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. 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 18th 15: Kollegah Invades The List Again

Indeed Hello by Adele spends an eighth week at the top and now eclipses the result of best performing no.1 in 2015 (Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) by Felix Jaehn Feat. Jasmine Thompson). So it is a race exciting till the last week of the year: What sound does German music lovers attract more, soft deep house or classic ballads about lost love? Do you have a guess?#

In once Hello also matches the result of Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw from 1967. That song was the last from a British female solo artist spending eight weeks at #1 in Germany. The next mark to catch for Adele is the run of Petula Clark's Downtown which technically spent 11 weeks at #1.

Strongest competitor for Adele lands at #2 in the face of Show Me Love the new single offered by Robin Schulz. It is the fifth single of the German DJ that reaches at least #2–that all happened within two years.

Talking bout best performing songs of 2015 one have to point out the 19 weeks run inside the top 10 of Astronaut by Sido Feat. Andreas Bourani. The song sits pretty at #7 this weeks. Ain't Nobody and Cheerleader had spent only 18 weeks under the top 10 selling singles in 2015.


Two songs enter the top 10 for the very first time. It is this the new European hit by Major Lazer Light It Up that goes 12–8 in its fifth chart week. Voices on this track are from Jamaican Nyla and Birtish Fuse ODG.
Second one rises a bit faster. In its third chart week Stimme by EFF goes 15–9. Behind the project there are Felix Jaehn and Mark Forster, both belonging to the stars of 2015. For Felix Jaehn it is the fourth top 10 hit (all in 2015), Mark Forster gets here for the third time, in 2015 so far he did not appear that high.

Canadian teenie star #2 Shawn Mendes reaches the top 20 for the very first time. Stitches lands at #15 in its 15th chart week and increases the total of tracks inside the top 20 offered by Canadians to 7. Such a strong presence never was seen before in Germany.


The best selling album comes from Kollegah. Zuhältertape Vol.4 dethrones Helene Fischers Weihnachten and Adeles 25 which indeed is a strong thing. As a result of the album start 17 album tracks can achieve the song charts too. Highest one and best new entry of the week is John Gotti that lands at #31. It is that a better performance than one and a half year ago while predecessor album Boss had its launch.


A new commercial spot for supermarket chain EDEKA became a viral hit and porpells its soundtrack into the list. It is Neele Ternes' Dad that can start chart life at #43. So it performs better than the first campaign Supergeil recorded by Friedrich Liechtenstein in early 2014. That one stopped at #50.


The Voice of Germany used to be the better casting show–not as popular as mother of all castings DSDS although still big enough to make hits. This year the audience increased dramatically. We had some short impacts for Wolke 4 (originally by Philipp Duttberner, Oft gefragt by AnnenMayKantereit and probably also The Hanging Tree (originally recorded by James Newton Howard. On Thursday 17th the final was aired featuring winner Jamie-Lee Kriewitz. Her self written song Ghost immediately gains attention and lands at #59 after a few hours online. It will certainly jump much higher in next weeks time.
Runners up Ayke Witt can land his Bis gleich at #86.

26th of Dec. 2014: Last chart list of the year

Dangerous holds firm at the Top for a fourth week (a second in a row) and finally makes David Guetta feat. Sam Martin the act with most number 1 weeks in 2014. Having two proper number 1 singles the duo is far and away the best performing number 1 act. But in 2014 there were some other acts that come close to this feat. First of all newcomer Robin Schulz has to be counted as the closest combatant by serving as one main act on Prayer in C and remixing Waves by Mr Probz which later was officially credited to him also.

Significant moves:
Hozier lands at number 2 with Take Me To Church after he performed the song on the final show of The Voice of Germany together with Charley Ann Schmutzler on 19th December 2014. The later winner of the show herself can climb 26 places to number 3 with Blue Heart. Winner 2013 Andreas Kümmert was able to reach number 2 at the back end of 2013.
Also Ed Sheeran profits from his performance on the show. Thinking Out Loud goes 12–6 and now is his third Top10 hit in 2014. So Ed Sheeran now eclipses the result of Swedish AVICII who so far was the artist with most different songs inside the German Top 10.

Highest new entry comes from Italian Frei.Wild. Wir brechen Eure Seelen (weil Ihr gerne Kriege führt) is the first official single where the band dissociates from neo nazi movement. The song lands at number 8.

On number 18 the first serious German singer-songwriter started on the internet can launch his first hit. Joel Brandenstein is very different to comedian projects like Die Lochis, Y-Titty or Apecrime. His Diese Liebe serves as his first commercial release and brings him a straight Top20 hit.

Additionally Nico Suave Feat. Xavier Naidoo enter the list with Danke at number 20. So the three highest new entries are in German which sets the number of songs in German inside the Top20 at seven–a feat not seen since April 2012. The number of German productions inside the Top20 is 8–the best result for whole 2014 and doubling the result of the last charts issue of 2013.

At number 34 a classic tune gets a new peak. Hallelujah originally written and performed by Canadian Leonard Cohen in the 80s became famous the past 20 years but first charted in December 2012 in the version of Jeff Buckley. It got its peak a few weeks later at number 38. On December 16th Xavier Naidoo performed the song on Sing meinen Song - Das Weihnachtskonzert. Now his version rises 61 places which is the best move of the week and eclipses the old peak.

And another benchmark is set in this last issue of the year 2014. German schlager singer HEINO is back with a collection of hard rock versions of his former hits. It misses the Top10 of the album list by entering at number 11. Anyway the lead song Schwarz blüht der Enzian a re-recording of his biggest hit released in 1972 can enter the singles list at number 84. Covering a span of over 42 years it is the eldest composition that appears in 2014 inside the list. So far it was We Are The Champions by Queen that made it into the charts again in late July after the German team won the FIFA world championship. The first appearance of that song dates back to 1977.
Back to Heino again: Appearing inside the current list his chart career now spans an impressive 47 years. Of course in 2014 he was the artist with the longest history beating the 44 years that Peter Maffay collects right now. 47 years–that's also the 7th longest chart career of all times. Heino now has only six more years to go to beat the record set by Paul Kuhn in August 2008. But well–a look into the future tells you: Next week we will embrace the back catalogue of Udo Jürgens for sure which pushes the record of the longest chart career even further to 57 years.

14th of Nov. 2014

It is week number six for Meghan Trainor and her All About That Bass at the Top of Germany's singles charts which makes her the act with the third longest stay at the upper end of the list in 2014. Still she has the opportunity to become the longest during ride in 2014–there are only three weeks to go.


Highest new entry and the only new inside the Top 10 comes in at number 6 in the face of UNHEILIG's Zeit zu gehen. It is the album announcing single and the start for the Good bye tour of the artist. So far it is his sixth Top 10 hit, two of them gained number 2: Geboren um zu leben in 2010 and So wie du warst in 2012. The statistics of the current decade count him as the second most successful German act. Number 1 by now is rapper CRO.

