Liverpool pop threesome Atomic Kitten sold nearly 142,000 copies to score its second consecutive U.K. No. 1 yesterday (July 29) with a cover of the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” (Innocent/Virgin). Rival female trio Destiny’s Child had to settle for a No. 2 debut with the single “Bootylicious,” which hit No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 last week.
It’s the second time Atomic Kitten have topped the British chart this year, following the epic four-week run enjoyed by “Whole Again” in February. It’s also the second time that “Eternal Flame” has gone to No. 1 in the U.K.; the Bangles’ original version ruled for four weeks in 1989 and was the first single by an all-female group to reach the summit in both the U.K. and U.S.
The new version sets up U.K. album releases by both acts who have taken it to No. 1. Atomic Kitten’s “Right Now” album, a substantially reworked version of the set the trio released last year, is due Aug. 6, while Columbia’s new “Eternal Flame: the Best of the Bangles,” set to coincide with Atomic Kitten’s remake, debuted at No. 17 on the U.K. album chart this week.
Also new in the top-10 of the U.K. singles chart was a single by U.S. pop sensations O-Town, “All or Nothing” (J/RCA), at No. 4 and Euro-dance crossover “Firewire” (Cosmic Gate) by German act Cosmic Gate, comprising DJ Bossi and Nic Chagal, at No. 9.
Destiny’s Child spends another week at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart with “Survivor” (Columbia), while Welsh modern rockers Super Furry Animals debut at a career-best No. 2 with their first album for Epic, “Rings Around the World.”
Across Europe, MCA’s Shaggy wears both of Music & Media’s chart crowns, with “Angel” featuring Rayvon topping the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles tally and “Hotshot” holding at No. 1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart. U2’s “Elevation” races 22-5 on the singles side, while “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” jumps 32-18 on the album chart.
