Chart Commentary 26/7/08
Paul Hyett
-------
A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from McFly.
New Entries/New Peaks
---------------------
Top 10 : McFly #2, Kid Rock #3, Madonna #7, Ting Tings #9
Top 20 : none
Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
Top 40 : Usher #35
Re-entries T40 : Sugababes (AYN) #34, Basshunter (NYG) #38
New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Ultrabeat v Darren
Styles #41, Primal Scream #48, Annie #54, Feeling #67, Cure #68, OCR
(HH) #69
Re-entries : One Night Only (Y&M) #55, Abba (MM) #57, Ting Tings (GDJ)
#60
Albums
------
Basshunter debut at #1, replacing Coldplay.
New Entries/New Peaks
---------------------
Top 10 : Sharleen Spiteri #3
Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
New outside the top 20 : Nas #23, Carla Bruni #58
Re-entries : Billy Joel (GH) #9, Texas (GH) #49, Elvis #54, Feeling #61,
Pigeon Detectives #67, Kaiser Chiefs #70, Bon Jovi (BO) #71, Michael
Buble (IT) #73
Other notable moves : Abba 12-5, OCR (Mamma Mia) 35-19
Next Week
---------
Singles
-------
Having seen off McFly, it seems likely that Dizzee will be #1 for a 4th
week.
Top 5 : Kid Rock (#2), Ting Tings
Top 10 :
Top 20 : Usher, N&TW
Top 30 :
Top 40 : Adele, DJ Q
Any other possibilities?
Nothing obvious to me.
Albums
------
If Basshunter can't maintain momentum, then Coldplay may return to #1.
The paucity of new releases is now becoming farcical.
Top 10 NE : Primal Scream
Top 20 NE : Billy Idol
Others : Aretha Franklin, Bachelors, CSS
The weeks biggest-seller by far though, will be Now 70.
--
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)
Chris Brown
Hello again,
"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7nEXTEprf4gIFw$E...@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from McFly.
Not wholly shocking, as it transpires.
In a way, I was sort of hoping McFly could make it so as to irritate people,
but as it turned out they've embarrased the Mail On Sunday instead. I'll
take that as compensation.
> New Entries/New Peaks
> ---------------------
> Top 10 : McFly #2,
'One For The Radio' has to some extent lived up to its title, as it's the
band's first ever appearance on Radio 1's A-list.
Unfortunately, it doesn't rank among their best work, falling into that
irritating category of songs written to try and prove something. Their
efforts to demonstrate that they're a serious rock act fail but also mean
that it lacks the entertainment value of their best work.
>Kid Rock #3,
I'm expecting a long chart run for this, so I don't suppose I need to rush
to mention all the things I hate about it. But it's pretty lazy to rhyme the
word "things" with itself, especially when that line is so prominent in the
lyric.
> Madonna #7,
When I've unpacked my discography books, I'll be able to determine the last
time the second single from a Madonna album peaked this low. Well, unless
this gets higher, of course.
It's not a terrible record, I suppose, but there's little remarkable about
it.
>Ting Tings #9
So much for my theory then.
> Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
Out on CD & 7" on the 4th of August IIRC.
> Top 40 : Usher #35
As it's now Friday, I've pretty much forgotten what this sounds like.
> Re-entries T40 : Sugababes (AYN) #34, Basshunter (NYG) #38
Both ex-Number One singles, as it happens, but climbing for different
reasons. The 'Babes are still reaping the benefit of that character from
Hollyoaks kicking the bucket - apparently it's a live version that's been
used there and was in the iTunes chart, making this arguably the third
version of the song to chart.
Basshunter is another beneficiary of the familiar if still not easy
comprehensible album release effect.
It's not the most exciting of weeks here. In fact one of the most notable
tracks is the one that doesn't move at all - the Kooks sitting still at 25.
> New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Ultrabeat v Darren
> Styles #41,
On the verge of physical release.
> Primal Scream #48,
'Can't Go Back', a sentiment that may be echoed by their former record
company as their first single for new label B-Unique registers their lowest
(presumed) chart peak since 1994; there have admittedly been a couple of
ineligible releases since then.
>Annie #54,
It's tempting to suggest that some people's girlfriends have beaten them to
the shops and hidden every available copy. But I think the more likely
explanation is that she's just not all that popular with people who actually
buy records.
>Feeling #67,
'Turn It Up' is the title, but most people seem to have turned it down -
even a generous five-track CD single can't keep this from becoming their
lowest-charting hit ever. Will radio programmers start to take the hint now?
> Cure #68,
Third in their monthly series of single releases, which has possibly not
been the most successful publicity stunt ever. Presumably the reason this
has charted where the last one didn't is that the 13th of July this year was
a Sunday, giving it the maximum possible potential sales period.
> OCR (HH)
> #69
That's the cast of Mamma Mia singing 'Honey Honey'. As I may have said
before, it's hardly the most familiar song in the Abba catalogue, so it
presumably has some especially pivotal role in the plot.
> Re-entries : One Night Only (Y&M) #55,
Their first and most likeable single re-released in what looks a bit like
desperation. But it hasn't exactly worked, as it ends up being an even
smaller hit second time around. I suppose it is the school holidays though.
> Abba (MM) #57,
Did people really need to see this in a film to decide they liked it?
> Albums
> ------
> Basshunter debut at #1, replacing Coldplay.
Making his/their UK album debut with the very imaginatively-titled Now
You're Gone - The Album. He claims there are no two tracks on it that sound
the same, although this presumably doesn't include 'Boten Anna' or the two
remixes at the end.
