Saturday 28 June 2014

Top 10 singles/albums - Week Beginning 30/6/14

Top 10 Singles



1. Safari - I Need You (1) (CR-2-1-1)

2. Ella Henderson - Ghost (4) (CR-10-15-OUT-16-6-7-4-2)
3. Ed Sheeran - Don't (7) (CR-7-3)
4. Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? (2) (CR-8-3-4-1-2-4)
5. Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns (3) (CR-20-1-1-3-3-5)
6. Colbie Caillat - If You Love Me Let Me Go (9) (CR-11-9-6)
7. Lilly Wood & The Prick And Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix) (NEW) (CR-7)
8. Colbie Caillat - Try (NEW) (CR-8)
9. The Saturdays - What Are You Waiting For (NEW) (CR-9)
10. Ariana Grande feat Iggy Azalea - Problem (NEW) (CR-10)

Top 10 Albums




1. Ed Sheeran - x (1) (CR-1-1)

2. The Common Linnets - The Common Linnets (2) (CR-1-1-1-1-1-2-2)
3. Absolute Summer Hits 2014 (NEW) (CR-3)
4. Clean Bandit - New Eyes (4) (CR-2-2-4-4)
5. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (3) (CR-3-5)
6. Jennifer Lopez - A.K.A. (5) (CR-5-6)
7. Now That's What I Call Summer (NEW) (CR-7)
8. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse (7) (CR-2-3-4-7-8)
9. Shakira - Shakira. (9) (CR-1-1-2-3-2-3-4-7-6-10-9-8-9-9)
10. Kim Cesarion - Undressed (NEW) (CR-10)

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Three unexpected gems: Safari, The Madden Brothers and 5SOS

Safari - I Need You


During a random browse of various global iTunes charts a couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a song that sounded rather lovely in Norway's top 100. The 90 second clip of I Need You was enough to persuade me to download the full song and for the small expense of 99p I was treated to a beautiful gospel/soul song featuring some of the most beautiful harmonies and one of the most timless melodies I've heard since the 90s.

I Need You is a brilliant building ballad that almost sounds like a lost Mariah Carey or 90s girlband classic in parts. Gospel and religious music is something that I generally have little interest in but many pop singles have been improved with a gospel choir aided key change towards the end. And the odd gem still surfaces from the genre, like Caroldene's Time Is A Healer or the catchy new Destiny's Child (technically!) single Say Yes.

The Madden Brothers - We Are Done



American pop punk band Good Charlotte ruled the early 00s with their unrivalled run of earworms including Girls And Boys, The Anthem and Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous. I was never a particular fan myself but the brothers Madden have clearly always had a way with a tune and their new venture displays this in spades. Joel and Benji, the twin brothers from the group, are back with a new single under the moniker The Madden Brothers, and We Are Done is an unexpected but rather fantastic sonic departure.

The sweet summery song features an irresistible whistling hook and rather subdued but effective verses that lead into a glorious 1960s style anthemic chorus reminiscent of the Beach Boys. But you can still hear the voices and charisma that made Good Charlotte such a success and if there's any justice this will become a huge hit single for the duo. It's already reached the business end of the charts in Australia, where Joel has been a judge on The Voice since 2011, and all bodes well for other territories to soon follow suit.

5 Seconds Of Summer - Rejects



Australian pop/rock boyband 5 Seconds Of Summer have proved an instant hit in the wake of the international success of the likes of One Direction and The Wanted over the past few years. 5SOS have a slightly harder sound than even the rockier leanings from 1D and the group already have Kerrang on side, which is unusual for a boyband. 

Their two hit singles so far, She Looks So Perfect and Don't Stop, have been perfectly serviceable pop tunes, the former being a strong statement of a debut single, but Rejects, the b-side to Don't Stop, displays far more future potential. A punchy air guitar intro smashes into an instantly memorable rock song about social rejection with verses and a middle eight that recall Busted and a chorus that has the hallmarks of Sum 41 stamped all over it. Frankly, Rejects should have been the single and Don't Stop the b-side.

