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6 Beyoncé & Shakira Beautiful Liar #2s kept off #1: Brianstorm (Arctic Monkeys), Your Love Alone Is Not Enough (Manic Street Preachers) Beyoncé’s highly anticipated return as solo artist in 2006, while successful, didn’t seem to meet the expectations set by predecessor Dangerously in Love. While her 2003 debut spent its first five weeks at #1, on top of yielding the long-running classic Crazy in Love, second album B’Day underperformed in comparison. The first issue proved to be lead single, Déjà Vu. Although it topped the chart, it was widely criticised for being a lesser ‘Crazy’, reinforced more so by Jay-Z’s (at this point) obligatory feature on her lead single. The song failed to match Crazy’s longevity, while the album suffered its own tumble upon release. Debuting at #3, the album fell to 19-33-40, exiting the top 40 after only a month. On the other side of the pond, while the album gave B her second chart topper, the lead single debuted at #4 before sliding down the chart. Second single Irreplaceable, helped in part by the easily imitable "to the left, to the left" hook, proved to be the hit of the album. Despite being released in October (peaking at #4), it managed to surpass Déjà Vu in the end-of-year best-sellers list, finishing at 29 to DV’s 56. The song also gave B that elusive sophomore era US #1 hit, spending 10 weeks at the top! The UK performance of the album was also salvaged, spending an additional 17 weeks in the top 40. Despite Irreplaceable’s success during the 2006-07 winter, there seemed to be little faith in the rest of the album cutting it as singles, because as early as February, Beyoncé announced a repackaged version of B’Day, set for release the following April. Meanwhile, production team Stargate played a newly-written track to their manager, who thought it would make a perfect duet for Beyoncé and Shakira. Despite the producers thinking the idea impossible, Beyoncé liked the song upon hearing it and Shakira wasn’t difficult to convince either, having wanted to collaborate with B for a while. Once Shakira had recorded her part and added her Latin and Arabic influences on production, the scorned-lover team-up Beautiful Liar was born. The pop diva duet of 2007 landed mid-April, entering the charts a fortnight prior to CD release at #10. The song vaulted to #5 the following week before climbing to the top and remained there for three weeks, equaling Crazy in Love’s run. The song became Beyoncé’s third #1 as a solo artist and Shakira’s second chart-topper, after the previous year’s behemoth Hips Don’t Lie. The song also managed to successfully land the deluxe at #8 in the album chart upon release, pushing the album towards double-platinum. This song is such an underrated 00s gem and one I admittedly don’t play enough. Shakira’s influence on the record really makes it for me. Her voice just oozes the sex appeal and passion needed for this song. Not to discredit Beyoncé who more than delivers on her part. I think there could be an argument that considering the names involved this should be more explosive, but I think the song’s understated-ness is part of its charm. It has an effortless sexiness to it that doesn’t try too hard because it doesn’t need to: the fusion of Bey and Shakira’s sounds carry it, starting with that oh so sexy piping that grabs you at the start and then continuing on to that tease of a middle-8 instrumental. All in all, a brilliantly crafted duet that plays to both artists' strengths and totally authentic to each of them. I'm not sure how else I'd want a Bey/Shakira collab to sound to be honest. Beautiful Liar’s three-week reign at the top happened to prevent two bands from securing what would turn out to be their final #1 each, as neither band would scale these heights again. The Arctic Monkeys’ Brianstorm was the first casualty: despite being only 9 copies from the top in the Monday midweek flash, it would lose steam against Beautiful Liar’s download sales. It’s never been an AM fave of mine tbh so I’m happy Beykira beat them. The second casualty was the Manic Street Preachers with Your Love Alone Is Not Enough. The song ended up becoming a third in a string of #2s for the band, despite initially showing signs of heading to the top. The MSPs were not exactly my typical taste as a 13-year-old in 2007 but there was something very instant about this song: the bluesy rock sound combined with powerful vocals and a catchy melody. It would’ve made for a fantastic UK #1 to be honest. 2007 was certainly one of the last years in which bands of the old era were still managing to gain hits, with bands such as Iron Maiden also scoring top 3 hits as late as January that year! A trip down Buzzjack Memory Lane: Sunday chart predictions:

Oh yeah I think you're right. And there's only 5 nominees! It's going to be brutal omg. I just hope she can win something.

