Brenda Lee breaks the record in the singles chart for the longest time to reach number one. In a week that sees 18 of the top 20 as Christmas songs, the 71 year old takes Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree from 1958 to the top. In June Kate Bush broke the record for longest time for a single to reach number one. Lee breaks that record, although she didn’t chart with it until 2018. From release to number one it’s been 64 years. It’s also a record this week for most Christmas songs on one chart - 30. Paul McCartney debuts at #25 with Wonderful Christmastime. The song came out in 1979, peaking in the UK at #6, but until this week it has never charted here. It was recorded at the same time he recorded his album McCartney II. It’s been seven years since McCartney charted a single. That one was FourFiveSeconds with Rihanna and Kanye West. Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry is new at #32. It first came out in 1958 but failed to chart on the then Lever Hit Parade. Berry reported that he wrote the song himself, but then discovered that the name Rudolph was trademarked by Johnny Marks. Marks sued and consequently was given songwriting credit although he "had nothing to do with the song." Only in America!!! The last time Berry charted was his controversial single My Ding-A-Ling which peaked at #19 in 1972 The Beach Boys round off this weeks new singles at #39 with Little Saint Nick. The 1963 single also failed to chart on the Lever Hit Parade but went to #30 in America. The idea for the song was partly inspired by record producer Phil Spector’s plans to record a Christmas album. The Beach Boys last charted with Kokomo in 1988 at #5. Pity we don't have kiwis chart Christmas songs. What about Bill And Boyd (Santa Never Made It Into Darwin) or Hauraki Good Guys (Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas). It wouldn’t be a Christmas without Mr Bublé. This week he takes Christmas back to the top of the album chart for a sixth time. Ariana Grande has the only new album entry with the Christmas Kisses EP at #30. Released in 2013, it is a collection of two covers of classic Christmas songs and two originals. Next weeks singles chart will be messy with at least 30 new or re-entries. Last edited:
...and so to the great reset. All 30 festive tracks leave the singles chart this week giving us 28 re-entries and two new songs. That's the most the chart has seen as it looks more like a Hot40 chart. Stephen Sanchez joins Em Beihold for the highest new single at #27. Until I Found You is a first for the American singer songwriter and second for Beihold who took Numb Little Bug to #31 last year. Sanchez takes the song from his Easy On My Eyes EP. Newcomer Libianca opens her account at #30 with People. She appeared on The Voice Season 21 and is a 20 year old from Minneapolis. And that's it. No new albums this week although the four re-entries replace the Christmas albums.
Five new singles this week with 37-year-old Miguel leading the pack. To date, the American singer and actor has listed two albums but this is the first time he has crossed over to the singles chart. Sure Thing (new at #8) actually came out in 2011. Last year we had 12 back catalogue singles enter the Top 40 (not counting the 30 others for Christmas). Sure Thing originally peaked at #36 in the US but is back courtesy of TikTok. American DJ Skrillex last charted in 2015. He breaks the drought with help from two Brits, Fred Again… and Flowdan, for his fifth Top 40 single. Rumble at #21 is the first single from his upcoming album. Houston based band Hotel Ugly open their account at #31 with Shut Up My Mom's Calling. So far the song has gained 53 million + streams. Brothers Mike and Chris Fiscella first started making songs during the pandemic in their parents closet. SZA continues to hold the number one spot with Kill Bill as her next single Low enters the chart at #38. This one is hit single #8. Australian Dean Lewis opened his account in 2018 with the #3 hit Be Alright. Since then, nothing - until now. Hit number two How Do I Say Goodbye? debuts at #40 and is a heartfelt song written for his father who was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Thankfully, that has now gone into remission. There are no new albums this week. Last edited:
There have been three songs in the chart called Flowers. The Emotions (1978), Lauren Spencer-Smith (2022) and now the 17th hit single for Miley Cyrus. The track debuts at #1 and is taken from her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation and includes part of the Gloria Gaynor hit I Will Survive from 1978. SZA continues to lift tracks from her album SOS and place them in the singles chart. Snooze new at #27, is the sixth. American rapper and singer Coi Leray is 25 year old Coi Collins. She opens her account with Players at #34 which heavily borrows from the Grandmaster Flash hit single The Message from 1982. It continues the trend so far this year of very short songs. Clocking in at only 2:19 it takes the average length this year to 2:46 which is the shortest average since 1967. Before we leave the singles chart, L.A.B. take Mr Reggae to 30 weeks. That's the 200th single to reach 30 since the chart began in 1975. No new albums again this week but another reaches the 300 week mark. The first self titled Six60 album was released in 2011 and this week becomes the third album to reach this milestone. It took 2271 charts for the first album to do this and that was also from Six60. Expect a few more milestones over the next few weeks. - January has been a really bad year for celebrity deaths. We have already lost Fred White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Lisa Marie Presley, Robbie Bachman, (BTO), Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters), Jeff Beck, Renée Geyer, and this past week David Crosby and our own Larry Morris. Rock in peace guys!!!
