Dua Lipa Holds Off Justin Bieber For U.K. Singles Honors
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran's "Divide" conquers the albums chart for a 17th non-consecutive week.
There’s a second week atop the U.K. singles chart for Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” (Warner Bros./Warner Music), while Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Asylum/Warner) starts a 17th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Official Charts Company’s album survey.
“New Rules” fends off the challenge of “Friends” (Def Jam/Polydor/Republic/Universal) by Justin Bieber & BloodPop. That track debuts at No. 2 to become Bieber’s 15th U.K. top ten hit, and producer BloodPop’s first as a credited artist. Calvin Harris‘ former No. 1 “Feels” (Columbia/Sony), featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean, slips another place to No. 3.
Pink’s “What About Us” (RCA/Sony) improves again 5-4 and there’s a new entry at No. 5 for Latin American boy band CNCO, whose remix of “Reggaeton Lento” (Syco Music/Sony) features U.K. pop mainstays Little Mix. It’s that group’s 12th top ten single in their own country.
The new singles top ten also shows a 12-8 climb for “Mi Gente” (Blue Wrasse) by J. Balvin and Willy William, while “More Than Friends” (Warner Bros./Warner Music) by James Hype featuring Kelli-Leigh is up 16-10.
Sheeran’s album, which now has combined sales of over 2 million in the U.K., stays ahead of Elvis Presley’s The 50 Greatest Hits (Sony Music) for a second week. As that compilation holds at No. 2, modern-day progressive rock figurehead Steven Wilson scores a career-best No. 3 debut with To The Bone (Caroline/Universal). His previous best as a solo artist was the No. 13 peak for Hand Cannot Erase in 2013.
Welsh pop-punk band Neck Deep go straight to No. 4 with their third album The Peace and the Panic (Hopeless), while Manchester rockers Everything Everything have a No. 5 debut with A Fever Dream (RCA/Sony), matching their previous best with Arc in 2013.
There are also top ten debuts for Yorkshire indie-rock act Sherlocks with Live For The Moment (Infectious) at No. 6 and drum and bass favorites Chase & Status with Tribe (EMI/Universal) at No. 7.