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Guest Hafo

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there was an article in the daily mirror tabloid i their 3am showbiz section covering her flop and ho her career could end up going in the way of her marriage. one flop from 25 years and they write her off? what about the tour?

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Guest Danny86

Guest Danny86

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It's not her first flop in 25 years. Calling ALL of her UK singles as hits or even non-flops is quite a stretch. Of course it's like talking to a wall...

As for the press, how quickly they forget that "4 Minutes" is one of her biggest chart hits ever... :snore:

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Guest Hafo

Guest Hafo

Posted
Posted

Two of the "flop" albums of the year:

YTD Album Act Sales

------------------------

90 Safe Trip Home - Dido 147,000

133 Right Now - Leon Jackson 104,000

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Guest Hafo

Guest Hafo

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UK Charts - Dec 21

xmas10.gif

Singles

1. (NEW) HALLELUJAH (Alexandra Burke) 1 wk

2. (30) HALLELUJAH (Jeff Buckley) 9 wks

3. (1) RUN (Leona Lewis) 3 wks

4. (9) IF I WERE A BOY (Beyonce) 7 wks

5. (NEW) ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS SONG (Geraldine) 1 wk :D

6. (18) BROKEN STRINGS (James Morrison feat Nelly Furtado) 5 wks

7. (2) USE SOMEBODY (Kings Of Leon) 13 wks

8. (60) LISTEN (Beyonce) 11 wks

9. (5) GREATEST DAY (Take That) 4 wks

10. (4) WOMANIZER (Britney Spears) 7 wks

11. (7) HUMAN (Killers) 6 wks

12. (13) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK (Pogues feat Kirsty Maccoll) 34 wks

13. (3) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH (Bandaged) 2 wks

14. (8) HOT N COLD (Katy Perry) 13 wks

15. (14) HERO (X Factor Finalists) 8 wks

16. (11) THE BOY DOES NOTHING (Alesha Dixon) 7 wks

17. (12) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU (Mariah Carey) 21 wks

18. (6) RIGHT NOW (NA NA NA) (Akon) 10 wks

19. (20) THE PROMISE (Girls Aloud) 9 wks

20. (24) SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) (Beyonce) 5 wks

21. (15) SEX ON FIRE (Kings Of Leon) 15 wks

22. (29) WARM THIS WINTER (Gabriella Cilmi) 3 wks

23. (10) LIVE YOUR LIFE (T.I. feat Rihanna) 7 wks

24. (17) INFINITY 2008 (Guru Josh Project) 9 wks

25. (16) REHAB (Rihanna) 5 wks

26. (23) SO WHAT (Pink) 13 wks

27. (26) LAST CHRISTMAS (Wham) 33 wks

28. (19) CASH IN MY POCKET (Wiley feat Daniel Merriweather) 3 wks

29. (21) I HATE THIS PART (Pussycat Dolls) 8 wks

30. (22) BETTER (Boyzone) 3 wks

31. (28) BREAKEVEN (Script) 10 wks

32. (NEW)(86) I MISS YOU (Basshunter) 1 wk

33. (31) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY (Wizzard) 24 wks

34. (25) PAPA (CAN U HEAR ME) (N-Dubz) 5 wks

35. (38) JINGLE BELLS (BASS) (Basshunter) 3 wks

36. (NEW) HALLELUJAH (Leonard Cohen) 1 wk

37. (41) RAIN ON YOUR PARADE (Duffy) 6 wks

38. (NEW)(87) THE LOVING KIND (Girls Aloud) 1 wk

39. (37) MAD (Ne-Yo) 2 wks

40. (27) LOVE LOCKDOWN (Kanye West) 13 wks

Albums

1. (1) THE CIRCUS (Take That) 3 wks

2. (2) SPIRIT (Leona Lewis) 49 wks

3. (4) ONLY BY THE NIGHT (Kings Of Leon) 13 wks

4. (3) DAY & AGE (Killers) 4 wks

5. (8) OUT OF CONTROL (Girls Aloud) 7 wks

6. (7) THE PRIESTS (Priests) 4 wks

7. (6) DECADE IN THE SUN: BEST OF (Stereophonics) 6 wks

8. (5) THE PROMISE (Il Divo) 6 wks

9. (24) I AM…SASHA FIERCE (Beyoncé) 5 wks

10. (11) ROCKFERRY (Duffy) 42 wks

11. (10) FUNHOUSE (Pink) 8 wks

12. (12) SOUL (Seal) 6 wks

13. (19) 25 - THE GREATEST HITS (Simply Red) 5 wks

14. (9) RHYDIAN (Rhydian) 4 wks

15. (13) MY LOVE: ESSENTIAL COLLECTION (Celine Dion) 8 wks

16. (16) THE SCRIPT (Script) 19 wks

17. (17) A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS (Snow Patrol) 8 wks

