights of ZYX records in 1992...tho both probs a Celebrating the Nun-ness load of Master B8....