24th of January 2014: Lazy Week

It is still holidays time in Germany–according to the music business going on. Only five new singles and six re-entries find the way to the list. It is so far the least turnover of the list of the whole month. So the top end looks calm also: The Top 5 is the same as we had last week.

Still Germany is Happy with Pharrell Williams occupying the top position of the singles’ charts. So the artists had all his Nr.1 tracks standing there for at least two weeks, which makes him the most enduring Nr.1 artist in this millenium right behind queen Rihanna.


One week before its release as a full CD single and two weeks before the album release Kids (2 Finger an Kopf) by MARTERIA shows some power. The song first appearing inside the charts one months ago at number 7 returns into the Top 10 at number 9 this week.

In its sixth chart week also the new single from BASTILLE Of The Night catches finally fire. The mashup cover version rises 26–13 giving the band a third Top 20 hit in a row. The official release of the CD single is scheduled for February 4th.

Further on the way up Revolverheld's Ich lass für dich das Licht an stops at number 14 this week. The song looks like it will at least match the so far most successful single of the band Helden 2008 which peaked at number 2 about six years ago.

One of the most influencing hit maker still is youtube. And a still increasing group of artists is the one of comedy couples or trios which also recording songs the so called Generation Youtube. After their first appearance back in September ApeCrime storms the list as the highest new entry this current week with Swing dein Ding. The song lands at number 17 – so far most of that kind of songs disappeared after two weeks latest. Only Y-Titty managed having longer standing hits. The mainstream breakthrough for that generation still did not happen.

By charting at number 20 in its first week Shakira gets her first Top 20 hit since four years with Can't Remember To Forget You. Accompanying Rihanna of course is a star of a very different kind. Her last Top 10 hit still sits pretty at number 11 in the face of The Monster. The new single is her 33rd chart entry in 10 years.


Talking 'bout sleepy music business at the beginning of this post also means: There are well known tracks and artists invading the charts. One of the more significant is the return of 90s star Dr. Alban. A remix of his Europe-wide number 1 hit It's My Life is back in a 2014 remix by The Bodybangers at number 32. 16 years after the singing dentist had its last chart appearance in Germany he is back to the Top 40.

And another band celebrates its chart comeback. First time seen here in 2005 medieval project Schandmaul launches a second chart hit with Euch zum Geleit at number 85. It's a funeral song which brings the band back to mainstream commercial live.

17th of January 2014: Happy goes No.1

The new year’s laziness is gone: Germany has got a new No.1. And what kind of. Like in half of the world Pharrell Williams’ Happy goes to the Top here also. Within eight months Pharrell is listed at the very top for the third time. Such a feat was last seen in 2009/10 when Lady Gaga had three Nr.1 hits within seven months. These three Top hits charted consecutively – so he follows directly the series of hits launched by German Tokio Hotel in 2006/07.

Reaching the Top by climbing 8 places sounds quite spectacular. The books will tell you that only one year and three months ago another song did so. It was famous Gangnam Style by Korean PSY. That track surprisingly had a mere three-weeks-career at the Top although the time span strains over three complete months.

At number 3 Ed Sheeran comes in with his song for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’s end title. Five million people watched the movie in Germany alone – no surprise I See Fire also becomes a hit.


The brilliant Of the Night re-recorded by BASTILLE slowly takes fire and goes 52–26 which gives the band its third Top40 hit within 9 months. The song ultimately is one of the better words spoken in the 90s revival. Probably that period will finally fade away.

Gangster Rap–especially coming from Germany–still has a market here. Next generations star Farid Bang starts his new single Bitte Spitte Toi Bang at number 32 as the highest new entry. It is the second highest entry for him since he appeared first in the list around two years ago. Though none of his tracks spent more than two weeks inside the charts. So it is still a narrow scenery that adores him.

The US-American version of a young rap hope is Kid Ink. Right now he gots some more attention in Germany too. His album My Own Lane enters the album list right at number 12 in its first week. So three different tracks sneak in the list right now the highest stopping at number 36 in the face of Show Me–the absolut peak for the young artist in Germany. MTV featured him on its Push serial at the very beginning of the year. Well-this guy must be taken as an upcoming record star for sure.


