May 29th 15: Euro...what?

What a week! What a race! Friday and Saturday Felix Jaehn Feat. Jasmine Thompson led the survey all alone. On Sunday clearly Måns Zelmerlöw had his Eurovision supported sales peak followed by a very strong album supported Sarah Connor who was reported as number 1 on Midweek charts. Finally the old no.1 had some more steam at all and Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) holds firm for a fourth week. Which makes again the story of the week not going on at the very Top. But on the runners up position. Wie schön du bist by Sarah Connor takes a six places leap to #2 and gives the singer her highest appearance since her last no.1 hit From Zero To Hero which dates back 10 years already. Definitely she now is back in business as her album Muttersprache immediately flies to no.1 too where she landed a decade ago for the one and only time.

Newly at number 3 and of course a story as well Swedish Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw comes in with his winning song Heroes. It is the fourth consecutive year that the winning song of the show can enter the Top5 a feat only seen between 1964 and 1967. So the contest really is as popular as hardly before.
Måns Zelmerlöw meanwhile also is the best performing Swedish act since AVICII topped the list with Hey Brother in November 2013. One might find strong similarities between the songs–well, Swedish dance pop sounds like this and obviously still rules at least whole Europe.

Eurovisions No.4 is Germany's second: Belgian Loic Nottet lands at number 21 with Rythm Inside which is the second highest charting Belgian Eurovision entry. Only Tom Dice (sixth in 2010) had the chance of grabbing number 20 in Germany. As a fourth place Rhythm Inside gots the highest chart entry since 1965. Back than Udo Jürgens climbed to #9 with his no.4 song Sag' ihr ich lass sie grüßen.

German entry Black Smoke by Ann Sophie re-enters at #26 increasing her result after her nomination slightly. It is the worst result for a Eurovision entry since 2003 when Lou completely missed the charts. On the other hand Lou did much better on the contest by landing at number 11. Ann Sophie did not get any single point in Vienna and joins Austrian The Makemakes at the very latest rank which is the lowest place a German entry ever achieved (although there were years when the German entry didn't get any point).

All in all this Eurovision is as popular as hardly before. For the first time in history the first nine songs voted in the final make it in the charts also.


Impact number 3 came by second episode of this year's Sing meinen Song show. Participants had to choose a favorite song originally recorded by Andreas Bourani which boosts the songs of the singer again. Newly inside the list shoots the title track of his 2014 album Hey which was performed by Yvonne Catterfeld on the show. The original lands at #30.


Spending a 81st consecutive week on the survey Atemlos durch die Nacht by Helene Fischer now is the fifth longest running chart song without any break. There are another 15 weeks to go for eclipsing the record set by gossip in 2011 with Heavy Cross. Viewing all chart weeks Atemlos durch die Nacht collected so far 85 weeks what is a proper rank 13 on the all time list.

25th of April 2014:

Rather Be by Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne is Nr.1 in Germany for a third week. That gives us the fourth number 1 hit in a row that holds firm for at least three weeks. I was counting the statistics the past week already resuming that the charts somehow slow down at the moment. This week it is much more obvious due to the fact that four consecutive number 1 hits spend at least three weeks is a feat last seen in early summer 2010 when five number one hits did so. 2010 (and 2012) was the year when Germany had only 13 different songs storming the top. A result not seen since 2002 when there were only 11 number 1 hits. Seems that we whitness a longer period of slowing down after a very busy time between 2003 and 2009.
To underline this situation the Top 5 is again completely unchanged. And even the whole Top100 contains 5 new songs and 4 re-entries only. That's the lowest turnover since July 2012 when an almost three years phase of very static charts slowly ended. This might a renaissance of that time.


David Guetta still is the artist of the current decade who had the most chart entries at all. This week his summary is 611 weeks since January 1st 2010. Runner’s up Pitbull is 140 weeks behind.
The success of the French DJ Guetta is grounded on two very successful albums: One Love in 2009 and Nothing But The Beat in 2011. Both propelled a bunch of single hits into the song charts too. 11 of them going Top 10 including 6 Top 5 hits.
The upcoming album is scheduled for 2014 and for promotion the DJ offers new tracks since summer last year. Track number 3 Bad (a collaboration with Dutch Showtek) was released on April 7th midweek which propelled it to number 49 only in its first week. This issue full week’s sales count into the list giving the track a proper number 19. Well – the master still knows how to launch hits. But the real huge success still ain’t around in 2014.

