13th of March 15: The Biggest Hit of Kanye West

No change at the Top. It is still Ellie Goulding and her anthem Love Me Like You Do that rules the sales and airplays list. The British charts that are published a bit faster just this current week see the song dipping to number 2 after four weeks at the top–that might be the first sign of weakness of the song. So far it still tops the daily German iTunes list.

More historical is the 5–3 rise of FourFive Seconds recorded by Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney. It is now the best performing single of the American rapper. So far the collaboration with Estelle American Boy held that crown by peaking at number 5 in 2008. Also Paul McCartney has reason to celebrate. It is his first appearance inside the Top3 since 1992 when Hope Of Deliverance stopped exactly at number 3.
With Paul McCartney charting alongside Kanye West at number 65 we have another historical moment. All Day is the 81st chart hit that has Paul McCartney somehow involved. The list contains 41 singles recorded by The Beatles, 15 by Wings, 23 under his own name and the Band Aid singles of 1984 and 2004 on which he also appeared. 82 chart entries–that's one more than Austrian singer Peter Alexander collected under his belt. Of course Mr. Alexander released all the entries under his own artist name. It's your decision what to count as more substantial.


Further Gainers
Next typical deep house track arrives at number 9. Wolke 4 was released by Philipp Dittberner & Marv and enters the Top 10 in its 7th week.

Highest new entry is the 37th chart hit for grönemeyer. His new single is called Fang mich an.


Revolverheld finds some more friends due to the appearance of singer Johannes Strate on The Voice of Germany Kids which has fantastic viewer rates since the new season started in January and even overtakes long time leader Deutschland sucht den Superstar. Additionally on February 28th Revolverheld was announced as nominee for two categories of the ECHO award in March. As an effect Ich lass für dich das Licht an re-enters at number 67 and Las uns gehen at number 76. It is the 51st resp. 30th chart week of the songs.

First effects of upcoming Eurovision Song Contest appear inside the list. The national qualifying show was aired on Thursday 5th of March. Already while the show was going on a lot of people downloaded the most convincing songs. Leading the pack of course is later winner Andreas Kümmert with Heart Of Stone landing at number 84 after two hours of sale.
Surprising is the result of Alexa Feser who lands at number 87 with Glück. She made it into the semi final of the qualifying with that song. Then she staged with another song (Das Gold von morgen)and failed.

14th of February 2014:

Another week we see Pharrell Williams Happy about being No.1 in Germany. It is the fifth week at the Top which means Happy is the longest standing No.1 for the singer. Additionally his total of number 1 weeks is 11 which makes him as successful as AVICII. Only Rihanna had more in this decade: a full 16 weeks at the Top since January 1st 2010.

REVOLVERHELD finally has a fourth Top 10 hit with Ich lass für dich das Licht an rising 11–7. The new demand comes due to its release on CD. According to chart position the song already has overtaken Halt dich an mir fest which is so far the most sold single of the band. The highest position REVOLVERHELD gained with Helden 2008 in exactly that year.

A fortnight before its release on CD Can't Remember To Forget You goes Top 10. It is Shakira's 11th Top 10 single in Germany – Rihanna performs much better. So far she has 21 Top 10 singles under her belt–matching the result of ABBA. For becoming the act with most Top 10 singles she has to add some more. The all time record still is an unbelievable amount of 36 Top 10 hits set by Caterina Valente between 1954 and 1962–of course only if you count her hits as Club Italia/Indonesia/Honolulu to herself. Otherwise the record is held by Peter Alexander with 35 Top 10 hits under his own name.

Looks like German producer ZEDD right now becomes a mainstream star. His single Stay The Night (featuring Haley Williams of Paramor) enters the Top 20 at number 15 one week ahead of its release as a proper CD single. In the US he already is a star–decorated with an Grammy award as Best Dance Recording for predecessor Clarity three weeks ago.

TV soap Berlin – Tag und Nacht launches a third hit. After Ole (2012) and Chris Prinz (2013) it is now JJ alias Très Jolie who released a production. Bow! (You Gotta Kick It) lands at number 20 which marks the highest position for a track related to the soap.

Single number 4 from AVICII's album True is the track Addicted To You which will be released as full single in April. Already now the track becomes hit status by rising 95–28. Predecessor Hey Brother performs still well inside the Top 20.


DSDS infected hits
Since 8th of January the 11th season of DSDS (Deutschland sucht den Superstar) is aired. So far only jury member Kay One benefitted from the new presence–his hits V.I.P. and Keep Calm Fuck You returned to the list and sneaking through the bottom down regions of the list. This week also Ich hass es dich zu lieben returns to number 91.

The first song performed by a contestant this week gets in the list. It is the ballad When I Look At You originally recorded by Miley Cyrus that returns at number 60. The original chart appearance stopped in August 2010 at number 85–so this is a new peak. The album the song is taken from The Time Of Our Lives is right now digitally re-released. What an impact for a simple TV show.

