Sabrina Carpenter soars up to her fifth Number 1

This time last year, Sabrina Carpenter released the follow-up to her Number 1-hit “Espresso”: the very funny “Please, Please, Please”, a retro-country pop song in which Sabrina warns her boyfriend Barry Keoghan not to embarrass her. Sadly, he did just that and a big break-up followed. Kicking off a new album cycle, Sabrina Carpenter celebrates her newfound independence with the spiritual successor to “Please, Please, Please”: “Manchild”, a not so subtle diss track targeted towards her ex-boyfriend. It is produced by Jack Antonoff, who also produced “Please, Please, Please” and most of Taylor Swift her recent work. Musically, “Manchild” sounds a like Chappell Roan her breakout “Good Luck, Babe!”. Whereas “Please, Please, Please” easily earned a Number 1-debut upon its release, “Manchild” had to settle for a debut at #17 last week – though it moves up to first place this week with an increase in streaming figures. Sabrina Carpenter now earns her fifth Number 1-hit in barely more than a year time, joining “Espresso”, “Please, Please, Please”, “Taste” and the Xmas-hit “A Nonsense Christmas”.

Last weekend, Best Kept Secret Festival commenced in the south of the Netherlands, attracting many festivalgoers from across the globe with its eclectic setlist. Headlining acts included Soulwax, Michael Kiwanuka and, most importantly, the Dutch electro-pop princess Eefje de Visser. She emerged in the Dutch music scene in the early 2010s with her debut album Het Is, which was met with acclaim. More albums and many festival appearances helped cultivate a devoted fanbase and a unique space within the Dutch musical landscape. Her 2020-album Bitterzoet became a bestseller and won the Edison Pop Prize, receiving acclaim for its electronic beats and poignant lyricism. On my chart, it also earned Eef her highest-peaking hit “De Parade”. Last year, Eefje de Visser released her latest album Heimewee – the central point of her headlining set at Best Kept Secret. Backed by a stellar production and back-up dancers and vocalists Teun and Aysha, Eefje de Visser mesmerized the entire mainstage. Her set was ranked by critics as one of the best. That kind of acclaim earns Eefje de Visser a re-entry at #20 with the set’s opening track “Onomkeerbaar”, a brand-new peak. It is not the first time Eefje de Visser her chart performance is boosted by a festival performance; in 2022 her single “Startschot” debuted at #30 after her set at Lowlands.

Other acts profited off their Best Kept sets as well. Firstly, American pop duo Magdalena Bay debut at #33 with “Image”. The duo has been gaining traction on social media due to their kitschy, DIY visuals, often inspired by early-2000s internet culture. Their set at Best Kept Secret also featured many handcrafted props or costumes. “Image” was included on the duo’s second album Imaginal Disk. Irish hip hop trio Kneecap debut at #37 with “H.O.O.D.” after their name-making set at the mainstage. The group's themes focus on working class Belfast youth culture and Irish republicanism. During their set, they also spoke out against Israel. Chartwise, their album Fine Art from last year debuted at #2 on the Irish Album Charts. It was blocked by Taylor Swift – who the Kneecap lads dissed during their set at Best Kept.

Rounding out the debuts is a new song between RAYE and Mark Ronson with the jazzy “Suzanne” at #28. It continues the jazz-pop sound RAYE established on her debut album 21^st Century Blues. RAYE channels her very best Amy Winehouse on the duet; not an odd comparison as Mark Ronson famously worked with the troubled talent on the Number 1-hit “Valerie” in 2007.  It marks a return to Ronson’s roots in soul and jazz music. Near the end of the 2010s, he briefly dabbled with electronic sounds with “Find U Again” featuring Camila Cabello or “Electricity” as a part of Silk City with Dua Lipa with differing chart results.

Newly certified

“Love Me Not” – Ravyn Lenae & Rex Orange County GOLD

“FUFN” – JADE GOLD

“Atlas” – Pommelien Thijs 2 X PLATINUM