Interesting (or not) facts from the music Charts

[Ome]

The Official Top 10 global recording artists of 2020 revealed​

BTS have been named as 2020's IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year, an annual honour that recognises the most popular act in the world based on streaming and sales, including vinyl, CDs and downloads.

The K-pop phenomenon are the first Korean act to bag the prize, as well as the first act to top the list who perform primarily in a language other than English. BTS finish ahead of last year's winner Taylor Swift.

The award from the international trade body for the recording industry comes after a thunderously successful year for BTS, who scored multiple accolades for their Map Of The Soul: 7 album, which reached Number 1 in more than 20 countries, including the Official UK Albums Chart.

The group's 2020 single Dynamite - their first ever recorded fully in English - topped the charts in the US and became their biggest UK hit to date at Number 3, as well as smashing YouTube and Spotify records.

BTS rounded off 2020 with the release of BE (Deluxe Edition), a response to the global pandemic that hit Number 1 in over ten countries, and landed at Number 2 in the UK.


IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2020
1. BTS
2. Taylor Swift
3. Drake
4. The Weeknd
5. Billie Eilish
6. Eminem
7. Post Malone
8. Ariana Grande
9. Juice Wrld
10. Justin Bieber

Previous winners
2019 – Taylor Swift
2018 – Drake
2017 – Ed Sheeran
2016 – Drake
2015 – Adele
2014 – Taylor Swift
2013 – One Direction

 

[Angela Channing]

I'm not sure how global IFPI are when there are no Chinese artists in that list. Xiao Zhan surely should be in the top 10 music artists based on all form of sales. His single Guang Dian (Spotlight) sold 48 million copies alone in 2020.

 

[Ome]

The UK's Official Top 40 fastest-selling vinyl albums since 2000​

POS	TITLE	ARTIST	YEAR
1	TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL & CASINO	ARCTIC MONKEYS	2018
2	WHY ME WHY NOT	LIAM GALLAGHER	2019
3	CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY CLUB	LANA DEL REY	2021
4	AS YOU WERE	LIAM GALLAGHER	2017
5	ULTRA MONO	IDLES	2020
6	LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL	ARCTIC MONKEYS	2020
7	DIVIDE	ED SHEERAN	2017
8	DISCO	KYLIE MINOGUE	2020
9	WHO BUILT THE MOON	NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS	2017
10	BLACKSTAR	DAVID BOWIE	2016
11	POWER UP	AC/DC	2020
12	MEDICINE AT MIDNIGHT	FOO FIGHTERS	2021
13	A MOON SHAPED POOL	RADIOHEAD	2016
14	MTV UNPLUGGED	LIAM GALLAGHER	2020
15	A HERO'S DEATH	FONTAINES DC	2019
16	FINE LINE	HARRY STYLES	2020
17	FOLKLORE	TAYLOR SWIFT	2020
18	MCCARTNEY III	PAUL MCCARTNEY	2020
19	CHROMATICA	LADY GAGA	2020
20	A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO ONLINE	THE 1975	2018
21	HYPERSONIC MISSILES	SAM FENDER	2019
22	A CELEBRATION OF ENDINGS	BIFFY CLYRO	2020
23	WHO	THE WHO	2019
24	EVERYTHING YOU'VE COME TO EXPECT	THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS	2016
25	DIVINELY UNINSPIRED TO A HELLISH EXTENT	LEWIS CAPALDI	2019
26	NOTES ON A CONDITIONAL FORM	THE 1975	2020
27	LOW IN HIGH SCHOOL	MORRISSEY	2017
28	ROUGH AND ROWDY WAYS	BOB DYLAN	2020
29	THE ENDLESS RIVER	PINK FLOYD	2014
30	EVERYDAY LIFE	COLDPLAY	2019
31	VILLAINS	QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE	2017
32	EVERYTHING NOT SAVED WILL BE LOST - PT 2	FOALS	2019
33	EVERYTHING NOT SAVED WILL BE LOST - PT 1	FOALS	2019
34	THE BONNY	GERRY CINNAMON	2020
35	GOLDEN	KYLIE MINOGUE	2018
36	WEIRD	YUNGBLUD	2020
37	ON SUNSET	PAUL WELLER	2020
38	HOW DID WE GET SO DARK	ROYAL BLOOD	2017
39	LETTER TO YOU	BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN	2020
40	WESTERN STARS	BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN	2019

 

[Ome]

A long, long time ago, well before the crash, I was chatting to @James from London about The Cure. I bought a few of their singles all around the early 80s but never took any more interest. I remember James talking about his love for the band and recommended PORNOGRAPHY. I recall really enjoying what I heard and there was also chat about JAPANESE WHISPERS which I loved.


One song that I’ve always played since is 10:15 Saturday Night.

But I’m waffling, I’m here to drop this little surprise as I check out this week’s mid-week album chart which has driven me back to listening to them.

I have no idea what has sparked sales in the album, any idea, James?

 

[James from London]

I have no idea what has sparked sales in the album, any idea, James?

