Brit band Coldplay takes pole position on the U.S. summer Billboard Hot 100
chart with their catchy single 'Viva La Vida,' toppling rapper LiL Wayne all
the way down to the Number 3. spot

CAPITOL RECORDS -
 Brit band Coldplay has grabbed the coveted top position on the
Billboard Hot 100 charts with their single 'Viva la Vida', jumping from the
number two spot last week. It's the first number one on the U.S. singles chart
for the band, fronted by lead singer Chris Martin. Coldplay's album is
expected to follow in footsteps of their sizzling summer single, and also
debut at number one on the Billboard Albums the following week. 
   So what's a British band doing toppling Lil Wayne, the darling of the
U.S. Billboard Singles Charts for five straight weeks?  "What Coldplay
has done that is really so smart," explain David Marchese, Assistant
Editor of Spin Magazine.  "They have taken bits of English bands that
were kind of popular like Echo and the Bunnymen and Joy Division and sort of
made them into arena rock songs with big choruses. They sort of took English
bands and made them into stuff that American people like," said Marchese.

   Coldplay's fellow labelmate Katy Perry's single "I Kissed a
Girl," has bounced up to the coveted number two spot. For Capitol, its a
double home run, marking the first time Capitol has had the top two slots on
the Hot 100 in the same week since 1967.  So what behind Miss Perry's meteoric
rise to the second spot?  "You kind of get the sense that Katy Perry's 'I
Kissed A Girl' is this summer's Macarena, a novelty song, that people dance to
in the summer at clubs. Its a goofy fun video and a bit of controversy because
she's a woman and the song is "I Kissed A Girl" but a bit of
controversy never hurt. It's hard to imagine her having a second hit,"
said Marchese. 
  For Lil Wayne, who ruled for a straight five weeks, its a bumpy ride down
to the number three spot. Last week's number one, Lil Wayne's
"Lollipop" featuring Static Major, ruled the singles charts. But his
consolation prize isn't that bad as news that his new album, "Tha Carter
III," has grabbed the number one spot on The Billboard 200 with stellar
sales of over one million units. Two gorgeous ladies also enjoy the final two
positions on the Billboard Top 5. They are Leona Lewis' "Bleeding
Love" at number four and Rihanna's "Take a Bow" holding at
number five.  Next week, could another artist change all the action on the Top
5 Charts? Things could go topsy turvey if a new artist enters the mix!