Hot Spot 03-15-13

Still at Number 1 for a ninth consecutive week: will.i.am & Britney Spears and her Scream & Shout. It’s only one week more to go for matching the result of Rihanna’s Diamonds which was the last song guarding the number 1 in a two figures amount of weeks.

British band HURTS returns to the list after a year long abstinence. Miracle is the teaser for the new album Exile. It is released digitally only so far and can enter number 25. The album follows next week and another further week also the CD version of the single will bereleased. These might be a good example for watching what effect physical sales still have in German charts.

The new single of Lana del Rey Dark Paradise also helps last summer’s hit single Summertime Sadness re-entering the list. The new one can be found at number 45, the old one at number 71.

Three weeks before it is officially released as a single I Need Your Love by Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding enters the German charts as an digital album cut. Some remixes are around already–most of them officially not released. Slowly two of the most successful British acts become what they are in their home town for long times in Germany also now–big stars.

A year ago nobody knew LAING. In September 2012 they were the real winner of the Bundesvision Song Contest. The succeeding months made their single Morgens immer müde a hit. This week their debut Album Paradise naiv enters the album list at number 13. As an effect the single also rises some 20 places in the singles list in its 20th chart week.

The new album release of master David Bowie causes a rush in the teasing single Where Are We Now? a week before the album officially appears in shelves. The single can re-enter at number 75 and probably will rise next week further places.

Mentors for the SPIEGEL school bands contest and two nominations for the ECHO–Silbermond had some breaking news the week 1st to 7th March. Probably that’sa reason for the re-entry of their single /Ja


DSDS effects
Saturday 2nd March next recall show was broadcasted. Favourites are obviously Rene, Bojan and Wincent. They performed Some Nights originally recorded by FUN. and the song re-enters the list at number 68. So far Wincent was one of the most adored candidates. This show he had to leave the pack.


Trivia
Having two singles in the list Bruno Mars this current week reaches as much chart weeks in this decade as glorious Lady Gaga. 257 times both were listed inside the German survey for the last 3 years and 2 months. That’s only rank number 6 so far. Most successful artist still is David Guetta who alone collected 554 chart weeks between 1st of January 2010 and today.

Exactly four years after it appeared in the list for the first time the song Use Somebody by The Kings Of Leon returns to the charts. For a certain single week it jumps to number 73.
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Hot Spot 03-08-13

No change at the top: will.i.am & Britney Spears still holds firm with Scream & Shout . Last cooperation of two acts with a success as big as that was back in 2007 between Timbaland and OneRepublic which had a nine weeks run at the Top.

After a performance at Germans most loved Saturday night TV show Wetten dass…? Justin Timberlake’s Single Mirrors shhots to number 2 giving the artist the first Top 3 perforance since 2008.He was abstinent from the Top 10 since 2009. This song marks a big comepabck – it is only his fourth Top 10 artist as the leading solo artist. All together (solo, as part of N SYNC or as an uncredited singer) he already has 18 Top 10 hits under his belt.
Live act number 2 at the show was Bruno Mars. His single Locked Out Of Heaven rockets beck to number 19 after he staged with it. – The upcoming single When I Was Your Man is already now steadily rising. Still four weeks to go till the CD single will be fully released the song now enters number 36.

Passenger profits from the new collaboration of his label Embassy Of Sound & Media (UNIVERSAL) with Starwatch Entertainment of ProSiebenSat1. First step was the re-release of All The Little Lights–the album of Passenger–which flies immediatly to number 6 at the album list. The single Let Her Go also benefits of that demand–it enters number 5 as the best selling European single. The four singles sold more are all produced in the US.

Worth noting: single Niggas in Paris by JAY-Z & Kanye West bounces up and down the charts for half a year. This week it returns to the upper half by ,anding at position 47. It is chart week number 24.
Also on the rise Macklemore & Ryan Lewis launch a second hit inside the Top 50 with Can’t Hold Us while Thrift Shop still holds firm at number 3.

