Chart Review: 16th Feb 2024
Making sense of a nation’s musical tastes
It’s a week packed (relatively speaking) with new releases, for good and for ill. Starting with the good, Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” has returned to (38) off the back of her duet with Luke Combs at the Grammys. I’ve seen a little of the discourse around Combs’ cover of that tune - I don’t like his version primarily because it seems so completely superfluous, but from everything I’ve seen he appears to be completely reverential of Chapman and has no doubt introduced the track to a new generation of listeners. The Grammys performance itself is also immensely charming.
In more up to date news, “Texas Hold ‘Em”, Beyonce’s unexpected foray into cod country has launched at (9). I’m primed for a tedious chat about whether or not this is “proper” country music, but the fact is Beyonce’s an artist working at the peak of her powers like few in the charts today. Renaissance was a scorcher and there’s no doubt Part II will be too. As for this song, I think it’s pretty great, a real builder. The chorus is great, sticking straight away. It’s a far more detailed and worked over effort than the majority of songs in this week’s top 40.
Less enjoyable are the three tunes off Kanye West’s new record with Ty Dolla Sign, which have landed at (18), (17) and (12). I heard the latter, “Carnival”, and felt very little about it. I’m glad all signs point to this album being dogshit because it means there are really no compunctions about not listening to it. It’s most odd that a lot of people are still on the Kanye West train, primarily because of the virulent anti-semitism but also because he’s not put out anything good for at least six years. This got played on BBC 1 during the chart rundown which did surprise me a bit. The DJ, who I can only assume has absolutely no input in what gets picked, studiously avoided giving any opinion on it whatsoever.
Wes Nelson off of Love Island also has a new tune out with Craig David, “Abracadabra”. God bless him, it’s not very good. “Dashed off” barely begins to cover the instantly forgettable pop-garage track. The verses are a checklist of status symbols - jacuzzis (here abbreviated to ‘cuzzis), going to LA, being in a penthouse, drinking champagne. The David-led chorus is a bit better, but if this was an afternoon’s work all told, I’d be surprised.
A few songs I don’t much like are hopefully on their way out. Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” has dropped precipitously, and the more objectionable “Popular” by The Weeknd with Playboi Carti and Madonna is down to (16). This one comes from the soundtrack of The Idol, and from the lyrical content, that’s not surprising - i.e. it’s three minutes of having a go at a woman for wanting to be famous. The Weeknd’s sinister vibes were kind of interesting when he was a bedroom-lurking underground r&b guy, but the purposeful charmlessness has worn thin for me (though I know I’m in the minority there). It’s all on the thin side, lyrically and sonically.
The top of the charts is looking much the same. I like Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” (4) more every time I hear it, derivative though it is. In the “big lads with loud voices” subgenre of pop, his singing is a lot better than most - he feels far more capable of subtlety than some of his forebears. Worrying, Benson Boone is up to (3) with “Beautiful Things”; it’d be a crying shame were that to hit the top spot.
Same drill at (1), Noah Kahan making it seven weeks on the bounce and claiming the #1 album (with a release from October 2022!) while he’s at it. He’s also got a new song, “Forever” (31), in the charts. This one’s more Bon Iver than Marcus Mumford. It’s not very good. Is the bubble about to burst?
Pick of the week: Beyonce - “Texas Hold ‘Em”
