Nicki Minaj’s song about anacondas has proven powerless against Meghan Trainor’s song about audio frequencies, as All About That Bass rumbled to a second week at the top of the UK singles chart. Despite what was described as a “battle of the butts” on the midweek list, Trainor’s euphemistic smash easily outsold Minaj’s innuendo-laden track, selling another 100,000 units in just seven days.
Almost two months after Anaconda’s music video made headlines around the world, the official single release slithered limply into the UK chart, debuting at No 3. Minaj finished not just behind Trainor, but behind herself: Jessie J’s song Bang Bang, which includes a Minaj guest appearance, remained steady at No 2. That track is still the only time Minaj has marked a No 1.
Other new entries this week include Jeremih’s Don’t Tell ‘Em, at No 5, and BBC Music’s star-studded cover of the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows, which enters at No 20. The latter song features appearances by everyone from Kylie Minogue to Alison Balsom to One Direction to Baaba Maal; it cracked the top 20 after just four days on sale.
This week’s album chart looks relatively similar to last week. Jamie T’s Carry on the Grudge plunged 14 places to make room for the Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, whose debut enters at No 5. George Ezra’s Wanted on Voyage remains at No 1, followed by Ed Sheeran’s X, Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour and Barbra Streisand’s Partners. But there are three more new entries into the top 10: Gorgon City at No 10, Johnny Marr at No 9, and an all-time high for the Canadian-born electronic artist Caribou, whose Our Love debuts at No 8.
Official singles chart top five
1. Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass
2. Jessie J ft Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande - Bang Bang
3. Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
4. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
5. Jeremih ft YG - Don’t Tell ‘Em
Official albums chart top five
1. George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage
2. Ed Sheeran - X
3. Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour
4. Barbra Streisand - Partners
5. Hozier - Hozier
