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.

6th of Feb 2015:

The Hanging Tree by James Newton Howard feat. Jennifer Lawrence spends a second week at the top which is indeed a little surprise cause there is enough competition around. Former no.1 Outside by Calvin Harris Feat. Ellie Goulding still sits pretty at number 2 and Uptown Funk! by Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars climbs a further place to number 3 in its 10th chart week. The song now eclipses the peak of Mark Ronson's so far biggest hit Valerie (vocals by Amy Winehouse) and it still has power to might go further. And last weeks highest new entry Break The Rules by Charli XCX also is on the way up going 7–4.

23rd of Jan 2015: Calvin Harris storms to the Top

There is some unusual action going on right on the Top of the German list. Since 2004 there was no Nr.1 in January that left the Top after a single week. In 2015 it is so again. KWABS is taking Walk back from number 1 making space for another British production. It is Calvin Harris Feat. Ellie Goulding which takes a five places leap to number 1 with Outside. It is the first number 1 hit coming from outside the Top 5 since last January's 9–1 jump by Pharrell Williams' Happy. The difference is: Pharrell did that step in the 4th chart week–Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding already have some impressive 13 chart weeks under their belt with Outside. It is this the slowest walk to number 1 since We Are The People by Empire Of The Sun took 14 weeks to land at the Top in December 2010. (Actually that long way came according to the fact that their first two chart runs of 9 weeks stopped at number 65. After its use in a commercial the song only took five weeks for getting top.) So one could count Big City Life by Mattafix the song that was the last number 1 waiting a long time till it topped the list. On January 20th 2006 it was the 15th chart week for the duo that saw it at number 1 for the first time.
Mattafix's Marlon Roudette also was the last British act at number 1 that was dethroned by another British act. On October the 28th 2010 it was–sic–Calvin Harris accompanying Rihanna who got number 1 with We Found Love.

Some more statistics? Calvin Harris is the third DJ who can a second number 1 hit in this current decade. So the producer trio now is Guetta-AVICII-Harris. Ellie Goulding sits at number 1 for the very first time. She only had a short number 2 visit as a member of the Band Aid 30 in November 2014.


At number 6 the first new song of the year 2015 comes in. It is Du liebst mich nicht taken from the brand new album of Ado Kojo. For the song he accompanies with blog star Shirin David. They heavily quote the Nr.1 hit from Sabrina Setlur produced in 1997.
The couple so far is the best performing new act of 2015 and the best sold German production of the moment.

Also new inside the Top 1o Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars are. Uptown Funk! goes 14–7 in its eighth chart week. It is the first time Mark Ronson achieves the Top10 since his hit Valerie (featuring Amy Winehouse) reached number 4 in 2008. Bruno Mars was stopping at number 7 for last in October 2012 with Locked Out Of Heaven.

The third new Top 10 hit comes from Taylor Swift. Blank Space is the third consecutive Top10 entry from her–going this week 12–9.

This strong turnover on the top makes Auf anderen Wegen by Andreas Bourani the song with the longest Top10 history. It now spends an 11th week here sitting still pretty at number 10. Well–the days of it might by counted as well.


On The Rise
It for sure will become big: Firestone by Norwegian Kygo Feat. Conrad goes 33-19 in its 3rd chart week. It is hard on the heels of Nico & Vince and Martin Tungevaag who brought the country back into the international pop business the past months.
With full weeks sales AYO by Chris Brown & TYGA goes 71–23 giving the first one his biggest hit since summer 2012. TYGA never was higher before. It is certainly given the song will not rise further. Chris Brown might not mind–he just enters at number 30 alongside Kid Ink and his new recording Hotel.
As a kind of surprise OMI and his song Cheerleader still rises stopping now at number 27. In contrast completely expected Meghan Trainors new single Lips Are Movin goes straight up too–this week resting at number 29.
At number 39 Sam Smith reaches a new peak with I'm Not The Only One. The song already spends the 13th week in the list.

DSDS 12
On January the 7th the 12th season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) started. Even the hardest fans think the show had already their best times far behind–well a performance on the show still generates demand. So the fact with Ardian Bujupi's single Boom Raka Tak. The DSDS semi finalist of 2011 released the song in September 2014 without any glimpse of success. Now two sisters danced to the song on TV–and the sales figure rise. Boom Raka Tak lands at number 60 and gives the almost superstar his second chart entry at all.