Gosh, that's interesting. Maybe this has something to with it:

The Cure's "Japanese Whispers" to be Released on Picture Disc for the First Time! — Post-Punk.com

The Cure's Japanese Whispers is coming to Picture Disc for the first time on 26th March 2021. The band made the announcement recently during an auctioning of a signed guitar amp for the Milk Crate Theatre.

post-punk.com

 

[Ome]

Gosh, that's interesting. Maybe this has something to with it:

The Cure's "Japanese Whispers" to be Released on Picture Disc for the First Time! — Post-Punk.com

The Cure's Japanese Whispers is coming to Picture Disc for the first time on 26th March 2021. The band made the announcement recently during an auctioning of a signed guitar amp for the Milk Crate Theatre.

post-punk.com

Ah- Excellent.
I googled news on the band but nothing came up about the album and so I went to wiki to see if it had listed a re-issue of any kind.

While I’m now more a Spotifyer, I’m very much enjoying the news of vinyl sales increasing and I was even tempted to buy a couple of Toyah picture discs last year.

 

[Ome]

The Killers’ Mr Brightside claims record-breaking 260th week – exactly five years – on the Official Singles Chart Top 100​

Mr Brightside by The Killers continues to prove the chart hit that can’t be kept down as this week the track logs a record-breaking 260th non-consecutive week – or a full five years - on the Official UK Singles Chart Top 100. It may be April 1, but we can confirm this 100% true.

No song in UK chart history has notched up anywhere near as many weeks in the Top 100 - the closest is Snow Patrol’s 2006 Top 10 hit Chasing Cars, at 166 weeks.








Mr Brightside has become the stuff of legend on the Official Chart. The indie-pop anthem spent just four weeks in the Top 100 upon its original 2004 release, peaking at Number 10. The years since have seen it become a staple at many a party or club night, helping it rack up lots of streams and downloads every week.

In December 2018 Mr Brightside reached a landmark 1 million pure sales (downloads and CD sales), while its streaming tally currently stands at 281 million UK plays, making it the most-streamed song of any track released before 2010. Its total UK chart sales is a whopping 3.52 million.

The power of Mr Brightside shows no signs of slowing down yet. Despite the country being in lockdown for most of the past year, the song has been streamed 65.2 million times in the last 12 months – that’s an average of 1.2 million plays a week.

And in 2021 alone, Mr Brightside has spent 11 of the first 12 weeks of the year inside the Top 100, placing at Number 78 in the latest Top 100 – not bad for a song that was released 17 years ago.

Looking at other long runners on the Official Singles Chart Top 100, Ed Sheeran’s Christmas Number 1 Perfect is the most recently-released chart mainstay, logging 165 weeks since 2017, while Frank Sinatra’s signature hit My Way is fourth on 133 weeks. Kings Of Leon’s 2008 chart-topper Sex On Fire is fifth on 124 weeks.

The longest running songs on the Official Singles Chart Top 100​

	TITLE	ARTIST	PEAK	YEAR FIRST CHARTED	WEEKS IN TOP 100
1	MR BRIGHTSIDE	THE KILLERS	10	2004	260
2	CHASING CARS	SNOW PATROL	6	2006	166
3	PERFECT	ED SHEERAN	1	2017	165
4	MY WAY	FRANK SINATRA	5	1969	133
5	SEX ON FIRE	KINGS OF LEON	1	2008	124
6	THINKING OUT LOUD	ED SHEERAN	1	2014	119
7	CHANDELIER	SIA	6	2014	114
8	SOMEONE YOU LOVED	LEWIS CAPALDI	1	2018	113
9	I GOTTA FEELING	BLACK EYED PEAS	1	2009	109
10	RADIOACTIVE	IMAGINE DRAGONS	12	2012	107

 

[Long Lashes]

The Killers’ Mr Brightside claims record-breaking 260th week – exactly five years – on the Official Singles Chart Top 100​

View attachment 26237

Mr Brightside by The Killers continues to prove the chart hit that can’t be kept down as this week the track logs a record-breaking 260th non-consecutive week – or a full five years - on the Official UK Singles Chart Top 100. It may be April 1, but we can confirm this 100% true.

No song in UK chart history has notched up anywhere near as many weeks in the Top 100 - the closest is Snow Patrol’s 2006 Top 10 hit Chasing Cars, at 166 weeks.








Mr Brightside has become the stuff of legend on the Official Chart. The indie-pop anthem spent just four weeks in the Top 100 upon its original 2004 release, peaking at Number 10. The years since have seen it become a staple at many a party or club night, helping it rack up lots of streams and downloads every week.

In December 2018 Mr Brightside reached a landmark 1 million pure sales (downloads and CD sales), while its streaming tally currently stands at 281 million UK plays, making it the most-streamed song of any track released before 2010. Its total UK chart sales is a whopping 3.52 million.

The power of Mr Brightside shows no signs of slowing down yet. Despite the country being in lockdown for most of the past year, the song has been streamed 65.2 million times in the last 12 months – that’s an average of 1.2 million plays a week.

And in 2021 alone, Mr Brightside has spent 11 of the first 12 weeks of the year inside the Top 100, placing at Number 78 in the latest Top 100 – not bad for a song that was released 17 years ago.

Looking at other long runners on the Official Singles Chart Top 100, Ed Sheeran’s Christmas Number 1 Perfect is the most recently-released chart mainstay, logging 165 weeks since 2017, while Frank Sinatra’s signature hit My Way is fourth on 133 weeks. Kings Of Leon’s 2008 chart-topper Sex On Fire is fifth on 124 weeks.

