WEEK ENDING 24th FEBRUARY 2018

For a fourth straight week, Drake trounces all the opposition to maintain his stranglehold on the Number 1 position, and with the release of the official video this week, could he be on to become the first artist ever to have two records spend 10 or more weeks at Number 1 - I wouldn't bet against it.

This is "God's Plan".

Stuck at 2 for a second week is Rudimental, Jess Glynne & Macklemore with "These Days", while up 3 places to 3 is the lead single from the current Number 1 album, "The Greatest Showman", "This Is Me" by Keala Settle & the Greatest Showman Ensemble.

Spending the whole of February at Number 4 is Dua Lipa with "IDGAF", while down two places to 5 is Ramz with "Barking".

Incredibly still climbing the charts more than six months after release, up three more places to 6 this week, is Portugal.The Man with "Feel It Still", while dropping two to 7 is Eminem & Ed Sheeran with "River".

Up 10 places, and into the Top 10 for the first time, is Liam Payne & Rita Ora with the theme from the third movie in the franchise, "Fifty Shades Freed".  It gives Rita Ora a record equalling 12th UK Top hit - the joint most by a UK female solo artist.

At Number 8 this week, this is "For You (Fifty Shades Freed)".

Down two places to 9 is Bruno & Cardi with "Finesse", while back up one place to 10 this week, returning to the Top 10 is "Breathe" from Jax Jones & Ina Wroldsen.

This week's highest climber moves up 17 places to Number 11 this week, and is the highest placed of ten tracks on the chart from the soundtrack of the latest Marvel movie, "Black Panther".

From Kendrick Lamar & SZA this is "All The Stars".

This week's highest new entry comes in at Number 19 this week, and gives mystery man Marshmello his third Top 20 hit in the last six months.

Featuring the always excellent vocal talents of Anne-Marie, this is "Friends".

Also new at 23 is a debut hit from Memphis rising star Blocboy JB.

Aided in no small way by a guest vocal from Drake, this is "Look Alive".

Finally hitting the Top 30 after being around in the charts since last November, is the track which moves up 9 places to Number 30 this week.

Following up her massive Top 5 hit from a couple of years ago, "Starving", 21 year old actress & singer Hailee Steinfeld has this time teamed up with US musician Watt & country duo Florida Georgia Line (both of whom are having their first major UK hits - Florida Georgia Line have previously spent a single week at Number 75 on the chart back in 2013 with "Cruise" which featured vocals by Nelly).

This is "Let Me Go".

Another artist enjoying a debut hit this week moves up 13 places to Number 37.  (Andrew) Bazzi is of Lebanese American descent, and became famous first as a Vine celebrity and then hit the big time when this track was used as an internet meme through the use of a Snapchat filter.

This is "Mine".

Just creeping in at Number 39 this week is an artist who has not troubled the Top end of the chart for more than 2 years.  After a huge 2015 when he had two Top 10 hits with "Hold Back The River" and "Let It Go", as well as a Number 1 album, "Chaos And The Calm", he hasn't reached the same heights since.

Now sans trademark hat, it's welcome back to the charts James Bay.

This is "Wild Love".

At Numbers 42 & 45 this week are two new entries, both taken from the soundtrack of the "Black Panther" movie.

First up, at 42, is Kendrick Lamar with "Black Panther".

Then, in at 45, are Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz & Saudi at 45 with "X".

New at 48, is the latest release from Scottish DJ/producer Calvin Harris.

Featuring Canadian rapper Jahron Anthony Braithwaite (AKA PartyNextDoor), this is "Nuh Ready Nuh Ready".

One place lower, and also new at 49, is Calum Scott, who is trying to replicate the Number 2 peak of the massive "Dancing On My Own".

This is You Are The Reason".

As usual I finish off with tracks from the US & UK Number 1 albums.  In the UK, still there for a sixth week in a row, the best selling album is the soundtrack to the movie "The Greatest Showman".

From the album, and sung by Loren Allred, this is "Never Enough".

In the US, Justin Timberlake claims his fourth successive chart topper as fifth album, "Man Of The Woods" takes the honours this week.

From the album, this is latest single, featuring country star Chris Stapleton, "Say Something".

   UK NUMBER 1's/NUMBER 2's ON THIS DAY 

 
1 year ago - Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran/Human - Rag 'n' Bone Man

5 years ago - I Could Be The One - Avicii Vs Nicky Romero/Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz

10 years ago - Mercy - Duffy/Rockstar - Nickelback

20 years ago - My Heart Will Go On - Celine DionDoctor Jones - Aqua

30 years ago - I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue/I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany

40 years ago - Take A Chance On Me - Abba/Figaro - Brotherhood Of Man

50 years ago - The Mighty Quinn - Manfred Mann/Everlasting Love - The Love Affair

60 years ago - The Story Of My Life - Michael Holliday/Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

US NUMBER 1's ON THIS DAY 

1 year ago - Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran/Bad And Boujee - Migos featuring Lil' Uzi Vert

5 years ago - Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz/Locked Out Of Heaven - Bruno Mars

10 years ago - Low - Flo Rida featuring T-Pain/With You - Chris Brown

20 years ago - Nice & Slow - Usher/Together Again - Janet

30 years ago - Father Figure - George Michael/What Have I Done To Deserve This - Pet Shop Boys featuring Dusty Springfield

40 years ago - Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees/(Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb

50 years ago - Love Is Blue (L'Amour Est Bleu) - Paul Mauriat & his Orchestra/G(Theme From) Valley Of The Dolls - Dionne Warwick

Don't forget you can see all the latest UK & US Top 40 videos on my YouTube channel - Chart Blog UK 

See you next week, same time, same place.

For those of you in the Vale of Glamorgan area in South Wales, tune into Bro Radio on 98.1 FM on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm to hear my dulcet tones as guest co-presenter on the Gareth Long show.  For everyone else, join me here column next week.