There is a daja vu story going on right now inside the charts. Do you remember the way Asaf Avidan had the luck of getting a big number 1 hit last year? – American Theophilus London could be the next lucky singer getting so.In its third chart week the remix of his Wine & Chocolates reaches number 50. The track already was released in 2011 with the album Timez Are Weird These Dayz. DJ duo Andhim was fascinated by the track and remixed it a few months ago. It became more and more popular and finally hit the charts three weeks ago. Impressed by the success a proper CD release was scheduled for end of March. Perspectives are very bride–this is for sure a hit of upcoming spring.

Awarded with the Critics Choice Award at the Brits Tom Odell also gets some attention in Germany. His song Another Love rises 76–59, the album Long Way Down is scheduled for late April.

At the lower end there a hit from the 80ies returns to chart life. Ain’t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan was a hit in Germany in a remixed version in 1989. Since than Rufus never appeared again in the list. By returning now a 23 year long chart absence ends–only 28 shorter than the paus Heino had. Seems that 2013 is kind of a comeback year for dinosaurs.

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01-2012: A Slow Start

The year 2012 starts with a slow downed list. As usual the first week only have single new entries – so does this recent. The one and only comes in at number 92. But first – let’s have a look to the most sold singles.

Also at the top nothing new. Australian Gotye holds a second week at number 1 with Somebody That I Used To Know. It is now the most successful Australian track since We No Speak Americano occupied the top spot for seven weeks in late summer 2010.

The list dated on January 6th reflects the sales between December 23rd and 29th–so we see a lot of party tracks rising. Probably it is caused by the search for the right music to celebrate new year’s eve or just to fill the new mp3 player. Most prominent gainer are LMFAO their Sexy And I Know It rises five places to number 8 giving them a second Top 10 hit. It took the duo 10 weeks to find such strong interest and there might be a chance that this success is a more sustainable one.

Rising continously also Michel Teló’s song Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! – probably a lot of people like to dance Latin American style. It arrives now at number 17. One of the dance favourites of the last months obviously is One Night In Ibiza offered by Swiss Mike Candys & Evelyn Ft. Patrick Miller. The track jumps 83–45. Also the very similar Welcome To St. Tropez by DJ Antoine vs. Timati feat. Kalenna – one of the big hits of the past year – jumps back 64–46. Even the classic club tune Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner jumps back 78–51 in its 91st week. Further gainer of the big party track search: David Guetta featuring Taio Cruz + Ludacris get a re-appearance with Little Bad Girl at 55, r.i.o. Feat. U-JEAN with Animal can rise again 82–62 and also Sak Noel sees his Loca People (What The F**k!) leaping 81–64. Also rising PITBULL feat. NE-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer with Give Me Everything that lands at 68.

Of course also the more romantic songs found a greater interest during the festive days. We see rising Christina Perri with Jar Of hearts. to number 10 and South Korean pianist YIRUMA with River Flows In You enters the Top 20 (probably here the presence of the Twilight movie in theatres supports the interest for the song as well). Further down the charts also Kelly Clarkson sees her Mr Know It All rising 80–54 for probably the same reason.

The last „battle“ show of The Voice Of Germany was aired on Friday, December 23rd and leaves traces inside the list. Most emotional moment was the Sing Off of the Xavier Naidoo team. Most loved performance according to the sales impact was the one by Max Giesinger. He performed Sex_On_Fire originally known from Kings_Of_Leon – the track re-enters the German list for a 10th time at 58. It is the 67th chart week at all. Max Giesinger by the way was chosen afterwards to stay in the show as well.

A day before that was Bobby Bobbs of the team Nena who had the most chances inside the audience. His performed song grenade (originally by Bruno Mars) can take a leap 92–66 in its 50th chart week. Bobby himself had to leave the show.

And now we have a look at the announced new entry. It is a late Christmas tune. Natasha Bedingfield was chosen to cover the train song Shake Up Christmas for the advertisement of an big soft drink company. Remember Melanie Thornton? She did so at the beginning of the millenium and had a huge success still working nowadays. Natasha Bedingfield is not that lucky – the single was avaiable since November. Anyway it reaches the list only now at a very low number 92. Maybe she will have this December another chance.


