This is a summary of the year2008 in British music in terms of the charts. 21 singles occupied the number one position during the year, with 11 being new.

The 6 January chart sawThe X Factor winnerLeon Jackson at number one in the Singles Chart for a third week with "When You Believe".Radiohead achieved their fifth number-one album at the start of the month withIn Rainbows, an album released three months earlier on the group's website on a "pay what you want" policy.Nickelback climbed into the top ten with "Rockstar" andSoulja Boy Tell 'Em's "Crank That" climbed to number two.

Amy Macdonald climbed to number one on 13 January with her debut albumThis Is the Life, six months after the album's release. Swedish DJBasshunter went to number one with his UK debut single "Now You're Gone".Britney Spears climbed to number two with "Piece of Me", whileLupe Fiasco debuted in the top ten on downloads alone with "Superstar".

London bandScouting for Girls climbed to number one on 20 January with their eponymous debut albumScouting for Girls, on the strength of the success of their singles "She's So Lovely" and "Elvis Ain't Dead". "Chasing Cars" bySnow Patrol overtook "Amazing Grace" byJudy Collins to become the second most charted single in the history of the UK charts with 68 weeks inside the top 75.BRIT School graduateAdele entered the top ten at number two on downloads alone with "Chasing Pavements", whileKanye West's latest single "Homecoming", featuringChris Martin, peaked at number nine, and "Be Mine!", the fourth single fromRobyn's eponymous top 20 albumRobyn, climbed 13 places to its peak at number ten.

On 27 January, Basshunter stayed at number one for a third week, holding off the heavily favoured Adele, who failed to climb from her download-only position of number two with a physical release of "Chasing Pavements". Nickelback's "Rockstar" reached a new peak of number three fourteen weeks after its initial debut, andKelly Rowland climbed to number seven on downloads alone making a jump of 24 places with "Work". On theAlbums Chart, Lupe Fiasco's albumLupe Fiasco's The Cool debuted at number seven, andRobert Plant andAlison Krauss'sRaising Sand took the runner-up spot and a new peak behind Scouting for Girls.

On 3 February, Adele's debut album19 went in at number one. Nickelback'sAll the Right Reasons climbed seven places to number three, andWelshmetalcore bandBullet for My Valentine were new at number five withScream Aim Fire. In thesingles, Basshunter held on to the top spot for a fourth week, while Kelly Rowland climbed to number four. There were new entries forelectropop bandHot Chip at number six with "Ready for the Floor" andindie groupOne Night Only with "Just For Tonight" at number nine. British singer/songwriterDavid Jordan made his top ten debut with "Sun Goes Down" at number ten.

Hawaiian singer/songwriterJack Johnson's albumSleep Through the Static was new at the top on 10 February. There were new entries for Hot Chip at number four withMade in the Dark andMary J. Blige'sGrowing Pains at number six. Basshunter made it five weeks as the number one single, seeing off tough competition from Nickelback (number two) and Adele (number three), while David Jordan climbed to number five.Wet Wet Wet, who went to number one for fifteen weeks in 1994 with "Love Is All Around", scored their first top ten single in eleven years with "Weightless" at number ten, andsoft rock bandThe Feeling also returned to the chart at number twelve with "I Thought It Was Over", the first single from their second albumJoin With Us.

Soul singerDuffy, who came second in theBBC'sSound of 2008 poll, entered the chart at number one with herretro–pop style second single "Mercy" on 17 February, pushing Basshunter down to number three.Dance actH "Two" O debuted in the chart with "What's It Gonna Be" at number seven, whileGoldfrapp's "A&E" climbed into the top ten. United Statespop rock bandOneRepublic, who had success in 2007 with their debut single "Apologize", were new at number eleven with follow-up single "Stop and Stare".

The2008 BRIT Awards took place on 20 February atEarls Court in London. Winners includedFoo Fighters,Kate Nash,Mika andTake That (see2008 in British music#Music awards).

On 24 February, Duffy stayed at number one for a second week, while Nickelback were replaced by H "Two" O at number two.Kylie Minogue's "Wow" climbed into the top ten, as did OneRepublic's "Stop & Stare". After a successful performance at the BRIT Awards ceremony,Mark Ronson andAmy Winehouse's "Valerie" climbed back into the top twenty, over thirty weeks after its original release. Ronson and Winehouse also saw an increase in sales of their albums, withVersion andBack to Black both re-entering the top five.

Three months after its initial release, thedeluxe edition ofAmy Winehouse'sGrammy Award-winning second albumBack to Black climbed to number one on 2 March, holding offGoldfrapp's fourth studio albumSeventh Tree which entered the chart at number two.Duffy held on to the singles top spot for a third week, managing to keepH "Two" O,Nickelback andKylie Minogue all from climbing up.

Leona Lewis' doubleA-sideSport Reliefcharity single "Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand" peaked at number two on 16 March, earning Lewis her third consecutive UK top three hit.Dance duoUtah Saints climbed into the top ten with theremixed version of their 1992 hit "Something Good", whilealternative rock bandPanic! at the Disco entered the chart at #13 with "Nine in the Afternoon", the first single from their second albumPretty. Odd.. Duffy stayed on top of the albums for a second week with her debutRockferry.