American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter makes her singles debut at #31 with Nonesense. The 23 year old made her acting debut on TV crime show Law And Order and starred in the Disney series Girl Meets World. She first appeared in our charts with emails i can't send last year which was her fifth album. 54-year-old Dutch DJ Tiësto is back with single #3 at #39. 10:35 features Tate McRae and is taken from his upcoming seventh album Drive. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Elton John and Ed Sheeran hit stages across New Zealand this week. As a result tracks and albums from their back catalogue re-enter the charts or get large rises up the ranks. Only one new album this week. American rapper Trippie Redd places his seventh hit album at #40. Mansion Muzik features the usual guest appearances across the 76 minute, 25 track disc. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? from Billie Eilish joins the list of current milestones by reaching 200 weeks. The album currently sits at #33.
Waitangi Weekend gives us two new singles and four albums. 18 year old Charlton Howard (The Kid LAROI) places his seventh hit single firmly at #17. Love Again is the lead single from the Australian's upcoming albumThe First Time, and mourns what once was a past love. Nigerian born Rema (aka Divine Ikubor) opens his account at #40 with a remix of Calm Down from last year. Released back in August, the remix includes Selena Gomez and lands at #40. Englishman Sam Smith charted his 2014 album In The Lonely Hour in the end of year chart but missed out in an entry in the weekly chart. This week, his fourth album Gloria becomes the highest new entry of the week. New at #2, it debuted at the top in the UK, Australia and Ireland and was recorded between Los Angeles, London and Jamaica. Lil Yachty is next with his fifth album. Let's Start Here. starts at #11 and is his second hit album here. The American claims the album is a non-rap album, calling it like a psychedelic alternative project. The Bootleg Series from Bob Dylan started way back in 1991. This week Vol. 17: Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 gives him a 40th album entry and places him at the top of the pile for most albums to chart here. Albanian-American Ava Max is back with her second long player. In 2020 she took Heaven & Hell to #20; now her second Diamonds And Dancefloors debuts at #36. To date the peak performance of the album is #6 in Scotland. Rumours is the latest entry to reach a milestone. Now at 300 weeks, the Fleetwood Mac album came out in 1977 and re-entered the chart in 2019 where it took up permanent residence. Single Dreams from the album is doing the same and been back in the chart since 2020.
Two new artists cover the new singles this week. 22-year old PinkPantheress was born in Bath, England to a Kenyan mother and English father. She had seven minor hit singles in the UK from the last two years but number eight peaked at #8. That song, Boy's A Liar, debuts here at #10 and is taken from her EP Take Me Home. South Korean girl group NewJeans open their account at #34 with OMG. The quintet formed last year releasing an EP in August. Very predictable album chart this week with no new entries, anything new either leaving or taking a dive and anything old going back up. The entire top 10 are number one albums and clock up a total of 1399 weeks. Ed Sheeran continues to please though. Due to concerts (and I suspect the old random high school concert) he now has three albums in the Top 10 with a fourth re-entering the chart at #34.
