On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 at 22:13:24, Chris Brown  
wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>>>> Madonna claims her 13th #1! Unlucky only for Estelle... >:)
>>>
>>>Or for, y'know, people who like music.
>>
>> Well, it's the lesser of two evils - that's the best I can say about it...
>
>Thing is though, if you're a Madonna fan who doesn't like this you wouldn't
>really want her to have an incentive to pursue this direction.

I don't see that as a problem, as she never stays in one musical 
direction for long.
>
>>>By the way, amid the various other stats we'll be getting from the
>>>professional commentators, I count this as Justin Timberlake's third
>>>Number
>>>One as a guest vocalist.
>>
>> Third?
>>
>> He had a solo #1 with 'Sexyback' & a credit on 'Give It To Me', but AFAIK
>> this is only his 2nd *featured artist* #1.
>>
>> If he's had an un-credited one, that doesn't count, otherwise you'd have
>> to give a credit to everyone who took part in Band Aid, for example.
>
>Who said I wasn't? Er, not that he is on any Band Aid records, obviously,
>but I did intentionally phrase that to permit the inclusion of his
>uncredited Number One. I'll leave you to guess that overnight.

I already realised which you meant : BEP - Where Is The Love, the foul 
song that kept Dido's 'White Flag' from #1. :)
>
>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>> ---------------------
>>>> Top 10 : September #5,
>>>
>>>I didn't think I'd heard this until last week's charts. But I had heard
>>>'Smalltown Boy' by Bronski Beat. Blonde hair aside, I'm not sure what this
>>>adds.
>>
>> You've forgotten the skin-tight PVC in her video? :)
>
>I read that hurriedly and had a vision of Jimmy Somerville in skin-tight
>PVC.

That's why I said *her*, not him!
>
>>>> Last Shadow Puppets #9
>>>
>>>Alex Turner and Miles Kane's side project naturally doesn't sound exactly
>>>the same as their day-jobs.
>>
>> Fortunately.
>
>There wouldn't be a lot of point.

Hasn't proven a deterrent to others in the past, though...
>
>>>> Top 30 : Goldfrapp #25,
>>>
>>>Second single from the album, but not one that seems to have caught the
>>>imagination of single buyers, despite the various remixers contributing
>>>B-sides.
>>
>> Because it's one of the weaker tracks on the album, IMO.
>
>You mean there are some good ones?

Apart from A&E, you mean?
>
>>>> Kanye West
>>
>> If only we could be confident this would be the last we hear from him for
>> a while - but I fear he'll keep popping up on other people's records. :(
>
>I suppose you can't blame him for wanting to keep busy at the moment though.

Are you sure about that claim, from my pov? :)
>
>>>> Top 40 :  Gabriella Cilmi #34,
>>>
>>>Possibly more evidence that people will buy any old bobbins if they see it
>>>in an advert.
>>
>> Or realise what a gem they previously missed?
>
>But this is the thing - you can understand how songs like 'Don't Stop Me
>Now' or 'I'm A Man' can reach a new audience that wasn't around the first
>time they were released. But this only came out about three weeks ago.

I could refer to you Feist again...
>
>>Hopefully this'll be another Feist '1234'.
>
>Her only hit? ;-)

So far...
>
>> Of course, when a song performs better via an advert than a record
>> company's official promotional campaign, it hardly instils confidence in
>> the artist that they've signed the right deal...
>
>Unless, of course, the advert is part of the promotional strategy.

Which makes no sense when timed several weeks *after* the CD release.

Even now, with CD singles in steep decline, most promotional efforts are 
timed to peak with the physical release of a single.
>>>
>>>Yet another TV-spawned resurgence (this single missed the Top 40 several
>>>weeks ago, of course) although it'll be intriguing to see how sustainable
>>>this proves.
>>
>> From what I've seen in the past 15 months, a TV programme boost is a
>> strictly one-week deal, whilst adverts give a lesser, but more sustained
>> benefit.
>
>Which is of course entirely logical.
>What I meant about "Sustainable" was that the more TV shows become
>recognised as a promotional tool for music, the less appropriate they're
>going to get.