The actual list is dominated by two artists. David Guetta and Bruno Mars both start the year as most popular acts right now having each five tracks inside the list. Watching the whole Top 100 it is remarkable that a bunch of 16 acts delivers at least two songs each to the survey which is summarized an amount of 44 hits.

chart flash 11-23: Why is Pietro Lombardi still at the top?

We’re facing an absolutely bizarre situation. Although superstar Pietro Lombardi doesn’t play any significant role neither in airplay nor in digital sales charts (iTunes: nr.10 on Fr 27th of May; number 18 on Thu 2nd of June; amazon digital number 12; musicload sees number 10; mp3.saturn sees also number 10) and even the physical sales at amazon only list a number 112 – but media control reports today having his debut single Call My Name at number 1 for the fourth time. The Swiss charts recently are doubted of compiled regularly. What’s about the German ones. Do they really reflect consumption within Germany? Well – there is that speciality of media control’s official German charts. They list not thwe most sold tracks but the tracks that gained most amount of money – so cheaper mp3s/Cds count less than the ones much more expensive.

Anyway: Pietro Lombardi is only the fourth super star winner who can get a four weeks run at the top. If not freshly released Jedward single or the new track of Shakira feat. Pitbull have the power of shooting to number 1 Pietro does have the real chance of getting the superstar with the longest stay at the German top. The recent iTunes list is promising exactly that. Let’s just wait another week...
Having the five weeks run of On The Floor followed by Call My Name for four weeks we now face a situation last seen in summer 2010 when Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) had a six weeks run followed by We No Speak Americano that occupied the top spot for seven weeks.

Highest new entry of the week is The Lazy Song offered by Bruno Mars. It is his third top 10 single in a row – all charted within the past eight months. Bruno Mars also is the one and only act having three Top 10 hits in 2011 so far. With 22 weeks inside the top 10 he is far and away the best performing act so far this year. The Lazy Song actually starts at number 9.

Best new German track is Nur noch kurz die Welt retten (Just have to save the world). It is – again – a new comer who offered the song. Tim Bendzko later this month releases his debut album titled Wenn Worte meine Sprache wären (If I had words to speak/communicate) – for sure this debut will made a strong impact in the charts.

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.

Flash 11-13: King Bruno Mars is back

Back at the top he is! After his performance live at TV show Wetten dass…? (Wanna bet that…?) on Saturday 20th March Bruno Mars sees grenade flying back to No. 1 disqualifying Lady Gaga’s Born This Way to the runner’s up position. The popular Saturday night show is still one of the most successful marketing tools in Germany. More than 9 millions were watching the recent issue – or 27,6 %. Just for comparison: DSDS the big casting event tumbled down last episodes to 18,7 %.

Another star of the show right now tops the album charts. As media control informs Herbert Grönemeyer lands his recent release Schiffsverkehr at No.1 in ist first chart week. Since 1984 all his album with original and new material topped the list – Schiffsverkehr is the ninth. Also Bruno Mars gets a album sale boost landing at No.2 with Doo-Wops & Hooligans.


The performance in the show

Bruno Mars is spending a fifth week at the top. He is by now the artist with most weeks at the top spot. Las track staying five weeks or longer was Over The Rainbow by Israel „IZ“ Kamakawiwo’ole which collected 12 weeks at the top at the back end of 2010. It was also the last track who managed to rebound to the top after falling down first. The last track taking a break of leading the list for more than one week was Satellite by Lena in spring last year.


