U.K.
Page: 4
“Sprinter” remains unbeaten in U.K. chart races as Dave and Central Cee’s hit clocks nine consecutive weeks at No. 1.
With that feat, “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) becomes the longest-reigning U.K. rap single in U.K. chart history. It’s the second time Dave has entered the record books following the surprise release of “Starlight” in 2022, which logged four weeks at the summit, a new benchmark for a solo U.K. rap No. 1.
If “Sprinter” can cross the line first when the next chart is published on Friday, Aug. 11, it would draw level with Miley Cyrus’ 10-week reign with “Flowers,” for the longest-running leader this year.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Central Cee, the London rapper and songwriter, also appears further down the list with “On The Radar Freestyle” (Columbia/OVO Sound), his collaboration with Drake. It’s new at No. 26 for Central Cee’s 19 U.K. top 40 appearance, and Drake’s 82nd.
Barbie retains a firm grip on the Official Charts, as four songs from the hit film’s soundtrack impact the top ten, led by Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” (Interscope) up 3-2 for a new peak. Eilish’s low-key number is currently No. 1 in Australia.
Barbie: The Album cuts “Dance The Night” by Dua Lipa (up 4-3); “Barbie World” by Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj and Aqua (up 5-4) and “Speed Drive” Charli XCX (19-9) motor to new chart peaks. With its steep climb on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Aug. 4, “Speed Drive” becomes Charli’s sixth U.K. top 10 single and her first in eight years as a lead artist, dating back to 2015’s “Doing It” featuring Rita Ora.
Close behind is Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken,” up 25-14, and Lizzo’s “Pink” up 39-27.
With Travis Scott‘s Utopia lording over the albums survey, hip-hop is the undisputed king of the U.K.’s charts this week. Scott also nabs the highest new entry this week on the singles survey with “Meltdown” (Epic). Featuring vocals from Drake, it’s new at No. 10 for Scott’s fifth U.K. top 10 appearance.
Meanwhile, Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration, “Desire” (Columbia), starts at No. 18, while Post Malone’s “Chemical” enjoys a boost following the release of the U.S. singer and rapper’s fifth studio album, Austin. “Chemical” roars 83- 24, as Austin bows at No. 3 on the albums tally.
Finally, Sinead O’Connor makes a posthumous return to the top 40 with her signature song, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Chrysalis), reentering at No. 30 on a 60% gain in combined sales, the Official Charts Company reports.
“Nothing Compares 2 U” logged four weeks at No. 1 following its initial release in 1990. The Irish singer and songwriter died July 26, at the age of 56.
Travis Scott is living his best life on the U.K. albums chart as Utopia (via Epic) bows at No. 1.
The U.S. hip-hop star’s fourth studio album debuts at the summit of the Official Chart, published Aug. 4, eclipsing the No. 3 best for his previous album, 2018’s Astroworld.
Utopia, a digital-only release, finishes the week in a flurry. Anne-Marie’s Unhealthy (Atlantic) was the leader at the halfway point, with an advantage of about 200 combined sales. When the chart proper was published last Friday, Unhealthy had dipped to No. 2, some 1,500 chart units behind Utopia.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Unhealthy is the English artist’s third U.K. top 5 album, following 2018’s Speak Your Mind (No. 3) and 2021’s Therapy (No. 2). Despite missing out on the title, Unhealthy becomes the fastest-selling album of 2023 for a U.K. solo female, according to the Official Charts Company, which reports that physical sales account for 84% of its first-week tally.
Utopia, meanwhile, bags the biggest streaming week for any LP so far this year.
Completing an all-new top three is Post Malone’s Austin (Island). That’s the U.S. rapper’s fifth U.K. top 10 album to date after 2016’s Stoney (No. 10), 2018’s Beerbongs & Bentleys (No. 1), 2019’s Hollywood’s Bleeding (No. 1) and 2022’s Twelve Carat Toothache (No. 3).