German Revolverheld heavily promotes its new single Ich lass für dich das Licht an by launching a Story of the video clip. It's about the proposal of one of the band members to his long year girlfriend. The very romantic story touches a lot of people, so the song already jumps 90–38 without having the video released (13th of January) and a month before the new single mixes are released.

Romance is a big topic under Germany's youth. Sido's last album is full with lyrics of its kind. One of the most obvious is Liebe which reaches number 43 this week which is the best result for that track so far.


Featured by the 30th anniversary of TV channel RTL British singer Rebecca Ferguson whitnesses the hiatus of her career in Germany so far by Light On landing at number 40. It isn't the real breakthrough for sure.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis already have their fourth hit entering the upper half of the German charts. White Walls climbs to number 41 in its second chart week.


At the lower end of the charts first signs of upcoming Après Ski season are significant. The official start has taken place on prime time TV at Sat.1 on Januar 7th with a big show. One of the hits of the season for sure is Rock Mi by Bavarian voXXclub. The song actually rises 82–62 in its 12th chart week. It already reached number 44 back in October.


This current week is the third consecutive week that BEYONCÉ can enter with a new track. This time it is XO that lands at number 83. All three tracks sneaked around that area and disappeared after a single week. Real hits look different I guess.

27-12: Linkin Park Superstars

Now it is the most successful song by Die Toten Hosen. Tage wie diese holds a fifth week firm at the Top of the German singles charts. Counting 14 weeks inside the Top 10 the song needs eight more weeks to eclipse the result of the second best performing song so far Zehn kleine Jägermeister.

Holding a fifth week at the top position Die Toten Hosen are the first German act doing so since Lena’s Satellite had a continous five weeks run at the top in spring 2010. After winning the Eurovision song contest in May that year she stormed back to number 1 adding a sixth week to her account.

The story of the week is connected with number 2 act Linkin Park. Their album Living Things storms to number 1 in the very first week on sale. It probably supports the figures for current single Burn It Down and also lifts the opener song Lost In The Echo into the list as an album cut. The song is scheduled for being the next single in Britain end of June. In Germany the label did not report a release as a single. By entering the list at number 68 it is far and away the most loved song of the album.

Also song number 2 on the album In My Remains can made it in the singles list as an standalone track. It is listed at number 83 and Germany is the one and only country where that tracks gains that much attention. It is mentioned only in the UK rock charts also–ranking at number 10.

Having a very successfull new album in shelves always raises some interest in older single hits. In the case of Linkin Park it is Numb which seems the most signature song of the band. Released in 2003 it reached number 19 in Germany–as the third single taken from the Meteora album a quite impressive result. A year later the track became much wider popular by being mashuped with JAY-Z’s Encor. The mix reached in Germany number 4 giving the band a first Top 10 single hit in Germany.

The last Top 10 hit of the band–2009 New Divide–shapes as the second best loved classic directly followed by What I’ve Done, the third so far Top 10 hit of the band. Finally also one of the very first hits of Linkin Park–In The End–appears newly in the list. With this the band does have seven different songs inside the sales list. It is now the act with the best result for 2012 matching the feat last made by David Guetta in autumn last year when his album Nothing But The Beat lunched nine different tracks inside the charts.


Upcoming summer hits
Number 1 in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland Gusttavo Lima is more and more becoming a star in Germany too. Balada (Tchê tcherere tchê tchê) rises 23–14 and now sits for the first time pretty inside the Top 20. Will we watch the song soon going Top 10 status becoming a real succeeder of Nooossaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego?

Already Top 10 in Switzerland Timati & La La Land Feat. Timbaland & Grooya now also storm the German charts. Not All About The Money takes a 90–29 leap making the song the second biggest hit for the Russian rap star. Predecessor Welcome To St. Tropez had a 21 weeks long rise to his peak at number 3 in summer last year. May the new song follow that feat?



Rising also and probably one of the minor hits this summer is ¡Bienvenido! by Hannover based band Marquess. By rising 61–42 the song is the first appearance of the band in the upper half of the charts since three years.



German dance project cascada comes with a new offering for the summer. Rhythm Of the Night is heavily serving the 90ies revival. The track was a hit in 1994 for Italian project Corona reaching number 8 in Germany. Cascada transfers the song into the new century–rave signals a la DJ Antoine spin around the well known tune. As one of the few people who did not like the original I find the new version much straighter. Nathalie Horler does have a soulfree voice which completely fits to that synthetic dance sound. Number 35 in the release week makes the track one of the very medium cascada hits.



the original:


Scheduled for a mid-August release on CD the next single for gossip can reach the list after a video is released. Move In The Right Direction sneaks in at number 79 while some first remixes are available for free.


