50/10: Nothing new at the top

Nr.1 Story
As usual media control announces the Top 3 of upcoming German sales charts today including a surprise. For a third time in 2010 a already very successful track returns to the very top. In june it was Eurovision winning Lena who took the Nr.1 position after a six weeks break - at this time it was already the most sold track of the year. A week later competitor K'Naan climbed back to the hot spot with Championship's anthem Wavin' Flag.

This time no significant event causes the return of Nr.1 track Over The Rainbow. The Haiitian artist Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'ole benefits for sure from recently aired "Best Of The Year" TV-shows where you could listen to the track permanently. Another reason for IZ's new rise could be the shocked TV nation as the sales period covered by this list starts with 3rd of december. On 4th of December Germany's probably most popular Saturday night show Wetten dass...? had an abrupt ending when the first bidding candidate met with an accident by jumping over driving cars. It was the first time in history of the show that it was not finished and following news brought the accident as the main story. The following days newspapers and TV magazins were full with reports about the young man's destiny.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole might be a "winner" of the tragedy as his song perfectly fits to nationwide shock.

Back to statistics: It is IZ's 10th week at the top. As I mentioned two weeks before Lady Gaga was the last artist to do so. That was in 2009. Last time male artists had the hot spot for 10 weeks was in 2007 when DJ Ötzi & Nik P. occupied the nr.1 with their Ein Stern (der deinen Namen trägt) (A Star (which is called your name)) – still the track noted most weeks in the German list. The last solo male artist holding no.1 for at least ten weeks was Lou Bega in summer '99 which saw his Mambo No.5 11 weeks at the top.

The Black Eyed Peas on their march to the top
Whether Over The Rainbow can manage a further week at No.1? Well this race is still open. Best contemporary track ist The Time (Dirty Bit which climbs two places to no.2. Even this track is build around an old musical theme. (I've Had) The Time Of My Life is known from the movie Dirty Dancing released in 1987. It was the main theme of the box crashing smash never made a no.1. Now The Black Eyed Peas really have the chance of making it. In Great Britain they just had done so – in Germany it takes probably another fortnight.

For a long time The Black Eyed Peas seemed to be an U.S. act more successful in Europe than at home. This picture changed with their last album The E.N.D.. New album The beginning has yet to show its strength. With this first single it probably will match the success of its predecessor.



And finally: Best new track start comes from Katy Perry. Her Fireworks shortly misses the top 10. No.11 denies her the honour of having four top 10 hits in a row. Well - wait until next week. Usually the German Christmas business is missing strong new offers.