CHART WATCH

‘X Factor’ runner-up Dean Ray debuts top five with his debut single, but the week’s really all about Taylor Swift. Not only does she claim the prized scalp of the No.1 position on the ARIA albums chart after just a few days of sales, but she also dominates the ARIA singles chart, with no less than nine songs throughout the top 100. But that’s just for starters. Find out who comes up smelling of roses and who’s on the nose in this week’s Chart Watch.

SINGLES
Ed Sheeran continues his chart dominance on this week’s ARIA singles chart; ‘Thinking Of You’ in the top spot again and sporting a shiny new double platinum accreditation.
‘X Factor’ winner Marlisa is certainly no slouch, however; ‘Stand By You’ maintains its No.2 position for the second week in succession and goes gold (35,000 sales).
The halo effect surrounding the release of Taylor Swift’s album ‘1989’ pays dividends for ‘Shake It Off’, which pops back up to No.3, swapping places with The Veronicas’ ‘You Ruin Me’.
As mentioned, ‘X Factor’ runner-up Dean Ray nabs the highest debut of the week; ‘Coming Back’ premiering at No.5, just two spots ahead of Meghan Trainor’s new tune ‘Lips Are Movin’ (on debut at No.7).
Justice Crew will be hoping their new single ‘Rise & Fall’ does more rising than falling, after debuting just outside this week’s ARIA top ten; No.11 is where their new track starts its chart journey.
Big jumps this week for Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s ‘Outside’ (up from a No.49 debut to No.14) and Marlon Roudette’s ‘When The Beat Drops Out’ (up 13 places from No.28), but the Alesso/Tove Lo collaboration ‘Heroes (We Could Be)’ tumbles nine spots, despite picking up a shiny new gold sales accreditation.
Guy Sebastian and Olly Murs’ new tunes ‘Mama Ain’t Proud’ and ‘Wrapped Up’ (respectively) both fall slightly after the artists’ performances on last week’s ‘X Factor’ grand final, but One Direction’s ‘Steal My Girl’ picks up seven spots and the new Timmy Trumpet single ‘Nightmare’ gets some post-Halloween chart love at No.26 on debut.
Calvin Harris’ ‘Blame’ is newly platinum, Brothers3’s chart story opens with a No.29 debut for ‘The Lucky Ones’ and though AJR’s ‘I’m Ready’ falls nine places, it picks up a double platinum accreditation (140,000 copies now sold down under).
Taylor’s album release sees highlight songs ‘Welcome To New York’ and ‘Out Of The Woods’ tumble (No.23 to No.36 and No.19 to No.38 respectively), but The Magician weaves his spell over Australian audiences with his illuminating new single ‘Sunlight’, which improves from No.51 to No.37.
The Waze, Odyssey and R Kelly collaboration ‘Bump & Grind 2014’ rockets from a No.97 debut to No.49.
We’re seriously impressed by the new single by Imagine Dragons, but the Aussie public is taking a little while to cotton on to the fact the band has a new tune. It’s called ‘I Bet My Life’ and we bet it won’t be the highest point for the single in the weeks ahead.
Hilary Duff’s ‘All About You’ slides 16 spots (No.38 to No.54), Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ fills the No.57 position on debut and the Charli XCX single ‘Break The Rules’ gets a second breath, jumping from No.93 to No.61.
More debuts follow; No.62 for Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’, No.63 for Sheppard’s ‘Smile’ and No.67 for San Cisco’s ‘Run’. Carmada’s ‘Maybe’ premieres at No.73 and Taylor Swift’s ‘Bad Blood’ is new at No.76.
But Dean Ray’s cover of ‘Budapest’ plummets 37 places post-‘X Factor’ (No.40 to No.77) and Jessie J’s ‘Burnin’ Up’ is down 18 spots to No.81.
Taylor Swift’s dominance of this week’s chart continues with a debut at No.84 for ‘Wonderland’.
Foo Fighters may make ‘Something From Nothing’, but the single plunges from a No.53 debut to No.90 in its second week. Their new track ‘Congregation’ meanwhile, was sitting atop the iTunes chart earlier today.
More debuts follow; No.91 for Odd Mob’s ‘Is It A Banger?’, No.92 for Taylor Swift’s ‘Wildest Dreams’, No.95 for Iggy Azalea’s ‘Iggy Szn’, No.98 for Banks’ ‘Beggin For Thread’ and No.99 for Taylor Swift’s ‘All You Had To Do Was Stay’.