David Burke (aka d4vd) sounds very like a Gary Glitter ballad from the 70's with his second hit single. The American places Here With Me at #40 and to date, has most success with the song in Singapore, peaking at #7. No other singles debut this week but Ed Sheeran is at it again with two re-entries. Perfect (#27) and Shape Of You (#36) help give him four aged singles totalling 280 weeks. His album + also returns giving him five albums and 927 charting weeks. Paramore are back with a new album at #3. It's been six years since we last saw them in the chart with After Laughter. This Is Why features the same line up as the last and began it's life in 2020. Justin Bieber is the latest artist to reach 100 weeks with his album Justice. There are two albums sitting on 99 weeks , with several others bubbling under 200 weeks. Over on the NZ Albums chart, L.A.B. II reaches 200 weeks. Last edited:
Rapper Superstar Pride (not the shoe) has this weeks highest new single. Containing a sample from Faith Evans' 1996 Soon As I Get You Home (which reached #21 in the US but failed to chart here), Painting Pictures debuts at #9. Incidentally, his real name is Cadarrius Pride. Switching genre's but staying in America, Morgan Wallen gains his first hit single. The country singer songwriter took his album Dangerous: The Double Album to #27 in 2021, but now with a new album, Last Night opens at #31. The track topped the US Hot Country Songs chart. 23 year old Lizzy McAlpine opens her account at #33 with ceilings. The American first released a single in 2018 but this is her first chart entry anywhere. The track is taken from the album Five Seconds Flat which was released in April last year. Making four new singles from American is Pink with Trustfall . New at #36, it is her 34th hit single and taken from the album of the same name, which debut's at the top to become her seventh number one album. Skrillex lists his fifth album entry at #8. Quest For Fire is the first of two albums the American is releasing this month with Don't Get Too Close out the following day. Jonas Brothers list The Family Business at #38. This is actually not an album but a playlist of songs in preparation for the new one in May In 2001 Shihad changed their name to Pacifier due to their name being similar to jihad. They were trying to break into the US market at a difficult time for the country. With a new name, self titled album Pacifier topped our chart. This week, titled The Pacifier Album, that disc is back at #3, on vinyl and with a restored band name. Interesting chart fact to finish. We have never had an entry finish it's run at 99, 199 or 299 weeks. Until now. Ed Sheeran has two albums drop off the chart with + finishing at 198 weeks and No. 6 Collaborations Project at 99. Eminem is spared the disappointment taking The Eminem Show to 100 weeks. Teeks also makes 100 weeks with Something To Feel on the NZ Album chart. Last edited:
The Weeknd has this weeks lead new single with a remix of Die For You from his 2016 album Starboy. Ariana Grande recorded the song whilst she was filming a film version of the musical Wicked. This is the fourth time the pair have worked together. Die For You is new at #4. Australian drill and rap group Onefour are next with Comma's at #30. It's the first single for the quintet, but they have had nine minor hits across the ditch. Their EP Against The Odds from 2020 peaked here at #8 on the album chart. Niall Horan is back with hit single #3. New at #34, Heaven is the lead single from his new album The Show. The song is about the pressure people have to hit milestones by a certain age. ARIZONATEARS and Lil Uzi Vert show how to have a hit using only one note at #38. Watch This (Pluggnb Remix) originally from Mr Vert came out a year ago with the remix 32 seconds shorter. It still took four people to write. It's taken 22 years since they first came on the scene but virtual band Gorillaz finally have a number one. Cracker Island is their eighth album which began it's life in 2021. It also debuted at the top in England. Adam Lambert is back after eight years with High Drama at #16. His last, Velvet from 2020, failed to chart here and only managed a #89 peak in his homeland. Yeat last charted with EP Lyfë last year, now the American rapper has AftërLyfe. New at #17, this is his third album but second entry here. Staying with American rap, Don Toliver lists his third NZ hit at #28. Love Sick marks the lowest he has peaked in the chart, unless the album rises. $uicideboy$ and Shakewell combine for EP Shameless $uicide at #39, and American singer songwriter Gracie Abrams lists Good Riddance at #40. - This week, Don't Forget Your Roots from Six60 becomes the latest entry to reach a milestone. First charting in 2011, their second single reaches 300 weeks on the NZ Singles Chart.
