It’s a Jackson double at the top of the charts but not the same one.

 

I’ve never really understood why people rush out and buy records which have been available for years just because the singer has died. Even more baffling is the fact that some people may have downloaded songs they already own. The download era, of course, exaggerates the effect because of the easy availability of songs although, paradoxically, that same availability would have made it easier to acquire the songs before now. So, following Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday, loads of people suddenly decided they wanted to own some of his songs – or own another copy a song they already owned. By early Friday evening his songs dominated the livehits chart which collates information from all download sites over a 24-hour period and that dominance continued through the weekend. However, the multiple versions of most songs made it impossible to predict just how well they would do by Sunday evening. Not what chart commentators or leaders of chart show threads on various forums really want.

 

The Michael Jackson entries are led by Man In The Mirror which only made number 21 on its release in 1988. At least that means it’s probably being downloaded by people who didn’t own it before but the song is no better than it was 21 years ago. Still, it enters at number 11 thus beating its previous peak by ten places. The others are all in the lower half of the chart with Thriller at 23, Billie Jean at 25, Smooth Criminal at 28, Beat It at 30 and the dire Earth Song at 38.

 

At least his namesake, Elly Jackson, along with her fellow member of La Roux (you know, that bloke, wotsisname), have their first number one single with Bulletproof. Naming a band (or, in this case, a duo) after the singer’s hair colour seems to cause confusion for many people. La Roux/Elly Jackson are having the same problem that Debbie Harry and Blondie had for so long. La Roux’s debut album, released tomorrow, would have been a probable number one next week but that now looks rather less likely.

 

David Guetta drops one place to number two, Black Eyed Peas stay at three and Lady GaGa moves up to number four. If her performance at Glastonbury is anything to go by, she looks like carving out a reputation as a great performer.

 

Florence and the Machine have the second highest new entry of the week at twelve with Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up). And so, half way through the year, another of the BBC’s Sound of 2009 list achieves chart success. The best single with the word Rabbit in the title is still White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane which, inexplicably, failed to chart. The worst, of course, is Rabbit by Chas and Dave. Rabbit Heart is at least closer to being as good as White Rabbit than as bad as Rabbit.

 

Basement Jaxx return to the top 40 at 21 with Raindrops. In normal years that would be an appropriate title for Glastonbury weekend and Wimbledon fortnight. However, after the millions spent on Centre Court’s new roof, it was inevitable that the rain would stay away this year (so far at least). Fortunately Basement Jaxx have stayed away from Glastonbury this year. It’s a shame they didn’t stay away from the studio. Not that they needed to return to the studio to produce what sounds like a mash-up of their previous dross. The lowest new entry comes from Noisettes at 31 with the rather cheerful Never Forget You.

 

Finally for the singles, it’s the regular marathon chart run update. The Jackson invasion looked like costing Jason Mraz yet another week in the top 40. I’m Yours slipped out on the mids on Wednesday but was back by Friday. By Sunday, it had actually climbed back up to 35, one of his favourite positions. It is the 63rd song to spend 25 weeks in the top 40. Poker Face also held on, thus clocking up a 24th week in the top 40.

 

If buying a song just because someone has died, buying a whole album seems even more odd. If someone hasn’t thought Thriller was worth buying at any time over the last 25 years, why change their mind now. It can hardly be because they’d never heard of it. At least the predictions that the top five (or even the top ten) would all be Jackson albums have proved to be pure hype although his Number Ones album does return to the top. Lower down, Thriller is, predictably, the highest placed studio album at seven with two more compilations at 14 and 20 and Off The Wall at 17.

 

Take That’s tour has helped The Circus climb back up to number four while Lady GaGa climbs a full 13 places back to number five. Last week’s top two would have stayed there but for the Jackson effect. Instead they both fall one place.

 

Neil Sedaka has been writing songs since he was 13. He is now 70. He has had many hits in his own right with songs such as Oh Carol and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen. However, the song most familiar to younger music fans will be (Is This The Way To) Amarillo. All these songs duly appear on his new compilation, Music Of My Life, along with Stairway to Heaven. Panic ye not, it isn’t a cover of the Led Zeppelin song. The album comes in at number 15. One place behind is Jack Penate’s second album, Everything Is New and Gossip are new at 18 with Music For Men. Not this one Beth.

 

Black Clouds and Silver Linings is Dream Theater’s tenth album. Just two of the previous nine have charted, each spending a single week in the lower reaches of the top 75. They say that every silver lining has a cloud – or something like that anyway. The cloud, in this case is, of course, the Jackson invasion which means they make their top 40 debut rather lower than they would have done. Nevertheless, number 23 is far better than they’ve managed before even if they would have made the top 20 in other circumstances.

 

Keri Hilson returns to the top 40 at 22 with In A Perfect World. Her very existence makes the world far from perfect. Regina Spektor scores her first top 40 album at 30 with Far. Noisettes also climb back up to 24 with Wild Young Hearts , The Script are back up to 26 and Duffy’s Rockferry returns at 36.

 

Great read, but I don't like you having a stab at Basement Jaxx, Raindrops is a good song xP

Great read, but I don't like you having a stab at Basement Jaxx, Raindrops is a good song xP

Sorry :( I'm afraid I'm just not a Basement Jaxx fan.

Sorry :( I'm afraid I'm just not a Basement Jaxx fan.

 

That's fine, it's just a general flaw with opinionated commentary. I don't care that much :D

That's fine, it's just a general flaw with opinionated commentary. I don't care that much :D

From the easiest to the hardest, this is how hard it is to write about a subject in which you have strong opinions while still being (at least slightly) interesting.

 

1 (the easiest) Slagging off something you don't like

2 Praising something you like

3 Being neutral

 

Gooddelta managed to do the third very well. I can't. :lol:

I enjoy reading your commentary every week. I like the strong opinions and agree with most -- especially Keri Wilson, The Gossip, and Michael Jackson. I have no interest in buying any of his music now than I have over the past 40 years -- with the exception that I hope Jackson 5's I Am Love will finally be released on CD.

 

Thank you for the positive review of Rabbit Heart. I was excited about getting the album until I heard her terrible performance on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge. I would guess that the engineers must have put in extra hours during the recording of the album.

I enjoy reading your commentary every week. I like the strong opinions and agree with most -- especially Keri Wilson, The Gossip, and Michael Jackson. I have no interest in buying any of his music now than I have over the past 40 years -- with the exception that I hope Jackson 5's I Am Love will finally be released on CD.

 

Thank you for the positive review of Rabbit Heart. I was excited about getting the album until I heard her terrible performance on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge. I would guess that the engineers must have put in extra hours during the recording of the album.

Thanks :D I think I still prefer Dog Days Are Over to Rabbit Heart but they're both good songs.