UK Chart Roundup: Cheryl ‘Alouettes’ Her Way To UK No. 1

You know how it works with pop music: someone does something once, it’s an innovation. If someone else does it too, it’s a trend. So, to paraphrase Sesame Street, 2010 has been brought to you by the word “ayo”, the concept of enjoying female company in a club situation, and now the word “alouette”.

Mark Ronson used it first, in his still-stunning synth confection “Bang Bang Bang.” And now Cheryl Cole can be founding chanting a variation on the word as part of “Promise This,” the first single to be taken from her second solo album.

Here’s Cheryl’s video:

Of course, once Madame Cole is on-trend, the whole of the UK has to sit up and take notice, and that is (possibly) why the song has strolled straight up to No. 1, ignoring Rihanna‘s “Only Girl (In The World)” as if it wasn’t even there. Oddly, the UK coverage of Cheryl’s single has been less concerned with the potential chart rivalry between these two titans of modern popular song, choosing instead to focus on another challenger to Cheryl’s crown, namely Nadine Coyle.

Nadine is, of course, Cheryl’s bandmate in Girls Aloud, and she’s releasing her first solo single “Insatiable,” in direct and provocative competition to Cheryl’s, a throw-down between two former friends, a battle of lady pop stars; one which has all the drama and tension of a war, or something.

Well, she’s releasing it now, at any rate. The challenge part is being played up, somewhat.

Here’s Nadine’s video:

As you can see, there are no alouettes in the video. Not a one. Poor Nadine.

Elsewhere in this week’s chart, it is all about the persistance and the slow build-up: Mike Posner and his “Cooler Than Me” has crept up to No. 5, after five weeks on the chart, while Nelly‘s “Just A Dream” has sneaked up to No. 8 after two weeks, and Michael Bublé‘s “Hollywood” rockets up to No. 11 after three.

So if these underdogs can become overdogs, maybe there is hope for Nadine after all.

For the rest of this week’s chart, Radio 1 has the full rundown.

Who do you prefer out of Cheryl and Nadine? Let me know your thoughts.

by Fraser McAlpine