The weekly view to the Swiss Charts. Week 47/2001

Kylie higher than the Afroman:
For three weeks now in the airplay charts and for four weeks in the singles chart remaining at the top is Kylie Minogue’s „Can’t Get You Out Of My Head“. That is now definitely her biggest Swiss hit so far. The accompanying album, „Fever“, too. Her 1998 longplayer „Kylie“, which a.o. included „I Should Be So Lucky“ spent eight weeks in the top 10, four of them at a peak position of No. 7. „Fever“ has improved on that with ease by reaching No. 3. In its sixth top 10 week the album this time dips 8-9.
Back in the singles chart Kylie so far has kept Enrique Iglesias („Hero“, 2-2) and the Afroman („Because I Got High“, 5-3) at distance. But especially the latter has succeeded the Aussie star in quite some countries now at the top. At first Joseph Foreman could accomplish this in Australia, England and Ireland. Last week he did so in Germany (Afroman 3-1, Kylie 1-2) and this week adds Belgium to this growing list, Flanders to be precise: Afroman 4-1, Kylie 1-2.

High Criminal:
In Switzerland „Smooth Criminal“ now ranks as high as never before. On 25 December 1988 the song’s writer Michael Jackson took it to No. 5. This week Dryden Mitchil and the rest of the Alien Ant Farm do it one better and climb with the remake 7-4.

Certainly Paid Her Dues:
One of last year’s newcomer acts returns with a bang. Anastacia Newkirk was born on 17 September 1973 in Chicago, Illinois/USA, as the daughter to a theatre actress and a club singer. At age fourteen, after the divorce of her parents, she moved with her mother to New York. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s she was a member of the ‘Club MTV’ dance crew and also appeared as a dancer in two video clips by rap outfit Salt ‘n’ Pepa („Everybody Get Up“ and „Twist And Shout“). In 1998 she participated in the MTV talent show ‘The Cut’ with „Not That Kind“. She didn’t win the contest but a.o. Michael Jackson called her after the performance wanting to sign her to his then new label. But she finally opted for his mother label. With her debut single, „I’m Outta Love“, she couldn’t overcome the Bomfunk MC’s and in July 2000 remained at No. 2 for three weeks. That was followed by „Kind“, her debut album’s title track, (No. 18) and „Cowboys & Kisses“ (No. 33).
Still this month her second album, „Freak Of Nature“, will hit retail stores but this week the lead-off single, „Paid My Dues“, really conquers the GSA region: CH 9 top entry, A 36 top entry, D 28 new. In the Dutch chart in her second week she jumps 31-12.

