29th December 17: The Real Christmas Charts

The last issue of the year and it looks so different to all the others of 2017. But let's start from the beginning.

At the very top this week reflects completely the year. Still at #1 Ed Sheeran stands. He serves with the best sold single of the year as Shape Of You invaded the charts at January and still sells well. The #1 song this current week of course is Perfect which is as popular due to the duet version with Beyoncé.
In 2017 Ed Sheeran spent 19 weeks at #1. This is the best performance for an recording artist since the beginning of the weekly charts. So far this mark was held by Boney M. which in 1978 managed to occupy 18 weeks at the top position.
To mention dueting partner Beyonce as well: With a span of more than ten years she is the artist with longest #1 career of 2017.

As this list reflects all sales from 22nd to 28th of December this is the survey definitely showing which hits people like on Christmas most. The list is fully crapped with seasonal tunes which perform better than in any other year–a situation similarly seen on the British charts. So there is a lot to tell about Christmas carols this year. Here we are:

#3 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey: In 2016 the song reached its all time peak at #5. In 2017 the song performs even better as it climbs two further places to #3 23 years and 24 days after it charted for the very first time. So it even beats the result of Last Christmas that had an exactly 11 days shorter way to its all time peak.
And here is:

#4 Last Christmas Wham!: the ultimate Christmas pop song for more than a decade. It reached its peak at #4 in 2007–well the list reflecting its success was issued on January 4th 2008. Back than it had 72 chart weeks under his belt. Ten years later it eclipses its own feat. Meanwhile it collected 128 weeks–only one week short of the record held by Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner which also is the song that had a longer run to reach its peak.

#8 Driving Home For Christmas Chris Rea: jumping 22–8 in its 48th chart week the song now is the most succesfull single by Chris Rea of all times. Even better it is the very first appearance inside the German top 10 for the British singer. Starting his chart career in Germany in August 1984 it took him 33 years to become a real top 10 act. The song itself had a 31 years run to its so far peak. It charted first in December 2002–so its chart career "only" spans a period of 15 years so far.

#10 Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) Melanie Thornton: this is one of the younger Christmas classics. Released in 2001 it peaked back than at #4 and recharted every season performing not lower than #41. This season it dips the top10 for the very first time since its initial chart run. It is the 107th chart week and the second most listed song right behind Last Christmas.

#12 Hallelujah Pentatonix: Last year's #1 Christmas song still is popular in 2017 too. It ranks now as the fifth best sold Christmas tune which is quite a good result. Hallelujah still is the one and only singles chart entry of the a capella project.

#14 Merry Christmas Everyone Shakin' Stevens: Recorded in 1985 the song reaches its peak at #14 after 32 years although it only spent eight weeks on the charts–four weeks this year alone. The popularity of this song is a quite new occurance as it reappeared in December 2015 for the first time after its first chart entry. Now it becomes Shakin' Stevens' twentieth top20 hit.

#15 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band (with The Harlem Community Quire): The song peaks at #15 almost 45 years after it first appeared on the German charts. It is far and away the Christmas song spanning the longest time period with its chart appearances. For this feat there were 19 chart weeks taken.
Two years ago the song reached its all time peak at #40 so far.

#18 Thank God It's Christmas Queen: In its tenth chart week the Queen's Christmas song reaches the top20. So far its best performance was #48 reached in 2016. When it first entered the list in 1984 it peaked at #57.

#22 Santa Tell Me Ariana Grande: Recorded in 2014 the song this year has its first chart run. By jumping 99–22 it takes the biggest leap inside the charts in 2017–and doubtlessly one of the biggest in chart history. Santa Tell Me is Ariana Grande's 11th chart hit.

#24 FelÍz Navidad José Felícíano: 10 years ago the song for the very first time achieved the charts. Since then it re-appeared every season reaching its peak so far in its 36th chart week.

#27 Wonderful Christmastime Paul McCartney: In only its fifth chart week and second season the 1979 recorded song reaches its so far peak at #27.

#29 Do They Know It's Christmas Band Aid: In 1984 Midge Ure and Bob Geldof started the Band Aid project and somehow initiated the tradition of big promoted charity singles. Back then the single was a huge hit occupying #1 for two weeks. In 2017 the song reaches its highest position since 33 years at #29. All versions later recorded only had short seasonal impact and never outsold the original. The 2014 incarnation performs now at #56.

#30 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Michael Bublé: Christmas song time is Michael Bublé time. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas might become a long time classic and the signature song for the Canadian singer. In its fourth season and seventh chart week the song achieves #30.

#36 Christmas Time Bryan Adams: Most Christmas songs are sweet pop or 1950s/60s inspired tunes. There are only a very view rock Christmas carols. Christmas Time is one of them. Recorded in 1985 it charted for a single week on January 13th 1986 at #67. 2015 and 2016 the song re-appeared for single weeks too both years reaching higher positions. This year it is listed for two consecutive weeks for the very first time. #36 marks an all time peak.

#38 Jingle Bell Rock Daryl Hall John Oates: Originally the song was recorded by Bobby Helms in 1957 and became a standard tune on several Christmas editions. Two weeks ago the song charted for the very first time in Germany–in a recording from 1983 at #92. This week the recording re-enters at #38 and now ranks as the most popular version of that song. The version by Bobby Helms clings on at #81 only spending its second chart week.

#43 Underneath The Tree Kelly Clarkson: In 2013 Kelly Clarkson recorded a Christmas album Wrapped In Red. This year two songs from the collection can made it as single tracks into the list. Whilst Underneath the tree is the highest really new song on the list. These are Kelly's 18th and 19th chart hit.

#45 White Christmas Michael Bublé duet with Shania Twain: The most famous version by Bing Crosby recorded in 1941 had four chart runs between 2007 and 2011 and peaked at #53. The recording by Michael Bublé sets new limits by jumping in its second chart week 94–45.

#48 My Only Wish (This Year) Britney Spears: season three, chart week five–the song for the first time reaches the upper half of the list.

