Charts – 21 August 2011
Every year the charts needs at least a couple of token slow number 1s – hell, mid-pace will do – and this is one of those weeks. The fourth new number one in as many weeks (there’ll be a fifth on Sunday) is “Don’t Go” by Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra.
Isn’t that nice? Okay, lyrically it’s a fairly standard moan about his love life, but musically it’s one of the better number one singles of the year. Nice and laid back. Lovely hook.
This is Wretch 32’s third hit, and first number one. The other two singles both made the top five earlier in the year. They don’t sound remotely like this, or indeed each other. “Unorthodox” is the one that sampled the Stone Roses. “Traktor” is a grime track vaguely in Major Lazer territory. He’s certainly got range, this guy. As for singer Josh Kumra, I’ve no idea who he is.
We have a top three composed entirely of new entries, which doesn’t happen very often – though it looks like it might happen again next week. Number 2 is “Heaven” by Emeli Sande, who’s cropped up over the last couple of years a guest singer for Chipmunk and Wiley, and is now releasing records of her own. Apparently the cycle of revivalism has reached Massive Attack. Nothing wrong with that if you do it well, which this pretty much does.
Number 3 is perhaps more of a surprise – “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera. Maroon 5 haven’t had a really major hit since “Makes Me Wonder” in 2007, and Christina Aguilera’ singles hasn’t had one since “Ain’t No Other Man” reached number 2 in 2006. It’s not that they haven’t been releasing singles, they’ve just both been stubbornly stuck in the mid-table for a while.
Lest the song leave you in any doubt, Wikipedia helpfully clarifies that the lyrics “refer to a male protagonist’s ability to impress a female with his dance moves, which he compares to those of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.” I don’t generally have much time for Maroon 5, who have always struck me as one of the most relentlessly dull bands of recent years, but this is actually pretty decent; the sheer randomness of banging on about Mick Jagger in a song that sounds nothing like him whatsoever kind of appeals to me.
Further down the chart, there are two other new entries: number 16 is “Sunlight” by Modestep, this week’s token dubstep track. It’s a good track with a video that’s maybe trying a bit hard. (Video in a nutshell: You know old people? Wouldn’t it be funny if they took drugs too?) And number 37 is “In The Dark” by Dev, her curiously Eurobeat follow-up single. It doesn’t look like it’s going any further.
Notable climbers: Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” is up from 28 to 18, “Who’s Laughing Now” by Jessie J from 37 to 21, and “Wet” by Nicole Scherzinger from 38 to 22. Oh well.
Odd that both “Don’t Go” and “Heaven” use that same graffiti/angel wings imagery; it’s so very specific that it makes for a weird coincidence.
If you like the random name use in an inappropriate song I suggest you look up David Bowie by Phish.
I love the fact you ended the chart with Oh well. That’s the kind of blasé attitude I’ve come to expect from this blog.