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The Whamageddon didn’t transpire in the U.K., as “Last Christmas” (Epic) finally claims the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot.
Wham’s holiday classic from 1984 holds at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Dec. 22, for its first Christmas-time stint at the summit.
According to the Official Charts Company, “Last Christmas” clocked up 13.3 million plays during the seven-day chart cycle – making it the most-streamed Christmas No. 1.
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It’s not the first time “Last Christmas” has reigned over the national tally; it first did so at the start of 2021, breaking a 36-year hoodoo, and returned to the top later in 2022.
Following its initial release, “Last Christmas” was famously beaten to the Christmas No. 1 by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” on which Wham’s co-founders George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley contributed.
With its latest feat, a full 39 years in the making, “Last Christmas” sets a new mark for the longest journey to the U.K. Christmas No. 1, the Official Charts Company reports.
Across its lifetime, the pop number has raked-in 5.34 million chart units, including 1.93 million sales and nearly 413 million streams, the OCC reports. It’s now the U.K.’s third biggest song of all time, behind Elton John’s “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” / “Candle in the Wind 1997” and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” respectively.
With Wham taking the glory, Britain’s Eurovision 2022 entrant Sam Ryder misses out, as his Amazon Music Original “You’re Christmas To Me” (EastWest/Rhino) lifts 10-2, while Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) completes the podium.
Predictably, Christmas tunes dominate the latest survey. Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s former leader “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic/EMI) improves 6-5; The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) featuring the late Kirsty MacColl dips 5-6; while holiday favorites from Brenda Lee, Michael Buble, Shakin’ Stevens, Andy Williams, Kelly Clarkson, Dean Martin, Chris Rea and more impact the top 40.
Finally, Cher cracks the top 20 — and cracks a new record — with “DJ Play A Christmas Song” (Warner Records). The legendary entertainer’s Xmas effort lifts 41-20, for her 34th U.K. top 40 single. At 77 year and 7 months, Cher is the oldest solo female performer to snag a top 40 U.K. single, the OCC reports.
Jack Harlow is loving life at the summit of the U.K. singles chart as “Lovin On Me” (via Atlantic) enters its third week at No. 1.
The Louisville rapper’s latest hit snares its biggest seven-day volume yet with 55,000 combined units, the Official Charts Company reports.
Meanwhile, Noah Kahan enjoys a new career high with “Stick Season” (Republic Records), up 4-2, while Casso, Raye and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) completes the podium, down 2-3.
Christmas isn’t yet here, but you wouldn’t know it by studying the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Dec. 1.
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All told, 16 festive tracks place in the top 40 this week, the OCC reports, including two top 10s. Wham’s enduring ‘80s classic “Last Christmas” (Epic) leads the charge, up 14-5, ahead of Mariah Carey’s All “I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia), up 16-6.
Following the death Thursday (Nov. 30) of the Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, aged 65, “Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) featuring Kirsty MacColl reenters the top 40 at No. 18. Now, with LadBaby official out of the race for the coveted U.K. Christmas No. 1, chart anoraks will keep a close eye on the ascent of the Pogues’ masterpiece.
Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts, tips the song as a “genuine contender” for the Christmas crown.
“As usual, it was already heading back into the Official Singles Chart Top 40 this week and, while it is currently too early to give an indication of the scale of the streaming surge, we would very much expect it to rise back into the Top 20 over the coming days, perhaps even higher,” comments Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, Official Charts. “It is a genuine contender for this year’s Christmas No. 1 – a chart position which this classic has never previously reached. What a fitting tribute to Shane that would be.”
“Fairytale of New York” has a U.K. chart best of No. 2, missing out when it was beaten to the Christmas No. 1 in 1987 by Pet Shop Boys’ “Always on My Mind.”
Further down the tally is Brenda Lee’s “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” (No. 14 via MCA), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (No. 16 via Reprise), Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s former chart-topper Merry Christmas (No. 17 via Atlantic/EMI) and other seasonal favorites.
Take That are crowned on the U.K. albums chart with This Life (EMI), which flexes its way to year-best sales for a British act.
