You are reading the fascinating weekly guide to the stories behind the hits populating the Official UK Charts. Read this week's column along with the complete 25-year archive, a resource of over 1300 articles covering a quarter of a century of popular music history.
For the first time in 13 years, we have a single recorded more than 20 years ago at the very top of the Official UK Singles charts. Football fever swept the nation this week and in the process swept the England football team's 1996 anthem all the way to the top of the charts. It overcame what were supposed to be insurmountable chart handicaps to do so as well. Poor George Ezra.
All change for the chart rules as video streams count towards the singles chart for the very first time. But these changes collide headlong with the release of a brand new Drake album, making the ultimate destination of the Number One single far from a foregone conclusion.
For the second time this year, a long-running Number One single is followed by a string of short-lived successors. The occupant of the week at the top of the charts is George Ezra who tops the charts for the first time after a five year wait. Meanwhile, could Panic! At The Disco land a Number One album of their own for the first time? Until the end of the week, it actually looked as if they could.
This week's Chart Watch column is not one that could be tossed off in a hurry. That most exquisitely crafted of British acts Clean Bandit top the charts for the fourth time in their career with another immaculately conceived pop record. Dragging Demi Lovato along for the ride, they enjoy their biggest hit ever. Plus, The Greatest Showman does something few other albums have ever achieved, and Nicki Minaj has the biggest hit under her own steam in almost four years.