Recorded in 2017:
#51 Santa's Coming For Us SiA: This is the best performing Christmas song recorded in 2017
#55 You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Gwen Stefani featuring Blake Shelton
#64 Christmas Eve Kelly Clarkson

Further Christmas songs:
#52 Christmas Lights Coldplay: 2010 recorded; season four; highest performance since its initial release
#57 The Best Side Of Life Sarah Connor: recorded 2006; first appearance since 2009
#65 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee: recorded in 1958; second season and second chart week; all-time peak. The singer now exactly matches the time span of hits as Udo Jürgens does: 57 years and 150 days. It means both held the record of longest lasting chart career.
#71 The Power Of Love Frankie Goes To Hollywood: absent for one season the song is back in its 29th chart week (including the chart run due to a remix in 1993); sixth chart run; highest position since January 2010
#92 It's The Most Winderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams: second season; performs lower than 2016; stretches the chart appearance of Andy Williams to 54 and a half year–three years short off Brenda Lee
#96 Merry XMas Everybody Slade: third chart run, appeared in 2008 last time
#98 In der Weihnachtsbäckerei Rolf Zuckowski und seine Freunde: fifth season, missed an appaerance 2016, now it is back in its sixth chart week
#100 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Bruce Springsteen: same place as one year ago; the original by Frank Sinatra appears completely newly at #85

First time in charts although recorded years before:
#59 Merry Christmas Happy Holidays *NSync: recorded in 1998, gives the band a 15th chart entry after 15 years of absence from the charts
#62 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Sam Smith: recorded 2014, chart entry number 10
#66 I'll Be Home Meghan Trainor: released 2014; lowest performing chart hit for the singer
#75 Please Come Home For Christmas Eagles: after an absence of more than 22 years USAmerican band Eagles is back; recorded in 1978 and is only the fifth chart hit for the band
#76 All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day HURTS: recorded in 2010–the year when the band started its career; it is now the tenth chart entry and ends an almost four years absence
#78 Santa Baby Eartha Kitt with Henri René and his Orchestra: recorded in 1953; only the third chart entry for the singer; a chart come back after 33 years – it is the longest break ended in 2017.
#85 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Frank Sinatra: recorded in 1948 it is the first chart appearance; Frank Sinatra was absent for 24 years; this is chart entry no. six. Bruce Springsteen's take on this tune already charted a year ago.
#91 Step Into Christmas Elton John: recorded in 1973, it is the artist's 51st chart entry and ends an almost 14 years long absence from the list

Et voilá–there a 33 Christmas songs inside the list! What a feat.

More statistics: There are only 56 tracks involving Europeans. The last time this rate dropped below 60% was in July 2016.

22nd December 17: EMINEM's Back

Seemingly Perfect is the Christmas tune of 2017. Pushed by the duet version with Beyonce the song holds firm for a third week at #1. Of course this recent list covers sales within the week right before Christmas days. In seven days time we know what Germany loves to listen to at Christmas.

With this week at #1 Ed Sheeran establish himself as the artist appearing at #1 in 2017 most. It is the 18th week–so he also is the best performing #1 act of the whole decade. Only Justin Bieber might be taken as more successful if one count his appearance on Despacito as full performance.
18 weeks at #1 in one calendar year–it's a feat last seen in 1978 when Boney M. collected 19 weeks with to #1 hits.

2017 definitely was the year of German rap. The past two weeks came from German rap acts too. This week the best new album comes again from a rap star although it is an USAmerican veteran. EMINEM is back at #2 with his latest offering Revival. As best selling single track from the collection the collaboration with Ed Sheeran River shoots to #3 on the songs list. It is the fourth top 10 song for the British singer in 2017 and the fourth reaching #3 or higher. EMINEM meanwhile collected 17 top 10 hits.

Raf Camora's album Anthrazit RR now is available for free–as leading single track Gotham City invades the list at #9 as paid download/stream alone. Part 1 of the album again goes 63–29 in its 17th chart week.

Back to real Christmas songs. All I Want For Christmas Is You and Last Christmas still leading the seasonal list at #5 and #11. At #20 a third new classic tune lands with Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) by Melanie Thornton. It is the first time since 2008/09 that the song can achieve top20 status. Now it spends its 108th week inside the list.
15 years after it first appeared in the list Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea achieves a new peak at #22. It is one place better than its peak two years ago. The song already gets its 47th chart week.
Eight places higher than last season Merry Christams Everyone by Shakin' Stevens lands. The song reaches its new peak at #30 32 years after it first appeared on the list. Although it is a slightly young classic tune as it enters the list regularly since 2015 only–so it spent so far seven weeks inside the charts.
A real new time classic is It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas recorded by Canadian Michael Bublé. The song had its peak so far two years ago by getting to #49. This year it already reaches #48–and there are still some days to sell.
At #54 Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney reaches a new peak. The song recorded in 1979 started charts life last year and now spends its fourth week inside the list.
Also Britney Spears celebrates a new peak for her Christmas song My Only Wish (This Year). It is the third consecutive year that it appears in the charts and it is the third consecutive year it reaches a peak–currently #81.


With only 60 productions involving Europeans the continent is as weak present on the survey as in July 2016 when only 58 productions with Europeans were listed.

December 1st 17: BAUSA Is Most Successful German Rap Act

These are the last five weeks of 2017. Most of the best selling and record breaking feats are done. Anyway these weeks can serve with some surprises. Let's start with #1:
It is BAUSA's eigth week at the top with Was du Liebe nennst which means that he is now the German hiphop act with most weeks at #1 at all. Sido so far only has seven weeks at #1 under his belt.
Now the question is: Will Bausa manage to be #1 at Christmas time too?

Equipped with an official (commercial) video clip now Justin Bieber + Bloodpop make a jump back inside the top 10. Friends lands at #4 and reaches a new peak after it already spent 14 weeks on the survey. It is only the second top10 week for the song.

Highest new entry sits at #7 in the face of German Youtube star Katja Krasavice. Her chart debut is Doggy.

With Nico Santos going 27–14 it is the highest appearance for a Spanish artist within a year. Although the singer is also German the success of Rooftop probably is more a home made thing.


As this is the first list of December there are of course some classic Christmas songs back on the list. First of all All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey from 1994 re-appears at #37. It is the 13th chart run for that song–only once it started its seasonal career higher. That was back in 1994 when it jumped to #34 after a week dropping completely out off the top100.
Also Last Christmas by Wham! is back. It started its 22nd chart run at #52. So far the song collected 125 chart weeks–it is the second most all times. Plus right now the British duo is the longest running chart act still selling songs with almost 35 years. Runners up are Die Toten Hosen with a little more than 29 years. Of course the latter one still recording songs.

Certainly a lot more Christmas tunes will invade the list and change the face of the charts rapidly. So let's have a look at the classics right now. Longest running hit inside the top 100 still is Ohne mein Team by Bonez MC Raf Camora Feat. Maxwell. In its 65th chart week the track sits pretty at #72. It now ranks inside the top 20 of longest consecutively running hits of all time.
Second longest running recent hit is Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran that gains five places again at #27 in its 47th week.
And also hit of the year Despacito is one of the long runners with 44 weeks at #41.

After ten years of chart abstinence Craig David is back at #92. His new single I Know You Features band Bastille.

