It’s election night, the night when people all across Britain stay up to two or three in the morning before it finally dawns on them that they won’t know for sure till next morning.  And so!  Let’s devote our time to something else instead.

Our new number 1 is the latest in the series of grime acts making a shameless bid for mainstream stardom.

This is “Good Times” by Roll Deep. (Non-embeddable YouTube version here.)

Roll Deep have been around for years, in various permutations.  They’re more of a collective than a band as such, but former members include Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder, both of whom made the crossover to the mainstream a while ago.  Of the current line-up, the best known is Wiley, who’s had several hits of his own dating back to 2004, the biggest being “Wearing My Rolex” (number 2 in 2008).

Roll Deep themselves have generally kept a slightly lower profile.  Their back catalogue ranges from minimalist grime includes credible but accessible hip-hop like “When I’m ‘Ere.”

For the most part, however, they’ve stayed under the chart radar.  The exception was in 2005, when “Avenue” made number 11 and “Shake A Leg” got to 24.  By 2005 standards, both singles were something of a bid for mainstream acceptance, with radio friendly samples and a bit of novelty value.  But they haven’t been seen in the charts since (despite releasing two albums since then).

“Good Times” obviously marks something of a departure for the group, since it’s a shameless bid for daytime radio.  I suspect there’s a degree of purist-baiting going on here.  Note how the opening seconds are terrifyingly reminiscent of “Heaven” by DJ Sammy.  Raise an eyebrow at a background vocal hook that’s suspiciously similar to “Come on Barbie, let’s go party.”  Ponder at the low-budget wedding reception look of the video.  And wonder at a vision of late-night hedonism that includes popping out for some “late night shopping on a Thursday.”

But it’s a good pop song, it really is.  It sounds nothing like Roll Deep – when I first heard it I actually double-checked that I’d downloaded the right track from Spotify – but it’s a good pop song.  It could be at the top for a while.

The other big surprise on this week’s chart is the appearance at number 29 of “She’s Always a Woman” by Billy Joel, a track from his 1977 album “The Stranger”.  In 1986 it was released as a double A-side single with “Just The Way You Are”, peaking at number 53.  But this is its first chart appearance.  Why?  Because a cover version is being used in this advert for the John Lewis department store, who would like you to know that your custom is welcome quite literally from cradle to grave.

The version in the advert is actually by Fyfe Dangerfield, the lead singer of the Guillemots.  But his version wasn’t available for most of the week, and so people have been downloading the original.  The Dangerfield version has been rush-released and will almost certainly chart in the top 20 on Sunday.

Also entering the chart this week:

• “Like a Prayer” by the Glee Cast, new at 16.  Their tenth chart hit, and the third version of the song to chart.  (Yes, you’d all forgotten about the Mad’house version that reached number 3 in 2002, hadn’t you?)
• “I am Not a Robot” by Marina and the Diamonds, new at number 26.  Her second hit, and a very odd choice of single.  Bit of a laboured metaphor, I think.
• “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum, new at number 28.  A rare example of a country act charting, possibly because it’s a rare example of a country act being promoted in this country at all.  Their UK debut hit.
• “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” by Alicia Keys, new at number 31.  Her fourteenth hit, and I kind of like those 80s synths.
• “All Night Long” by Alexandra Burke, new at 34.  It’s her next single, but the version being promoted on radio and TV is a remix that only came out this week, so there’ll be a big jump next week.  And no, it’s not a cover of the Lionel Richie song.
• “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train, new at 36.  Their second top 40 hit, finally following up “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)”, which reached number 10 in 2001.
• “Ridin’ Solo” by Jason DeRulo, new at 38, and following up his number one “In My Head”
• “For Your Entertainment” by Adam Lambert, new at 39.  The problem here is that this is the sort of single you release when you’re playing off an existing public image… and nobody in Britian really knows who he is.