Belgian singer MILOW is back with a new release. You And Me (In My Pocket) enters the German chart at No.3 and is the best new CD release of the week. It’s the artist’s second big hit here after his very acoustic ballade version of Ayo Technology went No.2 two years ago. You And Me (In My Pocket) continues in sound and success. The track combines the well known voice and guitar play with a midtempo rhythm making the record kind of a sing-a-long song. German Telekom realized that quality at first and uses the song for its marketing campaign Million Moments aired right now in German TV. Lucky MILOW – Germany is indeed the region where the new track reaches a top position …

The full video


The TV spot of Telekom

Other successful CD releases:
S & M by Rihanna No.5 and
E. T. by Katy Perry ft. Kanye West

11-10: Bruno Mars - Taio Cruz again - and some Chris Brown

Bruno Mars holds still the #1 spot in Germany with grenade. That’s the news of this week. He now occupies that position for a fourth week in a row and matches the feat The Black Eyed Peas did in January this year. It is almost a given thing that he will top the list next week too and gain the honour of being the most successfull track of 2011 so far. Why I’m so sure? Well – the release schedule for the recent week is not that strong. Chris Brown is the candidate with most prospects of having the best physical release start. His latest offering Yeah 3x enters the list by donwloads only at #8 as the highest new entry this week. I really doubt that the track more or less adressed to a younger fan crowd would have the power of overtaking the most mainstream hit of the moment (and here I mean mainstream as a very positive thing: almost everybody in Germany is attracted by the romantic and powerful ballad of Mr. Mars). Chris Brown so far is having a small comeback launching a third top 10 hit after a two year’s break.

Of course nobody should never say that something is given for sure … at least not concerning the chart. Or did you really believe that Taio Cruz featuring Kylie will rise much further in their 11th week? I told you the story last Friday – besides all the Lena hysteria and the almost failing Depeche mode flash mob the Taio/Kylie story was the most exciting going on last chart week. And now? – Finally they climb higher and higher reaching now #3. Higher is now for both the longest staying top 10 track within the German charts. Taio Cruz „only“ spent 11 weeks with Dynamite last September/October – Kylie did so with her last #1 hit Can’t Get You Out Of My head in 2001. It is by the way Kylie’s 50th week inside the German top 10. She now accompanies artists like Timbaland or Beyoncé. Both did in very shorter time … so Kylie Minogue benefits from her endurance in music business. She now has top 3 hits in three different decades. What is probably more exceptional: she did not have any top 10 hit in the 90s.

The best CD release last week was done by The Black Eyed Peas. Just Can’t Get Enough is the second single from their recent album The Beginning. It’s not that catchy and straight dance oriented as its predecessor The Time (Dirty Bit) was. It is viceversa a little more demanding … not that easy to consume. Does anybody wonder why the track starts at #9? Anyway it is the 12th top 10 track for the Peas.

11-07: Bruno Mars is No.1 + German chart specifics

Germany has a new No.1. And that’s no surprise. After full CD release Bruno Mars sets up his song grenade right at the top of the media control single chart. He’s the latest artist crowning his career with a German no.1. Compared to others he seems to be one who will have this luck again sooner or later. Right in this moment a lot of people are considering him the next big superstar. No music fan around who had no heard ’bout him. Everybody seems familiar with his style. In fact nine months ago nobody had known a man called Bruno Mars. His first appearance within the German chart is dated back to beginning of June when he was the companion on B.o.B.’s Nothin’ On You – a median hit here present the summer time. In September Bruno Mars appaered again. This time alongside with Travie McCoy which hit Billionaire performed slightly better within the charts. Real music specialists recognised Bruno Mars’ role on the solo release of Cee-Lo Green’s F**k You which is still crowding the list. But the main break happened with it’s first own solo single The Way You Are which made up its way straight to no.2 in late November. Now finally the top spot is no unknown territory anymore.

Germany of course stands in a row with almost the whole world. Bruno Mars hits the nerves and taste of a broad audience. The mixture of bittersweet soul and excellent pop-appeal seems the right formula for launching long lasting hits – modern evergreens. Well – we will see how long this kind of pop will work. At this very moment it fits more than perfect to the search for values and true feelings recognisable everywhere.

Also the highest new entry is kind of retro style. But HURTS’ new single Stay has also huge support by German comedy movie Kokowääh (German transliteration of French: Coq au vin) which started February 3rd in cinemas. On its first weekend the movie made by Till Schweiger had over 1 mio visitors. Very much of them loved the movie including closing track by HURTS. Stay is entering the charts one week before full released as CD single on download sales only at no.3. – It is the second top 3 hit for the British synth duo in Germany and it seems that their sound is popular in German speaking countries especially. In their home country they never managed entering the top 20.

