by Andrew Miller
There's a tale of two Chris's this week. One American, the other English.
The former, 19-year-old Chris Brown, equals Madonna and UB40's haul of five #1s apiece this week. After last week's 35-place vault, Forever makes another five-place jump to the summit, ensuring the track goes from worst to first in three weeks. by Andrew Miller
There's a tale of two Chris's this week. One American, the other English.
The former, 19-year-old Chris Brown, equals Madonna and UB40's haul of five #1s apiece this week. After last week's 35-place vault, Forever makes another five-place jump to the summit, ensuring the track goes from worst to first in three weeks.Over the past two years and four months, Run It!, Kiss Kiss, With You, No Air and now Forever have seen Chris Brown at #1 in New Zealand. He's cracked the five-song barrier much faster than UB40's 12 years 10 months or Madonna's 15 years 5 months, between their first and last #1s.
In fact, young Chris can be found on four of this week's Singles 40 in total.
Meanwhile, England-born, Devon-raised Chris Martin of Coldplay makes both a collaboration and group debut on the Singles Chart this week.
The Coldplay front man offers guest vocals on C4's #1 video Homecoming by Kanye West, taken from West's Graduation album, opening at #38.
Coldplay's website has run hot this past week or so due to the free download of new single Violet Hill. In New Zealand however, digital sales of Violet Hill leave it just outside the Top 40. But not to worry, advance track Viva La Vida from the forthcoming album makes it on, anchoring the list at #40.
Coldplay's album, their fourth studio effort, is due June.
Mum's The Word
Kiwi's were very good to their music-loving Mums this past Mother's Day Sunday .
And this worked out very favourably for Irish boy band Westlife. The Irish heart-throbs rocket nine places to take over the Albums Chart penthouse with Unbreakable as their New Zealand sojourn wraps in New Plymouth. Meanwhile, their Number Ones Tour DVD moves to the runners-up spot in the same list.
Not to be outdone, Dutch violinist Andre Rieu's Live In Vienna holds out the DVD #1 posse, giving him a trio of entries in that list.
And naturally, the very aptly named Mum's Favourite Songs outsells all on the Compilations Chart.
Cool May Day
Neil Diamond's Albums Chart run stretches back 33 years, one week. In fact, the very first Official NZ Albums Chart in May 1975 had three of Diamond's titles listed - Hot August Night, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Serenade.
He extends his longevity record this week as his Rick Rubin-produced Home Before Dark takes top new entry honours. It gives Neil the 'key to the door' as it's his 21st in total, four of which have been #1s.
This latest track betters the two-week #40 peak of his last studio release 12 Songs in December 2005.
The New Singles
#37 Wyclef Jean featuring Paul Simon - Fast Car
Former Fugee Wyclef Jean makes it a (kind of) solo hit, even dozen. In doing so he helps chart veteran Paul Simon back into the Singles Chart for the first time in 18 years. The highest new entry opens at a lowly #37 and shares its title with Tracey Chapman's 1988 #21 debut, Fast Car.
#38 Kanye West featuring Chris Martin - Homecoming
See story above.
#40 Coldplay - Viva La Vida
See story above.
The New Albums
#16 Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark
See story above.
#29 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
New York duo Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden used to be called The Management. Abbreviated to MGMT (and not to be confused with the Lion people), their modestly titled debut Oracular Spectacular lands at #29 first week here.
#36 Bruce Conlon - Audience Of One
"It's me coming to a point and sounds how I want to sound rather than trying to be cool", says former Eight front man Bruce Conlon about his Audience Of One solo debut. Enough Kiwis have given their seal of approval as the set is new at #36. The launch tour over, Bruce has flown the coop for his current UK base. His former band Eight's sole release Moving went gold, peaking at #16 in 2004.
#37 Steve Winwood - Nine Lives
Former member of The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic, Steve Winwood has just turned 60. Nine Lives, new at #37, gives him his first hit album of the '00s. In fact, it's been a month shy of 20 years since Roll With It reached #16. Now he has a half dozen solo hit sets in all. The biggest was 1981's #3 Arc Of A Diver.
You can contact Andrew at: andrewmiller@radioscope.co.nz
The Official New Zealand Music Chart by The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand , Compiled by Media Sauce
"The Official New Zealand Top 40 premieres Friday nights at 8pm on C4"
16/05/08