2008 in British music charts

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This is a summary of the year 2008 in British music in terms of the charts. 21 singles occupied the number one position during the year, with 11 being new.

Summary of UK Singles Chart activity

January

The 6 January chart saw

Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's "Crank That
" climbed to number two.

Piece of Me", while Lupe Fiasco debuted in the top ten on downloads alone with "Superstar
".

London band Scouting for Girls climbed to number one on 20 January with their eponymous debut album Scouting for Girls, on the strength of the success of their singles "She's So Lovely" and "Elvis Ain't Dead". "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol overtook "Amazing Grace" by Judy Collins to become the second most charted single in the history of the UK charts with 68 weeks inside the top 75. BRIT School graduate Adele entered the top ten at number two on downloads alone with "Chasing Pavements", while Kanye West's latest single "Homecoming", featuring Chris Martin, peaked at number nine, and "Be Mine!", the fourth single from Robyn's eponymous top 20 album Robyn, climbed 13 places to its peak at number ten.

On 27 January, Basshunter stayed at number one for a third week, holding off the heavily favoured Adele, who failed to climb from her download-only position of number two with a physical release of "Chasing Pavements". Nickelback's "Rockstar" reached a new peak of number three fourteen weeks after its initial debut, and Kelly Rowland climbed to number seven on downloads alone making a jump of 24 places with "Work". On the Albums Chart, Lupe Fiasco's album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool debuted at number seven, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Raising Sand took the runner-up spot and a new peak behind Scouting for Girls.

February

On 3 February, Adele's debut album

singles, Basshunter held on to the top spot for a fourth week, while Kelly Rowland climbed to number four. There were new entries for electropop band Hot Chip at number six with "Ready for the Floor" and indie group One Night Only with "Just For Tonight" at number nine. British singer/songwriter David Jordan made his top ten debut with "Sun Goes Down
" at number ten.

Hawaiian singer/songwriter

Join With Us
.

Soul singer

retro–pop style second single "Mercy" on 17 February, pushing Basshunter down to number three. Dance act H "Two" O debuted in the chart with "What's It Gonna Be" at number seven, while Goldfrapp's "A&E" climbed into the top ten. United States pop rock band OneRepublic, who had success in 2007 with their debut single "Apologize", were new at number eleven with follow-up single "Stop and Stare
".

The

2008 BRIT Awards took place on 20 February at Earls Court in London. Winners included Foo Fighters, Kate Nash, Mika and Take That (see 2008 in British music#Music awards
).

On 24 February, Duffy stayed at number one for a second week, while Nickelback were replaced by H "Two" O at number two.

Valerie" climbed back into the top twenty, over thirty weeks after its original release. Ronson and Winehouse also saw an increase in sales of their albums, with Version and Back to Black
both re-entering the top five.

March

Three months after its initial release, the

Grammy Award-winning second album Back to Black climbed to number one on 2 March, holding off Goldfrapp's fourth studio album Seventh Tree which entered the chart at number two. Duffy held on to the singles top spot for a third week, managing to keep H "Two" O, Nickelback and Kylie Minogue
all from climbing up.

charity single "Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand" peaked at number two on 16 March, earning Lewis her third consecutive UK top three hit. Dance duo Utah Saints climbed into the top ten with the remixed version of their 1992 hit "Something Good", while alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco entered the chart at #13 with "Nine in the Afternoon", the first single from their second album Pretty. Odd.. Duffy stayed on top of the albums for a second week with her debut Rockferry
.

On 23 March, London

4 Minutes", featuring vocals from Justin Timberlake, at number seven. Girls Aloud scored their eighteenth UK top ten single with "Can't Speak French" which climbed to number nine, while their rivals the Sugababes missed out on the top ten with "Denial
" peaking at number fifteen.

US

Chris Brown's "With You". Duffy's album Rockferry stayed at number one for a fourth week, seeing off competition from Panic! at the Disco, Foals and OneRepublic
.

