by Andrew Miller
She's done it! Yonkers-born Joanne Stefani Germanotta is the very first act to make double-digits at #1 on the Singles chart in three-and-a-half years. Poker Face gives Lady Gaga a 10th consecutive week at the summit.
The ringtone-originated Crazy Frog remake of Harold Faltermeyer's Axel F, was the last tune to post double figures. From late July 2005, the amphibian ruled for 11 weeks although not all in a row. Prior to that, Scribe's double-sided Stand Up / Not Many made 12 non-consecutive weeks in 2002.by Andrew Miller
She's done it! Yonkers-born Joanne Stefani Germanotta is the very first act to make double-digits at #1 on the Singles chart in three-and-a-half years. Poker Face gives Lady Gaga a 10th consecutive week at the summit.
The ringtone-originated Crazy Frog remake of Harold Faltermeyer's Axel F, was the last tune to post double figures. From late July 2005, the amphibian ruled for 11 weeks although not all in a row. Prior to that, Scribe's double-sided Stand Up / Not Many made 12 non-consecutive weeks in 2002.New Zealand's all-time chart-leading #1 is the West German-based Boney M's 14-week 1978 Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring marathon.
Back to 22-year-old Lady Gaga. Her debut album The Fame makes an all-time high on the Albums Chart this week, rising to #3.
Her previous hit Just Dance is at #27, making it a full half-year on the chart. The track that made #3 here has only just been released in the UK and is currently #1 there.
Ms Gaga is due here as the support act for The Pussycat Dolls at the Vector Arena very shortly.
A Fresh Comp
The very first new #1 of 2009 happens this week. On the Compilations Chart My Songs 2 follows last January's first edition to the top. And, like its predecessor, it features a batch of current and 'recurrent' radio favourites.
It's steady as she goes albums wise with Billy T James making it a five-week stay on top of the Albums list, Andre Rieu's Live In Australia the top-selling DVD of the week once more and Jason Mraz's I'm Yours the most-played song on the radio.
Mraz looks like the only serious challenger for Lady Gaga and Poker Face for the Singles Chart crown next week.
Motown 50
The Berry Gordy-founded Motown label has just turned 50. The label's original home being Detroit Michigan, Motown was the contraction of that metropolis's 'Motor City' moniker.
Here in New Zealand, releases were originally on the Tamla-Motown imprint, being an amalgamation of the company's two main labels.
The very first Motown New Zealand #1 came 40 years back in January 1969, when The Supremes hit with Love Child. There've been an even dozen chart-toppers from the label here since then, with Boyz II Men almost making it 13 (they shared billing with Mariah Carey on One Sweet Day, the track instead issued on Columbia).
Stevie Wonder and Boyz 11 Men have three penthouse dwellers apiece, making them the most-capped Motown acts here. The eight-week streak by Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You is the label's longest running #1.
Five Motown covers have made the top here. Lightning struck twice for the Smokey Robinson-penned Cruisin' - Smokey took it to #1 for four weeks in May 1981, with Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow's Duets movie remake going one better with a five-week run in January 2001.
The New Singles
#30 Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
Empire Of The Sun is new to the Singles list with Walking On A Dream, however the Aussie duo have been around for a while - Luke Steele in The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. The group name comes from the J.G. Ballard book of the same name. Walking On A Dream is also the title of their debut album which made #8 in their homeland on its release last October.
#34 Midnight Youth - The Letter
Auckland band Midnight Youth is Jeremy Redmore, Simon Oscroft, Matt Wharman, Aidan Bartlett and Nick Campbell. Together since early 2006, they've enjoyed radio support from an early stage in their careers, picking up the 2006 Rock FM Scholarship. It's been radio and TV play that's been driving the early success of The Letter. The track is currently the most-played Kiwi song on the radio, moving up to #8 on the RadioScope100. The song, along with the rest of their debut album, was recorded in New York in April-May last year.
#37 Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight
Former American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson is no stranger to the spotlight having won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the 2007 flick Dreamgirls. After further film work, including Sex And The City, a track from the Chicago-born Hudson's self-titled debut set lands at #37. Spotlight is the third of the debutant new entries this week.
You can contact Andrew at: andrewmiller@radioscope.co.nz
15/01/09