Russell must be happy….

Natasha Rampley back again this week with the rundown of the chart….

Hurray! Why am I cheering, you ask? I am cheering because Katy Perry is still number one with “California Girls”. I had kind of feared Lady Gaga would emerge victorious in her chart ascent of recent weeks.

Even better news is that B.o.B and Hayley Williams’ collaboration “Airplanes” has jumped up 10 spots to secure number two in the charts after a month of undeservedly sitting lower down the chart. That’s two of my wish list for the chart fulfilled.

Last week’s wish list aside, this week’s chart boasts a lot of fallers – over half the top 40 have fallen from their chart positions last week – five new entries and a handful of climbers.

Starting with a few of this week’s new entries and we have some charting high, some low and the odd one in the middle. First up is Justin Bieber’s latest song “Somebody to Love” which features Usher (bonus points for getting your superstar mentor to do a song with you) in at 33. I wasn’t too keen on this song at first, but Usher redeems it from being another churned out teen-heartthrob song. The chorus is definitely the catchiest part of the song. A possible climber, as I’m actually surprised this charted so low given “Bieber Fever”. Are we experiencing a Bieber backlash?

Also new in this week, and higher up the chart at 26, is Marco Calliari with “We No Speak Americano”. Now I’d never heard this song before so I was open to hearing it in the interest of research, something I now regret. This song is rubbish. How it hit the mid-level of the chart is beyond me. There is nothing good about this song. Absolutely nothing.

Finally under the title of new entry this week is Enrique Iglesias with “I Like It” featuring Pitbull and charting at number four – the highest new entry this week. Aside from a slightly dodgy lyric at the beginning of the song where Enrique tells a girl he doesn’t mind that she has a boyfriend as he’s out of town and won’t find out if anything happens between them that night, the song is deserving of its high entry. It’s catchy, Enrique’s voice is as lovely and velvet smooth as always and Pitbull’s contribution is rather good too. All in all a good song, dodgy lyric aside.

Climbers are overpowered by the fallers this week. However among the climbers are some of my firm favourites. I’ve already mentioned B.o.B and Hayley Williams’ big jump but also climbing a few places this week are Train and their song “Hey Soul Sister” which is up two spots to 30. This song forms part of my summer playlist so I am thrilled it’s climbing the chart. I love that Train are back and hopefully they’ll put out another track soon.

Also climbing this week, although less joyfully but somewhat inevitably is Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”. This week it’s managed to climb another spot to seven. I knew this would happen. I’ll only look at this again in full if/when it becomes number one.

Finally in this week’s climbers is another slight climber but a firm favourite of mine in the chart. Eminem and Rihanna’s duet “Love the Way You Lie” has climbed up a spot to number six. I’d like this to climb to number one actually. It’s a beautiful song and the mash of Rihanna’s singing and Eminem’s rapping is brilliant. I like this song a little bit more each time I listen to it.

Now the fallers this week are so vast that to look at each of them would take up an entire post. So I’ve selected a few I’m happy about and a few I’m not so thrilled about. First up is one of the bigger drops in the chart this week. Diddy and Dirty Money have fallen 12 places to 34 with “Hello Good Morning” on their second week in the chart. Evidently a lot of people agreed with me last week when I said the song wasn’t that great.

Also falling and leaving me glad is Tinie Tempah’s song “Frisky” which is down two spots to number 11. It’s not much of a fall but it’s a start. Silly lyrics doth not a great song make. “Frisky” is a fitting example of this. Plus even without the lyrical mishap it’s not that amazing a song anyway.

On a less joyful note Ke$ha has experienced a comedown with “Your Love is My Drug” falling five spots to 24. I still like this song; I still find it catchy over annoying. It’s a good song with a summer vibe – perhaps it’s just not good enough to stay high up in the charts for longer?

Also disappointing me with a drop is Example’s “Kickstarts” which has suffered a drop of four, taking the song to eight. Not the worst drop in the world – the song is still in the top 10 after all – but it’s still a drop. This song is one of the catchiest songs in the top ten and one of my favourites. Maybe it will stay put or climb next week?

Well, that’s it for this week. So until next week, buy smart!

Enter Mrs Brand…

After a week’s hiatus following the technical problems that afflicted Fingertips HQ, Natasha Rampley returns with her run down of the chart…

Finally the weather is back on form and summer music has returned to the top of the charts! Throwing last week’s number one from its spot is Katy Perry with Snoop Dog and her song “California Girls”. The song is pure summer. The tune is upbeat in a perfection of pop and Perry’s voice is easy on the ears.

New in this week are Eminem and Rihanna. Yes, Rihanna and Eminem. They’ve teamed up for the amazing song that is “Love The Way You Lie” which is in at number seven this week. This song, while in theory it shouldn’t, works so well. Rihanna’s voice and Eminem’s rapping blend together flawlessly, resulting in a marvellous piece of music. I adore this song and is my song pegged to climb next week.