18. (15) UNCLE B (N-Dubz) 5 wks

19. (18) GREATEST HITS (Enrique Iglesias) 7 wks

20. (14) CIRCUS (Britney Spears) 3 wks

21. (30) THE BEST BETTE (Bette Midler) 13 wks

22. (23) GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Rihanna) 81 wks

23. (25) THE BEST OF (Sash!) 9 wks

24. (26) A COLLECTION (Josh Groban) 3 wks

25. (21) ONLY MEN ALOUD (Only Men Aloud) 4 wks

26. (20) CHINESE DEMOCRACY (Guns N Roses) 4 wks

27. (28) AND WINTER CAME (Enya) 6 wks

28. (33) SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK (Rod Stewart) 5 wks

29. (48) SONGS FOR YOU TRUTHS FOR ME (James Morrison) 12 wks

30. (22) TOGETHER (Salvation Army) 4 wks

31. (36) ONE OF THE BOYS (Katy Perry) 13 wks

32. (27) DIG OUT YOUR SOUL (Oasis) 10 wks

33. (32) YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN (Ne-Yo) 14 wks

34. (31) LET IT GO (Will Young) 12 wks

35. (37) PICTURES - 40 YEARS OF HITS (Status Quo) 7 wks

36. (38) FREEDOM (Akon) 3 wks

37. (41) BLACK ICE (AC/ DC) 9 wks

38. (45) BACK AGAIN… NO MATTER WHAT (Boyzone) 10 wks

39. (NEW) FOLIE A DEUX (Fall Out Boy) 1 wk

40. (39) SACRED ARIAS (Katherine Jenkins) 9 wks

Airplay

01 01 Take That Greatest Day

02 02 Leona Lewis Run

03 NE Alexandra Burke Hallellujah

04 03 Killers Human

05 08 James Morrison Broken Strings

06 11 Gabriella Cilmi Warm This Winter

07 04 Snow Patrol Crack The Shutters

08 09 Kings of Leon Use Somebody

09 05 Katy Perry Hot N Cold

10 36 Mariah Carey All I Want For Christmas Is You

11 06 Beyonce If I Were A Boy

12 63 Wham Last Christmas

13 12 Sugababes No Can Do

14 37 Pogues with Kirsty Macoll Fairytale Of New York

15 16 T.I feat Rihanna Live Your Life

16 07 Girls Aloud The Promise

17 23 George Michael December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)

18 18 Rihanna Rehab

19 17 Guru Josh Project Infinity 2008

20 10 Script Breakeven

21 15 Pink So What

22 27 Lily Allen The Fear

23 13 Britney Spears Womanizer

24 14 Alesha Dixon The Boy Does Nothing

25 RE Chris Rea Driving Home For Christmas

26 100 Girls Aloud The Loving Kind

27 24 Jennifer Hudson Spotlight

28 19 Oasis I'm Outta Time

29 25 Keane Perfect Symmetry

30 70 Band Aid Do They Know Its Christmas?

31 82 John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

32 35 Chris Brown With You

33 95 Status Quo Its Christmas Time

34 54 Kevin Rudolf feat Lil Wayne Let It Rock

35 32 Sir Terry Wogan & Aled Jones Little Drummer Boy

36 21 Boyzone Better

37 30 Feeling Feels Like Christmas

38 43 Lady Gaga Just Dance

39 50 Saturdays Issues

40 22 Akon Right Now

41 34 Ne-Yo Mad

42 26 Wiley feat Daniel Merriweather Cash In My Pocket

43 RE Andy Williams It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

44 29 Kaiser Chiefs Good Days Bad Days

45 44 Gabriella Cilmi Sweet About Me

46 48 Seal It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World

47 40 Madcon Beggin’

48 49 Kardinal Offishall feat Akon Dangerous

49 67 Geraldine Once Upon A Christmas Song

50 33 Ne-Yo Miss Independent

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Guest Hafo

Guest Hafo

Posted
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She rebounded because of X-Factor (her performance was well received) and, to capitalise, the album available for less than £8 in most venues...