With the arrival of Calvin Harris' album Motions in shelves also his current singles rise up the survey. Leading the pack is Blame at number 5. The biggest jump is taken by the nasty Open Wide (feturing Big Sean) which goes 67–22, Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding) climbs 24 places to number 25. And even Summer can gain 10 places sitting pretty at number 60.
The album doesn't perform that well in Germany. Number 2 in Britain and Switzerland and a number 5 in the US stand in sharp contrast to the number 20 new entry on the German list. Anyway it is the highest position a Calvin Harris album ever achieved here.

On Friday the 31st of October the first battle round of The Voice of Germany was aired. Of course again songs interpreted by contestants appear in the list again. The biggest impact made a battle on show number 2 (aired on Thursday 6th of November): Philipp Leon Altmeyer and Dominik Oberwallner + Moritz Häußinger were the contestants who interpreted Wolke 7. The original recorded by Max Herre feat. Philipp Poisel returns to the list after three hours of online sales at number 33. It is the highest rank the track achieves since its original chart run in late summer/autumn 2012. And I guess that's not yet all we've seen.
Other songs getting a sales boost are:
- I See Fire by Ed Sheeran goes 47–36 in its 48th chart week
- Du bist das Licht by Gregor Meyle after performed by Philipp Leon Altmeyer on the Blind audition show on 30th October – number 69 is a new peak for the song taken from the 2012 album Meile für Meyle
- Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis re-enters at number 81 after a nine months absence
- Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson re-entering number 83. In fact the iTunes list reports the version with Justin Timberlake much more downloaded than the solo take
- Shot Me Down by David Guetta feat Skylar Grey re-enters at 98

Way Up The Charts
Swedish AronChupaß sees his I'm An Albatraoz rising up the survey. A week before the official release of the single the track goes 74–35.




George Ezra's new single Blame It On Me rises 19 places to number 61 in its third chart week. In Belgium and Britain the song is treated as a proper release with individual art work and promotion. I found no information about such an exposure for the German speaking countries.
The upcoming single by Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud is scheduled for 28th of November as an alone standing release. Already now the track rises up the survey to number 62 in its third chart week by sales as an album cut track.

Hot Spot 11-22-13

Still Klingande holds firm at number 1 with their hit Jubel. It is now the fourth week at the very top. After released as an EP bundle with Jubel also the first single of the project Punga can enter the list at number 59. Like the other song Punga performs in German speaking countries better than in its home country France.

German chart surprise Milky Chance finally touch the Top 3 with their Stolen Dance. Also in Austria the duo becomes a Top 10 ect, Switzerland reports the track still rising.

After more than five years in charts Miley Cyrus for the first time can launch a Top 10 hit. Wrecking Ball stops at number 6 after the star performed the song in Germany's still most watched Saturday night TV show Wetten dass...?!. It is already her 11th chart hit – that was a long way.

Star guest number two in Wetten dass...?! came in the face of Celine Dion. Her single Loved Me Back To Life gets a sales boost and jumps 80–38. It is the highest rank the star can achieve since six years.


Hyped as the sensation of the week Lady Gaga's new album Artpop fails to become number 1. It stops at number 3 behind EMINEM and The Rolling Stones. The single Do What U Want (Feat. R. Kelly) can get some benefit from the release of the full album but also stalls at number 17 what is only a medium result for the superstar.

The real sensation of the week is the return of a 45 years old song. It was caused by–you already guess right–a performance within a casting show. Nights In White Satin is the song in question that brings after a break of 27 years British band The Moody Blues back to chart life. The song was performed at The Voice Of Germany. Thanks to Nena three candidates had to sing the classic, which started its first chart run back in March 1968 peaking at number 18 on the list issued for May 15th. It was re-released at the end of 1972 when it had a successful ride to number 1 in the US. That second chart run stopped at number 27 in Germany. In 1995 Sandra recorded a new version reaching number 86 for one single week. Now the original recording again appears at number 39 and–yes–it is far and away the eldest song charted in this decade and probably the song with the longest chart career of all times.

Hit number 2 caused by The Voice Of Germany is a classic German rock song never charted before. Ohne Dich recorded by Selig is probably one of their most popular song. When it was recorded in 1994 the band was anything but well known. The video was played on music TV in hot rotation–anyway it had no chance to chart. This year British synthpop duo HURTS offered a cover version that had a short chart appearance in September. In their concerts taking place right now in Germany that song is one of the most referred in newspapers. Now the original can made it up in the list and lands at number 52. Usually hits generated by casting show performances disappear after a single week. That destiny is very certain for Selig too. But in a few weeks a TV Noir-compilation will appear. And the most watched youtube video of that concert serial is Ohne Dich performed by Selig:


Kid Ink Feat. Chris Brown are permanently on the way up. Shoe Me this weeks jumps exactly 20 places to number 47.

Passenger got some attention in the Cologne area where he played a concert on 7th of November. It boosts his single Holes to number 48 after it fell down to number 60 two weeks ago.

A commercial spot for a new TV advice generates a Europe wide hit. berlin by world travelling RY X entered the British and French charts already, in Germany he starts his career at number 53.

Katy Perry's next single Unconditionally rises full 32 places stopping at number 54 two weeks before its release. I guess this will be a big hit around Christmas.

Aired on Thursday, 14th November, the Bambi award ceremony leave some early traces in the list. Miley Cyrus-mentioned above-was one of the winners. Second star of the nigth (or first?–nobody really knows) was Helene Fischer who hosted the show and got an award too. Thanks to this big TV presence her last single Atemlos durch die Nacht re-appears in the list. It will probably rise further next week. Also her biggest hit to date ich will immer wieder … dieses Fieber spür'n re-appears at number 93.

Already two months released Steve Aoki's offer Boneless catches slowly fire. It enters the charts this week at number 70.

London Grammar's Strong also is on the way up. It stops at number 74 one week before full CD release count into the survey's result. Where will they land next week?

Finally the so called fifth season started on 11th November–in Germany a big date. Due to the begin of the carnival some well known hits show up. First of all it is Austrian Andreas Gaballier who sees his one and only chart hit i sing a liad für di returning again at number 79. Two places behind the latest offer from Cologne BRINGS comes in. Kölsche Jung spent a second week inside the list.

EMINEM still is number 1 in the album's list with his The Marshall Mathers LP2. The track only delivered with the deluxe version Beautiful Pain (Featuring Sia) makes it now as a single track into the list. Additionally the single Love The Way You Lie (Featuring Rihanna) sneaks in again at number 100 and gives the rapper having six different tracks listed inside the survey–a feat we've last seen in March 2012 by Pitbull.

Available with the album Demonstration Tinie Tempah's single Someday (Place In The Sun) find some first lovers. The full single release with some more mixes will count into next week's list. Number 89 has to be beaten.

