CHART WATCH

The ‘Christmas Number One’ might not carry the same sort of prestige here in Australia as it does over in the UK for example, but there’ll still be a few champagne corks popping over some of our chart stars’ 2014 success.
So who’s on top for Christmas down under? That’s the kind of information your Chart Watch is about to divulge…

SINGLES
Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars reign supreme for a second week on the Australian singles chart with their (now) global smash ‘Uptown Funk’. But they’d best not be getting too comfortable, because there are a couple of challengers below them who are keen on taking the crown.
Closest this week with AronChupa’s ‘I’m An Albatraoz’, which edges Taylor Swift out of the No.2 position and achieves a gold certification after three weeks of chart action. And Hozier… well Hozier’s also looking to shake things up with ‘Take Me To Church’, which bullets from No.33 to a new peak of No.5.
Nicki Minaj and Skylar Grey’s ‘Bed Of Lies’ solidifies its top ten chart credentials by shifting from No.10 to No.7, while Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s ‘Outside’ may now be residing outside the top ten, but it’s picked up a shiny little platinum certification so it shouldn’t feel so bad.
Bullets this week from both Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne’s ‘Real Love’ (No.18 to No.13) and Jeremih’s ‘Don’t Tell ‘Em’, which has taken almost six months to reach the top 20. Talk about a slow burn. Ariana Grande’s ‘Love Me Harder’ also pops into the top 20 (No.25 to No.20).
Further down the list, it’s bullets for George Ezra’s ‘Blame It On Me’ (No.35 to No.22), Band Aid 30’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ (No.39 to No.23, thanks to the physical release), Yolanda Be Cool & DCup’s ‘Sugar Man’ (No.44 to No.27) and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ (No.43 to No.28). Spookily, it’s the highest chart peak for Mariah’s festive favourite since January 08 in 1995.
While she’ll take some comfort from the fact it’s the week’s highest debut, it’s certainly not a spectacular debut; it’s Reigan Derry’s single ‘All Of The Pieces’, which drops into the countdown at No.33.
James Newton Howard’s ‘The Hanging Tree’ enjoyed a short-lived bask in the top 20 sunshine (No.16 to No.34), but One Direction’s ‘Night Changes’ is headed in one direction… and that direction is ‘up’… 16 places to be precise (No.52 to No.36).
Imagine Dragons’ ‘I Bet My Life’ finally gets another breath of chart wind (No.95 to No.43), but is still seven places shy of its No.36 peak thus far.
The Avener’s ‘Fade Out Lines’ also charges up 17 spots to No.44, but not a bullet in sight.
Further down, Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’ is back in chart action (a new peak of No.51 on re-entry), the Brits’ Critics Choice of 2014, James Bay, sees his first Australian chart action with a No.54 debut for ‘Hold Back The River’ and Sam Smith’s gorgeous version of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ pops into the countdown at No.63.
Headed in the other direction this week, however, are Chet Faker’s ‘Talk Is Cheap’ (down 36 spots to No.67), Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘Drown’ (down 42 places to No.69) and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Make It Rain’ (down 45 spots to No.71).
Further top 100 debuts come courtesy of Seth Sentry’s ‘Run’ (No.76) and Nicki Minaj ftg. Ariana Grande’s ‘Get On Your Knees’ (No.80).

ALBUMS
Despite its charge to No.1 on the albums chart last week and despite the fact that the festive season is upon us, Michael Bublé’s ‘Christmas’ has relinquished top spot on this week’s albums chart, being outsold by… Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’, takes back the No.1 position in the all-important final sales week prior to Christmas.
Bubés is down No.2, with the rest of the top ten remaining relatively stable, except for a No.7 debut for 5 Seconds Of Summer’s new live album ‘Live SOS’.
As reported in this morning’s Saturday News Wrap, EMI has confirmed that Katy Perry’s ‘Prism’ is now five times platinum here in Australia, but that new accreditation has yet to show up on the official chart (it’s in position No.12 this week).
The tenth version of Triple J’s ‘Like A Version’ looks like it’ll be found in a number of stockings this coming week (No.19 to No.14), while Paul Kelly’s ‘The Merri Soul Sessions’ album debuts at a respectable No.17 in amongst the rest of the pre-Christmas din.
Nicki Minaj’s new album ‘The Pinkprint’ debuts at No.19, an Eagles best-of jumps from No.30 to No.23 and although there’s a big jump for Hozier’s album (No.75 to No.42), it’s still 22 spots below its chart peak thus far.
New at No.49 is Carrie Underwood’s best-of ‘Greatest Hits : Decade #1’ and despite slamming the No.1 spot on iTunes on its surprise release earlier this week, D’Angelo’s new album ‘Black Messiah’ only manages a No.50 debut on the chart that matters.
Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Monuments To An Elegy’ debuts in the No.55 spot, Andre Rieu’s ‘Best Of Christmas’ drops 33 places from last week’s No.46 debut and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra claims a chart place at No.81 on debut with ‘A Celtic Christmas’.
Will Sparks’ ‘Another Land’ EP plummets from No.35 on debut to No.94 in what’s an otherwise steady week on the ARIA albums chart.

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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