This seems to be a practice among all acts though: Take That -in Amazon- was £3 and £5 in ASDA.

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Ugly Hecty Rising Star

Ugly Hecty

Posted
Posted

Top 20 Singles Sales Figures This Week:

1 ALEXANDRA BURKE 576046

2 JEFF BUCKLEY 80883

3 LEONA LEWIS 72417

4 BEYONCE 47092

5 GERALDINE 42541

6 JAMES MORRISON/NELLY FURTADO 36021

7 KINGS OF LEON 29821

8 BEYONCE 28913

9 TAKE THAT 24174

10 BRITNEY SPEARS 22722

11 KILLERS 22460

12 POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL 21515

13 BANDAGED 20934

14 KATY PERRY 20294

15 X FACTOR FINALISTS 19653

16 ALESHA DIXON 17517

17 MARIAH CAREY 17303

18 AKON 17232

19 GIRLS ALOUD 15293

20 BEYONCE 15270

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Guest Hafo

Guest Hafo

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Final YTD charts will be announced next week. Unless something really wrong happens, 4M should be Top 10. HC will be lucky to be Top 30.

Top 20 Year to date Singles

1 1 X Factor Finalists Hero

2 N Alexandra Burke Hallelujah

3 2 Duffy Mercy

4 3 Nickelback Rockstar

5 4 Katy Perry I Kissed A Girl

6 5 Estelle feat. Kanye West American Boy

7 6 Basshunter feat. DJ Mental Theos Now You're Gone

8 7 Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake 4 Minutes

9 8 Sam Sparro Black & Gold

10 9 Kings of Leon Sex On Fire

11 10 Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain Low

12 11 Dizzee Rascal Feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome Dance Wiv Me

13 12 Ne-Yo Closer

14 14 Pink So What

15 13 Kid Rock All Summer Long

16 15 Rihanna Disturbia

17 19 Girls Aloud The Promise

18 16 Rihanna Take A Bow

19 17 Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown No Air

20 18 Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos Superstar

Top 20 Year to date Albums

1 1 Duffy Rockferry

2 5 Take That The Circus

3 2 Coldplay Viva La Vida

4 3 Kings of Leon Only By The Night

5 4 Leona Lewis Spirit

6 6 Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad

7 11 The Killers Day & Age

8 7 Nickelback All The Right Reasons

9 8 Scouting For Girls Scouting For Girls

10 9 Amy Winehouse Back To Black - The Deluxe Edition

11 12 Pink FunHouse

12 17 Girls Aloud Out Of Control

13 14 The Script The Script

14 10 Adele 19

15 13 Oasis Dig Out Your Soul

16 22 Stereophonics Decade In The Sun

17 31 Il Divo The Promise

18 16 Abba Gold - Greatest Hits

19 15 Amy Macdonald This Is The Life

20 28 Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns

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fak Collaborator

fak

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Posted

Its amazing how some of the acts are making massive leaps 31 to 17, 28 to 20 , 22 to 16 - normally they would be lucky to creep up by 1 notch after a week but now because of the xmas season sales have probably quadrupled. I thought HC would have been top25 but theres still 3 more days of massive sales to go.

What are TT Greatest Days total sales? I thought they would have been in the top 10 by now but they are not even top 20 and they sold well under 30,000 for a no9 position.

Theres the post Xmas surge where people will be downloading tracks for their new i-pods, mp3 players whatever they call them and some of the bigger tracks of the year will see surges. I wonder if Sam Sparro will then creep past 4 Mins? I remember Hung up shooting 8 to 3 that week 3 years ago.

I suppose Pink, kings of Leon and Girls Aloud have a very small chance of creeping past 4 Mins before the end of 2008.

Final YTD charts will be announced next week. Unless something really wrong happens, 4M should be Top 10. HC will be lucky to be Top 30.