> New Entries/New Peaks
> ---------------------
> Top 10 : Sharleen Spiteri #3
Produced largely by Spiteri herself, with other contributors including the
ubiquitous Bernard Butler, the debut album includes the single and ten
further tracks (one of them included at the insistence of Peter Kay, oddly
enough).
Available in HMV with a surprisingly ugly slipcase.
> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
Fourth album from the "blue-collar" alternative rockers, now signed to Rough
Trade. A limited-edition version of the CD adds three further unlisted
tracks.
> New outside the top 20 : Nas #23,
His ninth album, which may explain why he's run out of things to call them.
Busta Rhymes guests on the track 'Fried Chicken' and there's production
input from Stargate, Mark Ronson and Jay Electronica.
>Carla Bruni #58
Obviously a lot has happened for the Italian star since we last heard from
her chart-wise, but the exposure wouldn't seem to have done much for her
musical career in this country even if they did release it on Bastille Day.
AFAIK, she's the only act in this week's chart to have appeared topless on
the front of the Daily Mail.
> Re-entries : Billy Joel (GH) #9,
Third chart run for this album, officially titled Piano Man: The Very Best
Of. And every time it seems to chart a bit higher.
> Texas (GH) #49, Elvis #54, Feeling #61,
> Pigeon Detectives #67, Kaiser Chiefs #70, Bon Jovi (BO) #71, Michael Buble
> (IT) #73
Another sale? I suppose shops are starting to get desperate.
I feel a bit sorry for anybody who paid full price for Yours Truly Angry
Mob.
> Other notable moves : Abba 12-5,
Apparently that's where it was nine years ago this week!
> OCR (Mamma Mia) 35-19
Which is a new peak for it, AFAIK.
> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> Any other possibilities?
>
> Nothing obvious to me.
Answering your own questions?
I'm obviously not going to make predictions this late. See you next week.
Chris
--
"It's always hard meeting your heroes. Especially when they punch you in the
face."
http://thehitparade.blogspot.com
More of my blathering is available at
http://faynights.users.btopenworld.com
Paul Hyett
wrote in uk.music.charts :
>
>Hello again,
Better late than never. :)
>
>> Singles
>> -------
>> A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from McFly.
>
>Not wholly shocking, as it transpires.
>In a way, I was sort of hoping McFly could make it so as to irritate people,
Like Dizzee Rascal? :)
>but as it turned out they've embarrased the Mail On Sunday instead.
How so?
>
>> New Entries/New Peaks
>> ---------------------
>> Top 10 : McFly #2,
>
>'One For The Radio' has to some extent lived up to its title, as it's the
>band's first ever appearance on Radio 1's A-list.
For all the good it did them...
>Unfortunately, it doesn't rank among their best work, falling into that
>irritating category of songs written to try and prove something.
That they're one of the few groups who can still sell physical singles?
>Their
>efforts to demonstrate that they're a serious rock act fail but also mean
>that it lacks the entertainment value of their best work.
Surely the only entertainment is in guessing how quickly they'll fall on
the 2nd week... :)
>
>>Kid Rock #3,
>
>I'm expecting a long chart run for this, so I don't suppose I need to rush
>to mention all the things I hate about it. But it's pretty lazy to rhyme the
>word "things" with itself
It took several listens for me to notice that.
>, especially when that line is so prominent in the
>lyric.
Hasn't seemed to hurt sales, though.
>
>> Madonna #7,
>
>When I've unpacked my discography books, I'll be able to determine the last
>time the second single from a Madonna album peaked this low.
Something from 'Evita' perhaps?
>It's not a terrible record, I suppose, but there's little remarkable about
>it.
I wouldn't say that - it's remarkable that it hasn't done better than
the bloody awful '4 Minutes', for example... :)
>
>>Ting Tings #9
>
>So much for my theory then.
Remind me.
>
>> Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
>
>Out on CD & 7" on the 4th of August IIRC.
I give the release dates when I can't think of anything else to say,
too!
>
>> Top 40 : Usher #35
>
>As it's now Friday, I've pretty much forgotten what this sounds like.
Count yourself lucky. :)
>
>> Re-entries T40 : Basshunter (NYG) #38
>
>Basshunter is another beneficiary of the familiar if still not easy
>comprehensible album release effect.
I agree - why do people download singles off new albums when they can
download them at any time before?
>
>> New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Ultrabeat v Darren
>> Styles #41,
>
>On the verge of physical release.
Another null comment?
>
>> Primal Scream #48,
>
>'Can't Go Back', a sentiment that may be echoed by their former record
>company as their first single for new label B-Unique registers their lowest
>(presumed) chart peak since 1994;
>there have admittedly been a couple of
>ineligible releases since then.
Or that's their story, anyway... :)
>
>>Annie #54,
>
>It's tempting to suggest that some people's girlfriends have beaten them to
>the shops and hidden every available copy. But I think the more likely
>explanation is that she's just not all that popular with people who actually
>buy records.
Well, *I* bought it...
Unfortunately radio wouldn't touch it, so it had no chance. :(
>
>>Feeling #67,
>
>'Turn It Up' is the title, but most people seem to have turned it down -
>even a generous five-track CD single can't keep this from becoming their
>lowest-charting hit ever. Will radio programmers start to take the hint now?
We can only hope.
