Sunday 31 March 2019

Mother's Day: The Highest Charting Mom-themed Songs in the UK, part 2 & This Week's Statistics

Hello again! It’s Mother's Day today in Britain, so the UK Official Charts Company delved into the archive of every song that ever charted in the UK to see which mum-related tunes made it to the upper reaches. So, let’s all toast our mothers and play every song that made the UK Top 40 that has a variation of “mother” in its title. Let’s go!

Pixie Lott
Before we carry on with the countdown, here are the rest of the songs that I personally picked up as “extras”.

Yesterday we listened to two songs called Mama Said. My favorite song with that title, however, wasn’t a hit in the UK, although it was a top 10 hit in the US in 1961. It’s the Shirelles:


Here’s another title that will appear three times – all of which will be outside the main list: Mother Dear. The Supremes recorded it in 1965 with the intention of releasing it as a single but it was scrapped in favor of Nothing But Heartaches. It’s this:


A song with the same title was also a fan-favorite album track from Barclay James Harvest’s eponymous album in 1970:


Finally, a song with the same title was an album track for the 2008 Tindersticks’ album The Hungry Saw:


Brett Anderson was the lead singer of Suede. His eponymous solo album (2007) was reissued with two bonus tracks, one of which was Mother Night:


Marc Almond’s Mother Fist is probably not the song that you would dedicate to your mother:


… You would feel more comfortable dedicating Kate Bush’s Mother Stands For Comfort:


Rachael Yamagata began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist. I Don't Want To Be Your Mother is found on her 2011 solo album, Chesapeake:


Fresh Air For My Mama is the closing track of 10CC’s eponymous debut album from 1973:


Momma’s Little Jewel is the second track on Mott The Hoople’s breakthrough album, All The Young Dudes (1972), produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson:


The last of our extras is the shortest title we will encounter; it’s simply called Ma – and it’s the title track on Rare Earth’s 1973 album. It’s also the longest track we will encounter:


Now, let’s go back to our list: 34 hits remain. Here they are.

Position: #34
Title: Your Mama Don't Dance
Artist: Poison
Chart Peak: #13
Year: 1986


Position: #33
Title: Big Bad Mama
Artist: Foxy Brown ft. Dru Hill
Chart Peak: #12
Year: 1997


Position: #32
Title: Mamma Mia
Artist: A*Teens
Chart Peak: #12
Year: 1999


Position: #31
Title: Mama
Artist: David Whitfield
Chart Peak: #12
Year: 1955


Position: #30
Title: Stacy's Mom
Artist: Fountains of Wayne
Chart Peak: #11
Year: 2004


Position: #29
Title: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Artist: Billy Cotton and His Band
Chart Peak: #11
Year: 1953


Position: #28
Title: Ma! (He's Making Eyes At Me)
Artist: Lena Zavaroni
Chart Peak: #10
Year: 1974


Position: #27
Title: Look Mama
Artist: Howard Jones
Chart Peak: #10
Year: 1985


Position: #26
Title: Beat Mama
Artist: Cast
Chart Peak: #9
Year: 1999


Position: #25
Title: Hey Mama
Artist: David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack
Chart Peak: #9
Year: 2015


Position: #24
Title: Hey Ma
Artist: Cam'Ron ft. Juelz Santana
Chart Peak: #8
Year: 2003


Position: #23
Title: Mother Nature and Father Time
Artist: Nat King Cole
Chart Peak: #7
Year: 1953


Position: #22
Title: Mama Used To Say
Artist: JUNIOR
Chart Peak: #7
Year: 1982


Position: #21
Title: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Artist: Beverley Sisters
Chart Peak: #6
Year: 1953


Position: #20
Title: Hey Mama
Artist: The Black Eyed Peas
Chart Peak: #6
Year: 2004


Position: #19
Title: Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Chart Peak: #5
Year: 1966


Position: #18
Title: Mother and Child Reunion
Artist: Paul Simon
Chart Peak: #5
Year: 1972


Position: #17
Title: Mama
Artist: Dave Berry
Chart Peak: #5
Year: 1966


Position: #16
Title: Does Your Mother Know?
Artist: Abba
Chart Peak: #4
Year: 1979


Position: #15
Title: Mama Told Me Not To Come
Artist: Tom Jones & Stereophonics
Chart Peak: #4
Year: 2000


Position: #14
Title: Mama
Artist: Genesis
Chart Peak: #4
Year: 1983


Position: #13
Title: Mama
Artist: Jonas Blue ft. William Singe
Chart Peak: #4
Year: 2017


Position: #12
Title: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Artist: Jimmy Boyd
Chart Peak: #3
Year: 1953