What are we thinking? Album of the year and Artist of the year noms are a given surely? Also best Pop act I can imagine. Surely she’ll get a performance slot also? If she does, not sure how she’ll top last year but I’m sure it’ll be epic! Can’t see it being anything other than Plastic Box or Church tbh. Interestingly, the president of her label has been announced as the chair of the 2026 BRITs Committee which can only bode well: First details announced for BRIT...First details announced for BRITs 2026Awards categories & criteria evolve for 2026

Man I Need is also at #4 in the US! She’s got a few others climbing too.

Up to 13 in the US!

Up to a peak of 22 in the US omg!

I’ve recently gotten into Dallas Major so I wouldn’t be mad at that either.

Ooh I’m intrigued to find out which one. Madeline would smash with airplay surely?

Great to see Teenage Dream over 2m and Lana’s debut getting there. BRAT and …Midwest Princess already over half a million in this climate is amazing!

7 Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E. The Way I Are #2s kept off #1: Foundations (Kate Nash) After first single Give It To Me successfully used Nelly & Justin’s star power to launch his Shock Value era, Timbaland switched tack and used the second single as a launch pad for one of his lesser-known proteges. Keri Hilson first made a dent on the music scene in the mid-00s, when she joined The Clutch, an American songwriting collective. Together, they wrote hits such as Omarion’s Ice Box, Ciara’s Like A Boy and the Pussycat Dolls’ Wait a Minute. Their biggest hit however would become the Britney classic, Gimme More. In 2006, Keri was introduced to Timbaland, who swiftly signed her to his Mosley Music Group. It was at this point Keri made her recording debut, appearing on tracks by P. Diddy and Lloyd Banks. Alongside this, Keri was also writing and recording tracks for Timbaland’s upcoming Shock Value. In the end, she more than left her mark on the album, featuring on four of the tracks and eventually two of the singles. The first of these singles was The Way I Are, which served as a follow-up to Give It To Me in July 2007. Produced by Timbaland and Danja, the song quickly built momentum, entering the top 20 a whole month prior to CD release, ascending 18-6-4-3 before climbing to #1 on downloads alone. The song spent two weeks at #1, beating Give It To Me’s run at the top in the process. It also prevented Kate Nash from scoring a #1 with Foundations – blocking her for two of the five weeks she spent stuck at #2! To add insult to injury, the first of those two weeks was by a sales difference of just 16 copies! The Way I Are also did wonders for Timbaland’s Shock Value which, upon release three months prior, spent two weeks at #10 before falling down. In its 16th week on the chart, in the midst of The Way I Are gaining traction, the album vaulted from 17 to 5 before reaching a peak of #2! A slow burner indeed. I’ve really grown to enjoy this song over time! The production, needless to say, is fire! Its futuristic qualities are very reminiscent of Timbaland’s work on Justin’s FutureSex/LoveSounds album, I’m thinking Sexyback and My Love specifically, but at the same time distinct enough to not feel like a cheap copy. I also love the gender role reversal in the lyrics, with Keri playing the role of the wealthy girlfriend to Timbaland’s broke boy, at one point suggesting he can strip for her in order to earn some cash! Even Timbaland's parts are really good here, and I've never really been a fan of him as a vocalist. All in all, it's a surefire banger that delivers on all accounts and I'd probably go as far to say this is my favourite ever Timbaland-led song. A trip down Buzzjack memory lane: Sales thread:

So happy to see LOL: Last One Laughing doing well in the ratings. Such a funny series. Those ratings for Celebrity Traitors are phenomenal. Can’t wait to see who’s in series 2!

Confirmed something as a placeholder!

+20 JADE - Church +19 Lady Gaga - Abracadabra +18 JADE - Plastic Box +17 Lily Allen - Madeline +16 Chappell Roan - The Subway +15 Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild +14 Addison Rae - Fame Is a Gun +13 JADE - FUFN (F**k You For Now) +12 Ed Sheeran - Azizam +11 Robyn - Dopamine +10 Benson Boone - Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else +9 Tate McRae - Sports car +8 Girls Aloud - Singapore (Definitive Version) +7 Addison Rae - Headphones On +6 BLACKPINK - JUMP +5 Sabrina Carpenter - Tears +4 Sabrina Carpenter - Busy Woman +3 Tate McRae - NOBODY'S GIRL +2 Perrie - If He Wanted to He Would +1 Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia

Either but went for rate!