Saturday 21 June 2014

Top 40 singles / Top 20 albums - Week Beginning 23/6/14

Top 40 Singles



1. Safari - I Need You (2) (CR-2-1)

2. Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? (1) (CR-20-19-8-3-4-1-2)
3. Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns (3) (CR-20-1-1-3-3)
4. Ella Henderson - Ghost (7) (CR-10-15-OUT-16-6-7-4)
5. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (4) (CR-5-4-5)
6. Sophia Del Carmen feat Pitbull - Lipstick (9) (CR-16-9-6)
7. Ed Sheeran - Don't (18) (CR-20-OUT-18-7)
8. The Madden Brothers - We Are Done (10) (CR-39-10-8)
9. Colbie Caillat - If You Love Me Let Me Go (11) (CR-11-9)
10. The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm (6) (CR-3-1-1-2-2-6-10)
11. Sia - Chandelier (5) (CR-9-14-OUT-14-13-9-5-11)
12. Dami Im - Super Love (13) (CR-29-13-12)
13. Colbie Caillat - Try (25) (CR-25-13)
14. The Common Linnets - Give Me A Reason (8) (CR-10-3-4-3-8-14)
15. Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud (NEW) (CR-15)
16. Cheryl Cole feat Tinie Tempah - Crazy Stupid Love (14) (CR-18-14-16)
17.
Lilly Wood & The Prick And Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix) (19) (CR-15-14-19-17)

18. Ed Sheeran - Sing (24) (CR-6-7-13-OUT-17-15-24-18)
19. Annabel Fay - Hold On (NEW) (CR-19)
20. The Common Linnets - Lovers And Liars (12) (CR-6-4-6-7-12-20)
21. Ed Sheeran - Nina (NEW) (CR-21)

22. A. G. Cook - Beautiful (26) (CR-26-22)
23. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars (17) (CR-10-8-5-7-7-8-17-23)
24. Justice Crew - Que Sera (38) (CR-38-24)
25. Kiesza - Giant In My Heart (39) (CR-39-25)
26. 5 Seconds Of Summer - Rejects (NEW) (CR-26)
27. Pitbull feat Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte - We Are One (Ole Ola) (27) (CR-38-27-27)
28. Ariana Grande feat Iggy Azalea - Problem (28) (CR-20-18-OUT-22-28-28)
29. The Vamps feat Demi Lovato - Somebody To You (40) (CR-40-29)
30. Shakira - La La La (Brasil 2014) / Dare (La La La) (21) (CR-46-12-17-OUT-31-21-30)
31. Duke Dumont - Don't Look Back (NEW) (CR-31)
32. Sheppard - Geronimo (Re-entry) (CR-18-12-7-12-OUT-32)
33. Maroon 5 - Maps (NEW) (CR-33)
34. Tiësto feat Icona Pop - Let's Go (NEW) (CR-34)
35. Ella Eyre - If I Go (35) (CR-32-35-35)
36. MK feat Alana - Always (Route 94 Remix Edit) (NEW) (CR-36)
37. Milky Chance - Stolen Dance (37) (CR-36-37-37)
38. Oliver Heldens X Becky Hill - Gecko (Overdrive) (Re-entry) (CR-18-OUT-38)
39. Michelle Willams feat Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland - Say Yes (NEW) (CR-39)
40. Jessie Ware - Tough Love (NEW) (CR-40) 

Top 20 Albums




1. Ed Sheeran - x (NEW) (CR-1)

2. The Common Linnets - The Common Linnets (1) (CR-1-1-1-1-1-2)
3. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (NEW) (CR-3)
4. Clean Bandit - New Eyes (2) (CR-2-2-4)
5. Jennifer Lopez - A.K.A. (NEW) (CR-5)
6. Tiësto - A Town Called Paradise (NEW) (CR-6)
7. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse (4) (CR-2-3-4-7)
8. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (5) (CR-4-4-5-8)
9. Shakira - Shakira. (8) (CR-1-1-2-3-2-3-4-7-6-10-9-8-9)
10. deadmau5 - while (NEW) (CR-10)
11. Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest (3) (CR-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-4-5-7-10-11-14-16-17-17-19-20-OUT-5-3-11)
12. Lily Allen - Sheezus (9) (CR-1-2-2-6-7-9-12)
13. Passenger - Whispers (7) (CR-7-13)
14. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (6) (CR-6-14)
15. Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (14) (CR-2-5-3-7-10-14-15)
16. Anna Abreu - V (13) (CR-5-6-13-16)
17. Coldplay - Ghost Stories (18) (CR-5-12-15-18-17)
18. Miranda Lambert - Platinum (10) (CR-10-18)
19. Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (17) (CR-1-1-2-2-3-5-4-5-6-8-9-15-17-17-19)
20. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again (15) (CR-3-8-15-20)

Commentary


A slightly random No.1 this week as Norwegian gospel act Safari climb to the top with the beautifully melodic I Need You, pushing Do You Even Know? by Rae Morris down a place to No.2. Andreas Bourani sticks at No.3 with former chart topper Auf Uns, former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson climbs to a new peak of No.4 with her UK smash hit Ghost and Cold by Rae Morris feat Fryars falls a spot to No.5.


In a busy week for albums Ed Sheeran smashes in at No.1 with the x, the follow up to debut album + which hit the top in 2011. The Common Linnets slide a place to No.2 after five weeks on top with their eponymous debut album and Lana Del Rey enters at No.3 with Ultraviolence, the successor to her stunning 2012 debut Born To Die. Clean Bandit fall to No.4 with New Eyes and Jennifer Lopez follows up her 2011 chart topper Love? With A.K.A. which enters at No.5.

Saturday 14 June 2014

Top 40 singles / Top 20 albums - Week Beginning 16/6/14

Top 40 Singles



1. Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? (4) (CR-20-19-8-3-4-1)

2. Safari - I Need You (NEW) (CR-2)
3. Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns (1) (CR-20-1-1-3)
4. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (5) (CR-5-4)
5. Sia - Chandelier (9) (CR-9-14-OUT-14-13-9-5)
6. The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm (2) (CR-3-1-1-2-2-6)
7. Ella Henderson - Ghost (6) (CR-10-15-OUT-16-6-7)
8. The Common Linnets - Give Me A Reason (3) (CR-10-3-4-3-8)
9. Sophia Del Carmen feat Pitbull - Lipstick (16) (CR-16-9)
10. The Madden Brothers - We Are Done (39) (CR-39-10)
11. Colbie Caillat - If You Love Me Let Me Go (NEW) (CR-11)
12. The Common Linnets - Lovers And Liars (7) (CR-6-4-6-7-12)
13. Dami Im - Super Love (29) (CR-29-13)
14. Cheryl Cole feat Tinie Tempah - Crazy Stupid Love (18) (CR-18-14)
15. Clean Bandit feat Love Ssega - Mozart's House (21) (CR-21-15)
16. RAM & Susana - RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) (10) (CR-17-3-4-1-2-3-2-5-10-16)
17.
Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars (8) (CR-10-8-5-7-7-8-17)

18. Ed Sheeran - Don't (Re-entry) (CR-20-OUT-18)
19. Lilly Wood & The Prick And Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix) (14) (CR-15-14-19)
20. The Common Linnets - When Love Was King (11) (CR-15-11-9-11-20)
21. Shakira - La La La (Brasil 2014) / Dare (La La La) (31) (CR-46-12-17-OUT-31-21)

22. Sanna Nielsen - Undo (12) (CR-3-3-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-4-2-4-1-2-5-8-12-22)
23. The Common Linnets - Before Complete Surrender (13) (CR-18-15-11-13-23)
24. Ed Sheeran - Sing (15) (CR-6-7-13-OUT-17-15-24)
25. Colbie Caillat - Try (NEW) (CR-25)
26. A. G. Cook - Beautiful (NEW) (CR-26)
27. Pitbull feat Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte - We Are One (Ole Ola) (38) (CR-38-27)
28. Ariana Grande feat Iggy Azalea - Problem (22) (CR-20-18-OUT-22-28)
29. Neon Jungle - Louder (19) (CR-19-19-29)
30. Little Mix - Salute (NEW) (CR-30)
31. Nicole Scherzinger - Your Love (30) (CR-30-31)
32. Alle Farben feat Graham Candy - She Moves (Far Away) (37) (CR-37-32)
33. Stine Bramsen - Move Forward (33) (CR-33-33)
34. Sara Bareilles - Chasing The Sun (Re-entry) (CR-19-5-1-2-2-5-8-12-16-OUT-34)
35. Ella Eyre - If I Go (32) (CR-32-35)
36. Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong (25) (CR-19-18-25-36)
37. Milky Chance - Stolen Dance (36) (CR-36-37)
38. Justice Crew - Que Sera (NEW) (CR-38)
39. Kiesza - Giant In My Heart (NEW) (CR-39)
40. The Vamps feat Demi Lovato - Somebody To You (NEW) (CR-40)

Top 20 Albums




1. The Common Linnets - The Common Linnets (1) (CR-1-1-1-1-1)
2. Clean Bandit - New Eyes (2) (CR-2-2)
3. Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest (5) (CR-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-4-5-7-10-11-14-16-17-17-19-20-OUT-5-3)
4. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse (3) (CR-2-3-4)
5. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (4) (CR-4-4-5)
6. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (NEW) (CR-6)
7. Passenger - Whispers (NEW) (CR-7)
8. Shakira - Shakira. (9) (CR-1-1-2-3-2-3-4-7-6-10-9-8)
9. Lily Allen - Sheezus (7) (CR-1-2-2-6-7-9)
10. Miranda Lambert - Platinum (NEW) (CR-10)
11. Absolute Dance Summer 2014 (14) (CR-14-11)
12. Janet Devlin - Running With Scissors (NEW) (CR-12)
13. Anna Abreu - V (6) (CR-5-6-13)
14. Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (10) (CR-2-5-3-7-10-14)
15. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again (8) (CR-3-8-15)
16. Alida - To Where We Reside (13) (CR-8-13-16)
17. Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (17) (CR-1-1-2-2-3-5-4-5-6-8-9-15-17-17)
18. Coldplay - Ghost Stories (15) (CR-5-12-15-18)
19. O.R.B - All We Are (12) (CR-12-19)
20. Lucy Hale - Road Between (NEW) (CR-20)

Commentary


A slow but steady climb to the top sees Blackpool-born singer-songwriter Rae Morris score her second No.1 with Do You Even Know?, over two years since Don't Go hit the top spot. It's one of two of her songs in the top five this week as Cold, a duet with Fryars, moves up to No.4. Norwegian gospel act Safari enter at No.2 with the beautiful I Need You and Germany's Andreas Bourani falls two places to No.3 with Auf Uns after two weeks on top. Australian star Sia rounds off the top five with her anthemic new single Chandelier which jumps to a new peak of No.5.

The Common Linnets make it five weeks on top of the album chart with their eponymous debut album, Clean Bandit stick at No.2 with New Eyes and Sara Bareilles moves back up to No.3 with her former chart topper The Blessed Unrest. Mariah Carey falls a place to No.4 with Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse and Sam Smith rounds off a rare top five with new entries as In The Lonely Hour drops one spot to No.5.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Top 40 singles / Top 20 albums - Week Beginning 9/6/14

Top 40 Singles



1. Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns (1) (CR-20-1-1)
2. The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm (2) (CR-3-1-1-2-2)
3. The Common Linnets - Give Me A Reason (4) (CR-10-3-4-3)
4. Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? (3) (CR-20-19-8-3-4)
5. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (NEW) (CR-5)
6. Ella Henderson - Ghost (16) (CR-10-15-OUT-16-6)
7. The Common Linnets - Lovers And Liars (6) (CR-6-4-6-7)
8. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars (7) (CR-10-8-5-7-7-8)
9. Sia - Chandelier (13) (CR-9-14-OUT-14-13-9)
10. RAM & Susana - RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) (5) (CR-17-3-4-1-2-3-2-5-10)
11. The Common Linnets - When Love Was King (9) (CR-15-11-9-11)
12. Sanna Nielsen - Undo (8) (CR-3-3-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-4-2-4-1-2-5-8-12)
13. The Common Linnets - Before Complete Surrender (11) (CR-18-15-11-13)
14. Lilly Wood & The Prick And Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix) (15) (CR-15-14)
15. Ed Sheeran - Sing (17) (CR-6-7-13-OUT-17-15)
16. Sophia Del Carmen feat Pitbull - Lipstick (NEW) (CR-16)
17.
Pamela Myburgh - Fool (10) (CR-16-9-3-6-9-6-10-17)