Also new this week, and less wondrous than “Love the way you lie” is Diddy and Dirty Money with “Hello Good Morning” in at 22 this week. I tried my hardest to sit through this one but I had to give up around the two minute mark. To give it credit, the song does start of well but after that initial good section it just begins to sound repetitive and thus becomes extremely dull on the ears.

Following up from a long sought after hope of mine, chart wise, Lady Gaga is nearly out of the top 40 with “Telephone” this week. She’s hit the bottom spot of 40 after 31 weeks in the chart. Anyone who’s read this column previously will know I was never a fan of this song so I’m glad to see this drop.

A drop I’m not so glad about is Train’s “Hey Soul Sister”. This song is both lovely and summery, so it confuses me that it’s dropping a few places each week. This week it’s dropped four more places to 32. I really wish this song would have a random and sudden burst of climbing chart wise next week.

Also down this week is Tinie Tempah with “Frisky” which is down four spots to number nine. I’m in two minds about this song. I’ll admit it’s actually quite catchy but, as with “Pass Out”, is has some ridiculous lyrics – for example ‘would you risk it for a chocolate biscuit?’ Last time I checked I wasn’t Scooby Doo so no, I wouldn’t. Stupid lyrics let this one down for me.

Finally in this week’s climbers we have Pixie Lott’s “Turn it up”, down eight to 21. It’s a shame because this is a feel good song with a catchy, summery beat. Perhaps next week we’ll see summery songs like this and “Hey Soul Sister” make a comeback?

Speaking of comebacks from big drops, after several weeks of confusing me B.o.B and Hayley Williams’ phenomenal song “Airplanes” has made up for previous chart drops and climbed up 13 places to sit at a comfortable number 12. And all I can say in response is finally. This song deserves to be in the top half of the chart, if not the very top, so I’m thrilled about this.

I’m less thrilled about the inevitable Lady Gaga “Alejandro” climb. The song is up another two this week to number eight. I still strongly dislike this song and would love nothing more than to see it drop, but I’m resigned to the fact that it won’t.

Slightly lower down the chart but climbing a hefty 12 places to reach it is “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira, at 27 this week. I’ve been bemoaning this song’s low chart position for weeks and it looks like it’s finally starting to climb up the charts. The song is easy to get stuck in your head and find yourself singing it at random times, which could explain this climb. Whatever the reason, I’m chuffed about it.

Also making me happy, but with less of a climb, is Fyfe Dangerfield’s version of “Always a Woman”. This lovely version of the song is up three to 33 after having spent several weeks dropping. Fyfe’s voice charms its way into your head and relaxes you straight from the first note of this cover. Bliss. Keep climbing Fyfe!

So that’s it for this week and here’s hoping that next week more summer songs shall litter the top half of our chart. It is summer after all!

Natasha is just one of the columnists at Fingertips.net.
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A New Number 1! The UK top 40 Summary.

This weeks top 40 round up by our very own Natasha Rampley.

Another week has brought us another number one. This time round it’s David Guetta with Fergie, Calvin Harris and Chris Willis. On first listen to this I wasn’t overly fussed but as the week’s gone on I have found myself listening to it more and more, and enjoying it. A decent number one, even if it is a grower.

Joining our number one in the new entry category this week is Miley Cyrus with “Can’t be tamed” which has entered the chart at number 13. I find myself really liking this song. For all critics say about Miley Cyrus she does make a good pop song, as this proves. A potential climber for next week.

Also new this week is a previous number one artist B.o.B, this time joined by Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Their song “Airplanes” has gone in at 23 this week, something I’m quite disappointed by. This song is, in a word, amazing. Williams’ powerful vocals make the chorus beautiful and B.o.B is a talented rapper. Combine the talent of these two and the brilliant lyrics and the result is a song that deserves to be much higher in the chart, so why isn’t it? Sort it out for next week please.

Finally in the new entries this week is the Eurovision song contest winner Lena and “Satellite”. Many people are comparing her to a hybrid of Kate Nash and Lily Allen due to the accent she sings in, regardless of these comparisons Lena has a good voice and this song is catchy to the maximum. I’m a little bit surprised that this charted so low but maybe things will change for the song next week?

Climbing this week, as I expected really, is Lady Gaga’s Alejandro up 12 places this week to 28. I’m not surprised about this really, as practically everything Gaga touches turns to chart gold, although I can’t say I’m pleased. I dislike this song; it mostly bores me to be quite honest. A lot of Gaga songs are starting to sound similar to me so I either need a break or a radically different song from her.

On a slightly more cheerful note, Aggro Santos and Kimberly Wyatt are up three spots back to number five this week. I’ve raved about this song enough in posts previous for regular readers to know that I’m a big fan of this song, so obviously it hanging about in the top five is absolutely fine with me.

Ke$ha is also up three places this week, resting at 15 with “Your Love is My Drug”. Last week I admitted I sort of liked this song, but this week it’s gone further. I’ve become hooked on this song; the chorus is just too catchy! I can’t escape it being stuck in my head because after just one listen it’s in their going round and round. But I don’t really mind.