Further down the list, veteran Birmingham, England band Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) sprint to their highest-charting LP in over 30 years with The Feminine Divine (100 Percent Records). Their sixth studio set starts at No. 6 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart.
You’d have to wind the clock back to 1982 to find a higher chart position for Dexys, when their sophomore effort Too-Rye-Ay, which featured the enduring hit “Come On Eileen,” peaked at No. 2. Kevin Rowland and Co. last landed in the U.K. top 10 with 2016’s Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul, which peaked at No. 10.
As Barbiemania sweeps the nation, Billie Eilish’s lowkey Barbie cut “What Was I Made For?” (via Interscope) is challenging for the U.K.’s chart crown.
Eilish’s latest hit sits at No. 2 on the midweek chart, having trailed the leader, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), by just 1,500 combined units with the publication of this week’s earliest chart blast.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Sprinter” has been unbeatable in its chart run, clocking eight consecutive weeks at No. 1.
Travis Scott could be living his best life with Utopia (via Epic), which is well placed in the national albums chart race. The followup to 2018’s Astroworld, Utopia could yield three top 10 singles, led on the midweek chart by “Meltdown” (No. 7), “Fein” (No. 9) and “Hyaena” (No. 10). Scott has already notched four top 10 appearances.
Further down the list is Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration “Desire” (Columbia), poised for a No. 17 bow. If it holds its position, it would mark Harris’ 41st top 40 single and Smith’s 22nd. The pair previously teamed up on 2018’s “Promises,” which led the national chart for six weeks.
Meanwhile, Sinead O’Connor’s tragic death on July 26, aged 56, is fueling interest in the Irish singer’s biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Chrysalis). The Prince-penned classic from the early ‘90s bounces to No. 19 on the Official Singles Chart Update, dipping from No. 12 on the First Look chart, which ranks tracks based on sales and streaming activity from the first 48 hours. Powered by its emotionally-charged music video, the single led the chart for four weeks following its release in 1990.
Finally, the legendary leftfield electronic music producer Aphex Twin is tuning-up for his highest-ever peak in the U.K. with “Blackbox Life Recorder 21F” (Warp). It’s new at No. 29 on the midweek chart, and could mark the artist’s (real name: Richard David James) first appearance on the singles chart since 1999’s “Windowlicker,” which achieved his career-best peak of No. 16.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Aug. 4.
It’s tight at the top of the midweek U.K. chart, as Anne-Marie and Travis Scott tussle for the crown.
Based on data published by the Official Charts Company, Anne-Marie’s third studio album Unhealthy (via Atlantic) has the edge – a wafer-thin one, of less than 100 chart units.
If it stays on target, Unhealthy will give the English artist her third top 10, and first leader. Anne-Marie’s previous albums both impacted the top 3 — 2018’s Speak Your Mind (No. 3) and 2021’s Therapy (No. 2).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Meanwhile, Scott’s Utopia opens at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update, with three tracks from it (the maximum allowed under the U.K.’s chart criteria) are on track to appear in the singles chart top 10. Utopia is the followup to Scott’s Astroworld (Epic), which peaked at No. 3 on the national survey in 2018. Like Anne-Marie, the Houston, TX rapper has never landed a U.K. No. 1.
Completing an all-new podium on the chart blast is Austin (Island), the fifth studio album from Post Malone. Austin is set to start at No. 3, for Posty’s fifth top 10, a career collection that includes two No. 1s.
Meanwhile, veteran English pop-rock group Dexys (formerly Dexys Midnight Runners) are on track for their highest-charting LP since 1982 with The Feminine Divine (100 Percent Records), their sixth studio album. It’s new No. 4 on the midweek tally. The last time Kevin Rowland and Co. soared in the top 5 on the U.K. chart was back in 1982, with sophomore effort Too-Rye-Ay, which featured the enduring No. 1 hit “Come On Eileen.” Too-Rye-Ay peakedat No. 2 and enjoyed a 40-year anniversary reissue in 2022.
Last week’s leader, Blur’s The Ballad of Darren (Parlophone), looks set to tumble 1-5.
