Singles
-------
Remarkably (since virtually no-one will admit to liking it) Basshunter 
retains the #1 spot for a 5th week!

It supposedly has a 35k to 32k lead over Nickelback.

New Entries/New Peaks
---------------------
Top 10 : Nickelback #2, David Jordan #5 ,Wet Wet Wet #10
Top 20 : Mark Brown & SC #11, Feeling #12, Morrissey #14, Goldfrapp #18, 
Kylie #20
Top 30 : Biffy Clyro #27
Top 40 : Michael Jackson #32, Timbaland (Scr) #36, 30STM #37

Re-entries T40 :

New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Yael Naim (*) #42, 
Duffy (R) #45, Craig David #54, Vampire Weekend #61, Chris Brown #63, 
Blood Red Shoes #64, Flo Rida #68, Iwasacubscout #71

* Apparently a Jewish soul singer, whose song is used in, surprise 
surprise, an advert!

Re-entries : Jack Johnson (IIHE) #66


Albums
------
As might be expected at this point, a ballad singer, namely Jack 
Johnson, claims the #1 spot.

New Entries/New Peaks
---------------------
Top 10 : Hot Chip #4, Mary J Blige #6, Billy Fury #10 (15)
Top 20 :

New outside the top 20 : Dionne Warwick #27, David Jordan #28 (41), 
Lenny Kravitz #42, Kenny Rogers #47, Alexander O'Neill #49, Morcheeba 
#59, Duke Spirit #63, Rascal Flatts #64, Charlie Landsborough #73

Re-entries : Feist #61, Jack Johnson (IBD) #69

Next Week
---------
Singles
-------
This should finally be the week where Basshunter are overtaken.

Nickelback's remarkably durable 'Rockstar' looks favourite*, with the 
other strongest challengers looking like being The Feeling, & Goldfrapp.

* If it does so, it would set a new record for the longest within-chart 
climb to #1.

Top 10 : Feeling, Goldfrapp
Top 20 : Kylie
Top 30 : Coral,  Simple Plan
Top 40 : Duffy, Craig David, Paramore, Yael Naim

Any other possibilities?


Albums
------
Given 5/7ths of the week will be under the Valentine's day influence, 
Jack Johnson should hold on at #1

Top 10 NE : Morrissey, One Night Only
Top 20 NE : MJ (Thriller 25th Ann)

Others : nothing obvious
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:3sbxABGQR1rHFwKo@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> Remarkably (since virtually no-one will admit to liking it) Basshunter 
> retains the #1 spot for a 5th week!

I would guess that quite a lot of people do admit to liking it, but they're 
not the sort who hang around discussing this sort of thing online.

> It supposedly has a 35k to 32k lead over Nickelback.

If true, that means it widened the gap substantially from where it was at 
one point.

> New Entries/New Peaks
> ---------------------
> Top 10 :
> David Jordan #5 ,

One of the many things I dislike about this record is the bit where he 
pronounces "groove" as a two-syllable word.
I'm starting to think of him as 2208's Mika.
Trevor Horn is credited as Executive Producer, whatever than means.

>Wet Wet Wet #10

Their first Top 10 appearance since a deservedly forgotten cover of 
'Yesterday' back in 1997.
Something tells me that when people talked about Web 2.0 hits it wasn't the 
Wets they had in mind. Least of all with a track so bland that even the 
guitarist (who famously wasn't allowed to be a member of the band) seems to 
get bored and start playing the 'Stairway To Heaven' riff towards.
 On the positive side, it's probably really really going to annoy Morrissey.

> Top 20 : Mark Brown & SC #11,

Coincidentally the highest position Cracknell's band St Etienne reached 
under their own steam (ie not counting the hit they had with Paul Van Dyk). 
I sort of feel that's the right result because this could get on your wick 
if it got too big.

>Feeling #12,

Out tomorrow on CD & 7".

>Morrissey #14,

Funnily enough, it's almost exactly ten years ago that his career seemed to 
reach a full stop, when the single 'Satan Rejected My Soul', released in the 
quiet post-Christmas week, reached only 39 in the first chart of 1998. It 
was to be his last single for six years.
He returned with a vengeance of course, and in chart terms this has been his 
most successful decade ever.
If it seems like I'm saying a lot about old records, that's because there's 
relatively little to be noted about this one, except that it's his 
lowest-charting pre-album single since 1997.