The longest running songs on the Official Singles Chart Top 100​

	TITLE	ARTIST	PEAK	YEAR FIRST CHARTED	WEEKS IN TOP 100
1	MR BRIGHTSIDE	THE KILLERS	10	2004	260
2	CHASING CARS	SNOW PATROL	6	2006	166
3	PERFECT	ED SHEERAN	1	2017	165
4	MY WAY	FRANK SINATRA	5	1969	133
5	SEX ON FIRE	KINGS OF LEON	1	2008	124
6	THINKING OUT LOUD	ED SHEERAN	1	2014	119
7	CHANDELIER	SIA	6	2014	114
8	SOMEONE YOU LOVED	LEWIS CAPALDI	1	2018	113
9	I GOTTA FEELING	BLACK EYED PEAS	1	2009	109
10	RADIOACTIVE	IMAGINE DRAGONS	12	2012	107

This is incredible! it also comes from a great album.

 

[Angela Channing]

I remember James talking about his love for the band and recommended PORNOGRAPHY.

Instead of listening to The Cure or in addition to? Those lockdown nights can sometimes get a bit lonely.

 

[Ome]

Acts who have peaked at every position in the Top 10​

Hitting the Top 10 of the UK's Official Singles Chart is a big deal. In the competitive streaming era, a top tier single is a mark of genuine popularity; that a song has well and truly wormed its way into the ears and hearts of the general public. Back in the early 00s, anything lower than a Top 10 single for a popstar and, to borrow a line from Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, you in danger girl.

While acts like The Beatles, Spice Girls and Westlife were more about topping the charts in their day, there are a small number of acts that have managed to peak at every position inside the Top 10. A bit like bingo. Forget a single line (stay with us), we're going to highlight the legends who have delivered a Top 10 full house.

Lonnie Donegan​

Scottish star Lonnie Donegan, a pioneer of the revival of Skiffle music in the 1950s, was the first artist to cross off all the numbers in the Official Singles Chart's Top 10. Not only was Lonnie the first, he did it the fastest.

The King of Skiffle's debut hit Rock Island Line peaked at Number 8, while his second release fared even better - Lost John/Stewball hit Number 2. Bring A Little Water Sylvie/Dead or Alive (7) and Don't You Rock Me Daddy-o (4) followed, before Cumberland Gap become Lonnie's first of two chart toppers.

My Dixie Darling (10), The Grand Coolie Dam (6), Tom Dooley (3) and I Wanna Go Home (5) occupied different positions across the next three years, before the Number 9 Donnie needed to complete the set arrived in 1962, the aptly named The Party's Over. All in all, it took Donnie six years, three months and seven days.

I'm confused by how this Scottish star didn't appear in the 'Every UK Number 1 single by Scottish acts' thread?

1	CUMBERLAND GAP	1957
2	LOST JOHN/STEWBALL	1956
3	TOM DOOLEY	1958
4	DON'T YOU ROCK ME DADDY-O	1957
5	I WANNA GO HOME	1960
6	THE GRAND COOLIE DAM	1958
7	BRING A LITTLE WATER SYLVIE/DEAD OR ALIVE	1956
8	ROCK ISLAND LINE	1956
9	THE PARTY'S OVER	1962
10	MY DIXIE DARLING	1957

Elvis Presley
If you thought The King would be in this elite club, well, you would be right. With 76 Top 10 singles, Elvis Presley has had plenty of chances, and he achieved the feat in 15 years, nine months and 25 days.

Elvis' debut single Heartbreak Hotel reached Number 2, and he has of course had a multitude of hits since. He was all shook up waiting for a Number 5 to come along, but it finally did in April 1972 with Until It's Time For You To Go.

1	ALL SHOOK UP	1957
2	HEARTBREAK HOTEL	1956
3	(LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR	1957
4	A BIG HUNK O' LOVE	1959
5	UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO	1972
6	TOO MUCH	1957
7	SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK TO ME	1957
8	PARALYSED	1957
9	BLUE SUEDE SHOES	1956
10	KISSIN' COUSINS	1964

Madonna

With an impressive 63 UK Top 10 hits, you would think Madonna had paid a visit to every Top 10 placing at least three times over, but in fact, she waited 11 years for a Number 8 hit (1995's Human Nature) and she's not had one since.

In addition to having more Number 1s than any other female and more Number 2s than ANY other artist, Madonna has popped up at every Top 10 position, managing it in 11 years, six months and eight days.

​

1	INTO THE GROOVE	1985
2	CRAZY FOR YOU	1985
3	LIKE A VIRGIN	1984
4	GAMBLER	1985
5	ANGEL	1985
6	FEVER	1993
7	RAIN	1993
8	HUMAN NATURE	1995
9	THE LOOK OF LOVE	1987
10	BAD GIRL	1993

Mariah Carey

Madonna was the first female to shout BINGO!, but Mariah Carey can say she is the woman to claim a full house in the shortest space of time.

It took Mariah nine years, five months and 25 days to put her dabber to all of the boxes, with Thank God I Found You being her only Number 10 single in March 2000. Thank God indeed.

Bonus trivia: In the 1990s, Mariah has one Number 1, two Number 2s, three Number 3s and four Number 4s. Spooky!

1	WITHOUT YOU	1994
2	I'LL BE THERE	1992
3	ENDLESS LOVE	1994
4	FANTASY	1995
5	HEARTBREAKER	1999
6	ONE SWEET DAY	1995
7	HERO	1993
8	ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND	1994
9	VISION OF LOVE	1990
10	THANK GOD I FOUND YOU	2000

Tom Jones

Sex Bomb led to a climax for Tom Jones! Over three decades after his first hit, (1965 Number 1 It's Not Unusual) the Welsh legend's 2000 smash was the missing piece to the puzzle he was looking for, a Number 3. Sir Tom completed his collection of every Top 10 place two months after Mariah, notching up a time of 35 years, two months and three days.

