OCC
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Stormzy scores his hattrick on the U.K. albums chart with This Is What I Mean (via 0207/Merky).
The Brit Award-winning grime star edges Cliff Richard’s Christmas With Cliff (EastWest/Rhino), to make it three-from-three — a streak that includes Stormzy’s 2017 debut Gang Signs & Prayer and its 2019 followup Heavy Is The Head.
This Is What I Mean completes a “nail-biting race,” according to the Official Charts Company, as the hip-hop LP summons a “last-minute surge” to beat Richard’s first Christmas-themed set in nearly two decades, since 2003’s Cliff At Christmas. Richard now boasts 47 top 10 albums chart appearances in his homeland, a result that includes seven leaders.
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Cliff At Christmas is one of several holiday-themed records making their mark on the Official U.K. Albums Chard, published Dec. 2.
Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s collection A Family Christmas (Decca) lifts 11-4, for a new peak; Andre Rieu & The Johann Strauss Orchestra’s Silver Bells (Decca) dips 4-8; Michael Bublé’s December juggernaut Christmas (Reprise) rises 26-13; a Christmas edition of George Ezra’s Gold Rush Kid (Columbia) is up 32-18; and Aled Jones & Russell Watson’s Christmas With Aled & Russell (BMG) improves 52-29.
The Cure‘s ninth studio album Wish (Polydor/UMR) is back in the top 10 (at No. 9), off the back of a 30th anniversary reissue featuring 24 previously-unreleased tracks.
Wish peaked at No. 1 following its release in 1992, and remains the Rock And Roll Hall of Famers’ only U.K. leader. The set also yielded the U.K. top 10 hits “High” (No. 8) and “Friday I’m In Love” (No. 6).
Following the death of Christine McVie on Nov. 30, at the age of 79, fans are finding comfort in Fleetwood Mac’s music. The band’s career retrospective 50 Years – Don’t Stop (Rhino) holds at No. 23, and their best-selling 1977 LP Rumours (Rhino/Warner Bros) climbs the chart, up 41-23, with a 43% week-on-week gain, the OCC reports.
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” (via EMI) is still the boss in the U.K., where it racks-up six consecutive weeks at No. 1.
The Midnights tune accumulated just shy of 4.9 million streams during the latest cycle, the Official Charts Company reports, to hold off Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look” (Epic), up 3-2; and venbee, goddard and ArrDee’s “messy in heaven” (Columbia), up 5-3. Those are new peak positions for the podium finishers.
British singer and songwriter RAYE enjoys her first taste of the high life as an independent artist, as“Escapism” (Human Re Sources) featuring 070 Shake races 31-6. It’s RAYE’s first appearance in the top 10 as a lead artist, following her assist on Jax Jones’ “You Don’t Know Me” (No. 3 in 2016), “Secrets” with Regard (No. 6 in 2020) and “Bed” with Joel Corry and David Guetta (No. 3 in 2020).
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The Londoner (real name Rachel Keen) was nominated for BBC Music’s Sound of 2017 award and is expected to drop 21st Century Blues, her debut LP, in 2023. Her debut mini-album, Euphoric Sad Songs was released in November 2020.
Stormzy is moving on up with “Firebabe” (0207/Merky), which roars 26-11 following the release of his third LP This Is What I Mean, new at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. Also, the record’s title track starts at No. 32 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Dec. 2, for his 28th Top 40 title.
The Christmas spirit can be measured on the latest singles survey, as a string of holiday classics make their annual return.
Leading the way is Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (up 18-8 via Columbia), and Wham’s “Last Christmas” (up 23-9 via RCA), both former leaders.
Elsewhere in the U.K. top 40 are Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (up 40-15 via Atlantic), Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (up 42-18 via MCA), Michael Buble’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” (up 49-20 via Reprise), Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” (up 54-26 via RCA), Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (up 55-28 via Republic Records), The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl’s “Fairytale of New York” (up 57-30 via Warner Bros), Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath The Tree” (up 62-31 via RCA), Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (up 63-34 via Mercury), and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (69-36 via MCA).