18. Cheryl Cole feat Tinie Tempah - Crazy Stupid Love (NEW) (CR-18)
19. Neon Jungle - Louder (19) (CR-19-19)
20. SomethingALaMode feat DWNTWN - On My Mind (NEW) (CR-20)
21. Clean Bandit feat Love Ssega - Mozart's House (NEW) (CR-21)

22. Ariana Grande feat Iggy Azalea - Problem (Re-entry) (CR-20-18-OUT-22)
23. Andreas Bourani - Füreinander Gemacht (12) (CR-12-23)
24. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Love Is A Camera (NEW) (CR-24)
25. Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong (18) (CR-19-18-25)
26. Sultan & Ned Shepard feat Zella Day & Sam Martin - All These Roads (NEW) (CR-26)
27. Max Richter - Spring 1 (Ade Laugee Remix) (NEW) (CR-27)
28. Lisa Lois - Smoke (NEW) (CR-28)
29. Dami Im - Super Love (NEW) (CR-29)
30. Nicole Scherzinger - Your Love (NEW) (CR-30)
31. Shakira - La La La (Brasil 2014) / Dare (La La La) (Re-entry) (CR-12-17-OUT-31)
32. Ella Eyre - If I Go (NEW) (CR-32)
33. Stine Bramsen - Move Forward (NEW) (CR-33)
34. Sara Bareilles - I Choose You (NEW) (CR-34)
35. Angel Haze feat Ludacris - 22 Jump Street (NEW) (CR-35)
36. Milky Chance - Stolen Dance (NEW) (CR-36)
37. Alle Farben feat Graham Candy - She Moves (Far Away) (NEW) (CR-37)
38. Pitbull feat Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte - We Are One (Ole Ola) (NEW) (CR-38)
39. The Madden Brothers - We Are Done (NEW) (CR-39)
40. Example - One More Day (Stay With Me) (NEW) (CR-40) 

Top 20 Albums



1. The Common Linnets - The Common Linnets (1) (CR-1-1-1-1)
2. Clean Bandit - New Eyes (NEW) (CR-2)
3. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse (2) (CR-2-3)
4. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (4) (CR-4-4)
5. Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest (Re-entry) (CR-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-4-5-7-10-11-14-16-17-17-19-20-OUT-5)
6. Anna Abreu - V (5) (CR-5-6)
7. Lily Allen - Sheezus (6) (CR-1-2-2-6-7)
8. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again (3) (CR-3-8)
9. Shakira - Shakira. (10) (CR-1-1-2-3-2-3-4-7-6-10-9)
10. Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (7) (CR-2-5-3-7-10)
11. Andreas Bourani - Hey (9) (CR-9-11)
12. O.R.B - All We Are (NEW) (CR-12)
13. Alida - To Where We Reside (8) (CR-8-13)
14. Absolute Dance Summer 2014 (NEW) (CR-14)
15. Coldplay - Ghost Stories (12) (CR-5-12-15)
16. Austin Mahone - Secret (14) (CR-14-16)
17. Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (15) (CR-1-1-2-2-3-5-4-5-6-8-9-15-17)
18. Foxes - Glorious (11) (CR-3-4-11-18)
19. Ronika - Selectadisc (NEW) (CR-19)
20. Kyla La Grange - Cut Your Teeth (NEW) (CR-20)

Commentary


A rather stable top four as Andreas Bourani spends a second week on top with Auf Uns and The Common Linnets remain at No.2 with Calm After The Storm. The duo also climb back to No.3 with Give Me A Reason while Rae Morris completes the top five with Do You Even Know, down a place to No.4, and Cold, a duet with Fryars, which debuts at No.5. 