Top 20 Year to date Singles

1 1 X Factor Finalists Hero

2 N Alexandra Burke Hallelujah

3 2 Duffy Mercy

4 3 Nickelback Rockstar

5 4 Katy Perry I Kissed A Girl

6 5 Estelle feat. Kanye West American Boy

7 6 Basshunter feat. DJ Mental Theos Now You're Gone

8 7 Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake 4 Minutes

9 8 Sam Sparro Black & Gold

10 9 Kings of Leon Sex On Fire

11 10 Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain Low

12 11 Dizzee Rascal Feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome Dance Wiv Me

13 12 Ne-Yo Closer

14 14 Pink So What

15 13 Kid Rock All Summer Long

16 15 Rihanna Disturbia

17 19 Girls Aloud The Promise

18 16 Rihanna Take A Bow

19 17 Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown No Air

20 18 Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos Superstar

Top 20 Year to date Albums

1 1 Duffy Rockferry

2 5 Take That The Circus

3 2 Coldplay Viva La Vida

4 3 Kings of Leon Only By The Night

5 4 Leona Lewis Spirit

6 6 Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad

7 11 The Killers Day & Age

8 7 Nickelback All The Right Reasons

9 8 Scouting For Girls Scouting For Girls

10 9 Amy Winehouse Back To Black - The Deluxe Edition

11 12 Pink FunHouse

12 17 Girls Aloud Out Of Control

13 14 The Script The Script

14 10 Adele 19

15 13 Oasis Dig Out Your Soul

16 22 Stereophonics Decade In The Sun

17 31 Il Divo The Promise

18 16 Abba Gold - Greatest Hits

19 15 Amy Macdonald This Is The Life

20 28 Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns

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fak

Posted
Posted

Mariah slipping down already? Will people stop buying that crap?

Big Jump for james morisson/nelly furtado - its a bit of a bland song though.

Boyzone flopping!

How did NKTOB Uk comeback fare?

UK Charts - Dec 21

xmas10.gif

Singles

1. (NEW) HALLELUJAH (Alexandra Burke) 1 wk

2. (30) HALLELUJAH (Jeff Buckley) 9 wks

3. (1) RUN (Leona Lewis) 3 wks

4. (9) IF I WERE A BOY (Beyonce) 7 wks

5. (NEW) ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS SONG (Geraldine) 1 wk :D

6. (18) BROKEN STRINGS (James Morrison feat Nelly Furtado) 5 wks

7. (2) USE SOMEBODY (Kings Of Leon) 13 wks

8. (60) LISTEN (Beyonce) 11 wks

9. (5) GREATEST DAY (Take That) 4 wks

10. (4) WOMANIZER (Britney Spears) 7 wks

11. (7) HUMAN (Killers) 6 wks

12. (13) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK (Pogues feat Kirsty Maccoll) 34 wks

13. (3) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH (Bandaged) 2 wks

14. (8) HOT N COLD (Katy Perry) 13 wks

15. (14) HERO (X Factor Finalists) 8 wks

16. (11) THE BOY DOES NOTHING (Alesha Dixon) 7 wks

17. (12) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU (Mariah Carey) 21 wks