That’s 11 Christmas-themed songs in the top 40, and there’s still time for the publication of three more weekly charts before Dec. 25.
Stormzy is eying a hattrick on the U.K. albums chart with This Is What I Mean (via 0207/Merky), which leads at the midweek point.
The Croydon, England rapper is a perfect two-from-two, having led the Official U.K. Albums Chart with with his 2017 debut Gang Signs & Prayer and 2019’s Heavy Is The Head.
The Brit Award winner’s latest LP starts at No. 1 on the midweek chart, just ahead of pop veteran Cliff Richard’s festive collection, Christmas With Cliff (EastWest/Rhino).
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Richard’s first Christmas release in almost two decades is on track to become the iconic British artist’s 47th Top 10 solo album, a feat that includes seven leaders.
It’s nearly that time of year, which means a batch of Christmas-themed records are charging up the U.K. charts.
Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas (Decca) lifts 11-5 on the midweek survey, and Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise) is hovering just outside the top 10, up 35-11.
Further down the list, a Christmas edition of George Ezra’s former leader Gold Rush Kid (Columbia) bumps 33-15, while Aled Jones & Russell Watson’s Christmas With Aled & Russell (BMG) holds at No. 37.
It’s similar story on the midweek singles survey, with holiday classics from Mariah Carey and Wham surging into the top 10.
Elsewhere on the midweek albums survey, Rock And Roll Hall of Famers The Cure could mark a return to the top tier with the goth faves’ ninth album Wish (Polydor/UMR), thanks to a reissue. Wish reached No. 1 following its original release in 1992, and blasts to No. 4 on the Official Chart Update.
Finally, David Bowie could bag a 69th top 40 appearance on the U.K. albums survey with A Divine Symmetry (Parlophone), a four-disc package of rarities and demos that traces the year leading up to the release of his 1971 classic album, Hunky Dory.
Interest in the legendary late singer continues to run hot, thanks in part to the release of Brett Morgen’s feature-length documentary Moonage Daydream, the soundtrack to which opened at No. 20 on the Official U.K. Chart last Friday (Nov. 25). A Divine Symmetry could hit the same height; it’s new at No. 20 on the midweek chart.
Bowie died Jan. 10, 2016 at the age of 69, just days after the release of his Blackstar album.
The Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday.
First, the album version, then the cut featuring Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers. Now, Taylor Swift’s acoustic cut of “Anti-Hero” is keeping the pop superstar’s Midnights hit on high rotation.
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Swift dropped “Anti-Hero (Acoustic Version)” last week, when Americans were tucking into their Thanksgiving turkey.
The impact can be felt across the Atlantic where, in the U.K., “Anti-Hero,” is on track for a sixth week at No. 1.
“Anti-Hero” completed a fifth week atop the Official Chart, published last Friday (Nov. 25), and it remains in pole position on the U.K.’s First Look chart, which ranks singles based on sales and streams from the first 48 hours.
“Anti-Hero” has led the chart every week since its release Oct. 21. A fresh version, featuring Bleachers, dropped on Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look” is showing strength and stamina in the U.K., where its challenging “Anti-Hero” for the chart crown.
Trainor’s doo-wop number is inching closer and lifts 3-2 on the chart blast, for what would be a chart peak.
If “Made You Look” unseats “Anti-Hero,” it would be Trainor’s third leader and first in seven years; her last was 2015’s Charlie Puth collaboration “Marvin Gaye.”
With England getting their World Cup campaign away to winning start, Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds’ “Three Lions” looks set to kick another goal. The former chart leader is rolling towards the top 10, up 20-12 on the chart blast, and should enjoy a lift in the leadup to England’s final Group B fixture against Wales on Tuesday (Nov. 29).
A holiday-themed version of the track, “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home For Christmas),” could keep the song in the chart for the weeks ahead.
“Three Lions” would have company, with several Christmas classics making their annual march up the chart. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (up 18-8 on the chart blast) and Wham’s “Last Christmas” (23-10) are set to return to the top 10. Not far behind is Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas,” which hit No. 1 last December and lifts 40-16 on the chart blast.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday (Dec. 2).