It's four weeks on top of the album chart for The Common Linnets with their eponymous album while Clean Bandit put up the biggest fight as they go straight in at No.2 with New Eyes. Mariah Carey falls a place to No.3 with Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse, Sam Smith stays at No.4 with In The Lonely Hour and Sara Bareilles returns at No.5 with former chart topper The Blessed Unrest.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Live review: Sara Bareilles at the Islington Assembly Hall, Tuesday June 3rd 2014

Despite only having one big hit in the UK, back in 2008 with global smash Love Song, Californian singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has built up a strong fanbase on these shores and had to add this second London show following huge demand for the first confirmed date at the admittedly cosy Islington Assembly Hall.

The curious thing about her continued British support is that her latest album, Grammy nominated The Blessed Unrest, has completely failed to take off here. Yet Sara joked "This is the second and final night of our world tour but we feel really good about it," implying that her British fanbase is second only to her huge US support network.

Whatever the reason Sara had to bring her shows out of the US, it was great to see the on form singer perfecting her craft. With comparisons to a long line of piano tinkering American songbirds including Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan and Vanessa Carlton, Sara has managed to carve out her own identity over the past decade and despite admitting her nerves and missing a few words in second song Love On The Rocks, she enthusiastically chatted to the crowd throughout the night.

Show opener Uncharted, a single from Sara’s second album Kaleidoscope Heart, was a beautiful if subdued opening while the aforementioned jazzy punch of Love On The Rocks lifted the atmosphere and a segue into Elton John’s Bennie And The Jets at the end was inspired.

 















As the third song up, Love Song appeared curiously early on in the show. Still a classic pop single about rebelling against record company demands, the crowd sang along with great gusto and joined in by clicking along to an acapella part midway through the performance.

The gorgeous Chasing The Sun surprisingly had large parts of the crowd joining in. An otherwise anonymous album track, it proved that all of Sara’s die-hard fans had turned up for this show with many knowing every word.

Things became slightly more downbeat with the performance of Hercules, a song which Sara says was written at a time of deep depression when she had ended a long term relationship, split with her band of 10 years and leaving her home of 14 years in Los Angeles and moving to New York City. December and Gravity continued the theme although Sara stressed that she was actually a generally happy person, despite what her lyrics might suggest. “I don’t think of myself as a depressed person!" exclaimed the troubadour.

Sara got a guitar out for the Jack Johnson-esque Beautiful Girl, one of two bonus tracks on the Japanese and US deluxe editions of The Blessed Unrest. Parking Lot, the other bonus track, which Sara says she doesn’t play much, was performed later.

A soulful cover of Otis Redding’s Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay got the crowd singing again and her clear but emotive voice was in perfect form and reaching some powerful notes by this stage of the show.


Jaunty and cheery new single I Choose You and toe-tapper King Of Anything, the radio hit that never was (unless you work in Debenhams where it’s played 10 times a day) came towards the end of the show with the crowd rhythmically clapping along.

Sara’s recent international hit Brave (though criminally only a mere top 50 ‘success’ in this country) was the announced final song. A positive anthem of being free to be who you want to be, it’s a great motivational anthem with a positive message and the crowd happily joined in on the chorus in an almost gospel-choir fashion.

Rapturous applause followed and the inevitable encore included the classy Come Round Soon where Sara came out with an electric guitar and showcased her best vocals of the night. She closed the show with another Elton cover, this time a beautiful rendition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Overall it was an impressive show and Sara was on top form, with the crowd eating out of the palms of her hands throughout. A strong mix of old and new material, and a healthy double nod to Elton John for good measure, the only strange thing was perhaps the order of the setlist and some of the curious inclusions.

No doubt Sara enjoys performing the two Japanese bonus tracks but it was clear that many of even the most loyal fans hadn’t heard the songs before. Perhaps Manhattan, Little Black Dress, City, Gonna Get Over You or Bottle It Up would have been better inclusions. But it’s a small quibble as both were interesting songs that Sara had personal reasons for performing.

The show proved that Sara deserves to be a much bigger star worldwide. The Blessed Unrest was nominated for Grammy Album of the Year for a reason; it’s one of the best releases of the last 12 months. Hopefully the next world tour will be far bigger than a two-show affair at a small London venue!

Sunday 1 June 2014

Top 20 singles/albums - Week Beginning 2/6/14

Top 20 Singles



1. Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns (20) (CR-20-1)
2. The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm (1) (CR-3-1-1-2)
3. Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? (8) (CR-20-19-8-3)
4. The Common Linnets - Give Me A Reason (3) (CR-10-3-4)
5. RAM & Susana - RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) (2) (CR-17-3-4-1-2-3-2-5)
6. The Common Linnets - Lovers And Liars (4) (CR-6-4-6)
7. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars (7) (CR-10-8-5-7-7)
8. Sanna Nielsen - Undo (5) (CR-3-3-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-4-2-4-1-2-5-8)
9. The Common Linnets - When Love Was King (11) (CR-15-11-9)
10. Pamela Myburgh - Fool (6) (CR-16-9-3-6-9-6-10)
11. The Common Linnets - Before Complete Surrender (15) (CR-18-15-11)
12. Andreas Bourani - Füreinander Gemacht (NEW) (CR-12)
13. Sia - Chandelier (14) (CR-9-14-OUT-14-13)
14. SecondCity - I Wanna Feel (13) (CR-13-14)
15. Lilly Wood & The Prick And Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix) (NEW) (CR-15)
16. Ella Henderson - Ghost (Re-entry) (CR-10-15-OUT-16)
17.
Ed Sheeran - Sing (Re-entry) (CR-6-7-13-OUT-17)

18. Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong (19) (CR-19-18)
19. Neon Jungle - Louder (NEW) (CR-19)
20. Ed Sheeran - Don't (NEW) (CR-20) 

Top 20 Albums



1. The Common Linnets - The Common Linnets (1) (CR-1-1-1)
2. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse (NEW) (CR-2)
3. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again (NEW) (CR-3)
4. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (NEW) (CR-4)
5. Anna Abreu - V (NEW) (CR-5)
6. Lily Allen - Sheezus (2) (CR-1-2-2-6)
7. Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (3) (CR-2-5-3-7)
8. Alida - To Where We Reside (NEW) (CR-8)
9. Andreas Bourani - Hey (NEW) (CR-9)
10. Shakira - Shakira. (6) (CR-1-1-2-3-2-3-4-7-6-10)
11. Foxes - Glorious (4) (CR-3-4-11)
12. Coldplay - Ghost Stories (5) (CR-5-12)
13. Ilse DeLange - After The Hurricane: Greatest Hits And More (NEW) (CR-13)
14. Austin Mahone - Secret (NEW) (CR-14)
15. Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (9) (CR-1-1-2-2-3-5-4-5-6-8-9-15)
16. Diane Birch - Speak A Little Louder (Re-entry) (CR-4-12-20-OUT-16)
17. Eurovision Song Contest Copenhagen 2014 (8) (CR-12-12-1-1-1-1-3-6-8-17)
18. Michael Jackson - Xscape (11) (CR-4-11-18)
19. Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love (14) (CR-6-10-11-9-11-14-19)
20. Elaiza - Gallery (NEW) (CR-20)

Commentary

It's a brand new chart topper this week and the second German language No.1 of the year after Helene Fischer's Atemlos Durch Die Nacht! Andreas Bourani leaps from No.20 to the top of the chart with Auf Uns, which topped the charts in Germany recently. The Common Linnets fall a place to No.2 with Calm After The Storm after two weeks on top and Rae Morris finally scores her second top three hit as Do You Even Know soars to No.3! The Common Linnets fall one spot to No.4 with Give Me A Reason and RAM & Susana dip three places to No.5 with former chart topper RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia). 

Despite a huge turnover in the album chart this week, The Common Linnets easily make it three weeks on top with their eponymous debut album! Mariah Carey leads the charge of debuts with new album Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse smashing in at No.2! Röyksopp & Robyn arrive at No.3 with their five track mini album Do It Again, Sam Smith enters at No.4 with In The Lonely Hour and Anna Abreu returns with V which is new at No.5!