Another song I don’t really mind comes into this week’s faller category. The song I’m speaking about is Iyaz’s “Solo” which has dropped seven places to number 10 this week. The only good thing about this song is the Janet Jackson “Again” sampling, but that doesn’t save the song. Despite the summer vibe in the music the song bores me, it’s bland and at times Iyaz comes across as rather whiney. Keep on dropping.

Also leaving me particularly happy about its fall this week is Kelis’ “Acapella” which is down 10 places to 32 this week. I loathe this song, as I’ve rambled on about in previous posts, so I’m glad it’s continuing to drop places. Perhaps next week it won’t be in the chart? That’d be nice.

Finally, and less gleefully, I must report that Fyfe Dangerfield is down five places to 20 this week. With his cover of “She’s Always a Woman” I’d hoped he’d be languishing around the top ten for a long period of time. This version is beautiful. Simply done and with real emotion in the singing, Fyfe has done well with this song so perhaps maybe it’s just this song’s time to slowly descend. I’d rather it wasn’t.

So, next week I’d like to see all evidence of Kelis’ “Acapella” removed from the chart and B.o.B with Hayley Williams breaking into the top ten – or even better the top five – with their song “Airplanes”. Hop to it music buyers, hop to it!

Dizzee Heights

Natasha Rampley returns later than usual – the editorial staff are taking the blame for that – and runs down this week’s chart for you…

It would appear that last week’s number one has nothing on dirtee discos as Dizzee Rascal’s latest song has knocked B.O.B. off the top spot this week. “Dirtee Disco” is an interesting mix. Dizzee’s rapping is great as usual but the music, although catchy, begins to just sound like pure noise by the end of the song and takes away from the song. A shame, but these things happen. My verdict; a good song, but I think B.O.B. should still be number one.

Also new in this week are N Dubz with “Dance On” taken from the Street Dance 3D movie. The song has gone straight in at a respectable number six. After a couple of disappointing singles from N Dubz this song makes up for it all. While the music is simple it ties in beautifully with the lyrics of the song. The lyrics themselves are proof of great song writing skills and are shared between all three of the group, along with a choir in the chorus which takes the song to a new level.

In the run up to the World Cup we are usually inundated with songs of World Cup’s past in the charts. This hasn’t happened yet but the official song for this year’s World Cup has entered the chart at 16 this week. K’naan and David Bisbal have teamed together for the rousing “Wavin’ Flag”. Whether it’s the frequent drumming and clapping, or the repeated hook of “now wave your flag” this song sticks. K’naan and Bisbal’s vocals are great and the blend of their voices and styles do well to represent the variety that will be present at the event, not too shabby for a World Cup song.

Closer to the bottom of the chart this week is Keri Hilson’s new single “I Like” which shuffles in at 34. The song gets off to a slow start before peaking around the minute mark for the chorus. Great, you might think, except it then dips again. The verses just don’t work for me in the way their done. To be brutally honest the slow, fragmented verses bore me and I’m not going to listen to a song just for the chorus.

Not many climbers this week but a couple of good ones. Firstly I have a confession to make. I actually like Ke$ha’s song “Your Love is my Drug”. It’s up 16 spots this week to number 18. I wasn’t sure at first but after giving it another go I can say I’ve changed my mind. Perhaps because it’s a bit more of her singing than sing-talking and the song isn’t whiney like “Blah Blah Blah”. The bit that ruins it for me is the talking at the end, it’s ridiculous and pointless.

Also climbing this week is Alicia Keys with “Empire State of Mind (part II)”, which is up eight places to 28. I do like this song, it’s nice enough. But it just doesn’t stand up to “Empire State of Mind (part I)” for me. Compared to that, this song is dull. Sorry Alicia, but it’s better with Jay-Z.

Higher up the chart and climbing seven places to sit at 10 this week is Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber with “Eenie Meenie”. I really like this song; mostly because of Sean Kingston but Justin Bieber comes up trumps on it too and sounds more like a singer than a teen-heart-throb-hit-maker. Singing with the big boys now Justin?

From riding high to falling fast this week’s fallers are many and it would seem no one is safe. My example in this is Christina Aguilera who has, for some inexplicable reason, dropped 15 places to 39 in the chart this week. I’m absolutely baffled by this as “Not Myself Tonight” is brilliant. Aguilera vocally puts so many of the new wave of singers to shame and the song is just as good, if not better, than anything they could produce. Bring on a Christina climb!

Down 10 to 22 this week is Kelis with “Acapella”. I’m glad about this as the song is just bizarre and doesn’t gel well with me. Kelis sounds whiney and her voice grates when she sings the chorus. As for the music it just sounds terrible. I can’t make it past a minute of the song without wanting to change this song to something else. Just get it out of the charts, and get it out quick!

Falling just one place and remaining in the top ten for another week is the collaboration between Aggro Santos and Kimberly Wyatt. “Candy” sits at eight this week and is just as good a song as it was when I first hear it, if not better. A song like this has one aim; to make you dance. And it achieves its aim quickly and well. It’s the mix of the music and Kimberly’s vocals on the chorus, which also serves as a hook, which does it for me.