Finally, folk legend Joni Mitchell could bag her highest chart appearance since the ‘70s with At Newport (Rhino). Recorded in 2022 during a surprise performance at Newport Folk Festival, her first major outing since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015, Mitchell’s latest release sits at No. 11 on the midweek survey and appears set to become her highest charting U.K. LP since 1976’s Hejira, which also peaked at No. 11.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday, Aug. 4.
J Hus bags the U.K. chart crown with Beautiful and Brutal Yard, new at No. 1.
The leader at the halfway mark, Beautiful and Brutal Yard (via Black Butter) becomes the Stratford, England-born rapper and singer’s second leader, following 2020’s Big Conspiracy, and his third career top 10 placing (his 2017 debut Common Sense peaked at No. 6).
Three tracks from Beautiful and Brutal Yard appear in the current U.K. singles chart top 40: “Who Told You” with Drake (down 4-5), “Militerian” featuring Naira Marley (new at No. 23), and “Masculine” with Burna Boy (new at No. 24).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Taylor Swift continues to swamp the U.K. albums chart, led by Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), down 1-2. It’s one of six Swift titles on the climb in the top 20 (all via EMI), no doubt fueled by the excitement surrounding the ticket onsale for the 2024 U.K. leg of The Eras Tour. Further down the Official U.K. Albums Chart, 2022’s Midnights is up 9-5, 2014’s 1989 gains 10-8, 2019’s Lover improves 12-9, 2017’s Reputation lifts 21-15 and 2019’s folklore spikes 25-16.
Rita Ora’s return with You & I (BMG) nets her a second top 10 entry. The British artist’s new album bows at No. 6, for her highest-charting LP in over a decade. Her 2012 debut ORA peaked at No. 1, and its 2018 followup Phoenix hit No. 11.
Further down the list, British-born Canadian singer and songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith just misses out on a top 10 debut with Mirror (Island), new at No. 11; while Glasgow, Scotland singer and songwriter Gerry Cinnamon nabs his third top 40, with Live at Hampden Park (Little Runaway) appearing at No. 12. The live collection is the week’s best-seller on wax.
Also impacting the albums survey for the first time are titles from DJ and producer Joel Corry (Another Friday Night at No. 24 via Atlantic); U.S. pop band Pvris (EVERGREEN at No. 25 via Hopeless); New York rapper and singer Lil Tjay (222 at No. 26 via Columbia) and British singer-songwriter Mahalia (IRL at No. 31 via Atlantic).
It’s a great week for BTS‘s Jung Kook, who establishes a chart record in the U.K. with “Seven.”
The K-pop star’s hit lands at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published July 21, for the highest-charting debut by a solo Korean act.
The singer’s hot start with “Seven” (via BigHit Entertainment) surpasses the first-week bows by BTS bandmates j-hope and Jimin, the Official Charts Company reports.
All seven members of the K-pop phenomenon – Jin, Jimin, Suga, Jung Kook, RM, V and J-Hope – have shared solo material, with Jimin setting the bar with a top 10 for “Like Crazy” (peaking at No. 8) in March; he separately secured a top 40 appearance with “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” hitting No. 30.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
J-hope was the first member of BTS to bag a U.K. top 40 single, thanks to his J. Cole collaboration “On The Street” peaking at No. 37.
With his podium finish, Jung Kook matches BTS’ best U.K. chart positions so far — 2020’s “Dynamite,” plus “Butter” and “My Universe” with Coldplay (both from 2021) all debuted and peaked at No. 3.
The highest-charting U.K. solo single by a Korean act belongs to Psy, whose “Gangnam Style” dropped in September 2012 at No. 61, then climbed to No. 1 in its fourth week on the tally. The viral hit clocked 55 weeks on the chart, last appearing in 2014.
“Seven,” which features vocals from U.S. rapper Latto, and blasts to No. 2 on Australia’s ARIA Chart, is pipped in the U.K. by Dave and Central Cee’s hip-hop hit “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), which races to a seventh consecutive chart title. Following a tight three-way race at the top, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen) flies in at No. 2, unchanged from the previous week.