No new singles this, week but Harrrymania hits the chart after his Auckland concert on Tuesday. Six of Harry Styles back catalogue singles re-enter the top 40. Those songs are: Late Night Talking, Watermelon Sugar, Satelite, Matilda, Music For A Sushi Restaurant and Adore you. His first self-titled album from 2017 also re-enters whilst his latest, Harry's House re-enters the top spot. If it wasn't for Harry, Morgan Wallen may have had the number one. His new album One Thing At A Time opens it's account at #2 whilst lead single Last Night makes a big move to #8. His Dangerous album also re-enters. The new album is a big one sporting 36 tracks over 111 minutes. He may well get to number one next week after his concert here on Wednesday. Ruel is next at #10 with 4th Wall. This is the British-Australian singers third album entry but first album with the other entries being EP's. It's also the highest the 20-year-old has been in the chart. The Veils are back for a fifth time with And Out Of The Void Came Love at #13. It's been seven years since their last album and, according to singer Finn Andrews, intended to be listened to in two sittings with a short break in the middle. British rapper slowthai rounds off this weeks newbies with Ugly at #30.
This years new singles have been very short. Of the 29 new entries, 18 of them have been under 3 minutes and only one over 3, giving us an average length of 2:58. You have to go back to 1968 to find the average length lower. This weeks only new single clocks in at 2:43. River is the follow up single to Miley Cyrus' #1 Flowers which currently sits at #2. New at #30, it's her 18th hit single and comes from her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation, which tops the chart this week on entry to become her second number one album. It began as a much sadder song but evolved into more of a dance number. English post-punk duo Sleaford Mods have the other new album. Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn formed in Nottingham, England back in 2007. UK GRIM, new at #28, is actually their twefth studio album but first to chart here. To date it's also their biggest in their homeland with a #3 peak. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance reached the top for 2 weeks in 2006 and was one of the biggest albums that year. This week it returns to the chart at #37. 3 Feet High And Rising by De La Soul reached #28 back in 1989 and is also back, both albums due to their release on vinyl. Last month we saw the death of David Jolicoeur on 12 February from De La Soul so maybe this re-issue is very poignant. Lewis Capaldi makes it to 200 weeks with Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent and is the latest to enjoy chart milestones. - I had a look at nationalities in the singles chart and my estimate was correct - we are very heavily influenced by Americans. Over half the chart belongs to the US of A with England in second place. Here's that list (NOTE - a duet counts for .5 each artist): America (23.5) England (8) New Zealand (3) Australia (1.5) Canada (1) Germany (1) Netherlands (1) Nigeria (0.5) France (0.5) Last edited:
Taylor Swift has the lead new single this week with All The Girls You've Loved Before at #13. The song is a previously unreleased song from her seventh studio album Lover which was released in 2019. It's her 63rd hit single. South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty open their account at #29 with Cupid. Formed last year, the quartet get their name from "50 ideal vs 50 reality" meaning 50% chance of reality and 50% dream. Morgan Wallen follows on the success of his debut single with a second at #37. You Proof is about drinking away the memory of a previous lover and released to honour his 29th birthday. His album One Thing At A Time makes it to #1, one week after I predicted. Irishman Hozier has been absent from the chart since 2015. He is known for his #2 hit Take Me To Church. Now he's back with Eat Your Young at #38 which is taken from the new EP with the same name. Auckland psychedelic rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra have the first of two new albums. V (new at #7) gives them a new high tide mark of all five charting albums. Whilst the album wasn't announced until last month, there have been several songs leaked back as far as June 2021. U2 are no strangers to the charts. Songs Of Surrender is an album of re-recorded songs over four discs; one for each member of the band; giving 40 tracks over 165 minutes. It's their 19th album since 1981's Boy, and debuts at #8. - Last week we had a look at nationalities in the singles; this week it's the album chart.(NOTE - a duet counts for .5 each artist): America (21) England (8.5) New Zealand (5) Canada (2.5) Scotland (1) Trinidad (1) Ireland (1)