Almost the same story could be told 'bout Pitbull. The past four years he was extremely successful. The duet with KE$HA Timber gave him his second number 1 in Germany. That was back in December 2013. Now he was chosen to record the official FIFA anthem for WM14 in Brazil. The track We Are One (a well working duet with Jennifer Lopez) was released on April 8th making it chart at number 72 past issue. Now with full sales the track shoots to number 20. I guess this ain't all we will see from this track. Anyway it is the best performance for JLO since summer 2012 when she hit the German Top 20 past alongside ... ehm - of course Pitbull.

Highest new entry is once again a German battle rap. The story started on a show by Sido on April 14th when entertainer and comedian Joko had an appearance as a rapper and dissing some B-level stars. A day later the answer by Eko Fresh Frauenarzt Manny Marc Bass Sultan Hengzt was digitally available. The fun is on the audience–Joko Diss enters the list at number 24.


Tracks on the rise
Still Aloe Blacc climbs up the list with I'm A Man. Number 1 in the UK, number 8 in the USA–in Germany the track stops now at number 43 which is close to the peak of his last release the solo take on Wake Me Up. An official release date as a stand alone single stilkl does not exist in Germany. Strange marketing strategy.
Another self evolving hit is All Night by Parov Stelar. The track climbs up the list as an album cut from his latest CD chosen by the audience. The latest kick for getting Electro Swing a mainstream phenomenon came by some shows the DJ had around here including one in Berlin. So far he is a star in Austria and some eastern European countries. The late success in Germany also tells a lot about dance music here in the past years.
Indila finally enters the Top 50 stopping at number 47 with Dernière Danse. Some internet sellers list the album Mini World at the very Top–the official media control charts saw it at number 35. It seems there is a gap in the way the official charts are compiled.
It was an easy bet predicting Best Day Of My Life by American Authors becoming a hit. This week the track rises 81–61, a few remixes will be released next days, the full CD single is scheduled for beginning of May.
The next deep house inspired mainstream hit comes in at number 70 in the shape of She Moves (Far Away) produced by DJ Alle Farben. The proper release is scheduled for beginning of May. His popularity already is big enough letting the track chart before. So far the DJ is best known for his Synesthesia sets played on several events and additionally released on soundcloud. The upcoming album is titled also Synesthesia.


DSDS effects
April 12th 2014 the third live show was aired. Again two tracks were propelled back in the list after they were performed on the show. The low impact they really have on the charts shows which way the format probably goes. Season 12 in spring 2015 is already scheduled anyway.
On number 58 Say Something by A Great Big World And Christina Aguilera lands. It is a new peak for the song that stalled at number 79 in January. Eisberg by Andreas Bourani also has a further appearance landing at number 66. It is exactly the same place the song had last time in November 2012.


Hallelujah very often is referred to be one of the best songs of all time. The song was written by Leonhard Cohen but the recording of Jeff Buckley became much more popular. The quality of the song and the recording did never grab the mainstream. Number 38 a year ago is all the track so far managed to reach. Mostly it can chart after a hopeful contestant staged on a casting show with the tune. So it will happen probably in next weeks time. On The Voice Kids a young duo has performed the song. But that's not all. A week before the casting show a video on youtube became a viral hit featuring a priest in a wedding ceremony singing Hallelujah. The video already collected 2 million clicks and brings the recording by Jeff Buckley back to chart honour. This week it re-enters number 76. Will it grow further this time?

Hot Spot 11-15-13

A third week for Klingande and their Jubel at number 1. Last French act occupying the Top spot for at least three weeks was Bob Sinclar and his inofficial WM anthem Love Generation that spent five weeks at the very Top in spring 2006.

King of the week is EMINEM. His latest album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 goes straight to number 1 inside the album list. Current single The Monster featuring Rihanna rises 7–3 giving the rapper his sixth Top 3 hit in Germany. Accompanying Rihanna is a little more succesfull. The Monster already is her 12th Top 3 song. Seven of them she had within the past four years – so she is by now the most succesful artist of the current decade. Not alone that. With 170 weeks inside the Top 10 she now overtakes Madonna's record as the female artist with most Top 10 weeks. Now Rihanna is heading for the record of The Beatles. The fab four stand with 227 weeks at the Top of the All Time List.

Once we're talking 'bout Rihanna one should recognize her latest single What Now climbing up the list also due to it's release in some more remix versions. The first edition of remixes brought her to a mere number 83. With the new release she achieves number 49. Predecessor Right Now (featuring DJ David Guetta stopped at number 43 five months ago.