The runaway leader at the midweek stage, This Life bows at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Dec. 1, with 116,000 chart sales from its first seven days. That eclipses the 95,000 first-week combined sales for Lewis Capaldi’s sophomore effort Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, until now the biggest-volume for a British artist album in 2023.
With their latest studio effort, the veteran pop group – now the trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – snags a ninth leader.
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Previously, the record-busting group led the weekly tally with Everything Changes (1993), Nobody Else (1995), Greatest Hits (1996), Beautiful World (2006), The Circus (2008), Progress (2010), III (2014) and Odyssey (2018).
The lads will support the album in 2024 with an extensive tour of the U.K. and Europe.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) holds at No. 2, while the Rolling Stones’ former leader Hackney Diamonds (Polydor) lifts 4-3.
Not far behind is Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise), which, like clockwork, makes its journey up the chart. Christmas improves 16-4, for its first stint in the top 5 this year, the OCC reportS.
The late, great Tina Turner, lands a posthumous top 40 appearance with Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Rhino), new at No. 16. It’s the legendary U.S. singer’s 16th top tier appearance in the U.K. The “Simply The Best” singer died in May of this year, aged 84.
Finally, Australia’s princess of pop Kylie Minogue returns to the top 40 with Kylie (BMG), the album that ignited her pop career. Kylie blasts to No. 30, thanks to a reissue to celebrate its 35th anniversary, including a neon pink version on wax. The set, which led the chart back in 1988, is the best-seller on vinyl during the latest cycle.
Christmas songs are coming, fast, but for now Jack Harlow has the hottest single in the U.K.
The Louisville singer and songwriter leads the U.K. chart blast with “Lovin On Me,” which has already clocked up two weeks at No. 1.
Based on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, “Lovin On Me” has the advantage after the first weekend of the chart cycle.
Meanwhile, bouncing EDM track “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) by cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe is forecast to hold at No. 2, while singer and songwriter Noah Kahan continues to climb with “Stick Season” (Republic Records), his breakout song. It’s up 4-3 on the First Look chart, and, if it holds its position, would mark a new career high for the U.S. artist.
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Brits love a Christmas song, and this year is proving no different. Less than a month before Santa hands out the presents, three holiday themed numbers should get the gift of a top 10 appearance when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Dec. 1.
Leading the way is Wham’s “Last Christmas” (Epic) at No. 6 on the chart blast, ahead of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia), while Sam Ryder is on the brink of his second top 10 appearance with his Amazon Music Original “You’re Christmas To Me” (East West/Rhino), flying 50-10 on the chart blast. Ryder is something of a national hero after he represented the U.K. in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with “Space Man,” which finished first in the jury vote and second overall, behind the Ukraine’s entry, Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania”. “Space Man” is Ryder’s only U.K. top 10 appearance to date, peaking at No. 2.
Further down the chart blast, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (MCA) is set to climb 31-17 and Jorja Smith’s cover of East-17’s “Stay Another Day” (FAMM), also an Amazon Music Original, could fly 75-18, a new peak. “Stay Another Day” should give Smith a sixth U.K. top 40 hit.
As previously reported, Christmas came early to the U.K. singles chart earlier this month as those evergreen records by Wham! and Carey made their earliest annual appearance on the chart.
The chart race for the coveted Christmas No. 1 starts Dec. 15.
The Brits are still lovin on Jack Harlow. The Louisville rapper’s latest hit “Lovin On Me” (via Atlantic) enters a second week at No. 1 on the U.K. chart, racking up a market-leading 6 million streams in the latest cycle, the Official Charts Company confirms. The leader at the midweek stage, “Lovin On Me” is […]
The U.K. has had a week of Madness, as Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie (via BMG) debuts at No. 1.
Theatre of the Absurd is the pop-ska band’s lucky thirteenth studio album. The leader at the midweek stage of the chart cycle, Theatre of the Absurd is the north London act’s 11th top 10, third leader, and first-ever U.K. No. 1 studio album.
Suggs and Co. previously reigned over the chart with career retrospectives Complete Madness (from 1982) and Divine Madness (1992).