Give it another month and we will see a new Ed Sheeran album. - is an album, he says, he has been putting off for too long. The lead single from that album debuts this week at #11. Eyes Closed is his 47th hit single and apparently a tribute to his former music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards who died last year from a drug overdose. Jimin has the other new single. Born Park Ji-min, he is more known as a member of South Korean boyband BTS. Now solo, his debut single Like Crazy at #36 comes from his debut EP Face which enters the chart at #8. The ninth album from Lana Del Rey is this weeks highest new entry. Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd debuts at the top to become her second number one. The length of the album is longer than the title with over 77 minutes over the 16 tracks. Luke Combs comes in just behind at #2 with Getting' Old. It's the American country singers first album to chart here despite it being his fourth. It's been five years since Fall Out Boy charted but now album number 8 is here. New at #9, So Much (For) Stardust reunited the band with producer Neal Avron who worked with them back in 2008. Daisy Jones & The Six is a mini series based on the novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid. The album that showcases the music is Aurora which enters the chart at #27. American rapper JPEDMAFIA (aka Barrington Hendricks) and rapper Danny Brown join forces for Scaring The Hoes at #32; and the 12th album from Brit's Depeche Mode is new at #38. Memento Mori is only 50 minutes long but a CD or Record purchase of the album is gonna cost you an arm and a leg. It's been 11 years since Dark Side Of The Moon from Pink Floyd charted here but it's back thanks to a 50th anniversary edition. In the states its now 976 weeks old and was the longest charting album here for most of it's life. Now at 298 weeks it sits at #5 on the longevity list. - New entry numbers are well down on the first quarter compared to last year and kiwi's are once again failing to chart. Here's those figues with last year in brackets: SINGLES TOP 40: 33 (34) NZ SINGLES TOP 20: 4 (7) ALBUMS TOP 40: 24 (34) NZ ALBUMS TOP 20: 9 (19) There were no new kiwi singles entering the Top 40 in the first quarter compared to two last year. In the albums Top 40 there were two new kiwi albums compared to 8 last year. Last edited:
The sixth hit single for rapper Tyler, The Creator is one of three new entry singles in the Easter chart. The track is taken from the Estate Sale version of his Call Me If You Get Lost album from two years ago. Dogtooth is new at #35. Luke Combs is next with Fast Car at #39. Tracy Chapman originally released the song in 1988 peaking at 21. Wyclef Jean roped in Paul Simon in 2008 for a remake peaking at #29. Jonas Blue also had a go in 2016, being the most successful version with a #2 peak. This version appears on Combs' new album Gettin Old. JISOO (born Kim Ji-soo) is the third South Korean in three weeks to debut with a single. The 28-year-old is a member of girl group Blackpink. Flower debuts at #40. American singer songwriter Melanie Martinez has her first taste at the penthouse suite by debuting her third album Portals at the top. The New Yorker first charted here in 2015 but her second K-12 from 2019 took her to #8. American indie supergroup boygenius also have a high entry. Formed in 2018, the record is their first long player following two unsuccessul EP's. The trio has received rave reviews for the album in the press.
The chart continues to evict new entries whilst holding onto old hits. This week we have five singles over 80 weeks old; one of them a re-entry for Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi from 2019. Drake has the highest new entry single with Search & Rescue at #11. He uses his usual loops to sample a dialogue about the divorce of Kanye West. Labrinth is next with Never Felt So Alone. New at #24, the track comes from his upcoming album Ends & Begins, due 28 April. Newcomer Bakar from London, England, opens his account with Hell N Back. The #38 entry was actually released in 2019, peaking at #35 in the UK. Russ lists Nasty at #39 with the shortest song to hit the chart this year. The one note drones on for 1:56. Last week the Top 2 albums were new entries. This week they both take a dive to #18 and #28 as NF takes the crown. Hope is the American rappers fifth long player and, of his three NZ hit albums, his first number one. Canadian Daniel Caesar has the other new album. Never Enough is the third album from the R&B singer and was released two days after his 28th birthday. It debuts at #15. Pink Floyd finally make it to 300 weeks this week with Dark Side Of The Moon. They were sitting on 297 for 11 years. That's now five albums 300 weeks or more since the chart began. Linkin Park get the vinyl 20th Anniversary treatment for Meteora causing a #6 re-entry. The 2003 album peaked at the top for three weeks on entry.