Back to EMINEM once again and for very short: also single Survival rises and lands at number 20 while Berzerk goes 28–24 again after being Nr.10 back in September. Rap God goes 44–33. – Propelled by the new album also Lose Yourself from 2002 can made it back to the list. It sits pretty this week at number 85 almost exactly 11 years after it appeared first in the survey.


Pitbull Feat. Ke$ha are entering the Top 10 with their single Timber. The song enters the stores as physical release today – so we will see it higher than number 7 in 14 days. By entering the area Pitbull gains his third Top 10 hit in 2013 – he is only the third main artist doing so. KE$HA only manages a third Top 10 hit at all. This weeks she ends a three years long abstinence.

LORDE finally also becomes a Top 10 artist by entering Nr.9 with Royals. Since Kimbra almost two year ago no act from New Zealand was seen that high. The last main artist from New Zealand inside the German Top 10 was Brooke Fraser in June 2011.

British X Factor winner 2012 – James Arthur – gains some more attention this week by releasing his debut album. In his home country he proves to be a superstar by landing at number 2. In Germany the album lands only at number 25. As an effect his two singles rise up the list once more. Impossible climbs back to number 45, follow up single You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You bounces back 77–55.

Damien Rice already is a secret star. His (or his band's) tunes were used in several TV serials or public events. But nobody knew the man and his band so far. Now the label 14th floor released one of his most popular recording 9 crimes again. And finally it can make it into the charts as a single hit landing at number 61.

By releasing a new song every single week Canadian teen star Justin Bieber now became the artist with most charting songs in one year. This week's Bad Day is already the 9th song in 2013 that can appear on the list. The man now overtakes such big names like Pitbull, Flo Rida and Helene Fischer who stuck with "only" eight different songs. To get some better impressions of what this feat means: David Guetta had 14 charting tracks in 2012 and even 16 in 2011. So there is some more to do for becoming a real super star.

Also Avril Lavigne offered a new album. According to critics and sales figures the collection of songs is much less than retro. Number 15 means this is the worst performing album ever for the lady. Also re-entering single Let Me Go (alongside with husband Chad Kroeger) only can reach number 70. Never a charting single stopped lower.



Casting show effects
As always one can find some tracks in the list that benefit from the performance of hopeful aspirants. Mostly the songs disappear after a single week – so one could ignore them very well. But very often well known tunes appear on stage - so we could call them classics also. Recognizing them might tell some stories 'bout the current cultural mood in Germany.

This week we can watch Korean YIRUMA returning to the list with his composition of River Flows In You. It was written and recorded in 2001 but had a long long wait to become famous. First wider recognition came with the use of the melody within a Twilight fan video. Some months later DJ Jasper Forks recorded an own version. Than also the original by YIRUMA had a chance to chart as a single track too. Now it belongs to one of the most loved pieces for all who study classic instruments like piano. The track lands this week according to a performance on Das Supertalent by young piano player Thomas Krüger. I guess we will watch the song again when the show airs its final.

Song number 2 is Under by Alex Hepburn. The song was performed on The Voice Of Germany on October 31st by Yvonne Rüller. In March this year it had a 14 weeks long chart career peaking at number 34. Now it re-enters at number 79.


Songs To Watch
Might be an upcoming hit: Strong by the London Grammar. The band released its album digitally in October. A full physical release is available right now. In between the single can gain some attention and enters the charts at number 83.

Full three weeks before its release on CD Unconditionally by Katy Perry starts its chart life at number 86.

Hot Spot 10-04-13

Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz still occupy the number 1 slot. Seems that Talk Dirty really is much more than a short runner but stands in contrast with the weak performance of the album. That one called Tattoos only can make number 25 in Germany which is the highest rank a Derulo album ever reached. Well – the man is much more a hit single's artist. - Just to underline this fact Fire enters the list as an album cut at number 91. Duetting partner Pitbull hereby becomes the act with most charting songs of the current decade. With 26 official tracks plus two uncredited he now has overtaken French DJ David Guetta who so far launched 25 singles under his name from 2010 on.

Olly Murs' Single Dear Darlin' climbs in its 11th week to number 2 which gives the British star his second single in 2013 that can reach at the runners up position. Once he had a number 1 hit. It was back in April 2012 when Heart Skips A Beat managed it to be the most sold track for two weeks.

Linkin Park has a third Top 10 hit in a row with A Light That Never Comes rising to number 8 in its second chart week. Co-producer and remixer Steve Aoki appears as a main artist for the first time. His take on Kid CuDi's Pursuit Of Happiness made it to number 51 this May.