April

In April,

Violet Hill
" on their website as a free of charge download for one week, and it was subsequently downloaded two million times.

May

Number one albums in May were Madonna's

Violet Hill", which was released commercially on 6 May, and Rihanna's "Take a Bow
", which later climbed to number one.

June

After it was featured in

Paul Weller
also topped the charts.

July

In July,

Give It 2 Me
").

August

On 3 August,

The Script's debut album Script, and The Verve's comeback LP Forth
also topped the charts.

September

"

When I Grow Up" which charted at number 3 on downloads alone. Kings of Leon soar to the top of the UK singles chart on 14 September with "Sex on Fire". It remained at the top spot the following week. Ne-Yo's third album Year of the Gentleman
enters at number 2 on 21 September. Dreamgirls actress and formed American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson enters at 15. On 28 September, Kings of Leon stay at number one for a third week. Their new album soars to the top of the album chart, with over 200,000 sales.

October

On 5 October Pink made it to number 1 with her new single "So What". Sugababes made a comeback with "Girls" which got to number 3 on the singles chart.

Oasis (Dig Out Your Soul), Boyzone (Back Again - No Matter What) and Keane (Perfect Symmetry) all had new albums, whilst, Kaiser Chiefs (Off with Their Heads) got to number 2 and Leon Jackson (Right Now) got to number 4 on 26 October.

On 20 October, Girls Aloud scored their fourth number one with The Promise. It was the lead single from their fifth studio album "Out of Control" which would also go on to reach number one in the album chart.

Also on 25 October the twelve

The X Factor performed a new song for the Help for Heroes charity which Simon Cowell
predicted will go straight to the top of the charts. It was released on download on 26 October and single on 27 October. Midweek sales revealed that this single had sold 100,500 copies on its first day - more than any single of 2008 so far has sold in a week, and more than twice the average weekly sale.

November

The X Factor Finalists reached number one on 2 November selling over 300,000 copies in its first week of release. On 9 November there were new entries by many well-known female artists including Christina Aguilera ("Keeps Gettin' Better"), Alesha Dixon ("The Boy Does Nothing"), Leona Lewis ("Forgive Me"), Britney Spears ("Womanizer") and Beyoncé ("If I Were a Boy
") which charted at 14, 8, 5, 4 and 2 respectively.

Pink's new album Funhouse got the 1st No.1 album of November selling 112,000+, whilst there were new entries by Snow Patrol and Celine Dion, a week later Pink was knocked off the Album chart by Girls Aloud who scored their second number one album with Out of Control whilst there were greatest hits albums from Status Quo and Enrique Iglesias.

Beyoncé got her 4th No.1 with "If I Were a Boy" displacing charity single "Hero" after its three-week reign. The next week it was displaced by Take That's new song, who got their 11th No.1 single with "Greatest Day".

The deluxe version of Leona Lewis's debut album Spirit: The Deluxe Edition was released and shot straight to No.1 knocking off Il Divo's The Promise. Spirit: The Deluxe Edition was then knocked off by The Killers' 4th album Day & Age.

December

Leona Lewis' version of the

Run" was released digitally and went to number one on 7 December with sales of over 130,000 copies. Lewis held the top spot the following week too, selling a further 85,034 copies of the single in its second week of release. Take That's fifth studio album The Circus went to number one with sales of over 432,000 copies in its first week of release, while Britney Spears' sixth studio LP - similarly entitled Circus - charted at number four. Many classic Christmas songs, including Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
, returned to the chart throughout December.

Listen", a song recorded by Beyoncé for the 2006 movie Dreamgirls
, returned to the top ten after Beyoncé and Alexandra Burke performed the track together on the final of The X Factor. Take That's The Circus was the Christmas number one album of 2008.

