Thursday 29 January 2015

Top of the Pops, 29th January 2015

An unusually static chart means that TOTP has space for some long-runners as well as some gems from lower down the countdown than usual. Inevitably this means two corners of the Sheeran/Ezra/Smith triangle - there hasn't been a show without at least one of them since November - but it also means Ariana Grande and the Weeknd, who have been in the lower reaches for a few weeks, plus a couple of minutes of the Weeknd's solo offering - a bonanza of vaguely pervy RnB.

Meghan Trainor's second single is a storming success and the lady herself is in the country to perform it. We welcome back old favourites Sigma/Paloma and Vance Joy, and there's also a welcome suprise visit from Maroon 5. Ronson and Mars remain at the top, and after last week's studio appearance we make do with the video this time.

Debut: The Weeknd

Meghan Trainor - Lips Are Movin'

High Climber - Up 48 to number 2

Maroon 5 - Sugar

Highest New Entry - In at number 55

Sigma feat. Paloma Faith - Changing

Up 1 to number 36

George Ezra - Blame It On Me

Up 1 to number 24

Ed Sheeran - I See Fire

Up 6 to number 54

Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd - Love Me Harder / Earned It

Up 7 to number 48 / Up 21 to number 41

Vance Joy - Riptide

Up 3 to number 53

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Sixth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 22 January 2015

Top of the Pops, 22nd January 2015

It's their fifth week at number one and glory be, Mark Ronson and Bruno have made it into the studio, with electrifying results. At the other end of some imaginary scale, friends of the show Sam Smith and George Ezra team up for a joint performance of two of their long-running faves.

Speaking of singer/songwriters, Hozier strides to his highest chart peak yet and newcomer James Bay rides the crest of his Brits wave. And there's even newer new blood from fellow start-of-year accoladees Years and Years and likeable American dark horses Echosmith.

Debut: Echosmith.

Years and Years - Desire

Up 12 to number 46

Echosmith - Cool Kids

High Climber - Up 11 to number 28

James Bay - Hold Back The River

Up 5 to number 31

Hozier - Take Me To Church

Up 2 to number 3

Alesso feat. Tove Lo - Heroes (We Could Be)

Up 2 to number 7

George Ezra vs Sam Smith - Budapest / I'm Not The Only One

Up 1 to number 17 / Up 3 to number 21

Avicii - The Nights

Highest New Entry - In at number 16

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 15 January 2015

Top of the Pops, 15th January 2015

Some fun exclusive performances this week. First, with Demi L unavailable, Paloma Faith fills in for her on the duet with Olly Murs. Next, none other than Paul McCartney drops in for a solo version of his Kanye collaboration. And finally, Sam Smith brings a gospel choir for his latest TOTP popup.

Most of the other performances come from the dance world, as a fairly static January chart gives some long-runners a chance to climb back up. One Direction are also back, in a reflective mood, and Mark and Bruno are still at the top - once again we make do with the video, but what a video it is.

Debuts: Tchami, Kaleem Taylor.

Tchami feat. Kaleem Taylor - Promesses

Highest New Entry - In at number 7

Olly Murs & Paloma Faith - Up

Up 2 to number 4

One Direction - Night Changes

Up 5 to number 14

Paul McCartney - Only One

Up 7 to number 28

Blonde feat. Melissa Steel - I Loved You

High Climber - Up 12 to number 19

Sigma feat. Paloma Faith - Changing

Up 1 to number 32

Sam Smith - Like I Can

Up 3 to number 13

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 8 January 2015

Top of the Pops, 8th January 2015

We're back after the (genuinely made and broadcast) Christmas TOTP and with the chart in its annual gift-voucher period, several of the year's biggest hits are climbing once again. Hence medleys from year-defining acts George Ezra (celebrating the number 1 album) and Bandit/Glynne, as well as the quietly popular Guetta/Martin combo, alongside more current hits from Philip George and Blonde.

John Newman pops in without Calvin Harris for a solo rendition of Blame, accompanied by six people dressed exactly like him doing the same irresistible dance moves. And the number one is Mark Ronson, but sadly we can only show the video. Our producers are working frantically to get him in the studio should he hold on at the top next week.

Debuts: Philip George.

Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne - Real Love / Rather Be

Up 2 to number 14 / Up 22 to number 28

Hozier - Take Me To Church

Up 13 to number 10

John Newman - Blame

Up 3 to number 29

David Guetta feat. Sam Martin - Dangerous / Lovers On The Sun

Up 4 to number 22 / Back in at number 70

Blonde feat. Melissa Steel - I Loved You

Up 4 to number 31

Philip George - Wish You Were Mine

Highest New Entry - Straight in at number 2

George Ezra - Budapest / Blame It On Me

Up 4 to number 17 / Up 4 to number 20

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill