I’m in Scotland, so I was wondering what the music was like in the U.K. I did some research, and I discovered a few awesome tunes. I also expected the U.S. and U.K. charts to be pretty similar; surprisingly, they only had two songs in common.
Starting from the bottom at number 10, we have a familiar song, Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” This song is number 5 on the U.S. charts, which is funny, because Sam Smith is English. Anyway, this song is a wonderful gospel ballad that will have you swooning for Sam and his angelic voice. At times he is even considered the male Adele.
Number 9 is also familiar to the U.S., but it is not in our top ten. Sia’s “Chandelier” is a powerhouse of a song that is making a big impact in both the U.S. and U.K.
On to some new stuff, at number 8 Oliver Heldens teams up with Becky Hill to create “Gecko (Overdrive).” This EDM hit didn’t do much for me when I first heard it, but now I can’t help but dance when it comes on. Becky has a gritty voice that fits perfectly with the funky beat created by Oliver. I had never heard of either of these musicians, but I hope to see them crossing the Atlantic soon.
At number 7 we have Ed Sheeran’s “Sing.” With Ed Sheeran’s recent album release, I wasn’t surprised to see this song on the U.K. charts. As a sensation in both the U.S. and the U.K., I’m sure it’s no surprise that his album is doing well in both places.
My favorite song that I heard from the U.K. has to be Jess Glynne’s “Right Here,” which debuted at number 6 on the U.K. charts. It’s a funky, upbeat dance track that happens to be her first single. Her voice has an R&B style that makes this song different than most dance songs. The bass line is amazing and really gives the song its funky feel.
Number 5 is George Ezra’s “Budapest,” which is new to me like many of the others. While most of the songs on the chart are electronic or pop, “Budapest” is more of a folk, alternative song. It’s very relaxed and beautiful, perfect for a nice summer day in the U.K.
The Vamps’ song featuring Demi Lovato, “Somebody To You,” ranks at number 4 on the charts. Honestly, it’s nothing special. The Vamps are very similar to One Direction; the only difference is that just one of the members sings while the rest play the typical rock band instruments. I can definitely see why it’s a chart-topping song, as it’s catchy, fun and overall quite good, but for me it seems too similar to things I’ve heard before. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.
At number 3 is another debut single, X-Factor U.K. finalist Ella Henderson’s “Ghost.” She obviously made it far in the X-Factor due to her great voice. This song features her voice very well and overall is a beautiful song, lyrics and all. I predict that this song is going to be a hit in the U.K. for a long time. Maybe soon Ella will be able to send her talents over to the U.S.
Getting close to the top at number 2, a familiar face of Ariana Grande’s “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea. I’m not surprised to see this on the charts. The first time I heard “Problem” I knew it would be a hit. Fun, funky and overall wonderful, I would have to say it is the song of the summer.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed with number one. “It’s My Birthday” by will.i.am & Cody Wise is not only not that great–it’s also annoying. It’s quite repetitive and sounds like all typical will.i.am songs. I guess I could be considered biased, because I’ve never liked him, but I still have no idea how this debuted at number 1 on the U.K. charts. It does have an OK beat, but that’s about it.
Even with the interesting number one, I discovered some great music, and I hope you all did too. There are definitely some rad tunes that I hope come to the U.S.