1	IT'S NOT UNUSUAL	1965
2	I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN	1967
3	SEX BOMB	2000
4	MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME	2000
5	HELP YOURSELF	1968
6	YOUNG NEW MEXICAN PUPPETEER	1962
7	FUNNY FAMILIAR FORGOTTEN FEELINGS	1967
8	DETROIT CITY	1967
9	LOVE ME TONIGHT	1969
10	WITHOUT LOVE (THERE IS NOTHING)	1969

 

[Ome]

Acts who have peaked at every position in the Top 10 (Cont...)​

Elton John

From one Knight of the Realm to another, Elton John adopted Tom Jones' slow and steady approach; why perform a blink-and-you'll-miss-it sprint when you can take in the good times at a leisurely pace?

Number 9 evaded Sir Elton for 29 years, four months and 2 days, but his only one finally came to him in April 2001 courtesy of I Want Love. Thanks for finally showing up!

1	DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART	1976
2	ROCKET MAN	1972
3	NIKITA	1985
4	DANIEL	1973
5	CROCODILE ROCK	1972
6	GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD	1973
7	SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING	1973
8	BLUE EYES	1982
9	I WANT LOVE	2001
10	LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS	1974

U2

You wait 19 years, nine months and 25 days for a Number 5 single... and two come back-to-back! With an almost complete tally for nearly two decades, U2 completed their bingo board in December 2001 with Walk On. And for good measure, their next single Electrical Storm did the same. Bonus points as they are the only group to achieve this distinction.

1	DESIRE	1988
2	HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME	1995
3	PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)	1984
4	WITH OR WITHOUT YOU	1987
5	WALK ON	2001
6	THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE	1985
7	ONE	1992
8	EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING (REMIX)	1992
9	ANGEL OF HARLEM	1988
10	NEW YEAR'S DAY	1983

Cliff Richard

Of all the ten acts to peak at every Top 10 position, three of them are Sirs, and three of them were all holding out for a Number 5. The third in each of those categories is Sir Cliff Richard.

Forgotten among Mistletoe & Wine and Saviour's Day, Cliff's Xmas hit Santa's List became his only Number 5, which we're sure was exactly what the Bachelor Boy had asked from St. Nick in Christmas 2003. In total, Cliff took the longest to pay a peak visit to every Top 10 position, taking a whopping 45 years, one month and 20 days. That Millennium Prayer paid off.

1	LIVING DOLL	1959
2	MOVE IT	1958
3	NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN	1960
4	GEE WHIZ IT'S YOU	1961
5	SANTA'S LIST	2003
6	I COULD EASILY FALL	1964
7	HIGH CLASS BABY	1958
8	I'M THE LONELY ONE	1964
9	IT'S ALL OVER	1967
10	MEAN STREAK	1959

P!nk

Raise your glass to this! P!nk has had a feel good time (pun very much intended) on the Official Singles Chart over the years, collecting 20 Top 10 singles so far. Much like Madonna, Pink needed a Number 8 to complete her set, and the criminally-underrated Try did just that. Who Knew (we'll stop with the puns now) it would take P!nk 12 years, six months and five days?

1	LADY MARMALADE	2001
2	GET THE PARTY STARTED	2002
3	FEEL GOOD TIME	2003
4	STUPID GIRLS	2006
5	MOST GIRLS	2000
6	THERE YOU GO	2000
7	TROUBLE	2003
8	TRY	2012
9	YOU MAKE ME SICK	2001
10	U & UR HAND	2006

Usher

The latest male artist to finish his full set of Top 10 peaks is Usher. Holding out for a Number 8 for 17 years, one month and 18 days, Mr. Raymond finally scored one in March 2015 with I Don't Mind ft. Juicy J.

1	YOU MAKE ME WANNA	1998
2	POP YA COLLAR	2001
3	U REMIND ME	2001
4	I NEED A GIRL (PART ONE)	2002
5	U GOT IT BAD	2001
6	I NEED A GIRL/U DON'T HAVE TO CALL	2002
7	DJ GOT US FALLING IN LOVE	2010
8	I DON'T MIND	2015
9	CAUGHT UP	2005
10	GOOD KISSER	2014

Taylor Swift

The most recent completist is Taylor Swift, who achieved all three of her missing Top 10 peaks in the same week! Taylor's breakthrough hit Love Story reached Number 2 back in March 2009, and in July 2020, Cardigan, Exile (with Bon Iver) and The 1 peaked at 6, 8 and 10 respectively, the exact numbers she needed to dab all of her boxes. In total, it took Taylor 11 years, 4 months and 30 days.

1	LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO	2017
2	LOVE STORY	2009
3	ME	2019
4	WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER	2012
5	I DON'T WANNA LIVE FOREVER	2016
6	CARDIGAN	2020
7	EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED	2012
8	EXILE	2020
9	22	2013
10	THE 1	2020

 

[Ome]

Acts who have peaked at every position in the Top 10 (Cont...)​

So who just misses out?

Cliff Richard took nearly five decades to score this chart quirk, but who else is one song away from clearing the board?

22 chart acts are waiting in the wings, with only one group waiting for a Kelly's eye - a Number 1. Bon Jovi have peaked at positions 2 - 10, but alas, they are missing a chart topper.