Number ones

Number-one singles

Key
† Best-selling single of the year
Chart date
(week ending) 		Song Artist(s) Sales
5 January "When You Believe" Leon Jackson 119,927
12 January 32,098
19 January "Now You're Gone" Basshunter 35,112
26 January 47,930
2 February 43,841
9 February 43,841
16 February 69,002
23 February "Mercy" Duffy 38,366
1 March 50,962
8 March 72,724
15 March 53,594
22 March 40,778
29 March "American Boy" Estelle featuring Kanye West 51,857
5 April 60,497
12 April 49,690
19 April 39,376
26 April "4 Minutes"
Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
 40,995
3 May 49,771
10 May 38,965
17 May 29,821
24 May "That's Not My Name" The Ting Tings 40,204
31 May "Take a Bow" Rihanna 41,005
7 June 35,561
14 June "Singin' in the Rain" Mint Royale 45,987
21 June 27,537
28 June "Viva la Vida" Coldplay 23,212
5 July "Closer" Ne-Yo 30,676
12 July "Dance wiv Me"
Chrome
 49,414
19 July 87,104
26 July 58,424
2 August 44,300
9 August "All Summer Long" Kid Rock 37,111
16 August "I Kissed a Girl" Katy Perry 45,935
23 August 44,500
30 August 41,131
6 September 40,587
13 September 46,293
20 September "Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon 44,943
27 September 50,834
4 October 44,936
11 October "So What" P!nk 53,264
18 October 44,037
25 October 44,982
1 November "The Promise" Girls Aloud 77,110
8 November "Hero"
X Factor Finalists 2008
 312,244
15 November 189,600
22 November 101,183
29 November "If I Were a Boy" Beyoncé 47,949
6 December "Greatest Day" Take That 70,302
13 December "Run" Leona Lewis 131,593
20 December 85,034
27 December "Hallelujah" † Alexandra Burke 576,046

Number-one single downloads

Chart date
(week ending)		 Song Artist(s)
5 January "When You Believe" Leon Jackson
12 January "Apologize" Timbaland presents OneRepublic
19 January "Now You're Gone" Basshunter
26 January
2 February
9 February "Chasing Pavements" Adele
16 February "Rockstar" Nickelback
23 February "Mercy" Duffy
1 March
8 March
15 March
22 March
29 March "American Boy" Estelle featuring Kanye West
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April "4 Minutes"
Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
& Timbaland
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May "Take a Bow" Rihanna
31 May "That's Not My Name" The Ting Tings
7 June "Take a Bow" Rihanna
14 June "Singin' in the Rain" Mint Royale
21 June
28 June "Viva la Vida" Coldplay
5 July
12 July "Dance wiv Me"
Chrome
19 July
26 July
2 August
9 August "All Summer Long" Kid Rock
16 August "I Kissed a Girl" Katy Perry
23 August
30 August
6 September
13 September
20 September "Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon
27 September
4 October
11 October "So What" P!nk
18 October
25 October
1 November "The Promise" Girls Aloud
8 November "Hero"
X Factor Finalists 2008
15 November
22 November "Live Your Life" T.I. featuring Rihanna
29 November "If I Were a Boy" Beyoncé
6 December "Greatest Day" Take That
13 December "Run" Leona Lewis
20 December
27 December "Hallelujah" Alexandra Burke

