Official Charts Company
Rex Orange County Bags First U.K. No. 1 With ‘Who Cares’
Rex Orange County breaks through for his first U.K. No. 1 with Who Cares? (via Columbia), the alt-indie marvel’s fourth studio album, and second with RCA. Born in Hampshire, England, Rex Orange County (real name Alexander James O’Connor) easily eclipses his previous best, a No. 5 for 2019’s Pony, his major-label debut following two self-released efforts. Who Cares leads an all-new Top 3, besting Swedish rockers Ghost and their fifth studio effort IMPERA (Loma Vista), new at No. 2. IMPERA misses out on the crown, though it does give Ghost a new career high, improving on the No. 10 for 2018’s Prequelle. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Meanwhile, Bryan Adams enters the chart at No. 3 with So Happy It Hurts (BMG), for the Canadian rocker’s 11th U.K...
Aitch and Ashanti’s ‘Baby’ Challenges Dave’s ‘Starlight’ For U.K. Chart Crown
Dave is heading for a third straight week at No. 1 in the U.K. with “Starlight,” the British rapper’s biggest hit to date. But he won’t get there without a challenge. Aitch and Ashanti “Baby” is rocking on the chart blast. The single, which debuted at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart last Friday (March 18), is keeping the race tight. Based on sales and streaming data from the first 48 hours of the chart week, “Baby” holds at No. 2 and could make a run for the title, the OCC notes. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Starlight” leads an unchanged Top 7 on the First Look chart, which ranks the performance of singles in the early stages of the chart cycle. Meanwhile, George Ezra is on track for his seventh Top 10 single with “Anyone For You,”...
Rex Orange County Leads Midweek U.K. Chart With ‘Who Cares’
Who cares? Brits clearly do. Rex Orange County is on track for a first U.K. No. 1 with Who Cares, the English act’s fourth studio album. Who Cares (via Columbia) rules the Official Chart Update, and should establish a career-best for the 23-year-old Hampshire singer and multi-instrumentalist. Prior to Who Cares, the singer (real name Alexander James O’Connor) had a chart best of No. 5 with his previous LP, 2019’s Pony, his first with a major label. Rex Orange County has been a name-to-watch in the alt/indie scene since 2017, when he guested on Tyler, the Creator’s Grammy-nominated album Flower Boy and broke out with his own single “Loving Is Easy,” alongside Benny Sings. He went on to finish runner-up in the BBC’s Sound of 2018 poll. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See lat...
Dave’s ‘Starlight’ Glitters Atop U.K. Chart
Encanto’s magical reign atop the U.K. singles chart comes to an abrupt end as Dave’s “Starlight” (via Neighbourhood Recordings) debuts at No. 1 with the year’s fastest sales. “Starlight,” a surprise release, caught Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” off-guard as it fires to the top with 63,000 combined chart sales, the OCC reports. That first-week sum includes 7.7 million streams, the biggest opening week for any track in 2022, according to the charts compiler. Dave, winner of best hip hop/grime/rap act at the 2022 Brit Awards, now has 11 Top 10 singles, and a second career No. 1 following 2018’s “Funky Friday” featuring Fredo. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The seven-week streak of “Bruno” comes to a crashing halt, as the Disney release tu...
Stereophonics Snag Eighth U.K. No. 1 Album With ‘Oochya!’
Stereophonics power to an eighth U.K. chart crown with Oochya! (Stylus), their 12th studio album. Oochya! blasts to No. 1 on debut, outpacing its nearest competitor by a margin of 2-to-1, according to the Official Charts Company. With that feat, the Welsh rock act matches the chart success of Taylor Swift, Oasis and R.E.M. Led by singer Kelly Jones, the band has previously summited with Performance and Cocktails (from 1999), Just Enough Education to Perform (2001), You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003), Language Sex Violence Other (2005), Pull the Pin (2007), Keep the Village Alive (2015) and Kind (2019). The runner-up on the latest Official U.K. Albums Chart is Marillion, the veteran British rock band whose 20th album An Hour Before It’s Dark (Ear Music) bows at No. 2. Explore See latest...
Central Cee Overtakes Tears For Fears In U.K. Albums Chart Race
In a well-paced U.K. chart race, Central Cee’s 23 (via Central Cee) pulls ahead at the last turn for the hip-hop artist’s first leader. Born in Shepherd’s Bush, London, Central Cee (real name Oakley Neil H T Caesar-Su) goes one better with 23, the rapper’s sophomore mixtape, which debuts at No. 1. A year earlier, his debut Wild West went to No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. After leading the midweek survey, ‘80s legends Tears For Fears have to settle for second place with The Tipping Point (Concord). It’s the first full album of original material for Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith since 2005, and it’s the band’s first U.K. Top 5 appearance since 1993’s Elemental went to No. 5. The Tipping Point finishes the week as the U.K.’s best-selling vinyl release. Explore See latest videos, cha...
‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ Captures U.K. Chart Crown For Seventh Week
Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (via Walt Disney) can’t be caught in the U.K. chart race, as the hit single enters a seventh week at No. 1. “Bruno,” the longest-running No. 1 this year so far, became the first original Disney cut to lead the Official U.K. Singles Chart. Encanto continues to make a big impression on the chart with “Surface Pressure” down 3-5 this week, and “The Family Madrigal” down 8-10. Further down the list, there are climbs for Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott’s “Where Are You Now” (up 4-3 via Insanity); Belters Only and Jazzy’s “Make Me Feel Good” (up 5-4 via Polydor); Australian DJ and producer Luude’s reworking of “Down Under” featuring Men at Work’s Colin Hay (up 10-6 via Sweat It Out); and D-Block Europe and current albums chart champ Central Cee’s “Overseas”...
Dave’s ‘Starlight’ Set to Dethrone ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ In U.K.
Can Dave break the Encanto spell? The “Funky Friday” rapper cruises to the lead in the U.K. singles chart race with “Starlight,” a surprise release to celebrate the start of his U.K. tour. “Starlight” is burning bright on the First Look chart, which ranks songs based on sales and streams consumed in the first 48 hours of the chart cycle. If it keeps its spot, “Starlight” will give the Brit Award and Mercury Prize winner his second No. 1, and de-throne Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” after a seven-week unbroken run at the top. Whatever happens when the chart proper is published later this week, expect to see a new leader. “Bruno” tumbles 1-9 on the chart blast. With “Starlight” set to debut at No. 1, the man from Down Under, Luude, prepares to crash the U.K. Top 5 for the first time. ...
Tears For Fears Is Tearing up Midweek U.K. Albums Chart With ‘The Tipping Point’
Tears For Fears could complete their comeback with a U.K. No. 1. Based on midweek data published by the Official Charts Company, the veteran band’s latest LP The Tipping Point (Concord) is on track to become their third leader, and first in 33 years. Warmly received by critics and fans, and boosted by some inspired live performances on late-night TV, The Tipping Point leads the midweek U.K. survey. It’s Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith’s first album of original material since 2005 and it’s poised to join The Hurting (1983) and The Seeds of Love (1989) as their career chart toppers. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Tipping Point leads a midweek Top 10 featuring a raft of new entries. Central Cee is on the verge of his second U.K. Top 10 album wi...
Encanto’s ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ Extends Magical U.K. Chart Run
Encanto continues to hold a spell over the U.K. singles chart as “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (via Walt Disney) enters a sixth week at No. 1, extending its lead as 2022’s longest-running leader. Based on data published by the OCC, “Bruno” clocked more than 7.8 million U.K. streams over the chart cycle to snare its latest crown. Earlier in the week, the soundtrack for Disney’s hit animated film was on track to deliver a 1-2 on the tally. That didn’t eventuate, as Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran’s “Peru” (Island/YBNL Nation/Empire) slots in at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, nudging Jessica Darrow’s “Surface Pressure” in third place, while “The Family Madrigal” holds at No. 8. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The highest new entry this time be...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Equals’ Beats Debuts From Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Sea Power In U.K. Chart Battle
It was a tight battle, but in the end Ed Sheeran’s = (equals) reigned supreme in the U.K. chart race to a claim a fourth title. Since its release last November, Sheeran’s latest Asylum LP has accumulated more than 524,000 chart sales in the U.K., where platinum is certified with 300,000 combined units. The English singer and songwriter holds off a spirited start from Bad Boy Chiller Crew, whose Disrespectful (Relentless) bows at No. 2, for the week’s highest new entry. Disrespectful is the second mixtape from the Bradford dance act, comprised of Gareth “GK” Kelly, Kane Welsh and Sam “Clive” Robinson. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Earlier in the week, Sea Power (formerly British Sea Power) was eyeing top spot with Everything Was Forever (Golde...
‘Encanto’s’ ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ Cruising to Another U.K. Chart Crown
Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is proving hard to beat in the U.K., where its on track for a seventh week at No. 1. Based on sales and streams from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle, “Bruno” has a “firm grip” on the chart, the OCC reports. “Bruno,” the first original Disney recording to hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart, leads the First Look survey, with Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran’s “Peru” tussling with Lost Frequencies featuring Calum Scott’s “Where Are You Now” for No. 2. Belters Only’s “Make Me Feel Good” is on the rise, lifting one spot to No. 4 on the chart blast, for what would be a new peak. “Make Me Feel Good” recently led the Irish Singles Chart, making Belters Only the first homegrown Irish dance act to do so in 22 years, according to the OCC. Finally, Australian pr...
