Ellie Goulding in the race for Number 1 with her Joni Mitchell Christmas cover River
The Official Chart: First Look, which is broadcast on BBC Radio 1 between 6pm – 7pm, offers a first glance of the Top 20 ahead of Friday’s Official Singles Chart Top 100.
Here's how the week is shaping up so far.
Ellie Goulding is battling for her third UK Number 1 single this week with River. The cover of Joni Mitchell’s sombre Christmas classic is currently at Number 2, less than 2000 chart sales behind Tones and I’s Dance Monkey (1). River’s official music video was recently premiered on YouTube, while it's available exclusively on Amazon Music to audio stream.
MORE: All of Ellie Goulding's hit songs and albums on the Official Chart
Mariah Carey is poised for a Top 5 return with All I Want For Christmas Is You at 5, with Wham!’s Last Christmas and Fairytale of New York by The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl on track for the Top 10 at 7 and 9 respectively.
John Legend is in contention for his first UK Top 10 single in over four years with his take on John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (War is Over) at Number 10. Featuring vocals from his wife Chrissy Teigen and daughter Luna, the song is exclusive to Amazon Music.
Harry Styles starts out at Number 15 with his new single Adore You.
Find out this week's final chart positions on The Official Chart with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 1 on Friday (December 13) at 4pm.
This week's Official Chart: First Look Top 20
| LW | CURRENT | TITLE | ARTIST |
| 1 | 1 | DANCE MONKEY | TONES & I |
| 14 | 2 | RIVER | ELLIE GOULDING |
| 4 | 3 | DON'T START NOW | DUA LIPA |
| 3 | 4 | OWN IT | STORMZY FT. ED SHEERAN & BURNA BOY |
| 8 | 5 | ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU | MARIAH CAREY |
| 2 | 6 | BEFORE YOU GO | LEWIS CAPALDI |
| 13 | 7 | LAST CHRISTMAS | WHAM! |
| 7 | 8 | MEMORIES | MAROON 5 |
| 22 | 9 | FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK | THE POGUES FT. KIRSTY MACCOLL |
| NEW | 10 | HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER) | JOHN LEGEND |
| 23 | 11 | DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS | BAND AID |
| 5 | 12 | ROXANNE | ARIZONA ZERVAS |
| 26 | 13 | MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE | SHAKIN' STEVENS |
| 6 | 14 | EVERYTHING I WANTED | BILLIE EILISH |
| NEW | 15 | ADORE YOU | HARRY STYLES |
| 11 | 16 | BRUISES | LEWIS CAPALDI |
| 9 | 17 | SOUTH OF THE BORDER | ED SHEERAN FT. CAMILA CABELLO & CARDI B |
| 39 | 18 | STEP INTO CHRISTMAS | ELTON JOHN |
| 47 | 19 | MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY | SLADE |
| 33 | 20 | SANTA TELL ME | ARIANA GRANDE |
©2019 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
Join the conversation by joining the Official Charts community and dropping comment.
Already registered?
Log in
No account?
Register
SerenityShire
Glad to see Ellie gain success again with this kind of music. That trap stuff she did before just wasn't her.
B
BrixTom
The only one deserving of another UK #1 is MARIAH, who has only had two #1 on this island
this far and that only with cover versions. J-Lo (who can't even sing or write music) the lap dancer has already had three UK #1s!!! What does this say about the British public?!?!?
etin
Another needless cover
Rob Parkinson
I have to agree, please everybody spend a moment listening to a track that an artist or group of people actually took the effort to go and create an actual Christmas song that they would hope that you could enjoy over Christmas as opposed to the artists that felt a bit skint and couldn't be bothered to create a new track in case it didnt do aswell as releasing a cover version or worst still a whole album full of them to make a quick buck just because they are a celebrity or known artist. Although it can be frustrating to all the artists out there trying to release new music and get noticed praise be that each year with the exception of Mr Buble the originals still tend to chart higher, hopefully new peaks for Chris Rea, Kelly Clarkson, Sia etc this year and maybe one of the festive classics like Mariah, Wham or the Pogues with Kirsty McCall could do it.
thierry henon
I am so happy and would have never predicted Ellie's new single to climb that high and that fast!! But i reckon Tones and I will remain for an 11th week at number then maybe Mariah for Xmas chart? Still congrats to Ellie...I love the song even though it doesn't really sound like a Xmas song....
Kasper Elbjørn
It's not even available on my Spotify. How did this happen?
Rob Parkinson
Amazon original, means only available to stream on Amazon so no spotify, no apple music, no deezer, no tidal. I think it may get a physical release but not right now, you'll have to wait until next year for a release on other platforms - I doubt Amazon will want to allow a change as the popularity of the track will be doing their streaming service wonders.
julesin09
Mediocre cover by a mediocre artist
Piran
Oh wow... I'm really impressed by this chart! :)
I never would've predicted 'River' to actually be in the running for #1 despite only now being added to YouTube from being an Amazon exclusive, but it's awesome to see! Maybe a Christmas #1 contender after all? In fact, it could even be the favourite now, since 'Dance Monkey' is heading for ACR next week!
Beyond that, nine Christmas songs inside the First Look update (including four in the Top 10) is really getting me into the festive spirit, although it's a shame that 'Christmas Tree Farm' isn't one of them.
Sergej Dordij
I'm shocked that "River" made it to #2, I haven't heard it yet, but I might do it soon!
Happy for the christmas songs making into the top 20!
Piran
Yeah, that's incredible for a song that's only available on Amazon Music & YouTube as far as I'm aware! :O
It's certainly a good cover that reminds me of Ellie's earlier ballads (like her cover of 'Your Song', for example) but I wish it felt a bit more festive than it did.
julesin09
Terrible cover. Stick it the original. Ben Platts version is better.
Kasper Elbjørn
Isn't Ellie Goulding likely to also make chart re-entry with her Juice WRLD duet?
Rob Parkinson
Hi Piran hope you are well. I think this surely shows how big a player Amazon is in the streaming field as I have said many times.
I do think this week Mariah is going to be up there challenging also but most likely Tones and I will be getting a final week at the top but it's getting closer to xmas so as Ellie once said 'anything could happen'
Piran
Hey Rob! :)
It really is insanely underestimated what power Amazon truly has! 'River's gone from 57-22-2 in the past couple of weeks if the predictions hold true, while it's only been released to YouTube elsewhere! Honestly, if it was available on all other platform, it would have a massive chance at #1 on Friday.
If 'Dance Monkey' somehow comes off ACR either this week or next week, then I'd put that as a contender too, but looking at Spotify, 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' is still looking the most likely to get the Christmas #1 at least!
Piran
It's honestly looking more likely to be: 'Lucid Dreams', 'Robbery' & 'Bandit' as the three Juice WRLD songs at the moment.
Alfred Lock
Anything but that monkey thing even Ladbaby returning for another sausage roll .
Piran
For as hilarious as LadBaby was with his sausage roll tribute, I hope that's only a one-time thing.