So that’s it. Hopefully B.O.B. will be back at number one where he belongs, or Dizzee will be knocked off by a better song. As for the rest of the chart, all I want is Christina to stick around and climb back up. If I get my wish or not remains to be seen, well until next week anyway.



Bobby Pay-Day

Hello Monday, hello Natasha Rampley… back again with a rundown of this week’s chart.

So after several weeks at the top the good times have ended for Roll Deep and the UK has a new number one. B.o.B is new in this week and headed straight for the number one spot. I actually really like this song, its music and the combination of rapping and singing fuse together to give the song a smooth, laid back vibe which works really well resulting in a really good number one.

Also new in this week are The Pretty Reckless at number 16 with “Make me Wanna Die”. Possibly most notable about this is the happy surprise of lead singer Taylor Momsen’s voice. Momsen is best known for her role in American TV show Gossip Girl but shows off a pretty decent voice. Throw in the rest of the band and the mix up between background and full on musical accompaniment and you get one kick-butt song, as demonstrated by the positioning this week.

Joining The Pretty Reckless in the chart as a new entry this week is Ellie Goulding with “Guns and Horses” which charts at 26 this week. I’m not entirely sure about this song, it starts off well but it doesn’t really go anywhere after that. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not raving about it either. It’s peculiar. Goulding’s voice is mystically beautiful as usual. Perhaps it’s just the song, maybe it’s one of those songs that grow on you as time goes on?

Climbing this week are a select few songs, including Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” which is up four spots taking the group to 18 which I will readily admit to being thrilled about. I absolutely adore this song, from the lyrics to the singing and further still to the music. There is nothing I dislike about it and I really want Train to continue climbing the chart with this song.

Also climbing this week is Alicia Keys with her song “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” which is up seven places to number 13. I didn’t particularly like this song when it first came out but now, a fair few weeks down the line, and I’ll admit it’s grown on me. Keys’ voice is as effective as ever and the song itself is actually rather beautiful. All in all this song is a worthy climber.

As well as last week’s number one (which dropped two places to number three this week) rather a lot of songs have been dropping down in the chart this week. Dropping a huge 13 places to 31 is Diana Vickers with “Once”. I’m surprised and pretty miffed with this drop. The song is good, Vickers’ voice is amazing and the combination of the song and Vickers singing it is amazing, please let this one climb back up again next week!

Also dropping a huge number of places in the chart is Christina Aguilera, falling 12 places to 24 with “Not Myself Tonight”. Another drop I’m surprised and miffed with. Aguilera is outstanding vocally and the song is awesome. As with Vickers’ “Once” this combination works well and should be so much higher than this.

Not dropping a huge amount this week is Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s duet “Telephone” which has fallen three places to 19. A welcome drop, nonetheless as previous readers may recall my rather expressive dislike for this song. I desperately want this song out of the chart so any drop, even a small one like this makes me happy.

Finally, dropping even further down the chart this week are Biffy Clyro with “Bubbles”. The group are just hanging in the chart having fallen six places to 40. To be honest I’m not hugely fussed about what happens to this song. It’s bearable but it doesn’t excite me as a song. I tend to tune out when I hear it on the radio.

So perhaps Biffy Clyro will be gone completely from the UK top 40 next week. Perhaps people will come to their senses and Diana Vickers and Christina Aguilera will both find themselves climbing the chart. Even better than that is the prospect of Train continuing their ascent of the chart. My fingers are crossed, and all I can do it wait until next week to see what will be.

Out with the Old, in with the New Entries

Fingertips’ Natasha Rampley on the heating-up of the UK weather and the UK chart.

The good times continue for Roll Deep who are still number one this week. Looks like the combination of dance beat, rapping and singing was as catchy as I said last week because somethings driven people to buy this song, and good on them. This is a worthy number one and puts me in the summer mood instantly.

Unlike last week plenty of new entries have found their way into the top twenty. Two such new entries place at four and five. Pendulum return with their latest offering “Watercolour”, going straight in at four. Similar in sound to “Propane Nightmares” from their last album but kicked up several heady notches. Simply superb.

Following Pendulum into the top five is a collaboration between rapper Aggro Santos and former Pussycat Doll member Kimberly Wyatt. Their song “Candy” pops in at number five. I wasn’t particularly sure about this song the first time I heard it, however I gave it the minimum test of one minute and found myself hooked. The hook, which also serves as the chorus, fulfils its purpose extremely well. I’ve had it stuck in my head for over an hour. Aggro Santos’ rapping and Wyatt’s singing blend together well with the beat, resulting in a great offering of tantalising ear candy.

Also new in this week is returning lovely Sophie Ellis-Bextor with “Bittersweet”, which charts at twenty-five. To be honest I thought this song had been and gone in the chart (I’m pretty sure I’d seen it on T.V. ages ago). However, I’m glad it hasn’t as Ellis-Bextor’s voice mixed with the part-pop, part-dance melody make this song most pleasant to listen to. However it doesn’t grab you, which may explain the slightly lower entry.

