Despite major artists such as David Bowie and Manic Street Preachers orginally having singles scheduled for release in this week just three acts have gone for single releases this week.  Even Oasis delayed their release citing the Millenium Bug as the main culprit.  Lost sales from misread barcodes seem to be making the music business very paranoid!

The first single of the week is Lulu with her National Lottery theme tune 'Better Get Ready'.  No shortage of exposure on the BBC's 'Red Alert' show means this should make the top 40 though even Lulu's family would be hard pushed to list this in her greatest hits category.  Elsewhere Gloria Estefan has enlisted the help of boy band N-Sync to help restart her career with the tender soul song 'Music Of My Heart'.  Again this should have no problems in taking advantage of the lack of new releases to squeeze in the top thirty.  The finest single of the week, though that accolade has not been particularly well contested, has to be The Mavericks doubel a-side of 'Things I Cannot Change / Here Comes My Baby'.  It's them at their best, though I don't think it will be one of the best singles released in 2000.

Westlife remained at the top this week despite Cliff Richard continuing to sell well.  This is a strange week to predict with festive offerings due to nosedive, this weeks number one could appear from anywhere in the top ten.  Last year Steps went back up from four to number one and artists such as Artful Dodger and John Lennon may have hopes of stealing the young Irishmens crown.

So that concludes this years Chart Chat.  I hope you have enjoyed the first five editions of this weekly column!  Allow me to point out that next weeks Chart Chat will be delayed by one day in line with the chart itself which is delayed from Sunday 2nd January to Monday 3rd January.  May you all have a safe and happy Millenium!   

Ian Anderson