Higher Jumpers:
This week’s top mover is by Belgian dance trio Lasgo. At home in Flanders their second single, „Alone“, is this week’s Hot Shot Debut at No. 13. In the Netherlands, where the predecessor is still ranked in the top 10, the new single, too, debuts (at No. 59). We are content for the moment with the former Flemish No. 5 hit „Something“ which jumps 39 positions (CH 98-59, D 9-8, A 15-9).
Sarah Connor makes a respectable 36 position jump with her ballad „From Sarah With Love“ (54-18). In Germany she scores her first No. 1 hit as the Afroman like Kylie before him could only spent seven days at the top. In Austria Sarah is already ranked inside the top 10 (10-6) and might do so here as soon as next week.
But that’s not all. Three more singles climb more than twenty positions. There is Marc Anthony who climbs 27 positions with „Tragedy“ (D 66 new, A 71 new) and lands at No. 33. That puts him one spot ahead of the position he occupied on 10 January 1999 when his first Swiss chart single, the duet „I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You“ with Tina Arena, peaked at No. 34.
On the other hand there are City High, who could soon repeat their top 10 success from the UK and US charts here. In their fifth week the US trio sprints 39-13 with „What Would You Do?“. Maybe not only here soon a top 10 hit but in Denmark as well? There „What“ debuts at No. 17.
Last in line are Brooklyn Bounce. Their single „Club Bizarre“, rather sampling the original by U 96 than covering it, moves up 93-72, but is still miles away from the highest position Alex Christensen’s project reached (1995, No. 32). But in Italy it is a new entry at No. 38 and in its second week moves up in Germany (14-13) and Austria (12-11).
By now I have learned how the Americans make money out of a charity single that doesn’t show up on the singles sales chart. Look no further than the album chart. The All-Star Tribute „What’s Going On?“, which moves 24-16 in Switzerland, in the US is categorized as an EP and those are subject to the Album Top 200. And there it is quite successful with a new entry last week at No. 18 although it drops this week to No. 45. In France the single is the top mover (77-55) and Europe has more good news to offer: Fl 25 new, IRL 8 new, D 35-44, A 58-52.
One more look onto another Billboard chart, this time the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks list. In Switzerland ‘N Sync’s acoustic ballad „Gone“ drops in its second week (85-99), but with their first R&B hit the quintet last week was one of the biggest climbers (72-51) and continues the trend this time (51-36). There are two more interesting songs ranked. At first this week’s Hot Shot Debut at No. 67. That one is by Nelly Furtado and is called „Turn Off The Light“. Sounds a bit like a hip hop track but this entry nevertheless comes very surprising, you might think? Find the reason therefore not at last in the fact that it’s a remix of the original featuring Ms. Jade and Timbaland. Second the No. 87, holding steady from its debut the week before. The title „2-Way“ shouldn’t tell anybody anything. But look, the song is released as a CD single. And look even more to whom the song is credited: Rayvon feat. Shaggy, Ricardo „Rik Rok“ Ducent, Brian & Tony Gold. After a few Shaggy singles, on which Rayvon was featured, now he has invited Shaggy as a guest on his own record. And Shaggy turned up with another guest, Ricardo Ducent, one of his former collaborators...

High & Happy Hits:
„Would You Be Happier“ with its debut this week has now certainly earned itself a place among the greatest hits of the Irish family band. „Happier“ is this week’s second-highest debut at No. 40, is also the fifth Swiss chart single by The Corrs, and from the beginning the second-highest of them. Only „Breathless“ (2000, No. 15) went higher on our list.
Four times Corr that means in detail:
James Steven Ignatius (born on 31 July 1964; keyboards, piano, guitar, accordion, backing vocals) is the main force behind the band because he had the idea to form it together with his sisters. And who cannot understand him? His current keyboard skills date back to his first piano lessons given to him by his father. Later he also turned to the guitar which he was taught to play by a neighbour. At age fifteen he performed for the first time in public with his parents in bars in and around Dundalk/Ireland.
Sharon Helga (24 March 1970; violin, background vocals) had her first violin lessons by a priest at age six and today is qualified to teach the instrument professionally. The next eight years she spent playing in the Redeemer Youth Orchestra before turning away a bit from classical music to join The Corrs.
Caroline Georgine (17 March 1973; drums, bodhrán, piano) also learnt playing the piano by her father Gerry. Playing the traditional Irish instrument bodhrán she learned solely by watching videos. She started early with both instruments but started with the drums only at the mature age of eighteen years. After getting some advice from a friend she mostly learned it playing properly during Corrs concerts admittingly having made many mistakes in the beginning.
Andrea Jane (17 May 1974; tin whistle, lead vocals, lyricist) also took piano lessons by her father and started directly into The Corrs after school time. In the meantime she appeared in the movies ‘The Commitments’ and ‘Evita’. In the former every one of the four Corrs appeared but it was Andrea who got a greater role.
They have some trouble scoring single hits, thus only their fifth such in Switzerland, but their albums do much better:
„Forgiven, Not Forgotten“ - CH 37
„Talk On Corners“ - CH 15
„Unplugged“ - CH 3
„In Blue“ - CH 1
The recently released Best Of set was another top 10 success when it debuted at No. 6 (this week dropping 11-13).