UB40, Cher and Celine Dion are all waiting for One Little Duck (a Number 2 peak), while Pet Shop Boys have yet to score a Number 3 single. David Bowie, Rolling Stones, Frankie Laine and Iron Maiden are all knocking at the door of Number 4, and George Michael was only missing a Number 5.

6 is the most common number causing a sweat, the missing link for Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Status Quo, Whitney Houston and The Saturdays. The former two can claim a Number 6 in their groups The Jackson 5 and Destiny's Child however with I Want You Back and Bills, Bills, Bills respectively. Frankie Bridge and Rochelle Humes of the latter group did manage a Number 6 also with Puppy Love/Sleigh Ride in their first band S Club Juniors.

A not-so-lucky Number 7 awaits Eurythmics, Dua Lipa and Drake, while Diana Ross and Girls Aloud - with exception of Kimberley who nabbed one solo - are looking for Number 8. Following that, Rod Stewart, Madness, The Beach Boys and Craig David are seeking a Number 9 hit.

Finally, Ed Sheeran may have has 43 Top 40 hits, but he still needs a Tony's den - a Number

 

[Ome]

This is probably only interesting to me, but I fear if I don't log it down, I will forget it ever happened. That said, it's not actually happened because it's a mid-week update.



In at number 9!!!
In the top ten!!!




The last time Toyah was in the top ten was in June 1982.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

In at number 9!!!
In the top ten!!!

Oh my. That's amazing.

I'm chuffed for you (and Toyah).

The last time Toyah was in the top ten was in June 1982.

Holy cow. What a feat. Between this and ABBA it feels like we're in a beautiful time warp.

 

[James from London]

This is really fun

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1451846175393472518

 

[Ome]

This is really fun

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1451846175393472518

That is incredibly fascinating to watch. Absolutely brilliant!!

 

[Ome]

Here's an interesting chart. How many of these albums do you have and how many do you listen to through a streaming site?

The Official Top 40 most-streamed albums of the 70s, 80s and 90s​

1	GREATEST HITS	QUEEN	1981
2	RUMOURS	FLEETWOOD MAC	1977
3	WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY	OASIS	1995
4	GOLD - GREATEST HITS	ABBA	1992
5	LEGEND	BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS	1984
6	DEFINITELY MAYBE	OASIS	1994
7	THE STONE ROSES	STONE ROSES	1989
8	HOT ROCKS - 1964-1971	ROLLING STONES	1971
9	1967-1970	BEATLES	1973
10	EXODUS	BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS	1977
11	2001	DR DRE	1999
12	BAD	MICHAEL JACKSON	1987
13	THE VERY BEST OF	MARVIN GAYE	1996
14	IN UTERO	NIRVANA	1993
15	GREATEST HITS	BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN	1995
16	THRILLER	MICHAEL JACKSON	1982
17	NEVERMIND	NIRVANA	1991
18	BACK IN BLACK	AC/DC	1980
19	GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD	ELTON JOHN	1973
20	GREATEST HITS	2PAC	1998
21	GREATEST HITS	SIMON & GARFUNKEL	1972
22	VOULEZ-VOUS	ABBA	1979
23	THE LION KING	ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK	1994
24	HEAVEN AND HELL	MEAT LOAF & BONNIE TYLER	1989
25	APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION	GUNS N' ROSES	1987
26	BAT OUT OF HELL 2 - BACK INTO HELL	MEAT LOAF	1993
27	EXPERIENCE HENDRIX - THE BEST OF	JIMI HENDRIX	1997
28	BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER	SIMON & GARFUNKEL	1970
29	DIVINE MADNESS	MADNESS	1992
30	THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON	PINK FLOYD	1973
31	GREATEST HITS	POLICE	1992
32	THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION	MADONNA	1990
33	THE JOSHUA TREE	U2	1987
34	THE PLATINUM COLLECTION	BLONDIE	1994
35	HATFUL OF HOLLOW	SMITHS	1984
36	CALIFORNICATION	RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS	1999
37	KAYA	BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS	1978
38	STICKY FINGERS	ROLLING STONES	1971
39	1962-1966	BEATLES	1973
40	BAT OUT OF HELL	MEAT LOAF	1977

 

[9unfold]

I own four from the list above.

 

[Ome]

Here are the top 20 best selling Christmas number ones in the UK


Perhaps the quintessential Christmas chart-topper, the original Band Aid line-up’s version of Do They Know It’s Christmas from 1984 is not only the biggest-seller with 3.83 million sales, but with streams combined it now totals at 4,989,000. With it continuing to re-enter the Official Chart every Christmas, it’s likely to hold on to that position for some time.



But wait. Who is this hot on its heels? Why, it’s Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody with a combined total of 4,304,000, possibly helped by the fact it’s been Christmas Number 1 twice. Also, due to its non-Christmas subject matter and being Queen’s biggest song in general which is played throughout the year, it has the potential of creeping up to pole position.





Another non-festive favourite that’s stormed its way up the list is Ed Sheeran’s 2017 Number 1 Perfect, with a combined total of 4,130,000. Again, it’s one of those non-period specific songs that could gradually creep up all year round as saleswise it doesn’t rank in the Top 20, Perfect’s success is predominantly down to streaming alone.



The grand finale of Boney M’s annus miraculous of 1978, and their Number 1 single Mary’s Boy Child/ Oh My Lord, is in fourth places with a combined figure of 2,354,000, with 1.9 million of those down to sales of the song at the time.