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)		 Album Artist Sales[1]
5 January Spirit Leona Lewis 116,561
12 January In Rainbows Radiohead 44,602
19 January This Is the Life
Amy MacDonald
 26,396
26 January Scouting for Girls Scouting for Girls 32,370
2 February 35,973
9 February 19 Adele 73,341
16 February Sleep Through the Static Jack Johnson 53,736
23 February 47,730
1 March Join with Us The Feeling 41,676
8 March Back to Black: The Deluxe Edition Amy Winehouse 62,773
15 March Rockferry Duffy 183,874
22 March 97,645
29 March 83,007
5 April 45,185
12 April Accelerate R.E.M. 60,778
19 April Rockferry Duffy 31,087
26 April Konk The Kooks 65,901
3 May The Age of the Understatement The Last Shadow Puppets 54,296
10 May Hard Candy
Madonna
 94,655
17 May Jumping All Over the World Scooter 33,557
24 May Home Before Dark Neil Diamond 47,400
31 May We Started Nothing The Ting Tings 47,907
7 June Here I Stand
Usher
 56,403
14 June 22 Dreams
Paul Weller
 58,924
21 June Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 302,074
28 June 197,978
5 July 109,553
12 July 58,509
19 July 40,111
26 July Now You're Gone – The Album Basshunter 78,116
2 August Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 62,853
9 August
ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits
 ABBA 33,081
16 August 38,161
23 August The Script
The Script
 54,520
30 August 37,121
6 September Forth The Verve 72,768
13 September 35,512
20 September Death Magnetic Metallica 75,164
27 September 59,509
4 October Only by the Night Kings of Leon 220,879
11 October 108,215
18 October Dig Out Your Soul Oasis 200,866
25 October Perfect Symmetry Keane 79,106
1 November Black Ice AC/DC 110,978
8 November Funhouse Pink 112,419
15 November Out of Control Girls Aloud 85,670
22 November The Promise Il Divo 68,785
29 November Spirit Leona Lewis 76,727
6 December Day & Age The Killers 200,299
13 December The Circus Take That 432,490
20 December 319,625
27 December 380,885

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)		 Album
5 January
Now 68
12 January
19 January Ministry of Sound – Anthems 1991-2008
26 January Big Tunes 2008
2 February
9 February
16 February Ultimate NRG 3
23 February Real Love
1 March The Very Best of Euphoric Dance
8 March You Raise Me Up 2008
15 March The Very Best of Euphoric Dance
22 March Floorfillers '08
29 March
Now 69
5 April
12 April
19 April Clubland Classix – The Album of Your Life
26 April
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May Chilled: 1991–2008
7 June
14 June
21 June
28 June
5 July Clubland 13
12 July
19 July Mamma Mia!
26 July
2 August
Now 70
9 August
16 August
23 August Mamma Mia!
30 August
6 September
13 September
20 September
27 September
4 October
11 October
18 October Massive R&B – Winter 2008
25 October
1 November High School Musical 3: Senior Year
8 November
15 November
22 November Clubland 14
29 November
Now 71
6 December
13 December
20 December
27 December

Number-one album downloads

Chart date
(week ending)		 Album Artist
5 January Spirit Leona Lewis
12 January In Rainbows Radiohead
19 January
26 January Clubbers Guide '08 Various Artists
2 February Scouting for Girls Scouting for Girls
9 February 19 Adele
16 February Sleep Through the Static Jack Johnson
23 February
1 March Join with Us The Feeling
8 March Seventh Tree Goldfrapp
15 March Rockferry Duffy
22 March
29 March
5 April
12 April Accelerate R.E.M.
19 April St. Jude
The Courteeners
26 April Konk The Kooks
3 May The Age of the Understatement The Last Shadow Puppets
10 May Hard Candy
Madonna
17 May
24 May In Silico Pendulum
31 May We Started Nothing The Ting Tings
7 June Here I Stand
Usher
14 June Rockferry Duffy
21 June Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay
28 June
5 July
12 July
19 July
26 July Mamma Mia! Various Artists
2 August
Now 70
9 August
16 August Mamma Mia!
23 August The Script
The Script
30 August
6 September Forth The Verve
13 September
20 September Glasvegas Glasvegas
27 September Death Magnetic Metallica
4 October Only by the Night Kings of Leon
11 October
18 October Dig Out Your Soul Oasis
25 October Perfect Symmetry Keane
1 November High School Musical 3: Senior Year Various Artists
8 November A Hundred Million Suns Snow Patrol
15 November
22 November Forth The Verve
29 November
Now 71
 Various Artists
6 December Day & Age The Killers
13 December The Circus Take That
20 December Christmas Hits – 80 Festive Favourites Various Artists
27 December

Year-end charts

The Year-End charts were dominated by American and British artists in 2008. Fifteen of the top forty singles were by British people (including featured singles), while twenty were by American artists. Just four other nationalities were represented in the Top Forty: Barbadian (three singles involving Rihanna), Australian, Swedish (both two singles) and Canadian (one Nickelback single). The top 40 albums shows a chart dominated by British acts, while also showing albums from varied international artists.