Trailer for Kokowääh

HURTS // STAY from dave ma on Vimeo.

Next new entry comes from German Herbert Grönemeyer. Schiffsverkehr (Shipping Traffic) is his 33rd solo single within the German charts. After last year’s anthem Komm zur Ruhr fur European Cultural Capital RUHR.2010 this new single is a teaser for his upcoming 13th album scheduled for release in early March. Herbert Grönemeyer is one of Germany’s most successful artists having eight no.1 albums under his belt so far. In single terms he is not that present – only nine tracks made it up to top 10 status in his almost 30 year long career. With Schiffsverkehr entering the chart at no.10 he now has for the first time three consecutive top 10 singles released.

Unfortunately again the video is blocked by German music label and rights society. A quite usual habit right now in Germany. If you are interested in listening to the new Grönemeyer-song please visit the artist’s own homepage.

Germany loves Adele

That is more or less literally translated the headline of the weekly press information given by media control every Tuesday. Her album 21 enters the German album list directly at the hot spot. Simoultaneously her single Rolling In The Deep climbs up two places sitting now properly at no.1 in the singles’ chart too. Adele had a huge TV support by the so called Dschungelcamp – Germany’s version of I Am A Star – Get Me Out Of Here!. Her song was aired very prominently within the show right after the release of the album. The fifth season of the reality TV show had the most viewers of all seasons (an average of 8,93 Million) . No wonder the airing had some impact on the music market as well. As the independent chart site oljo.de reports a lot of older hits shot up the download list after they were aired within the show. Only the main title by Die Zipfelbuben seems to fail completely.

Some weeks ago I called Adele the final winner of the female northern soul invasion from 2007/08. Finally she grabs the crown with these simoultaneous no.1. And she is the first British act to top the German singles charts for 3 years. Last no.1 from the UK came in April 2008 from – what an incident – Duffy and her Mercy which spent a single week there. Will Adele have the power of staying much longer?

Asking this question comes with good cause. Bruno Mars’ Grenade is rising up the list very fast – landing at no.3 this week. The full physical release is scheduled for February 4th. Download lists like iTunes or amazon are listing Grenade right now at no.1. If he will enter the top by next week this would be the very first time a digital download only single will do so. Most radio stations in Germany took Grenade into heavy rotation meaning the tune catches fire right now. It is for sure the next huge hit in Germany. Question is: when will he enter the top? – We’re really witnessing a struggle between two very soulful tracks right now. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next days!

Moves at the top of the chart leave the highest new entry somehow overshadowed in the dark. The biggest CD release of the week is not at all the biggest story. Bad luck for a man who is a big name since 14 years and who dissappeared for the last three years. I’m talking bout P. Diddy or Diddy as he prefers to be called right now. Accompanied by two ladies he formed DiddyDirtyMoney (or one would find spellings like Diddy–Dirty Money et al.) which is offering a first album right now. Last Train To Paris will be released in Germany on 4th February. Two weeks ahead the single Coming Home entered the shops. A track starting very soft with a piano melody but landing in the end as an orchestrally produced rap track. I’m not at all that deep into American HipHop but to me this take doesn’t sound very new or surprising. It is a well produced tune built around the voice of featured artist Skylar Grey who is an upcoming name. As wikipedia tells us she co-wrote the EMINEM/Rihanna track Love The Way You Lie for which she was Grammy nominated. In Europe almost nobody had heard of her. With Coming Home the story turns over.

For all you statistic geeks out there: Coming Home is Sean Combs’ 23rd chart single in Germany (counted together all tracks he is somehow named on). It is the 11th track landing inside the German top 10 and his first appearance there after a four years break.
If one is not that much into Rap/HipHop try out this smooth electro rework skipping the master’s voice out completely and featuring only Skylar Grey’s voice.