YES YES YES! Absolutely love this woman! I can see it being a big hit. I wonder if this is why she left Strictly? Also hopefully another TV platform for musicians to perform. 🎉🎉

Fantastic theme! I’ll start thinking.

I still find it mad that if it wasn't for her vinyls existing, she would have been tied with Taylor last week. 🤯

Amanda & Sam. Sam if I had to choose one. He just seems too quiet and, unlike Amanda and Fiona(?), the editing doesn't seem to suggest him as the ST - immediate red flag.

8 Kaiser Chiefs Ruby #2s kept off #1: none The Kaiser Chiefs first exploded onto the indie scene in 2005, with the release of their mega successful debut album Employment. The band found instant acclaim, nominated for that year’s Mercury Prize before scooping 3 BRITs and an Ivor Novello the following year. The band also impacted the charts, reaching #2 in the albums, and scoring 4 top 20 singles (Oh My God [#6] and I Predict A Riot [#9] being the most successful). By the early months of 2007, the Kaiser Chiefs were ready to launch their second era and, in early February, released lead single Ruby: it seemed a trend in the mid-00s for musicians to name tracks after women (Jenny Don’t Be Hasty, Laura, Mary, Valerie, Sheila etc). The song was produced by the Chiefs’ familiar producer Stephen Street and lyrically tells the story of a girl the protagonist is infatuated with but also intimidated by. Lead singer Ricky Wilson described Ruby at the time as a “super cool, totally unapproachable girl”, though drummer Nick Hodgson later revealed the song to be about his black Labrador!! The song proved a smash hit for the band. Upon download release, the song landed at 33 in the Monday midweeks, before soaring to 6 on the Wednesday and debuting at 2 on the official Sunday chart – immediately giving the Kaiser Chiefs their biggest hit to date. The song would stall at #2 in its second week of release, before ascending to #1 once CD singles were released. Ruby finished the year as the 10th biggest-selling single and also became the band’s biggest hit in the US, peaking at 7 on the Billboard Triple A chart. Time has really made me enjoy this song. At the time, radio overplay and general indie fatigue made it difficult to appreciate it so I’m happy it somehow found its way onto my 00s playlist! There’s something very commanding about it (and most of the Kaiser tracks I’ve heard) – from the opening guitar riff that immediately catches your attention, to Ricky Wilson’s baritone vocal delivery. The song admittedly doesn’t have the frantic appeal of I Predict A Riot and Everyday I Love You Less And Less, but nonetheless still possesses that anthemic quality. I’m definitely more a fan of the verses than the chorus, which has always reminded me of Take That’s Patience (ah-ah-ah-ah) and seems a bit too bland. Not my favourite Kaiser Chiefs song but definitely worthy of being among the top half here. A trip down Buzzjack memory lane: Sunday chart show: Sunday chart predictions:

Intrigued to see who beat me to a certain artist beginning with H. 👀 Returning to my less-inspired original choice (for now lol).

Reconfirmed as worried mine was a bit cheap especially after last year. 🫢

Looking forward to following this! ❤️

Confirmed one of my absolute faves!

December (**) JADE - Church (**) JADE - If My Heart Was A House (**) Jordan Davis - O Come All Ye Faithful 🎄 (**) JADE - This Is What We Dance For (**) JADE - Use Me (**) The Jackson 5 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 🎄 (**) Girls Aloud - Not Tonight Santa 🎄 (**) The Ronettes - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 🎄 (**) Wham! - Last Christmas 🎄 (**) Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 🎄 (**) Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree 🎄 (**) Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad 🎄 (4) Lily Allen - Pussy Palace (**) Leona Lewis - One More Sleep 🎄 (**) Darlene Love - All Alone on Christmas 🎄 (**) Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) 🎄 (**) JADE - Glitch (**) Shakira - Whenever, Wherever (**) Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? (**) Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody 🎄 (**) Elton John - Step Into Christmas 🎄 (**) Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 🎄 (**) JADE - Dreamcheater (25) KATSEYE - Gabriela (**) Girls Aloud - Christmas 'Round At Ours 🎄

Oh I didn’t even register the Janet diss. 🫢 Totally agree with your feelings around Nipplegate. He got away with so much back then!