18. (6) RIGHT NOW (NA NA NA) (Akon) 10 wks

19. (20) THE PROMISE (Girls Aloud) 9 wks

20. (24) SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) (Beyonce) 5 wks

21. (15) SEX ON FIRE (Kings Of Leon) 15 wks

22. (29) WARM THIS WINTER (Gabriella Cilmi) 3 wks

23. (10) LIVE YOUR LIFE (T.I. feat Rihanna) 7 wks

24. (17) INFINITY 2008 (Guru Josh Project) 9 wks

25. (16) REHAB (Rihanna) 5 wks

26. (23) SO WHAT (Pink) 13 wks

27. (26) LAST CHRISTMAS (Wham) 33 wks

28. (19) CASH IN MY POCKET (Wiley feat Daniel Merriweather) 3 wks

29. (21) I HATE THIS PART (Pussycat Dolls) 8 wks

30. (22) BETTER (Boyzone) 3 wks

31. (28) BREAKEVEN (Script) 10 wks

32. (NEW)(86) I MISS YOU (Basshunter) 1 wk

33. (31) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY (Wizzard) 24 wks

34. (25) PAPA (CAN U HEAR ME) (N-Dubz) 5 wks

35. (38) JINGLE BELLS (BASS) (Basshunter) 3 wks

36. (NEW) HALLELUJAH (Leonard Cohen) 1 wk

37. (41) RAIN ON YOUR PARADE (Duffy) 6 wks

38. (NEW)(87) THE LOVING KIND (Girls Aloud) 1 wk

39. (37) MAD (Ne-Yo) 2 wks

40. (27) LOVE LOCKDOWN (Kanye West) 13 wks

Albums

1. (1) THE CIRCUS (Take That) 3 wks

2. (2) SPIRIT (Leona Lewis) 49 wks

3. (4) ONLY BY THE NIGHT (Kings Of Leon) 13 wks

4. (3) DAY & AGE (Killers) 4 wks

5. (8) OUT OF CONTROL (Girls Aloud) 7 wks

6. (7) THE PRIESTS (Priests) 4 wks

7. (6) DECADE IN THE SUN: BEST OF (Stereophonics) 6 wks

8. (5) THE PROMISE (Il Divo) 6 wks

9. (24) I AM…SASHA FIERCE (Beyoncé) 5 wks

10. (11) ROCKFERRY (Duffy) 42 wks

11. (10) FUNHOUSE (Pink) 8 wks

12. (12) SOUL (Seal) 6 wks

13. (19) 25 - THE GREATEST HITS (Simply Red) 5 wks

14. (9) RHYDIAN (Rhydian) 4 wks

15. (13) MY LOVE: ESSENTIAL COLLECTION (Celine Dion) 8 wks

16. (16) THE SCRIPT (Script) 19 wks

17. (17) A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS (Snow Patrol) 8 wks

18. (15) UNCLE B (N-Dubz) 5 wks

19. (18) GREATEST HITS (Enrique Iglesias) 7 wks

20. (14) CIRCUS (Britney Spears) 3 wks

21. (30) THE BEST BETTE (Bette Midler) 13 wks

22. (23) GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Rihanna) 81 wks

23. (25) THE BEST OF (Sash!) 9 wks

24. (26) A COLLECTION (Josh Groban) 3 wks

25. (21) ONLY MEN ALOUD (Only Men Aloud) 4 wks

26. (20) CHINESE DEMOCRACY (Guns N Roses) 4 wks

27. (28) AND WINTER CAME (Enya) 6 wks

28. (33) SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK (Rod Stewart) 5 wks

29. (48) SONGS FOR YOU TRUTHS FOR ME (James Morrison) 12 wks

30. (22) TOGETHER (Salvation Army) 4 wks

31. (36) ONE OF THE BOYS (Katy Perry) 13 wks

32. (27) DIG OUT YOUR SOUL (Oasis) 10 wks

33. (32) YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN (Ne-Yo) 14 wks

34. (31) LET IT GO (Will Young) 12 wks

35. (37) PICTURES - 40 YEARS OF HITS (Status Quo) 7 wks

36. (38) FREEDOM (Akon) 3 wks

37. (41) BLACK ICE (AC/ DC) 9 wks

38. (45) BACK AGAIN… NO MATTER WHAT (Boyzone) 10 wks

39. (NEW) FOLIE A DEUX (Fall Out Boy) 1 wk

40. (39) SACRED ARIAS (Katherine Jenkins) 9 wks

Airplay

01 01 Take That Greatest Day

02 02 Leona Lewis Run

03 NE Alexandra Burke Hallellujah

04 03 Killers Human

05 08 James Morrison Broken Strings

06 11 Gabriella Cilmi Warm This Winter

07 04 Snow Patrol Crack The Shutters

08 09 Kings of Leon Use Somebody

09 05 Katy Perry Hot N Cold

10 36 Mariah Carey All I Want For Christmas Is You

11 06 Beyonce If I Were A Boy

12 63 Wham Last Christmas

13 12 Sugababes No Can Do

14 37 Pogues with Kirsty Macoll Fairytale Of New York

15 16 T.I feat Rihanna Live Your Life

16 07 Girls Aloud The Promise

17 23 George Michael December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)

18 18 Rihanna Rehab

19 17 Guru Josh Project Infinity 2008

20 10 Script Breakeven

21 15 Pink So What

22 27 Lily Allen The Fear

23 13 Britney Spears Womanizer

24 14 Alesha Dixon The Boy Does Nothing

25 RE Chris Rea Driving Home For Christmas

26 100 Girls Aloud The Loving Kind

27 24 Jennifer Hudson Spotlight

28 19 Oasis I'm Outta Time

29 25 Keane Perfect Symmetry

30 70 Band Aid Do They Know Its Christmas?

