And yes.. I’ve got all the albums… ;)
Snow Patrol song Chasing Cars was the most widely played song of the decade, according to music licensing body PPL.The 2006 track originally reached number six in the UK singles chart, but chalked up 94 weeks in the top 75 through download sales.
Take That’s Shine was as two while Scissor Sisters track I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ finished at three.
The figures were compiled from the number of plays on UK radio, TV, online and in public places such as shops.
Chasing Cars took on a life of its own in terms of airplay after its inclusions on TV shows including US drama Grey’s Anatomy and Gavin & Stacey.
It was also named this week as the nation’s favourite song of the decade for a Channel 4 programme.
Snow Patrol frontman and songwriter Gary Lightbody said of the track’s enduring appeal: “I think that the song has worked because it has an emotion that people can relate to.”
Take That were the only act to have two tracks in the top 10, with Rule The World at six.
While the majority of songs in the top 50 were released in the past decade, some tracks have proved to be timeless with 11 released from previous decades.
The highest entry was Thin Lizzy’s 1976 track The Boys Are Back In Town, while the oldest was Aretha Franklin’s I Say A Little Prayer from 1968 at 50.
The most recent year for chart entries is 2007, as the tracks need time to build up sufficient plays to figure in the list.
1. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol (2006)
2. Shine – Take That (2006)
3. I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ – Scissor Sisters (2006)
4. Love It When You Call – The Feeling (2005)
5. About You Now – Sugababes (2007)
6. Rule The World – Take That (2007)
7. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt (2004)
8. I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs (2004)
9. Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue (2001)
10. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley (2006)
Source: PPLJames Blunt’s debut album “Back To Bedlam” (Atlantic) is the biggest U.K. seller of the decade, according to the Official Charts Company.
Dido’s debut “No Angel” (Arista/Sony Music Entertainment) is in second place on the decade chart followed by Amy Winehouse’s sophomore 2006 set “Back to Black” (Island/Universal) at No. 3. “No Angel” was first released in 1999; the 2003 follow-up “Life For Rent” made No. 7 in the best-selling albums of the decade
Leona Lewis’ 2007 debut “Spirit” (Syco/Sony Music Entertainment) is at No. 4 in the decade chart, with David Gray’s “White Ladder” (IHT/East West/Warner Music) from 1998 at No. 5.
“Not only was ‘Back To Bedlam’ a major phenomenon in 2005, it has continued selling for half a decade, which is testament to the power of the songs on the record and James’ talents,” said Max Lousada, chairman of Atlantic Records U.K., in a statement. “Everyone at Atlantic Records is extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together with James, and we’re all looking forward to working with him on new material in 2010 and beyond.”
“Back To Bedlam” did not reach the U.K. albums chart when it was first released in 2004 — its first-week U.K. sale was 482. It eventually charted thanks to heavy radio rotation for the single “You’re Beautiful” and moved more than 3.1 million copies in the U.K., according to 2008 OCC figures. Full details, including latest sales figures, of the U.K. albums and singles best-sellers of the decade will be issued by the Official Charts Company on Dec. 31.
The Beatles’ “1” (Apple/EMI) compilation made No. 6 in the U.K. Scissor Sisters’ self-titled debut, released by Polydor, made No. 9 — the only foreign act in the top 10.
Coldplay’s “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” (Parlophone/EMI) is at No. 8 and Take That’s “Beautiful World” (Polydor/Universal) made No. 10.