Anti-PEGIDA protest
Maybe this is the most unusual thing inside this issue of the charts. A political statement generates a hit. It was on 10th of January 2015 that schlager singer Roland Kaiser made a speech on the Je suis Charli demonstration in Dresden. His words were very direct banning the PEGIDA protesters as extremists and racists. This fact alone is hardly seen in the schlager scene.
The effect shows that not every fan of that music is a stupid nationalist. The latest single by Roland Kaiser Warum hast du nicht einfach nein gesagt released in September now enters the list at number 67. It is the highest position since 1994 for the singer. Probably politics can made stars too.

19th of Dec 2014

David Guetta feat. Sam Martin return to the Top with Dangerous - it is the third week for that song at number 1.

British soul singer KWABS enters number 3 with Walk in its fifth chart week.

G.D.F.R. by Flo Rida Featuring Sage The Gemini serves as the highest new entry at number 7. It is the first new song by the US-American rapper since end tail of 2013 and his 26th chart entry, the 12th that reaches the Top10. With trap producer Lookas accompanying the duo it is only the second trap production becoming a major hit in Germany. The other one was Dark Horse by Katy Perry ft. Juicy J peaking in February 2014 at number 6.

Habits by Tove Lo still rises. This week it gains two places to number 14 in its so far 30th chart week.

12th of Dec 2014

The German Band Aid 30 still is number 1 with its take on Do They Know It's Christmas?

James Newton Howard feat. Jennifer Lawrence go 7–2 with their patriotic anthem The Hanging Tree taken from the movie The Hunger Games: MockinJay Part I

New inside the Top10 and highest new entry comes from Jessie J. Masterpiece is only her second Top10 hit and the first time that high since Price Tag shot to number 3 in May 2011.

Habits by Swedish Tove Lo is what we call a sleeper hit. In its 29th chart week the song reaches its so far peak at number 16. The last song with such a long taking rise peaked two and a half years ago. It was Ma chérie by DJ Antoine which stopped at number 6.

2nd of May 2014:

Still it is Rather Be by Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne that sits pretty at Nr.1 in Germany. It is already the fourth week for that track. Well–the top is very calm. And so are the ranks 2, 3 and 4.

The track bringing some change in the list is Budapest by British new comer George Ezra. After his song is released on CD the track shoots 12–5 in its 9th chart week. It is so far the second highest peak worldwide for the song. Only the Dutch charts report a current number 3.

Three places below the highest new entry comes in. It is the new single by Mando Diao Black Saturday that anounces the new album Aelita. It is the second Top 10 single in Germany for the Swedish band and its first chart entry since four years (of course the chart success for Caligola ain’t included).

Two German acts are jumping directly into the Top 20. And they together stand for the sound currently very successful in Germany. The first one comes in at number 10 and it is the third prerelease for Kollegah's upcoming album King. This week the title trackenters the list as the highest track Kollegah ever had launched in the single's charts. It really seems that he is the new king of German gangsta rap. His both predecessors Alpha and AKs im Wandschrank also made it up in the list climbing 30 places each.
The second new German song comes in at number 18. After its release as a full digital track She Moves - Far Away jumps from number 70. DJ Alle Farben is the latest of deep house inspired producers who make their luck on that sound invading the music scene since few months.

Casting Show Battle
The question is: Which one is the casting show with most influence. Usually one refers to the TV rates which sees Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) at number 1. But hard on the heels The Voice Kids follows. Both emerge around 3 Mio. viewers every show aired. But what do TV rates really mean for highly commercial products? What do they mean if the sales of music do not correspond with the rates. That's the question raised against DSDS. RTL so far answers: it doesn't matter anything – there will be a season 2015 for sure. Meanwhile the market celebrates The Voice Kids as the more attractive show. This week a song returns to the list that already had a very proper chart career. Strong by London Grammar spend 23 weeks inside the charts since November 2013 peaking at number 33. On April 18th Saphira, Carlo & Hanna performed the song and propelled it back to the list–up to number 28. This late peak makes the song the slowest burner of 2014 so far–and compared to past three years it is a slow burner indeed. One or two tracks per year did take a similar time. Of course Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner's Sky And Sand are the far and away the longest sleeping hit peaking in its 83rd chart week in November 2011.


Still on the rise the American Authors can reach the Top 50 with their Best Day Of My Life. The remix by Just A Gent counts in the next chart issue. The full release of the CD single follows May 9th.
It took John Newman's current single Losing Sleep also a while for catching fire and becoming hit status. This week the song rises 82–57 although it is available for more than a month.

