december 2009 – WelcheMusic.com

Erik Grönwall Commands Both Singles and Album Chart in Sweden

In Sweden, Idol winner Erik Grönwall remains atop of the singles chart for a second week with “Higher.” The final chart of the year shows little change as Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Darin’s “Viva la vida” remain at No.2 and No.3. Coincidentally, Pet Shop Boys enters the chart at No.32 with another cover of the Coldplay hit. The track is included on the duo’s Christmas EP, headed by the track “It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas.” On PSB’s new version, “Viva la vida” is mixed with “Domino Dancing.”

Pet Shop Boys – Viva la vida (Domino Dancing)

The Black Eyed Peas spends its 20th week on the chart with “I Gotta Feeling.” Spotify recently announced that this was the most streamed track in 2008. Idol runner-up Calle Kristiansson won an album deal as well, and his live cover version of the Marc Cohn classic “Walking in Memphis” moves 7-5.

Alicia Keys has three tracks on the singles chart this week. The Jay-Z duet “Empire State of Mind” falls 10-11, while “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” vaults 32-19. “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” enters the chart at No.59.

As expected, Erik Grönwall’s debut album Erik Grönwall immediately enters the No.1 position. The Priests are pushed back 1-3, while Melody Gardot remains at No.2 with My One and Only Thrill. Peter Jöback’s Xmas set Jag kommer hem igen till jul tops the midprice chart, followed by Il Divo’s The Christmas Collection.

Lady Gaga Remains in the Top 5 in the UK

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIw3SPkxdxQ

Lady Gaga remains at No.3 with “Bad Romance” adding her ninth week on the UK singles chart. She’s trailed by Cheryl Cole who’s back with a follow-up to this fall’s No.1 “Fight for this Love.” Her new single features will.i.am on vocals and is titled “3 Words.” The Black Eyed Peas rise 10-6 with “Meet Me Halfway.” The highest new entry comes from Jay-Z who’s teamed up with Mr. Hudson on the Alphaville rendition “Young Forever.” Similar to recent success by T.I. and Flo Rida, the track is based on a well-known hit, this time “Forever Young.”

Michael Bublé’s Crazy Love denies Susan Boyle another week atop of the album chart. Boyle’s I Dreamed a Dream is still the Billboard 200 album No.1. Lady Gaga remains at No.4 with The Fame, a set that almost celebrates its first anniversary on the chart. The follow-up, The Fame Monster, has already fallen out of the top 40.

Another Facebook Campaign Fuels Journey’s Success

American rock band Journey has also been favored by a Facebook campaign closely linked to X-Factor. Even if the intention wasn’t to fend off Joe McElderry, many believed that he would cover Journey’s 1982 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” would be chosen as the single. The track reached No.62 back in 1982, but re-entered the charts this February based on digital downloads. Due to the recent Facebook campaign, UK students promoted the track with success, propelling it to No.7 on this week’s chart. One of the group’s most successful songs is “Open Arms.” The track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. In 1995, a Mariah Carey cover of the song peaked at No.4 in the UK. The song was included on her album Daydream.

Joe McElderry Finally Made “The Climb”

It took a bit longer, but Joe McElderry finally made the climb to the top of the UK singles chart. “The Climb” knocks Rage Against the Machine from the top spot, but it’s quite a feat that “Killing in the Name Of” only falls to the runner-up spot. Usually, seasonal hits fall heavy once the novelty wears off. This time, it was the Facebook campaign initiated to fend off the X-Factor winner.