ALBUMS
There was never really any doubt as to who would debut at No.1 on this week’s ARIA albums chart. The whole campaign leading up to the release of Taylor Swift’s album ‘1989’ has been perfectly orchestrated to ensure the LP will be one of the year’s biggest sellers, despite it landing at retailers just a couple of months before 2015 arrives.
Yes, she’s new at No.1 (no accreditation to speak of, however), but there’s great news for a couple of Aussie acts who are in right behind her.
New at No.2 is ‘Jukebox’ from the Human Nature boys. It’s the highest chart debut from the boys in seven years and is sandwiched perfectly between Taylor and… Flight Facilities.
No doubt there’ll be champagne corks popping in FFHQ this week, with the boys’ debut album ‘Down To Earth’ striking a chord with local audiences… premiering at No.3.
Ed Sheeran’s ‘X’ gets a rare (these days) double platinum accreditation at No.4 and Slipknot (who were all tied up in the No.1 spot last week) are down to No.5.
There’s a debut at No.9 for Ben Howard’s ‘I Forget Where We Were’ and a No.11 premiere for Susan Boyle’s ‘Hope’.
Neil Diamond’s ‘Melody Road’ is down from No.8 to No.13; Karise Eden’s ‘Things I’ve Done’ is down from No.5 to No.15, but Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s ‘Cheek To Cheek’ improves from No.25 to No.16.
Also down is Dami Im’s new LP ‘Heart Beats’ (No.7 on debut to No.20), but Maroon 5’s ‘V’ picks up steam (No.64 to No.26).
Taylor Mania also results in her previous album ‘Red’ bulleting back up the charts (No.42 to No.29). She’s followed by three debuts in the 30s; Aretha Franklin (‘Aretha Sings The Great Diva Classics’ at No.30), Dillon Francis (‘Money Sucks, Friends Rule’ at No.33) and Rancid (‘Honor Is All We Know’ at No.34).
CW Stoneking sinks like a… you get the gist (No.17 to No.38), Lanie Lane’s ‘Night Shade’ has the No.42 position covered on debut and T.I.’s ‘Paperwork’ shuffles into the No.43 spot.
Not such good news for Ella Henderson, however. Despite her amazing single ‘Ghost’ being a bonafide Aussie smash, her album ‘Chapter One’ is on the verge of disappearing. It’s down from No.11 on debut to No.54. Ouch.
Florida Georgia Line is another act suffering the second week sales blues this week (No.20 to No.58).
Pentatonix’ ‘That’s Christmas To Me’ is new at No.60, Banks’ ‘Goddess’ slides from No.32 to No.67 and Bush’s ‘Man On The Run’ appears in the countdown at No.73.
‘The Year Of The Wolf’ is over for The Game; the album plunging from a No.27 debut to No.79.
Spandau Ballet’s ‘The Story : The Very Best Of’ is new at No.83, but the story for Ricki Lee doesn’t look like having a happy ending. Despite a high profile appearance on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ and the unveiling of her new clip for ‘Mirage’, the album plummets 72 places from last week’s No.14 debut to No.86.
Planetshakers also plunge (60 spots from No.30) and Husky’s ‘Ruckers Hill’ is in freefall (No.29 on debut to No.94).

For a full run down of the ARIA top 50s, head over to the ARIA CHARTS WEBSITE, now every Saturday from 6:00pm AEDT.

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