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Robbie Williams topped the
charts this week with an impressive 200,000 sales.
That's the biggest weekly sales by any act this
year. Logic suggests that should be enough
to keep him ahead of this weeks chasing pack,
though anything is possible these days.
Main contender is Melanie C with 'I
Turn To You'. Instantly destined to be more
popular than the Christina Aguilera song of the
same name, this is a slightly tired sounding
fourth single from the 'Northern Star' album.
The image guru's have shaped her back into
feminine mode for this single with her punk rock
hair cut that graced her 'Goin' Down' single now
a thing of the past. From the pretty
picture on the sleeve to the Ibiza'ed up remix
this smacks of commercialism rather than out and
out quality. A number two me thinks.
Also destined to be big is Bob
Sinclar with 'I Feel For You'. No relation
to the Prince / Chaka Khan track of the same name
this has come straight out of the Balaeric island
club anthems draw and is already well known to
clubbers everywhere. It's not going to win
any marks for originality but it is a fine tune
nonetheless.
I'd love to tell you to buy the
new Embrace single, but if you don't have the
album then buy that instead. For just £10
or £11 you will have one of the best albums of
the year, rather than just one of the best songs.
'Drawn From Memory' is the album which features
the original version of the new single 'I Wouldn't
Wanna Happen To You'. It's a summery
sounding acoustic based song which is going to
sound fantastic when the weather is sunny.
Let's hope the boys get the break they deserve...
Janet Jackson is also back.
It's been almost two years since her last solo
single although her Blackstreet collaboration 'Girlfriend
/ Boyfriend' and her Busta Rhymes duet 'What's It
Gonna Be?!' have both made the top twenty more
recently. It's taken from the film 'Nutty
Professor 2' so that should guarantee exposure
and her pre booked Top Of the Pops slot has given
this track an excellent chance of top ten success
on Sunday.
Mandy Moore is also back on the
scene this week with 'I Wanna Be With You'.
'Candy' made an impressive top ten debut, though
that was enough to disappoint her marketing and
management team who had expected number one glory.
This is unlikely to take her much higher but it
will keep her jostling with Jessica Simpson for
third place behind Britney and Christina.
Pretenders to the indie rock
throne Lit hit the shops with 'In Over My Head'.
'My Own Worst Enemy' was a top twenty success
last year and while this does not offer a
significant alternative to Coldplay,
Stereophonics, David Gray or any of the rock
wannabe's it's still worth more of an ear than
most of the stuff propping up the top forty at
present.
In a week short on major releases
one of the highlights is Red Hot Chilli Peppers
return to form with 'Californication'. It's
not their rockiest moment but that didn't stop 'Under
The Bridge' being one of their crowing glories.
It's been on thee album for a while so its
questionable as to how high this will go in the
Charts. Personally I would like to see it
in the top twenty where it belongs, but a top 40
entry would be satisfactory in the circumstances.
With two top forty hits under his
belt in 1998 ('Dont Die Just Yet' and 'My Mate
Paul') David Holmes returns with the excellent '69
Police'. One music magazine this week
likened the track to Primal Scream's 'Loaded' but
actually the song samples the lesser known 'Oh
Calcutta'. It's pace and feel are similar
to the Scream in parts its true, but that is no
bad thing. He has yet to crack the top
thirty, but this could well be the track to do it.
I for one hope so...
Next week promises to be one of
the more exciting weeks of the year assuming
Truesteppers featuring Victoria Beckham still go
head to head with Spiller. The Spiller
record features vocals from Theaudience lead
singer Sophie Ellis-Bexton and has been THE Ibiza
anthem of the Summer so far. The record
label has pressed 100,000 copies more of Spiller's
record leaving Victoria most upset. She has
tried to call in her 'I'm a Spice Girl' favour
but so far the record company are sticking to
their guns which will leave Posh out in the cold.
Personally I think the best record should win,
which in my opinion is Spiller by a mile.
Watch out for 'Groove Jet (If This Ain't Love)'
which is out next Monday. Full coverage
will appear in next weeks Chart Chat.
It will be very close this week
but my money remains on Robbie to make it two in
a row. If you fancy a flutter on an
outsider then Bob Sinclar may be the way to go.
See you next week for more on Spiller vs the
Truesteppers.
JHME Music Correspondent
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