Bonkers progress and movements of singles in the chart

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Prompted by a raging argument as to the correct UK chart life and trajectory of the Specials' "Stereotypes" - which I maintain went in at 31, crawled to 25, then up to 6 and then down to 21 despite some stiff opposition from fellow chart statto friends who disagree - what other instances can you recall, back in the days when singles actually went both up and down the chart, of such irregular movements ?

And what do you think were the suspected reasons ? eg: surely the dear old Specials, purveyors of corruption-free independence and integrity, must have had some kind of a helping hand that one top ten week ?

― Darren, Monday, 25 November 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

One other one to get you started ...I can remember "Happy Talk" leaping from 33 to number one in ...82? .. I guess that has never been bettered in terms of bounding to as opposed to in at number one, erstwhile imports aside.

― Darren, Monday, 25 November 2002 19:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, and of course the question's remit includes recent charts too - even in the age of a new entry at 1 every week or so.

― Darren, Monday, 25 November 2002 19:51 (twenty-three years ago)

most big hits now storm in at number one then take about 3 months to exit the top 40 - so the chart tends to consist of new entries and tracks down one to six places from their position last week. in contrast, less radio friendly tracks that still retain a degree of popularity in critics circles (lets say the recent Lemon Jelly single 'Spacewalk') enter low down and then drop about 20 places - their chart life is 2-4 weeks compared to a big hit like Shakira's 'Whenever Wherever' which was in the top 10 for 3 months alone.

i think this is as interesting as the chart gets now as i cant recall any wild fluctuations like the ones you describe happening in the top 40 recently. i do remember back in 1996 tho that after the Jacko/Jarvis debacle at the Brits, Jacko's 'Earth Song' which was still languishing in the top 75 then rocketed up about 33 place the following Sunday, hahah

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 25 November 2002 20:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

quite a shock to hear "NEW ENTRY... at FOURTEEN... ELVIS!!" and then "hound dog" kick in. i had forgotten what a tommygun sound they get from the snare drum on that song, everything surprising, dancing around the living room.. confusing, though. so then i check last week's chart and there were two OTHER elvis songs in the top 40 last week! i guess this is exactly what everyone predicted when downloads started getting factored in. anyway, i like it. it helps the charts reflect reality better: new stuff has to compete with old stuff in everyone's record collection, anyway - why not in the charts, too?

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 2 September 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.