S/O TO MY NIGGA P
Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” (Interscope/Universal), featuring TI and Pharrell Williams, has smashed the rapidly-changing record for the U.K.’s fastest-selling single of the year.
With sales last week of 190,000, it dramatically raised the bar of 145,000 set on the previous chart by “La LaLa” (Virgin/Universal) by Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith, which now falls to No. 2. Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment) started a second week atop the album chart, with 53,000 new sales for a two-week total of 218,000.
“Blurred Lines” thus easily becomes the biggest single in the U.K. for U.S. soulman Thicke, whose only previous showing was the No. 11 success “Lost Without U” in 2007. It’s also the second chart-topper to feature Williams in three weeks, following his appearance on Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” which dipped 2-3 on the new list.
There was a No. 5 debut for Jessie J’s “Wild” (Lava/Universal Republic), featuring Big Sean and Dizzie Rascal, which becomes the British singer-writer’s seventh domestic top ten hit. Demi Lovato’s “Heart Attack” (Hollywood/Universal) moved back 11-10 after its No. 3 debut two weeks ago, while a performance of “Little Talks” by Moni Tivony and Emily Worton on BBC1 talent series “The Voice” took the Universal Republic original by Of Monsters and Men racing back 41-13.
Jennifer Lopez’s latest collaboration with Pitbull, “Live It Up” (Capitol/Universal), debuted at No. 17, and south London rapper Stylo G at No. 18 with “Soundbwoy” (3 Beat/All Around The World/Universal).
Daft Punk’s album reign continued as Rod Stewart’s “Time” (Capitol/Decca/Universal), which debuted at No. 1 two weeks ago, spent another week in runner-up spot. Laura Marling’s “Once I Was An Eagle” (Virgin/Universal) opened at No. 3, beating the No. 4 peak of each of her last two albums, 2010’s “I Speak Because I Can” and 2011’s “A Creature I Don’t Know.”
A raft of titles climbing in the top ten included Passenger’s “All The Little Lights” (Nettwerk), up 7-4; Rudimental’s “Home” (Asylum/Warner Music), 6-5; Bastille’s “Bad Blood” (Virgin/Universal), 13-6; Bruno Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox” (Atlantic/Warner Music), 16-7; Ellie Goulding’s “Halcyon” (Polydor/Universal), 38-9; and Emeli Sandé’s indestructible “Our Version of Events” (Virgin/Universal) which, after its first-ever week outside the top ten last week, rebounded 15-10.
London girl group Stooshe’s debut set “London With The Lights On” (Future Cut/Q Works/Warner Bros./Warner Music) opened at No. 8. On the compilation chart, the nine-week reign of “Now That’s What I Call Music! 84” (EMI TV/UMTV/Universal) was ended by the three-disc collection that celebrates the redoubtable series’ upcoming 30th anniversary, “Now That’s What I Call 30 Years” (Sony Music/Virgin EMI).