As Alexandra Burke's "Hallelujah" (Syco Music/Sony BMG) started a
third week as the U.K.'s No. 1 single yesterday (Jan. 4) and Take
That's "The Circus" (Polydor) a fifth atop the album chart, top
newcomer status went to much-feted electronica star Lady GaGa. Her
U.S. hit "Just Dance" (Polydor) featuring Colby O'Donis, took its
U.K. bow at No. 3.
That was the only prominent new entry in a static top 40 that saw
Burke's Syco labelmate Leona Lewis holding fast at No. 2 with "Run"
and Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" (Columbia) down a place at No.
4.
Take That's huge album success held off Kings Of Leon's "Only by
the Night" (Hand Me Down/Sony BMG), which climbed 3-2, while
Duffy's "Rockferry" (A&M/Universal) moved back 6-3. "The Sound
of Girls Aloud -- The Greatest Hits"
(Fascination/Polydor/Universal), a U.K. No. 1 in November 2006,
vaulted 45-6 thanks to holiday commerce and labelmate Elbow's "The
Seldom Seen Kid" rebounded 47-11.
Also back in the top 20 were MGMT's "Oracular Spectacular"
(Columbia), up 48-13, and Michael Jackson's "King of Pop" (Epic),
up 54-20.
Billboard's final weekly pan-European sales charts of 2008 showed a
sixth aggregate week atop European Top 100 Albums for AC/DC's
"Black Ice" (Columbia), while Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" began a
third non-consecutive week at No. 1 on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.