I don't follow this - what do you mean by 'less appropriate'?
>
>>>>Nelly & Fergie #39
>>>
>>>Presumably long-awaited by somebody, the return of the man who thinks that
>>>not being able to pronounce the word "here" entitles him to a career.
>>>Physical release date apparently unconfirmed.
>>
>> Presumably it will get one, though.
>
>I presume so too.
>
>> AFAIK, the #10 barrier for songs without a physical release has still not
>> been broken - though I'm amazed it's lasted this long.
>
>Depends whether you count 'Homecoming', but even that was only Number 9.

I thought that got a late 12" release though, thereby 'disqualifying' 
it?
>
>>>> ** Played at the end of 'Skins', apparently
>>>
>>>It's funny how only certain shows seem to sell records (or rather
>>>downloads)
>>>isn't it?
>>
>> You mean the ones that people actually watch (in decent numbers)? :)
>
>Not really - I've no idea what the figures for Skins actually are but I know
>it's on Channel 4.
>I think it's been remarked upon before that Strictly Come Dancing gets
>massive ratings, but you don't see the same spike when somebody goes on
>there that you do from the ITV shows.

It depends who the audience is, too. SCD is not a show that you'd expect 
those of prime single-buying age to watch in any numbers!
>>>
>>>Together at last!
>>>This appears to be a cover version of 'Beat It' from their new live album,
>>>recorded at The Cricket Pavillion in Phoenix.
>>
>> Arizona? Why on earth would there be a cricket >pavilion in America?
>
>Well, there probably are some, but I presume this is just the name of the
>venue.

And it would be named after a sport virtually un-played in America, why? 
:)
>
>> This is another song where the artist credits have been >confusing.
>
>You mean, because it's credited to John Mayer and Fall Out Boy and people
>have still bought it?

I've seen it credited to one or the other, not both.
>
>>>>Jordin Sparks (Tattoo) #50,
>>>
>>>It's all getting a bit odd down this end of the charts, with everything
>>>seeming to peak about a month too late.
>>
>> I guess the one featuring your namesake has given it an extra push.
>
>IS it that bad then?

I wouldn't know - I don't listen to such songs.
>
>>>> Jordin Sparks ft CB (No Air) #58,
>
>Judging by how big a hit it is in America, it seems unlikely that there
>isn't a vid, although whether it's reached these shores I couldn't tell you.

It will have via Youtube, if nothing else.
>
>>>>Ben's Brother #62,
>>>
>>>- Out on CD on the 28th.
>>
>> Their record company must be handing out some *huge* brown envelopes, as
>> despite the total bombing of all their records, they were #18 on airplay
>> last week...
>
>Although this is Top 73 a fortnight ahead of release, si it's certainly not
>their least successful single.

I just can't understand why their record company hasn't decided to cut 
their losses yet - though the same might have been said about Take That 
in Spring 1992... :)
>
>>>> Robyn #66,
>>>
>>>Out on CD & 12" on the 28th.
>>
>> This one's pretty OK.
>
>Bit too eighties for me.

90's surely - she's not *that* old.
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>>>>with Leona surprising finishing ahead of Mariah, despite trailing her by
>>>>45% early in the week.
>>>
>>>Apparently the Leona record was very heavily discounted during the week.
>>>Not
>>>that SonyBMG have any sort of grudge against Mariah, obviously.
>>
>> Even so, you wouldn't have thought that many Leona fans didn't already
>> have the album by now...
>
>I know. Well, I wouldn't refer to people who took this long to buy the album
>as "fans" but I know exactly what you mean.

Will they try releasing another single from the album, though?

On a side issue, 'Better In Time' has hung around longer than I expected 
- I thought it'd disappear from the T10 in a couple of weeks.
>
>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>> ---------------------
>>>> Top 10 :
>
>>>>Elliot Minor #6
>>>
>>>The pretentious McFly finally get around to releasing the long-in-the-can
>>>album and do relatively well with it, although their rather shouty fans
>>>may
>>>preclude long-term success.
>>
>> Yes, their fans are very enthusiastic, but apparently not very legion.
>
>Yup - I've not read the sale figure yet but I suspect it isn't huge.

A fraction under 14k, which is a pretty crap figure, given how popular 
Fearne & Reggie *claim* they are...