For some time now the weekly Top 40 has been a victim of the digital age. Singles and albums chart well past their use by date causing new entries to suffer. This week that all changes. Now albums and singles more than 18 months old move to a new set of Catalogue Charts. Six long running singles totalling 601 weeks leave as the chart resets. Chicago raised David Kushner is back with his biggest single to date. Miserable Man peaked at #11 last year; now Daylight enjoys a #5 debut. Post Malone adds a new single at #15. Upcoming compilation The Diamond Collection hosts new single Chemical as it's lead single. Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj combine for Princess Diana at #32. It appears on Ice Spices' debut EP Like..? which is new at #33 on the Album Chart. Lewis Capaldi lists his fifth hit single at #34. Wish You The Best is the fourth single from his upcoming second studio album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent. Over on the album chart we have 18 re-entries and three newbies replacing 17 long running albums totalling 3184 weeks. There are a few older albums still in the Top 40 but under new chart rules, these re-issued discs can re-chart up to 10 weeks Metallica open at the top with 72 Seasons. Their eleventh album is a generous 12 track, 77 minutes of metal and seventh number one in a row. Sydneys 046 Collective open their account with Rhythm & Gutta at #23. The hip hop quartet consist of two Brothers Kymza Ronza, cousin ET and best mate Jizza.
American David Kushner gains the charts 746th number one single after a #5 debut last week. To date only Netherlands has given Daylight the number one treatment, however there are several other charts where he is currently sitting at #2. The Weeknd has one of two new singles. His 26th hit single Double Fantasy, new at #11, is named after John Lennon and Yoko Ono's album of the same name and taken from the upcoming television series The Idol. Tyler, The Creator places See You Again at #22. The track was actually released in 2017 and taken from his album Flower Boy. Huge week in the album chart with 8 new entries, partly due to Record Store Day. South Korean rapper Agust D last charted here for one week at #10 in 2020. This week the 30 year old improves his high tide mark with D-Day at #7. Dutch DJ Tiësto also make an improvement. His 2014 album A Town Called Paradise was his only other charting album until now, peaking at #39. New at #9, Drive is the 54 year olds seventh long player. Lower down the chart, Taylor Swift presents Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. New at #24 and released in 2020, it is a limited edition, over two hour live album. It's been 25 years since English duo Everything But The Girl charted. Now their first album in 24 years debuts at #27. Fuse is Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt's ninth hit album. Maoli are Country-Reggae Group from Hawaii. Their debut album Maoli Music Overload is new at #29 South Korea has been responsible for alot of our new music in the past month. The second this week is boy band Seventeen . EP FML at #35 is a small part of their catalogue which covers four albums and 13 EP's. Dr Dre charted his second and third album but never his first. A 30th Anniversary Edition of The Chronic from 1992 finally enters the chart at #39. Pearl Jam gives us the final new album at #40. Give Way: Live was recorded in Melbourne in 1998 and is their 19th charter. Due to new chart rules announced last week, The Essential Foo Fighters re-enters the chart after one week in the new catalogue chart. Under the new rules, an entries chart histort of peak and weeks gets added to the tally. That makes this disc 26 weeks old, not 25.