Hot Spot 11-01-13

And again Germany does have a new Number 1 hit this week. It is Sweden’s new super DJ/producer AVICII who can set a second track at number 1 this current year. Hey Brother is the track in question – still a week before its release on single CD.

Having two No.1 singles is a feat not that usual in Germany – in 2013 we have this situation already for the second time. In June there was Pharrell Williams credited as an artist for two consecutive Nr.1 hits: First he entered the top alongside Daft Punk on Get Lucky. A fortnight later he was also credited on Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines.

Two No.1 hits as a main artist – that's a feat we've last seen in 2009 when Lady Gaga had her hiatus with Poker Face collecting 13 weeks at the Top followed by Paparazzi 15 weeks later.

Watching two artists topping the list twice in a year is a feat much harder to find. In 2008 Katy Perry managed a double with I Kissed A Girl in September and Hot N Cold in December and Timbaland topped the list with Apologize (presenting OneRepublic) and was the man behind 4 Minutes performed and credited to Madonna & Justin (Timberlake). In 2003 we had two main acts having two No.1 hits: first superstar Alexander shot to the Top with Take Me Tonight and Free Like The Wind and The Black Eyed Peas launched Where Is The Love? and Shut Up becoming No.1 hits.

More statistics? AVICII only is the sixth act in this current decade with two No.1 hits. - Three weeks in a row with a completely new track at the Top was last seen in October 2009 when RAMMSTEIN (Pussy) was dethroned by David Guetta Feat. Akon (Sexy Bitch) who were dethroned by Lady Gaga (Paparazzi) who left the Top spot for Robbie Williams (Bodies) after a single week.

Finally I can tell you that 2013 is the second consecutive year that two Swedish productions occupy the Top – meaning Swedish music is popular in Germany than never before. Even between 1991 and 1995 when six different Swedish productions went to Number 1 the time span between that hits where much longer than right now. So it is no surprise realizing the fact that according to number 1 hits only music coming from the USA is more successful in Germany right now.

Talking bout AVICII also leads to a note concerning the voice of Wake Me Up!. Aloe Blacc released an own take on the tune that now enters at number 71. Probably that version won't go number 1 – at least it gives the singer his third official chart entry.



There are some other stories too: The most successful German act in this very moment is the duo Milky Chance. After releasing their album Sadnecessary on CD the track Stolen Dance can climb three more places to number 4 becoming the highest ranking German production since three months. The track itself is available as a digital download only.

After the album Unholy Ground by Sunrise Ave is released and gets number 3 in the album list the single Lifesaver also becomes a Top 10 hit by bouncing 22–9 this week. It is the highest position for the band since it went No.3 two and a half years ago with Hollywood Hills. In reminiscence of that big success the song re-enters at number 36 which marks the highest position for it since two years. The initial success for the band Fairytale Gone Bad from 2006 also can re-enter. It lands at number 46 in its 71st chart week which is actually number 19 of most charted acts.


Justin Bieber surely wants to become the most charting act in 2013. Since three weeks he has started releasing every Friday a new song. The tracks also chart in Germany – of course the target group is a very narrow one, so the tracks leave the list very fast. This week the teenie star manages a double entry. His own new song Hold Tight starts at number 56, the collaboration with TYGA Wait For A Minute shows up at number 63. So far Justin Bieber set up seven different tracks in 2013. Only Flo Rida, Pitbull and - yes - Helene Fischer so far brought more into the list. His summary for the whole decade is 17 – making him the fifth busiest act so far.


Upcoming hits:
New York, Rio, Rosenheim - the title track of the album by Sportfreunde Stiller starts to climb up the charts after the band's tour started a few days ago. This week the song not scheduled for a proper single release stops at number 62.

Scheduled for full release on 2nd November Mark Forster's new single Zu dir (Weit weg) enters the list at number 64.

Probably not really a big future hit Dark Horse by Katy Perry Feat. Juicy J enters at number 81 picked as a single track from freshly released album Prism. In the USA the track was the first promotional track offered in September. In Germany one had to wait till now.


Casting show effects
The current season of The Voice Of Germany just started a few weeks ago. Again Hoss Power and Boss Burns of The BossHoss are part of the jury. In time the band released a new album (Flames Of Flames) and a single (Do It). Latter one sneaks around number 35 for some weeks meanwhile the band's signature song Don't Gimme That returns into the list at number 76.

Max Herre does similar. His biggest hit Wolke 7 returns at number 88.

Also Das Supertalent bans people in front of their TV's. The fourth show aired on 20th October supports songs of Helene Fischer (#74) and Philipp Poisel (#83 + #97).

08-12: The Final of TVoG

It is the fourth week at the top for Michel Teló and his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! and probably it will stay for another week there as it is the biggest carneval party hit right now. Statistically we now have two consecutive singles spending at least a month at the top. The last time we whitnessed such a feat was back in late spring past year. Than back it was JLO feat. Pitbull spending five weeks at the top with On The Floor before German Superstar winner Pietro Lombardi hold the crown for four weeks with Call My Name.

At the runner’s up position the winner of The Voice of Germany lands. It is–you already know it–20 years old Ivy Quainoo. It might have surprised some fans due to the fact that none of her performances had charted before. Obviously she was kind of a sleeper overtaking all contestants with her amazing Do You Like What You See which is a great pop song at all. Honestly it could be the title song for any James Bond Movie. Her coaches–The BossHoss– doubtlessly did a good job. It’s really a pity that a casting winner song never has the chance of getting a real hit in Germany. Number 2 says everything. And the performance at iTunes after a week is ... devastating.



The four competitors of Ivy Quainoo also storm the list. Michael Schulte–the third on the show–can make it into the Top 10 too. His ballad Carry Me Home lands at a proper number 8. It is already his third chart entry. He also lifts British Ed Sheeran. into the Top 10. After he performed with the newcomer star the song The A Team at the final show the original single jumps to number 9 and the just released album + enters the album list at number 12.

I’m only allowed to embed the acoustic version of „Carry Me Home“ sung at a private radio channel –sorry!


Also the runner’s up on the show Kim Sanders can launch with her final song a third chart entry in 2012. As she had a career as a singer already Haunted is her eighth track at all that can reach the Top 100. By halting at number 13 it is so far her best performing song. I would add: it is really the best and most ambitious song she ever recorded.



Fourth candidate Max Giesinger performed a more rock oriented song, but obviously that style wasn’t the favourite one of the audience. Nearly 18% of votes was a clear result. Sales afterwards speak a different language. Dach der Welt (Roof Of The World) starts its chart life at number 14. (No video or soundclip available, sorry) His duet with Katie Melua gives the guest star a re-appearance of her hit Nine Million Bycicles at number 97. It’s the first time since Ovtober 2007 that the song can reach the charts.