BTW, last week the #15 album sold *less* than the #15 single!
>
>>>> Top 20 : Sarah Brightman #13
>>>
>>>Her first album in several years, which is all new material for a change.
>>>Guest stars include Andrea Bocelli (again) and Paul Stanley from Kiss.
>>
>> The first is logical, but the second??
>
>I did hear her trying to explain it. It was something like she wanted
>someone with a big vocal range who could also sing very powerfully.

Christina, Mariah - or perhaps someone who *wouldn't* overshadow her? :)
>
>>>>Children Of Bodum #44,
>>>
>>>I think that's actually spelt "Bodom", unless their parents were coffee
>>>machines. ;-)
>>
>> Huh?
>
>www.bodum.dk - don't you remember that advert with the chimp?

I thought *you* were the one without the TV... :)
>
>>>>Blood Red Shoes #47,
>>>
>>>Last year, singer-guitarist Laura-Mary Carter was assaulted by a bouncer
>>>at
>>>one of her own gigs.
>>
>> They are *that* bad? :)
>
>Apparently he thought she was underage. So he beat her up, obviously.

Not a good career move by him, though! :)
>
>>>> B-52's #73
>>>
>>>One of two acts from Athens GA in this week's chart, returning with their
>>>first all-new album since 1992. It's 29 years since they first charted
>>>here.
>>
>> Though with only 2 significant hits in all that time, which is probably
>> why I don't remember them back in the 80's.
>
>What do you mean "significant"? Aside from the one we never need to hear
>again

You mean Love Shack? :)

>, there were 'Rock Lobster' (twice) and 'Planet Claire' and 'Roam'.
>'Meet The Flintstones' (as the BC52s) was also pretty successful

Only two of their singles made T10 - I wouldn't count anything below 
that as 'pretty successful'.
>
>>>> Re-entries : MGMT #63,
>>>
>>>For obvious TV reasons.
>>
>> But not musical ones... :)
>
>There's always room for some AOR.

What does that have to do with *them*, though? :)
>
>>>>Portishead (Dummy) #64,
>>>
>>>Widely discounted in order to promote their return - I think it's been
>>>marked down to £4, although I paid £4:99 for the MP3 version.
>>
>> It looks to have been a pretty big seller in the past, though.
>
>And so I think it was. But there's obviously a particular reason it's back
>now. I wonder if their other album is anywhere lower in the chart?
>
Not in the top 100, at least.
>
>
>>>> Next Week
>>>> ---------
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>>>> With this Monday seeing the physical release of '4 Minutes', Madonna
>>>> should consolidate her lead at the top.
>>>
>>>Agreed. BTW, the picture disc seems to have been delayed.
>>
>> By the time it takes to plaster on her make-up? :)
>
>Maybe somebody told Timberlake to shave.

Or had to teach him *how* to? :)
>
>>>> Top  5 : Usher
>>
>> If he's not #3 at worst next week, he'll struggle to catch Madge on full
>> release.
>
>That sounds about right, but obviously we'll cross that bridge when it
>arrives.

I expect Madonna to sell 55-60k this week, with >40k the week after, so 
Usher will need to shift 30k this week to be in with a chance of 
catching her, as physical sales probably won't help by more than 1/3rd.
>
>>>> Top 40 :
>>>
>>>>Kylie,
>>>
>>>Possibly, although she's not *very* close right now.
>>
>> It sees to have been relatively snubbed by radio, not that that'll make
>> much difference to someone as well-known & popular as Kylie, of course.
>
>Not when there are physical formats for all the fans to pore over - but
>we've yet to reach that point. At the moment it's more complicated.

As it happens, she did bounce back strongly on airplay this week - back 
in at #23, after dropping out entirely last week from an initial #79 
position.

She's now B-listed on both R1 & R2 - I dare say it's fairly unusual for 
pop/dance to get playlisted on R2 at all, but her bubbly 
'girl-next-door' image has always been an advantage there.
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>>>>if
>>>> enough of AM Alex's fans cross over to his side project ''Last Shadow
>>>> Prophets', they could have a chance of #1.
>>>
>>>However, on the evidence of what's happened to the single (big rather than
>>>massive) they don't have much more than a chance. I don't suppose they'd
>>>even have that in a busier week.
>>
>> #2 then?
>
>If I had to bet, that's probably the way I'd go.

Maybe even just ahead, initially?
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)