After just one week, David Kushner gives up his crown for South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty. Cupid is the first South Korean number one single since PSY gave us Gangnam Style in 2012. That song stayed at the top for a total of six weeks. Rapper Icandy has been stirring up a storm with her latest offensive single. Keep Dat Ni**a, is new at #36. American Kali Uchis has the second new single. New at #38, Moonlight is the 28 year old's second hit after the #35 peak of telepatia from 2021. Moonlight comes from her new album Red Moon in Venus. Metro Boomin and Future list Too Many Nights at #39. This one is the latest single from Metro's album Heroes & Villains. Multi-instrumentalist Moses Mackay comes from Auckland of Samoan decent and is an actor, musician, baritone, and media personality. His debut album Grace flies to the top of this weeks chart. You may recognise him as one third of Sol3 Mio. Between touring and song writing, Moses was a breakfast radio host on FLAVA and was The Bachelor 2021 for TVNZ. The National last charted here in 2019. First Two Pages Of Frankenstein is their ninth studio album, which debuts at #4, and comes after writer Matt Berninger had a writing block. Album number 3 from Jack Harlow calls in at #8. Jackman. is titled after the rappers first name. Album #4 from Aucklanders Tiny Ruins debuts at #9. Ceremony is the highest they have been in the chart since they first appeared in 2011. I started off in South Korea, lets finish there. LE SSERAFIM is the latest SK act to appear in our charts. Unforgiven, new at @28, is the first album from the five-piece girl group. The group's name, Le Sserafim, is an anagram of the phrase "I'm Fearless". Next week - Ed Sheeran!!!
As predicted last week, this week it's all about Ed Sheeran. Now age 32, the Englishman places his sixth number one album in a row into our charts. That places him fourth equal with Pink. Above him is Eminem (8), Taylor Swift (9) and U2 (13). He also lists three new singles taking his total to 49 with Boat (#23), Curtains (#25), and Salt Water (#36). Staying with singles, Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon (aka Doechii) opens her account at #32 with What It Is. The 24 year-old American rapper first came on the scene in 2016 but this is her first mainstream hit. The current UK number one is our final new single. Debuting at #37, Miracle from Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding is the third time the pair have come together. Four other new albums enter the chart. Post Malone first came on the scene in 2016. Since then he has 21 hit singles so it must be time for a compilation. The Diamond Collection is just that disc, debuting at #4. This album, though, is only a disapointing nine tracks over 32 minutes. Christchurch band Playthings were only together from 1981 - 1982 but they did manage a double sided single in 1981. Coloured / Sit Down (Stand Up) peaked at #41 for Jay Clarkson, Dave Toland, Nicky Carter and Janine Saundercock. On May 6 the post-punk rockers had a reunion to celebrate the release of a self-titled 6 track 12” 45rpm EP on green vinyl, which debuts at #11 Fred Again.. and Brian Eno join forces for Secret Life at #26. It's Fred's second hit album but Eno's 8th. Eno was renowned for his ambient albums in the 70's/80's and was a member of Roxy Music. He also worked with a multitude of artists including Genesis and David Bowie. Finally, Lord Echo gives us Rarities 2010 - 2020: Japanese Tour Singles at #40. It's the kiwi multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and DJ's first visit to our charts.
Chart #2400 gives us five new singles and a new record. Only two of the five singles manage to run over three minutes. That gives us the shortest song average since 1968. Durk Banks (aka Lil Durk) has the highest with All My Life at #11. Clocking in at 3:43, it's the lonest of the new entries and comes from his upcoming eighth studio album Almost Healed. Sticking with the common American rap name Lil is Lil Mabu at #23. Born Matthew DeLuca in New York, Mathematical Disrespect at #23 is his first NZ hit. It's only 1:28 long. American rapper Kali has the third at #29. Area Codes is Kaliya Ross' first hit. Running at 2:19, the song is popular on TikTok. Billie Eilish is new with record breaking hotline (edit) at #33. The song runs for exactly one minute and becomes the shortest song to hit the chart. Before this that honour belonged to Hanz Zimmer with Spider Pig from 2007 which ran for 1:04. Hotline Bling was a #14 hit for Drake in 2015. Eilish covered the track as B side to Party Favour on a pink 7" single for Record Store Day in 2018. This is an edited version of that song. Ed Sheeran has the fifth new single with Life Goes On at #36. It's the fifth single from his new album - and runs for 3:30. Nicolaas Douwma (aka Sub Focus) lists his second album at #8. Evolve is actually the 41 year old's fourth long player. His last was Portals which peaked at #26 in 2020. Jonas Brothers gave us Family Business in February; now they give us a second for 2023. The Album is their sixth overall. Lovejoy is next with EP Wake Up & It's Over. New at #25, it follows from 2021's Pebble Brain and second EP this year: From Studio 4 from last month so far failing to chart. Fred Again.. rounds off this weeks newbies with USB at #35. This one came about as the artist randomly gave a fan a USB after a concert. That USB contained 30 edits and was uploaded so other fans could enjoy. The fourth album from Daft Punk enjoys it's 10th Anniversary Edition with a #11 re-entry to the chart. Random Access Memories from 2013 album peaked at the top for two weeks.