24th of January 2014: Lazy Week

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

17th of January 2014: Happy goes No.1

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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


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

20-12: New Old Number One And (Almost) No Entries

Do you remember what I told you last week? I promised you the start of the summer and the arriving of loads of new songs. This week everything is changed again. We only can find 6 songs completely new on the charts and 2 tracks re-entering the list which means there is an 8 tracks turnover of the list. It is the second time this year that we only have eight songs listed that not were in the list the week before. So probably one have to wait a little longer for the transformation in a hot new summer list ...

But there are some moves done in the charts: Luca Hänni’s halt at the Top is stopped after a single week by predecessor Too Close offered by dubstep singer Alex Clare. Latter one now adds a third week to his number one addition. The Swiss superstar tumbles down to number 3 due to the fact that current soccer champion BVB enters the list at number 2 with the anthem Borussia, schenk uns die Schale (Borussia, Take The Bowl/Cup). It is the third year in a row that a BVB anthem can enter the list. It started two years ago with a song celebrating the 100th anniversary of the club. Last year the team won the tournament and the anthem recorded with Krypteria stormed to number 6. This year the crowd is even more crazy–the current single enters the list at number 2. A few days ago the team also won the DFB cup. So we will see the single listed at the very Top of the music charts for sure in two weeks time again.

The single features Borussia master Norbert Dickel as the leading voice. He is an all time star for the club as he in 1989 brought the team two goals on the final match of the DFB cup although his knee was heavily injured. Shortly after that he was retired from sport and started a career as stadium announcer. Now he is debuting as a singer too.



The song itself is a cover of the Mickie Krause Mallorca hit Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto. The song originally penned by Dutch Gebroeders Ko already spent 42 weeks inside the German charts in at least two different mixes. It peaked at number 27 on beginning of March during the heydays of this year’s carnival season.


Next new German song comes from Revolverheld member KRIS. Diese Tage (These Days) is a sunshiny song about the beautifulness of life. Every day is worth for living even if one seems completely ill fated. The sound (and the video) is very American country rock. It has a sing-a-long refrain and quotes a few anthems of that genre including Miss California which original lyrics by Dante Thomas are added to the song itself.




Four years after his first solo album Peter Heppner comes with a second. For featuring the release he offers the single Meine Welt (My World). In my opinion his sound is much more mellow and a bit more electronic than 2008. Even his lyrics seem to escape the reality. Peter Heppner dreams of an own world which is a better place. All that presented with that weepy voice … hmm one must be a fan for really loving that.




We do have a new superstar. Although he’s tumbling down in popularity right now every one around does remember the last DSDS season. Nonetheless there started a spin off on 5th May: DSDS Kids. I remember shows like this aired in the 80s and 90s already. Well, kids are sweet and help selling music. First beneficiary of the show is Adele. Her Someone Like You was the song performed by 12 years old Besnik. Jurywoman Dana Schweiger was overwhelmed–TV watchers also. The song can rise up the list again to number 49. Similar does Rolling In The Deep that was performed by 10 years old Gala. To be completely honest, also CRO gots a little more attention after Easy was performed by 10 years old Samuel. The song rises two places to number 7.

German music companies against the web

After last week’s somehow calm and static list music business comes back to life again. 8 new entries plus two tracks re-entering the list – that’s not bad. Indeed it is the same level as we’ve witnessed two weeks before. The times when we had 20+ new tracks in the chart seem long ago.

The most impressive rise was made by DiddyDirtyMoney. The trio sees ist single Coming Home vaulting 10 – 4 after its use in a TV commercial for the next Stargate-season which starts in March. Heavy airing could cause much more interest in the single. On February 4th the new album Last Train To Paris came in stores whiche usually gives singles an extra boost. Would be no surprise seeing Coming Home next week within the German top 3. Even without stepping higher Coming Home is the highest rank Diddy made since I Don’t Wanna Know saw him topping the German charts as featured artist in 2004. The last top hit as main artist is way back in 1999 when Satisfy You (feat. R. Kelly made no.2.

Next surprise comes with the look of best selling German productions. DJ duo Milk&Sugar still leading the list rising one place to no.8 with its take on Vaya Con Dios’ Hey (Nah Neh Nah). The track is still catchy and attracts a lot of music consumers. So that’s not the big news. But let’s have a look at best sold track in German. It comes once again from Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová. Their Halt dich an mir fest (Hold on me) climbs back into the top 10 in its 11th chart week which is the highest position since beginning of December. All the weeks in between the song crept around this position never falling deeper down than no.14 mid-January. I don’t know really what caused the new rising interest. Maybe it’s a result of weak competition?