>
>> Cure #68,
>
>Third in their monthly series of single releases, which has possibly not
>been the most successful publicity stunt ever. Presumably the reason this
>has charted where the last one didn't is that the 13th of July this year was
>a Sunday, giving it the maximum possible potential sales period.
Because the extra few hundred makes all the difference? :)
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Basshunter debut at #1, replacing Coldplay.
>
>Making his/their UK album debut with the very imaginatively-titled Now
>You're Gone - The Album. He claims there are no two tracks on it that sound
>the same
All dance acts make that claim, don't they?
>, although this presumably doesn't include 'Boten Anna' or the two
>remixes at the end.
Grin.
>
>> New Entries/New Peaks
>> ---------------------
>> Top 10 : Sharleen Spiteri #3
>
>Produced largely by Spiteri herself, with other contributors including the
>ubiquitous Bernard Butler, the debut album includes the single and ten
>further tracks (one of them included at the insistence of Peter Kay, oddly
>enough).
I'd be surprised if any more singles from it go T40, though.
>
>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>
>Fourth album from the "blue-collar" alternative rockers, now signed to Rough
>Trade. A limited-edition version of the CD adds three further unlisted
>tracks.
Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
>
>> New outside the top 20 : Nas #23,
>
>His ninth album, which may explain why he's run out of things to call them.
>Busta Rhymes guests on the track 'Fried Chicken' and there's production
>input from Stargate, Mark Ronson and Jay Electronica.
I hope they asked for a flat fee in advance, rather than a share of
royalties... :)
>
>>Carla Bruni #58
>AFAIK, she's the only act in this week's chart to have appeared topless on
>the front of the Daily Mail.
Until your post, I didn't associate the name with the, err... face. :)
>
>> Texas (GH) #49, Elvis #54, Feeling #61,
>> Pigeon Detectives #67, Kaiser Chiefs #70, Bon Jovi (BO) #71, Michael Buble
>> (IT) #73
>
>Another sale? I suppose shops are starting to get desperate.
>I feel a bit sorry for anybody who paid full price for Yours Truly Angry
>Mob.
Is that a general, or week-specific comment? :)
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> Any other possibilities?
>>
>> Nothing obvious to me.
>
>Answering your own questions?
>
>I'm obviously not going to make predictions this late.
Surely that'd make it easier than usual? :)
Chris Brown
> On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 at 19:45:17, Chris Brown <extreme...@yahoo.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>
>>Hello again,
>
> Better late than never. :)
Yes, I had an extra few days to come up with all those brilliant puns. Ahem.
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>> A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from McFly.
>>
>>Not wholly shocking, as it transpires.
>>In a way, I was sort of hoping McFly could make it so as to irritate
>>people,
>
> Like Dizzee Rascal? :)
Nope, I've forgiven him. I'm thinking of all those people who whine about
McFly releasing singles on multiple formats and promoting them as if they're
the only act who've ever done that.
>>but as it turned out they've embarrased the Mail On Sunday instead.
>
> How so?
It said on the front page "Including the Number One single 'One For The
Radio'". You can understand people might get tripped up on things like
posters that have to go to press well in advance - but the front page of a
newspaper?
>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>> ---------------------
>>> Top 10 : McFly #2,
>>
>>'One For The Radio' has to some extent lived up to its title, as it's the
>>band's first ever appearance on Radio 1's A-list.
>
> For all the good it did them...
I suppose it just meant that more people knew how lame it was.
>>Unfortunately, it doesn't rank among their best work, falling into that
>>irritating category of songs written to try and prove something.
>
> That they're one of the few groups who can still sell physical singles?
They wouldn't need to write a song to prove that - they could just release
three minutes of themselves doing Jimmy Saville impressions and get into the
Top 10.
I was thinking that it's one of those cases where the content of the song
itself is trying to be a riposte to other people; like 'Silly Love Songs' by
Wings or 'Mr Writer' by Stereophonics. Not that it's as bad as either of
those.
>>Their
>>efforts to demonstrate that they're a serious rock act fail but also mean
>>that it lacks the entertainment value of their best work.
>
> Surely the only entertainment is in guessing how quickly they'll fall on
> the 2nd week... :)
There is that to it too - but you could say similar things about, say,
Westlife and their music is no fun at all to hear.
>>>Kid Rock #3,
>>
>>I'm expecting a long chart run for this, so I don't suppose I need to rush
>>to mention all the things I hate about it. But it's pretty lazy to rhyme
>>the
>>word "things" with itself
>
> It took several listens for me to notice that.
Some of us get plenty. ;-(
>>, especially when that line is so prominent in the
>>lyric.
>
> Hasn't seemed to hurt sales, though.
No - I don't seriously think that people who liked the rest of the song
would boycott it for that one reason.
>>> Madonna #7,
>>
>>When I've unpacked my discography books, I'll be able to determine the
>>last
>>time the second single from a Madonna album peaked this low.
>
> Something from 'Evita' perhaps?
Even if you count that as a Madonna album, the second single was 'Don't Cry
For Me Argentina' which got to Number 3 (although the first one hadn't done
as well).
Compilations aside, it looks like the answer is 'Take A Bow', which only got
to 17 as the second single from Bedtime Stories.
>>It's not a terrible record, I suppose, but there's little remarkable about
>>it.
>
> I wouldn't say that - it's remarkable that it hasn't done better than the
> bloody awful '4 Minutes', for example... :)
Blame Justin.
>>>Ting Tings #9
>>
>>So much for my theory then.
>
> Remind me.