31 82 John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

32 35 Chris Brown With You

33 95 Status Quo Its Christmas Time

34 54 Kevin Rudolf feat Lil Wayne Let It Rock

35 32 Sir Terry Wogan & Aled Jones Little Drummer Boy

36 21 Boyzone Better

37 30 Feeling Feels Like Christmas

38 43 Lady Gaga Just Dance

39 50 Saturdays Issues

40 22 Akon Right Now

41 34 Ne-Yo Mad

42 26 Wiley feat Daniel Merriweather Cash In My Pocket

43 RE Andy Williams It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

44 29 Kaiser Chiefs Good Days Bad Days

45 44 Gabriella Cilmi Sweet About Me

46 48 Seal It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World

47 40 Madcon Beggin’

48 49 Kardinal Offishall feat Akon Dangerous

49 67 Geraldine Once Upon A Christmas Song

50 33 Ne-Yo Miss Independent

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fak Collaborator

fak

Posted
Posted

Dido at 90?

Leon Jackson at 133?

he must be pissed that media attention still focuses on the crap that is Leona and even runner up Rhydian is doing better.

Two of the "flop" albums of the year:

YTD Album Act Sales

------------------------

90 Safe Trip Home - Dido 147,000

133 Right Now - Leon Jackson 104,000

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Queen Bitch Community Regular

Queen Bitch

Posted
Posted
there was an article in the daily mirror tabloid i their 3am showbiz section covering her flop and ho her career could end up going in the way of her marriage. one flop from 25 years and they write her off? what about the tour?

Doesn't matter - loads of acts are big on the concert circuit who's careers are over in terms of being relevant and having hit singles/albums. She really has done IMMENSE DAMAGE to her reputation with this latest DEBACLE and POINTLESS release.

Whoever's telling Madonna that records don't sell anymore needs to show her Take That's sales in just two weeks.

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fak

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Posted

Im not a fan of HC and its my least favourite M album. the other other one i disliked was BS but then it had one ofmy top M songs ever BS, also others which I like secret, tab and Human nature.

Why do you dislike it so much? just wanted your opinion. It does look like a numbber of Uk fans have criticised it.

Doesn't matter - loads of acts are big on the concert circuit who's careers are over in terms of being relevant and having hit singles/albums. She really has done IMMENSE DAMAGE to her reputation with this latest DEBACLE and POINTLESS release.

Whoever's telling Madonna that records don't sell anymore needs to show her Take That's sales in just two weeks.

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http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chartw...mber-27th-2008/

Week Ending December 27th 2008

Posted Sun 21 Dec 2008 8:52PM GMT by James Masterton in Chart Watch UK

I told you something special was about to happen.

The 2008 Christmas Number One is naturally 'Hallelujah' by X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke. The single was released online at midnight last Sunday, just a few hours after her victory was announced on TV, and physically to what is left of the shops on Wednesday. It would have taken an event of seismic proportions to prevent the single outselling anything else in the market and with none appearing, her status as the best selling singles act of the week was all but assured by the end of Monday.

Burke is the fourth X Factor winner in succession to see her single monopolise the seasonal listings, but the first week sales of the winners singles have been on a downward trend during that period. In 2005 Shayne Ward sold 742,180 copies of 'That's My Goal'. Leona Lewis was down to 571,253 copies of 'A Moment Like This' a year later, but last year's winner Leon Jackson saw his single 'When You Believe' represent a sudden shrinking of their appeal, flying out of the shops to the tune of a "mere" 275,742. Alexandra Burke by contrast sold around 576,000 copies last week, the highest single week sale of any single since Shayne Ward's three quarters of a million three years ago and the fourth highest total of the 21st century. To put the sale in context, that is more than the rest of the Top 20 singles put together.

Alexandra Burke has almost needless to say, surpassed her mother in terms of chart success. Hailed as the brightest soul talent of her era when she first emerged in the early 1990s, Melissa Bell never quite translated acclaim that into chart hits. Her only hit single of any kind came in November 1993 when her uncredited vocal on Soul II Soul's 'Wish' helped it to a Number 24 peak.

Now originally the whole thrust of the discussion over 'Hallelujah' was to evoke the same conversation we had a fortnight ago over Leona Lewis' rendition of 'Run' - namely that your view of the record itself was largely dependent on how you felt about the other more definitive version of the song. It is a debate that we actually don't need to have, for the point of reference this week lies just one place below her in the sales rankings.

After entering the Top 40 for the first time ever last week at Number 30, Jeff Buckley's 1994 version of 'Hallelujah' this week took on a life of its own, rocketing up the sales listings almost in sympathy with the brand new version . Whilst the finger will be pointed at the usual smattering of Facebook groups that suggested a co-ordinated campaign, I'm more inclined to credit public good taste and the sheer power of the song to capture the hearts of people who may only have become aware of it due to the X Factor version. After a sales duel with the Leona Lewis single that lasted for pretty much the entire week, Buckley's single finally edged ahead at the weekend to sensationally, and dare I say it, joyfully rest at Number 2.