Another song by an act that defined their particular year is Don’t You Want Me by The Human League, which finished off, what was for them, an incredible 1981. With a combined total of 2,328,000 including 1.6 million pure sales, the song has re-entered the chart (in 1995 and 2014) albeit just not at Christmas time.




Whitney Houston’s legendary take on Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You from 1992, which spent ten weeks at the top, is at Number 6 in our rundown. The evergreen is now at 2,289,000 with 1.67 million pure sales.




Clean Bandit’s 2016 chart-topper Rockabye, rocks up at Number 7 due mostly to streaming as it doesn’t feature in the Top 20 on sales, but still amasses a healthy 2,196,000 chart sales.






Approaching its fiftieth anniversary and unlikely to be disappearing any time soon is Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade. The glam rockers' pension plan shows no sign of letting up, being a regular playlist staple and Christmas chart returnee on 2,156,000, with 1.32 million of those as pure sales.





Number 9 sees Paul McCartney and Wings’ Mull Of Kintyre currently at 2,140,000 with 2.09million sales mostly from its time in the Official Chart in 1977. In fact Macca does quite well overall as he populates the Top 20 with three songs from his stint in The Beatles, with I Want To Hold Your Hand at Number 10, I Feel Fine at 14 and Day Tripper/ We Can Work It Out at 15.

The Top 20 is rounded off by the viral sensation that was Rage Against The Machine’s Christmas Number 1 Killing In The Name, with 1,313,000. The track caused great upset to Simon Cowell and The X Factor, who had enjoyed a run of festive chart-toppers before this rap metal anthem barged in, thanks to a campaign led by Jon Morter.

Official Top 20 Biggest Christmas Number 1s​

POS	TITLE	ARTIST	YEAR	PEAK
1	DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?	BAND AID	1984	1
2	BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY	QUEEN	1975/1991	1
3	PERFECT	ED SHEERAN	2017	1
4	MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD	BONEY M	1978	1
5	DON'T YOU WANT ME?	THE HUMAN LEAGUE	1981	1
6	I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU	WHITNEY HOUSTON	1992	1
7	ROCKABYE	CLEAN BANDIT	2016	1
8	MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY	SLADE	1973	1
9	MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL	WINGS	1977	1
10	I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND	THE BEATLES	1963	1
11	MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE	SHAKIN' STEVENS	1985	1
12	HALLELUJAH	ALEXANDRA BURKE	2008	1
13	ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2)	PINK FLOYD	1979	1
14	I FEEL FINE	THE BEATLES	1964	1
15	WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER	THE BEATLES	1965	1
16	EARTH SONG	MICHAEL JACKSON	1995	1
17	GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME	TOM JONES	1966	1
18	2 BECOME 1	SPICE GIRLS	1996	1
19	STAY ANOTHER DAY	EAST 17	1994	1
20	KILLING IN THE NAME	RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE	2009	1

 

[Ome]

Disney's Official Top 100 most-streamed songs in the UK​

88. This Is Me - Demi Lovato & Joe Jonas
From: Camp Rock (2008)
UK streams: 14.2 million​

The emotional centrepiece of Camp Rock, the mid-tempo rammer from an ascendant Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas is the only song from the two-film franchise about the student attendants of a musical summer camp to chart inside the Top 100.

73. Strangers Like Me - Phil Collins
From: Tarzan (1999)
UK streams: 16.5 million​

You may have forgotten the 1999 film Tarzan, made at the very end of Disney's Renaissance period, but its entire soundtrack was the work of British rock icon Phil Collins. It's told from Tarzan's point of view, as he meets other humans for the first time after being raised by apes.

54. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke
From: Mary Poppins (1964)
UK streams: 20.9 million​

The biggest word you ever heard and this is how it goes...various Disney classics from yesteryear don't make the Top 100 due to the more modern invention of streaming, but we're glad to see this barmy highlight from live-action classic Mary Poppins pop in, sung by living legends Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

41. Breaking Free - Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens
From: High School Musical (2006)
UK streams: 25 million​

The song that made stars out of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, Breaking Free is not only the highest placed song from the original High School Musical trilogy on this list at Number 41, but it's also one of the highest-charting released by Disney in the UK - peaking at Number 9 on the Official Singles Chart in 2006.

33. Beauty And The Beast - Ariana Grande & John Legend
From: Beauty and the Beast (2017)
UK streams: 30.5 million​

A big single from Ariana and John taken from the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, the release of this song imitates a similar trick Disney used throughout the 90s, hiring popular singers of the day to cover songs featured in the film. The original, sung by Angela Lansbury, lands in the Top 100 at Number 53, proving this really is a tale as old as time.

27. Queen of Mean - Sarah Jeffery
From: Descendants 3 (2019)
UK streams: 33.6 million​

Made of TV trilogy Descendants - which follows the exploits of the children of several Disney villains like Maleficent and Cruella De Vil - places several songs in the Top 100, but this is the highest of the lot. It's sung by Canadian actress Sarah Jeffrey, who plays the antagonistic child of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip.

15. All I Want - Olivia Rodrigo
From: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2020)
UK streams: 52.1 million​

For those who watched the deliciously meta High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (actual title), the rise of Olivia Rodrigo was no surprise. This was her first hit; written by Olivia during production of the show, and the first time she showed true promise as a songwriter in the vein of her beloved Taylor Swift.