That they'd need a major increase in either publicity or availability to
climb substantially.
>>> Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
>>
>>Out on CD & 7" on the 4th of August IIRC.
>
> I give the release dates when I can't think of anything else to say, too!
I got into the habit when tracks were charting on download one week in
advance. It meant I'd have something left to say when the climbed the
following week.
>>> Re-entries T40 : Basshunter (NYG) #38
>>
>>Basshunter is another beneficiary of the familiar if still not easy
>>comprehensible album release effect.
>
> I agree - why do people download singles off new albums when they can
> download them at any time before?
Excluding exceptional cases like 'Great DJ' my best guess is that people
must be looking at albums on the download sites and then thinking "actually,
I can't be bothered, I'll just buy the two tracks I know I like".
>>> New Entries outside the top 40 (plus new peaks) : Ultrabeat v Darren
>>> Styles #41,
>>
>>On the verge of physical release.
>
> Another null comment?
Well spotted.
>>> Primal Scream #48,
>>
>>'Can't Go Back', a sentiment that may be echoed by their former record
>>company as their first single for new label B-Unique registers their
>>lowest
>>(presumed) chart peak since 1994;
>
>>there have admittedly been a couple of
>>ineligible releases since then.
>
> Or that's their story, anyway... :)
Well, those releases certainly exist - 'If They Move Kill'Em' was one and
then they put something out on 7" from the last album. But clearly they
wouldn't have done that if they thought they were going to be Top 3 hits.
>>>Annie #54,
>>
>>It's tempting to suggest that some people's girlfriends have beaten them
>>to
>>the shops and hidden every available copy. But I think the more likely
>>explanation is that she's just not all that popular with people who
>>actually
>>buy records.
>
> Well, *I* bought it...
Well that's one person.
> Unfortunately radio wouldn't touch it, so it had no chance. :(
Well, not without something else to help it anyway.
Last time I looked her YouTube competition only had one entrant.
>>> Cure #68,
>>
>>Third in their monthly series of single releases, which has possibly not
>>been the most successful publicity stunt ever. Presumably the reason this
>>has charted where the last one didn't is that the 13th of July this year
>>was
>>a Sunday, giving it the maximum possible potential sales period.
>
> Because the extra few hundred makes all the difference? :)
In this case, it would appear so. Remember the 13th of May was a Friday, so
that's two days against seven.
>>> Albums
>>> ------
>>> Basshunter debut at #1, replacing Coldplay.
>>
>>Making his/their UK album debut with the very imaginatively-titled Now
>>You're Gone - The Album. He claims there are no two tracks on it that
>>sound
>>the same
>
> All dance acts make that claim, don't they?
Yes, and boybands used to when they made albums.
>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>> ---------------------
>>> Top 10 : Sharleen Spiteri #3
>>
>>Produced largely by Spiteri herself, with other contributors including the
>>ubiquitous Bernard Butler, the debut album includes the single and ten
>>further tracks (one of them included at the insistence of Peter Kay, oddly
>>enough).
>
> I'd be surprised if any more singles from it go T40, though.
On present form, yes, although this single wasn't very heavily marketed for
sales, so if they really wanted too they might push the next one harder.
>>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>>
>>Fourth album from the "blue-collar" alternative rockers, now signed to
>>Rough
>>Trade. A limited-edition version of the CD adds three further unlisted
>>tracks.
>
> Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
Depending on the definition of "obscurity".
>>> New outside the top 20 : Nas #23,
>>
>>His ninth album, which may explain why he's run out of things to call
>>them.
>>Busta Rhymes guests on the track 'Fried Chicken' and there's production
>>input from Stargate, Mark Ronson and Jay Electronica.
>
> I hope they asked for a flat fee in advance, rather than a share of
> royalties... :)
Actually, your big-name producers are probably getting both. But this will
probably do a lot better in other countries.
>>>Carla Bruni #58
>
>>AFAIK, she's the only act in this week's chart to have appeared topless on
>>the front of the Daily Mail.
>
> Until your post, I didn't associate the name with the, err... face. :)
And it looks like not many other people did either. Mind you, the album's
largely in French.
>>> Texas (GH) #49, Elvis #54, Feeling #61,
>>> Pigeon Detectives #67, Kaiser Chiefs #70, Bon Jovi (BO) #71, Michael
>>> Buble
>>> (IT) #73
>>
>>Another sale? I suppose shops are starting to get desperate.
>
>>I feel a bit sorry for anybody who paid full price for Yours Truly Angry
>>Mob.
>
> Is that a general, or week-specific comment? :)
Both. It always seems to be on special offer - but that wouldn't be so bad
if the record itself was better.
Chris
Paul Hyett
wrote in uk.music.charts :
>
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>>>> A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from McFly.
>>>
>>>people,
>>
>> Like Dizzee Rascal? :)
>
>Nope, I've forgiven him. I'm thinking of all those people who whine about
>McFly releasing singles on multiple formats and promoting them as if they're
>the only act who've ever done that.
They're almost the only mainstream act who still do, though.
>
>>>but as it turned out they've embarrased the Mail On Sunday instead.
>>
>> How so?
>
>It said on the front page "Including the Number One single 'One For The
>Radio'".
Technically speaking, that was the MoS embarrassing *themselves* -
relying too much on the early midweek figures.
> You can understand people might get tripped up on things like
>posters that have to go to press well in advance - but the front page of a
>newspaper?