Dec 30th 16: The Christmas List

As this issue reflects all sales in between 23rd and 29th of December it also represents the most loved songs under Christmas trees (and otherwhere) for Germany. Of course the real holidays only cover half of the time–so it is no wonder having a completely un-Christmas #1 hit. It is once again Rockabye by Clean Bandit Feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie which rises back to the top. It is the second week for the collaboration there. Perspectives are quite good that this last #1 of the year will become the first #1 of 2017 too.

Former #1 hit Human by Rag'n'Bone Man drops to #2 again and probably will now slide down constantly. On the list of the year 2016 it ranks at #9 as the longest running #1 hit.

The Christmas hits start at #4 as there Hallelujah by The Pentatonix pretty sits. The midweek sales list had the song at #2 only, the midweek #1 at the end of the week find itself at #5. It is All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey which reaches its new peak in its 52nd chart week and now ranks as the second highest hit of her at all. Only her #1 song Without You from 1994 performed better.
52 weeks inside the charts to get a peak sounds spectacular–in fact it ain't. Last Christmas reached its peak position in January 2008 in its 72nd chart week–and still ain't the slowest sleeper hit. Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner had an 83 weeks run before reaching #29 in November 2011.
In real time (not in chart weeks) one song this week had a much longer way to its peak than All I Want For Christmas I You. It is Thank God It's Christmas by Queen which can re-enter at #48 and sets a new bench after 31 years.

Talking 'bout Last Christmas. That classic also enters the top 10 again at #7. It is this the third time matching the peak position of its initial release in 1984 but falling three ranks short of the all time peak in 2008. Worth mentioning this is only the fourth top 10 week for the song.

The whole top 100 contain 19 Christmas related hits. Some of them also reach new peaks as there are:
Feliz Navidad by Puerto Rican Jose Felícíano – the song was released in 1970 but first charted in December 2007 reaching its so far peak on the list of January 4th at #42. This year the song climbs to #37 in its 32nd chart week.
Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens – in 1986 after its release the song reached #75 for one single week. This season it rises to #38. It is only the fourth chart week.
Christmas Time by Bryan Adams – released in 1985 it peaked in its second chart week a year before at #64. This year it goes one rank higher to #63.
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney – released in 1979 it enters the German charts this year for the very first time at #77.
My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears – lands seven ranks higher than 2015 at #83. It's only the second chart week at all.
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams – the US American entertainer only had two chart hits in Germany so fas. In 1963 and 1971. His Christmas Song was originally released in 1963 but re-edited several times the past years. Now it starts own chart life at #86 ending a more than 45 years long absence.
Even longer Brenda Lee did not appear in the list. Her last entry dates back to January 1965. With Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree she celebrates a seventh chart hit in Germany at #98 and now is the artist with the longest break ever: almost 52 years.
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms – a complete new name to the German list. The USAmerican singer died in 1997 already. His 1957 Christmas song is his first chart appearance at all (#90).
All together this week ranks as the one with most re-entries of the year as there are seven songs back on the list. It is this a result of minor relevance as we had while the end of the 2000s much much more re-entries every single week.


Luckily it's not all about Christmas tunes. At #8 Alan Walker can launch his third top 10 hit in 2016. Alone for sure is one of the first hits we will have in 2017.
ZAYN can enter the top 20 with a second song. I Don't Wanna Live Forever from the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack features Taylor Swift who has her first top 20 appearance since two years.
In its fourth chart week Now & Later by Sage The Gemini goes 64–35.
And almost at the very end Shakira & Maluma rise slowly with Chantaje 86–72.

As this is the last issue of the year it also finishes the survey of most successful songs of the year. Getting the crown in the very last moment The Sound Of Silence by Disturbed spends a 19th week inside the top 10 and with this is the longest running top 10 hit of 2016. Of course Love Yourself and Geiles Leben both spent 20 weeks inside the top 10 but started their runs in 2015 already.

Dec 23rd 16: Human Returns To Top

Human grandiously returns to the top after spending a week at #3. It might be a coincidence but to me it looks certain the Berlin terror attack supported the demand in the song praising uniqueness and value of human life.
Returning to #1 Rag'n'Bone Man is the first artist spending 12 weeks at the top since late 2010. Back than it was Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole's take on Somewhere Over The Rainbow that collected 12 weeks–with a break of a single week when Empire Of The Sun occupied the top.

The other big influence of the week of course is the approaching Christmas holiday. Pentatonix's Hallelujah is the winner of the race. The song rises 10 places to #5 this week.
Anyway the sensation takes place five ranks deeper. There for the very first time All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey sneaks into the top 10. It took the song 22 years to become a real Christmas hit in sales terms too. When it was first released at the end of 1994 it reached #24. The season 2007/08 brought a new peak at #18 due to the fact that digital sales were count as chart eligible too. And finally in the past two years the song had more and more fans shooting it to new heights: #17 in 2014/15 (first time beating Last Christmas in sales) and #13 the past season. It is only Mariah Carey's sixth top 10 hit at all and the first appearance since April 2008 when Touch My Body started chart life at #7.

Christmas also brings back classic tunes such as Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono + The Plastic Ono Band. The song re-enters at #89 and now has a chart career that stretches over almost 44 years which is the longest of a song charted in 2016 at all.

In time for the festive season Bonez MC + RAF Camora released the special Christmas edition of their album Palmen aus Plastik. Newly renamed as Tannen aus Plastik it shots back to #2 on the albums list right behind Helene Fischer and her Christmas album. Leading single of the newly repacked collection is An ihnen vorbei which jumps 22–8 and gives the duo a fourth Top 10 hit in 2016–as much as Justin Bieber had. In terms of commercial success last weeks chart imperator Kollegah for sure must be very jealous.
Bonez MC + RAF Camora can launch also other new songs out of there special edition as there are: Skandale #25, Atrsmis #36 and Verräter #55. Additionally the bonus EP by 187 Strassenbande throws some tracks into the list too and bonus EP no.3 by Maxwell launches also tracks on which both appear as featured artists. It sets the amount of simultaneous hits up to 14 for Bonez MC and 10 for RAF Camora (14 if one count the tracks he appears as producer as well). This is still three short of the result set by Kollegah past week–but this is the third week this year that both rappers have at least 10 tracks in one issue. Kollegah itself sees all his 17 tracks dropping out of the list except two which rank at #92 and #99. Again: Who is the real imperator?


