ARIA top ten singles/ Chart Review: 9th December. Christmas music returns

So it was coming for awhile now but this week saw the arrival of Christmas music on the chart, whether or not we wanted it to or not, we also got the expected chart entries for The Weeknd but we’ll get to all of that in a second but first our top ten where for a NINETEENTH week “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I continues its remarkable run at the top and again I am not seeing what is going to topple it just yet especially as it still as streaming and sales on lock.

“Roxanne” by Arizona Zervas spends another week at number two, it’s got good streaming and there’s signs that the sales might be catching up but is it all too little too late.

The week’s biggest gainer came from Dua Lipa with “Don’t Start Now” up four places to number three off the back of streaming and sales.

Post Malone regained some lost ground as “Circles” moved back up to number four off some solid streaming numbers, it thankfully moved past “Memories” by Maroon 5 which went down to number five this week (frankly, the sooner that song is gone the better)

“Ride It” by Regard slipped three places to number six as its streaming isn’t holding it up and sales can’t cover while “Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish slipped back one place to number seven, there’s signs of life for this song yet as streaming looks to be recovering.

Tones and I’s second song inside the top ten “Never Seen the Rain” jumped one place up to number eight thanks to a solid sales week, it pushed past “Good as Hell” by Lizzo at number nine.

Finally, The Weeknd’s big return is at number ten with “Heartless”, we’ve still got some more The Weeknd to talk about in the new entries.

Gains.

Not much to talk about here. “Lose Control” by Meduza feat. Becky Hill and Goodboys up two places to 15.

Re-Entries

The returns are both Christmas songs with Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You” in at number 20 and Wham’s “Last Christmas” back at 38.

Losers

“Follow God” by Kanye West continued its plunge down nine places to 49. Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” slid painfully from 39 to 46.

It wasn’t a good week for Harry Styles as “Lights Up” went from 33 to 41 and “Watermelon Sugar” got too sweet for some as it dropped eight to 28.

Drop Outs

Couple of songs likely to have snagged a spot on the year end list went this week with “It’s You” by Ali Gatie and “Higher Love” by Kygo and Whitney Houston.

Songs that might just make year end, but it will be tight are “Slide Away” by Miley Cyrus and “Liar” by Camila Cabello (that song might return with her album released last week)

Also gone is “Mean It” by Lauv feat. LANY.

New Entries

I did mention we have more The Weeknd to talk about, well, at 16 is the second song he dropped called “Blinding Lights”, a song I consider to be awesome and should be a massive hit.

Finally, the Christmas impact is also felt in the new arrivals with Michael Buble’s “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” in at 42.

Next week, the likely return of several Juice WRLD songs following the rapper’s death in Chicago during the past week and the continued infiltration of Christmas music on the charts. ARIA will update the chart at 5pm AEDT on Saturday.

Charting 1996: 8th December.Busy week as The Prodigy Breathe into top 5

Boom. We have a really busy week here as 1996 continues to wind down, we're not far from the chart year finishing, there are plenty of changes to the top ten including a new entry in the top 5 and a slew of new entries further down the charts however what wasn't affected by any change was the number one which for yet another week is "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls and look, there's just nothing getting near it right now.

It's closest competition is "Where Do You Go?" by No Mercy which climbed one place to number two but its close for that number two spot as "What's Love Got to Do With it" by Warren G feat. Adina Howard dropped one place to number three.

There's a new entry at number four coming from The Prodigy with "Breathe". A good sales week ensured a strong debut for this song.

"Sometimes When We Touch" by Newton remains at number five (unfortunately) while one of the big climbers this week is Savage Garden's "To the Moon and Back" which jumped ten places to number six, it could be a contender for number one soon.

What won't be contending for number one is "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis as it slipped down three places to number seven.

The second song to reach the top ten this week comes from Human Nature as "Wishes" rises from 11 to 8, it's the band's first top ten hit.

Slipping down two places is "Don't Stop Movin'" by Livin' Joy at number 9 while “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” by Celine Dion wraps up the top ten by remaining at number ten.

Gains

Shania Twain looks set for a stint in the top ten as her single “(If You’re not in it for Love) I’m Outta Here” rocketed up 11 places to number 13.

Dead Or Alive move up ten places with “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (’96 Remix” at number 28.