How terrible - a newspaper printing something untrue... :)
>
>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>> ---------------------
>>>> Top 10 : McFly #2,
>>>
>>>'One For The Radio' has to some extent lived up to its title, as it's the
>>>band's first ever appearance on Radio 1's A-list.
>>
>> For all the good it did them...
>
>I suppose it just meant that more people knew how lame it was.
Grin.
>>
>> Surely the only entertainment is in guessing how quickly they'll fall on
>> the 2nd week... :)
>
>There is that to it too - but you could say similar things about, say,
>Westlife and their music is no fun at all to hear.
But at least their singles chart somewhat longer, plus they can still
sell albums.
>
>>>> Madonna #7,
>>>
>>>When I've unpacked my discography books, I'll be able to determine the
>>>last
>>>time the second single from a Madonna album peaked this low.
>>
>> Something from 'Evita' perhaps?
>
>Even if you count that as a Madonna album, the second single was 'Don't Cry
>For Me Argentina' which got to Number 3 (although the first one hadn't done
>as well).
>Compilations aside, it looks like the answer is 'Take A Bow', which only got
>to 17 as the second single from Bedtime Stories.
Well, #16 actually.
>
>>>> Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
>>>
>>>Out on CD & 7" on the 4th of August IIRC.
>>
>> I give the release dates when I can't think of anything else to say, too!
>
>I got into the habit when tracks were charting on download one week in
>advance. It meant I'd have something left to say when the climbed the
>following week.
I can always make *something* up. :)
>
>>why do people download singles off new albums when they can
>> download them at any time before?
>
>Excluding exceptional cases like 'Great DJ' my best guess is that people
>must be looking at albums on the download sites and then thinking "actually,
>I can't be bothered, I'll just buy the two tracks I know I like".
That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first place.
>
>
>>>>Annie #54,
>
>> Unfortunately radio wouldn't touch it, so it had no chance. :(
>
>Well, not without something else to help it anyway.
>Last time I looked her YouTube competition only had one entrant.
You mean I've definitely won that date with her? :)
>
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>> ---------------------
>>>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>>>
>>>Fourth album from the "blue-collar" alternative rockers, now signed to
>>>Rough
>>>Trade. A limited-edition version of the CD adds three further unlisted
>>>tracks.
>>
>> Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
>
>Depending on the definition of "obscurity".
Well, I'd say a drop from 15 to 49 is a fairly good one... :)
>
>>>>Carla Bruni #58
>>
>>>AFAIK, she's the only act in this week's chart to have appeared topless on
>>>the front of the Daily Mail.
Lets just hope that Samantha Fox's singles don't get dug up to be used
in some advert, then... :)
Chris Brown
> On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 at 20:27:56, Chris Brown <extreme...@yahoo.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>
>>>>> Singles
>>>>> -------
>>>>> A 3rd #1 week for Dizzee Rascal, despite an early challenge from
>>>>> McFly.
>>>>
>>>>In a way, I was sort of hoping McFly could make it so as to irritate
>>>>people,
>>>
>>> Like Dizzee Rascal? :)
>>
>>Nope, I've forgiven him. I'm thinking of all those people who whine about
>>McFly releasing singles on multiple formats and promoting them as if
>>they're
>>the only act who've ever done that.
>
> They're almost the only mainstream act who still do, though.
But only because they're the only ones who can still gain anything from
that. The point is that nobody writes off other acts who had their hits that
way.
>>>>but as it turned out they've embarrased the Mail On Sunday instead.
>>>
>>> How so?
>>
>>It said on the front page "Including the Number One single 'One For The
>>Radio'".
>
> Technically speaking, that was the MoS embarrassing *themselves* - relying
> too much on the early midweek figures.
Well yes, but if it had been Number One that wouldn't really have applied.
>> You can understand people might get tripped up on things like
>>posters that have to go to press well in advance - but the front page of a
>>newspaper?
>
> How terrible - a newspaper printing something untrue... :)
Worth remembering though, the next time they complain about stuff like Jools
Holland's Hootenanny not being live.
>>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>>> ---------------------
>>>>> Top 10 : McFly #2,
>>>>
>>>>'One For The Radio' has to some extent lived up to its title, as it's
>>>>the
>>>>band's first ever appearance on Radio 1's A-list.
>>>
>>> For all the good it did them...
>>
>>I suppose it just meant that more people knew how lame it was.
>
> Grin.
And they found out it sounds like the Gummi Bears theme tune apparently
>>> Surely the only entertainment is in guessing how quickly they'll fall on
>>> the 2nd week... :)
>>
>>There is that to it too - but you could say similar things about, say,
>>Westlife and their music is no fun at all to hear.
>
> But at least their singles chart somewhat longer, plus they can still sell
> albums.
Well yes. But they still seem like more of a fans thing nowadays.
>>>>> Madonna #7,
>>>>
>>>>When I've unpacked my discography books, I'll be able to determine the
>>>>last
>>>>time the second single from a Madonna album peaked this low.
>>>
>>> Something from 'Evita' perhaps?
>>
>>Even if you count that as a Madonna album, the second single was 'Don't
>>Cry
>>For Me Argentina' which got to Number 3 (although the first one hadn't
>>done
>>as well).
>
>>Compilations aside, it looks like the answer is 'Take A Bow', which only
>>got
>>to 17 as the second single from Bedtime Stories.
>
> Well, #16 actually.
Guinness agrees with you.
It's pretty much the only song from that album I can remember though.
>>>>> Top 30 : Noah & The Whale #24
>>>>
>>>>Out on CD & 7" on the 4th of August IIRC.