Lastly, Rihanna’s new song “Te Amo” enters the chart this week at a low (for her) thirty. This, I’m surprised at. Yes, it’s not Rihanna’s strongest song by a long shot but it’s still an improvement on some of the earlier singles from her Rated R album. The chorus in particular is striking and her voice is as amazing as always. We shall have to see with this one.

This week, the climbers make me very happy. The song achieving this the most with its climb this week is “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train which has jumped a staggering twelve spots to sit at twenty-two this week. Given it’s upbeat, smooth, summery, smile inducing tune I would have been very surprised if this hadn’t shifted up at least a few spots, please keep it climbing – I’d love this song to hit the top ten.

Also climbing is Jason Derulo, who has climbed an even more staggering twenty-six spots. Yes, that’s right, twenty-six. Admittedly this isn’t surprising because his songs are always sure chart pleasers, I’m just surprised he had to climb twenty-six spots in the first place. This song is brilliant. Keep on climbing.

Finally for the climbers, and another big leap up the chart, is Alexandra Burke with “All Night Long”, which features Pitbull. Having jumped eighteen spots, Miss Burke charts at number sixteen this week. Another expected climb, but welcomed all the same. The chanting of the song’s title at the beginning is a brilliant hook and lead into the rest of the song and the rest of the song is just as good. I think this one has a few more climbs in it for next week.

There have been some big drops this week as well. Glee’s cover of “Like a Prayer” has dropped twenty places (eek) to sit at thirty-six. This is a shame; I love this version of the song. I guess the UK still prefers Madonna to Glee? I’m not very optimistic for this remaining in the top forty next week.

Also dropping rather a lot of positions is Cheryl Cole. Her song “Parachute” drops thirteen to sit at thirty-eight this week. Admittedly she’s been around for twenty-two weeks with this song charting but I’d prefer this to be higher up. I thought it still had some go in it, but obviously not.

On a more pleasant note, Young Money and Lloyd’s song “Bedrock” has fallen another seven spots this week, taking it down to twenty-nine. I can’t wait until this song has gone out of the chart and I don’t have to listen to it anymore. Please let it follow Cheryl and Glee and drop massively next week?

Another positive note, Tinie Tempah has dropped four places to number seventeen this week. Slowly but surely “Pass Out” is following “Bedrock” down the chart, and hopefully out altogether.

Usher is still clinging determinedly to that number two spot; he spends another week there with “OMG”, adding to the summer-vibe of the top forty. Plan B is also hanging around for another week at number three with “She Said”. Both songs deserve their place and I’m glad they’re staying put.

Also staying in the same position as last week is Adam Lambert with “For Your Entertainment”, which charted at thirty-nine last week. I’m a little surprised by this as I’d envisioned Lambert being embraced as a male Lady Gaga and this one jumping quickly up the charts to the higher end. Perhaps I was wrong and we won’t have him in it at all next week?

Speaking of next week, my only request is that it follows the weather and remains summery. Summer is lacking something without a decent soundtrack; the top forty is a lot more pleasant if it complies with this. Until next week, enjoy the weather and the music.

For all your music news, whatever you’re listening to visit Fingertips.net

It’s Good Times For Roll Deep

Another week, another new number one. This week’s number one is Roll Deep with “Good Times”. While it has a definite dance element to it, it’s so much more than that. A dance beat with a mix of rapping and singing layered over the top makes this song catchy and a guaranteed hit in the clubs, as well as the charts.

Despite many new entries this week none of them managed to join Roll Deep in the top ten, with most languishing around the 30s of the chart. Only a select few have succeeded in achieving higher spots. One such song is Glee’s cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”, which was taken from their Madonna episode and managed to hit number sixteen this week. Personally, I think they did an amazing job, potentially better than the original although I keep changing my mind on this. Better or simply just as good, this one is simply brilliant.

Ten spots away at twenty-six is Marina and the Diamonds with “I am not a Robot”. At first listen I really disliked this song, however a couple of surprise radio plays later I found it had grown on me. I also understand the comparisons to Kate Bush with her voice. Marina’s voice has an unearthly feel to it, which works quite well, even if it shouldn’t in theory.

Yet another ten spots down at thirty-six is Train with “Hey, Soul Sister”. This placement I’m disappointed with (by the way, if you’re wracking your brains trying to recall who Train are the song “Drops of Jupiter” from the 90s might help jog your mind). The song is absolutely beautiful lyrically and instrumentally. It’s simple and that’s why it works. Hopefully a climber for next week.

Speaking of climbers, quite a few chart oldies have jumped up at least a few spots this week. Most impressively N Dubz have climbed ten spots, landing them at twenty this week with “Say it’s Over”. I have mixed feelings about this song so I’m not really sure if I’m pleased about this climb or not. It’s hovering on the line between catchy and irritating.

Also climbing this week is Plan B with “She Said”. Now this climb is one I’m particularly pleased with, as even though it’s only a climb of one spot taking it to number three this week. This song is brilliant and I think it could actually manage to make it to number one. Plan B’s singing fused with the jazzy vibe of the music are dynamite and the explosion of brilliance comes when he starts rapping.

