12 June 2014 A moment of chart history: when 'Ghost' by Ella Henderson re-took the Irish top spot on 10 July 2014 it became our first number one under new IRMA rules that include streaming figures as well as sales and downloads. So, a chart-topping single in Ireland could now swell an artist's coffers by … Continue reading Ella Henderson – ‘Ghost’
Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’
22 May 2014 The last time we had a high-profile copyright claim at number one in Ireland, with 'Blurred Lines', the song was problematic and the ruling was controversial. Thankfully, 'Stay With Me' as a song is an improvement in terms of quality and taste, while the inadvertent similarity of its chorus hook to that … Continue reading Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’
Lee Marvin – ‘Wand’rin’ Star’
6 March 1970 You may remember a great Simpsons bit where Homer and Bart sit the family down to watch violent shoot-'em-up western Paint Your Wagon, only to discover to their horror that it's actually rootin'-tootin' comedy musical western Paint Your Wagon. I already knew that, which is why I've never watched it. I've heard … Continue reading Lee Marvin – ‘Wand’rin’ Star’
Calvin Harris – ‘Summer’
1 May 2014 No featured vocalist this time around: 'Summer' is the only one of Calvin Harris's eight Irish number one singles on which he's solo. This is also true of his first and best hit, 'Acceptable In The '80s', so I'm cool with this. The problem with 'Summer' isn't the lack of a guest … Continue reading Calvin Harris – ‘Summer’
Edison Lighthouse – ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)’
6 February 1970 Our final socially-acceptable number one of the '60s was bubblegum pop by a made-up band, and our first of the '70s arguably is too. (That now-cancelled chart-topper in between is listed in the 'By date' section above if you're curious.) Apparently 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)' existed before its makers realised … Continue reading Edison Lighthouse – ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Sing’
15 May 2014 Though not credited on 'Sing' as an artist, Pharrell's prominence in its audio and video for its sole week at number one in May 2014 effectively gives him a total of 22 weeks at the top of the Irish singles chart on four different tracks in little over a year, seemingly unscathed … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Sing’
The Archies – ‘Sugar, Sugar’
14 November 1969 The Archies are our first encounter with a hit-making cartoon act, paving the way for The Simpsons, Chef, MC Skat Kat, Gorillaz and Eminem. What you hear on 'Sugar, Sugar' are the vocals of session singer Ron Dante, co-writer Andy Kim (who goes on to become a flesh-and-blood one-hit wonder in 1974 … Continue reading The Archies – ‘Sugar, Sugar’
Joe Dolan – ‘Teresa’
7 November 1969 Here's the final Irish single to reach number one in Ireland in the '60s. You will be familiar with Joe, but I don't know this song and I'm not aware of it being up there in his classic pantheon with 'Make Me An Island' or 'You're Such A Good Looking Woman'. (A … Continue reading Joe Dolan – ‘Teresa’
John Legend – ‘All Of Me’
24 April 2014 It's been a good few years since I was at a wedding - not that I'm complaining. After all, if I want to spent hours sitting on a wooden bench watching some unlucky sap in a cheap suit stand at the top of the room and wait nervously for a weird old … Continue reading John Legend – ‘All Of Me’
Bobbie Gentry – ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’
24 October 1969 Surely this is recency bias on my part, I thought, but I re-watched The Apartment on TV last week and my re-listen to 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' today seemed like it could be fittingly sung by Shirley MacLaine's Miss Kubelik: same cruel heartbreak, same world-weary sadness, same biting wit and … Continue reading Bobbie Gentry – ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’
