The UKโs Official Singles and Albums Chart has witnessed a spectacular takeover by Taylor Swift, who has claimed the number 1 spot on both charts, doing the UK Chart Double. Her โIs It Over Now? (Taylorโs Version) (From The Vault)โ track has soared to the top spot on the UK Official Singles Chart, while her re-recorded album, โ1989 (Taylorโs Version)โ, has stormed into the top position on the UK Official Albums Chart, making waves with a staggering 184,000 chart units, more than doubling the opening-week sales of the original 1989 album from 2014.
This accomplishment marks Swiftโs 11th chart-topping album in the UK, solidifying her status as a music icon. But the dominance doesnโt end there. She has achieved the biggest opening week for any album in 2023, surpassing the previous record set by Lewis Capaldiโs โBroken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sentโ, which had 95,000 chart units in its first week.
This chart-topper follows her previous chart-topping albums, โRedโ (2012), โ1989โ (2014), โreputationโ (2017), โLoverโ (2019), โfolkloreโ (2020), โevermoreโ (2020), โFearless (Taylorโs Version)โ (2021), โRed (Taylorโs Version)โ (2021), โMidnightsโ (2022) and โSpeak Now (Taylorโs Version)โ (2023).
Swiftโs reign extends even further, as she becomes the woman with the most UK Number 1 albums this century and the female artist to achieve 11 consecutive Number 1 albums in the quickest time, precisely 11 years. Itโs worth noting that only Madonna, with 12 Number 1 albums, has more in UK chart history.
In addition to her chart-topping album success, โ1989 (Taylorโs Version)โ has earned the title of the fastest-selling vinyl album of 2023, selling nearly 62,000 copies on vinyl and securing the Number 1 spot on this weekโs UK Official Vinyl Chart.
But the Taylor Swift celebration doesnโt stop with albums. Swift has secured a UK Number 1 single with โIs It Over Now? (Taylorโs Version) (From The Vault)โ, making its debut at the summit of the UK Official Singles Chart, amassing a remarkable 4.9 million streams, solidifying its position as the weekโs most-streamed track in the UK.
This marks Swiftโs third UK Number 1 single, adding to her previous chart-toppers, โLook What You Made Me Doโ (2017) and โAnti-Heroโ (2022). Moreover, two more Taylor Swift singles, โNow That We Donโt Talk (Taylorโs Version) (From The Vault)โ and โSlut! (Taylorโs Version) (From The Vault)โ, have made it to the Top 10, claiming Number 2 and Number 5, respectively.
While Swiftโs chart domination is undeniable and her influence in the music industry is stronger than ever, thereโs more happening on the UK Official Charts. Electronic four-piece Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) have achieved their highest-charting studio album across their 45-year career with โBauhaus Staircaseโ at Number 2.
Last weekโs chart-topper, the Rolling Stones with โHackney Diamondsโ, comes in at Number 3, and Duran Duran secures the Number 4 spot with โDanse Macabreโ. Hampshireโs own singer-songwriter, James Blunt, adds another feather to his cap as he secures the fifth position on the charts with his latest album, โWho We Used to Beโ. This achievement marks his eighth consecutive Top 5 album, showcasing his enduring success in the music industry.
Turning to the Official Singles Chart, a hauntingly festive atmosphere emerges as a variety of eerie tracks infiltrate the extended Top 40, creating a Halloween-themed chart sensation. Danny Elfmanโs โThis is Halloweenโ from โThe Nightmare Before Christmasโ makes its first-ever entry at Number 14, 30 years after its release. Michael Jacksonโs โThrillerโ sits at Number 20, Ray Parker Jr.โs โGhostbustersโ at Number 21, and Bobby โBorisโ Pickettโs โMonster Mashโ at Number 29.
Furthermore, other Halloween-themed songs have entered the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100, including Rockwellโs โSomebodyโs Watching Meโ at Number 44, Andrew Goldโs โSpooky Scary Skeletonsโ at Number 55 beating last yearโs peak of number 93, and the Cranberriesโ โZombieโ at Number 81.
Taylor Swiftโs phenomenal success in both the UK Official Albums and Singles Charts is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment and really goes to show that she is on top form!