CHART WATCH

It’s our very first Chart Watch of the new year and before we get back into all things pop for 2014 from Monday, why don’t we see who’s bagged the first No.1 for 2014 on both the singles and albums chart?

SINGLES
He may have nabbed the final No.1 spot for 2013 last week from John Legend, but Jason Derulo has already relinquished the No.1 spot with his ‘Trumpets’, with Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ overtaking him to claim the prize as the first official No.1 single of 2014.
Amazingly, the entire rest of the top ten remains exactly as is, with only minor movement in positions 11-20. Ed Sheeran breaks back into the top 20, however, with ‘I See Fire’, which bullets from No.27 last week to No.15 this week.
London Grammar’s new single continues its push up the ARIA singles chart, improving a further six positions to No.22, but Redfoo’s ‘Let’s Get Ridiculous’ eases six positions; it’s down from No.19 to No.25.
Beyoncé’s ‘XO’ starts to find its feet. After a lowly No.44 debut last week, it climbs nine positions to No.35. Tiesto’s ‘Red Lights’ breaks into the top 50 at No.44 (up from No.55 on debut).
Jess Mauboy’s ‘Beautiful’ is back in the top half of the 100 (No.49), but the novelty smash ‘The Fox’ from Ylvis drops from No.37 to No.50.
The week’s highest debut comes outside the top 50 and is courtesy of Demi Lovato’s ‘Let It Go’, which is lifted from the soundtrack of the new Disney flick ‘Frozen’. It’s in at No.55, while the original soundtrack version of the song (performed by Idina Menzel) debuts at No.60.
Eminem’s ‘Rap God’ drops from No.58 to No.73 and a few lowly re-entries… Awolnation’s ‘Sail’ (No.88), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ ‘Thrift Shop’ (No.90), Kid Ink’s ‘Show Me’ (No.94) and Empire Of The Sun’s ‘Alive’ (No.97).

ALBUMS
And the first No.1 album of 2014 is…?
Beyoncé’s ‘Beyoncé’. Yes, the R&B queen’s surprise album regains the No.1 mantle from Michael Bublé and his ‘Christmas’ set which, after the festive season, plummets down the charts… from No.1 last week to No.36 this week. Other festive favourites suffer similar drops, including Human Nature’s ‘The Christmas Album’, which slides from No.5 to No.38.
So it’s Beyoncé at No.1, Katy Perry at No.2 and Lorde’s ‘Pure Heroine’, which improves from No.9 to No.3.
Imagine Dragons’ ‘Night Visions’ and Avicii’s ‘True’ head into the top ten (Nos.7 and 8 from Nos.20 and 16 respectively); so too James Blunt’s ‘Moon Landing’, which is up two positions from No.12.
Those Christmas gift voucher redemptions also came in handy for purchasing copies of Arctic Monkeys’ ‘AM’ (No.24 to No.12), Flume’s ‘Flume’ (No.26 to No.14), OneRepublic’s ‘Native’ (No.30 to No.16) and ‘The Very Best Of INXS’ (No.33 to No.18).
Even Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born To Die : The Paradise Edition’ jumps – No.32 to No.21.
As on the singles chart, the week’s highest debut revolves around the new Disney flick ‘Frozen’, with its soundtrack premiering at No.27. It’s one of only two debuts in the entire top 100 this week – and incidentally one of two soundtracks.
Improving this week (and achieving bullets to boot) are albums by Daft Punk, Bastille, Jason Derulo, P!nk, London Grammar, Miley Cyrus and Passenger, all of which move into the top 40. Rudimental’s ‘Home’ also jumps; No.64 to No.44.
The other top 100 debut is at No.47… the soundtrack to the new Ben Stiller film ‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’. Justin Bieber’s ‘The Journals’ fails to inspire; down from No.35 on debut last week to No.50.
Further improvements further down the list come courtesy of Cold Chisel (‘Best Of’ from No.79 to No.55), Havana Brown (‘Flashing Lights’ from No.80 to No.56), Abba (‘Gold’ from No.78 to No.57), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (‘The Heist’ from No.92 to No.60) and Michael Jackson (‘Essential’ from No.93 to No.62).
Andre Rieu’s ‘Celebrates ABBA’/’Music Of The Night’ combination plunges from No.31 to No.63 and Jai Waetford’s debut EP tumbles from No.50 to No.66.
Then it’s a slew of re-entries… Take your pick from (in order) Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘The Hobbit : The Desolation Of Smaug’ soundtrack, Alt-J, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, Of Monsters And Men, Phil Collins, Foo Fighters, the ‘Pitch Perfect’ soundtrack, Katy Perry, The Lumineers, Kanye West, Lana Del Rey, Britney Spears (No.94), Bee Gees and Drake.
Susan Boyle’s ‘Home For Christmas’ is down from No.25 to No.100, Mariah Carey’s ‘Merry Christmas’ drops out of the charts from No.28 and other Christmas collections disappearing (last week’s positions in brackets) are; Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Wrapped In Red’ (No.29), Rod Stewart’s ‘Merry Christmas, Baby’ (No.39), Anthony Callea’s ‘This Is Christmas’ (No.51), Marina Prior’s ‘Candlelight Christmas’ (No.53) and Michael Crawford’s ‘O Holy Night’ (No.55).

For a full run down of the ARIA top 50s, head over to the new-look ARIA CHARTS WEBSITE, now each and every Saturday from 7:00pm AEST.