4-11: Adele vs. Bruno Mars

The music market finds back to life finally. The recent press release of chart compiling institute media control tells some stories about new music arriving in the upcoming list. But one is static at all: the no.1. The Black Eyed Peas are sitting well at the top for the fourth week. The Time (Dirty Bit) now matches the result of their very first no.1 track Where Is The Love. Does the recent track have the power of becoming the Peas’ biggest hit even take over the result of Shut Up which spent six weeks at the top in 2003?

To me it looks quite like a wonder having The Time (Dirty Bit) still as the track cashing in the most. The download lists are seeing it dropping down since weeks. Physical sale must be still very strong. This is the actual surprise. As a dance oriented track The Time (Dirty Bit) should attract much more younger and digitally well equipped people. CD buying costumers are mostly much more conservative. Did The Black Eyed Peas change this rule?

However this week marks the15th at the top for The Black Eyed Peas. Now they match the result of Lady Gaga. All time record is holden by Boney M. having 48 weeks under their belt.

Best new CD release of the week 14th to 20th January is Rolling In The Deep by Adele. The track already charted as a digatl only single two weeks before climbing a fortnight ago to no.9. Now as combined sales count Rolling In The Deep raises up to no.3 making Adele the most promising act for becoming the next no.1. The story of Adele was told perfectly by James Masterton in his UK chart watch blog. The UK sees Rolling In The Deep at no.2.

If Adele could be the next no.1 – her successor is entering the charts right now. Bruno Mars’ Grenade is leading the download lists in an extraordinary way and sits in the combined media control list proper at no.8. It is the highest new entry within the singles list. The album Doo-Wops & Hooligans enters the album charts right at the top this week. It not only gives the new track a big impact but also Bruno Mars’ first solo track Just The Way You Are which rises two places back to no.5. I promise you that in three weeks time we will see Bruno Mars topping also the singles list. Then Grenade is full released as a physical CD too (CD start in Germany is 4th february).

01-2011: a static list

It was a calm chart week between 24th and 30th of December. People are on holidays or trying their Christmas gifts. Some had a new iPod or a similar device to fill – others were looking for the right music making their new years eve a tough party. That’s why the charts are as static as every other year. Of course there is a new no.1 – kind of spectacular and on the other hand it was not as surprising. The Black Eyed Peas led the iTunes list already for weeks.

The most significant move in the upper region had Katy Perry who’s Firework raises up two places to no.7. It is now a really proper top 10 hit giving her a fourth consecutive year with a placing under the top 10. Being short of other stories we can recognise this placing as Miss Perry’s 50th times that she ranks no.10 or higher. She now statisticly accompanies such acts like Timbaland or Beyoncé.

We just passed the time of love and happiness. But not within the charts. It is more the club (The Time, Barbra Streisand or Higher) or an unspecific dream land (Winter, Over The Rainbow, We Are The People)
which rule the charts. What about love? Most popular love song this week comes from Bruno Mars. His Just The Way You Are is an ode to the one loved without any constraints. Very direct, very romantic. Maybe that’s the point why Bruno Mars received such a huge success even in German speaking countries. It’s quite simple to understand the message. So Bruno Mars with his first solo release got his biggest hit to date. All other songs before (as a partner of B.o.B. or with Travie McCoy) failed to reach the upper places. Now his name is well known and if you have a look at the recent download charts … there is his next song Grenade just knocking at the door …

Funny trivia: this week Michael Jackson is exactly 40 years present within the German chart list. On 11th January 1971 – by the way one of the first weekly released charts – he was first listet with The Jackson 5 and their first hit in Germany I’ll Be There. The recent track by the King of Pop is Hold My Hand in duet with Akon which actually is listed at no.10.

Week 47

Yes, we do have the same no 1 track like last week - and the week before. This is the eighth time for Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'ole and his take on Over The Rainbow to stay on top of the German commercial selling charts compiled by media control. That means the Hawaiian singer is the one in 2010 who occupied the no.1 position the most. 8 weeks on top in Germany – that's not really a curiousity. But we have to go back to summer 2009 to find the last track that long as the most sold one. It was Emiliana Torrini's Jungle Drum which was the most loved and most played and most buyed track for complete two months.