> Goldfrapp #18,

Out tomorrow on CDs & picture disc.

> Kylie #20

Very slow climber.

> Top 30 : Biffy Clyro #27

Fifth physical single from the Puzzle album. Never mind 'Who's Got A 
Match?', who's got some new songs?

> Top 40 : Michael Jackson #32,

Remixed by Will.I.AM, who seems to have thought "I know what this track 
needs - me!" It's one of several reworkings from the 25th Anniversary 
re-release of the Thriller album - and if you want an idea of how 
well-conceived the project is, bear in mind that that came out in 1982.
Interestingly, the fans who were prepared to snap up the direct re-issues of 
his old singles two years ago seem less keen to grab these previously 
unavailable versions (the demo also appears on the CD).
Thanks to Rihanna, it can't even claim to be the biggest re-working of a 
song from Thriller this week!

> Timbaland (Scr) #36,

Out on physicals on the 10th of March.

> 30STM #37

Slightly late follow-up to last year's breakthrough hit 'The Kill' (although 
both had been released before), presumably to coincide with their visit to 
the UK.
The CD single includes their much-admired cover of 'Stronger' and a 
13-minute (!) version of the video.

> New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Yael Naim (*) #42,

Is this due for physical release?

> Duffy (R) #45,

In other words, it's still 'Rockferry'. I'm even more confused now.

>Craig David #54,

Slightly slower progress than might be expected.

> Vampire Weekend #61,

Slightly faster progress than might be expected.

> Chris Brown #63,

Out on physicals on the 24th of March.

> Blood Red Shoes #64,

Major-label reissue of a previous single by the boy/girl duo of whom big 
things are expected in 2008.

>Flo Rida #68,

Seems to have been Number One in America since God was a lad.

>Iwasacubscout #71

Maybe if more people bought their records they could afford a spacebar.

> * Apparently a Jewish soul singer, whose song is used in, surprise 
> surprise, an advert!

I was expecting somebody Welsh.

> Re-entries : Jack Johnson (IIHE) #66

Because of the album I guess.

> Albums
> ------
> As might be expected at this point, a ballad singer, namely Jack Johnson, 
> claims the #1 spot.

Jack Johnson's new album title begins with the words "Sleep Through"... must 
not make obvious joke, must not make obvious joke...
This is of course the official follow-up to the very successful In Between 
Dreams, although we had the Curious George soundtrack in the meantime.

> New Entries/New Peaks
> ---------------------
> Top 10 : Hot Chip #4,

Third album from the humorous electro-poppers, following the quiet success 
of The Warning.
Obviously, the Top 10 single has helped shift this, but I think it remains 
to be seen whether they'll just follow the trajectory of their labelmates 
Athlete.

>Mary J Blige #6,

You know what, I've given up trying to understand her career.

> Billy Fury #10 (15)

Presumably some good reason for that.

> Top 20 :
>
> New outside the top 20 : Dionne Warwick #27,

Not her first Love Songs album. But you probably guessed that.

> David Jordan #28 (41),

Starting to live up to the hype, at least commercially.

> Lenny Kravitz #42,

Apparently his eighth album, but who's counting?
As usual, he wrote, arranged and produced the entire thing himself, as well 
as doing most of the performance.
There's the inevitable bonus DVD edition.

>Kenny Rogers #47,

Possibly the potential audience are suffering compilation fatigue.

> Alexander O'Neill #49,

O'Neal, surely?
His first album in several years is, not entirely surprisingly under the 
circumstances, a set of covers of love songs. Well, that and a re-recording 
of his own hit 'Saturday Love' with Bianca Lindgren. I don't know whether 
'Babe' is the Take That song or the Styx one, but I'm not desperate to find 
out.

Isn't Pavarotti new at 52?

> Morcheeba #59,

Sixth album from the trip-hop act now effectively reduced to a duo, as they 
seem to have given up on the idea of a permanent lead singer. A few guest 
vocalist appear, the most famous being Judie Tzuke.

