WEEK ENDING 17th MARCH 2018

Seven weeks it is then for Drake, and with no signs of being overtaken, could he become the first artist in chart history to have two 10 week chart toppers.  It's possible, as only five artists have previously had two seven week chart toppers - Frankie Laine, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, the Beatles & John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John. (Technically Paul MCartney has had 3, as "Mull Of Kintyre" by Wings spent 9 weeks at the top as well).

So here is the (possibly) record creating track.

This is "God's Plan".

Stuck at 2 for a fifth successive week is Rudimental, Jess Glynne & Macklemore with "These Days".  It is just the 21st record to spend as many consecutive weeks at Number 2 without reaching Number 1.  If it spends another week at 2, it will become just the seventh track to spend that many weeks stuck in the runner up spot.

At Number 3 for a third week, after spending a month at Number 4, is Dua Lipa with "IDGAF", while climbing back up two places to 4, after 30 weeks on the chart, is Portugal.The Man with "Feel It Still".

Static at Number 5 is Marshmello & Anne-Marie with "Friends", while last week's highest new entry drops 2 places to 6 - Post Malone & Ty Dolla $ign with "Psycho".

Back up one to 7, from the now nine week chart topping album, "The Greatest Showman", is Keala Settle with "This Is Me", While swopping places with it, down one place to 8, is another song from a soundtrack, "All The Stars" from Kendrick Lamar & SZA from the "Black Panther" movie soundtrack.

The tracks at 9 & 10 last week also swop places, up one to 9 is Justin Timberlake & Chris Stapleton with "Say Something", while dropping one to 10 is the third soundtrack song in the Top 10, Liam & Rita's "For You" from the soundtrack of the "Fifty Shades Freed" movie.

After 6 weeks on the chart, Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey finally hit the Top 20 this week.

Up 13 places to 18, this is "The Middle".

One place lower, and back in the Top 20 for the first time since January 2015, is George Ezra.

This is "Paradise".

Another 11 place climber moves up to Number 21 this week.

Yet another collaboration, this is Sigala & Paloma Faith with "Lullaby".

The highest new entry comes from 20 year old SoundCloud rap pioneer Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, who uses the professional name XXXTentacion. 

With his first Top 40 hit this is XXXtentacion with "Sad".

Also new at 30, with the follow up single to his recent Number 17 hit, "No Words", is 19 year old London born rapper, Dave (Santan).

This is "Hangman".

This week's highest climber moves up 23 places to Number 33, and features Bebe Rexha alongside country music duo Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard, AKA Florida Georgia Line.

This is "Meant To Be".

Also new at 37, just seven places below his sometime collaborator, Dave, is MoStack with his first chart entry as a solo artist.

This is "What I Wanna".

Just missing out on the Top 40, in at 41, is another collection of big name stars brought together on a DJ Khaled record.

Featuring Mr & Mrs Shawn Carter (Jay-Z & Beyonce), as well as rapper Future, this is Mr Khaled with "Top Off".

As usual I finish off with tracks from the US & UK Number 1 albums.  In the UK, its now nine consecutive weeks at the top for the soundtrack to the movie "The Greatest Showman", a figure bettered only by Adele's "21" this century.

From the album, and sung by Keala Settle & the Greatest Showman Ensemble, this is the recent Top 3 hit "This Is Me".

In the US, its a surprising return to the top for a second week for an album that first topped the listing back in November 2016.

Benefitting from an offer which includes getting concert tickets for their gigs, Bon Jovi take the chart honours this week with  their thirteenth studio album, "This House Is Not For Sale".

Here is the title track (and first single from the album).

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

 
1 year ago - Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran/Galway Girl - Ed Sheeran

5 years ago - Mirrors - Justin Timberlake/When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars

10 years ago - Mercy - Duffy/What's It Gonna Be - HtwoO featuring Platnum

20 years ago - My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion/Big Mistake - Natalie Imbruglia

30 years ago - I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue/Together Forever - Rick Astley

40 years ago - Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush/Take A Chance On Me - Abba

50 years ago - Cinderella Rockafella - Esther & Abi Ofarim/The Legend Of Xanadu - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

60 years ago - Magic Moments - Perry Como/The Story Of My Life - Michael Holliday

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 - Harlem Shake - Baauer/Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz

10 years ago - Love In This Club - Usher featuring Young Jeezy/Low - Flo Rida featuring T-Pain

20 years ago - Getting Jiggy With It - Will Smith/My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

30 years ago - Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley/I Get Weak - Belinda Carlisle

40 years ago - Night Fever - Bee Gees/Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees

50 years ago - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding/(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 

How many weeks can Drake clock up - 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.