The U.K. Really Likes Reality TV Pop (Like, Even More Than “Umbrella”)

jharv | January 3, 2008 3:20 am
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This weekend the BBC unveiled the best-selling singles of 2007, and not one but two contestants from U.K. reality TV singing contest X-Factor, with Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” even outselling Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” a tune that might have been inescapable for Americans this summer but haunted rainsoaked Brit listeners’ dreams. The Top 20 is after the jump, but first we gotta ask: a comedy version of the Proclaimers’ “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” in the Top 10? Really? Hang your heads, people of Great Britain. Hang them lower than your standards for novelty pop tunes.

THE GOOD: Idolator’s beloved Sugababes at No. 6, the somewhat overlooked (in the U.S., obviously) Amy Winehouse collaboration from that much-maligned Mark Ronson album at No. 9, and of course “Umbrella” in the runner-up slot. THE BAD: Inflicting the wussy Braffery/wussy mall emo of the Fray and Plain White T’s on England now makes us about even for the whole unfortunate James Blunt episode. THE WHAAA?: Both Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson–the 2006 and 2007 X-Factor winners, respectively–finish in the Top 5 despite their singles only having been released in December. That’s got to make every recent American Idol winner, even the successful ones, briefly wish they had been born across the Atlantic.

1. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love 2. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – Umbrella 3. Mika – Grace Kelly 4. Leon Jackson – When You Believe 5. Take That – Rule The World 6. Sugababes – About You Now 7. Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & DOE – The Way I Are 8. The Proclaimers ft. Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin – (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles 9. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse – Valerie 10. Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby 11. The Fray – How To Save A Life 12. Beyonce & Shakira – Beautiful Liar 13. Gwen Stefani ft. Akon – The Sweet Escape 14. Plain White T’s – Hey There Delilah 15. Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls 16. Timbaland ft. One Republic – Apologize 17. Kate Nash – Foundations 18. Take That – Shine 19. Kanye West – Stronger 20. Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend

The Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Singles Of 2007 In The U.K. [Poptimists]