Position: #11
Title: Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
Artist: Three Dog Night
Chart Peak: #3
Year: 1970


Position: #10
Title: Mama (Who Da Man)
Artist: Richard Blackwood
Chart Peak: #3
Year: 2000


Position: #09
Title: Ma! (He's Making Eyes At Me)
Artist: Johnny Otis with Marie Adams and the Three Tons of Joy
Chart Peak: #2
Year: 1957


Position: #08
Title: Sylvia's Mother
Artist: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
Chart Peak: #2
Year: 1972


Position: #07
Title: Mother of Mine
Artist: Neil Reid
Chart Peak: #2
Year: 1972


Position: #06
Title: Mama Do The Hump
Artist: Rizzle Kicks
Chart Peak: #2
Year: 2011


Position: #05
Title: Mama
Artist: Connie Francis
Chart Peak: #2
Year: 1960


Position: #04
Title: Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Artist: Slade
Chart Peak: #1
Year: 1972


Position: #03
Title: Mamma Mia
Artist: Abba
Chart Peak: #1
Year: 1976


Position: #02
Title: Mama
Artist: Spice Girls
Chart Peak: #1
Year: 1997


Position: #01
Title: Mama Do (uh oh, uh oh)
Artist: Pixie Lott
Chart Peak: #1
Year: 2009


Finally, these are our statistics; It was a very good week, you have been visiting quite regularly. The passing of one of my favorites, Scott Walker, made his story from January 2017, told in two parts, be the most visited story of the week by far. R.I.P. All the new stories did well too.

As far as countries are concerned, most major players kept their percentages stable. Some minor gains for Spain and Belgium and some minor losses for France and Greece. Otherwise, no changes.

Here are this week's Top 10 countries:

1. the United States
2. the United Kingdom
3. Russia
4. Germany
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. France
8. Greece
9. Spain
10. Belgium

Here are the other countries that graced us with their presence since our last statistics (alphabetically): Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovenia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Happy to have you all!

And here's the all-time Top 10:

1. the United States = 33.7%
2. France = 16.3%
3. the United Kingdom = 11.3%
4. Greece = 7.6%
5. Russia = 2.8%
6. Canada = 2.0%
7. Germany = 2.0%
8. Australia = 0.94%
9. Italy = 0.88%
10. Cyprus = 0.78%

That's all for today, folks. Till the next one!

Saturday 30 March 2019

Mother's Day: The Highest Charting Mom-themed Songs in the UK, part 1

Hello again! For Mother's Day (it's actually Mother's Day in the UK on Sunday, unlike many other countries), the UK Official Charts Company delved into the archive of every song that ever charted in the UK to see which mum-related tunes made it to the upper reaches. So, let’s all toast our mothers and play every song that made the UK Top 40 that has a variation of “mother” in its title. Let’s go!


Position: #76
Title: The Mother We Share
Artist: CHVRCHES
Chart Peak: #38
Year: 2013


Position: #75
Title: I Got It From My Mama
Artist: will.i.am
Chart Peak: # 38
Year: 2007


Position: #74
Title: Take Your Mama For A Ride
Artist: Lulu
Chart Peak: #37
Year: 1975


Position: #73
Title: Help Me Mama
Artist: Lemonescent
Chart Peak: #36
Year: 2003


Position: #72
Title: Mamy Blue
Artist: Pop Tops
Chart Peak: #35
Year: 1971


Position: #71
Title: It's Just Porn Mum
Artist: Trucks
Chart Peak: #35
Year: 2002


Position: #70
Title: My Mammy
Artist: Happenings
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1967


Position: #69
Title: The Young Offender's Mum
Artist: Carter U.S.M.
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1995


Position: #68
Title: Mum's Gone to Iceland
Artist: Bennet
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1997


Position: #67
Title: She's A Bad Mama Jama
Artist: Carl Carlton
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1981


Position: #66
Title: A Song For Mama
Artist: Boyz II Men
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1997


Position: #65
Title: Mama's Boy
Artist: Suzi Quatro
Chart Peak: #34
Year: 1980


Position: #64
Title: On Mother Kellys Doorstep
Artist: Danny La Rue
Chart Peak: #33
Year: 1968


Position: #63
Title: Hey Mama
Artist: Joe Brown
Chart Peak: #33
Year: 1973


Position: #62
Title: I'll Always Love My Momma
Artist: The Intruders
Chart Peak: #32
Year: 1974


Position: #61
Title: Mamy Blue
Artist: Roger Whittaker
Chart Peak: #31
Year: 1971


Position: #60
Title: Tie Your Mother Down
Artist: Queen
Chart Peak: #31
Year: 1977


Position: #59
Title: Inna City Mamma
Artist: Neneh Cherry
Chart Peak: #31
Year: 1989