Last story: a very strange track appears at number 89. Officially there is Endless Summer EM Fussball-Hits 2012 listed–credited to Endless Summer. But there is no such act existing. A compilation of 11 soccer related tracks is available under the name which should not be eligible for listed inside the singles charts. So–there is a little mystery left about this rank. I just asked the compiling institute media control and let you know soon if they give me an answer.

Flash 11-14: No news at all

Nothing so boring like a non changing top of the chart. Bruno Mars sits still at the top spot with his grenade. It is the sixth week having that track the most sold one in Germany. With Lady Gaga still occupying No.2 we have a fifth week with grenade and Born This Way holding firm at 1 & 2. Seeing Sunrise Avenue and their hollywood hills climbing back to No.3 the trio is complete like two and three weeks ago when all the tracks were the most sold in Germany already – actually in a different order.

Not only the very top appears almost static. Even further down the list the big change does not take place.
Best new track comes with the new release of Snoop Dogg. His Sweat remixed by French DJ David Guetta lands on digital sales at No.19. The rapper last heard in a guest role on Katy Perry’s California Gurls is back as a solo/main artist in the German Top 20 after a three years break. His last single Sensual Seduction rose to No.15. The French DJ accompanying him brings a sixth track in the charts of this year. He continues his series of Top 20 hits which now takes almost two years – only interrupted by the No39-track Louder Than Words charting back in August last year .

The track Sweat itself is built around the hook line of Don’t You Want Me – a No.2 dance track for British producer Francis Wright known as Felix. Once again the good old 90s Eurodance sound is the base for a recent chart hit of an US star. Take it for sure the track will jump next week the list when the complete CD release sales take into account.
Bizarrely the track is released as a single in Europe only. The US sees the T-Pain collaboration Boom rising as the first take from the upcoming album Doggumentary.


The original hookline from 1992 done by Felix

The best CD start comes by Take That which sees their new single Kidz entering the list at 20. It is the first time ever that a release has bigger success in Germany than in their home country the UK.

11-06: short flash – European connections

A second week at the top of the German singles list for Adele. Rolling In The Deep still is the most sold track in Germany like in several other mid-european countries. Lucky Adele – her album 21 slides down to no.2 in the album list but holds a proper top place within the new monthly independent charts.

It seems to be given, that Adele will leave the top spot as Bruno Mars is rising continously sitting at no.2 on download only sales. The physical release is in shops right now so we will see grenade at the top of the German singles list for sure.

Best new entry (but not the best single start ... I will talk bout this later this week) comes from American Flo Rida. Turn Around (54321) is the second single taken from his album Only One Flo (Part 1). Both single and album completely failed in the U.S. and in the UK. No.15 in the first week of its release is not that bad at all. Seems that Flo Rida got a broad fan base in Germany.
Turn Around (54321) is build around a sample by Swiss electronic duo Yello. The original Oh Yeah charted in Germany end of 1987 reaching no.47. Funny trivia – the track never charted in their home country Switzerland nor in Austria but it is the one and only track ever listed in the Hot 100 Billboard charts reaching no.51. The track was used in several movies and games especially as theme for Duffman of The Simpsons. No wonder Flo Rida chose this track for his new offering.

Also the second highest new entry has a European connection. The come back single of Swedish Roxette She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) is the first offering since One Wish was crowding the list in late 2006. As one of the super acts of the early 90s Roxette boast their 33rd track into the charts now. In addition no.18 for their new single is the highest rank since Sleeping In My Car rised to no.11 in 1994. Welcome back to the upper regions! And again: Germany likes well known acts, remember last year’s come backs of A-ha, Alphaville or even Kim Wilde. Plus … the 90s are back .... mpf!