Having two different versions of the same song in the Top 10 whilst rare, is actually not totally unheard of. Commonplace in the very early (pre rock n' roll) years of the charts, when it was normal for several popular singers to release versions of the most popular song of the moment, the phenomenon has also occurred at regular intervals in the modern era - and most particularly it seems at Christmas time. So it was that the seasonal chart of 1987 saw both Rick Astley and Nat King Cole duelling it out with competing versions of 'When I Fall In Love' whilst in 1995 Oasis' original version of 'Wonderwall' was swiftly joined in the Christmas Top 10 by an easy listening cover by Mike Flowers Pops. Outside of the festive season, you can study the charts from October 1987 to find both Steve Walsh and The Fatback Band in the bestsellers with 'I Found Lovin' whilst in early 1996 both Mark Snow and DJ Dado were on the chart with their own versions of 'The X-Files Theme'.

For both versions to be in the Top 3 is rather more unusual, and indeed this weeks chart is quite historic, marking the first time since 1957 that two different versions of the same song are at Number 1 and Number 2 on the singles chart together. Simultaneous Top 3 versions have happened slightly more recently than that - notably in January 1965 when The Righteous Brothers were at Number 2 (on their way to the top) and Cilla Black was at Number 3 with competing versions of 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'. Note that these placings are taken from the Record Retailer chart that is regarded by the OCC and all the chart books as canon but which wasn't necessarily the most publicly visible countdown - thus it is entirely possible that alternative listings of the time did indeed show the two songs at 1 and 2.

You know there has to be a further twist, and so there is. Sneaking in to the Top 40 at Number 36 from absolutely nowhere is the original version, written and recorded by Leonard Cohen for his 1984 album 'Various Positions'. Extraordinary it is his first ever singles chart appearance in this country. Those paying close attention will note that the Cohen version bears minimal resemblance lyrically to both the Buckley and Burke versions. Part of the appeal of the song (and one of the reasons behind the 170 and counting different versions recorded by various acts) is that it has a variety of different verses, covering several different themes and which can be rearranged and reconfigured to taste. Cohen's original studio version was more spiritual in nature, alluding to many Old Testament stories whilst Jeff Buckley (copying from an earlier interpretation by John Cale) reworked the song as an ode to sexuality.

Part of the fun of anticipating the eventual X Factor winners rendition of the song was speculating just which verses would be included, and sure enough Alexandra Burke's version is a very much toned down version of the song, omitting some of its naughtier moments and thus recasting the song as an uplifting tale of personal redemption. Produced, like all X Factor songs, as a bombastic power ballad building to an epic crescendo, it may not be to everyone's taste but you can hardly criticise a song which is built to be whatever the singer wants it to be, and with two other versions selling alongside it in tandem, the tastes of all appear to be neatly served by the ultimate chart success of this most extraordinary of compositions.

As well as being Leonard Cohen's first ever chart single, 'Hallelujah' has instantly become his most successful composition. Countless artists have recorded his songs over the years but few have become widespread commercial hits. Jennifer Warnes reached Number 74 with 'First We Take Manhatten' in 1987, 'Bird On A Wire' hit Number 70 for the Neville Brothers in 1990 but until today the highest charting Cohen song was Ian McCulloch's take on 'Lover Lover Lover' which reached Number 47 in early 1992.

My final take on this topic is this: The battle of the 'Hallelujahs' has generated comment, discussion of and publicity for the singles chart in a manner that hasn't been seen for a great many years. Not since the start of the decade has the race for Number One and the potential chart performance of a single been the subject of so much mainstream attention. For all the talk of X Factor rendering the race for Christmas Number One almost meaningless, the Christmas chart of 2008 will go down as one of the most talked about, most referenced and dare I say it most fondly remembered countdowns of the 21st century so far. Hallelujah.