Position: #58
Title: Your Mamma Won't Like Me
Artist: Suzi Quatro
Chart Peak: #31
Year: 1975


Position: #57
Title: Ya Mama
Artist: Fatboy Slim
Chart Peak: #30
Year: 2001


Position: #56
Title: Mother-In-Law
Artist: Ernie K. Doe
Chart Peak: #29
Year: 1961


Position: #55
Title: Papa Loves Mama
Artist: Joan Regan
Chart Peak: #29
Year: 1960


Position: #54
Title: Mama
Artist: 6ix9ine ft. Kanye West & Nicki Minaj
Chart Peak: #29
Year: 2018


Position: #53
Title: My Mum Is One In A Million
Artist: Children Of Tansley School
Chart Peak: #27
Year: 1981


Position: #52
Title: Dear Mama
Artist: 2Pac
Chart Peak: #27
Year: 1999


Position: #51
Title: Mother Universe
Artist: The Soup Dragons
Chart Peak: #26
Year: 1990


Position: #50
Title: Mama Said
Artist: Carleen Anderson
Chart Peak: #26
Year: 1994


Position: #49
Title: Mama's Pearl
Artist: Jackson 5
Chart Peak: #25
Year: 1971


Position: #48
Title: For Mama
Artist: Matt Monroe
Chart Peak: #23
Year: 1964


Position: #47
Title: Hey Mama
Artist: Frankie Vaughan
Chart Peak: #21
Year: 1963


Position: #46
Title: Mama Never Told Me
Artist: Sister Sledge
Chart Peak: #20
Year: 1975


Position: #45
Title: Mama Said
Artist: Metallica
Chart Peak: #19
Year: 1996


Position: #44
Title: Mama
Artist: Kim Appleby
Chart Peak: #19
Year: 1991


Position: #43
Title: Mother (Are You Ready To Play)
Artist: M Factor
Chart Peak: #18
Year: 2002


Position: #42
Title: Take Your Mama
Artist: Scissor Sisters
Chart Peak: #17
Year: 2004


Position: #41
Title: Rag Mama Rag
Artist: The Band
Chart Peak: #16
Year: 1970


Position: #40
Title: Pistol Packin' Mama
Artist: Gene Vincent
Chart Peak: #15
Year: 1960


Position: #39
Title: Your Mother's Got A Penis
Artist: Goldie Lookin Chain
Chart Peak: #14
Year: 2004


Position: #38
Title: Mother's Talk
Artist: Tears For Fears
Chart Peak: #14
Year: 1984


Position: #37
Title: Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children
Artist: Queen Latifah feat. De La Soul
Chart Peak: #14
Year: 1990


Position: #36
Title: Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
Artist: Sparks
Chart Peak: #13
Year: 1974


Position: #35
Title: Tie Your Mother Down (a double-A-side, along with No-One But You)
Artist: Queen
Chart Peak: #13
Year: 1998

Since we’ve already heard this a while back, let’s listen to some other “mother” songs that weren’t hits in the UK but are definitely worth a listen. Let’s begin by some that are not in English.

Mamãe Eu Quero was a Brazilian hit originally co-written and recorded by Jararaca in 1937. It was, however, Carmen Miranda who made the song an international hit 3 years later:


Oscar winner Μάνος Χατζιδάκις (Manos Hatzidakis) wrote Μανούλα μου (My Little Mother). The song was sung by many but the original version was by Λάκης Παππάς (Lakis Pappas):


Moving on to Italy, in 1971, Gigliola Cinquetti had a hit with Mamma Mia Dammi Cento Lire:


At that same year, Albano had a hit with Mamma Rosa:


We end our short tour of non-English speaking “mother” songs with a song from France. In 1977, France Gall recorded Si Maman Si:


Back to the English-speaking songs – let’s listen to some of my favorites. One of the most moving George Michael songs, esp. for us gays, is My Mother Had A Brother:


One of John Lennon’s most raw and heartbreaking songs was Mother:


His partner-in-crime, Paul McCartney penned Mother Nature’s Son for the Beatles’ White Album:


It was a hit in the US by John Denver:


Pink Floyd’s Mother is cynical and thought-provoking:


Bob Dylan’s It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) is one of his most powerful songs:


The Rolling Stones Mother’s Little Helper was a top 10 hit in the US:


Finally for today, since we’ve listened to both the Beatles and the Stones, here’s a song by another of the greatest British groups of the 60s: it’s the Kinks with Mindless Child Of Motherhood:


The rest of the songs will appear in a day or so – do come back to hear the biggest hits on the lists, as well as more important “mother” songs that weren’t released as singles. Until then!