You can find a lot of articles and postst about why Over The Rainbow is now that successful only in Germany. The main point is for sure the very long holding back of the track by the music industry. It was some kind of an underground favourite for years but legally available in Germany for the first time back in September this year. As the most German medias acting completely dependent from the big music companies they just started playing the song this autumn. Well - the so called wonder is really home made.

Indeed IZ's success is a kind of a miracle as he is the first star who hold the nr.1 spot for that long post mortem. We all know the phenomenon of huge sales after a famous artist dies. Remembering Michael Jackson or John Lennon. In Great Britain where the music market is very fast and sensitive they shot to number 1 immediately. Not so in Germany. It's a huge and slow market where a "hysteria" takes some time to grow. Michael Jackson's Thriller only matched nr.9 after the star's dead. – So IZ holds a sad record: the (probably) most successfull artist (long time) after his death.


New CD-Single of the Week
Let's go back to living artists. Probably we are facing a new superstar by meeting Bruno Mars shooting his first proper solo track Just The Way You Are up to Nr.2. I really don't know why it took the record company so long to release this track as a CD single. In the U.S. it was released back in July this year climbing to Nr.1, the UK offered the track in September equally hitting the top – finally also German speaking countries can purchase the hit. Maybe the record company wanted to be save launching a success by first introducing Bruno Mars as an accompanying artist with B.O.B. and Travie McCoy. Recently he entered the list as a producer of Cee Lo Green's F**k You. With these references Just The Way You Are could not fail at all.

Bruno Mars - for the first time officially credited within the top 10 has some successfull productions under his belt as well. If you check some popular listings (which ain't 100% proven) he had his hands on Flo Rida's Right Round as well as on K'Naan's Wavin' Flag - for the latter he did the production of the album version.

The Way You Are is one of the most covered songs right now. Check out your favourite video platform and you will find several versions. One of the most impressive to me is the one by Mike Tompkins who did it a capella in a mix with Teenage Dream. And again: really don't understand why German music industry is sleeping that deeply … this man belongs to a proper CD release as well …


Mike Tompkins does Just The Way You Are a capella style

What the music industry does is putting faith in casting shows like X Factor. The German version was aired this autumn for the first time. After a weak start the popularity grew a lot and the final at November 9th was watched by 2,91 Mio. Winner of the show became Edita Abdieski from Berne (Switzerland) - her winning song I've Come To Life was released three days after the final's airing. The track is well produced, Edita does have for sure a strong voice well trained in education and musical performance but all in all this track lacks the real life, the fun, the aura. It is a typical mainstream production forced by major labels and big TV companies. It reaches a lot of people but I doubt that we will find the track in the list for a long time. Even in her home country Edita only made nr.8 - poor Edita, a few seconds of fame, probably that's all she will ever had.

New Releases: UNHEILIG, B.o.B, Christina Aguilera, USHER, Agnes

Not very much to tell about – a few new releases are entering the charts this week. I mention them in a hurry now.

Number 20: UNHEILIG Für immer (Forever) – succeeding song for the surprising number 2 hit Geboren um zu leben (Born For Living); will probably disappear soon and die in the shadow of still massive selling predecessor (actually ranking at number 4), presented at The Dome 54 on 20th of May.

Number 22: B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars Nothin' On You – last week number one in Great Britain, a few weeks before same position in the US; now released in continental Europe as well; the real breakthrough looks different.

Number 24: Christina Aguilera Not Myself Tonight - James Masterton wrote a very accurate summary a few weeks ago – nothing to add; as everywhere in the world the new single of Christina Aguilera fails also in Germany. – To tell some good news: 2010 is the 12th consecutive years which sees Christina Aguilera charting with a track related to her name.

Number 27: USHER featuring WILL.I.AM OMG- another US superstar who misses landing a massive hit in central Europe; the market in german speaking countries seems to develop almost completely independent; remarkably significant in the way German music industry is acting against youtube etc.

Number 41: Agnes On And On - the predecessor to her hit Release Me; not as earcatchy as the one before; the company waited long releasing this track; maybe too long?