Dermot Kennedy makes it two-from-two as Sonder (via Island) debuts at No. 1 on the U.K. albums survey.
The Irishman bows at the summit of the Official Albums Chart, published Nov. 25, and shifts a market-leading volume on vinyl.
Sonder equals the peak position of his 2019 debut, Without Fear, which saw the Dublin-born singer and songwriter became the first Irish act to top the U.K. chart with their debut album in over 20 years, the OCC reports.
The Christmas chimes are ringing in the top 5, as André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra enter at No. 4 with Silver Bells (Decca), a Christmas classics collection. It’s the Dutch classical crossover artist’s 13th U.K. top 10 album entry.
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Meanwhile, Queen enjoys a miracle return to the top 10. The legendary rock act’s 1989 LP The Miracle (Virgin) blasts to No. 6 on the latest list, thanks to an eight-disc reissue featuring previously-unreleased cuts, some with the late Freddie Mercury’s vocals. The Miracle led the U.K. chart following its original release in 1989.
Nickelback roll into the top 10 with Get Rollin’ (BMG), the Canadian rockers’ tenth studio album. It’s the band’s seventh top 10 appearance and first since 2017’s Feed The Machine went to No. 3.
Manchester rapper Meekz lands a career-best with his mixtape Respect The Come Up (Neighbourhood Recordings), new at No. 12, while U.S. heavy metal veterans Disturbed earn a fifth top 40 appearance with Divisive (Reprise), new at No. 17.
The late master David Bowie lands a 68th U.K. top 40 with the Moonage Dream OST, the companion to Brett Morgen’s feature length documentary film of the same name. The posthumous recording is new at No. 20.
Christmas is less that one month away, and that mean another burst of energy for Michael Bublé’s festive collection. The multi-platinum Christmas (Reprise) set soars 50-26, and will likely continue in that trajectory for the weeks ahead.
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” (via EMI) continues to beat-up the opposition in the U.K., where it enters its fifth week at No. 1.
“Anti-Hero,” the first track from Swift’s chart-topping tenth studio album, Midnights, dominates the latest Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Nov. 25, with a market-leading 5.2 million streams, the OCC reports.
It becomes the longest-reigning song by a solo female artist since Olivia Rodrigo spent five weeks at No. 1 in 2021 with “Good 4 U,” and it’s among the biggest No. 1 hits of 2022.
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Just three songs have enjoyed longest stints at the U.K. summit this year: Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (seven weeks), LF SYSTEM’s “Afraid To Feel” (eight weeks) and Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (10 weeks).
Meanwhile, Meghan Trainor continues to climb on the latest tally with “Made You Look” (Epic), which makes its peak position of No. 3, up one position.
The highest new entry this week belongs to London rapper Clavish with “Rocket Science” (Polydor) featuring D-Block Europe. “Rocket Science” lifts off for a No. 9 debut, Clavish’s first appearance on the U.K. top 40, and D-Block Europe’s 27th appearance (including two top 10s).
The Christmas tunes are coming. Just one week removed from its earliest-ever return to the top 40, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) is getting a move on, up 36-18. Good enough for the OCC’s “biggest gainer” honors.
Close behind are two holiday-themed chart-toppers in Wham’s “Last Christmas” (RCA), up 42-23, and Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic), which reennters at No. 40.
Christmas isn’t the only major event on British minds right now.
The World Cup of soccer is in full swing, with England and Wales both active in the early rounds. Following England’s first-up demolition job on Iran, 6-2, David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds’ “Three Lions” reenters the chart, at No. 20. The unofficial England football anthem and former leader gets a boost from a new cut, “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home For Christmas).”
Finally, British singer and songwriter Raye lands her 10th top 40 single with “Escapism” (Human Re Sources), a collaboration with U.S. electronic artist 070 Shake, new at No. 31; while another collaboration, Meekz and Dave’s “Fresh Out The Bank” (Neighbourhood Recordings), cracks the top 40 on debut, at No. 35.