Lana Del Rey leads the bunch of newbies with Say Yes To Heaven at #10. The track is an outtake from sessions for her third studio album, Ultraviolence from 2014 which has gone viral on TikTok. Beyoncé has an interesting new single at #25. America Has A Problem comes from her album Renaissance and lyrically has nothing to do with the problem in America. Instead, it is all about drugs. Post Malone is next with Mourning. New at #31, the track follows Chemicals into the Top 40 with both tracks appearing on his new album Austin. American rapper Toosii opens his account at #39 with Favorite Song. Born Nau'Jour Grainger, this is his 23rd single from 2018 but first to chart anywhere. Lewis Capaldi moves into the penthouse on entry with Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent. It's been four years since his last album, but the wait gives the Scot his first number one. KAYTRAMINÉ is new at #9. The self titled album comes from duo American rapper Aminé (who charted here in 2020) and Haitian-Canadian record producer Kaytranada. British metallers Sleep Token debut here with third album Take Me Back To Eden. New at #12, the album serves as the final part of a trilogy which began in 2019. Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 is next at #14. It's the first in the series to miss out in a top 10 position should it fail to go higher. Kiwis Blindfolded And Led To The Woods formed in 2010 from the dissolving band Sacrament. The Christchurch bands' first album Rejecting Obliteration is new at #32. Shubhneet Singh (aka Shubh) is another rapper but this one comes from India. Still Rollin', new at #40, is his debut album. Goodbye And Good Riddance enjoys the 5th Anniversary Edition for Juice WRLD and a #23 re-entry, whilst legendary album Space Waltz from Alastair Riddell finally enjoys being Remastered. It peaked at #15 in 1975 but this week re-enters the 40 at #13 - We lost a legend of four decades of rock n roll this week. Tina Turner passed away, age 83. In her prime she charted 22 singles (one with Ike) between 1973 and 1997 with over 175 weeks; and 9 albums across 256 weeks. She will be sadly missed. Her compilation Simply The Best re-enters the chart at #29 with a couple of singles in the Catalogue Chart.
Taylor Swift has the most success with new entries in this weeks singles chart. Her album Midnight returns to the top with the Lavender Edition and three extra tracks. Hits Different, lifted from that version, enters the singles list at #14 extending her lead for most singles charted to 63. Karma returns to the chart at #9 as well as a 3:50 extended (is that really extended?) Snow On The Beach at #12. Dance The Night is new at #28 for Dua Lipa and completes this weeks new singles. The track comes from the new Barbie movie about dancing throughout the night despite enduring sadness. American rapper Lil Durk has the highest new album at #13. Almost Healed is his 8th long player and has 36 producers, 40 writers and 9 collaborations. Matchbox Twenty last charted way back in 2012. Where The Light Goes, new at #26, is their first album since then. They came to a conclusion in 2020 they had no desire to record a new album but with a tour cancelled due to Covid, decided to go back in the studio. d4dv lists his debut album Petals To Thorns at #27. It follows his #21 hit Romantic Homicide into the chart. The soundtrack to The Little Mermaid with tracks by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken makes its debut at #34. The movie is an American fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall. Kiwi compilation Proud makes its album debut at #38. Originally released on CD and cassette in 1994, and briefly available again in 2000, Proud has been unavailable in its physical form for the past 23 years. It topped the compilation chart for 4 weeks in 1994 but with that charts demise, makes its debut on the album chart. It is now available as a double LP set on red and yellow vinyl. Finally, Tina Turner’s compile All The Best from 2004 continues her legacy with a #3 re-entry. That gives it a new peak, ten notches up from its last chart run