The year's charts were dominated by Welsh singer Duffy, as her single "Mercy" reached #3 in the year-end charts, with her debut album effort, Rockferry attaining #1. Her single "Warwick Avenue" also charted at #30 in the year-end countdown. Other successful artists included Take That, Leona Lewis and Kings of Leon.

Best-selling singles of 2008

[2]

No. Title Artist Peak
position 		Sales[3]
1 "
Hallelujah
" 		Alexandra Burke 1 887,933
2 "Hero"
The X Factor Finalists 2008
 		1 751,243
3 "Mercy" Duffy 1 535,644
4 "I Kissed a Girl" Katy Perry 1
5 "Rockstar" Nickelback 2 469,652
6 "American Boy" Estelle featuring Kanye West 1
7 "Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon 1
8 "Now You're Gone" Basshunter 1
9 "4 Minutes"
Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
 1
10 "Black and Gold" Sam Sparro 2
11 "Low" Flo Rida featuring T-Pain 2
12 "Dance wiv Me"
Chrome
 1
13 "Run" Leona Lewis 1
14 "So What" Pink 1
15 "Closer" Ne-Yo 1
16 "If I Were a Boy" Beyoncé 1
17 "The Promise" Girls Aloud 1 349,450
18 "Disturbia" Rihanna 3
19 "All Summer Long" Kid Rock 1
20 "Take a Bow" Rihanna 1
21 "No Air"
Chris Brown
 3
22 "That's Not My Name" The Ting Tings 1
23 "Hot n Cold" Katy Perry 4
24 "Don't Stop the Music" Rihanna 4
25 "Viva la Vida" Coldplay 1
26 "Sweet About Me" Gabriella Cilmi 6 283,762
27 "Chasing Pavements" Adele 2
28 "The Man Who Can't Be Moved"
The Script
 		2
29 "What's It Gonna Be" H "Two" O featuring Platnum 2
30 "Warwick Avenue" Duffy 3
31 "Heartbreaker"
Cheryl Cole
 4
32 "Love in This Club"
Young Jeezy
 4
33 "Womanizer" Britney Spears 3
34 "Wearing My Rolex"
Wiley
 2
35 "Cry for You"
September
 5
36 "Human" The Killers 3
37 "Better in Time" Leona Lewis 2
38 "Live Your Life" T.I. featuring Rihanna 2
39 "With You" Chris Brown 8
40 "Stop and Stare" OneRepublic 4
41 "Infinity 2008"
Guru Josh Project
 3
42 "Fascination" Alphabeat 6
43 "Love Lockdown" Kanye West 8
44 "
Rule the World
" 		Take That 5[a]
45 "
When I Grow Up
"
Pussycat Dolls
 3
46 "Forever" Chris Brown 4
47 "
Piece of Me
" 		Britney Spears 2
48 "The Boy Does Nothing" Alesha Dixon 5
49 "Greatest Day" Take That 1
50 "All I Ever Wanted" Basshunter 2

Note: the official list of best-selling singles of 2008 produced by the Official Chart Company and published in Music Week in the issue dated 17 January 2009 originally included "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco at number 22. The following week (issue dated 24 January 2009) Music Week published a correction by the OCC to the effect that sales of "Superstar" had been overstated and it should have been placed at number 67, with all the original numbers 23 to 67 moving up one place.[4] This has been reflected in the table above.