Further down the list also winner of recent season of The Voice of Germnany enters the list. Tay Schmedtmann reaches #23 with his song Lauf Baby Lauf as the highest ne entry this week. Although the rates rose this year a little this result stays in sharp contrast to all other seasons before. Even past years winner Jamie Lee Kriewitz did reach #11.
At least Yvonne Catterfeld in her role as coach can profit of the show. Her new single Irgendwas jumps 60 places to #27 after she performed it live and John Legend's Love Me Now has an 26 places jump to #32 after his performance.

Dec 16th 16: Clean Bandit & Sean Paul Got A Second #1 Hit and Imperator Kollegah Invades The List

After eleven weeks there is a change at #1: Rockabye by Clean Bandit Feat. Sean Paul & Annemarie benefits from the decreasing sales numbers of Human and becomes the 13th number one of 2016. It is the second for both Clean Bandit and Sean Paul, the Jamaican singer additionally is now the act with most number one hits in one year as this is the second one he appears on. And he is the first Jamaican artists gaining two songs at number one in Germany at all.
It is this again a number one song with a social story as lyrics–something a long time didn't happen that permanently.

alle farben launches its fourth top 10 hit within three years as Bad Ideas jumps 18–9. So far every single by the project that entered the charts at least reached top 10 status. This is a 100% sense for the mood of the day.
alle farben is the fourth German act inside the top 10–that means a presence of German act we didn't had for exactly a year.

With Hallelujah by the Pentatonix moving to #15 an interesting change of demand in Christmas tunes is obvious. Leading the list of seasonal tunes a comic rap track sits at #8 with Holz (Weihnachts-Edition) by the 257ers. Runners up is the a capella version of the Leonhard Cohen song followed by All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey recorded in 1994 ranking at #23 in its 50th chart week. The all time favorite Last Christmas by Wham! from 1984 drops 13 places to #27.

The new single by Alan Walker Alone indeed only rises one place now reaching #20. Anyway it is the third top 20 hit of the Norwegian artist in 2016.

A week before the release of the winter edition of their album Palmen aus Plastik (now named Tannen aus Plastik) MC Bonez & Raf Camora launch An ihnen vorbei. The track starts chart life straight at # 22 even outselling the best performing track from Kollegah's new album Imperator that rocks to #1 on the album's list. Kaiseraura only manages to climb to #28 but is one of 17 tracks that manage to chart as single track too. Only one single track from the album does not chart at all. By doing so Kollegah has most tracks simultaneously on the list–falling only one short of his own record set on May 23rd 2014. He also now is the act with most different tracks charting on the single's list–even outselling veteran Bushido. Of course he also is the act with most tracks not reaching the top 20. That feat only two tracks had the honour to reach in 2014. And the imperator is not at all the act with most charting tracks in a calendar year. This honour still belongs to MC Bonez who collected 26 tracks so far this year–six more than Kollegah.

With Kollegah invading the list the amount of songs in German is 36–songs involving Germans are 42. This is the best result of 2016 but still a bunch of tracks low than exactly one year ago.

All in all this week there are 19 songs completely new inside the list. This also is the biggest amount of whole 2016.

Dec. 25th 15: Adele - Best Performing British Female since 50 years

In the last week of the year Adele's Hello becomes the best performing no.1 single of 2015. It is the ninth week at the top for the song which was seen last late summer 2013 when AVICII had his Wake Me Up! occupying the top for ten consecutive weeks.
It is kind of surprising, that British acts in the past decades didn't manage such a success. The last one having nine weeks at the top was Sarah Brightman who alongside Italian singer Andrea Bocelli had a fulminant 13 weeks run at the top with Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) from December 1996 to March 1997. As a British female solo artist Adele now sets an even longer mark. As mentioned the week before she is now the best performing solo female since more than 50 years following the feat set by Petula Clark in 1965.

Might be a bitter dip in all the records cracked right now: Serving with the best performing no.1 song doesn't mean Adele is the best performing artist too. That title she has to share with German DJ Felix Jaehn.


Another British act got steam the days before Christmas. As British chart commentator James Masterton again and again tells singles by Coldplay doesn't follow known chart rules. And so it appears with Adventure Of A Lifetime too. The song rises five places in its seventh chart place eclipsing the all time peak set by Viva La Vida in 2008.
Of course Coldplay had some support by staging at the final of The Voice of Germany on 17th of December 15.

And there we are: The highest new song inside the top 20 comes in at #11. Jamie-Lee Kriewitz won the final of The Voice of Germany with Ghost. Immediately the song entered the charts and had a short visit at the top of the iTunes list. But the demand decreased dramatically over the week–so the song only can make it short of the top 10. Also second of the show Ayke Witt only can gain #28 with his Bis gleich. It is the weakest season so far–a sixth already is announced.

Second show act Elle King can make it into the list too. Her Ex's & Oh's lands at #33 as the highest new entry of the week. Well–this week belongs to the ten weeks of 2015 that had the highest new entry deeper than #30.


As the current list covers sales of the week directly before Christmas including the Holy Night Christmas songs play a significant role. And indeed the longing for peace is strong this year as far as sales figures tell.
The most successful song this season comes from Mariah Carey. All I Want For Christmas Is You already overtook the all time classic Last Christmas past season but in 2014 the most wanted tune was Do They Know It's Christmas? due to two new recordings from Britain and Germany.
To tell the complete story All I Want For Christmas Is You ain't only the best selling Christmas tune–it also reaches a new peak by flying to #13. In January this year it had its peak so far with #17 after 20 years of chart appearance.
One might bet wether the song will go further in next years time–remember Last Christmas needed full 23 years to get to its peak. However it falls short of becoming the slowest chart riser of 2015 cause Die Ärzte had their peak at #1 with Schrei nach Liebe this September 22 years after the song first appeared inside the charts. And exactly this week another song also peaks after decades. But first the other Christmas themed songs:

Last Christmas lands at #15 as second best selling classic–the highest rank since 2009.
Number 3 of the Christmas carols is Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea. The song goes 81–23 and reaches a new peak 13 years after it appeared for the first time. So far #31 reached in season 07/08 was serving as the highest rank so far.
One place behind Melanie Thornton sees her Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) stop. This constellation is an unusual one too.
At #37 the biggest gainer of the week stops in the face of Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid. It is quite unclear which version here counts–probably all four recorded together. Assumed it is only the original version as stated on the list this position is the highest since its original and first chart run in 19984/85.
Re-entry at #40 is Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John & Yoko, The PLastic Ono Band with The Harlem Communitiy Choir. The song had its first appearance on February 2nd 1973 at #45 holding there for a single week. After almost 43 years the song reaches a new peak–which is indeed the longest time a song needed inside the German charts.