Dermot Kennedy opens-up a sizeable lead in the U.K. chart race with Sonder (via Island), his second album.
The Irishman’s LP leads the midweek survey, with an advantage of 12,000 chart sales over Taylor Swift’s Midnights (EMI), the next closest title.
Sonder is the followup to Without Fear, which, in 2019, saw Kennedy became the first Irish act in over years to bow at No. 1 in the U.K. with his debut.
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Meanwhile, Queen is all set to make a miracle return to the chart. The legendary rock band returns to the Official Chart Update at No. 3 with The Miracle (Island), following an eight-disc reissue, including six unreleased tracks, four with the late Freddie Mercury on lead vocals.
The Miracle led the weekly chart following its original release in 1989.
Canadian rockers Nickelback are back, and ready to get rolling into the U.K. top 10. The band’s 10th studio album, Get Rollin’ (BMG) is heading for a No. 5 start. If it holds its position, that would mark Nickelback’s sixth U.K. top 5 appearance, the OCC reports.
David Bowie could score another posthumous hit, this time with the original soundtrack to the Brett Morgan-helmed documentary film, Moonage Daydream (via Parlophone). It’s on track for a No. 7 debut, for what would be the Thin White Duke’s 36th U.K. top 10.
Close behind is U.S. metal band Disturbed, which could bag a fourth U.K. top 10 appearance with Divisive (Reprise). It’s new at No. 8 on the chart blast.
Mariah Carey made an early foray into the U.K. singles chart top 40 last Friday (Nov. 18) with her holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia). It hasn’t quite triggered an avalanche, though a ripple of Christmas-themed recordings are making a move on the albums chart.
Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are on track for a No. 4 start on the albums chart with Silver Bells (Decca); Andrea, Matteo and Virginia Bocelli’s A Family Christmas (Decca) is poised to lift 13-12; Kylie Minogue’s Kylie Christmas (Parlophone) is set to reenter at No. 27; and Michael Bublé’s multi-platinum gift that keeps-on giving, Christmas (Reprise), is poised to return at No. 35.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday.
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” (EMI) looks set to extend its reign in the U.K. for a fifth week.
The first track on Swift’s new album Midnights has dominated the Official U.K. Singles Chart since its release, Oct. 21, and is by some distance her longest-ruling No. 1 in that territory (her previous best was a two-week run in 2017 with “Look What You Made Me Do”).
Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, “Anti-Hero” should hold on for another week, making it five in a row.
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Just four other releases this year have notched more than a month at No. 1 in the U.K.: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (7 weeks) by the cast of Encanto, “As It Was” (10 weeks) by Harry Styles and “Afraid To Feel” (8 weeks) by LF SYSTEM.
Meanwhile, Meghan Trainor appears to be moving on up with her doo-wop number, “Made You Look” (Epic), lifting 4-3 on the midweek survey, for what would be a peak position.
The highest new entry on the Official Chart Update belongs to London rapper Clavish, who’s on the verge of his first top 10 with “Rocket Science” (Polydor) featuring D-Block Europe. It’s set to debut at No. 9.
Irish singer and songwriter Dermot Kennedy is on track for his first albums chart crown with Sonder, which leads at the midweek point. He’s on the rise on the U.K. singles survey, as “Kiss Me” (Island) improves 19-12, for what would be a new peak in its 12th week on the survey.
Grime star Stormzy is on fire with his latest, the ballad “Firebabe” (0207/Merky). It lights up 21-19 in its second week on the survey.
Christmas has come early on the U.K. singles chart, with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) making an earlier-than-usual annual return to top 40 on latest chart, published Nov. 18.
Carey’s evergreen number is only going in one direction — up. The record-breaking tune lifts 36-20 on the chart blast, and holds a slim lead over another holiday classic, Wham’s “Last Christmas” (RCA), up 45-22 on the chart blast.
It may be too early to confirm, but Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic) might be here to stay, at least in the annual lead-up to Dec. 25. After hitting No. 1 last December, the duet is poised to return to the survey, at No. 33.
All will be revealed when the Official Chart is published Friday (Nov. 25).