The strong impact of the show and their appearance inside the Top 20 results in a complete number of six German productions in the upper fifth of the chart. Such a feat was last seen in late October the past year. The question is: How sustainably that German power can establish itself?

Having the four finalists in the list ain’t everything TVoG can achieve. Also two participants kicked off at the semi final a week before bring their own songs into the survey. The tracks were not available before the final show and of course all the attention spotted to the Big Four. Hence it is more than impressive watching Mic Donet flying to number 36 with Losing You. That result corresponds with the voting of the show–more than 56% wanted him to stay, coach Xavier Naidoo instead chose Max Giesinger. Maybe Mic Donet can attest himself as the really big winner of the show. Just let’s wait til all candidates have released their albums. So far Losing You is at least as strong as winning song Do You Like What You See. It’s soulful, packed with power and simply overwhelming.

The official recording is blocked at all platforms, so I can only refer to following beat remix by DJTabou


Second semi finalist having a chart hit with a personal song is Sharron Levy. Her version on Somebody That I Used To Know still is in the list, now Drowning can appear also. Starting its chart life at number 87 it certainly will disappear soon. Whether Sharron Levy will have a life as a (commercially successful) singer is still in question.




Well, the casting show was the big hitmaker of the week. But there are still some further action going on. Let’s have a last look back at the Top 10: Turn Me on is the next big hit for French DJ David Guetta. End of January new remixes were released, a few days later a proper video appeared on TV and internet and the full CD single is announced for March 9th. Meanwhile the track jumps 23–10 giving David Guetta his first Top1 0 hit in 2012 but his 11th within the past three years. He is so far the most successful chart act of the recent decade. Featured singer Nicki Minaj adds a third Top 10 hit to her account. Two of them she achieved alongside David Guetta. Since the start of February she additionally is the new face of the MAC Viva Glam campaign that collects money for some charity activities–probably she’s on the way to become a really big superstar.



The recent list reflects the time span starting February 10th ending February 16th. On February 11th a big star of the 80ies died. You already know about whom I’m talking–it is Whitney Houston. So we see five hits of her re-appearing in the list. Her best known and probably her signature song I Will Always Love You is also the one purchased by most people remembering her. The song originally recorded by country star Dolly Parton in 1974 became a hit for Whitney Houston in 1992/93 as the main title for the movie Bodyguard. It occupied the number 1 spot for six weeks in early 1993. Another song from the movie Run To You can appear at number 98 again this week.

Further down the list one can find also the (inofficial) anthem for the Olympic Games in 1988 One Moment In Time that made it for two weeks in October to number 1. The number 2 hit My Love Is Your Love from 1999 enters at number 64 and her latest chart track I Look To You released in 2009 appears once again at number 84.


Besides these top stories there are some German news yet left.
Rosenstolz offers a second single from their recent album Wir sind am Leben (We’re Alive). Lied von den Vergessenen (Song Of The Forgotten) tells about the ones besides the main society. The video reflects on migrant people in poorness but the lyrics are much more open so almost everyone can be a lonely, misunderstood and a forgotten one. The single comes as a double A side featuring also Wie lang kann ein Mensch tanzen? (How Long A Human Could Dance?)
If you’re located outside Germany you can watch the main video here. If not: the youtube/GEMA struggle is to be solved in court in April 2012–keep fingers crossed)

In the album list Hamburg based Deichkind shots to number 2 with their album Befehl von ganz unten (Order From Far Below). It is absolutely the best sold album of their whole 12 year long career. As an effect the track Leider geil (Sorry, Wicked) lands at number 38. Promised, that electro rap track will sweeten a lot of summer parties this year for sure.



Try the Decalicious Mix also



I warned you for several weeks of the approaching carnival season. Also this week we see some typical moves of very simple Schlager tracks. The winner this issue is Mickie Krause who sees his Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto (Darlin’, Give Me A Photo) rises twelve places to number 39 reaching a new peak. So far the track peaked at number 40 in past summer as one of the big Mallorca party hits. Now in its 36th week at all the track counts as one of the slowest riser (if you refer to the weeks spent in the charts). Only four songs had a longer run before reaching their peak, Schöne Maid (Pretty gal) by Tony Marshall in 1972 had a 39 week climb, Belgian Vaya Con Dios needed 40 chart weeks and a remix by Milk&Sugar to rocket up to number 7 a year ago, the Christmas anthem Last Christmas by Wham! took 72 weeks before it peaked at number 4 in 2008 and finally Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner saw their sleeping hit Sky And Sand appearing 83 times inside the charts to reach a number 29 in November 2011 as their highest rank ever achieved. Appeared for the first time in the list a year ago Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto is kind of a fast riser–we’ve seen already three tracks this year reaching their peaks three years or more after their first entry.

Also cologne band HÖHNER. (Chicken) sets kind of personal records. Re-entering with Schenk mir dein Herz (Give Me Your Heart) and 6 bis 8 Stunden Schlaf (6 To 8 Hours Of Sleep) they right now appear for a 15th consecutive year in the charts. From all acts listed in 2012 so far only two have a longer unbroken presence in the charts. It is again Wham! with their seasonal anthem and singer Xavier Naidoo solo or as part of Söhne Mannheims. Both count 16 consecutive years of having at list one chart entry inside the German charts.

Finally also Tim Toupet sneaks again into the list with his So ein schöner Tag also known as Fliegerlied. The song was the hit of carneval season 2009–it attracts once again a lot of fools partying around these days.

07-12: Three Big News & A Lot Xavier Naidoo

One might call it longing for summer–the two most sold singles of the week carry a warm caribbean feeling. At number 1 still stands Brazilian Michel Teló and his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego!. It is the third week at the top spot and now–after finishing the airing of Dschungelcamp–the track might loose a bit of its charme. On the other hand it is exactly now carnival time … Anyway Michel Teló is far and away the most successful male artist coming from South America. Only once a singer from there topped the charts in Germany. It was Juanes who did so in 2005 for a single week with his La Camisa Negra. Of course the most succesful act of the continent is Shakira having four number 1 hits under her belt so far.

The second “tropical” hit is new in the Top 10. It is Sean Paul who starts with his new single at runner’s up position. It is the fifth regular Top 10 hit (the sixth if you count the collaboration with Blu Cantrell in 2003) and the highest position ever for the Jamaican boy. And it is the highest entering track so far of the still young 2012. In Switzerland Sean Paul now sees his second number 1 hit in a row–seems that the new style of the star is attracting continental Europe much more than North America.

The biggest new start of a German production is provided by Silbermond (Silver Moon). Himmel auf (Heaven Open) is the leading single of upcoming same titled album. The video includes many statements of people what luck is meaning to them. A project reflecting the state of (East) German society. It gives the band a number 5 startwhich is the fourth time in an eight years long career that they can reach the Top 5.