There are further Christmas songs invading the list summing up to 14. Worth mentioning the re-entry at #53 is: Thank God It's Christmas by QUEEN had it's peak at #57 while his initial chart run in January 1995. 31 years later this mark is taken. A very similar story can be told about Christmas Time recorded by Bryan Adams. The song was released at the end of 85 landing at #67 in January 86. 30 years later the song re-enters the list at #64.
After five years of pause Frankie Goes To Hollywood with The Power Of Love is back on the list. It sneaks in at #82. At #90 there enters a song for the very first time that was recorded 15 years ago. My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears has its first chart appearance this year without being promoted as a standalone song at all.
And finally #94 sees an act returning to the list who was absent for almost exactly 30 years. Shakin' Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone was the last charting single of the singer in January 1986. It had a single appearance at #75. Now it is back at the very low end of the list for probably another single week.

December 11th 15: Christmas Mood in the German Charts

It is still Adele who leads the list with Hello. And she writes chart history. At least Hello now is the best performing female solo song in 2015–overttaking the result of Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do by a week. To become the best performing single in 2015 at all Hello should at least hold firm for a single week. In this case Adele would also eclipse the 48 years old result of Sandie Shaw's Puppet On A String which actually is the closest song by a British female solo singer that had similar success.

Already now Hello sets historical marks. It is this the 32nd consecutive week of having the #1 coming from Europe. A feat not seen since 1990.

At #2 the Deepend-remix of Matt Simons Catch & Release goes selling out the long running #2 Geiles Leben by German Glas-Perlen-Spiel. It is the first week since May 1st that there is no appaerance of a German act at #1 or #2.

Astronaut by Andreas Bourani & Sido spends an 18th week inside the top 10 at #7 and is now the third song in 2015 doing so. In next weeks time it could become the longest running top 10 hit of the year.

The one and only new song inside the top 10 makes its entry due to the release of an album. Coldplay misses the top spot on the album's list with A Head Full Of Dreams clearly as there hold firm Helene Fischer and Adele. So it is the first time in 13 years that a Coldplay album misses the top–so far one has to add. At least the teasing single Adventure Of A Lifetime gets a sales boost rising 14–9 in the single's survey and giving the band its fourth top 10 appearance.


Three places down Major Lazer stops with follow up hit to Lean On. The new single calls Light It Up and features Jamaican Nyla plus British Fuse ODG. In between the Major Lazer/Ellie Goulding collaboration Powerful sneaked into the survey for a single week in September. Past hit Lean On spends a 40th chart week right now at a pretty #45.
Project member Diplo also sees his own production Be Right There (feat. Sleepy Tom) rising to #69.

Past week the Felix Jaehn/Mark Forster project EFF started chart life with Stimme at #24. This week the track rises to #15 giving the DJ his fourth and the singer his fifth top 20 hit.

Danish band Lukas Graham can set its first top 20 hit with 7 Years rising to #19.


The main story starts at #31. There one can find the best selling Christmas pop song so far. It is Last Christmas recorded 31 years ago by Wham!. The song already spends a 116th week inside the list which is the second most of all time.
Christmas hit number two comes from Mariah Carey. Her All I Want For Christmas Is You recorded in 1994 slowly gets same popularity as Last Christmas. This week it goes 45–32.
The third classic tune is Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) by Melanie Thornton. This song goes 89–61 in its 96th chart week. Its first chart appearance was only 14 years ago.
Further down there are other Christmas tunes returning to the list:
at #79 Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea
and at #97 the most popular tune of last season Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid


The highest new entry lands at #66 only. It is an old tune released independently in summer 2013. Now Frankfurt based DJ Katch added some vocals by New Yorkian Greg Nice and DJ Kool from Washington. Two weeks after its release Horns enter the charts for the first time.

Three months after its first appearance Policeman by Eva Simons can gain a new peak. The song lands at #67 in its 11th chart week.

2nd of Jan 2015: First List of the Year

The last number 1 of 2014 is the first on of 2015 - a situation which ain't unusual. The Christmas sales reflect the preferences of the past months. New music is released hardly (at least in Germany). And so the first list of a year mostly looks more or less steady. The last turn at the Top simultaneously to the change of the years was 2010/11 when Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'ole left the top position after a 12 weeks run and gave place to The Time–the so far last number 1 of The Black Eyed Peas.
In 2014/15 it is Dangerous by David Guetta feat. Sam Martin that expands its run at the top to a fifth week.

Top 10 Action
Due to his performance at the Christmas show of Helen Fischer (broadcasted on Christmas day on ZDF)Andreas Bourani sees his Auf anderen Wegen returning to the Top 10 again. It now reaches a new peak at number 4–in its 14th chart week–and is for the first time the best sold German production.

The highest new entry comes in at number 9 in the like of Cool Kids by echosmith.


Christmas Tunes
Covering the sales of week 19th to 25th of December 2014 this current list reflects the most loved Christmas tunes in Germany. In 2014 it is–of course–the German version of Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid 30. It actually sits pretty at number 16–the slide downwards the list already started a week ago.
Right behind that song a small sensation can be watched. Usually Last Christmas is the song of choice in Germany while the festive season. In 2014 it is another song. 20 years after its first release All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey can beat the classic from Wham!. It jumps 14 places to number 17 in its 42nd chart week eclipsing the old peak from 2007/08 by a single place. Doing so the song is the one taking the sixth longest time span to peak–first place belongs to Michael Jackson and his Thriller (25 1/2 year). Compared by chart weeks it is the third latest peak only beaten by Last Christmas (72 weeks) and Sky And Sand recorded by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner (83 weeks).
Talking 'bout Last Christmas: The song can achieves the highest place since 5 years. It celebrates its 30th anniversary at number 19.

A further new peak In der Weihnachtsbäckerei bei Rolf (Zuckowski) und seine Freunde achieves. The track–only available as an album cut–re-enters at number 75. It is already the second time this season but only the fourth time at all the track appears in the list. So far it never managed to go higher than number 96.


Udo Jürgens
The death of the singer brings some of his tunes back in the list. Most popular ain't his biggest selling song but the one that was re-discovered 5 years ago by German band Sportfreunde Stiller. Originally recorded in 1982 Ich war noch niemals in New York in 2009 had its chart debut at number 60. Now it returns as the best performing song of the singer at number 53. It is only its 9th week inside the charts–the version with Sportfreunde Stiller did much better: number 25 and 11 chart weeks so far.
At number 55 his biggest hit Griechicher Wein appaers newly in the list. The single spent eight weeks at number 1 in 1975.
Right behind that single the 42nd chart entry for the singer comes in. It is the duet with his daughter Jenny Liebe ohne Leiden recorded in 1984. 30 years after its release the single enters the charts for the very first time.
And at number 83 the song re-appears that brought Udo Jürgens the victory at the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne in 1966 Merci Cherie. In its original chart run the song peaked at number 4. Now the song is the one with the longest time span of chart appearance ever: almost 49 years. So far it was Nights In White Satin by The Moody Blues which charted in November 2013 again after it was performed on a casting show.
It is kind of fate that the second prominent death artist is beaten by that record too. Joe Cockers very first chart appearance was in December 1968 with With A Little Help From My Friends. The song re-appears this week at number 85 and now over spans a time of 46 years–a year longer than the Moody Blues tune but almost three short of Merci Cherie.