On 23 March, Londonhip hop sensationEstelle's single "American Boy", a collaboration withKanye West, went to number one on download sales alone, ending Duffy's five-week-long reign at the top of the charts.Madonna returned to the chart with theTimbaland-produced "4 Minutes", featuring vocals fromJustin Timberlake, at number seven.Girls Aloud scored their eighteenth UK top ten single with "Can't Speak French" which climbed to number nine, while their rivals theSugababes missed out on the top ten with "Denial" peaking at number fifteen.

USrapperFlo Rida's "Low" was denied the top spot on 30 March, as Estelle and Kanye West held on for a second week.House musicianSam Sparro climbed into the top ten with "Black and Gold", as didChris Brown's "With You". Duffy's albumRockferry stayed at number one for a fourth week, seeing off competition from Panic! at the Disco,Foals andOneRepublic.

In April,Madonna andJustin Timberlake's "4 Minutes" climbed to number one, earning Madonna her thirteenth UK number one single.Mariah Carey andUsher both returned to the top ten with "Touch My Body" and "Love in This Club" respectively. Hip-hop starwill.i.am's second solo single "Heartbreaker", featuring guest vocals fromGirls Aloud'sCheryl Cole, entered the top ten, along with BritishrapperWiley's "Wearing My Rolex". New albums fromR.E.M.,The Kooks andArctic Monkeys'frontmanAlex Turner's side projectThe Last Shadow Puppets all topped the charts.Coldplay released their new single "Violet Hill" on their website as a free of charge download for one week, and it was subsequently downloaded two million times.

Number one albums in May were Madonna'sHard Candy,Scooter'sJumping All Over the World,Neil Diamond'sHome Before Dark, andWe Started Nothing byThe Ting Tings, who also went to number one in the Singles Chart with their second single "That's Not My Name". Other new entries to the top ten included "In My Arms" byKylie Minogue, Duffy's third single "Warwick Avenue",Coldplay's "Violet Hill", which was released commercially on 6 May, andRihanna's "Take a Bow", which later climbed to number one.

After it was featured inGeorge Sampson's winning performance onBritain's Got Talent,Mint Royale's 2005 top 20 hit "Singin' in the Rain" reentered the Singles Chart in June at number one following strong download sales. Other additions to the top ten included American singer and songwriterSara Bareilles and Australian teenGabriella Cilmi, along withR&B singersChris Brown ("Forever"),Jordin Sparks ("No Air"), andNe-Yo, who climbed to number one with latest single "Closer" - his second UK number one single to date. June was a big month forColdplay, as they earned their first UK number one single with "Viva la Vida" and theiralbum of the same name also went to number one, selling over 300,000 copies in its first week of release. Albums fromUsher andPaul Weller also topped the charts.

In July,Dizzee Rascal's project withCalvin Harris and Chrome - "Dance wiv Me" - claimed the top spot on download sales alone; the first UK number one single for all three artists. Basshunter returned to the top five with "All I Ever Wanted", while his debut UK albumNow You're Gone – The Album topped theAlbum Chart for one week.Country rockerKid Rock made his top ten debut with "All Summer Long", andMcFly scored their fourteenth top ten single with "One for the Radio". Other new additions to the top ten included singles byThe Ting Tings ("Shut Up and Let Me Go") and Madonna ("Give It 2 Me").

On 3 August,Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" replacedDizzee Rascal's "Dance wiv Me" at number one. One week later, however, Americansinger–songwriterKaty Perry's controversial debut UK single "I Kissed a Girl" claimed the top spot, after reaching number one in over twenty other countries. Elsewhere in August, Rihanna returned to the top ten with "Disturbia", andfolk rock bandNoah and the Whale made their top ten debut with "5 Years Time". Girl groupThe Saturdays made their debut this month with "If This Is Love" entering at #8 - even bigger success was to follow for their debut album and follow up singles later in the year and into 2009. Other new additions to the top ten included singles byScottish bandBiffy Clyro ("Mountains") andNorwegian bandMadcon ("Beggin'"). Following the success ofMamma Mia!,ABBA'sgreatest hits album returned to number one - 16 years after it was originally released.Pop rock bandThe Script's debut albumScript, andThe Verve's comeback LPForth also topped the charts.

"I Kissed A Girl" remained at number 1 for the fifth week in a row andForth fromThe Verve stayed at number 1 in the album chart.Pussycat Dolls came back (with 1 less member) and their new single "When I Grow Up" which charted at number 3 on downloads alone.Kings of Leon soar to the top of the UK singles chart on 14 September with "Sex on Fire". It remained at the top spot the following week. Ne-Yo's third albumYear of the Gentleman enters at number 2 on 21 September. Dreamgirls actress and formed American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson enters at 15. On 28 September, Kings of Leon stay at number one for a third week. Their new album soars to the top of the album chart, with over 200,000 sales.

On 5 OctoberPink made it to number 1 with her new single "So What".Sugababes made a comeback with "Girls" which got to number 3 on the singles chart.