Funny trivia at the upper end for the last of only three new entries in a week: Madonna sets her 60th chart hit with Give Me All Your Luvin’ landing at number 8. It is her 26th hit that can reach the Top 10 which equals the result of The Beatles. Only German Austrian Peter Alexander had more Top 10 hits–35 countied on him.


We only have three new entries but there are 12 songs re-entering the charts. A whole bunch is caused by the release of Xavier Naidoo’s best of album Danke fürs Zuhören (Thank You For Listening). It starts right at number 1 on the album’s list and simultanously his biggest hits swap back into the list. Best selling and most loved single track is ich kenne nichts (das so schön ist wie du) (I Don’t Know Anything That is Beautiful As You Are)–the former number 1 collaboration with rapper RZA from 2003 which a month ago attracted a new audience after the singer presented it at the TVoG show. Ich kenne nichts actually jumps back up the list 90–36 in its 41st chart week. The longest running hit of Xavier Dieser Weg (This Path) re-appears as the second most loved track at number 69 collecting an 80th chart week. His last Top 10 hit Alles kann besser werden (All Can Get Better) from 2009 is also back at 85 and his very first big hit Sie sieht mich nicht (She Doesn’t See Me) from 1999 can manage a re-appearance at number 96. At the very end of the list lands Was wir alleine nicht schaffen (What We Can’t Make Alone) finally.


As usual some casting show related hits are back in the list. This recent week it is the new season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) (Germany’s version of Idols) that grabs the crown of being the most influental to the list. On recall number 2 Luca Hänni, Jesse Ritch, Robin Lau and Thomas Pegram had performed Lighters–last year’s hit for Bad Meets Evil. As the DSDS marketing is slightly different than the one of TVoG the performed versions are not available as download tracks. Fans have to buy the original recording. And they do. Lighters re-appears in th elist at number 46.

A further DSDS hit was promoted by Jana Skolina. She propels A Night Like This by Caro Emerald back to number 52. It is already chart week number 49.


The semi final of The Voice of Germany on February 3rd only can launch two direct hits. Nena’s Liebe ist (Love Is) re-appears after she performed it in the show and the biggest hit of British The Verve–Bitter Sweet Symphony–appears back at number 95 after Max Giesinger and Mic Donet (both favourites at that time) duetted the song on the show. Of course one have to count Rolling In The Deep too. It was performed by Michael Schulte and Jasmin Graf and can make a little rise 43–35 afterwards. Also the signature song Heroes/Helden by the complete coaching team is back at number 76


Finally thecasting show for Eurovision Song Contest Unser Star für Baku (Our Star For Baku) launches a hit. At the fourth show final winner Roman Lob staged with Drops Of Jupiter originally recorded by USAmerican train. After that performance the song can climb back into the list at number 83.



And there is carnieval season knocking at the door visibly through the rise of typcal Schlager hits. Austrian Andreas Gaballier reaching number 30 with i sing a liad für di and the version by DJ Ötzi also climbs back up the list taking a break now at number 41. I guess these both tracks will rise much further the next days. Classic party tracks such as Alexandra Stan’s Mr. Saxobeat also benefit from the so called fifth season rising 88–73 again.

06-12: TVoG still spills the charts

Michel Teló stands as the number one star with his anthem Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! for a second week.

The big impacts once again are brought by The Voice of Germany. Two weeks before the final the power of the show is still unbeaten.

Bouncing back into the Top 10 and reaching a new peak at number 6 Troublemaker by Taio Cruz benefits heavily from his appearance on the show on January 27th. He opened the Live Show number 5 with all twelve contestants that were in the race back than.

Coach and juror Rea Garvey launched his new single two weeks before the final and of course he was performing the song Colour Me In on the show too. As a result the single flies to number 12–the highest rank Rea Garvey could achieve as an solo-artist ever. And the highest since his band Reamonn reached number 6 in 2008 with Through The Eyes Of A Child. Of course once he was (unofficially) credited for a number 1 hit when his voice appeared on a version of All Good Things (Come To An End) with Nelly Furtado that was available in Germany on the single CD as a bonus track.



Best performing candidate from the show was surprisingly Sharron Levy. The Israel native staged with the number 1 hit Somebody That I Used To Know turning it into an rock driven ballad that brings her a number 26. Maybe that’s the start of an career besides a big major deal.



All others from the show end further down. Kim Sanders–finally the runner’s up finalist–sets her second show entry as number 54. Empire State Of Mind (Part II) was a sleeping hit originally recorded by Alicia Keys. It reached number 35 back in 2010 and spent so far 48 weeks inside the charts. Of course that version is back in the list too. It comes in short of Kim Sanders’ take at number 58. Part I featuring JAY-Z & Alicia Keys together re-appears at 84.

Third at the end–third two weeks before the final contestant Michael Schulte seems to be one of the most constant participants on the show. He performed Video Games still at number 3 in the version of Lana Del Rey. His take can reach number 66 giving him a second chart entry.



Behnam Moghaddam was a big aspirant for the final until he performed Eleanor Rigby as an explosive rock piece which made coach Xavier Naidoo shooting him off the show. A lot of fans were shocked according to many sites and forums–commercially the take on the well known tune of The Beatles ranks at number 75–indeed a weak result for Behnam. The song itself had a hidden chart life in 1966. Officially the track was released in combination with Yellow Submarine as a double A side single in Germany too. The official charts list only Yellow Submarine although.

A very similar story can be told about Percival–the second big aspirant. He staged Beautiful on the show January 27th. The song made famous by Christina Aguilera reached number 4 in Germany in 2003. The version of Percival is much more a rough ballad. Coach Rea Garvey was not really convinced–neither was the audience. Beautiful stucks at number 77.




Best CD start without TV show support comes from Marlon Roudette. His Anti-Hero (Brave New World) was available before as digital single and now jumps 19–7 with physical sales counting.

German Deichkind is back. After the release of their last album Arbeit nervt (Work Sucks) producer Sebi Hackert died and there was a uncertainty about the further existence of the project. Fortunatly the guys decided to continue. Bück dich hoch (Stoop Up) is the pre-release from upcoming album Befehl von ganz unten (Order From Down Below) – it continues the story of Arbeit nervt forcefully. In my opinion it critisizes actual politics and financial crisis in a much smarter way than other pop products try to do. Starting its chart life at number 17 after released online the single is so far the second best performing of Deichkind and only the second to reach the Top 20. 12 years ago they managed to do so with their chart debut Bon Voyage.



Supported by the release of their twelfth album named simply Volume 12 The Disco Boys see their cover of Around The World rising to number 31.