Back to Udo Jürgens: With his new presence inside the singles charts he is the artist with tho longest chart career. He first appeared on the list in August 1958–so his presence spance a period of more than 57 years. It is a historical record beating the one of Paul Kuhn from 2008.

28th of Nov. 2014: David Guetta vs. Band Aid

The second week at number 1 for Dangerous makes David Guetta Feat. Sam Martin the acts with most weeks spent at the Top in 2014. Nine weeks–that is the result of both lovers on the sun and Dangerous. Pharrell Williams only collected eight weeks with one song: Happy which still serves as the longest running number 1 single this year.


Highest new entry comes in at number 2. 30 years ago Do They Know It's Christmas? was first recorded. This year the Band Aid project was reformed and a new version is available collecting money for the fight against Ebola.
Stopping at runners up position makes this year's edition the second most successful in Germany. Even a German version was recorded and will probably chart soon on its own.
With Sinead O'Connor and Angelique Kidjo performing on the new recording both have a first chart entry in Germany since more than 20 years. And Roger Taylor far and away is the veteran of the project. His chart career started almost 40 years ago as a member of Queen.
The original recording from 1984 also charts this week again. It can be found at number 95 in its 26th chart week. All versions together (including a cover version by TV Allstars in 2003) collected 57 weeks inside the charts so far.

AronChupa arrives inside the Top10. Im An Albatroaz goes 17–10 and now makes the DJ and producer the most successful Swedish act in this week.



Still not released physically Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran jumps 26 places and lands at number 25.



A similar leap is taken by George Ezra's upcoming single Blame It On Me. The proper release on CD is scheduled for 28th of November. Already now the track is listed at number 28.

Hot Spot 12-13-13

No change at the Top: Still it is Jubel by French Klingande that finds the most buyers. It is the 7th week at the Top for the hit. Follow up tune Changes by Faul & Wad Ad climbs to number 5. Featured Pnau becomes the most successful Australian act since SIA featured by David Guetta last time one year ago.

Timber by Pitbull Feat. KE$HA rises a single place to number 3 which is the highest rank for the rapper since May 2011 when Give Me Everything followed on number 2 after his number 1 appearance with J.LO on the hit On The Floor. Additionally he now overtakes Mr. Flo Rida and is the act appearing third most inside the German Top 10 this current decade–right hinter Rihanna and David Guetta.

Released on CD single Atemlos durch die Nacht by Helene Fischer takes a 18 places leap to number 13. It is this the highest position the singer ever reached with her 10 charting songs.

Still available on more independent platforms only Tsunami by DVBBS & Borgeous reaches the Top 20 and sits pretty at number 18.

The slump of British music goes on. Only two productions from the Kingdom are inside the Top 20. Highest track still is Bonfire Heart by James Blunt–written and produced by USAmerican Ryan Tedder


Christmas is approaching heavily. Songs and tunes celebrating the holy time climbing up the list as usual. First of all still Wham!'s Last Christmas is leading the pack at number 32.


Artist of the week is German rapper Sido. His album 30-11-80 goes directly to number 1 in the album list. Leading single Einer dieser Steine still sits inside the Top 10. Most cherry picked track of the collection is Arbeit featuring Helge Schneider. It lands at number 33.

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.

X Factor finalists charting

Lana Del Rey again leads the survey. It seems almost certain that Video Games – Blue Jeans will stay at the top for the next days – very probably for Christmas time too. Even the rest of the Top 5 this week holds firm at past week’s position. Let’s call it (pre-)Christmas lazyness. More or less we witness that behaviour every year in December: well known hits rise again – new ones start slowly.

Let’s have a look at the new hits first. The highest new entry comes in at position 8. It is P!NK and her song Bridge Of Light for the movie Happy Feet 2. Just behind her the story of the week lands. It is about the end of the second season of X Factor. Winner is policeman David Pfeffer from Duisburg who won all public votes except the very first one. Somehow it was certain to see him taking the crown and the contract. His first hit is I’m Here which he performed at the final show also. The track immediately flies to number 10 on downloads only – CD sales will count from next week on. To beat the success of last year’s winner Edita (Abdieski) the singer needs to climb a position higher.By the way, do you remember the „huge“ career of Edita? Her debut I’ve Come To Life shot straight to number 9 and left the charts six weeks later. A second single called The Key was released in March stalling at number 51. In June she went on Clubtour. Since than nothing new heard ’bout her . Hopefully David Pfeffer will have much more luck. A next goal might be to beat Cello as the most popular German track, which sits pretty at number 9.



Runners up of the show is also in sales the second. Raffaela Wais offers a sweet pop song called Heaven Only Knows. I guess if another well known act would have recorded that track it would be a sure Top 10 hit. With nr.2 of the X Factor final as a singer it only can climb to 41.

Number 3 is the duo Nica & Joe – their operatic Build A Palace reaches number 54 right after the show. Nica (Veronika Belyavskaya) is already the second Polish act reaching the German charts in 2011. Three weeks ago it was Edward Simoni who entered the list alongside Christian Franke. I can’t remember any other Polish act with commercial success in Germany. Well, Itchyban – singer of Culcha Candela – is Polish. Anyway it seems the neighbour country of Germany finally makes the impact to the music market it deserves.



Further new material comes from SCOOTER. The band sends its 48th chart single in the competition. It is the fourth single taken from the album The Big Mashup and it is the fourth single in a row which sets a new negative record for the band. Friends Turbo, The Only One and David Doesn’t Eat all three charted lower and lower. Now it is track C’est Bleu that performs even worse. It enters in its first week on sale at a disappointing number 77. The Big Mashup is the least successfull album ever for SCOOTER in hit single terms. Probably their star is really sinking. Hardcore fans had to wait for the next album to prove that SCOOTER might have any chart power .