Just one other new single of note was released this week. Never unafraid to milk a concept to death, comedian Peter Kay follows up 'The Winners Song' with a second single in character as "Britain's Got The Pop Factor Winner" Geraldine McQueen. 'Once Upon A Christmas Song' is once again a satire that is just a little too familiar to work effectively, a singalong Christmas record about Christmas records that are played every year and with which everyone is familiar. Presumably part of the aim was to see if the concept could eat itself and the track become a seasonal perennial, but despite this creditable Number 5 entry (arriving on the back of much publicity from Channel 4, who repeated the original "Pop Factor" sitcom last week) you suspect the record is something of a passing novelty. At the risk of being mean spirited, is it out of order to note that despite appearing in the video as Geraldine McQueen, Kay doesn't actually sing the song in character but uses his own voice, and indeed the sleeve credits the single to "Peter Kay's Geraldine McQueen", just in case we were unaware of the alter-ego of the transsexual Irishwoman.

The Number One single wasn't the only direct consequence of the X Factor final last weekend. Beyonce is the act who has the honour of two singles in the seasonal Top 10, but accompanying 'If I Were A Boy' (itself rebounding to Number 4) is not, as you might expect 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)' (which climbs to Number 20 this week), but something else from her own catalogue. 'Listen' had already returned to the chart following its performance by Alexandra Burke on the TV show earlier in the competition, but it was her reprise of the song in a memorable duet with the lady herself that finally lit a fire under the track. As a result the 'Dreamgirls' song rockets to Number 8 to become the second of two spontaneous hit singles in the Top 10. First released in early 2007, the single struggled in competition with 'Irreplaceable' which was still selling in respectable quantities and so underperformed somewhat, eventually stuttering to Number 16. Arguably underappreciated at the time, 'Listen' finally becomes the smash hit it was always destined to be.

Finally for this festive chart, I'm tempted to note with some satisfaction that the top selling singles are dominated by contemporary hits with relatively few incursions by the festive oldies. Just for once the bookmakers called it correctly, with 'Fairytale Of New York' ending up as the biggest selling classic for the second year running, peaking at Number 12. Last year's runner up follows suit, 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' actually slumps slightly, down at Number 17. It is a far cry from last year when both made it to the Christmas Top 10 and the Top 40 as a whole was almost swamped with seasonal favourites. Whilst it must be noted that due to Christmas Day falling so late in the week this year this chart covers sales only up to Saturday 20th and so the potential exists for festive favourites to gain momentum in the run up to the big day itself, I'm tempted to suggest that the 2007 peaks were a one-off and that future years will see ever diminishing appearances for digital sales of the festive classics.

So that was the Christmas chart for 2008. Many thanks to all correspondents, commenters, downloaders and readers for all your support this last year and I hope you have a very enjoyable holiday. This is the 17th Christmas chart I've had the privilege of writing about online, and I can honestly say it has been my favourite one so far. Merry Christmas.

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fak Collaborator

fak

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i was surprised atthe sales difference - most of the media were talking as if she may not make it LOL.

wonder when the x-factor bubble will burst ?

And to think the news channels were claiming she'd just pipped him to the top spot :chuckle:
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markm Rising Star

markm

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Doesn't matter - loads of acts are big on the concert circuit who's careers are over in terms of being relevant and having hit singles/albums. She really has done IMMENSE DAMAGE to her reputation with this latest DEBACLE and POINTLESS release.

Whoever's telling Madonna that records don't sell anymore needs to show her Take That's sales in just two weeks.

:clap:

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Queen Bitch Community Regular

Queen Bitch

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Im not a fan of HC and its my least favourite M album. the other other one i disliked was BS but then it had one ofmy top M songs ever BS, also others which I like secret, tab and Human nature.

Why do you dislike it so much? just wanted your opinion. It does look like a numbber of Uk fans have criticised it.

I don't dislike the album, I was referring to the POINTLESS release of Miles Away.

I too HATE Bedtime Stories as an album but I like quite a few of the tracks as stand alones.

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fak Collaborator

fak

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True - a spotless chart record was broken. It could have been avoided but it was not. The fact that they released it - well it deserved some promo. The album needed to be back in the top 40 - X outsold it by a considerable margin.

Maybe Madonna hates warners?

Will wee see a change at Live Nation?

I doubt Uk will be that supportive of Madonna anymore bt who knows?

I don't dislike the album, I was referring to the POINTLESS release of Miles Away.

I too HATE Bedtime Stories as an album but I like quite a few of the tracks as stand alones.

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Braby Collaborator

Braby

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Midweeks.

Burke has sold another 100,000 copies of her shite. Will likely over-take Leona's X-factor song, A Moment Like This, in sales.

1. Alexandra Burke - 100k+ (80k+ Physical)

2. Geraldine 13k

3. Leona Lewis

4. Jeff Buckley

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