In an exciting turn of events on the UK Official Singles Chart, Kenya Grace’s major-label debut single, “Strangers”, has ascended to the coveted Number 1 spot, unseating Doja Cat’s five-week reign with “Paint the Town Red”. This remarkable accomplishment has etched Grace’s name in the annals of music history as only the second female solo artist to achieve a Number 1 ranking with a track that she both wrote and produced entirely on her own.
The sole predecessor in this elite category is the legendary Kate Bush, who achieved this feat in 2022 with her iconic 1985 single, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”, which resurfaced on the charts following its feature on Stranger Things.
Grace’s journey to the top was not a swift one, as “Strangers” steadily climbed the charts over six weeks, ultimately dethroning Doja Cat’s hit. Grace and Bush are the only artists to have managed to get to the top spot with a song solely performed, written, and produced by themselves, alone.
While some artists came close, including Tori Amos with “Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big)” in 1997, which was boosted to Number 1 by a DJ Armand Van Helden remix, Grace’s “Strangers” stands out as a chart-topping sensation that remains untouched by external contributions.
Adding to the historical significance, “Strangers” marks the first chart major-label debut by a British female artist to seize the Number 1 spot in nine years, a record last achieved by Ella Henderson with “Ghost” in 2014. It’s important to note that Grace has previously released music independently, prior to signing with a major record label.
Exclusively chatting with the Official Charts Company, Grace expressed her astonishment and gratitude, saying, “This is absolutely mental. Thank you so much for everyone who has streamed and supported and made videos with this song. This has literally changed my life, 100%. Thank you so much!”
And then one random night when everything changes, You won’t reply and we’ll go back to strangers
Kenya Grace – Strangers
Meanwhile, other tracks continue to vie for the top positions, with cassö, Raye, and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” surging two places to claim Number 2, posing a potential challenge to “Strangers” in the weeks to come. Tate McRae maintains her position at Number 3 with “Greedy.”
Notably, Drake has stormed the charts with the three biggest new entries of the week, securing the 4th, 5th, and 6th spots with “First Person Shooter” featuring J Cole, “IDGAF” featuring Yeat, and “Virginia Beach”, respectively, following the release of his latest album, “For All The Dogs”, which stormed the UK Official Albums Chart, claiming the number 1 spot. This achievement pushes Drake’s total count of Top 10 UK Single hits to an impressive 44.
Kenya Grace’s ascent to Number 1 and her unique solo production accomplishment mark a significant moment in the world of music, creating waves of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come in the ever-evolving music industry.