Paul JH

It is a deserved flop. It's an album cut and not single material. I don't think Serious would have done much better. There aren't any more singles on the album. So Rockferry needs to have a full single release.

From many long visits to HMV and Zavvi and observing the shoppers there. Many people can't be bothered going to an HMV and buy all their music at a supermarket or Woolworth's.

Because I feel that the Katy Perry song appeals to a more mainstream audience; the kind of person that listens to the Capital FM group of stations and doesn't usually shop at HMV and Zavvi. Pjanoo appeals more to pure music fans and Radio 1 listeners who will shop at HMV and Zavvi or order the physical single online.

I never thought it could happen, but I think Eric Prydz could be #1 this week and next when the physicals come out. Katy Perry only has one format on CD, while Pjanoo appears to be on two CDs plus 12 inch. Also, the Perry buyers would have been Woolworth shoppers (thus resulting in no sales now!), rather than HMV and Zavvi, where Eric Prydz will definitely outsell Katy Perry. :D

Eric Prydz will likely be the first instrumental to top the iTunes chart. On the UK singles chart, there have been 24 instrumentals; most were in the 1950s and 1960s. The last was Flat Beat by Mr Oizo in 1999. Children by Robert Miles should have been #1, but it only got to #2. I can't recall what kept it from the top spot, but I'm sure it's not the classic that Children has become. Can someone please post the popularity bars? Is he close to that dreadful cherry chapstick song? Could he actually overtake it and be the UK #1 this week? This would have been an exciting period for UK #1s if Ms Perry had stayed in America.

Their best song will always be Two More Years. It's a song that's impossible to get tired of. Just brilliant!

I am completely serious. I grew up listening to the Four Seasons music and to hear it so cleverly used in this song is pretty wonderful. By the way, thanks for the frequent updates of this chart. I only wish I could download Beggin' and Baditude, but we can't do this in the US.

It is the best dance record in many years. Probably the best since Take Me To The Clouds Above or Lola's Theme. I love the Four Seasons sample, and the rap is tolerable.

Yes, with the exception of No Air. I want it to drop fast. Otherwise it's been a slow and much welcomed clear out. I'll be thrilled when Coldplay and Madcon pass No Air and it'd better be soon. Can't believe Baditude is not top 10.

If this makes #23 I'll be surprised. It's a third-rate Walk On By. Serious should have been the next single. It's the shame the album doesn't contain better songs apart from Rockferry, Mercy, and Warwick Avenue. Perhaps Sharleen Spiteri will write the songs for Duffy's second album. Melody is a great album. Rockferry is not.

Please help ... Who is Annie? And who was that Bashy from a couple weeks ago? I can't recall hearing them on Radio 1 or 2.

My question is answered! Jo Whiley just mentioned that These Are The Days was played over a BBC montage of Wimbledon highlights last night.

Any reason for These Are The Days charting? Did a choir sing it last Saturday? Agreed about The Feeling. The first album's songs were great. I blame the problems on sub-par songs and poor production ... everything seems a bit manic: the vocals, the drumming, and the piano riffs. A good producer could have controlled that. Could the same happen to The Kooks as the very ordinary Shine On isn't setting the chart on fire? Should have released Sway instead. Their cover of Violet Hill on Jo Whiley's programme last week was awful.

I miss the headings. Then it was easier to bypass someone like Busta Rhymes. I don't feel Viva La Vida is at all traditional Coldplay. It features no acoustic piano and few (or no) traditional guitar sounds. And they've never done a pure pop song like that before. Violet Hill and several others on the album are traditional Coldplay, but not VLV. I think it should be noted that Viva La Vida is the first true "album track" to reach #1. I certainly can't think of any previous ones. It's the first #1 that has never been pushed to radio as a single. (I know this may change in a few weeks, but thus far it's not an official single.)

I'm also surprised about the polarisation regarding Coldplay. I know that they may not appeal to everyone, but I'm surprised at the strong opinions against them. My theory is much of it is based on age and maturity. I'm not trying to attack anyone, but my point of view may be correct as I'm older. I still love many kinds of music and like following the charts. When I was 18, I would have loved songs by September, Sara, and Jordin, but they hold no appeal to me now. Yet, I can see the brilliance of a perfect pop song like About You Now. When I was 18, I wouldn't have understood Coldplay. So I likely would have the similar opinions to those expressed here. But now that I'm older I appreciate them fully. It is complex music ... but there is nothing more stimulating this century than all the music on Parachutes and many songs on the other albums. As I've said before, I find it exciting to be living in the age of Coldplay. People will be analysing their music 300 years from now, just as people still analyse the great composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Elgar.

I predict top 5, knocking Sara out of the top 5. ... just as long as they aren't #1.

Of course I want Viva La Vida to be Coldplay's first #1 single, but I'm terrified that the Jonas Brothers will get to #1. Isn't SOS out on physical this week? And it's rising too quickly on the iTunes chart. I still haven't heard the song as Radio 1 doesn't seem to play it often, which is fine with me.

