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So Britney loses out to
Billie as the youngest female ever to score three
number ones. That at least was
reasonably easy for chart chat to forecast.
Miss Piper trounced Madison Avenue by more than 2
to 1, but as we have seen that has not always
been enough to ensure a second week at the top.
Billie makes it five number ones in as many weeks,
and its odds on that next weekend will take that
tally to six out of six...
Smart money is on the ladies and
gentlemen who comprise S Club 7. 'Reach'
was co-written by none other than Cathy Dennis
and looks set to continue their impressive run of
form which has seen them score two number two
hits and one number one. It's a catchy
lightweight number which assures the doubters
among us that summer is well and truly just round
the corner. Personally I think Rachel will
lead them to glory come Sunday evening.
Running them close will be Sonique
with single 'It Feels So Good'. Just as
Madison Avenue had peaked at number 30 before re
entering at number one, clubbers from Christmas
1998 will recognise this as a number 24 hit from
18 months ago. This time this should do
substantially better and I would expect to see
this safely inside the top five, if not the top
three. 'Put A Spell On You' is also due a
reissue and can be found again on import due to
the increase in interest generated by this single.
Those with good memories may
remember a controversy which raged at the Brit
awards a couple of years ago when top popsters
Steps were beaten to the best newcomer award by
relative unknowns Belle and Sebastian.
While some may have heard B & S's undoubted
talents at that stage they had failed to score a
Top 40 hit despite 'Lazy Line Painter Jane'
missing out by a few hundred sales at 41.
They now look set to add some top 20 single
success to their larger album following with the
receiving top playlist treatment from Radio
release of One I would expect this to
sneak into the top 'Legal Man'.
Already 15.
Just as top eighties rockers Iron
Maiden returned to their former glories with 'The
Wicker Man' it now seems it is the return of
Norway's finest A-ha to make a surprise chart
comeback. The original line up is back with
Morten Harket on lead vocals - a man who would
have once swept the board with the Smash Hits
readership. Now the appeal is more grown up,
and 'Summer Moved On' will see them back in the
top thirty, but I suspect they will need
something a little stronger if they are to dent
the top twenty.
A band destined to crash the top
ten are Bon Jovi who return to the fray with 'It's
My Life'. Aside from the odd soundtrack
single this is their first proper attempt at the
UK charts since 'Hey God' in 1996. Some
would say that all the songs sound the same,
others might say this is them at their bst.
Whatever you current opinion of the band, it is
unlikely to be changed by this particular effort,
though those with more time and money on their
hands might be better off to wait for the 'Crush'
album which is due out here very shortly.
With Southside Spinners and the
Precocious Brats already enjoying chart success
as a result of Harry Enfield's 'Kevin and Perry
Go Large' movie, Chrissy Hynde looks set to make
it three in a row with the Hybrid remix of 'Kid
2000'. Purists might prefer the original,
but this remix may see the twenty one year old
classic appeal to a whole new generation, the
majority of which were not born at the time when
the song gained its first release.
I also expect to see Sia enter the
charts this week with 'Taken For Granted' and 'Pumpin'
by Novy vs Eniac also should get a chart berth.
Baby Bird return with 'Out of Sight' which may
grace the lower end of the 40. However,
despite its musical excellence the fantastic
Asian Dub Foundation look set to miss out again
with the follow up to 'Real Great Britain'.
Entitled 'New Way New Life' its a slab of music
which contains more energy and excitement than
most of the records clogging the top 40 at
present. They are living proof (if it was
needed) that critical acclaim does not equal a
hit record.
So there you have it - the S Club
7 gang should be kings of the castle this week.
I'll be back next week when Christina Aguilera
may finally release her new song after weeks of
delays and Fat Les make the first of many
football trips into the charts with 'Jerusalem'.
They claim it is one of the most expensive
singles ever made, but is it one of the best?
Join us in seven days to see it under our
critical hammer.
JHME Music Correspondent
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