High Noon - or was it in the Middle of the Night?
Whoever, including me, thought the sacro-pop wave was over, think again...
At the end of 1999 all of a sudden some similar-sounding singles charted. They all had in common that they featured Biblical themes with an appropriate sound set to a thumping dancefloor-compatible beat. Among them were Aquagen („Ihr seid so leise!“ [„You Are Not Loud Enough!“], D 3, CH 10, A 5) or E Nomine, who brought „Vater Unser“ [The Lord’s Prayer] (D 4, CH 10, A 1) into the discotheques. The icing on the cake on the latter was the narrator. None other than Christian Brückner read the prayer. He is famous for being the German voice to US actors like Robert de Niro. One follow-up („E Nomine (Denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun)“ [„E Nomine (Because They Don’t Know What They’re Doing)“], 2000, D 29, CH 90, A 27) and the whole wave was over as soon as it had arrived. At least one was forgiven to think. A couple of weeks ago the project E Nomine, masterminded by Berlin-based producer David Brunner, returned to the Austrian chart with Hot Shot Debut honours. „Mitternacht“ [„Midnight“] started at No. 20 there and at No. 13 in Germany. This week the single narrowly misses the top 10 in both countries (D 23-14, A 17-12) and now enters the Swiss chart at No. 47. Well then, good night...

News-Roundup:
Further new entries are by Jamiroquai, whose second single from current album „A Funk Odyssey“ (30-34) debuts („You Give Me Something“, CH 63 new); by pop foursome A Touch Of Class, or short ATC, who score their fifth but so far lowest-ranking Swiss single („I’m In Heaven (When You Kiss Me)“, CH 76 new, D 31-25, A 51-28 top mover); by DJ/producer Kai Tracid, who uses a sample by Klaus Doldinger for his fourth Swiss chart single („Life Is Too Short“, CH 82 new, D 9 top entry, A 38 new); by the Swedish cowboys called Rednex, this time being a bit inspired by Dario G./The Dream Academy („The Chase“, CH 84 new, D 65 new, A 49 new); by former Mano Negra lead singer Manu Chao, who follows „Me gustas tú“ with his third Swiss chart entry („Merry Blues“, CH 90 new); by Dutch Happy Hardcore DJs Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo, who finish their career together with a new version of their GSA debut „Wonderfull Days“ (1995, D 8, CH 16) („Wonderful Days“, Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo present Starsplash, CH 97 new, D Ex-4, A 7-8).

Spotlight on Germany:
Happening only for the fifth time since 1977 in the German charts but already for the third time this year: back-to-back one week charttoppers. Germany has again a new No. 1. It first happened on 9 & 16 October 1978 when „Rasputin“ by Boney M. and „Mexican Girl“ by Smokie each remained at the top for a solitary week. Then it took nearly twenty years before two successive singles would rule the chart for only one week. It came in June 1997 with „Sonic Empire“ by the Members of Mayday (16 June) and „MMMBop“ by Hanson (23 June). If Afroman won’t return to the top it has happened this year for a third time. In March/April „Dream On“ (Depeche Mode) was followed by „Butterfly“ (Crazy Town), in July „Miss California“ (Dante Thomas feat. Pras) by „Lady Marmalade“ (Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink). Now Kylie Minogue and Afroman did it. The reason therefore is the jump to the top by last week’s top entry. Sarah Connor collects her first No. 1 hit with „From Sarah With Love“ (4-1) and something tells me she might hang on to the top for a little bit longer... Her debut, „Let’s Get Back To Bed - Boy“, featuring TQ came very close but peaked for a couple of weeks at the runner-up spot earlier this year. Her second single, „French Kissing“, didn’t fare as well by tappering out at No. 26. Despite the turmoil around him (Sarah 4-1, Afroman 1-2, Kylie 2-4) Enrique Iglesias holds steady with his biggest German hit („Hero“, 3-3). French teen star Alizée can reach a new peak position again as „Moi...Lolita“ moves 7-5. The Hot Shot Debut once again shows up in the top 10. Kai Tracid scores his seventh German top 100 hit, but his first top 10 hit. So far his chart debut, „Your Own Reality“ (1998, No. 22), was his biggest success. That is now replaced by the No. 9 entry of „Life Is Too Short“ sampling an old Klaus Doldinger film score instrumental from the early ‘80s. The two highest-ranked German-language songs rank back-to-back. E Nomine’s third chart single, „Mitternacht” [„Midnight”], using the voice of Christian Brückner famous for being the German voice to US actors like Robert de Niro bounces back 23-14 in its third week. Also moving up again but already in their 12th chart week are Leipzig-based pop quintet Die Prinzen [The Princes] who climb with their tongue-in-cheek take on the state of the nation in „Deutschland” [„Germany”] (21-15). All of its chart life spending between Nos. 15 and 24 this is now their biggest hit since „Du mußt ein Schwein sein” [„You Have To Behave Like A Pig”] (1995, No. 8), which coincidentally is mentioned in the lyrics of the last chorus. If one actress were not enough the next one is already there. After spending only one week at No. 95 with „Come What May“ Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor drop off the top 100 this week. But new at No. 27 is ‘Titanic’ star Kate Winslet. „What If“ is the second-highest debut this week and is a ballad appropriate for the season. Closely followed by Anastacia, who previews her new album „Freak Of Nature“ with the lead-off single „Paid My Dues“, new at No. 28. Usher lands at No. 35. „U Got It Bad“, the successor to the No. 21 hit „U Remind Me“ from this summer, is his fifth chart hit and his fifth top 50 hit. Pulsedriver does it again. Last time he took Kim Wilde’s No. 2 hit from 1981 („Cambodia“) in his new version to No. 11. Now he is even joined by the original artist. George Kranz was more successful in the US than in Germany with „Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)“ (1984, No. 28). Now a remixed version by Pulsedriver debuts at No. 42. Right Said Fred score their third top 50 hit of the year – for the first time since 1992. After „You’re My Mate“ (No. 6) and „MoJive“ (No. 46) they come in at No. 50 with „Lovesong“. All in all there are 19 new entries - including the second a-ha remake. Biggest mover of the week is a rock version of „Take On Me“ (1985, No. 1) by Bavarians Emil Bulls who jump 77-57. New at No. 67 is „The Sun Always Shines On TV“ (1986, No. 5) in a dance version by Mario Lopez. What’s next? „The Living Daylights“ in a hip hop version?

