Artist News

One Direction break another US chart record

By | Published on Thursday 11 October 2012

One Direction

Landing in at number three on the UK Singles Charts this week, behind Rihanna and Psy, was probably a bit of a disappoint for One Direction and their crazy, crazy fans, though a number three entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US is something to be celebrated.

Because, you see, that’s the highest position any UK group has ever entered into the main Billboard songs chart with a new track in the countdown’s 54 year history. Only Elton John has bettered that achievement, going straight in at number one in 1997, though he had a dead princess to help him, so that shouldn’t count.

Although the Billboard chart takes sales and airplay data into account, it was shifting 341,000 copies of the ‘Live While We’re Young’ single by download that assured the new 1D track such a high first week chart position, and surely that’s what really counts.

This is also the first week ever when two British acts have had brand new songs enter the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously, with Adele’s Bond theme ‘Skyfall’ entering at number eight. So well done her.

Though it’s looking likely she’ll be deprived a UK number one with the song by Swedish House Mafia this weekend. Unless MI6 to do the honourable thing and fiddle the figures behind the Official Chart Company’s back, for the good of national pride and all. I mean, what are we paying those guys for anyway?



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