Also the winner of Das Supertalent 2011 Leo Rojas offers an album. Spirit Of The Hawk storms the album list at number 2. Leading single Ele condor pasa (only available digitally) can enter the singles list at 82. The tune became popular in 1970 when Simon & Garfunkel added some lyrics and recorded that version. It entered the Number 1 in Germany for 7 weeks and ended as the most sold single of the year. The same year a few instrumental versions charted also–most known probably the one of Facio Santillan that reached number 9 in September 1970.



Last new entry is the new single of De Randfichten (The edge spruces). They try to get some attention in carneval season with Du kleine Fliege (You, little fly). It is a very simple song for drunken people who love singing stupid lyrics while drinking more … Number 96 is the result so far.




In The end let’s tell you about the strangest chart move of the week at last: Wiz Khalifa drops back 91–71 with his hit Black And Yellow for what reason ever. I can’t explain but I like it.

05-12: German Dark Pop, Hard Pop & Hip Hop

After two weeks at the runner’s up position football related Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Brazilian Michel Teló can gain the chart crown. It took the track eight weeks to become the most sold single in Germany. It probably is connected with the start of the second half of the Bundesliga that had its first match on January 20th.
Michel Teló is the first artist from Brazilia to reach number 1 in Germany.

The list is speeding up. There are 15 new entries inside. That’s a feat las seen late November past year.

The highest new entry is a download only single. Finally a major company has the beef promoting two British super acts in Germany too. I’m talking ’bout Olly Murs feat. Rizzle Kicks and their hit Heart Skips A Beat. Both are big names in the UK – why did SONY wait so long marketing they to continental Europe? Anyway – Heart Skips A Beat seems to be the first huge hit for 2012. The proper CD release is scheduled for right now.

New in the Top 10 and finally becoming really stars The BossHoss harvest their media presence on the show The Voice of Germany. As coaches and part of the jury they presented actual single Don’t Gimme That on January 20th. As an effect the song jumps 18–8 and it is the very first single climbing that high. Of course The BossHoss grab the crown of being the best sold German act this week.



Following the appearance of German productions culcha candela just misses out the Top 10–their Wildes Ding (Wild Thing) lands at number 11 in its third chart week. – Still inside the Top 20 Udo Lindenberg feat. Clueso see their take on the song Cello as the third most sold German track. It is now the 12th chart week and certainly the duo will slide down continously next weeks.

The best new German track comes in at number 29. It is the new single of Eisblume (Frosting – in German language it is very poetic–literally translated: flower of ice). In 2009 the band had its breakthrough with Eisblumen that rose to number 3. After a three years break the band is back. The sound changed hardly. The first single Für immer (Forever) uses a well known melody–it is YIRUMA’s piano tune River Flows In You that reaches the German charts now for a third time. Taking in account the heavy advertising for the single on TV rank 29 is kind of disappointing. It matches the result of the third single release from predecessor album Unter dem Eis (Under The Ice). Probably the band has to re-invent itself a little more next time.



Eisbrecher (Icebreaker) is back with new single and album. Two years ago they made their singles charts’ premiere with Eiszeit (Ice Age) for a lonely week. The same titled album performed much better giving the band its first Top 10 position ever. Now a new album is scheduled and the single Verückt should work as an appetizer. It is New German Hardcore at its best–the video comments actual financial crisis. Number 43 in its first chart week might show several people’s agreement on Eisbrecher’s analysis of the society.



One of the most active German artists of the past years launches a second hit from the soundtrack of his recent movie Blutzbrüdaz. I’m talking ’bout SIDO. For recording of Hol doch die Polizei (Go For The Police) he collaborated with B-Tight. It is the 9th track this decade that could chart and sees SIDO somehow involved. It is also one of the weaker ones–in chart terms. Lyrically it is once again ’bout being criminal caused by social circumstances. Raising up as a poor kid means one can’t blame on you but you can have a lot of fun. As always SIDO tells the story as part of his own ghetto legend. So take it for fictional …



Sido actually is very visible in Austria leading there the TV casting Sido macht Band (Sido makes band). One of the coaches in the show is Austrian Nazar. His recent single Fallen (alongside Austrian RAF 3.0) reaches the list at the very end. It is number 96 now.




Back to upcoming German stars: Behnam Moghaddam won’t be The Voice of Germany. He was kicked out on January 27th at the end of the fifth live show. A week before that the audience voted him for staying in the show after performing the song Hurt which was a small hit in the version of Johnny Cash. Originally the song was written and recorded by Nine Inch Nails. Johnny Cash later made the song popular. In commercial terms it was only the second single of the country legend that could reach the German list. Number 82 in 2003–that it was. In September 2010 the recording re-appeared for a single week in the list after airing of a TV documentary on Johnny Cash. Leona Lewis recorded a version at the end of last year becoming a Top 10 hit in Britain and Ireland. Now the song also catches (commercial) fire in Germany. Behnam Moghaddam can launch his version at number 31 on digital sales. He is the second best performing candidate so far in chart terms–of course the picture will change in a few days completely. Johnny Cash benefits from the casting show post mortem also. His version of Hurts re-enters the list at number 68–it is the highest rank the recording ever achieved.



Also Percival was kicked off the show on January 27th–a very emotional statement followed in the yellow press. Well, the week before the American singer was one of the big favourites of the audience. His version on Seven Nation Army enters the list at number 45. The song itself had an delicate chart career. When it was first released as a single in 2003 it became a hit in Britain only–German youth radio and music TV loved the song too and it became a kind of independent hit but never reached the commercial charts. The track-–more precise the guitar riff–became popular by its use during football matches. Finally the song was used as team entry anthem at European Championship 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Then finally the song charted in German speaking countries reaching number 3 in Switzerland and number 4 in Germany. It is the one and only charted hit for the White Stripes in Germany.



A real hot candidate for the win and actually qualified for the final singer Kim Sanders can enter the charts for the first time with an song performed in the show. Of course Kim Sanders is the most experienced candidate of the whole season having already five chart hits under her belt. Additionally she was the voice of dance project Culture Beat in 1998/99 when she achieved three more (uncredited) chart hits. Now she appears with the song Killing Me Softly With His Song that she performed on January 20th and is landing at position 57. It is so far the second highest rank a song can reach crediting her name.



For the first time Killing Me Softly With His Song entered the German charts in 1973 when Roberta Flack released a version on single. It became a huge hit in the version of The Fugees in 1996 when it held for nine weeks the number one spot. The version of Kim Sanders is the third that can enter the German charts.

Last of the actual candidates (and also kicked off at the semi final) who can launch a hit is Jasmin Graf. She sang Stark (Powerful) at the show. The original is well known through German project Ich + Ich that brought the song to number 2 in 2007. Now the tune has a short appearance at number 76 again.




A former casting contestant also is again in the list. Sebastian Wurth – fifth at last year’s DSDS can launch a second hit. With that feat he is commercially the third successful act of last year’s season. The really big career is still missing.