18. September 09: Shakira vs. Madonna

Das war’s also, das große Duell zum Septemberanfang. Und gewonnen hat ... Tusch und Fanfare … Shakira. Mit She Wolf hängt sie ziemlich deutlich Konkurrentin Madonna ab. Da können wir jetzt philosophieren: hängt es am deutlicheren Video? Verkauft sich Shakira als Sexobjekt besser? Ich mein, der Text ist ja recht eindeutig. Shakiras Inszenierung auch. Da hilft es auch nicht, wenn die Künstlerin selber vor allem davon spricht, dass sie sich mit diesem Song wesentlich emanzipierter fühlt. Frauen als wilde Tiere, die man(n) nur mit Vorsicht rauslassen sollte … Hmmm, ich finde, das ist nicht wahnsinnig feministisch. Aber gut, das will Shakira ja sicher auch gar nicht sein. Madonna ist da schon von anderem Kaliber. … Gründe für das vorliegende Ergebnis gibt es sicher genug. Vielleicht ist es auch der Titel selber. Ich hatte zuerst die Begegnung mit dem Moto Blanco Mix, der arg daneben ging weil er nur auf 70er Jahre Mittelmaß-Gedudel macht. Erst später hab ich die Radioversion gehört und festgestellt, dass die zurückgenommene Instrumentierung gar nicht so schlecht ist. Da funktioniert dann sogar die Gitarre, die ein bisschen an richtige 70er-Jahre-Rockbands erinnert. Und gegen einen Streicher-Wisch hab ich auch nichts. Wirklich toll ist allerdings vor allem die spanische Variante unter dem Titel Loba. Und vielleicht noch ein wenig Gossip: She Wolf ist in den USA die Werbetrailermusik für die neue Staffel von Desperate Housewives … dann sollte es also auch in Amerika noch ordentlich zur Sache gehen.

Mit She Wolf kündigt Shakira ihr kommendes Album an, welches den gleichen Namen trägt. Es soll am 9. Oktober erscheinen und bis dahin werde wir die Single wohl noch einige male hören. Epic records – Shakiras Label in Amerika – verkündete allerdings bereits, dass Did It Again die nächste Single sein wird. Zunächst ist aber She Wolf in den Läden und landet in der ersten Woche auf Rang 2. Das ist natürlich der höchste Neuzugang und beschert Shakira nach zwei Jahren Chartabstinenz ein ziemlich fulminantes Comeback. Es ist Shakiras zehnte Single in den Charts und mit sieben davon unter den ersten 10 und fünf entweder auf der 1 oder 2 ist sie wohl derzeit eine der erfolgreichsten Künstlerinnen. She Wolf ist der Nachfolger zu ihrem dritten Nr.1-Hit Beautiful Liar, den sie in Kooperation mit Beyoncé lancierte. Mit Platz 2 verfehlt sie das Doppel, aber das könnte sich in der kommenden Woche auch noch ändern.

Shakira auf Platz 2, das bedeutet: Woche vier an der Spitze für Marit Larsen und ihr Märchenprinzessinenelfenlied If A Song Could Get Me You. Aber wie lang wird die Norwegerin dem Druck noch standhalten? Laut aktueller iTunes-Charts – die ja immer deutlich aktueller sind und schonmal die kommenden Trends skizzieren – bleibt sie allerdings weiter vorne in der Gunst der Käufer_Innen. Vor ihr kann sich momentan nur Paparazzi von Lady GaGa platzieren. Shakira dagegen liegt mit Platz 6 doch deutlich abgeschlagen im Verfolgerfeld. Marit Larsen wird also zumindest mit der südamerikanischen Konkurrenz ganz gut fertig. Nordische Coolness und Verträumtheit gewinnt gegen lateinamerikanische Sexyness – das finde ich nicht mal unsympathisch.

Schnell noch einen Blick auf die Performanz von Marit Larsen in anderen Charts in Europa bzw. im deutschsprachigen Raum, denn nur dort vermarktet ihre Firma sie momentan. Hier hält sie sich ganz gut. In Österreich steht sie weiterhin auf Position 1 (in der dritten Woche), die Schweiz meldet Platz 2. Und in der gesamteuropäischen Auswertung meldet MTV aktuell einen Platzgewinn von 16 auf 13. Na geht doch.

Und um die oberen 3 voll zu machen hier noch schnell der Satz: David Guetta feat. Akon rutschen mit Sexy Bitch einen Rang nach unten. In den Euro-Charts veröffentlicht bei MTV steht Sexy Bitch neu ganz oben. Zu erleben ist der DJ in den nächsten Tagen auf Ibiza und Malta. Für alle, die den Sommer noch nicht zu Ende gehen lassen wollen.