Making a surprising climb of eight up to thirty-two is Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”. I say surprising because it looked like this song would be out of the chart this week after last week’s position of forty. However, the power of Gaga has succeeded and possibly the catchiest Gaga song remains in the chart for the 27th week. Go Gaga.

Going further down the chart this week is Joshua Radin with his song “Rather be with you” which has dropped ten places to thirty-five this week. It irritates me, this constant dropping in chart position of a gorgeous song which deserves to be so much higher. As always, I’d like this to climb next week.

3OH!3 have dropped five places to number twenty-seven this week after their random entry of the top 40 last week. I like this song – it’s fun with it’s sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics and catchy music but I can’t say I’m that fussed if it stays or goes in the charts.

Finally Young Money’s collaboration with Lloyd has dropped a couple of places. Admittedly, it is only two places, taking it down to twenty-two this week but it has finally reached the bottom half of the top 40, after a long 3 months I can see my hope of this song disappearing from the top 40 becoming a reality. No more stupid and irksome song for me to endure.

Last week’s number one Diana Vickers has dropped three places to number four this week to make way for a new number one and Plan B. Once is still just as stick-in-your-head as I’ve always found it, and I still adore Vickers’ voice and how well it gels with the music of this song. I’d like this to stick around for a while, preferably at the top end of the chart.

So that’s it. The newbies, the oldies, the climbers and fallers. What next week’s chart will bring us is yet to be revealed, but fear not for it won’t be too long until the music buyers speak again.

For all your music news, whatever you’re listening to, visit Fingertips.net

The Oldies are Still Goodies

Who says you have to win the X Factor to score a number one? JLS have disproved this in the past and now Diana Vickers joins them. Her debut single “Once” is straight in at number one this week. Famed on the show for her raspy voice, performing sans shoes and hand gestures nicknamed “the claw” Vickers has left two out of three behind for this record. Her unique voiced helps make this song different to auto-tuned stars. Toss in an amazing driven beat and a brilliant whooshing sound between chorus and verses and this is a well-deserved number one, even if you count in the rather silly lyric “I’m only gonna let you kill me once.”

A new number one means Usher’s “OMG” has slipped down, but only one place to number two. Still he’s been in the charts for just over a month now with this song and it has had his moment at number one. Completing a great top three this week is a collaboration between Chipmunk and Esmee Denters “Until You Were Gone”. Taking the phrase “you never know what you had until it was gone” and turning it into a song, Chipmunk and Esmee have created one catchy song with a good tune and sound lyrical composition courtesy of Chipmunk’s rapping and Esmee’s singing. Another song emitting a summery vibe, this song lodges itself in my head and stays there for a long time. Thankfully, I’m not complaining.

Quite a few seemingly random new entries this week. 3OH!3’s song “Don’t Trust Me” has gone in this week at twenty-one, despite being over a year and a half old. I’m not saying this is a bad thing; see I love this song almost as much as I love “Starstrukk” by them. Contagious thanks to various moments of subtle clapping in the background and a chorus so upbeat and catchy you can’t help but sing along; this song has potential to stick around for a bit.

Finally in the “new and somewhat random this week” part of this week’s column is Tina Turner, in at number nine with “Simply the Best” or “The Best” as it has been written down on the official chart today. This is one of Tina Turner’s classic songs and it hasn’t aged since it was first released, just a bit strange that it’s turned up in this week’s chart is all.

As you can see, this is turning out to be a rather bizarre chart this week. Not only are several songs from charts years ago turning up in new entries, but only one song has climbed this week. The lucky song is the cast of Glee with their version of “Don’t Stop Believing” which has climbed two spaces to thirty-eight this week after nineteen weeks in the chart. This is another song which has failed to age or grate on me despite its longevity in the chart. Keep on climbing, I say!

Could it be that the UK has fallen out of love with Lady Gaga and Beyonce? Their song “Telephone” has dropped a further five places this week taking it to number eleven after twenty-two weeks in the chart. Keep falling. Please keep falling. Or better still, be replaced by the Key of Awesome parody. That would be amazing.

Also falling this week, unfortunately, is Joshua Radin with “I’d Rather Be With You” which has the title of biggest faller this week. He’s dropped fourteen places to sit at number twenty-five this week. I’m rather bewildered by this as this is such a beautiful song with decent lyrics (I’m looking at you Tinie Tempah) and a lovely melody. Maybe this is a freakish blip and the song will climb next week.

Another song I’m not happy about dropping a few places this week is “Skinny Genes” by Eliza Doolittle, down six to twenty-eight. This song is a perfect pick-me-up and blissfully infectious. So far, every time I’ve heard it I’ve ended up smiling and singing along. Come on UK, get it together and boost this one back up as well.

This week there are a couple of songs that have managed to stick to their places from last week’s chart. One such song is Plan B with “She Said” which manages to hold onto the number four spot despite all the songs around it dropping or being a new entry. Not bad Plan B. Definitely well deserved to at least stay in the same place given the brilliance of this song. It’s somewhat unexpected, the fusion of rap and a slightly jazzy feel but it works well.

Another song staying put is “Dirty Picture” by Taio Cruz and Ke$ha. I can’t say my opinion has changed on this song, Taio’s bits of the song are fine, I just can’t seem to enjoy Ke$ha’s part on it. I don’t know why, it just doesn’t gel with me. I’d prefer this song to fall if it was going to go anywhere next week.

Also hanging around this week and sticking roughly in the middle of the top 40 is Ellie Goulding’s “Starry Eyed”. I still like this song, although it’s odd in a way because I don’t like it quite enough to go out of my way to listen to it. I enjoy listening to it, however I don’t rush over to the speaker and sing along to all the words in the way I could do if it were a song I really liked. Hmmm, perhaps Ellie is a bit neutral on my hearing? I’ll have to ponder if this is a good or bad thing and let you know next week.

Next week, can we please follow the general weather theme and remain sunny, happy and lovely? I really don’t want to have to endure depressing, dodgy and samey-samey songs. For example: Tinie Tempah’s “Pass Out” is a dodgy song thanks to its ridiculous lyrics, thus I would like it to fall a long way down. On the other hand, I love Eliza Doolittle’s “Skinny Genes” and would really like it to climb back up the chart, and keep on climbing.

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The Professor’s INXS sample is a hit!

Fingertips’ Natasha Rampley on the truly tops top three this week.

So the top two songs of last week have had themselves a swap around this week. Scouting for Girls, last week’s number one, have fallen to number two with “This Ain’t a Love Song” and Usher is number one with “OMG”. Add in this week’s highest new entry, “I Need You Tonight” by Professor Green featuring Ed Drewett, and we have ourselves a very strong, and brilliant, top three this week.

Given the fact that I’ve already hyped up numbers one and two of the chart this week, I’m going to focus on Professor Green’s track and its all too recognisable sampling of the INXS hit of the same name. Despite Professor Green pretty much sticking the sample on loop for the entire duration of the song, it works. I can’t say I’m a huge rap fan but something about this song grabs my attention and pulls me in. Ed Drewett’s contribution is sound and only adds to the bridge and chorus. Overall, a worthy number three.

Among the nine new entries to the chart this week is newcomer Eliza Doolittle with her song “Skinny Genes”. It lands pretty much in the middle of the chart at number twenty-two, which is surprisingly low. The song is contagious and extremely uplifting with whistling, tambourines and Eliza’s jaunty lyrics combining to plant a smile on your face and influence a slight hip movement as, unwittingly, you dance along to it. Climber for next week.

Also new in the chart this week (eventhough it was released in 2006), is Snow Patrol and Martha Wainwright’s duet “Set Fire to the Third Bar”, which comes in at thirty-six. I’m not sure exactly how this song has entered the charts again four years after it’s original release but I have a feeling it has something to do with the romantic film Dear John, where the song is used in the trailer. Regardless of reason why, I’m glad this song is back in the chart. The lyrics and music are haunting, especially Martha Wainwright’s vocals.

Finally, new in at number seven this week is Selena Gomez and The Scene with “Naturally”. While Gomez may be best known as a Disney star she has good vocals and brings a great energy to this song. The beat is catchy and is showcased well without overpowering Gomez’s voice. The song itself eases along without too much jarring, in fact it’s over surprisingly quickly if you have it playing in the background.

Not many climbers this week – including the number one there are only three other songs that have risen in position. The biggest jump is Taio Cruz and Ke$ha’s collaboration “Dirty Picture” which has jumped up a massive twenty-eight places to take number twelve in the chart this week. I’m still undecided about this song; I tend to listen to Taio Cruz at the beginning then switch off when Ke$ha comes in. Something about her vocals in the song don’t seem right, and I think it would have been better with just Taio Cruz going solo for this one.

The other climber is Paramore’s “The Only Exception” which has climbed up two places to number thirty-one. Last week I berated such a low position so I’m glad that it’s gone up, even if it is only a couple of spots. The lyrics are beautifully honest and the melody of the song coupled with Hayley’s voice is superb.

While there are only three climbers this week there are plenty of fallers, some of which I feel are rightly falling and others I’m disappointed with. One such disappointment is Chiddy Bang “Opposite of Adults” which has dropped eight places to thirty. With a good beat behind it and impressive lyrics this song could easily be higher up in the charts. Throw in a handful of music and television references and this song is brilliant. I’d definitely prefer this one to be higher up.

Slightly more welcome in the fallers this week is the monstrosity that is Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s collaboration “Telephone”, falling two places this week to sit at number six. It’s still in the top ten but a drop is a drop and with this, I’ll take what I’m given.

The biggest drop this week goes to 3OH!3 and Katy Perry’s “Starstrukk”, falling eleven places to thirty-seven. Okay, so the song has been hanging around for 18 weeks now but I still like this song – it hasn’t aged and I don’t find it annoying in the way I do some songs that are about for months on end. Can we please stay Starstrukk with this song? Please?

Speaking of songs that have been around for months on end, Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believing” is still hanging on to its place in the top 40. It’s dropped another seven places this week to thirty-nine. ‘So what?’, you may say – lots of songs have dropped seven places in the history of the top 40. Ah, but the thing with this song is that it’s been in the charts for 77 weeks! For just over a year and a half this song from the 80s has been present in the UK charts, and rightly so. I’d love it to make two years just because I adore this song and it’d be great to be able to hear it for a while longer.