>>>
>>> I give the release dates when I can't think of anything else to say,
>>> too!
>>
>>I got into the habit when tracks were charting on download one week in
>>advance. It meant I'd have something left to say when the climbed the
>>following week.
>
> I can always make *something* up. :)
Well, I can make stuff up. But if I told you this was by Yannick Noah and
James Whale you might not believe me.
>>>why do people download singles off new albums when they can
>>> download them at any time before?
>>
>>Excluding exceptional cases like 'Great DJ' my best guess is that people
>>must be looking at albums on the download sites and then thinking
>>"actually,
>>I can't be bothered, I'll just buy the two tracks I know I like".
>
> That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first place.
But surely the whole point is that these people aren't buying the albums?
>>>>> Albums
>>>>> ------
>>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>>> ---------------------
>>>>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>>>>
>>>>Fourth album from the "blue-collar" alternative rockers, now signed to
>>>>Rough
>>>>Trade. A limited-edition version of the CD adds three further unlisted
>>>>tracks.
>>>
>>> Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
>>
>>Depending on the definition of "obscurity".
>
> Well, I'd say a drop from 15 to 49 is a fairly good one... :)
Well, not really. Sgt Pepper isn't in the Top 40 this week either.
>>>>>Carla Bruni #58
>>>
>>>>AFAIK, she's the only act in this week's chart to have appeared topless
>>>>on
>>>>the front of the Daily Mail.
>
> Lets just hope that Samantha Fox's singles don't get dug up to be used in
> some advert, then... :)
I was more concerned with hoping that they didn't show us a naked Billy
Joel, actually.
Chris
Paul Hyett
>>>
>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>> -------
>>>McFly releasing singles on multiple formats and promoting them as if
>>>they're
>>>the only act who've ever done that.
>>
>> They're almost the only mainstream act who still do, though.
>
>But only because they're the only ones who can still gain anything from
>that. The point is that nobody writes off other acts who had their hits that
>way.
But virtually all other acts whose sales are still mostly physical, are
long-established, e.g. Morrissey, Weller. Compared to them, McFly are
still relative newcomers. Also, the former have *actual* musical
credentials, rather than just pretty-boy appeal to pre-teen-girls.
>>
>> Technically speaking, that was the MoS embarrassing *themselves* - relying
>> too much on the early midweek figures.
>
>Well yes, but if it had been Number One that wouldn't really have applied.
IMO it serves them right for ignoring McFly's well-established pattern
of extremely front-loaded sales.
>
>
>>>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>>>> ---------------------
>>>>>>McFly
>
>>>> Surely the only entertainment is in guessing how quickly they'll fall on
>>>> the 2nd week... :)
>>>
>>>There is that to it too - but you could say similar things about, say,
>>>Westlife and their music is no fun at all to hear.
>>
>> But at least their singles chart somewhat longer, plus they can still sell
>> albums.
>
>Well yes. But they still seem like more of a fans thing nowadays.
But Westlife have a much bigger fanbase than McFly, thanks to aiming at
a wider audience.
On a side note, I'm surprised that Westlife never broke into the US
market, as they are usually suckers for Irish groups.
>
>>>>why do people download singles off new albums when they can
>>>> download them at any time before?
>>>
>>>Excluding exceptional cases like 'Great DJ' my best guess is that people
>>>must be looking at albums on the download sites and then thinking
>>>"actually,
>>>I can't be bothered, I'll just buy the two tracks I know I like".
>>
>> That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first place.
>
>But surely the whole point is that these people aren't buying the albums?
Yes - but even so, the drop in CD album sales is greater than can be
accounted for by people *just* downloading one or two tracks they like.
>
>>>>>> Albums
>>>>>> ------
>>>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>>>> ---------------------
>>>>>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>>>>
>>>> Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
>>>
>>>Depending on the definition of "obscurity".
>>
>> Well, I'd say a drop from 15 to 49 is a fairly good one... :)
>
>Well, not really. Sgt Pepper isn't in the Top 40 this week either.
But 'Hold Steady's album hasn't been out for *40* years...
Chris Brown
> On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 at 23:15:23, Chris Brown <extreme...@yahoo.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>>
>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>> -------
>>>> I'm thinking of all those people who whine about
>>>>McFly releasing singles on multiple formats and promoting them as if
>>>>they're
>>>>the only act who've ever done that.
>>>
>>> They're almost the only mainstream act who still do, though.
>>
>>But only because they're the only ones who can still gain anything from
>>that. The point is that nobody writes off other acts who had their hits
>>that
>>way.
>
> But virtually all other acts whose sales are still mostly physical, are
> long-established, e.g. Morrissey, Weller. Compared to them, McFly are
> still relative newcomers.
Well yes but that's not really a very fair comparison.
> Also, the former have *actual* musical
> credentials, rather than just pretty-boy appeal to pre-teen-girls.
That's a matter of definition - some people might argue that Morrissey
doesn't in the strictest sense have a lot of actual musical credentials. And
dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
McFly fans.
>>> Technically speaking, that was the MoS embarrassing *themselves* -
>>> relying
>>> too much on the early midweek figures.
>>
>>Well yes, but if it had been Number One that wouldn't really have applied.
>
> IMO it serves them right for ignoring McFly's well-established pattern of
> extremely front-loaded sales.
I completely agree. But can you imagine if somebody else had made that
mistake?
> On a side note, I'm surprised that Westlife never broke into the US
> market, as they are usually suckers for Irish groups.
