Dua Lipa opens the new year at Number 1, matching another Spice Girls’ record

After facing off against holiday classics and Michael Bublé’s triumph over the Christmas Number 1 of 2023, Dua Lipa now steadily maintains her lead with “Houdini”, opening the new year. The song enters a seventh consecutive week at Number 1, tying with “Physical” and “Levitating” as her fourth longest-running chart-topper so far. Her longest-running Number 1-single is “New Rules”, which spent a record-breaking thirteen-week stint atop my personal list. Dua Lipa now has spent 63 weeks at Number 1, tying with the Spice Girls as the act with the most weeks at Number 1. The Spice Girls have solely held the record for seventeen years. If Dua Lipa’s “Houdini” were to extend its reign for one more week, she’ll become the sole record holder.

Last year, American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan released his third studio album Stick Season. It’s a classic folk album, inspired by Sam Fender and Phoebe Bridgers. The album was very well received and helped establish a distinct fanbase. Then last year, its title track went viral on TikTok and became a big hit in the UK. It also reached Number 1 in Ireland. On my personal list, “Stick Season” now also moves up to #2, joining the race for the top position. It is his highest peak to date. He previously had a minor hit with Julia Michaels on “Hurt Somebody”, which stalled at #29 in 2018.

Meanwhile, Roxy Dekker reaches a new peak at #3 with her viral Dutch hit “Satisfyer”. The single is a serious contender for next week’s chart-topper. Mitski continues to scale the Top 10 with her emotional “My Love Mine All Mine”, while Tyla and Zoë Tauran re-enter the Top 10 for more success with their respective hits. The Top 20 gets shaken up quite a bit as most of the Christmas singles drop off the chart or descend. Pommelien Thijs re-peaks at #13 with her newest solo song “Medeplichtig”, while her collab “Hou Me Vast” with Bazart charts at #21. The Weeknd & Madonna, Ski Aggu & Joost, PinkPanteress & Central Cee and Bakar all reach new peaks with their respective collaborations or breakout hit songs.

Sabrina Carpenter secures the first top new entry of the year with “Feather”, debuting at #26 this week. The 23-year-old pop starlet has already established a very devoted online fanbase, although any real big hits have not happened for her yet. In 2021, she had a minor Top 40-hit off the back of Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” with the response song “Skin”. Then last year, “Nonsense” from her latest album found footing on streaming platforms and helped her break the Top 40 again. “Feather” sees Sabrina aiming for major pop stardom again, boosted by a fun video clip. “Feather” earns Sabrina her third Top 40-hit on my personal list.

Tom Odell debuts at #31 with his emotional “The End”, a soft piano ballad. Odell is ofcourse best known for his massive hit “Another Love”, which is one of the highest-selling singles of all time in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The new “The End” becomes Odell his fifth Top 40-entry to date. Further down, several songs make their reappearance as the Christmas songs exit the chart. Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves, Kylie Minogue and Olivia Rodrigo all re-enter in the last four spots of my Top 40.

Newly certified

“Got Me Started” – Troye Sivan GOLD

“Tension” – Kylie Minogue GOLD