And finally, I’ve noticed that Mumford and Sons “The Cave” is missing from the top 40 this week. Can we have them back next week please? That, and Joshua Radin climbing as opposed to sticking at number eleven would be absolutely lovely. Thank you.

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The sound of Summer is here!

Fingertips’ Natasha Rampley on the Summer sounds in this week’s chart.

Another week, another chart and it would appear the summery-vibes of Scouting for Girls’ “This Ain’t a Love Song” have struck a chord as they remain at number one for another week. This is a number one I’d like to stick around because, let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a song with upbeat melodies and a catchy chorus?

Entering the chart this week we have a varied bunch. Starting from the highest charting position we have Joshua Radin in at number eleven with “I’d Rather be With You”. Dissimilar from the dance song influx of charts past, this song is a lovely, smooth song. I’ve heard some of Radin’s songs before and had high hopes for this one, and given the other positions of new entries this week I can’t say I’m disappointed that it’s charted this high up. I’d like this song to stick around – perhaps this song is 2010’s “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz; if you remember “I’m Yours” was pretty much everywhere during summer. I’d love it if Radin stuck around for a chilled out summer playlist.

New this week and further down the chart is “The Only Exception” by Paramore which has charted at thirty-three. This was one of my favourite songs off their “Brand New Eyes” album so I’m rather frustrated that it’s charted so low. Perhaps we’re not in the mood to have ballads charting high up at the moment? Even so, this song is beautiful and if you listen to it properly the lyrics only add to this. Hayley Williams’ voice adds to the emotion of the song, serving only to improve it. A climber for next week, please.

Finally new in at forty is a collaboration between Taio Cruz and Ke$ha. To give the song credit it does start off well, Taio’s opening verse and the way the club beat gradually works itself into the song works brilliantly. But it does go slightly downhill when it turns into a fully fledged club song and Ke$ha joins it. So I’m undecided about this one; Taio’s bits of the songs make it good but then it’s dragged down by Ke$ha’s contributions. Maybe I’ll be clearer on it next week – if it’s still in the chart, that is.

There have been several impressive climbers this week, one of whom is Usher. “OMG” featuring Will.i.am has climbed six places to number two, as I suggested it would last week. I think this song will stick around for a long time. Usher tends to do the best club songs – remember “Yeah” all those years ago? – and they have a tendency to stay put for quite a while. Luckily this is a good song; Will.i.am is utilised well, adding to its awesomeness, and it makes me want to dance. Job well done Usher – congratulations.

The most impressive climber this week is David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi with “Memories”, which has climbed fifteen spots to fifteen. I wasn’t too keen on this song at first but I’ll admit it’s grown on me, as is usually the case with David Guetta’s songs. There is potential for this one to keep climbing due to its infectious beat and quite obvious popularity.

Lastly out of the climbers, and admittedly not so impressive in terms of spot jumping, is Mumford and Sons’ “The Cave” which has edged its way further up the chart from thirty-two to thirty-one. See, I did warn you it wasn’t as impressive. However it is a climb none the less, and that I have championed this song since it charted over a month ago I feel justified in the little happy feeling I got seeing this song go up a spot. Besides, as with the rest of their music, this song is exquisite both lyrically and musically.

Songs falling this week have, in general, made me rather happy. Firstly not only has Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s atrocious “Telephone” fallen a further two places since last week, taking it to number four, but Ke$ha’s diabolical “Blah Blah Blah” has also fallen two places. It now sits at number thirty-five. Edging slowly towards the edge of the top forty, and closer to leaving it altogether, Ke$ha only has to fall a few more places to rid the chart of this terrible, grating song.

Also making me a very happy listener was the news that Iyaz has fallen five places to number thirty-four this week. Another horrific song heading ever closer to leaving the top forty. I have nothing nice to say about this song; it irritates me as much as it did when I first heard it, perhaps even more. I can just about stomach ten seconds of the song before wanting to break my speakers. Absolutely ridiculous.

So those are the newbies, the climbers and the fallers, with only the stayers left to address. This week there’s actually quite a few songs sticking to last week’s positions. One such song is “She Said” by Plan B, remaining at number three. I’m happy about this, I liked its charting last week and a sticker is better than a faller.

However a sticker is not better than a faller in the case of this week’s number five; Tinie Tempah’s “Pass Out” stays put for another week, grating on my nerves almost as much as Ke$ha’s “Blah Blah Blah” did when it was higher up in the chart. I have nothing new to say about this; let’s see it drop next week please.

So for next week I’d like to see Ke$ha and Tinie drop out, Mumford and Sons to continue their climb and Paramore to join the climbing team. Lady Gaga and Beyonce can fall as far as they like, I’m not that fussed. I’d also like Scouting for Girls to stick at number one, or be replaced by a good song such as Joshua Radin’s. I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to see if the top forty UK fairy fulfills my wishes.

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