A short look at one new European track entering the list. INNA finally hits the German charts with her track Club Rocker. It is the remix version featuring Flo Rida which is available for a few weeks. As in her home country and in France the track so far can not continue the success she had with her predecessors.

04-12: It's Après Ski party time

In Britain the year 2012 starts with an uncommon mass of high quality products inside the charts. In Germany it is much more about selling well known hits and their remixes – it is Après Ski time. Cheesy dance productions benefit the most of this collective party mood this recent week. It makes DJ Antoine feat. The Beat Shakers rising 21–17 with their Ma Chérie which is a mixture of Mr. Saxobeat and Welcome To St. Tropez. For a second time the Swiss DJ can reach the German Top 20 – giving him slowly the status he has in his home country. The Beat Shakers who deliver voice (and hook line) mark a historical moment in pop business: they are the first Serbian act reaching the Top 20 in Germany.



Compared to DJ Antoine’s predecessor Welcome To St. Tropez (remixing Timati feat. Kalenna) the recent single follows a similar pattern. It takes a slow rise – now it collects 15 chart weeks. Welcome To St. Tropez ended up at number 3. Well, that’s a challenge. – It is still a question whether just entering track I’m On You can follow that pattern too. So far the remix of the Timati, P. Diddy & Dirty Money track lands at number 85 as DJ Antoine’s fifth chart hit in Germany.

Also rising again is the other big Swiss DJ of the moment. Collaboration team Mike Candys & Evelyn Ft. Patrick Miller was just honoured with Gold for 150.000 sold units of their dance hit One Night In Ibiza. The list sees the track taking a 54–39 leap.

It’s not only about the completely poor Après Ski sound–there are some regular dance productions benefitting from the lust for shaking too. First of all Kelly Rowland feat. The WAV.s make a huge jump to number 31 in their seventh chart week. Maybe this RedOne production finally catches fire. Also The DiscoBoys take their chance releasing a cover of Around The World as their next proper single. The original recording by project ATC was a number 1 hit in 2000 heavily melking the formula of cheesy and completely naive (or should I say childish?) eurodance pop. The new version drives the tune into a pseudo glamorous hedonistic disco track. The video hardly tries to be cool–unfortunately that’s the big difference to the original: it never supposed to be a good track and never was. People who seriously party to Around The World can only look embarassing–including semi tough rappers.



By the way: you can listen to the original Russian version from 1996 here.

Another dance track already released back in December is reanimated these days. The Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party reappears at number 63 with their Antidote. Still it is the track of the trio performing the weakest. – Also David Guetta heavily profits this week. His track Turn Me Back from the Nothing But The Beat album re-enters the list at number 77. There are some new remixes announced for the end of the month–the track featuring Nicki Minaj will hang around the list for sure next weeks.


The second big hit maker of the week is the casting show The Voice Of Germany once again. Besides a lot of typically short re-appearances of well known hits one act really profits from the airing. It is the coach team of The BossHoss. Their recent album Liberty Of Action still ranks inside the album Top 10 while the single Don’t Gimme That rises continously. This actual week it reaches the Top 20 giving the band its highest rank ever on the singles list. Certainly the track will rise to its peak next week when sales after Live Show #4 are take into account. In that show The BossHoss staged live with their hit.

Besides this longtime effect the show also causes directly the highest new entries in the German single’s list. Seeing the rates tumbling down for the third live show on January 13th the impact ain’t that massive compared to the week before. The highest new entry of the week Up by James Morrison featuring Jessie J was presented in the show by James Morrison and coach Xavier Naidoo. The single lands at number 19 in its first week on sale. It is James Morrison’s second single from the Awakening album and turns out to be the worst charting single since he stormed to number 1 with Broken Strings in late January 2009. To tell you a positive story–predecessor I Won’t Let You Go is propelled by the performance back up the charts and lands proper at number 64.

The best selling contestant for now is Katja Friedenberg. At the show she was kicked out by her coach Xavier – in reality she was the favourite of a lot of people. Number 41 for her take on Flugzeuge im Bauch (Airplanes In My Stomach) is much better than the performance of her Turning Tables interpreted a week earlier. The original of Flugzeuge im Bauch was a hit for Herbert Grönemeyer in 1985. It reached number 44. It became much more famous when it was covered by German Oli P. who brought the new recording to number 1 for seven weeks in 1998. The success in Austria and Switzerland was similar.

Comparing the original and the new version one will easily find the recent one surprisingly pathetic and chanson like. The one by Herbert Grönemeyer had much more connection to the real life and real emotions. Maybe that lack of authentic feelings is the reason why she had the leave the show.



Mic Donet is the second contestant who can launch a second chart hit–and he is one of the really big favourites of the show. On January 13th he performed the Killer / Papa Was A Rolling Stone medley first combined on a record in 1993 by George Michael while performing the Five Live concert remembering and celebrating the just died Freddie Mercury. The medley was a huge hit in Great Britain where it was released as a double A-side single with Somebody To Love. It never reached the list in Germany. Both parts of the medley were popular in Germany before. The original version of Killer was a hit twice. First it reached number 2 in 1990 credited to British dance producer Adamski only. Singer on that release was Seal who released an own version credited to him alone a year later. Once Killer was again a minor hit in Germany. It was in 1999 when German DJ ATB released it in a heavy trance version reaching number 31 in Germany.

The Temptations made the track Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone famous in Germany. Their version reached number 11 in 1972. In 1990 the version of Was Not Was reached number 14.

This is the Mic Donet version on TVoG



TvoG looses audience–one big reason are the starts of 2012 season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (German version on Idols) and of the casting for the Eurovision Song Contest. The first show of Unser Star für Baku (Our Star For Baku) featured a contestant singing After Tonight a song written and recorded by US/Canadian Justin Nozuka. It was the only single hit for Nozuka in Germany reaching number 93 in 2009. In Switzerland and France the song had a much better chart performance. Now the track is back in the list–number 51 so far is the best position for the star.

The version presented in the show



Strange things going on at the low end of the list. An 9 years old song re-appears in the face of Lose Yourself by EMINEM. An instrumental version is used as the title theme of German TV serial Lenßen & Partner–a semi documentary about a lawyer and his cases. The serial started somewhen in 2003. Three years ago it was closed down. The old seasons of course are broadcasted in heavy rotation in the morning. A few days ago the channel SAT.1 announced a new season starting in March 2012. Probably these news caused a run on the DVDs of the past season and propelled the EMINEM track into the charts again. That’s my theory–if anyone knows a better reason, please let me know.

03-12: Hits Made By TVOG

A casting show blows several hits in the single’s charts. We do have 13 new entries – 12 of them are related to the show in question. The 13th hit also has support by a TV series. If there were no TV the music industry would still sleep.

