John_Squire

I really like Duffy, she always comes across really well in my opinion, not highly-strung or obnoxious at all. Her voice is really good too. Musically, her peak for me was the sublime 'Rockferry' single; Mercy is a modern classic and some of her first album was excellent, although I wouldn't give it more than 6/10 overall. I love the fact that 'Well Well Well' starts off with that screech! I like how it's quite brazen and I find it bizarre that so many people hate it. I can see it being polarizing but then surely some people must love it? If Adele had done it I reckon it would be bummed to extreme, especially on here(although Adele might have sung it better tbh). Duffy made an album she wanted to make and, although it was basically a flop (though even 2/3 of its opening sales would have got it to #1 a lot of the time!), that doesn't mean it was a bad record. If she gets dropped, well, it's a shame. I doubt she'd have another 2m selling album but she could go on to be a great established artist.

PJ Harvey #8 :wub:

I don't think Kesha's a non-number 1. For a start, it's easily going to sell 300k - quite a lot more than stuff like 'Dirtee Disco' which didn't even manage 200k.

Bored of WTC. It's not that great and most David Guetta tracks are overrated.

I'm always surprised how well Mumford and Sons have done. I don't mind them at all, but I imagine their music to be more the niche slot on Jools Holland/outside bet for the Mercury, with albums peaking top 30, not top 3 and selling the best part of a million!

Still CC, thought there are a few other crappy ones left.

BTW, my Tinie chart: 1 Pass Out 2 Wonderman 3 Miami2Ibiza 4 Written In The Stars 5 Frisky 6 Invincible (the only one I don't really like, a shame as I like Kelly Rowland too :( )

I'm so bored of f*** You now. I think it will be one of the most remembered songs from 2010-11 though - I can see it being played on the radio and in clubs in ten years' time.

Gutted that I never saw them live. I liked them since I heard the singles from 'White Blood Cells'. Middle four albums are brilliant, and IT took a while but really grew on me (I'd say it's as good as GBMS!), not as fussed on the debut but it's still good.

About time isn't it. I actually really like FIOE and never got into their first album. Not sure what to make of that album cover, very Eighties. Will wait and see what to make of this.

Fantastic album. On first listen I liked it overall - three or four outstanding tracks, not that fussed on some others. After more listens, love it. If you hear it once and aren't that pleased with it, give it time - I can see it being a real grower on people. Hopefully her second Mercury (and a losing nomination as Best British Female 2012!)

I'd actually rather people perform live on TV, even if it is just on Loose Women or whatever. Not that it would make any difference to most of the viewers, but it would be nice. I don't mind a few bum notes in a live performance either. Unless the whole thing sounded like cats in heat, it's OK. After all, you're watching an act you like/love/your musical idol - the experience should be as if not more important that the technicalities of the singing. It would probably be worse if they turned up two hours late, out of their heads on booze or drugs, were really obnoxious but did a decent performance.

Haha, I doubt it did! I'm probably totally wrong about 1.5m - I'm pretty sure it did over 1m though (it was over 900k in Jan 2004).

Yes, in terms of exposure. In that sense it's often just a form of airplay, though. It's only if the video is renowned/talked about that it makes a difference for itself: Examples: a-ha, Britney, some Rihanna...Electric Six! In such cases I would say the video would attract people to the song, rather than just being a means of airplay, if that makes sense.

^ I thought it had shifted closer to 1.5m! To be honest, given the healthy sales climate in 2003-4, I can believe both sold 900k. 'Present for Everyone' must have sold loads before Christmas and the debut was in and out of the top 10 for ages.

Yes, that's true. I suppose what the argument really is, then, is 'is Gaga the biggest popstar in Britain/the world'. If she was the biggest popstar, should she have done it without lots of airplay (and bear in mind she has had a week's worth by now, yet her sales have tailed off), from hype/fanbase alone. I'm not looking for a Gaga argument btw - I was just surprised she didn't sell 150k. Personally I'm not bothered. I imagine she'll still sell 600-700k of BTW, minimum.

Singles-wise, no! Most (all?) of their number 1s would be in the lowest-selling number 1s bracket (less than 200k) 'Who's David' sold less than 70k I think, You Said No about 100k, Crashed The Wedding about 125k... I do remember being surprised when their 'Thunderbirds/3AM' sold about 70k first-week, which was loads for the summer of 2004. It was top 20 year-end too IIRC, but probably only sold 180-190k total. Possibly 200k by now but I doubt it. Probably their biggest selling single was 'What I Go For School For' if it wasn't Thunderbirds. Year 3000 sold less that Thunderbirds did (might have passed it with downloads?)

Hopefully PJ Harvey can stay top 10 now - Cee-Lo and Arcade Fire could pass her but that should be it? Re: Gaga; her first full week of sales are comparable to Katy Perry's and Rihanna's last lead singles. In terms of UK chart history Gaga is more successful than KP and I'd say similarly successful to Rihanna. Gaga is in the papers/magazines every week - but then again so is Rihanna and KP: they're easily the three biggest female pop stars in the UK at the moment. So, I don't know if BTW can be considered a flop at all. Then again, I'd have thought she'd easily sell 150k - Bruno Mars only had three big songs to his name (JTWYA, NLY and Billionaire) and Grenade did nearly 150k - with Gaga's 18 months of massive popularity and the expectation because it's her, I would have expected that much. Her album will drop 200k first week though. Despite her massive singles success perhaps she will be a long-term albums act, like Madonna.

I'm not all that keen on SLY. It's one of my least favourite tracks off the album. I'd have preferred RITD to get to #1 (which it deserved). Great for Adele though, cos she actually lives up to all the hype with that voice.

Number 2, running Gaga close.

I hope PJ Harvey gets her second (NOT first) UK top 10 album. It's bloody good! It will go lower though - 19, Tinie Tempah, and Ellie Goulding at least will overtake her, and probably one of the other performing acts. Hopefully it will stay top 10 - I reckon 9. I'm actually a little disappointed it's only at #4 atm (unless Rihanna's sales are up) - given the positive reception and the hype the album's getting, I thought it could potentially clear 30k this week - now doubt it'll do over 20k (still good for PJ though!)

SP - CC

Up to 50k this week and I'll say 114k for next week.

The hideous Chasing Cars.

Ugh, 2006 was pretty bad in terms of big-selling singles. Leona.