Oasis (Dig Out Your Soul), Boyzone (Back Again - No Matter What) and Keane (Perfect Symmetry) all had new albums, whilst, Kaiser Chiefs (Off with Their Heads) got to number 2 and Leon Jackson (Right Now) got to number 4 on 26 October.

On 20 October,Girls Aloud scored their fourth number one withThe Promise. It was the lead single from their fifth studio album "Out of Control" which would also go on to reach number one in the album chart.

Also on 25 October the twelvefinalists of thefifth series ofThe X Factor performed a new song for theHelp for Heroes charity whichSimon Cowell predicted will go straight to the top of the charts. It was released on download on 26 October and single on 27 October. Midweek sales revealed that this single had sold 100,500 copies on its first day - more than any single of 2008 so far has sold in a week, and more than twice the average weekly sale.

The X Factor Finalists reached number one on 2 November selling over 300,000 copies in its first week of release. On 9 November there were new entries by many well-known female artists includingChristina Aguilera ("Keeps Gettin' Better"),Alesha Dixon ("The Boy Does Nothing"),Leona Lewis ("Forgive Me"),Britney Spears ("Womanizer") andBeyoncé ("If I Were a Boy") which charted at 14, 8, 5, 4 and 2 respectively.

Pink's new albumFunhouse got the 1st No.1 album of November selling 112,000+, whilst there were new entries bySnow Patrol andCeline Dion, a week laterPink was knocked off the Album chart byGirls Aloud who scored their second number one album withOut of Control whilst there were greatest hits albums fromStatus Quo andEnrique Iglesias.

Beyoncé got her 4th No.1 with "If I Were a Boy" displacing charity single "Hero" after its three-week reign. The next week it was displaced byTake That's new song, who got their 11th No.1 single with "Greatest Day".

The deluxe version ofLeona Lewis's debut albumSpirit: The Deluxe Edition was released and shot straight to No.1 knocking offIl Divo'sThe Promise.Spirit: The Deluxe Edition was then knocked off byThe Killers' 4th albumDay & Age.

Leona Lewis' version of theSnow Patrol track "Run" was released digitally and went to number one on 7 December with sales of over 130,000 copies. Lewis held the top spot the following week too, selling a further 85,034 copies of the single in its second week of release.Take That's fifth studio albumThe Circus went to number one with sales of over 432,000 copies in its first week of release, whileBritney Spears' sixth studio LP - similarly entitledCircus - charted at number four. Many classicChristmas songs, includingWham!'s "Last Christmas" and "Fairytale of New York" byThe Pogues andKirsty MacColl, returned to the chart throughout December.

Alexandra Burke won thefifth series ofThe X Factor on 13 December, and released her debut single - a cover ofLeonard Cohen's track "Hallelujah" - on 14 December. The single sold 576,000 copies in its first week of release, and was theChristmas number one single of 2008. The lateJeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" - originally recorded for his 1994 albumGrace - charted at number two, following a campaign to raise Buckley's version higher in the chart than Burke's version. Elsewhere in the Christmas chart,Geraldine McQueen's Christmas single "Once Upon a Christmas Song" charted at number five, whileJames Morrison andNelly Furtado's "Broken Strings" climbed to number six. "Listen", a song recorded byBeyoncé for the 2006 movieDreamgirls, returned to the top ten after Beyoncé and Alexandra Burke performed the track together on the final ofThe X Factor. Take That'sThe Circus was the Christmas number one album of 2008.

The Year-End charts were dominated by American and British artists in 2008. Fifteen of the top forty singles were by British people (including featured singles), while twenty were by American artists. Just four other nationalities were represented in the Top Forty:Barbadian (three singles involvingRihanna),Australian,Swedish (both two singles) and Canadian (oneNickelback single). The top 40 albums shows a chart dominated byBritish acts, while also showing albums from varied international artists.

The year's charts were dominated by Welsh singer Duffy, as her single "Mercy" reached #3 in the year-end charts, with her debut album effort,Rockferry attaining #1. Her single "Warwick Avenue" also charted at #30 in the year-end countdown. Other successful artists includedTake That,Leona Lewis andKings of Leon.

^[2]

Note: the official list of best-selling singles of 2008 produced by the Official Chart Company and published inMusic Week in the issue dated 17 January 2009 originally included "Superstar" byLupe Fiasco at number 22. The following week (issue dated 24 January 2009)Music Week published a correction by the OCC to the effect that sales of "Superstar" had been overstated and it should have been placed at number 67, with all the original numbers 23 to 67 moving up one place.^[4] This has been reflected in the table above.

^[5]

Notes:

^[6]

• List of UK Dance Singles Chart number ones of 2008
• List of UK Independent Singles Chart number ones of 2008
• List of UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart number ones of 2008
• List of UK R&B Singles Chart number ones of 2008

• Top 200 singles of 2008

• 2008 in British music
• 2008 record charts
• British record charts

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from March 2021
• Use British English from June 2011
• All Wikipedia articles written in British English
• Articles with hCards