Sam Fender’s People Watching impacts the list, while Antoon stays at Number 1

After last week’s triumph over Lady Gaga, Dutch singer and hit-producer Antoon earns a second week atop my chart with the dance-infused “Beetje Van Mij”. At the turn of the last decade, the young talent skyrocketed to the top of my list with the electro-inspired song “Hyperventilatie”. Together with his big inspiration Big2 of The Opposites, he released a string of catchy and well-produced pop songs that especially caught on with Dutch students. “Beetje Van Mij” marks Antoon his fourth Number 1-single on my chart, joining the multi-platinum “Vluchtstrook” and “Hallo”, both from 2022. Antoon also has several production credits signed to his name, including Maan’s lead single “Leven” or Roxy Dekker’s big breakout “Satisfyer”. Antoon his reign with “Beetje Van Mij” is not secure though, as Canadian pop star Tate McRae pulls up to second place with “Sports Car”. It’s boosted by the release of Tate McRae’s third album So Close To What, which received positive reviews from critics and smashed on Spotify.

Meanwhile, Sam Fender shakes up the full Top 40 following the release of his highly anticipated third album People Watching. Even before its release last week; this album was destined to become a smash success. Its lead single of the same name became the North Shields-born his longest-running Number 1 to date, holding five weeks at the peak amidst the Christmas chaos while follow-up “Wild Long Lie” stayed in the Top 10 for multiple weeks. With People Watching finally out, the album’s third release “Arm’s Length” peaks at #5, while the album’s emotional climax “Remember My Name”, a tribute to Fender his grandparents, claims the highest debut of the week at #7, thus simultaneously claiming his thirteenth and fourteenth Top 10-singles. “People Watching” – the single that is – returns to #10 again, while “Wild Long Lie” moves back up to #20. With this kind of unmatched chart domination, Sam Fender establishes himself as one of the most-successful acts of all time, especially among the males. He truly is one of the greatest to ever do it.

Further down, Selena Gomez and boyfriend Benny Blanco tease their upcoming collaborative album with its first release “Call Me When You Break Up” featuring last year’s breakout star Gracie Abrams. Selena Gomez has been on somewhat of a charting slump lately, with very few of her singles actually sticking around. She’s had a big hit on the remix of Rema’s “Calm Down” which went platinum. She now enlists the help of Gracie Abrams, who scored three unexpected big consecutive hits last year, including the Number 1-hit “That’s So True”. Despite all the promotion, “Call Me When You Break Up” opens at a mere #26.

2010s-pop diva Marina (without the Diamonds) makes her return with “Butterfly”, the supposed lead single to her upcoming new album. Though easily dismissed, Marina was a chart force to be reckoned with on my personal list back in the day. Her debut The Family Jewels spawned six Top 40-hits while the follow-up Electra Heart bagged two Number 1s, including “Primadonna” which became the best-scoring song of 2012 bar none. Four more chart-toppers followed, including the critically acclaimed “FROOT” and a collaboration with Clean Bandit. However, at the turn of the decade, Marina dropped The Diamonds from her stage name and most of the subsequent singles underperformed. Sad, because Marina’s impact on modern pop culture and viral marketing cannot be understated. She now returns with the uplifting “Butterfly” at #31. It has divided fans and received muddled reviews from critics so far. With its less than stellar debut, this is unlikely to revive Marina’s career.

Newly certified

“Nothing to Lose” – Douwe Bob GOLD

“Push 2 Start” – Tyla PLATINUM