Weak competition – that’s the word for the CD single start of culcha candela’s Berlin City Girl. The track charted two weeks before on download sales only rising up last week to no.21 and now misses narrowly the top 10 on combined sales. It is a surprise indeed. If one sees the advertising machinery working around the track one should assume that this is the biggest new track of the winter. Versions for Austria and Switzerland were pushed separately – a lot of interviews and video snippets sneaking around but – and maybe that’s the main reason for the relatively low interest – the track itself or the video is available only at the band’s homepage. Additionally embedding function is disabled. Maybe the band and especially the company now have to learn what the culture of embedding, linking and liking really means … btw: If you wanna watch the video visit the band’s homepage

Let’s go back to good news! There is a song cruising around the charts since November last year but never had that big impact. It started at no.44 soon falling out of the upper half of the list down to no.70 in late December. Then it became a hit in more or less whole Europe: no.1 in Austria, Belgium and Ireland, top 5 in France and finally rising up the UK charts as well. Even the U.S. dance charts saw the track passing a no.1. The song I’m talking about is simply called Hello and it’s an offering of Canadian band Dragonette remixed by French Martin Solveig. Slowly the track catches fire in Germany also rising since beginning of the year continously and finally entering the top 20 this week. It’s the 14th week the song spent within the list and I wouldn’t be surprised seeing it climbing further.

11-05: waiting for the new stuff

The chart from 4th February 2011 reflecting sales 21st to 27th January should show a lot of activity. At the top such a change of hits happens. Further down … nothing really exciting. Only four new entries and two re-entries – all together six tracks not listed a fortnight ago. That’s really solid. Last time we saw such a slow chart list was 3rd September 2010. Do you remember the rush of new tracks crashing into the list two ... three ... four years ago?

Times are changing. I wonder why all other charts around the world behave completely different. I guess German music industry somehow denies the final steps for getting into the digital area. They fight against youtube, digital releases are mostly synchronized with physical releases. Campaining for new music via TV is done only for some acts with sure CD release. The whole digital market seems completely unknown. Hot new music from outside of Germany is hardly available – take at least the huge grime invasion in Great Britain. In Germany nobody cares about it. One can inform about new tendencies by surfing the net. But every third track comes with a „Not available in your country“-warning. To me it looks like discriminating a whole generation of music consumers.

Well – let’s not argue bout what should be. Let’s have a look what is in reality. Most popular German track with the highest amount of sales is again Milk&Sugar vs. Vaya Con Dios Hey (Nah Neh Nah) finally reaching top 10 status and giving both acts their first top hit ever. German DJ duo Milk&Sugar took almost exactly 10 years to do so, Belgian Vaya Con Dios had to wait almost 20 years since charting first in Germany.

Most popular song in German is still Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová Halt dich an mir fest (Hold On Me) sliding down one place to no.13. Upcoming next big German song is the new single from culcha candela Berlin City Girl which is in shops as physical release since 28th February. It is the second new recording from the band’s best of-album released last October. This week Berlin City Girl jumps up the list as an download only track 53 – 21. Take it for guaranted having it inside the top 10 next week. (The video is available on Culcha Candelas site: culchacandela.de – embedding not aloud)

Addition 05th February
Man of the day is more or less Bruno Mars having two simoultaneous hits inside the top 10 plus appearing as the producer of Cee-Lo Green's F**k You which still invading the upper half of the list. The woman with the biggest presence is once again Rihanna. This week her new single What's My Name? (alongside with Canadian rapper DRAKE) is entering the list at no. 12. Who's That Chick? and Only Girl still cling on inside the top 20 and even the duet with EMINEM – the former no.1 Love The Way You Lie is straying through the list. Four tracks in one list – Rihanna itself did two years ago better havong 5 tracks charted at the same time. Having several hits in the list for more than two years – that seems quite spectacular.

04-11: Most popular German tracks - Milk&Sugar + Revolverheld

Most important stories of the German music market are told already. Adele is the new rising star probably catching the no.1 spot next week, Bruno Mars will follow having just now two tracks simultaneously in the top 10. These actions are similar to most countries all over Europe. What’s about productions from the continent? – Well, best sold track from continental Europe is right now David Guetta’s Who’s That Chick?. At least in Germany it is selling since two months copies enough for placing within the top 10. It reached its highest position no.6 when it was first released beginning of December. This week Who’s That Chick? is sliding down two places to no.10. Of course the track is not a full European production as the voice belongs to Rihanna. Best sold completely European production comes from Germany and ranks at no.11. There Hey (Nah Neh Nah) lands after an impressive more than 20 positions jump. Originally the song was offered by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was one of their few hits finding a wide audience in central Europe in the early 90s. Probably Nah Neh Nah (which was the original title) was the most played and most known track of the band but not the commercially most successful reaching only no.16 in Germany and missing the top 20 in Austria and Switzerland. In autumn 2010 the track became more or less popular in clubs – if one is interested in the different versions one could find them here. German DJ duo Milk&Sugar had the luckiest hands on the track, their mix is selling in bigger quantities and entered the German charts just at the end of last year. On 14th January the proper CD single was released causing the abover mentioned jump. It gives the DJ team its highest place ever. And even Vaya Con Dios finally have a second no.11-hit after getting this rank once more than 20 years ago. Both are still waiting for their first German top 10 rank. Will the new mix have the power for rising further? We will see.

Most popular song in German comes from Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová at no.12. Halt dich an mir fest (Hold on me) is ranking within the German list since beginning of December reaching no.8 in ist very first week but it was always overshadowed by powerful German superstars UNHEILIG who held a strong performing Winter within the list. Finally winter euphoria and romantic memories of peaceful childhood loosing sympathy and the classic love song finds its way into the spotlight.