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Taylor Swift Shatters UK Chart Record with 'The Fate of Ophelia'

Published 1 hour ago3 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Taylor Swift Shatters UK Chart Record with 'The Fate of Ophelia'

“The Fate of Ophelia” has officially become Taylor Swift’s longest-running U.K. No. 1 single, marking its seventh non-consecutive week at the top of the Official Singles Chart as of December 5. This achievement surpasses her 2022 hit, “Anti-Hero,” which held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive weeks upon its release.

The journey of “The Fate of Ophelia,” which is featured on her album “The Life of a Showgirl,” began in October when it first reached the summit for three consecutive weeks. It was temporarily unseated by Kpop Demon Hunters’ “Golden” for two weeks before making a powerful return to score an additional four consecutive weeks at No. 1.

In total, Taylor Swift now boasts five U.K. chart-toppers. These include 2017’s “Look What You Made Me Do,” which spent two weeks at No. 1, 2023’s “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)” for one week, and 2024’s “Fortnight” also for one week.

Beyond singles, Swift continues to dominate the album charts with “The Life of a Showgirl” marking her 14th U.K. No. 1 album. This milestone solidifies her position as the international artist with the most No. 1s on the U.K. Albums Charts, a record she now shares with The Rolling Stones at 14. The overall top spot is currently held in a tie between The Beatles and Robbie Williams, both with 15 No. 1 albums.

In other chart news, RAYE’s “Where Is My Husband!” maintained its strong performance at No. 2. Festive classics also made significant moves into the top 5, with WHAM!’s “Last Christmas” charting at No. 3 and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” at No. 4, signaling the start of the holiday season’s musical dominance.

A notable entry at No. 16 was HAVEN’s “I Run,” which charted despite ongoing controversy surrounding its use of artificial intelligence. The track first gained attention on TikTok, where fans noted a striking similarity to British singer Jorja Smith’s vocals, prompting Smith herself to question the origin of the vocal performance.

Speaking to Billboard, HAVEN, a new artist project comprising British producers Harrison Walker and Jacob Donaghue, acknowledged that AI-assisted programs were utilized in the track’s creation. However, they explicitly denied that Jorja Smith’s vocals were used in the AI model’s training process.

The controversy led to the song’s removal from several streaming services, and the Official Charts Company subsequently deemed it ineligible to appear on the Official Singles Chart. A revised version of the track, now featuring vocals by Kaitlin Aragon, has since been reinstated and remains available on streaming platforms.

Further complicating matters, FAMM, Jorja Smith’s label, has formally demanded a share of royalties from the track. In a statement, FAMM emphasized the broader implications of the situation, asserting that “this isn’t just about Jorja. It’s bigger than one artist or one song,” highlighting concerns over AI’s impact on artists’ rights and intellectual property.

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