And this recent week shows impressively how stars are made. It’s not about clever songwriting or performing in an unbelievably cool way. Not at all. It is all about BEING performed in a casting show. That’s the way how German singer songwriter Philipp Poisel became popular. He had his first success with single and album Wo fängt dein Himmel an? (Where does your heaven start?) in 2008. In 2010 he had even more success mainly albumwise. In October his single Eiserner Steg (Iron [Landing] Stage) made the first significant impact to the charts after prominently provided by the German movie What a Man. But still – number 21 was the end of the line. Now – after that same track was performed by Benny Fiedler at casting show The Voice of Germany – the tracks jumps 100–4 giving the original artist his first appearance at the very top of the single’s list. Simultanously the version of Benny Fiedler is entering the list at number 25 too. It is the first time in German TV and music history that the versions recorded at the show are available officially as a single track. I guess it will change the drive of the show dramaticly as everybody knows right now who is the big favourite of the casting. In the case of TVOG it is Benny Fiedler. How do the fans of other contestants react right now? And is it really about the good voice that one is crowned? Or just a simple act of mobilizing a lot of people via web2.0 applications? – Certain is the fact that the original artist profits much more of an performance than the contestant itself. Comparing both it is hard to decide which one is the more heartful.

The original by Philipp Poisel and the version by Benny Fiedler


Meeting Philipp Poisel at number 4 marks the end of an seven weeks abstinence of German songs in the Top 5. The last seen that high was Rammstein’s Mein Land at the end of November.

Same story for a song that is famous already but never made it into the German charts. I’m talking ’bout radiohead’s debut Creep which was a Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1992. In the Friday issue of the show Michael Schulte sang the song. His version enters the charts at number 62 – 12 ranks above him the original comes in and gives British Radiohead their highest place ever reached in Germany. It is only their fourth track that can hit the German charts – the last one appeared eight years ago. So this is the very first come back of the year – caused by a casting show.

I guess you all know the original – this is the version from the show


The show enabled a lot of other tracks to enter the charts (again). Sorted by popularity Ich kenne nichts (das so schön ist wie du) (I Don’t Know Anything (As Beautiful As You)) is the big gainer. The track was performed by Xavier Naidoo and his candidates during the voting. The original recording from 2003 was number one for a single week in June that year. According to different sources the track collected already 29 to 36 chart weeks – actually it had several chart runs since it’s original appearance and probably is one of Xavier Naidoo’s signature tracks. Last time it was seen in the lists was back in 2010 when it had a four weeks run reaching number 47. Now it re-enters at an impressing number 20 – the highest rank since its first chart run in 2003.

Rea Garvey opened the show one day later with his candidates by performing his recent hit Can’t Stand The Silence. As an effect the single jumps back up the charts 69–46 in its 18th chart week.

The performance at TvoG: Ich kenne nichts Team Xavier / Can’t Stand The Silence Team Rea


10 of the 24 contestants can reach a rank in the charts. Leading the pack is – as I told before – Benny Fiedler at 25. Percival and Behnam Moghaddam follow with their takes on Hedonism originally recorded by Skunk Anansie in 1997 and The Sound Of Silence. The first one was the only proper hit for Skunk Anansie. Now it comes in at 40 in the new version. The Sound Of Silence was a hit for Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 when it reached number 9. The song is back at number 41.



Further contestants arriving: at 70 Max Giesinger with the Coldplay song Fix You – originally released in 2005 reaching number 65 back then. Mic Donet performed Ain’t No Sunshine and gives the famous song its second chart appearance of all time. Only once in 1998 the US American band 4 the Cause brought its version into the list at number 52. The original by Bill Whiters never charted in Germany. Rüdiger Skoczowsky had to leave the show after his first live performance – the audience loved his version of Without You anyway. It can enter at number 80 – the original by David Guetta feat. USHER still holds at number 16.

The most loved girl/woman of the two shows was Jasmin Graf. Her version on Wovon sollen wir träumen climbs to number 81 – the more pop oriented original by Frida Gold already is 41 weeks in the charts rising softly 55–51 this week. Seeing the ladies entering only at the end of the survey underlines the old rule: Gents are the big deal in casting shows – they do have tons of female fans who spend money on downloads and whatsoever and they love to call several times for their adored idol. The male audience is much more reserved. They probably would go crazy airing a soccer casting.

Katja Friedenberg also is in the charts. Her interpretation of Adele’s Turning Tables stops at 86 – probably she was disadvantaged by choosing an almost unknown song. We will watch her in one weeks time.

The last candidate who turns into a chart act is Dominic Sanz. He performed With Or Without You known in the version by Irish U2. Like Rüdiger Skoczowsky also Dominic Sanz had to leave the show – probably his chart career ends before it really started with a number 98 rank.
Please find the videos of all the performances at the official TvoG-Site

Of course not only the songs of the candidates made a remarkable impact to the survey. Also the songs presented in between got a small push. The new Snow Patrol single This Isn’t Everything You Are enters after the band performed in the show. Coming in at number 52 it isn’t the really big start. So a performance in the show isn’t an immediately given hit. That had to accept Söhne Mannheims too. They performed – including juror Xavier Naidoo their latest single hit Für dich (For You) – only clinging on at number 65.


The only new entry not related with The Voice of Germany this week is culcha candela’s new single Wildes Ding (Wild Thing). It lands at number 12. If there were only one person left finding the Berlin multicultural band innovative – this recent release should immmediately stop that kind of ideas. The track is a proper hit produced single lending all the key catchers of past hits – in the end you listen to a softened version of Atzen Pop successful a year ago. The lyrics are about the male dreams of a perfect woman. And – surprise surprise – it is a princess that turns into a vamp at night. No wonder the track was chosen for being the title track of just started TV show Dschungelcamp which has unbelievably high rates.

At the very top there is nothing new. Gotye stands a fourth week there. Somebody That I Used To Know is the first single since Rihanna’s We Found Love that does so. Of course Rihanna took three runs at Number 1 for collecting four weeks. The last song holding at least four consecutive weeks as the best sold single was New Age by Marlon Roudette in autumn past year.
Michel Teló is still on the rise with his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! gaining 3 places and stopping at number 2. Will the football anthem reach number 1 in teh next days? According to most recent iTunes lists it will. That might be the first Brazilian number 1 in Germany.

With the invasion of German artists the density of German productions at the upper end increases. We do have four German productions inside the Top 20 – that sounds much, although back in October there were four porductions alone inside the Top 10. Right now there is a strong demand in songs in German. The four German songs inside the Top are sung in German – end of october we’ve seen a similar presence but none of the tracks were inside the Top 10.

German language always has a heighth when Après Ski season is coming up – meaning we face the usual stupid hits sneaking through the charts. This week Markus Becker enters the list with a rework of his last single Heli-Heli Helikopter. For the Après Ski version Markus Becker invited Austrian Marco Mzee of The Mountain Brothers to join him. The new version can be found at number 67 – the video might show you what the party is about.

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.