Ice Ice Baby...

The UK music singles chart has long been the most coveted spot for any recording artist. It has been seen as a sign that an act has made it to the top of the pile and cements the artists place in chart history. All of the top artists to have ever graced the recorded single have occupied a whole host of top 10 positions. However, it has long since been debated that its credibility as the peak of music has slightly declined, with many now opting to set their sights on the album chart.

At the time of writing, 1,120 singles have topped the UK music chart. They range from The Beatles to Bob the builder. Yet whilst many of these songs will long live on in our memory, it is the musicians themselves that seek the immortality of idolisation. Many a musician has occupied a one hit wonder and done well off the back of it, but really, can anybody say they truly love somebody like Chesney Hawkes after ‘I am the one and only’? – I think you’d be lying to yourself if you said yes.

On the other hand, there are minor exceptions to the rule. Artist Rick Astley has acquired unparalleled fame off his song ‘Never gonna give you up’. Yet even then, his adoration is nothing more than a fleeting love of the internet craze ‘rick rolling’

(if you don’t know what this is, I highly recommend following this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickrolling).

It is on the back of this that I believe the shift in the approach by musicians has taken place. Whilst the singles chart is obviously still of great importance and offers a strong platform on which to offer your music; I believe it is the album chart where the strength now lies. If we were to look through the catalogue of those people who have topped the album chart as opposed to the single chart, we would see a list of illustrious musical royalty. Of course some slip through the net, but in my eyes, if they can do it in the album chart, then props to them.

Equally, I feel the album chart offers a far more even playing field. Whilst the singles chart is often dominated by merely the genres of music that are commercially viable, the album chart offers musicians from all walks of music the opportunity to reach the heady heights of British music. Diversity is actively encouraged in the album chart, with last week’s top three albums coming from Paolo Nutini, Alicia Keys and Florence and the Machine. Three massively different artists, but artists all the same that offer a wide range of entertaining and well developed tracks. If we were to instead look at the singles chart, the top three would read; Owl City – Fireflys, Glee Cast – Don’t stop believing and Iyaz – Replay. Are any of them likely to remain in your head in a month or twos time? I guess only you can answer that...

This is not an attempt on my part to slander those who have topped the singles chart, nor is it a call for such artists to stop. It is just in my eyes important to distinguish between the good and the great. And I feel it is those who release album after album that are truly remembered on the merit of their music. After all, singles don’t fill arenas, albums do.

Disagree? I’m sure some do.

If so, I draw your attention to today’s chart. X Factor twin-duo John and Edward (or Jedward to those in the know) are set to chart with ‘Under pressure; ice ice baby’. A song they performed and acquired much attention from in their time on the ITV show. It is however, to me, the perfect case study to illustrate my point. To begin with, it is Vanilla Ice’s biggest song in his fleeting career anyway. However, the ‘Jedward twist’ is meant to provide originality. Furthermore, some very dubious vocals that I can only gather are heavily edited to the same extent as the arctic monkeys (sorry, saw them once, very disappointed and still harbouring harsh feelings), leave me feeling that this song will be resigned to the scrap bin in a mere matter of weeks. That is however, after they chart in the top 10 today.

Now, can it really be said that Jedward deserve to occupy the same spots held by some of the greatest musicians of all time? Equally, can we now deem them ‘sound recording artists’? Because given the significance of the UK singles chart, that is exactly what they should be.

However, to agree with those two statements would be ludicrous. And as such, I feel that the album chart should hold a greater level of importance to the general public. After all, it is the singles chart that holds the majority of the limelight, yet it is the album chart that generates by far the greatest revenue.

I do compensate that this is all more of a want than a need though. And as such, I feel all I can do is wish Jedward the best of luck today and hope that they never re-appear.

After all, there’s only so much we can all take..

(Admittedly I have neglected to even delve into the financial side behind records or the threat of internet piracy – but I fear if I had you would have long since chosen to stop reading, so best I save that for a rainy day!)