Robbie Williams’ Christmas gift on European Top 100 Albums is a return to No. 1 with “Intensive Care” (Chrysalis), depriving Madonna of the festive crown with “Confessions on a Dance Floor” (Warner Bros.). However, she does secure a sixth week atop Eurochart Top 100 Singles with “Hung Up.”
Williams’ album, which moves 2-1 to change places with Madonna, previously had three weeks at No. 1 on the pan-European survey in November, immediately before her four-week reign. “Intensive Care” moves 3-1 in Austria and stays at No. 1 in Switzerland. It holds at No. 2 in the United Kingdom behind Eminem’s “Curtain Call” (Interscope). “Curtain Call” falls 4-5 on Top 100 Albums.
Williams is also No. 2 in Germany, behind Xavier Naidoo’s “Telegramm Fur X” (Naidoo Records), and in Holland, behind Katie Melua’s “Piece By Piece” (Dramatico). “Care” rises 8-5 in Italy.
Enya’s “Amarantine” (Warner Bros.), which entered Top 100 Albums at No. 3 last month, enters its fourth week in that position. The Irish artist’s set maintains top five standings in Germany, Holland and Switzerland, although in the United Kingdom, the album has declined 8-16-22-24.
Coldplay’s “X&Y” (Parlophone), which led Top 100 Albums for 13 consecutive weeks between June and September, bounces back 19-12. That’s helped by a 19-14 move in its 28th chart week in the United Kingdom, where the album is certified six-times platinum (1.8 million shipments). The single “Talk” (Parlophone) soars 17-1 in Italy; it was released in the United Kingdom on Monday (Dec. 19).
On Hot 100 Singles, Madonna keeps the top spot ahead of Pussycat Dolls’ “Stickwitu” (A&M/Interscope), which holds at No. 2. “Hung Up” is still No. 1 in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria and now climbs 2-1 in Hungary. The track falls from the top in Holland and Sweden.
There are two festively-flavored songs making an appearance in the Eurochart top ten. Novelty act Crazy Frog’s double-sided “Jingle Bells” (Mach1) single is up 19-3 overall. The song is paired in most markets with a version of Wham’s 1984 seasonal staple “Last Christmas.” It holds at No. 2 in Spain and climbs 9-7 in France. In the United Kingdom, “Jingle Bells” opens at No. 5, but it’s twinned there with a version of MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” licensed as with Crazy Frog’s previous hits to indie Gut.
The Eurochart’s top new entry, at No. 6, is “JCB Song,” an acoustic guitar ballad by previously-unknown folk-oriented duo Nizlopi, on its self-run FDM label, distributed locally by Nova/Pinnacle. It sells 81,000 copies there, and the group’s John Parker tells Billboard.biz that Nizlopi is taking offers from potential international licensees. The duo is planning to tour the United States in 2006, including a South By Southwest appearance in March. Nizlopi will support Jamie Cullum on four U.K. dates next month before four dates of its own Jan. 17-22.
“JCB Song” is expected to be outgunned for the much-sought Christmas No. 1 spot in Britain by Shayne Ward’s “That’s My Goal” (Sony BMG). Ward won ITV’s “The X Factor” TV talent series last Saturday (Dec. 17). Sony BMG had the single rush-released yesterday (Dec. 22). The British Christmas No. 1 will be announced this year on Christmas Day.
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