Finally, U.S. pop star Billie Eilish lands her ninth U.K. top 10 single with “What Was I Made For?” (Interscope). The new release, lifted from the Barbie movie soundtrack, is new at No. 10.
BTS‘s Jung Kook is enjoying a healthy start to his solo career in the U.K., where “Seven” (via BigHit Entertainment) is challenging for the chart title.
Featuring U.S. rapper Latto, “Seven” is just 2,000 chart sales behind the leader on the midweek chart, Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Seven” could go where no member of BTS has gone before – to the summit of the U.K. singles survey.
All seven members of the K-pop phenomenon – Jin, Jimin, Suga, Jung Kook, RM, V and J-Hope – have shared solo material, with Jimin setting the bar with a top 10 for “Like Crazy” (peaking at No. 8); he separately landed a top 40 hit with “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” hitting No. 30. Bandmate j-hope was the first member of BTS to secure a U.K. top 40 single, with his J. Cole collaboration “On The Street” peaking at No. 37.
All told, BTS has accumulated nine U.K. top 40 singles, including four top 10s (with a No. 3 best for 2020’s “Dynamite,” plus “Butter” and “My Universe” with Coldplay, both from 2021). Two BTS titles have led the national albums chart.
Dave and Central Cee’s hip-hop hit “Sprinter” has proven hard to beat. It’s reigned over the Official U.K. Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks.
Meanwhile, Billie Eilish is making a play for the top 10 with “What Was I Made For?” (Interscope), lifted from the Barbie movie soundtrack. If it holds its position, “What Was I Made For?” will give the U.S. pop star her ninth top tier appearance.
Finally, J Hus is poised to make a noise on the U.K. chart, thanks to the release of his third and latest album, Beautiful and Brutal Yard.
His current single “Who Told You” (Black Butter/OVO/Republic) with Drake is unmoved at No. 4, while album cuts “Militerian” with Naira Marley (No. 21) and “Masculine” with Burna Boy (No. 22), both via Black Butter, are set for top 40 debuts.
All will be revealed when the Official Chart is published late Friday, July 22.
Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) is showing no signs of slowing down.The homegrown hip-hop number enters a sixth week at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published July 14, beating Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen), unmoved at No. 2.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The midweek leader, “Sprinter” races away with 8.2 million U.K. streams, according to the Official Charts Company.
The podium is completed by Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI), which improves 6-3. That’s a new chart peak for the track, originally released in 2019 with the Lover album.
As Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) blasts to No. 1 on the national albums survey, two of its tracks enter the singles chart. The highest is “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version),” new at No. 6, for Swift’s 23rd U.K. top 10 entry and the week’s top debut, while “Enchanted (Taylor’s Version)” bows at No. 15, for her 48th U.K. top 40 spot.
Also moving on up is Peggy Gou’s clubbing nugget “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings), which lifts 7-5 for the South Korean DJ and producer’s first appearance in the U.K. top 5.
D-Block Europe and Clavish’s “Pakistan” (D-Block Europe) improves 10-8; Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry & Ella Henderson’s “0800 HEAVEN” (Atlantic) rises 15-9, for Dawe’s third, Corry’s sixth and Henderson’s ninth top 10 appearances, the OCC reports; while Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam” (BMG) returns to the top 10, up 12-10.
Meanwhile, there are new peaks for the Weeknd, Madonna and Playboy Carti’s “Popular” (Interscope/Republic Records/XO) up 17-11; Gunna’s “Fukumean” (300 Entertainment) is up 18-12; Jorja Smith’s “Little Things” (FAMM) gains 14-13; Tom Grennan’s “How Does It Feel” (Insanity) surges 23-17; and Anne-Marie’s collaboration with Shania Twain, “Unhealthy” (Atlantic/Asylum/EMI), climbs 21-19.
The big gainer in the latest cycle belongs to British DJ D.O.D., whose “So Much In Love” (Armada) soars 38-24.