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Theatre of the Absurd manages to go one better than Madness’ 1979 debut album, One Step Beyond, which peaked at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, as did their sophomore set from 1980, Absolutely.
With Madness sweeping the nation, Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) is deposed after a three-week stint at No. 1. Swift’s fourth re-recording project dips 1-2 on the national tally.
Meanwhile, Drake’s chart-topping For All the Dogs (OVO/Republic Records) rockets 21-3 following the release of its deluxe Scary Hours Edition.
Dolly Parton proves herself a rockstar once more with her latest LP, Rockstar, starting at No. 5 (Big Machine), for her fifth U.K. top 10 album. Inspired by her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Rockstar is a collection of rock cover versions, with assists from Miley Cyrus, Sting, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and others.
Further down the list, violinist and showman André Rieu’s Jewels of Romance (Decca) with Johann Strauss Orchestra bows at No. 12 on the Official Chart, published Friday Nov. 24, for the Dutchman’s 20th U.K. top 40.
As the festive season nears, Michael Bublé’s Christmas is heating up again, rising 32-16. Also, U.S. alternative rock act the National snag a sixth U.K. 40 album — and second this year — with Laugh Track (4AD), new at No. 24. It’s the followup to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which peaked at No. 4 in May.
Swifties saw off Beatlemania in a close race for the U.K. albums chart crown.
Taylor Swift enters a third straight week at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart with 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI), the fourth in her six rerecorded LP projects.
In doing so, Swift denies the Beatles a record-extending 16th No. 1 with 1967-1970 (also known as the Blue album) (both via Apple Corps), which reenters the chart at No. 2, and 1962-1966 (the Red album), close behind at No. 3.
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The Beatles had led both the U.K.’s midweek singles and albums charts with 1967-1970 and “Now And Then,” respectively, and were on track for a rare chart double. Neither title finished in first place when the Official Charts were published last Friday, Nov. 17.
Coincidently, 1967-1970 and 1962-1966 return to their respective original peaks, locked in on release back in 1973. A composite boxed set of the two LPs, released to celebrate the release of “Now and Then,” the Beatles’ recent U.K. No. 1 single, arrives at No. 33 on the national albums survey.
Further down the albums tally, Chase & Status make a splash with 2 RUFF, Vol. 1 (EMI), new at No. 4, for the drum ‘n’ bass duo’s fifth U.K. top 10 appearance.
Closing out the top five is Quarter Life Crisis (Polydor), the debut studio album from South Africa-born, London-based artist Baby Queen. It’s new at No. 5.
As Noah Kahan embarks on his U.K. tour, the Vermont singer-songwriter’s third studio LP Stick Season (Island) powers 22-6, a new peak position. The title track, meanwhile, lifts 8-5, a new peak on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, while another album track, “Northern Attitude,” sits at No. 16.
Reissues of sets by Passenger (All the Little Lights at No. 7 via Cooking Vinyl) and New Order (Substance at No. 10 via Rhino) return to the top 10, as new releases from Chris Brown (11:11 at — you guessed it — No. 11 via Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA), James Marriott (Are We There Yet? at No. 17 via James Marriott), Chris Stapleton (Higher at No. 22 via EMI), PinkPantheress (Heaven Knows at No. 28 via Warner Records), and The Kid LAROI (The First Time at No. 29 via Columbia) impact the top 40 on debut.
Move over the Beatles, Jack Harlow is now in charge of the U.K. singles chart.
The Louisville rapper reaches the summit at the first attempt with “Lovin On Me” (via Atlantic), his fourth top 10 and debut leader on the national singles tally.
“Lovin On Me,” which samples Cadillac Dale’s 1995 R&B track “Whatever,” is the most-streamed track in the U.K. during the latest cycle, with 5.1 million streams, the Official Charts Company reports.
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Previously, Harlow cracked the top frame with 2021 Lil Nas X collaboration “Industry Baby” (No. 3 peak), 2022’s “First Class” (No. 2) and 2023 Jung Kook collab “3D” (No. 5). As previously reported, “Lovin On Me” is the new leader on Australia’s singles survey.
