As strange as it sounds, before Coldplay this week, James Blunt and Leona Lewis were the only other U.K. acts to top the Billboard Hot 100 in the '00s, with "You're Beautiful" and "Bleeding Love," respectively. Now "Viva La Vida" can be thrown into that elite club. Thank Apple (the company, not Chris Martin's daughter), who've used the song in an ad campaign.
But doesn't Coldplay just seem like one of those bands that, despite their über-popularity, would never have a #1 single? They're like Radiohead -- their albums will top the charts, but a giant, across-the-boards hit single...and one on Top 40 radio, to boot? It couldn't happen here.Apparently it did, though. "Viva La Vida" looks set to top the U.K. chart this Sunday, as well. Meanwhile, the same-titled album sold over 300,000 copies on its first day of release here in the States, and Billboard is predicting it'll end up in the range of 750,000 moved to top the album chart next week.
Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" is the Airplay Gainer at #2, and I can attest to that -- I was in a restaurant on Sunday while here visiting my hometown, and heard it blaring over the speakers. I don't know how lyrics like "I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her cherry chap stick" from a female pop star went over with the small-town Father's Day crowd, but I like to think that brave trailblazers of freedom like Katy Perry and Tila Tequila are making America a safer place for not just gays, but for us all.
Nice to see Natasha Bedingfield move up to #6 with "Pocketful Of Sunshine." One notch higher and she'll tie the peak position of "Unwritten" from two years back. And at #8, Chris Brown's "Forever" is now back in the Top 10 where it belongs. I knew that one and Ne-Yo's "Closer" (up 13 positions to #25) would do well this week because I heard them playing at my favorite Pittsburgh dive bar this past weekend. Now, granted, it was me who played them on the jukebox, but still...!On a final note, somehow...some way...New Kids On The Block have scraped their way to #42 with "Summertime." Life? A cruel torturer.
The U.S. Top 10:
1. "Viva La Vida'" - Coldplay *1 week*
2. "I Kissed A Girl" - Katy Perry *airplay gainer*
3. "Lollipop" - Lil Wayne Feat. Static Major
4. "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
5. "Take A Bow" - Rihanna
6. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" - Natasha Bedingfield
7. "No Air" - Jordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown
8. "Forever" - Chris Brown
9. "Love In This Club" - Usher Feat. Young Jeezy
10. "Shake It" - Metro Station *sales gainer*