The track itself uses the refrain of the very familiar tune L’amour Est Bleu which made Greek-German singer Vicky Leandros internationally popular in 1967. She attempted with the song at the Eurovision Song Contest ending at the fourth place. (Winner song that year was Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw) In Germany L’amour est bleu was the fourth chart hit for Vicky Leandros reaching number27. Five years later she won the contest with Aprés Toi. After that success she had some hits in Germany including the number 1 single Theo, wir fahr’n nach Lodz (Theo, let’s go to Lodz).Since the end of the 70s she appeared only a few times inside the single’s charts. The last single reaching the list was Xavier Naidoo penned Möge der Himmel (Heaven should) two and a half year ago.

L’amour est bleu was a hit in two versions before. Paul Mariat recorded an instrumental one that became number 1 in the U.S.A. In Germany the record reached number 32. Now – 43 years later – the tune is back in people’s mind. I assume a completely new generation is discovering the track never before heard of it.



The original from 1967


Two further new hits worth mentioning arrive in the list. At position 51 the Christmas offering by DJ Ötzi lands. Ring The Bell is a song with English lyrics – I don’t know for what. It is simple as always ... for all the older people ...



If you like strange stories here is one: Brasilian Michel Teló is entering the German charts. His hit Nooossaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego became famopus by a youtube video which shows soccer star Neymar dancing to the track in a locker room. In October it charted in Spain and Italy (number 1 in both countries) after Ronaldo adopted the Nooossaa! move.Now also German soccers love to dance to the sound of Ai Se Eu Te Pego and the original track charts at number 66.

The Brasilian original + The German adoption



I wrote about strong re-appearing or re-rising hits at the end of the year. This week they come after Die ultimative Chartshow was broadcasted on December 2nd. One of the live performers was Marlon Roudette – his number 1 hit New Age jumps again 24–12 and is the biggest gainer of the show. I promise you the next weeks will see much more other live performer of all the hits of the year shows.

Nr.1 Battle + First X-mas Releases

Once again R(ihanna) is the one who grabs the honour of being number 1 in Germany. Plus – once again Rihanna does so by rising from a place not being number 1. It is the second time that We Found Love reclaims the top position after left that one before. The last track and artist doing so was Keri Hilson with her I Like almost exactly two years ago. Back than Aura Dione and Lady Gaga where the combatants disturbing a consecutive run at the top. In 2011 it was again Aura Dione and a new star named Flo Rida who doing similar to Rihanna.

The rise back to number 1 is all but surprising. Talk That Talk – the new album of Rihanna appeared in shops and enters at number 3 within the album list. Big album releases very often cause a new interest in single hits. So We Found Love really benefits from the album release. It is the fourth week of the track as the most sold one in Germany.

The second big album release comes from Canadian NICKELBACK. They even outsell Rihanna with their new offer Here And Now – in the single’s survey When We Stand Together jumps back 18–9.

Their are more album effects inside the recent list. Finnish Sunrise Ave see their hollywood hills jumping back 97–73 and jessie.J re-enters the list with Price Tag at 74. Both acts released a deluxe re-edition of their latest albums.


The next big (sales) event is knocking at the door: Christmas. Last week Justin Bieber with Mistletoe clocked up the charts. This week menowin enters with Waiting For Christmas at 27. It’s the second single of the runner’s up superstar from 2010. As the list from iTunes shows the track could rise much higher during next weeks which could enable menowin as the recently most successful contestant from last year’s season.
For the video and song please check out the clipfish tube for yourself – embedding the video is not allowed

Of course also well known Christmas anthems start appearing inside the list: Last Christmas by WHAM! stops at 52 and Mariah Carey re-enters with All I Want For Christmas Is You at 75. Further down the charts one can find also Melanie Thornton with Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) and the (unbelievably terrible) German contribution Küss mich, halt mich, lieb mich (Kiss me, hold me, love me) by Ella Endlich.


No Christmas story at all but a TV inspired spontaneous "hit" comes in at 63. The Supertalent show of November 19th presented Viennese Caroline Kreutzberger singing Pour que tu m’aimes encore. The song was a hit for Céline Dion in a lot of countries however not in Germany. Right after the performance the original enters the German list for the very first time.
Also RTL is keeping its videos available only on the channel’s own site – or go to Caroline’s facebook site for wathcing her version.


Two new German productions show up for new in the charts.
German dance project r.i.o. launched a succeeder to the hit Turn This Club Around. On Animal again U.S. born singer U-Jean delivers the voice. The track enters the list on downloads only at number 68 and stalls far behind the predecessor which ranges still at position 32. The full CD release of Animal appeared December 2nd – so wait a fortnight for comparing the power of both releases.



The next viral hit from Germany enters at number 100. It is a dance production – of course. FFF stands for „Fucking, feeding off, watching TV“ and the track is full with (minimal) slogans of our daily life. Originally released in early summer the track found its way to the clubs, into playlists and of course into the net. The video so far were watched over a million times on youtube. It is really on time for bringing the track to proper commercial hit status as well. The heads behind the track are Eichensohn/Davenstedt – two DJs who want to be unkown. They always appear as two clowns spreading the story that they met in Berlin buying a collection of Boney M.-hits. Well, doesn’t matter anyway who they are and where they come from – the track is probably one of the most consistent (mainstream) dance tracks of the last months. Enjoy the video!



For all non-German speaking people: there is an English version available also:



And please look for the Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Spanish ... version for your own!

Romantic Germany: UNHEILIG is leading Christmas sales

I wrote it before: the charts released at 31st of December are the real Christmas charts as they cover the sales time 17th to 23rd of December. And they are boring. – German music industry releases new CDs with caution ever expecting the big flop. A look to Great Britain shows how successful a release can be started even a few days before Christmas. Of course there is a risk. And the German market is quite huge and slow. It needs at least a direct TV connection to launch a hit immediately. But I still keep my opinion: German music industry has no idea at all how to act within the new digital era.

Two new entries - both available only as digital download-tracks. One of them Carpe Diem by Germany Got Talent winner Freddy Sahin-Scholl not even planned as a proper single release. The second one Hey (Neh Nah Neh) by Milk&Sugar vs. Vaya Con Dios at the release schedule for 14th of January – we will talk about this track for sure soon much more.

Probably most impressive move comes from UNHEILIG which/who is re-entering the top at the album charts with its Große Freiheit displacing the King of Pop Michael Jackson after only one week. Within the singles charts UNHEILIG's last track Winter is climbing back to no.4 matching its highest position from its first week at the beginning of December. Also all other tracks climbing at the end of the year: Geboren um zu leben (Born For Living) the classic and identifying track rising 23 – 16 in its 46th (!) chart week, Unter deiner Flagge rises 43 – 40, Für immer 89 - 84. The mystery of leader and face Der Graf seems still working. Asked what is the magic of UNHEILIG most fans will tell one – the lyrics! Well – in case of Winter they tell a romantic hymn about home coming, the come true of wishes and the possibility of dreaming. All surrounded by classic described winter wonderlands: white stars, silver shadows, icy flowers and silent forrests … – without any word Christmas is mentioned but one really catch the atmosphere supported by many links to a lucky childhood and careless children. Seems that the Germans are very romantic in a classic way. The luck, the good life and the dreams can be found only in winter time when life is dying (or at least sleeping). When people can find back to themself. So UNHEILIG is the answer to the clichee of the ever working and accurate German - not that bad. Unfortunately even for UNHEILIG it's only a dream or a belonging. Reality is different. What a pitty.


