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.

Please also read

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

Listen to Heroes via Spotify:

Life on Mars” – Like You Never Hard It

JLS Dethrones Rihanna


British boyband JLS manage to do what Take That couldn’t. Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)” falls to No.4 in the UK as “Love You More” with JLS goes straight to No.1. The group releases the new album Outta This World tomorrow, which includes their former UK No.1 “The Club Is Alive.” Built on “The Sound of Music” from the Julie Andrews 1965 film, JLS topped the charts in July with their rendition.

We’ve covered boy bands before, and this fall sets some sort of record. Take That is back, Westlife returns with new material, but it seems as if the latest acts like The Wanted and JLS sit firm atop the charts. Outta This World contains new songs produced by well-known boy band producers such as Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Stargate.  At least, there is no change in terms of production teams.

The new No.1 – “Love You More” – also serves as the 2010 official Children in Need charity. JLS lost to Alexandra Burke in the 2008 X-Factor series.  Apart from “One Shot” in February 2010, the group’s four hit singles have all the No.1 spot in the UK. In addition, they’ve appeared on two additional chart toppers – The X Factor Finalists 2008’s rendition of Mariah Carey’s Hero and the Helping Haiti charity cover “Everybody Hurts,” that WelcheMusic covered in a previous post.

Coincidentally, JLS performed Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on X-Factor. The very same artist they dethrone this week. This September, the guys even launched their own condom range via Durex encouraging their fans to conduct safe sex.

  • Click here for JLS’ official YouTube channel
  • Please find lyrics to JLS’ hits via Elyrics
  • Listen to JLS via Spotify UK

Rihanna Denies Take That No.1


Rihanna denies Take That its comeback No.1 as “The Flood,” fails to knock “Only Girl (In the World).” The group has campaigned hard, encouraging fans to support a discounted download via iTunes up until Saturday night when the final sales units were being counted. This means that Rihanna holds the top spot of both the UK and US singles chart – the singer elevated 60-1 on last week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart with “What’s My Name,” a duet with Drake.

McFly returns to the chart with Taio Cruz, whose “Shine a Light” bows at No.4. It’s interesting to note that Adele rebounds 19-9 with “Make You Feel My Love.” The song got renewed interest after being featured on X-Factor.

As previously reported, The Black Eyed Peas bows just outside the top ten with “The Time (Dirty Bit)” at No.11. Former X-Factor winner Shayne Ward bows at No.12 with “Gotta Be Somebody” – a cover of Nickelback’s 2008 hit.

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Shayne Ward Re-Makes Nickelback Song


Originally released in September 2008, “Gotta Be Somebody” was Nickelback’s first single off its Dark Horse album. This week, the song bows at No.12 on the UK singles tally in a new version signed by former X-Factor winner Shayne Ward. The song was also covered by Bucky Covington in 2009. Ward issues the single as a preview of the album Obsession. It’s interesting to note that tracks signed by producers Darkchild and RedOne was cut. Instead, it will include a cover of The Tony Rich Project’s “Nobody Knows,” and tracks sampling Wamdue Project’s “King of My Castle” and Spin Doctor’s “Two Princes.”

Shayne Ward’s debut hit was “That’s My Goal” back in 2005. The single quickly followed that success with “No Promises” (2006), a cover of Danish singer Bryan Rice 2005 hit.

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