Best-selling albums of 2008

[5]

No. Title Artist Peak
position 		Sales[5]
1 Rockferry Duffy 1 1,684,944
2 The Circus Take That 1 1,446,135
3 Only by the Night Kings of Leon 1 1,181,640
4 Spirit Leona Lewis 1 1,180,370
5 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 1 1,086,962
6
Good Girl Gone Bad
 		Rihanna 2[b] 820,584
7 Day & Age The Killers 1 703,213
8 Out of Control Girls Aloud 1 591,785
9 Funhouse Pink 1 587,984
10 Scouting for Girls Scouting for Girls 1 574,630
11 All the Right Reasons Nickelback 2
12 The Script
The Script
 		1 544,028
13
Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics
 		Stereophonics 2
14 Back to Black: The Deluxe Edition Amy Winehouse 1
15 Dig Out Your Soul Oasis 1
16 19 Adele 1 479,328
17 The Promise Il Divo 1
18 A Hundred Million Suns Snow Patrol 2
19
Gold: Greatest Hits
 		ABBA 1
20 My Love: Essential Collection Celine Dion 5
21 This Is the Life
Amy Macdonald
 		1
22 The Priests The Priests 5
23 We Started Nothing The Ting Tings 1
24 Year of the Gentleman Ne-Yo 2
25 Black Ice AC/DC 1
26 Life in Cartoon Motion Mika 3[c]
27 Call Me Irresponsible Michael Bublé 4[d]
28 Home Before Dark Neil Diamond 1
29 Rhydian Rhydian 4 350,785
30 Let It Go Will Young 2
31 Greatest Hits Enrique Iglesias 3
32
Exclusive
 		Chris Brown 3
33 Beautiful World Take That 2[e]
34 Raising Sand Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 2
35 The Seldom Seen Kid Elbow 5
36 Hard Candy
Madonna
 1 323,113
37 Jackpot! The Best Bette Bette Midler 6
38 I Am... Sasha Fierce Beyoncé 8[f] 311,734
39 The Best Of Sash! 9
40 Soul
Seal
 12
41 Chinese Democracy Guns N' Roses 2 293,420
42 Uncle B N-Dubz 11
43 Jumping All Over the World Scooter 1
44 Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits Simply Red 9
45 Now You're Gone – The Album Basshunter 1
46 Version Mark Ronson 4[g]
47
One of the Boys
 		Katy Perry 11
48 Dreaming Out Loud OneRepublic 2
49 Perfect Symmetry Keane 1
50 Hand Built by Robots Newton Faulkner 4[h]

Notes:

  1. ^ Reached number 2 in 2007
  2. ^ Reached number 1 in 2007
  3. ^ Reached number 1 in 2007
  4. ^ Reached number 2 in 2007
  5. ^ Reached number 1 in 2006
  6. ^ Reached number 2 in 2009
  7. ^ Reached number 2 in 2007
  8. ^ Reached number 1 in 2007

Best-selling compilation albums of 2008

[6]

No. Title Peak
position 		Sales[6]
1 Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack 1 1,006,563
2
Now 71
 		1 964,218
3
Now 70
 		1 865,333
4
Now 69
 		1 832,673
5 High School Musical 3: Senior Year 1
6
Clubland Classix
 		1
7 Chilled 1991–2008 1
8 Pop Party 6 2
9 Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3 2
10 Anthems 1991–2008 1

See also

References

  1. ^ Sales figures sourced from Music Week Subscription Required
  2. ^ "The 2008 Official Singles Chart". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 17 January 2009. p. 15.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 2009). "The best year for singles bar none". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. p. 14.
  4. ^ "News in brief". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 24 January 2009. p. 5.
  5. ^ a b "The 2008 Official Albums Chart". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 17 January 2009. p. 17.
  6. ^ a b "2008 Compilations Chart". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 17 January 2009. p. 18.
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