World cup songs figure in charts

Monday, June 12, 2006

London (Reuters): Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado held off a slew of World Cup anthems to score her first British number one with ''Maneater'', the Official UK Charts Company has said. Furtado, who enjoyed her own football success when her ''Forca'' was chosen as the official song of the Euro 2004 soccer championship in Portugal, edged Scottish singer Sandi Thom's ''I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker'' from the top spot into second place. ''World At Your Feet'', the England team's official anthem from indie band Embrace, soared to third place from number 38, making it the best performer of six World Cup songs in the top 15.

Other soccer-themed contenders included Tony Christie, up three places at number eight with ''(Is This The Way To) The World Cup'', and stadium favourite ''3 Lions'' from Baddiel&Skinner and The Lightning Seeds, which entered the charts at number 10. Away from the sporting arena, Welsh band Automatic scored their second top ten hit with ''Monster'', which climbed 19 places to number four. In the album charts all top five places were held by new entries, led by Sandi Thom's debut ''Smile It Confuses People.'' English pop band Feeling took second place with their first album ''Twelve Stops And Home'', while former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating was at number three with ''Bring You Home''. American singer Paul Simon was new at number four with ''Surprise'', with indie band Primal Scream in fifth place with their album ''Riot City Blues.''