So, und nun endlich wird es Zeit zum in der Überschrift beschriebenen Duell zurückzukehren. Madonna ist also auch zurück. Allerdings anders als Shakira war Madonna gar nicht richtig weg. Anfang des Jahres noch war ihre letzte Single Miles Away in den Charts präsent. Und trotzdem war die Aufregung irgendwie groß als Ende Juli Celebration angekündigt wurde und in den vorzeitigen Digitalverkauf ging. Ziemlich fix stieg sie in so ziemlich allen Ländern auf Platz 1 der iTunes-Charts, eigentlich war der August bereits der Monat von Celebration. Warum das in gar keiner Weise in den offiziellen Charts zu bemerken war ist mir ein Rätsel. Ich könnte jetzt an der Korrektheit der Ermittlung zweifeln. Oder aber iTunes gehört nicht zu den in die Chartermittlung eingehenden Online-Portalen (was ich aber nicht glauben kann). Könnte auch sein, dass iTunes zwar einen ziemlich guten Ruf hat, aber in Wirklichkeit doch eher mäßigen Umsatz bringt. Wenn ein Titel bei amazon als Online-Track zur Verfügung steht, dann hat das meist sofort Auswirkungen auf die Liste. Hier wird offensichtlich viel mehr abgesetzt. So weit mal ein Erklärungsversuch, warum Celebration erst mit so viel Verspätung in der Liste auftaucht.

Celebration ist nicht nur der Titel der Single, sondern auch der Titel des dritten Best of-Albums von Madonna,welches am 18. September erscheint (also jetzt). Für diesen zusätzlichen Song, der als einziger neuer auf der Compilationenthalten ist, arbeitet Madonna wieder mit Paul Oakenfold zusammen. Dieser hatte bereits das Album Ray Of Light produziert. Und so kommt es, dass Celebration tatsächlich einen gehörigen 90er Jahre-Club-Appeal hat, mit 303-Geschrammel und trancelastigen Breaks. Obwohl das alles schon längst Geschichte ist, funktioniert es aber verdammt gut auch im Jahr 2009. Ist das vielleicht der erste funktionierende Song des 90er –Revivals? Entsprechend des Sounds gehts im Song auch um nichts anderes als um eine Einladung zur Party. Auch das sehr 90er.

Mit Celebration landet Madonna ihren 59. Hit in den deutschen Charts. media control meldete am Dienstag, dass sie bisher insgesamt 830 Wochen in der Liste notiert war und damit die erfolgreichste Künstlerin überhaupt ist. Celebration steigt direkt ein auf Platz 5 und ist damit der 19. Hit unter den ersten 5. Und noch eine Statistik: mit Celebration steht Madonna genau jetzt eine 164. Woche unter den ersten 10. Zum Vergleich: Michael jackson hat es nur auf 116 Top 10-Wochen gebracht.

Von den ganz großen Stars, die wir hier abgehandelt haben, geht es nun zu den upcoming Newcomern. Der erfolgreichste ist in dieser Woche Justin Bieber. Der Junge ist gerade mal 15 Jahre alt und die Legende besagt, dass er über youTube seine Karriere begann, wo ihn sein künftiger Manager aufpickte. Dieser brachte ihn dann mit Usher in Kontakt und schon startete die Karriere so richtig professionell. Bei The Dome 51, welches Anfang September über die Bildschirme flimmerte, trat Justin Bieber ebenfalls auf und nun steigt seine Debüt-Single One Time in die Charts. Platz 14 für den … nun ja … nicht wirklich originellen R’n’B-Song. Teenie-Pop für Teenies – da bin ich ohnehin nicht der Richtige, um das weiter zu bewerten.

Der größte Aufsteiger innerhalb der Charts sind Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West & Common Scratches By A-Trak mit Make Her Say. Gefeiert habe ich den Titel schon in der letzten Woche. Er gehört für mich zu dem Irrsinnigsten, was es derzeit auf dem Markt gibt. Ob der Titel ”Highest Climber” jetzt wirklich bedeutet, dass die Masse Gefallen an dem Stück findet, weiß ich nicht. Der ”tolle” Sprung” besteht nämlich lediglich aus einer Verbesserung von der 99 auf die 85. Hmmm … trotzdem geiler Track.