I agree Jester and Mart!n. When X&Y came out in 2005 it was my #3 album of the year. I'm still playing it regularly and more often than my #1 and #2. It took me many months to get into A Message and Low and now they are two of my favourite Coldplay songs. Sometimes I don't like What If, but then another day I love it. The Parachutes album sounds as fresh as when I first bought it. So Coldplay music takes a long time to fully appreciate it. That is why they are the best band today (and in my opinion the best band ever).

Even if it means that The Pigeon Detectives stay on the playlist for one year, it will be worth it to never have No Air added to the playlist. Radio 1 listeners have no interest in this vile song. It's bad enough that Love Song has been on the A list far too long. Commercial radio can play those songs, but Radio 1 should not.

Gabrielle had a few classic soul songs on her recent fabulous album (Always, Every Little Teardrop, I'm Not In Love).

A band can't produce a Valerie or a Whistle For The Choir on every album. Those are exceptional songs and now classics. I very rarely listen to Radio 2 but for Poison Prince to become a hit single, it would need airplay on the same scale as This Is The Life -- Radio 2's continuous airplay has helped the album stay in the top 40. That's far more important than singles chart positions. Radio 2 is not enough to get a huge hit single, you need commercial radio behind you as well -- Perhaps you need to be reminded of a particular #1 single last December. I guess Radio 2 is huge after all. You can't deny that dance and R&B are dominant right now...even Scooter and Usher got No.1 albums recently, while the indie albums enter high and disappear quickly, just like in the singles charts. -- Are you predicting that Usher will spend the next year in the top 40 albums? I seriously doubt that. I expect Usher to fall down the chart as quickly as Madonna's R&B album. Yes, the Last Shadow Puppets got a #1 album and it fell quickly down the chart. Its brilliance appeals to a discerning audience, so we can't expect huge sales. I'd opt for quality over mainstream appeal any day.

Agreed, Richie, about Mint Royale. I went to You Tube, since I can't see BGT. The record is just plain terrible. So you don't have a valid point about dance topping the top, gooddelta. Sorry. Also, I think you fans of R&B are a bit biased. Tell me what is so groundbreaking about sampling Michael Jackson for Don't Stop The Music. Absolutely nothing special with that track, but I guess people like it to dance to it. Perhaps being more objective than some of you, I see no evolution of R&B over the past 10 years. And please name me some new R&B artists within the last year. I can't think of any. Whereas we are continuously getting new indie bands. Granted bands like One Night Only, Royworld, and Courteeners may not be the best, but they at least write fresh new music. And we have the excellent Vampire Weekend, which is a nice surprise this year. I agree that Always Where I Need To Be is average and Mistress Mabel rubbish, but Always Where I Need To Be was a great comeback. It's a catchy song, spent several weeks in the top 40 and has gotten a ton of airplay on Radio 1 ... but perhaps not on your commercial stations ... sorry I wouldn't know as I don't want to hear Hips Don't Lie, Amy's awful Valerie, and Rihanna every hour. I think most music critics would agree that 2008's two best albums in terms of quality songs, production, and variety would be from The Last Shadow Puppets and Elbow. As stated earlier, you have to respect a band like Elbow that retains their fans over many years and still get new fans (like myself). I also put Delays in this category. Name me two R&B artists with this longevity.

Soul is very much alive at #3 on the singles chart. Duffy sings Warwick Avenue with a classic soul style. Very impressive. I can hear Jackie Moore or Brenda and the Tabulations singing that song.

The Zutons are suffering from a lack of airplay? Aren't they number 6 on the radio airplay chart? They are constantly played on the country's most popular radio stations: Radio 2 and Radio 1. (I realise that the commentary author doesn't listen to Radio 2 based on previous comments concerning lack of airplay for Poison Prince.) Dance and R&B are the dominant genres in the UK at the moment? Perhaps on the singles chart, but it sure doesn't appear that way by looking at the album chart, or listening to a non-commercial radio station. I'd bet a lot of money that The Last Shadow Puppets and The Zutons will sell out more concerts (and sell more albums) than Sara Bareilles or Sam Sparro.

I'm one of the persons that doesn't have a CD-RW. Plus I don't know how to download anything (except for the free Violet Hill single). I looked into getting an iPod, but in the US we can't download most UK songs. For example, I wanted Rule The World. It has never been in the US iTunes. It's next to impossible to order from the British iTunes. So getting the CD single is the only option; it's easy to order from hmv.co.uk. I happily bought my Rule The World (along with many other CD singles) during a London trip earlier this year. And none of them are collecting dust on a shelf. I bought the Uninvited single for 5 pounds, which I consider a good value as it contained the extended version and two previous singles. I think CD singles and vinyl singles should continue as a niche market, similar to jazz, classical, and easy listening. To be profitable, the CD single price can be increased to 2.99 with a minimum of three tracks. Album sales are down because there are too many other entertainment options (such as games, video, film, and internet). I don't know anyone who still buys CD albums like me. The US album sales (per capita) are much lower than the UK. I used to walk into a London HMV, and it would be 90% music, 5% video, and 5% games. Now it seems to be an equal split, or with music at around 60%.