Elle Goulding Revives Classic Elton John Track

We’ve already highlighted that David Bowie’s “Heroes” claims the UK top spot. One might think that there is a shortage of new material as the classic Elton John track “Your Song” is back on the charts. Easily one of the most covered tracks, Ellie Goulding the single is her most successful to date, beating the No.4 peak of “Starry Eyes.” “Your Song” is to be included on the re-release of her debut album Bright Lights.

In an unusual feat, the track has actually climbed 39-3-2 in its third week. One of the key reasons is its inclusion in the Christmas 2010 TV advert for the department store chain John Lewis. The new version was produced by Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett.

Originally titled Lights, the re-release of Ellie Goulding’s album will contain six brand-new tracks. To date, five singles has been lifted off the set so far. Originally released in March 2010, the set knocked Lady Gaga’s The Fame off the No.1 spot. Goulding was born in 1986 and made her breakthrough via the BBC Sound of 2010 poll. She also earned the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards. The singer is also the guest vocalist on Tinie Tempah’s “Wonderman.”

Listen to “Your Song” via Spotify:

Check out the lyrics to “Your Song” via Eltonography here.

Heroes Returns to the Charts

There was no anti-campaign this time, no obstacle in the way. Simon Cowell and his X Factor finalists easily fought off competition as they bowed atop this week’s singles chart with “Heroes.” Originally released in September 1977 by David Bowie, the track wasn’t a hit at that time. Alongside “Rebel Rebel,” this Bowie track has been cited as one of the most covered songs by the singer.

David Bowie wrote the track with U2 producer Brian Eno and it was actually a reference to the German band Neu’s hit “Hero” from 1975. Fast forward to 2010 and this week’s UK No.1. This time around, the Bowie track has turned charity as it’s recorded in aid of the British charity Help for Heroes. The organization supports injured servicemen and women.

It’s definitely not the first time the organization got the help from aspiring talents and one cannot blame the X Factor producer to think outside of the box. In 2008, the finalists covered Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Surely, Help for Heroes can accept contributions made from a song without ‘hero’ in the title. Last year, the finalists topped the singles chart with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.” It benefited the Great Ormond Street Hospital, so need to put hero in the title then. All three charity singles topped the singles chart. As the BBC chart blog points out, there are a few tracks with ‘heroes’ in the title for further covers.

Quick research shows some great insight into the world of covers. Ewan McGregor sang the tune in the “Elephant Love Medley” with Nicole Kidman as featured in Moulin Rouge. In 2003, the track was remixed by none other than David Guetta.

Finally, still there are X-Factor Internet campaigning. The 54-year old Wagner Carrilho managed to earn supporters making his Bookmakers Coral odds dropping from 150-1 a month ago to 6-1 before being ejected. “There was people out there trying to derail this show,” Simon Cowell said to BBC News after Wagner Carrilho left the show this week.

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Check out the lyrics to “Heroes” via Lyrics Depot here.

Listen to Heroes via Spotify:

Life on Mars” – Like You Never Hard It

“Ice Ice Baby” Returns to the UK singles Chart

Owl City’s “Fireflies” remains atop of the UK singles chart in its fifth week. The single was initially released in July last year and has so far topped the charts in the US, Australia, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands. The UK version is slightly shorter as the record label has chosen to shorten the intro and remove the first chorus. Expect “Vanilla Twilight” to be the follow-up hit.

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The highest new entry comes from the Irish duo John & Edward. They have recorded a mashup of The Queen’s and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.” Not an amazing feat, as the latter was built on Queen’s 1981 hit. Vanilla Ice reached No.1 in both the US and the UK back in 1990. So, who are John & Edward? Well, we’re not done with X-Factor 2009 as the duo performed this song on the program in November last year.

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Timbaland and Katy Perry moves 17-3 this week with “If We Ever Meet Again,” pushing the Glee Cast’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” 2-4. As WelcheMusic predicted, Alicia Key’s ballad version of “Empire State of Mind” has cracked the charts as it moves into the top five this week.

The second highest new entry comes from Ke$ha’s “Blah Blah Blah” at No.11. Welsh act Marina and the Diamonds enters at No.12 with her second single “Hollywood,” lifted from the debut set The Family Jewels.

“Life on Mars” – Like You Never Heard It

Let’s dedicate some space to one of the best tracks ever recorded. “Life on Mars” was initially included on the David Bowie album Hunky Dory back in 1971. It wasn’t released as a single until 1973, when it reached No.3 on the UK singles chart. In true Spotify style, WelcheMusic has collected the covers of “Life on Mars”. Listen to Brazilian singer Seu Jorge’s version, which was featured in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Barbra Streisand’s cover or Mr. Heidi Klum – Seal.

The Life on Mars Cover Collection to download here