Archives: 2022

Yes Adele is back! Deal with it, at least for a week, as the wildest craziest chart of 2022 so far more than delivers its share of stories.

A changing of the guard at the top of the singles chart as Gayle's nine week patience is finally rewarded. Can you imagine how angry she would have been if it hadn't made it? She would probably have said f**k loudly and repeatedly. It's kind of her gimmick after all.

The first rule of Bruno is that you don't talk abou... or was that a different movie, I forget? In any event an original song from a Disney movie is top of the charts for the very first time ever. And that is more than worth discussing.

How long has it been since Meat Loaf has been this high up the albums chart? Years & Years. It's a week of posthumous success for albums stars while Disney reigns supreme in the world of hit singles.

Encanto continues to dominate our hearts and minds, but the Top 10 actually has a refreshing new look to it. Both Charli XCX and George Ezra return with new material, but it is Central Cee who has the biggest arrival of the week.

These guys are Bastille, topping the albums chart for the first time in six years. But they are mere clickbait for what we talk about inside. Bruno is still stuck at No.1 while ArrDee and Aitch make a record that is actually quite good. Take your calm pills and join me inside.

Oh Ed, you are such a Joker (but not a Queen - subs please check). Not all superstar collaborations are created equal, and this pair actually end up some distance behind the reigning No.1. With which I'm sure you are still all familiar.

This lady is Mimi Webb and she has the highest new entry of the week on the Official UK Singles chart. But can she come close to toppling We Don't Talk About Bruno? Spoiler: no.

Hold your breath because change is coming at the top of the singles chart. But the biggest accolades of the week go to this man. Central Cee is No.1 on the albums chart at the expense of Tears For Fears. And he's doubled his sales appeal in the short space of a year.

Lovey Dave, if you could just look at the camera now. I said LOOK AT THE CAM, oh please yourself then. He's just written and produced a No.1 hit single-handedly. He gets to call his own shots.

I'm glad you came, because there are some fascinating movements on the UK Singles chart this week as the market has gone very much old school. Things climb, smaller hits grow into big ones, but there is still room for new stuff to make a splash.

Charli XCX repays the faith Guardian journalists have been putting in her for the past ten years and has a No.1 album for the first time ever. The top end of the singles chart holds steady, but are there still stories inside to tell? You bet there are.

"Hello, Chart Watch picture desk? Yes, editor here. The guy at the top of the albums chart is Michael BUBLE. One 'b'. Yes, I'm completely sure. Please double-check before we look stupi.. oh too late."

Harry Styles confounds all expectations by... no, don't be stupid he was always going to make No.1. It turns out he does it in some considerable style as well. But what happens in Week 2?

Easter Sunday, although we are still waiting for the charts to rise up from the dead. Jack Harlow gives Harry Styles a good run for his money at the top but even he cannot stop the juggernaut.

Noughty noughty very noughy, as a great man once wrote. Digga D's journey to the top of the Official UK Albums chart may not be the most interesting thing that happens in the charts this week, but he makes for an interesting enough picture to put here. It was either that or more Harry Styles. Can you ever have too much Harry Styles?

Please don't hurt me Cat Burns, I'll "go" if you need me to. She fights her way into the Top 3 this week after an extended climb. But is Harry still stuck at the top?

It's about damn time we had Lizzo back in the charts to spread a little joy. And boy can she spread it. The Top 10 remains more than a little stuck, but we'll go through it in detail to try to work out why.

In theory, this is Jack Harlow's week, with a new album and lots of new songs to chart with. But can he topple Harry Styles? Hey let's face it, nobody can right now.