> Duke Spirit #63,

Second album from the group somebody called Britain's answer to Mazzy Star. 
Considering their now more straitened circumstances, this isn't a bad result 
for them.

>Rascal Flatts #64,

Irritating country boy-band who had a big hit in America with 'What Hurts 
The Most', now unnecessarily inflicted upon the British public thanks to 
Cascada.

> Charlie Landsborough #73

Low-key labelmate of Daniel O'Donnell. When was the last time there were so 
many country albums in a UK chart, I wonder?

> Re-entries : Feist #61,

Airplay picking up for 'My Moon My Man'.

>Jack Johnson (IBD) #69

See, I told you it was popular!

> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> This should finally be the week where Basshunter are overtaken.

OTOH, if he's lasted this long, why couldn't he last longer?

> Nickelback's remarkably durable 'Rockstar' looks favourite*, with the 
> other strongest challengers looking like being The Feeling, & Goldfrapp.
>
> * If it does so, it would set a new record for the longest within-chart 
> climb to #1.
>
> Top 10 : Feeling, Goldfrapp

Both pretty much guaranteed from this week's placings. And probably in this 
order too.

> Top 30 : Coral,

But the last one flunked the Top 40 and nobody even seems to have noticed 
this is coming out.

>Simple Plan

I used to like Canada...
This is one of those awkward ones to predict because they're not a 
consistent hitmaking act, so they could go the way of Rooney, or of the 
Plain White Ts.

> Top 40 : Duffy,

With the new one? The continued success of 'Rockferry' suggests that there 
could be plenty of pent-up demand. OTOH, it could be a sign that people 
don't like this one as much.

> Craig David,

We thought this last week, though.

>Paramore,

Actually coming out on physical, but it may be too late for a really big 
hit.

>Yael Naim

If enough people see whatever ad it is, and can find it.

> Any other possibilities?

Nothing specific, but there's the added complication of Valentine's Day, 
although that'll presumably affect physicals more than downloads.
Actually, the new R.E.M. single seems to be coming out on downloads, but 
they don't appear to have told anybody and they're pretty much untried in 
that format.

> Albums
> ------
> Given 5/7ths of the week will be under the Valentine's day influence, Jack 
> Johnson should hold on at #1

I agree, although I'm not completely sure why.

> Top 10 NE : Morrissey, One Night Only

Hard to argue with either of them.

> Top 20 NE : MJ (Thriller 25th Ann)

I'd have been keener to agree if the single had done better.

> Others : nothing obvious

Considering the date, I wouldn't rule out that Dream On thing. And ignoring 
it, the Wu-Tang Clan might be a possibility, but I'd put it no stronger than 
that.

    Chris
-- 
"It's always hard meeting your heroes. Especially when they punch you in the 
face."

http://thehitparade.blogspot.com

More of my blathering is available at
http://faynights.users.btopenworld.com

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 at 22:03:01, Chris Brown  
wrote in uk.music.charts :

>> Singles
>> -------
>> Remarkably (since virtually no-one will admit to liking it) Basshunter
>> retains the #1 spot for a 5th week!
>
>I would guess that quite a lot of people do admit to liking it, but they're
>not the sort who hang around discussing this sort of thing online.

But I don't know anyone off-line who admits to liking it, either...
>
>> It supposedly has a 35k to 32k lead over Nickelback.
>
>If true, that means it widened the gap substantially from where it was at
>one point.

Or maybe not - 3k over a week is not that much more than 0.4k/day.
>
>> New Entries/New Peaks
>> ---------------------
>> Top 10 :
>> David Jordan #5 ,
>
>One of the many things I dislike about this record is the bit where he
>pronounces "groove" as a two-syllable word.

Can't say I've noticed.

>I'm starting to think of him as 2208's Mika.

2208? Wouldn't that time machine of yours be put to better use by 
killing Mika before he ever started making records? :)
>
>>Wet Wet Wet #10
>
>Their first Top 10 appearance since a deservedly forgotten cover of
>'Yesterday' back in 1997.

Surprised they held on - though like most veteran acts, their sales will 
surely have had a higher than average proportion of physicals.