Interestingly Puff Johnson’s “Over and Over” rose hard to 29…this kind of rhythm and blues is very radio friendly so keen to see if this continues to have traction going forward.

Tori Amos continues her rise with “Hey Jupiter/Professional Widow” rising to 34 from 43.

Keith Sweat’s “Twisted” rose seven places to 30

Re-Entries

“Macarena” by Los Del Mar feat. Pedro Castano is back at 47 for some strange reason.

Losers

A lot of former hits lost ground hard this week with “Lover Lover” by Jimmy Barnes dropping from 25 to 42 and “I Want You” by Savage Garden falling from 30 to 41.

“I’ll be There for You” by The Remembrandts took a plunge from 20 to 33 as this song dies off naturally while Mark Morrison’s follow up “Crazy” isn’t charting the same course as “Return of the Mack” as it plunged from 22 to 37 this week.

“Macarena” by Los Del Rio fell out of the top ten to 15 (Good).

New Entries

So we have a slew of new entries aside from The Prodigy’s “Breathe” which as mentioned earlier debuted at number four.

We must go all the way down to 36 to find the next new entry though which is “Mama Said” by hard rock stars Metallica. British pop outfit Deuce are in at 44 with “On the Bible”

American rock rap band 311 have entered the chart at 45 with “Down”. Honestly it’s pretty awful so I don’t expect it to stick around.

Gina G is finally following up “Ooh Ahh…(Just A Little Bit)” with another high energy dance song reminiscent of Kylie Minogue called “I Belong to You’ which entered the ARIA chart at number 48.

Finally a song that I think might do well well into 1997 is “No Diggity” by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre which entered at 50. It has potential to be huge.

ARIA singles top ten/Chart Review: 2nd December. Watermelon Sugar gets a big sugar rush

So this week was strange just a few changes within the top ten and a couple of new entries lower down the chart, it was a rather slow week overall.

No change at the top for the eighteenth week where unbelievably "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I remains dominate. Sure its lost a little bit of streaming but the song is ruling sales and right now I don't see what's taking number one.

"Roxanne" by Arizona Zervas continues to be a streaming darling and would a number one contender if its sales weren't so sluggish.

I would say "Ride It" by Regard is a chance but it spent the week bleeding on streaming and sales aren't really matching it anymore.

"Memories" by Maroon 5 continues it's bland and really pointless presence at number four. I am always surprised that ARIA remembered to include this song on the chart but no it's steady across the board so it's not going anywhere. Yikes.

"Circles" by Post Malone got a one place rebound to number 5 but like with "Ride It", it's bleeding on streaming too.

Then there's the expected four place drop for "Everything I wanted" by Billie Eilish. Not surprising as she keeps strangely promoting songs from her first album with "Xanny" set to get a video. Streaming for "Everything I wanted" has taken a dive, I expect to see this gone from the top ten next week.

What could make a play for number one in the weeks ahead is "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa which rebounded one place to number 7. This song is doing well on streaming and on sales, expect to see this in the top 5 next week, hell, it pushed Lizzo's "Good as Hell" back one place to number 8 which might have happened anyway.

"Never Seen the Rain" by Tones and I rose one place to number nine off the back of a good sales week and finally "Lose You to Love Me" by Selena Gomez seems set to leave the top ten dropping one place to number ten.

Gains

It was good news for Harry Styles ahead of the release of his sophomore album "Fine Line" with "Watermelon Sugar" the biggest climber this week up eighteen places to 20 other than that not too many major gains although 'Total Control" by Meduza feat. Becky Hill and Goodboys rose four places to 15.

Re-Entries

One return this week with the surprise winner of ARIA song of the year "Choir" by Guy Sebastian back at 45.

Losers
Kanye West's "Follow God" was the biggest loser again this week as it fell nine places to 40 as did "Slide Away" by Miley Cyrus which dropped from 40 to 49.

Drop Outs

The only song I am somewhat sad to see gone is "Motivation" by Normani, it had a really strange chart run, I'd be very pleasantly surprised if it makes the year end list.

"Panini" by Lil Nas X is more of a chance of making the year end list after it's exit this week while Post Malone's "Goodbyes" feat. Young Thug definitely will make the year end list.