I think that may be a slight overstatement.
In any case, nobody gets to be really successful in the US market without a
lot of work, so they may not have tried too hard.
>>>>>why do people download singles off new albums when they can
>>>>> download them at any time before?
>>>>
>>>>Excluding exceptional cases like 'Great DJ' my best guess is that people
>>>>must be looking at albums on the download sites and then thinking
>>>>"actually,
>>>>I can't be bothered, I'll just buy the two tracks I know I like".
>>>
>>> That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first place.
>>
>>But surely the whole point is that these people aren't buying the albums?
>
> Yes - but even so, the drop in CD album sales is greater than can be
> accounted for by people *just* downloading one or two tracks they like.
I'm sure it is - but what did that have to do with the point?
>>>>>>> Albums
>>>>>>> ------
>>>>>>> New Entries/New Peaks
>>>>>>> ---------------------
>>>>>>> Top 20 : Hold Steady #15
>>>>>
>>>>> Another album likely to plummet quickly into obscurity.
>>>>
>>>>Depending on the definition of "obscurity".
>>>
>>> Well, I'd say a drop from 15 to 49 is a fairly good one... :)
>>
>>Well, not really. Sgt Pepper isn't in the Top 40 this week either.
>
> But 'Hold Steady's album hasn't been out for *40* years...
No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure just
because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never got
there at all.
Chris
Paul Hyett
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>>> -------
>>
>> long-established, e.g. Morrissey, Weller. Compared to them, McFly are
>> still relative newcomers.
>
>Well yes but that's not really a very fair comparison.
How so?
>
>> Also, the former have *actual* musical
>> credentials, rather than just pretty-boy appeal to pre-teen-girls.
>
>That's a matter of definition - some people might argue that Morrissey
>doesn't in the strictest sense have a lot of actual musical credentials. And
>dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
>Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
>McFly fans.
I bet you wouldn't dare say that to their faces, though... :)
>
>> On a side note, I'm surprised that Westlife never broke into the US
>> market, as they are usually suckers for Irish groups.
>
>I think that may be a slight overstatement.
>In any case, nobody gets to be really successful in the US market without a
>lot of work, so they may not have tried too hard.
I would have thought that in their case, it *would* have been worth the
effort, though.
>>>>
>>>> That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first place.
>>>
>>>But surely the whole point is that these people aren't buying the albums?
>>
>> Yes - but even so, the drop in CD album sales is greater than can be
>> accounted for by people *just* downloading one or two tracks they like.
>
>I'm sure it is - but what did that have to do with the point?
So what is the point? That even despite being able to download whole
albums now, people still prefer to pirate them?
>
>No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure just
>because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never got
>there at all.
For example?
Please don't name classical pieces which predated the charts by
centuries. :)
Chris Brown
> On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 at 22:34:45, Chris Brown <extreme...@yahoo.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>>>> -------
>>>
>>> But virtually all other acts whose sales are still mostly physical, are
>>> long-established, e.g. Morrissey, Weller. Compared to them, McFly are
>>> still relative newcomers.
>>
>>Well yes but that's not really a very fair comparison.
>
> How so?
Because even the oldest member of McFly (Harry, in case you were wondering)
wasn't born when the first Smiths album came out, so at any given time they
can't possibly have had as long a career as Morrissey or Weller.
>>> Also, the former have *actual* musical
>>> credentials, rather than just pretty-boy appeal to pre-teen-girls.
>>
>>That's a matter of definition - some people might argue that Morrissey
>>doesn't in the strictest sense have a lot of actual musical credentials.
>>And
>>dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
>>Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
>>McFly fans.
>
> I bet you wouldn't dare say that to their faces, though... :)
Whatever the other stereotypes are about Morrissey fans, they're not known
for being physically threatening.
>>> On a side note, I'm surprised that Westlife never broke into the US
>>> market, as they are usually suckers for Irish groups.
>>
>>I think that may be a slight overstatement.
>>In any case, nobody gets to be really successful in the US market without
>>a
>>lot of work, so they may not have tried too hard.
>
> I would have thought that in their case, it *would* have been worth the >
> effort, though.
I'm not so sure - the thing is, I don't think there's much evidence that
American music buyers are particularly into Irish groups. At least, there's
no sign that they like them for being Irish. There's certainly a market for
the sort of "Oirish" stuff that plays on its culture: but Westlife don't do
that. Possibly because of the limited role of Irish people in the creative
process, there's very little about their music that sounds Irish - so
they're no better off than if they'd been British or Australian.
They have been over there and I think they did scrape a minor chart entry
but it's possible that once it became clear they couldn't succeed easily
there, the management may have decided to concentrate their efforts where
they had more of a chance.
>>>>> That's what I would do, if I bought albums like that in the first
>>>>> place.
>>>>
>>>>But surely the whole point is that these people aren't buying the
>>>>albums?
>>>
>>> Yes - but even so, the drop in CD album sales is greater than can be
>>> accounted for by people *just* downloading one or two tracks they like.
>>
>>I'm sure it is - but what did that have to do with the point?
>
> So what is the point? That even despite being able to download whole
> albums now, people still prefer to pirate them?
Well, some people do. But the point we were originally making was nothing at
all to do with that. It was just that people are visibly choosing to
download tracks via albums, even when the track has been available for some
time. I suppose they've been doing that for as long as it's been possible
but it's only more recently that it's become visible.
>>No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure just
>>because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never got
>>there at all.