>Something tells me that when people talked about Web 2.0 hits

I don't even know what that is?
>
>> Top 20 : Mark Brown & SC #11,
>
>Coincidentally the highest position Cracknell's band St Etienne reached
>under their own steam (ie not counting the hit they had with Paul Van Dyk).
>I sort of feel that's the right result because this could get on your wick
>if it got too big.

Maybe it'll climb a bit more, just to annoy you? :)
>
>>Feeling #12,
>
>Out tomorrow on CD & 7".

 From #12, I'd say it has a fairly low chance of being #1 next week.
>
>>Morrissey #14,
>
>in chart terms this has been his
>most successful decade ever.

And remarkably, for once he avoided his traditional late week slide.
>
>> Goldfrapp #18,
>
>Out tomorrow on CDs & picture disc.

My one new purchase this week.
>
>> Kylie #20
>
>Very slow climber.

Should wake up a bit next week though, when the CD(s) *finally* appear.
>
>> Top 40 : Michael Jackson #32,
>
>Remixed by Will.I.AM

And this version is absolutely abysmal! :(

>, who seems to have thought "I know what this track
>needs - me

... being shot? :)

>It's one of several reworkings from the 25th Anniversary
>re-release of the Thriller album - and if you want an idea of how
>well-conceived the project is, bear in mind that that came out in 1982.

Yes, I spotted that anomaly as soon as I heard about it.
>
>> Timbaland (Scr) #36,
>
>Out on physicals on the 10th of March.

Unless it's slipping back by then...

I notice the new release schedule *still* lists Kanye's 'Homecoming' for 
next Monday, despite it already having slipped to #23...

Wake up and sniff the charts, Def Jam! :)

This week proved that Rihanna's CD release was at least 2 weeks too 
late, though it would probably have only peaked one place higher.
>
>> New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Yael Naim (*) #42,
>
>Is this due for physical release?

I don't see it on the schedule - but then again, like almost everyone 
else I wasn't even aware it existed until last night!
>
>> Duffy (R) #45,
>
>In other words, it's still 'Rockferry'. I'm even more confused now.

It's only 2 weeks until Mercy is due for full release, so it surely must 
be out to download very soon.
>
>>Craig David #54,
>
>Slightly slower progress than might be expected.

Not that either of us is unhappy at that, I suspect. :)
>
>> Vampire Weekend #61,
>
>Slightly faster progress than might be expected.

Is it getting any radio play?
>
>> Chris Brown #63,

Your namesake strikes again. :)
>
>Out on physicals on the 24th of March.

Charting 6 weeks early (or 10 weeks, if you include the extended chart) 
- that either means it'll be a massive hit (which on past record seems 
unlikely), or it'll be long spent by the time the CD comes out (if it 
ever does).
>
>> Blood Red Shoes #64,
>
>Major-label reissue of a previous single by the boy/girl duo of whom big
>things are expected in 2008.

But given this position is on full release, they'd be wise not to hold 
their breath. :)
>
>>Flo Rida #68,
>
>Seems to have been Number One in America since God was a lad.

Well it's rap - need I say more?

Full release due 3rd Mar.
>
>>Iwasacubscout #71
>
>Maybe if more people bought their records they could afford a spacebar.

Another song so obscure that I didn't even know the title until it 
charted.
>
>> * Apparently a Jewish soul singer, whose song is used in, surprise
>> surprise, an advert!
>
>I was expecting somebody Welsh.

This time, I don't even recognise the advert it's from.
>
>> Re-entries : Jack Johnson (IIHE) #66
>
>Because of the album I guess.

Just 6 places below its peak three weeks ago..
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> As might be expected at this point, a ballad singer, namely Jack Johnson,
>> claims the #1 spot.
>
>Jack Johnson's new album title begins with the words "Sleep Through"... must
>not make obvious joke, must not make obvious joke...

Grin.
>
>> New Entries/New Peaks
>> ---------------------
>> Top 10 : Hot Chip #4,
>
>Third album from the humorous electro-poppers, following the quiet success
>of The Warning.

Third? Shows how little interest the previous two generated! :)

AFAICS, the first one never even charted, and the second, just #34 in 
June 2006.
>
>>Mary J Blige #6,
>
>You know what, I've given up trying to understand her career.

You ever tried? :)
>
>> Billy Fury #10 (15)
>
>Presumably some good reason for that.

