The Suedehead Chart Commentary

Posted June 7, 200916 yr

New blood at the top of the albums chart and a recycled number one in the singles.

One of the few things to have remained constant throughout the history of the UK singles chart is that it is unusual for a record to return to the number one spot. This week, Black Eyed Peas return to the top of the charts with Boom Pow Pow, possibly helped by its inclusion in Diversity’s stunning dance routine in the final of Britain’s Got Talent. That doesn’t alter the fact that the song itself is awful. The song that beat them for the last two weeks, Dizzee Rascal’s Bonkers, swaps places to finish at number two.

One of the things that has changed over the years is the performance of indie guitar bands. At the moment, most such bands have under-performed in the singles chart although some of them have done well in the albums chart. Kasabian, however, have bucked the trend with their new single, Fire, being the highest new entry of the week at number three. This is their fourth top ten hit but it comfortably beats their previous best position of number eight for Cutt Off. I can’t say I’ve ever been a great fan of Kasabian but Fire is a good song and deserves to be their biggest hit.

Completing the top five, Agnes is down one place to number four and Daniel Merriweather spends a third week at number five.

Keri Hilson also enters the top ten, climbing six places to number six. Making way for her and Kasabian, Eminem’s top ten run with We Made You is broken and, whether she thinks it’s fair or not, Lily Allen also drops out.

Did You See Me Coming, ask the Pet Shop Boys in their latest single. Until, the midweek charts arrived, no I didn’t, at least in terms of top 40 success. This is one of the occasions when I’m delighted to be proved wrong and it’s a real pleasure to see Neil and Chris enter at number 21.

Enter Shikari enter at number 28 with the rather bizarre single, Juggernauts. In parts it’s standard shouty stuff but then there are bits that sound like The Streets. Their only previous hit single was Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour which spent a week at number 27 in 2007. That showed a strange attachment to the numbers two and seven, spending its first and fourth week in the top 75 at number 72. That was this week’s completely pointless fact.

Carolina Liar are based in Los Angeles although most of their members are Swedish. If the single, Show Me What I’m Looking For, is representative, their sound is definitely more American than Swedish. And, if they were looking for a hit single in the UK, they’ve got it by entering at number 31.

Another pointless fact is that Jason Mraz has now spent the last seven weeks between 32 and 35. In its whole chart run, I’m Yours has spent four weeks at number 32 and another four (including this week) at 35.

Kelly Clarkson enters at number 36 with I Do Not Hook Up which is well down to her usual standard.

After another performance by the singing rugby player on BGT, Bill Withers slips back into the top 40 at number 40 with his original version of Ain’t No Sunshine, the same position it reached in the wake of the audition performance. It is the 16th song to spend two (or more) weeks at number 40 without getting any higher. Thanks to ad1 at ChC for that information.

It’s a good week for Empire of the Sun. The single, We Are The People makes a very welcome appearance in the top 20 at number 14. The album, Walking On A Dream also benefits, entering the top 20 for the first time at number 19.

Among the songs leaving the top 40 this week, Miley Cyrus’s appalling Hoedown Throwdown has been thrown out and You Me At Six have lost their place with Finders Keepers. Lady GaGa’s Just Dance leaves after 22 weeks in the top 40.

The top two albums are both new entries. Paolo Nutini takes the number one slot with his new album, Sunny Side Up having reached number three with These Streets. That debut album is in its fourth week back in the top 40, climbing twelve places to number 24 while the single, Candy, climbs back up to number 27. In at number two is Daniel Merriweather with Love and War. It’s the second album he’s recorded although, for some reason, the first was never released. Last week’s top two both drop two places.

Paul Potts won the first series of Britain’s Got Talent. Any suggestion that the release date of his new album has anything to do with the fact that Simon Cowell is a judge on the programme and the owner of his record label would, of course, be highly cynical. And true. His first album, One Chance reached number one but this time round he has to be content with entering at number five with Passione.

Diana Krall’s Quiet Nights enters at number 11. It’s only her third studio album to chart although a Best Of also charted in 2007.

It’s been a long wait for new material from Eels with Blinking Lights And Other Revelations having been released back in 2005. Since then there has been a Greatest Hits collection and a compilation of b-sides but now they’ve returned to the studio to make Hombre Lobo and it enters at number 18.

The Pretenders tried an interesting marketing ploy to sell copies of their new set, Break Up The Concrete. They’ve bundled it up with a new Best Of collection. The album was originally released last year but failed to chart. But now, thirty years after their first chart action, they’re back at number 35.

Following their appearance with Jonathan Ross just over a week ago, The Killers’ Hot Fuss returns to the top 40 at 34 while Day And Age climbs back to number 12. Hot Fuss took seven months to reach number one after a fairly slow start. The week it went to number one was only its fourth in the top 10. However, it has now clocked up nearly 80 weeks in the top 40 and over 200 weeks in the top 100. Last week it clocked up 260 weeks (five years) in the top 200.

As well as The Killers, there are also re-entries for Kelly Clarkson, Bob Marley (with Legend) and Eminem’s Greatest Hits.

Patrick Wolf rather defies description. Simply to describe him as a singer-songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist doesn’t really do him justice. After his last album, The Magic Position, failed to make the top 40 he announced he was quitting the music business. Fortunately, he changed his mind and has now released an excellent fourth album, The Bachelor thanks to many of his fans who financed it. The next album is due to be financed the same way. Sadly, he just misses out on the top 40 again. I know I don’t normally mention anything that misses out but I’d written this and wanted to keep it in!

The usual thanks go to ChC, Music Week and chartstats.com for providing some of the information. All opinions expressed in the article are those of the author and may not reflect the opinions of all members of this forum.