Also new to the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Nov. 17, is Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” (Warner Records) which pulls a magic trick with its appearance at No. 2.
The first track from Lipa’s forthcoming third studio album, “Houdini” features production from Tame Impala maestro Kevin Parker and Danny L Harle. Lipa now boasts 14th U.K. top 10 hits, including four No. 1s.
After a record-setting stint at No. 1, and taking honors at the midweek stage of the chart race, the Beatles’ “last” song “Now And Then” (Apple Corps) is dislodged from the summit, tumbling 1-6.
Meanwhile, notes the OCC, drum & bass pair Chase & Status (Saul Milton and Will Kennard) become the first group to collect four simultaneous U.K. top 40 singles since 2010. The duo rack them up with “Baddadan” featuring Bou, Flowdan, IRAH, Triggah and Takura (down 9-10 via EMI), “Liquor and Cigarettes” with Hedex and ArrDee (unchanged at No. 17 via EMI), Stefflon Don collab “Selecta” (new at No. 27 via EMI) and “Disconnect” with Becky Hill (down 27-37 via Polydor).
British drill rapper Mazza L20 snags his first Official Singles Chart entry with “Murdaside” (Mazza L20), new at No. 18, while PinkPantheress and Central Cee arrive at No. 20 with “Nice to Meet You” (Columbia/ Parlophone). PinkPantheress already has three solo U.K. top 40 appearances, and Central Cee has 21.
Finally, the Christmas bells are ringing once again on the U.K. chart as yuletide favorites from Wham! and Mariah Carey make their annual pilgrimage into the top 40. Just one week after setting a record for the earliest appearance of a Christmas song on the tally, Wham‘s “Last Christmas” (Epic) improves 37-26 and “Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (Columbia) lifts 40-28.
It’s official: Beatlemania is back in the U.K.
After the Beatles landed their first No. 1 in 60 years with “Now And Then” (via Apple Corps), the Fab Four is on the brink of converting a rare chart double.
Based on sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, reissues of the Beatles’ greatest hits compilations, 1967-1970 (also known as The Blue Album) and 1962-1966 (or The Red Album), are respectively leading the midweek albums chart.
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The Blue Album, which is on track to eclipse its No. 2 peak, following its initial release back in May 1973, gathers remastered tracks and rarities, and includes the iconic band’s final single, “Now And Then,” which leads the current U.K. singles chart and is heading for a second week at No. 1.
According to the OCC, just 1,000 chart units separate the two Beatles albums (The Red Album peaked at No. 3 back in 1973). If either of those titles are crowned when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published this Friday, Nov. 17, it would give the Beatles a 16th leader, extending their leadership in the all-time list of acts with No. 1 LPs (Robbie Williams is in second place with 14).
Despite calling it a day in 1970, the Beatles could dominate the top 10 with a third title. To coincide with the release of “Now And Then,” a composite boxed set of the two LPs is predicted to crack the top 10 for the first time, at No. 9.
In non-Beatles activity, drum ‘n’ bass act Chase & Status could snag a fifth UK top 10 with 2 RUFF, Vol. 1 (EMI), new at No. 3 on the Official Albums Chart Update, while a 10th anniversary edition of Passenger’s All the Little Lights (Cooking Vinyl) is set to arrive at No. 5. The British singer and songwriter’s fourth studio album originally peaked at No. 3 back in 2013 and is one of his six U.K. top 10s, including a No. 1 for 2016’s Young As The Morning Old As The Sea.
New Order’s Substance (Rhino) compilation from 1987 is targeting a No. 6 reentry, following a multi-format reissue, while South Africa-born, London-based alt-pop artist Baby Queen (Quarter Life Crisis at No. 7 via Polydor), and U.S. country star Chris Stapleton (Higher at No. 10 via EMI) are eyeing their first top 10 slots.
Christmas comes early to the U.K. singles chart as perennial hits by Wham and Mariah Carey begin their annual march back up the tally. While the Beatles’ plunder the record books with “Now And Then” (Apple Corps), which blasts to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, 60 years after their last leader, two […]