28th of March 2014:

It is MR PROBZ again who takes the No.1 crown with his hit Waves. It is the third week for the track on the sunny place which makes it the most succesfull Dutch production since 15 years. At the very end of 1998 it was Loona who had her second number 1 single Hijo De La Luna spending three weeks at the top too.

Waves at the top also gives us a third number 1 in a row that at least spent three weeks on the top. Exactly one year ago we had that situation for last time. Back than it was Rihanna’s Diamonds that had a 10 weeks run in Dezember followed by will.i.am & Britney Spears and their Scream & Shout (9 weeks) and Passenger’s Let Her Go (5 weeks).



After their fulminant victory on the German national final to the Eurovision Song Contest and a full week on sale Is It Right by Elaiza storms the Top 10. The song lands at number 4 which is the fifth consecutive year that the national entry can reach the top 10. Such a success (or call it euphoria) wasn’t never seen before.
Also song number two performed on the show (and recorded on the EP) Fight Against Myself can gain some chart success. Number 50 is the place it sits pretty this week. At the very end of the list even the upcoming single Without appears. That's what I call success.

Other national finalists climb up the list too after a full week of sales. The runners up UNHEILIG sees his second song staged live on the show Wir sind alle wie eins jumping 71–29 (the leading entry Als wär’s das erste Mal vicecersa collapses 10–25)
Third on the show Cotton Candy Hurricane by MarieMarie goes 75–39, second song Candy Jar comes in at 82. Second act on place 3 Santiano only enters number 69 with Fiddler On The Deck. Well, it is the highest rank the band can achieve in the singles charts ever. On the album list it already has two number 1 hits under its belt.




In its 15th week on sale Liebe by Sido enters the top 20. It started chart life with the release of the album 30-11-80 back in December. Than it sneaked around the list raising slowly to a medium hit and two weeks ago finally had its release as a proper CD single. Number 16 is the result so far for that song.

At number 38 an act celebrates its 25th anniversary with its 25th chart entry titled 25. It’s Die Fantastischen Vier that worked so hard for this sensational constellation. Their first chart entry was in September 1992 when Die da?! started to become one of their biggest success till today.

Without a proper release as a single Sean Paul’s Hey Baby climbs up the list. This week the track lands at number 47 and it’s right on the way to become the artist’s next hit.

On sale but overseen for some weeks Enrique Iglesias Ft. Pitbull finally raise some awareness. I'm A Freak goes 89–56 this week. Still far away from the levels both acts perform usually. Even the production team of The Cataracs is used to rank in higher regions.

Released as a proper CD single Weinen by Adel Tawil manages to reach number 57. Well, also this artist usually collects Top 10 positions. Maybe the fact that an unofficial remix by Roy Jones can attract much more people than the original mixes causes the weak chart position. Why spending money for a boring track if there is another around with much more appeal (and for no money)?

It is the third chart run for A Little Party Never Killed Nobody by Fergie + Q-Tip + Goonrock. The track now climbs to number 67 again in its 36th chart week. In early summer 2013 it peaked at number 10. Is this new demand for the song caused by the fresh mothership of Fergie or its misfortune on the Oscars?

Scheduled for a release as single track on 28th of March Down By The River by German new super darlings Milky Chance climbs already up the charts weeks before. This issue it stands at number 68 as an album cut.

Beginning of April Rebecca Ferguson tours througout Germany. In anticipation of this event the demand in her last single Light On raises again. The track re-enters at number 86.

Deep House probably will accompany us for 2014. The next act coming from Germany is Parra for Cuva ft. Anna Naklab. The DJ (+ singer) took the classic tune from Chris Isaak to rework it in a dance/lounge style. The result can enter the charts after a month on sale. The original recording took a long way to its hiatus too. Recorded in the late 80s it became a hit with its use in David Lynch's movie Wild at Heart in 1990. Number 9 in Germany was the result more than 20 years ago.



After 84 weeks inside the charts Sonnentanz by Austrian duo Klangkarussell is now the track with the third longest consecutive chart appearance. This current week it eclipses the result of Adele's Rolling In The Deep from 2010. Only Geboren um zu leben (94 weeks) by UNHEILIG and Heavy Cross by Gossip (96 weeks) spent more consecutive weeks on the list.
The list of all weeks spent on the charts no matter how many chart runs the recording had looks litlle different. Here Sonnentanz ranks at number 11 to date.