Unheilig -- Winter - MyVideo

Kind of a Christmas present was brought to Katy Perry. Her latest single Firework finally enters the top 10 by rising 11 – 9. It is her fourth big hit in a row (taking the collaboration with Timbaland If We Ever Meet Again into account). From her seven official releases as the leading artist five made it to the top 10. She is in Germany as well as in all the other parts of the world one of the most popular female artists to date – accompanied by Rihanna, Shakira and Lady Gaga. Well … more of that stuff in short time when we have a look back to the whole 2010.

A short footnote to Firework. Produced by Norwegian team Stargate the track is the second for the team in the recent top 10 besides Rihanna's Only Girl (In The World).

Last story for today: Christmas Songs.
Well – the alltime classic Last Christmas is not at all the most loved Christmas melody. After climbing to position 23 beginning of December the track slided down to no.29 last week and had a very soft rise up to no. 27 now. James Masterton who comments the British chart has summarized the diminishing sales of classic Christmas songs in a very brief but pointed way. There is nothing to add. In Germany the return of ever same tracks seems fading away a bit. Let's wait till february when carnival season is entering the music market.

Question is: what are the new seasonal hits. Well – in Germany it is US-American Band train which gains the crown of having the most selling seasonal track. Shake Up Christmas moves 32 – 24 followed by Coldplay which have its Christmas Lights rised up 35 – 26. Both not completely as successful as one could hope … once again: Germans this year do love more the romantic and indifferent tale sung by UNHEILIG.

Further down one will find a lot of other well known tracks but they will disappear immediately as the next chart covers the festive days and the week after.

Christmas-Charts: Michael is the King

Nothing really new within the German list published at 24th December 2010. A very static top with frozen top 5.
Highest signifcant climber lands at no.7. Rising from 18 the single Hold My Hand gives King of Pop Michael Jackson post mortem a 20th top 10 hit. It is the second time after his dead end of June last year that a track enters a position that high. In July it was Thriller the title-track of his 1982 album. Now for the first time since 2001 a completely new track is listed in the top 10. Last single doing so was You Rock my World leading single of Invincible. That makes Michael Jackson a star with top hits in four decades – unfortunately his releases within the 70ies did impact only the U.S. and UK not so in Germany. Don’T Stop ’Til You Get Enough only made no. 13 in 1979.

Hold My Hand is the leading single of his recent album Michael which this weeks enters the album charts straight at top position. So Michael is the King of Pop to most of Germans.

In statistics Michael Jackson's status looks like this: 20 top hits (no.10 or higher) – that's as much as The Bee Gees (19) and ABBA (21) had in Germany – good companion I guess. A more recent act to compare is German Scooter which has to date 23 top 10 hits under its belt.

Duetting partner Akon achieves with rising single Hold My Hand his 5th top 10 hit. It is the follow up to last year's Sexy Bitch which appeared a month ago in the list for the last time. In between Akon had a smaller hit alongside with Pitbull and a almost unrecognized solo try with commercial track Oh Africa. Seems that he has a lot homework to do for getting his announced album Akonic a real success. For now he did a good job.



Most sold German track still comes from UNHEILIG. Winter just climbs a place back to no.6.
And as the list is valid officially from 24th of December on one might expect several Christmas songs within it. Well – there are some but not as high as all the last years. Best sold track at this very moment is Wham! with Last Christmas sliding down a place to no.29. I guess the next issue will look quite different as it covers the week right before the festive days.

Flashlight: Popstars-Release fails

This is the Christmas Week and nothing changed at the top of the German charts. Israel IZ Kamakawiwo'ole is still no.1 with Over The Rainbow – finally the track also entered the French charts at no.4. As media control the chart compiling institution informs today also no.2 and no.3 in Germany are the same like seven days ago. The Black Eyed Peas with The Time (Dirty Bit) and Empire Of The Sun with We Are The People. That's what German people are listening to in the festive season.

And what's the biggest story of the week? It's a story of failure. December the 9th the final show of the TV casting Popstars was aired. The four winners now forming LaVive. Their debut single No Time For Sleeping is on sale since December 10th. It's a cover version of a Romanian eurodance track sung by Corina feat. JJ. As Romanian productions had some success in 2010 europewide (Edward May / INNA) the popstars management for sure hoped to launch a guaranteed hit. But the new version even fails to make top 10 in its release weeks. No.13 is not bad at all but again the popstars act misses the top 10 with its first release. Even worse: 2008 act Queensberry started low down at 23 but they had two more successful releases following. 2009 act Some & Any crashed down with Last Man Standing only climbing to no.16 in its first week and the duo separated a few months later in summer.

Decreasing sales stand in sharp contrast to the rising anticipation of the TV show. media control informed that the 2010 season of Popstars had 100.000 follower more on an average. There are some rumours around about high prices of the offered tracks especially on the digital market. Maybe the industry behind Popstars still want to sell physical CDs … but this is of course not clarified.

To summarize: the only casting show which really generates top sales now is Deutschland sucht den Superstar - the German version on Idols. Start of the new season will be end of february.


Original sung by Corina feat. JJ


New Version by LaVive

Best CD start in the week 10th to 16th of December was the new offering made by Taio Cruz. Higher is a collaboration with Kylie a well produced singalong pop track which was a sure hit. No.10 in its first week maybe is not completely the best position but it's enough to give Taio Cruz the third straight top 10 hit in a row - all of them were highest new entry of their week. With that Taio Cruz is one of only six artists to have a triple in a row and even better he's the only male artist. David Guetta and German band UNHEILIG had also three top 10 tracks but they appeared somewhere more low down in the charts in between. Talking bout Taio Cruz and the ending year one could mentioned him as the most successful newcomer in 2010. Finally one have to add cause his breakthrough in the UK came more than two years before.

Kylie appears for the 37th time in the German singles chart list under her own name. Although Higher is only her 9th track climbing to no.10 or higher. Having two tracks in a year doing so just once happened before. At the very beginning of her career in 1988 she managed having four singles in a row climbing top 10. 2010 seems to be one of the commercial more successful years in her career.