Spotlight On France:
No change at the top of the French singles chart means that Garou & Céline Dion are now in charge for a third straight week. Their ballad „Sous le vent“ [„Beneath The Wind“] makes also good progress this week in Wallony/Belgium, where the couple jumps 12-2. A third country ranking the song are the Netherlands but the single seems rather stuck at the bottom end so far, barely moving 86-82 in its second week. Kylie, too, spends a third week at her position. But it’s the third at the runner-up spot and those three are non-consecutive. The Hot Shot Debut comes straight in at No. 3. It’s no unusual behaviour for one of the two artists featured on „Les mots“ [„The Words“]. Mylène Farmer often enters way up in the top 10 but just as often sees steep declines in the following weeks. That’s what happened in a slightly modest way to her last hit, spring’s „L’histoire d’une fée, c’est...“, which started 9-13-16-20. „Les Mots“ is an interesting collaboration because Mylène’s duet partner is British R&B singer Seal. The duet which is accompanied by a spectacular video clip is a new song from the same-titled Best Of set by French chart veteran Farmer which will be released in France this week. Former charttopper Michael Jackson slips 4-5 with „You Rock My World“ and is closely followed by this week’s second new entry. ‘French Britney Spears’ Lorie charts her second hit. Her pop song „Près de moi“ back in May started at No. 28 but her second hit „Je serai (ta meilleure amie)“ [„I’ll Be (Your Best Friend)“] begins its chart life inside the top 10 at No. 5. And while speaking of Lorie’s earlier single. The former No. 2 hit slips out of the top 10 this week by dropping 9-11. Making room for the high debuts, too, is the various artists single „Maya l’abeille“ [„Maya The Bee“] (10-12). Although Zazie has this week’s Hot Shot Debut in Wallony at No. 16, „Rue de la paix“ [„Peace Street“] in France drops 11-18. Geri Halliwell, who last time out reached the top in France, comes in at No. 29 with „Calling (Au nom de l’amour)“ [„Calling (In The Name Of Love)“]. New at No. 34 is Froggy Mix with „Razzmatazz“ and dance project 666 enters at No. 48 with „Supa-Dupa-Fly“, which I expect rather not to be a cover version of Missy Elliott’s hip hop hit from 1997. And finally a first for Danish Safri Duo. After the French lackluster success of „Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)“ they come in at No. 51 with their second single „Samb-Adagio“ although most of Europe has already turned to single number three called „Baya Baya“. The remaining new entries are by DJ Mirko Milano with „Stopp & Go“ at No. 58 and US rockers Blink 182 with „First Date“ at No. 81. Biggest mover of the week is the charity single „What’s Going On?“ (77-55), followed by electronica star Cerrone with „Supernature“ (89-69), former East 17 member Brian Harvey & The Refugee Crew with „Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)“ (99-84) and British S Club 7 with „Don’t Stop Movin’“ (33-21), all climbing in their second chart week.

