Charts – 7 July 2017
Welcome to the exciting new era of marginally tweaked chart rules. If you weren’t reading last week, the changes are basically that acts are limited to three hits at a time (“featuring” credits don’t count towards the cap), and tracks which have been out for ten weeks and are comfortably past their peak will see their streams downweighted to stop them clogging up the charts just because the same people have still got them on playlists. Does it make a difference? Well… a bit.
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Exhibit A: an eighth week at number one for “Despacito”. “Mama” by Jonas Blue featuring William Singe edges up one place to number 4 (continuing a glacially slow climb which included three weeks stuck at number six), and aside from that it’s a lot of rebounding.
6. Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels”
Charts – 30 June 2017
There are rule changes coming to the chart next week. Because if the compilers wanted to make a case for them, they couldn’t have wished for a more helpful chart than this one. It’s dull as ditchwater.
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Returning to number one for a seventh week, after being interrupted by Artists For Grenfell (which drops to three). So, let’s talk about those rule changes.
Charts – 23 June 2017
Charts – 16 June 2017
We’ll get back to reviews soon. I’ve been busy. In the meantime, here’s a quiet week on the singles chart. Five new entries, but three of them below 30…
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
That’s six weeks, and it’s still miles ahead of the competition. It could be there for a while, in the absence of any obvious challengers – remember, even charity fundraisers now face the challenge of getting streams as well as sales. For example, Ariana Grande’s live version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” lands at 60 this week, which is because it sold respectably but didn’t get streams.
Meanwhile, “Unforgettable” by French Montana featuring Swae Lee climbs two places to 3.
5. David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber – “2U”
Charts – 9 June 2017
Prime time television still sells records. But first…
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Five weeks at number one. It’s the top streaming single of the week, but it’s not the top seller. That would be…
2. Ariana Grande – “One Last Time”
Charts – 2 June 2017
It’s election time.
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
That’s four weeks, which – assuming you’re prepared to turn a blind eye to Justin Bieber’s bits – makes it the longest running foreign language number one ever. The previous record of three weeks is officially (i.e., in the eyes of the chart compilers) held by Manhattan Transfer’s “Chanson D’Amour”, from 1977, though that’s actually a mixture of English, French and “ra da da da da”.
4. Captain Ska – “Liar Liar”
Now here’s something a bit more contentious than usual.
Charts – 26 May 2017
After a brief flurry of activity, we’re settling back into the routine of a handful of new entries per week, some of which go on to climb the chart, slowly, ever so slowly…
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Three weeks at number one. Could be here a while, too.
3. Liam Payne featuring Quavo – “Strip That Down”
Charts – 19 May 2017
It’s a quiet week. Honestly, you might want to try the podcast, one post down. But anyway…
1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
Two weeks. Not much more to be said.
4. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
Up one place. Did I mention last week that it’s overtaken “Treat You Better” to become his second-biggest hit? Well, it has.
6. Harry Styles – “Sign of the Times”
Charts – 12 May 2017
Charts – 5 May 2017
Blimey, this is getting positively eventful.
1. DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m The One”
So after a long, long stretch of tedium, we’ve had four changes of number one in a row. Okay, one of those was Ed Sheeran going back to the top, but it counts! And this time it’s DJ Khaled, who’s had hit albums in America going back a decade. His only previous appearance in the UK singles chart was “For Free”, which made number 25 last year. That one had Drake on it, which is probably not a coincidence..