7. Under The Sea - Samuel E Wright
From: The Little Mermaid (1989)
UK streams: 62.1 million​

The highest peak for a 'classic' Disney film, Under The Sea is the sole entry in this Top 10 for a traditionally animated film. Despite being released in 1989, the shine still hasn't dimmed on this silly introduction to the world of The Little Mermaid, sung by Samuel E Wright as the persnickety crab Sebastian. With over 62 million streams in the UK alone, it's clearly still a favourite of kids both young and old!

3. How Far I'll Go - Aul'i Cravalho
From: Moana (2016)
UK streams: 128.9 million​

Every Disney princess has her "what is my place in the world" anthem, and this is the one of Polynesian explorer Moana, who leaves her sheltered island village to save the world. How Far I'll Go features a stirring vocal performance by actress Aul'i Cravhalo, who was just 16 when she cut her vocal for the film. In the UK alone, it's been streamed 128 million times.

2. Let It Go - Idina Menzel
From: Frozen (2013)
UK streams: 133.5 million​

You were waiting for this one, weren't you? An instant classic from the moment it was released, Let It Go galvanized Frozen's success as the second-coming of Disney movies as box office events. Featuring veteran Broadway performer Idina Menzel, Let It Go peaked at Number 11 in the UK, and has been streamed over 133 million times and even won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Chart -fact - if you were to cut out video streams, it's the most popular Disney song in the UK on pure audio streams only.

1. You're Welcome - Dwayne Johnson
From: Moana (2016)
UK streams: 150 million​

Perhaps a surprise winner to older Disney fans, Moana's You're Welcome is the most-streamed Disney song in the UK - topping the chart with a very healthy 150 million streams. Sung by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, it's used as a handy introduction to his Moana character Maui, a powerful demi-god with the ability to shapeshift.

Released squarely in the streaming era in 2016, it may never have reached the Official Singles Chart Top 100 but a much-loved modern-day favourite it's become all the same. Some five years after its release, the track is still notching up an average of 675,000 UK streams per week.
Moana places 14 entries inside the Top 100 - the most for any film (which even includes to dubbed covers of How Far I'll Go, in Spanish and Korean, respectively).

