Lola Young takes on Sam Fender for the Number 1-position

Sam Fender continues to claim 2025 as his year with “People Watching” claiming a fourth week atop my personal chart. ”. It debuted at #4 in its opening week as the lead single from his upcoming third studio album of the same name. An instant classic, it was produced by The War On Drugs and his first solo material since 2021. The single reached Number 1 two weeks ago, but was briefly bumped off the top spot by Sabrina Carpenter’s Christmas hit “A Nonsense Christmas”. However, “People Watching” now holds for a fourth non-consecutive week with little to no real competition. Lola Young, however, is set to claim her first ever Number 1-hit as the breakout “Messy” moves up to #2, closing in on the competition. It is boosted by viral success and is climbing the worldwide charts quickly. Lola Young could be looking at a breakout year if she’s to continue. She only needs to best Sam Fender first.

While he’s fresh off the success of “Not Like Us” and she’s climbing the list with “Drive”, Kendrick Lemar and SZA move on up together with “Luther”, reaching a new peak at #10 this week. "Luther" is the second single from Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX which was surprise released at the end of the year. It features a sample of "If This World Were Mine", written by Marvin Gaye and performed by the referenced Luther Vandross. GNX came at the end of a victory year for Kendrick Lemar, who had decisively won his feud with Drake. SZA, meanwhile, is about to claim 2025 as a victory year as she’s set to release the deluxe edition of her second studio album SOS, which already includes eight Top 10-hits. With “Luther” its new peak at #10, Kendrick Lemar claims his fifth Top 10-entry on my list and SZA her thirteenth.

Last year, American rapper Doechii slowly began breaking into the mainstream. Doechii was awarded the Rising Star Award from Billboard Women in Music and has received nominations for Grammy Awards and she opened for Beyoncé on the Renaissance tour. She’s also collaborated with Katy Perry on "I'm His, He's Mine" from Katy’s unfortunate flopped comeback album. Doechii is now ready for a big breakout year – perhaps echoing Chappell Roan or Sabrina Carpenter? – she earns the highest new entry of the week with “Denial is a River” at #21. It was taken from her album Alligator Bites Never Heal and is currently going viral across the internet, helping its charting success. “Denial is a River” is an undeniably clever rap song which sees Doechii in conversation with herself, all very reminiscent of Missy Elliott and Lil Kim’ heyday.

Further down, De Poema’s make their unexecpeted return with “Op Jou heb Ik Gewacht”. De Poema’s consits of Dutch student bands Van Dik Hout and Acda en de Munnik, first collaborating in the 2000s. Their duet “Zij Maakt Het Verschil” peaked at #1 in 2001 for multiple weeks. Their last Top 40-entry dates back 7,749 days, nearly 22 years ago; a rare chart achievement. It makes De Poema’s the artists with the second most time between Top 40-entries on my personal chart, only bested by Monica, who needed 9,184 days between Top 40-entries, nearly 25 years. For a full overview of the artists with the most time between Top 40s, see the list below this chart. Going back to “Op Jou heb Ik Gewacht”, De Poema’s are joined by rapper Snelle, who makes his first Top 40-appearence in over a year. The single debuts at #26 this week.

Dutch rappers Kevin and Idaly join up on “SOS” at #29. They collaborated many times before, but did not manage to make it into Top 40 before now. We last saw Idaly five years ago in collaboration with YouTuber-turned-rapper Famke Louise on “Alleen Jou”. Kevin comes off the back of a successfull hit year on the charts, including a #2-peak with his rendition of “De Leven”. Coldplay round out the new debuts with “We Pray”, a weird cross-over single with Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini. It’s the most interesting thing, sonically, they have released in years. Coldplay debuted the single during their Glastonbury Festival set last year. We’re yet to see if this could cross over into becoming a major hit for the British band, their last true Top 10-hit being 2016’s “Hymn for the Weeknd”.

Newly certified

“Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars 2 X PLATINUM

Most time between Top 40-hits

1. Monica – “Angel of Mine” / “The Boy is Mine (Remix)” (9,184 days)
2. De Poema’s – “Ik Mis Niets” / “Op Jou heb Ik Gewacht” (7,749 days)
3. Tina Turner – “When the Heartache’s Over” / “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (7,581 days)
4. The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy for the Devil” / “Angry” (7,322 days)
5. Shania Twain – “Party for Two” / “Unhealthy” (6,797 days)
6. Elton John – “Ghetto Gospel” / “Cold Heart” (5,915 days)
7. Mel B – “Feels So Good” / “For Once in My Life” (5,607 days)
8. Sugababes – “Wear My Kiss” / “When the Rain Comes” (4,949 days)
9. Daft Punk – “Aerodynamic” / “Get Lucky” (4,403 days)
10. Delta Goodrem – “Mistaken Identity” / “Wings” (4,249 days)