Also EMINEM launches a new Top 10 hit with Berzerk jumping to No.10 two weeks before it is officially released. It is the 14th Top 10 song of 26 that had charted in the past 14 years.


After Woodkid last week now Klingande is the second French act invading the Top 20. The song Jubel is clearly inspired by Klangkarussell's Sonnentanz – with rising to number 12 it certainly can copy the success of the Austrian production. The "original" still sells very well. In its 59th chart week it still ranks as number 14.

German Schlager star Helene Fischer slowly becomes a hit singer too. Her eighth chart entry Fehlerfrei starts its commercial life at number 20 which is the highest position the artist can achieve so far. Her next album sales count from next issue on – so probably leading single will rise some places further.

Who loves German music?

Germany’s music lovers are lazy or tired of buying always the same sound. Or lazy of buying new CDs at all. Why do you spend money for music? Cause you are crazy about it, you want to listen to it again and again, you want to own it. Mostly you need no longer then a few days and you are looking for some new stuff. That’s how the music market all over the world works. It doesn’t work so well right now in Germany. We do have an almost static Top 15 this week. The newest song inside the Top 15 is number 2 – Sweat by Snoop Dogg vs David Guetta which is in the list for four weeks. A complete month without any attracting new release.

Highest new climber to the upper regions sits at 16 with Aloe Blacc jumping 17 places and finally pushing his Loving You Is Killing Me to Top 20 status. In its fourth chart week the track shows as a real successor of huge hit I Need A Dollar that climbed up to number 4 last autumn. The new track appears at some compilations such as BRAVO Black Hits 24 or the soundtrack of Germanys Next Top Model. Due to that TV show the track finally attracts some more people than it could as a pure CD single. By the way – CD market in Germany seems more and more under pressure. The Aloe Blacc single is not available everywhere. Even the biggest online seller amazon only lists the digital download version. That is a reason too why the track does not show up higher in the list. The rule of chart compiling media control of counting the amount of money spent on musci sales turns into a clear detriment for online singles. Probably this policy will be skipped very soon.

Almost the same story to tell about German production. We had to welcome in the last few weeks a lot of new German music – but the most successful track is still Strobo Pop by Die Atzen mit Nena which goes no higher than number 18 this week.
Number 2 of the German only list is occupied by Jupiter Jones and their first single hit Still. The band had some TV appearances – all outside the classic music industry shows. Finally they also appearedin the soap opera Hand aufs Herz (To be honest / Hand on your heart) which reaches a more younger audience. That constant presence made the single Still kind of a slow burner. In its seventh chart week the track reaches the Top 20 – right at number 20.


The TV performance at INA’s night – unplugged

Back as one of the three most popular (most sold) German tracks is Berlin City Girl by Berlin culcha candela. The track slides one place down in the official chart to number 32.It is already the14th chart week.

Talking bout German music we should have a look to the album charts. Highest new entry there are The Baseballs. Their second album Strings’n’stripes enters the list at number 6. Sounds good isn’t it? But let’s have a look outside Germany. In Austria the album starts at number 3, in Switzerland even at number 1. Topping the story their debut album Strike hit the list in the UK at number 4 – Germany only saw it at number 6. You probably know what I am going to tell you: German music is not that popular in Germany as it is outside. No wonder the single of The Baseballs Hello only enters the list at 100. In Austria it already climbed to number 41, Switzerland reports number 68. The original by Martin Solveig + Dragonette reigns in Germany still at number 11.

New entry at number 18 of the album chart are Frida Gold. Their debut single Zeig mir wie du tanzt (Show Me How You Dance) was highly promoted in November last year. Now the album Juwel (Jewel) follows and can gain number 18. Simoultaneously the second single Wovon sollen wir träumen (Of What We Should Dream Of) is climbing back the singles list to number 48.

Back in the charts after a one year break is the most successful act of the past two decades Scooter. Friends Turbo is the 45th chart entry for the trio. As they were a closed phenomenon always existing completely besides all trends and hypes they finally start to self-reference. Friends Turbo is nothing less than a cover of their number 3 hit Friends released in 1995. The honour of bringing Scooter back to life (although they never were dead in between) goes to a Dutch movie which just now came to German theatres: New Kids Turbo. The movie broke end of last year the Dutch record of people watching it at the very first weekend. In Germany the movie shot to number 1 at the first week too. So – be aware Friends Turbo jumping up the list in two weeks also. Meanwhile Scooter does have an 18th consecutive year at least one chart hit per year.


„Friends Turbo” and the Original of 1995