Spotlight On Italy:
For five weeks now the same picture at the top. Kylie Minogue still rules with „Can’t Get You Out Of My Head“, followed by former charttopper Tiziano Ferro with „Xdono“. That seems to make No. 3 a good place for the Hot Shot Debut as has been three times during this period. At first Michael Jackson entered at No. 3 and this week returns to the top 10 (3-3-6-11-7). A couple of weeks later Italian veteran pop band Pooh did it, dropping off the top 10 this week with „Portami via“ (3-6-13). This week it’s Depeche Mode’s turn. „Freelove“ debuts at No. 3 as it does in Spain. The same except for that in Spain it is not the highest new entry. Enrique Iglesias keeps on moving and takes „Hero“ up another four places landing at No. 4. A former top 3 hit almost all over the world before (except France for example) now „Fallin’“ makes it into the Italian top 10 for the first time. Alicia Keys jumps 12-6. A good week on the singles list means a bad week on the albums list and vice versa. At least it seems to be like that for Laura Pausini. The first two weeks that her Best Of album was released and occupied the top slot on the album ranking her single dropped (4-5-7). Than she lost the top on the album charts and „E ritorno da te“ moved up 7-3. Now that she moves 3-2 with her greatest hits, one of it tumbles 3-8 again. The second new entry is by Natalie Imbruglia. Also debuting at No. 98 in the Netherlands this week she fares much better in Italy where she joins the list at No. 14 with „That Day“. Top mover of the week is Mary J. Blige who finally cracks the top 20 by jumping 28-18 with her first and current US charttopping single „Family Affair“. Three artists are tied for second-highest climber. Gigi D’Agostino takes „L’amour toujours“ 24-15, almost reaching again his debut position of No. 13 a month ago. One week earlier the Backstreet Boys started their chart life at No. 10 but have dropped to No. 30 since and only this week climb up again nine positions with „Drowning“. Third in line is US newcomer Blu Cantrell who takes „Hit ‘em Up Style (Oops!)“ 40-31. Simply bad news for most of last week’s debuts. British duo Lighthouse Family are the only ones to move up (27-22) and Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule hold steady (at No. 16) but all others are falling: The Cure (17-23), Raf (19-24; now ranking back-to-back with former charttopping „Infinito“, stuck at 25), Eiffel 65 (22-37), and Valeria Rossi (43-49). Eiffel 65 at least are not the dropper of the week because that ‘honour’ goes to Alien Ant Farm whose „Smooth Criminal“ (15-33) tumbles even more positions. On the good news front are debuts by Mick Jagger, whose „God Gave Me Everything“ enters the Spanish (No. 5) and Italian (No. 34) charts. Finally the follow-up to the massive summer hit „It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane“ hits the chart. Although The Ark reached only No. 4, their hit is now ranked for close to half a year, most of it spent inside the top 10, and drops 23-35 this week. But at No. 44 they debut with „Let Your Body Decide“. A summery dance tune also comes in at No. 48. Galleon take their French top 10 hit „So I Begin“ now to Italy. And ‘The King Of Rock’n’Roll’ joins the ‘King Of Pop’ on the same list. The patriotic wave from the US reaches Europe although scaled down a lot. And Elvis Presley who for four weeks already has one of the ten best-selling singles in the US (7-6, but due to overall minimal singles sales figures has still to earn enough points to enter the Hot 100) now visits some European charts. „America The Beautiful“ reached No. 55 in the Netherlands (now dropping 63-77) and No. 69 in the UK and now makes it to No. 46 in Italy.