None that I know of.
>>
>> New outside the top 20 : Dionne Warwick #27,
>
>Not her first Love Songs album. But you probably guessed that.

I still suffer from post-traumatic stress every time I hear the abysmal 
'Heartbreaker'. :)
>
>> David Jordan #28 (41),
>
>Starting to live up to the hype, at least commercially.

Strangely enough, a top 5 single tends to help with that...
>
>>Kenny Rogers #47,
>
>Possibly the potential audience are suffering compilation fatigue.

Or have slipped into a coma?
>
>> Alexander O'Neill #49,
>
>O'Neal, surely?

Who cares? :)
>
>Isn't Pavarotti new at 52?

Well spotted - should have appeared on the re-entry list.
>
>> Morcheeba #59,
>
>Sixth album from the trip-hop act now effectively reduced to a duo, as they
>seem to have given up on the idea of a permanent lead singer. A few guest
>vocalist appear, the most famous being Judie Tzuke.

I've heard that track 'Enjoy The Ride', and I really like it. Strange 
animated video, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w16JlLSySWQ

You can hear the similarity to her daughter Bailey's voice.
>
>>Rascal Flatts #64,
>
>Irritating country boy-band who had a big hit in America with 'What Hurts
>The Most', now unnecessarily inflicted upon the British public thanks to
>Cascada.

You don't hear me complaining. :)
>
>> Charlie Landsborough #73
>
>Low-key labelmate of Daniel O'Donnell. When was the last time there were so
>many country albums in a UK chart, I wonder?

This one didn't even make the mids.
>
>> Re-entries : Feist #61,
>
>Airplay picking up for 'My Moon My Man'.

Not much of it though - just #87 last week, and still somewhere below 
#50 this week.

It's only out on download, alas. I may be compelled to buy this album.
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> This should finally be the week where Basshunter are overtaken.
>
>OTOH, if he's lasted this long, why couldn't he last longer?

He *is* belatedly picking up airplay - up to #22 this week, though 
that's offset by the same thing happening to his main competitor...
>
>> Nickelback's remarkably durable 'Rockstar' looks favourite*, with the
>> other strongest challengers looking like being The Feeling, & Goldfrapp.
>>
>> * If it does so, it would set a new record for the longest within-chart
>> climb to #1.

I wonder if 17 weeks is a record length of climb to #2?
>>
>> Top 10 : Feeling, Goldfrapp
>
>Both pretty much guaranteed from this week's placings. And probably in this
>order too.

I'd prefer the converse.
>
>> Top 30 : Coral,
>
>But the last one flunked the Top 40 and nobody even seems to have noticed
>this is coming out.

Isn't that always the way with fanbase bands?
>
>> Top 40 : Duffy,
>
>With the new one?

TBH, I was thinking of the old one, since it is climbing like a new one 
would.

>The continued success of 'Rockferry' suggests that there
>could be plenty of pent-up demand.

I've only heard the new one - I guess I should check out 'Rockferry' 
too...

> OTOH, it could be a sign that people
>don't like this one as much.

Or they're waiting for the album (3rd Mar). She seems like someone 
who'll shift a lot of those.
>
>>Paramore,
>
>Actually coming out on physical, but it may be too late for a really big
>hit.

Yes, it seems to have stalled.
>
>>Yael Naim
>
>If enough people see whatever ad it is, and can find it.

Clearly close to 4000 people did, already.
>
>> Any other possibilities?
>
>Actually, the new R.E.M. single seems to be coming out on downloads, but
>they don't appear to have told anybody

I haven't so much as heard a peep about new material from them.
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Given 5/7ths of the week will be under the Valentine's day influence, Jack
>> Johnson should hold on at #1
>
>I agree, although I'm not completely sure why.

Lesser of many evils? :)
>
>> Top 10 NE : Morrissey, One Night Only
>
>Hard to argue with either of them.

I wonder if M. will start the week at the top, wherever he ends up?
>
>> Top 20 NE : MJ (Thriller 25th Ann)
>
>I'd have been keener to agree if the single had done better.

It may depend on whether shops give the original album similar 
prominence. I can't see the rap-dominated re-recorded tracks having much 
appeal to his older fans.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)