Official Top 100 Most-Streamed Disney Songs​

POS	TITLE	ARTIST	FILM
1	YOU'RE WELCOME	DWAYNE JOHNSON	MOANA
2	LET IT GO	IDINA MENZEL	FROZEN
3	HOW FAR I'LL GO	AULI'I CRAVALHO	MOANA
4	INTO THE UNKNOWN	IDINA MENZEL & AURORA	FROZEN II
5	HOW FAR I'LL GO	ALESSIA CARA	MOANA
6	FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER	IDINA MENZEL & KRISTEN BELL	FROZEN
7	UNDER THE SEA	SAMUEL E WRIGHT	THE LITTLE MERMAID
8	DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN	KRISTEN BELL/AGATHA LEE MONN	FROZEN
9	WE KNOW THE WAY	FOA'I/MIRANDA	MOANA
10	WHERE YOU ARE	JACKSON/HOUSE/SCHERZINGER	MOANA
11	SHINY	JEMAINE CLEMENT	MOANA
12	SHOW YOURSELF	IDINA MENZEL/EVAN RACHEL WOOD	FROZEN II
13	LOVE IS AN OPEN DOOR	KRISTEN BELL/SANTINO FONTANA	FROZEN
14	JUST LIKE FIRE	PINK	ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
15	ALL I WANT	OLIVIA RODRIGO	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES
16	I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO BE KING	JASON WEAVER	THE LION KING
17	YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME	RANDY NEWMAN	TOY STORY
18	WHEN WILL MY LIFE BEGIN	MANDY MOORE	TANGLED
19	LIFE IS A HIGHWAY	RASCAL FLATTS	CARS
20	CIRCLE OF LIFE	CARMEN TWILLIE	THE LION KING
21	SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE	BELL/MENZEL/GAD/GROFF	FROZEN II
22	CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT	ERNIE SABELLA/JOSEPH WILLIAMS	THE LION KING
23	HAKUNA MATATA	NATHAN LANE	THE LION KING
24	A WHOLE NEW WORLD	BRAD KANE & LEA SALONGA	ALADDIN
25	TRY EVERYTHING	SHAKIRA	ZOOTROPOLIS
26	I SEE THE LIGHT	MANDY MOORE/ZACHARY LEVI	TANGLED
27	QUEEN OF MEAN	SARAH JEFFERY	DESCENDANTS 3
28	PART OF YOUR WORLD	JODI BENSON	THE LITTLE MERMAID
29	ALL IS FOUND	EVAN RACHEL WOOD	FROZEN II
30	SPEECHLESS (FULL)	NAOMI SCOTT	ALADDIN (2019)
31	ILL MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU	DONNY OSMOND	MULAN
32	CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT	ELTON JOHN	THE LION KING
33	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST	ARIANA GRANDE & JOHN LEGEND	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017)
34	IN SUMMER	JOSH GAD	FROZEN
35	FRIEND LIKE ME	WILL SMITH	ALADDIN (2019)
36	COME AND GET YOUR LOVE	REDBONE	GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
37	I AM MOANA (SONG OF THE ANCESTORS)	RACHEL HOUSE & AULI'I CRAVALHO	MOANA
38	INTO THE UNKNOWN	PANIC AT THE DISCO	FROZEN II
39	LOST IN THE WOODS	JONATHAN GROFF	FROZEN II
40	WHAT'S MY NAME	MCCLAIN/DOHERTY/PLAYFAIR	DESCENDANTS 2
41	BREAKING FREE	CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
42	COLORS OF THE WIND	JUDY KUHN	POCAHONTAS
43	NIGHT FALLS	CAMERON/CARSON/STEWART/BOYCE	DESCENDANTS 3
44	WHEN I AM OLDER	JOSH GAD	FROZEN II
45	LET IT GO	DEMI LOVATO	FROZEN
46	THE BARE NECESSITIES	PHIL HARRIS	JUNGLE BOOK
47	I WON'T SAY (I'M IN LOVE)	EGAN/FREEMAN/LACHANZE/THOMAS	HERCULES
48	ROTTEN TO THE CORE	CARSON/CAMERON/BOYCE/STEWART	DESCENDANTS
49	AN INNOCENT WARRIOR	MAHINA/FOAI-AMIATU/INELEO	MOANA
50	PRINCE ALI	WILL SMITH	ALADDIN (2019)
51	BE OUR GUEST (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST)	JERRY ORBACH	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
52	KISS THE GIRL	SAMUEL E WRIGHT	THE LITTLE MERMAID
53	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST	ANGELA LANSBURY	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
54	SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS	JULIE ANDREWS & DICK VAN DYKE	MARY POPPINS
55	TULOU TAGALOA	OLIVIA FOA'I	MOANA
56	IT'S GOIN' DOWN	CAMERON/CARSON/BOYCE/STEWART	DESCENDANTS 2
57	FIXER UPPER	CAST OF FROZEN & MAIA WILSON	FROZEN
58	WAYS TO BE WICKED	CAMERON/CARSON/BOYCE/STEWART	DESCENDANTS
59	KNOW WHO YOU ARE	CRAVALHO/MAHINA/FOA'I/FOA'I	MOANA
60	CHILLIN' LIKE A VILLAIN	CARSON/BOYCE/STEWART/HOPE	DESCENDANTS
61	GOTTA GO MY OWN WAY	GABRIELLA & TROY	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
62	ALMOST THERE	ANIKA NONI ROSE	PRINCESS AND THE FROG
63	FROZEN HEART	CAST OF FROZEN	FROZEN
64	A WHOLE NEW WORLD (END TITLE)	ZAYN & ZHAVIA WARD	ALADDIN (2019)
65	IVE GOT A DREAM	GARRETT/TANGLED ENS/TAMBOR	TANGLED
66	LOGO TE PATE	FOA'I/FOA'I/SALE	MOANA
67	I WANNA BE LIKE YOU	PHIL HARRIS	JUNGLE BOOK
68	WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER	CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
69	UN POCO LOCO	GONZALEZ/BERNAL	COCO
70	REINDEER(S) ARE BETTER THAN PEOPLE	JONATHAN GROFF	FROZEN
71	THAT TIME OF YEAR	K BELL/I MENZEL/J GAD	OLAF'S FROZEN ADVENTURE
72	SABER QUEM SOU	ANY GABRIELLY	MOANA
73	STRANGERS LIKE ME	PHIL COLLINS	TARZAN
74	THE NEXT RIGHT THING	KRISTEN BELL	FROZEN II
75	GOOD TO BE BAD	CAMERON/CARSON/BOYCE/STEWART	DESCENDANTS 3
76	DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO	DOVE CAMERON/CHEYENNE JACKSON	DESCENDANTS 3
77	GO THE DISTANCE	ROGER BART	HERCULES
78	EVERMORE	DAN STEVENS	BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017)
79	CIRCLE OF LIFE	ELTON JOHN	LION KING
80	I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO BE KING	MCCRARY/WRIGHT JOSEPH/OLIVER	LION KING (2019)
81	IF ONLY	DOVE CAMERON	DESCENDANTS
82	MOTHER KNOWS BEST	DONNA MURPHY	TANGLED
83	HE'S A PIRATE (CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL)	KLAUS BADELT	PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
84	ZERO TO HERO	LILLIAS WHITE	HERCULES
85	LAVA	KUANA TORRES KAHELE	LAVA
86	CIRCLE OF LIFE/NANTS' INGONYAMA	LINDIWE MKHIZE/LEBO M	LION KING (2019)
87	NA UNJENGAN DDEONNAL GEOYA	SO-HYANG	MOANA
88	THIS IS ME	DEMI LOVATO & JOE JONAS	CAMP ROCK
89	JUST AROUND THE RIVERBEND	JUDY KUHN	POCAHONTAS
90	ONE JUMP AHEAD	BRAD KANE	ALADDIN
91	START OF SOMETHING NEW	GABRIELLA & TROY	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
92	CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE	ZAC EFRON	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3
93	INTRODUCING ME	NICK JONAS	CAMP ROCK 2
94	A WHOLE NEW WORLD	MENA MASSOUD & NAOMI SCOTT	ALADDIN (2019)
95	EVERYDAY	CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2
96	BET ON IT REMIX	TROY	HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2
97	LES POISSONS	RENE AUBERJONOIS	THE LITTLE MERMAID
98	CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT	BEYONCE/GLOVER/EICHNER/ROGEN	LION KING (2019)
99	YOU'RE WELCOME	FISHER/MIRANDA	MOANA
100	ONE KISS	CARSON/CAMERON/MCCLAIN	DESCENDANTS 3