Also gone is Onefour's "In The Beginning" after all the controversy faded.

New Entries

Lewis Capaldi's dull new single 'Before You Go" is the biggest new entry of the week at number 24.

The best of the three new arrivals is in at 35 with Khalid's "Up All Night" while finally Ant Saunders has his first single on the ARIA singles chart with "Yellow Hearts" new in at 37.

So that ends this week, expecting the start of the onslaught of Christmas music this week plus the two new singles from The Weeknd and maybe a re-entry for Mental as Anything following the death of Andrew "Greedy" Smith.

Charting 1996: 1st December. Big gains for Savage Garden and Toni Braxton

So the year is winding down and we're seeing a real bun fight for spots on the year end list as the songs that will likely be hits in 1997 start rising up the charts however let's start with the top ten wher the Spice Girls spend yet another week at number one with "Wannabe" and there is nothing getting even vaguely close to this song right now.

Not even "What's Love Got to Do With Love It" by Warren G and Adina Howard which defied my prediction last week to stay at number two but that challenge from No Mercy's "Where Do You Go?" which remains at number three but there's definitely a likelihood that this will move to number two.

"I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis remains at number four and looks set to start falling away.

Unfortunately what has finally broken into the top five is the awful cover of Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" by Newton which climbed one place to number five. Ugh

However it did push the MUCH worse "Macarena" by Los Del Rios down one place to number six, this song is on the way out gracefully and will finish the year as the number one song for the year. (Wait to see my worst list for my views on this song).

"Don't Stop Movin'" by Livin' Joy moved up two places to number seven on the back of a decent week, it pushed back "Lets make a Night to Remember" by Bryan Adams to numer eight.

"I Live for You" by Chynna Phillips is up one place to number nine (I honestly do not understand the appeal of this song), pushing "It's All Coming Back to me Now" by Celine Dion back to number ten.


Gains

Savage Garden have had a huge gain this week with "To the Moon and Back" up to 16 from 38 while Toni Braxton rose ten places to 18 with "Un-Break My Heart"

Rising country star Shania Twain rose from 37 to 24 with "(If You're Not in it for Love) I'm Outta Here"...a song that I actually really like.


Keith Sweat's "Twisted" rose ten places to 37 while Puff Johnson's "Over and Over" leapt nine places to 41. Babybird's "Gorgeous" jumped nine places to 34.

Re-Entries
Garbage's "Milk" is the biggest return this week at 44 while La Bouche's "Fallin' In Love" is back at 45.

Losers

Unfortunately "Change the World" by Eric Clapton slumped from 31 to 50 this week however I think it will make the year end list. Fugees "Ready Or Not" plunged to 46 from 33.

Toni Braxton may have had one of the week's biggest gainers but she also had one of the week's biggest losers with 'You're Makin' Me High" plunging hard to 35 from 13

Several songs dropped ten places this week including Mack Morrison's"Return of the Mack" to 49, New Edition's "Hit Me Off" to 42 and B.B.E's "Seven Days and One Week" to 36

New Entries

Three new entries this week with Amber's euro-dance single "This is Your Night' the biggest debut of the week at number 32.

Former Take That member Mark Owen has released his debut solo single called "Child" and it's debuted at number 33.

In a year that's already been dominated by covers, Fugees new entry at umber 39 is a cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"

Rounding out the new entries are The Cranberries at number 48 with 'When You're Gone"

Charting 1996: November 24th.

We are nearly at the end of 1996 and really this week's chart is kind of slow especially in the top ten mostly because there were small changes apart from the very bottom of the top ten so let's get to it where for yet another week, it's the Spice Girls at number one with "Wannabe", I don't see anything get near it right now as this song is a monster hit.

Warren G feat. Adina Howard's "What's Love Got to Do With It" is doing its best by remaining at number 2 but it has competition for that song coming from "Where Do You Go" by No Mercy up two places to number 3, this song might well be the closest threat to "Wannabe" even though it's at 3.

It pushed back "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis to number four and "Macarena" by Los Del Rios to five, both of these songs are starting to lose steam now.

Unfortunately lingering like a toxic fucking fungus at number six is "Sometimes When We touch". Get rid of this shit already.

Same can be said for "Let's Make a Night to Remember" by Bryan Adams at number 7.

Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to me now" remains at number 8 this week meanwhile "Don't Stop Movin'" by Livin' Joy jumped one place to number 9.

Finally rounding out the top ten is the latest arrival which is "I Live for You" by Chynna Phillips...uh what?...anyway it climbed six places to reach number ten.

Gains

However the biggest gain this week came for Toni Braxton's new single "Un-Break My Heart" which roared from 41 to 28.

Human Nature's "Wishes" rose from 22 to break into the top 20 at 16.

Michael Jackson's "Stranger in Moscow" climbed from 30 to 18 this week while "Mach S" by The Presidents of the United States rose from 36 to 29.

Finally Tori Amos "Hey Jupiter/Professional Widow" rose from 42 to 35.

Losers
Los Del Mar feat. Pedro Castano's version of "Macarena" is on the way out as it tumbled hard from 35 to 49 while Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's "Tha Crossroads" which really hasn't caught fire here as it had in the US as it fell from 34 to 46.

Former chart topper "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion collapsed from 43 to 28 while New Edition's "Hit Me Off" dropped from 21 to 32.

New Entries

So we have a bunch of new entries with the highest debut coming British electronic duo The Chemical Brothers as "Setting Sun" enters at 34.

In at 37 is American country singer Shania Twain with her new single "(If You're Not in it for Love) O'm Outta Here" while Savage Garden have released their follow up to "I Want You" with "To the Moon and Back" in at 38.

Musical project known as Babybird have hit the ARIA chart at number 45 with "You're Gorgeous" and finally founder of the early nineties new jack swing sound, Keith Sweat is in at number 47 with "Twisted"

That wraps up this week's edition of Charting 1996.

ARIA singles top ten/Chart Review: 25th November. Billie's "Everything I Wanted" debuts at two

So yet again another pretty quiet week apart from the new entries most of which I doubt will stick around and were mostly low enough to not really have much impact except for one song which we'll get to in our top ten where for a seventeenth week, "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I stays at number one and yet again I have no idea what the hell is going to top it unless Adele finally comes the hell out of nowhere in the last few weeks of 2019.

"Dance Monkey" did enough on streaming and sales to ensure that "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish debuted at number two but I don't see this sticking around as it's leaking on streaming and sales, Billie's song unfortunately tend to debut high but don't stay high.

I also don't see "Roxanne" by Arizona Zevas back to number three getting close to number one because while streaming is excellent, sales are atrocious and there's only so much time that streaming will hang around especially when the next idiotic trap song comes along.

Billie Eilish's arrival also pushed "Memories" by Maroon 5 back two places to number four, thank you so much, Billie!. Probably means this song will not make a play for number one now.

In fact most of the rest of the top ten were also pushed back by "Everything I Wanted" with "Ride It" by Regard dropping two places to number five and "Circles" by Post Malone back two to number six,

Lizzo's "Good As Hell" clung on to number seven while Dua Lipa dropped two places to number eight with "Don't Start Now" but I expect this song to get an ARIA awards performance based boost this week.

Selena Gomez is in the firing line over her American Music Awards performance as the mediocre "Lose You to Love Me" dropped one place to number 9.

Finally, Tones and I's second song in the top ten "Never Seen the Rain" remains stuck at number ten mostly because streaming is letting it down.

Gains

The biggest gain of the week belongs to Taylor Swift's "Lover" rose from 43 to 13 thanks to the Shawn Mendes remix but beyond that? "Lights Up" by Harry Styles moved up from 31 to 27 mostly because of something in our new entries that we'll get to.

Losers
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Kanye West had a bad week as "Follow God" was the biggest loser of the week as it tumbled hard to 31, he has unfortunately made his love song to controversial American fast food chain Chick-Fil-A the next single and the video is pretty terrible.

What is also unfortunate is that "Motivation" by Normani is down to 41...this song just hasn't taken off the way it should have and I am not sure why. Lil Nas X's "Panini" fell to 48.


Drop Outs

Look I am not really complaining too much here especially when we've lost shitty TikTok crap "Ran$om" by Lil Tecca (will make the year end list sadly), the horrendous "Look at Her Now" by Selena Gomez which may as well have been made on TikTok and Diplo's continued failure at ripping off country with "Lonely" feat. the Jonas Brothers ( who have spent 2019 being mediocre to awful)

Really only said to see "Trigger" by Major Lazer featuring Khalid and :"Choir" by Guy Seastian gone but with the latter's song of the year win at the ARIAs, I expect to see it's return next week.