Taylor Swift is in complete control of the U.K. chart race with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), the third instalment of her “Version” LPs.
Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) has already accumulated 48,0000 combined units (sales and streams), to lead the Official Chart Update.
It’s highly unlikely Swift can be caught. The new set, a rerecording of her third album, 2010’s Speak Now, is outselling the rest of the top 10 combined, the OCC reports.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Should it hold its spot when the chart proper is published, Swift would nab a tenth consecutive U.K. No. 1. That feat stretches over a little more than a decade, and would extend Swift’s lead as the female solo artist with the second most No. 1 albums in U.K. chart history, behind only Madonna, with 12.
Swift’s chart domination is especially impressive when considering her U.K. leg of The Eras Tour is booked for almost a year from now. Anticipation is sky-high for her live shows in Australia, where Swift currently locks up the entire top five on the ARIA Chart, a never-seen-before phenomenon.
Coming in at a distant No. 2 on the U.K. chart blast is Wham’s retrospective The Singles: Echoes From The Edge of Heaven, which benefits from the debut of the ‘80s pop duo’s Netflix documentary. Echoes should give Wham, comprised of the late George Michael with Andrew Ridgeley, their sixth top 10 album as a duo.
Completing the podium at the midweek stage is California soul trio Gabriels’ debut set Angels & Queens, new at No. 3, while iconic British singer and songwriter PJ Harvey’s I Inside The Old Year Dying is on course to become her first top 10 in seven years (the last was The Hope Six Demolition Project, which summited in 2016). Dying is new at No. 4 on the midweek survey.
Also eying top 10 berths are D-Block Europe’s fresh mixtape DBE World, at No.7, and the Pigeon Detectives’ TV Show, at No. 10, for what could become the alternative rock band their first top 10 showing since 2008.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday (July 14).
Nothing But Thieves swipe the U.K. chart title for the first time as Dead Club City bows at No. 1.
Formed in Essex, England, the five-piece indie-rock band enjoyed top 10 appearances with each of their previous three albums: 2015’s self-titled debut (peaking at No. 7), 2017’s Broken Machine (No. 2) and 2020’s Moral Panic (No. 3).
“How’s this happened then?!,” reads a message on the band’s socials. “It’s a synth based concept record with too many guitar solos. This is all to say that despite our best efforts of self sabotage, it’s only gone and got Number 1. It can still happen.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Completing the podium on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published July 7, is Elton John’s hits collection Diamonds (Universal/UMC), which holds at No. 2 as the pop veteran winds-up his record-setting final tour; and the Weeknd’s The Highlights (Republic Records/XO), up 6-3.
Further down the list, London singer and songwriter Olivia Dean blasts to No. 4 with Messy, her full-length debut LP.
Also arriving in the top 10 is Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape, new at No. 7. That’s the second top 10 for the U.S. rapper, singer and songwriter, after 2020’s Eternal Atake peaked at No. 3. Lil Uzi Vert also impacted the U.K. chart with 2017’s Luv Is Rage 2 (No. 14), and Pluto x Baby Pluto (No. 39), his 2020 collaborative release with Future.
Meanwhile, Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten bags a debut solo top 10 appearance with Chaos For The Fly (Partisan). The best-seller this week on wax, Chaos For The Fly takes off at No. 10.
Olivia Rodrigo is back with “Vampire,” and her fans can’t get enough of the U.S. pop star. Rodrigo’s chart-topping debut album from 2021, Sour (Geffen), blasts 32-16 in its 110th week on the tally.
Finally, Madonna enjoys a “get well soon” message from her U.K. fans as Finally Enough Love (Rhino) rises on the chart. The Queen of Pop’s 2022 hits collection reenters the chart at No. 27 following the release of six-LP “Rainbow Edition” boxset.
The American pop legend recently spent several days in the ICU after she developed a serious bacterial infection, a development that pressed pause on her massive, career-spanning Celebration tour. Finally Enough Love originally peaked at No. 3 in the U.K. following its release in 2022.