>
> For example?
Hmm.... Kind Of Blue, What's Going On, every Velvet Underground album,
Murmur, Village Green Preservation Society and lots of early albums by
latterday megastars. And officially Dusty In Memphis, but they weren't
publishing a Top 40 when that came out.
> Please don't name classical pieces which predated the charts by centuries.
> :)
The recordings couldn't be that many decades ahead, though.
Chris
Jan Buxton
>>> No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure just
>>> because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never got
>>> there at all.
>> For example?
>
> Hmm.... Kind Of Blue, What's Going On, every Velvet Underground album,
> Murmur, Village Green Preservation Society and lots of early albums by
> latterday megastars. And officially Dusty In Memphis, but they weren't
> publishing a Top 40 when that came out.
Mmm, more that you think...Astral Weeks, Ramones, Horses, Raw Power...
--
Jan
Paul Hyett
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>>>>> -------
>>>
>>>doesn't in the strictest sense have a lot of actual musical credentials.
>>>And
>>>dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
>>>Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
>>>McFly fans.
>>
>> I bet you wouldn't dare say that to their faces, though... :)
>
>Whatever the other stereotypes are about Morrissey fans, they're not known
>for being physically threatening.
Ah, but you've never compared him to McFly before - there's only so much
insult a person can take... :)
>>
>> So what is the point? That even despite being able to download whole
>> albums now, people still prefer to pirate them?
>
>Well, some people do. But the point we were originally making was nothing at
>all to do with that. It was just that people are visibly choosing to
>download tracks via albums, even when the track has been available for some
>time. I suppose they've been doing that for as long as it's been possible
>but it's only more recently that it's become visible.
In chart terms, you mean?
>
>>>No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure just
>>>because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never got
>>>there at all.
>>
>> For example?
>
>Hmm.... Kind Of Blue, What's Going On, every Velvet Underground album,
>Murmur, Village Green Preservation Society and lots of early albums by
>latterday megastars. And officially Dusty In Memphis, but they weren't
>publishing a Top 40 when that came out.
I suppose it depends how you define 'obscure' too.
Chris Brown
"Jan Buxton" <ja...@eidosnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:6vqdnexHfujGHA7V...@posted.plusnet...
Ohh.. this is a fun game:
George Best, Skylarking, Music Of My Mind, Cool For Cats, The Nightfly,
Songs Our Daddy Taught Us, Shoot Out The Lights, all the proper Nick Drake
albums of course...
I almost included This Nation's Saving Grace but that might be going a bit
far.
Chris
Chris Brown
> On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 at 21:39:15, Chris Brown <extreme...@yahoo.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>>>>>> -------
>>>>
>>>>That's a matter of definition - some people might argue that Morrissey
>>>>doesn't in the strictest sense have a lot of actual musical credentials.
>>>>And
>>>>dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
>>>>Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
>>>>McFly fans.
>>>
>>> I bet you wouldn't dare say that to their faces, though... :)
>>
>>Whatever the other stereotypes are about Morrissey fans, they're not known
>>for being physically threatening.
>
> Ah, but you've never compared him to McFly before - there's only so much
> insult a person can take... :)
That says more about them if they think it's an insult though.
>>> So what is the point? That even despite being able to download whole
>>> albums now, people still prefer to pirate them?
>>
>>Well, some people do. But the point we were originally making was nothing
>>at
>>all to do with that. It was just that people are visibly choosing to
>>download tracks via albums, even when the track has been available for
>>some
>>time. I suppose they've been doing that for as long as it's been possible
>>but it's only more recently that it's become visible.
>
> In chart terms, you mean?
Right.
>>>>No, but what I'm saying is that not every album can be called obscure
>>>>just
>>>>because it happens to be outside the Top 40. Some famous albums never
>>>>got
>>>>there at all.
>>>
>>> For example?
>>
>>Hmm.... Kind Of Blue, What's Going On, every Velvet Underground album,
>>Murmur, Village Green Preservation Society and lots of early albums by
>>latterday megastars. And officially Dusty In Memphis, but they weren't
>>publishing a Top 40 when that came out.
>
> I suppose it depends how you define 'obscure' too.
Absolutely. That's sort of the point I was making in the first place.
Chris
Paul Hyett
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Singles
>>>>>>>>>>>> -------
>>>>>dare I suggest that however old they are, people who buy records like 'I
>>>>>Have Forgiven Jesus' and 'All You Need Is Me' aren't that different from
>>>>>McFly fans.
>>>>
>>>> I bet you wouldn't dare say that to their faces, though... :)
>>>
>>>Whatever the other stereotypes are about Morrissey fans, they're not known
>>>for being physically threatening.
>>
>> Ah, but you've never compared him to McFly before - there's only so much
>> insult a person can take... :)
>
>That says more about them if they think it's an insult though.
I'm in no way a Morrissey fan, but even I'd consider it an insult for
McFly to be compared to him! :)
Chris Brown
Of course. They deserve far better than that!
To be slightly more serious, I wasn't making a strictly musical comparison
there - because I do think Moz's best work is better than McFly's. However I
do think that the loyalist end of the Morrissey fanbase are every bit as
unthinking and sycophantic as boy-band fans - not only will they buy any old
drivel with his name on it but they seem only too happy to defend him as
man, however ridiculous. Did you see when his Israeli gig rider leaked?
If they have a problem with that, it's their own fault.
Of course, Morrissey himself might like McFly for all I know.
Chris