New Entries

So apart from "Everything I wanted" by Billie Eilish at number two, we got Harry Styles promo single "Watermelon Sugar" at number 38.

Controversial Western Sydney Youtube rap group OneFour land "In the Beginning at number 39.

Lauv returns with LANY in tow for the underwhelming "Mean It" which debuts at 42 and finally Martin Garrix has collaborated with Dean Lewis for "Used to Love" debuting at 46.

So that's the week, I am not sure what to expect with boosts for artists who performed at the ARIAs, we'll have to wait and see. The chart updates at 5pm on Saturday

ARIA Singles top ten/Chart Review: 18th November. Dance Monkey shatters the record

So on an otherwise pretty quiet week overall on the ARIA singles chart however the quiet was obscured by history being made at the very top of the chart with "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I becoming the longest running number one in ARIA Chart history, it's now spent sixteen consecutive weeks at number one usurping the fifteen non consecutive weeks spent at number one by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" in 2017. I've said for a few weeks it looks like the steam is running out but its still doing okay on streaming and on digital sales.

My opinion on "Dance Monkey"? I do like the song a fair bit. It's definitely unique, catchy and a bit of fun. Yes, Tones and I's voice can be a bit hit and miss but I would challenge anyone to come up with somebody who could do bring the same vocal intensity to "Dance Monkey" that Tones and I does

We got a new number two this week courtesy of "Memories" by Maroon 5 jumping two places to number four. Less said the better but it's matching "Dance Monkey" on sales but streams aren't even close right now/

"Ride It" by Regard remains stuck at number three. If other songs leap past this as expected, it's chances at number one are pretty much done unfortunately which is a shame because the song is actually decent.

What looks to be definitely done is "Circles" by Post Malone which dropped two places to number four after weeks of being stuck at number two behind "Dance Monkey", It's bleeding on digital sales and on streaming. 

The lone new entry this week has debuted in the top ten at number five that being the viral streaming sensation "Roxanne" by Arizona Zervas, its doing well on streaming and if it catches up in terms of sales, it could well be a number one hit. Keep an eye on this one.

"Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa got a two place boost to number six. I expect this song to stay in the top ten as its doing pretty well across the board but needs its streaming numbers to improve to rise higher however it was enough to push Lizzo's "Good As Hell" back to number seven but much like Dua Lipa.

All this pushed "Lose You to Love Me' by Selena Gomez back three places to number five. Honestly, this song is so forgettable I am always surprised ARIA remembered to ut it on the chart.

Speaking of forgettable, "10,000 Hours" by Dan and Shay feat. Justin Bieber which dropped two places to number nine.

Finally, Tones and I remains at number ten for a second consecutive week with "Never Seen the Rain". A song that I expect will rise in the weeks ahead.

Gains
Honestly not too many big gains this week with the biggest being an eight place gain for "Lose Control" by Meduza feat. Becky Hill and Goodboys but apart from that, it's pretty quiet.

Re-entries

Just the one re-entry coming from Taylor Swift with "Lover" back at number 43 thanks mostly to the release of a remix of the song featuring Shawn Mendes...that I think is kind of pointless because it really doesn't add anything to an already good song but if the song becomes a hit because of it I guess I'll take it.

Losers
Biggest loser this week is "How Do You Sleep?" by Sam Smith which fell nine places to 32 in the only sizeable drop this week. "Choir" by Guy Sebastian tumbled six places to 49. I'd mention Kanye but prosperity gospel dressed up as Christianity shouldn't be on the charts.

Drop Outs

Not complaining about our two drop outs this week with both "Bandit" by Juice WRLD and Young Boy Never Broke Again and "Hot" by Young Thug and Gunna both gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

New Entries
As I mentioned there was only one new entry inside the top 50 and that was "Roxanne" by Arizona Zervas at number five,

So yeah a really quiet week but with Billie Eilish likely to cause a major disturbance to the top ten next week, things are about to get interesting. The chart updates on Saturday at 5pm.