Songs that charted higher in Ireland than in the UK

its_steve116

Let's keep it interesting and exclude the obvious ones - "Maniac 2000", "Aon Focail Eile" etc...

This topped the chart here but only got to #2 in the UK, being held off the top spot by "Relax" - yep, Frankie beats Freddie...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=azdwsXLmrHE

Infoanon

Chris Rea - I can hear your heartbeat ,#60 in the UK ,#14 in Ireland

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122389718#Comment_122389718

Wow, not even a top 40 in the UK!

gabria

Some songs that got good radio play here and I assumed this was because they had a decent run in the UK charts

Stand by REM #17 Ireland, #48 UK

Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn #7 Ireland, #22 UK (and that only after re-release it charted at #66 before!)

Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams #18 Ireland, #42 UK

I would say the same about that Chris Rea song, I assumed it was part of his late 80s UK purple patch

Declan A Walsh

Wrapped Arpund Your Finger by The Police: 7 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

All I Ask of you by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman: 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Rockin' All Over the World by Status Quo: 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Rollin' Home by Status Quo: 9 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

In the Army Now by Status Quo: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) by Phil Collins: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away by Phil Collins: 45 in the UK, 18 in Ireland

Take a Look by Level 42: 32 in the UK, 13 in Ireland

Edit: As you might expect, there are plenty of examples for U2 - just showing significant differences or Number 1s!

Fire: 35 in the UK, 4 in Ireland

Gloria: 55 in the UK, 10 in Ireland

A Celebration: 47 in the UK, 15 in Ireland

New Year's Day: 10 in the UK, 2 in Ireland

Two Hearts Beat as One: 18 in the UK, 2 in Ireland

The Unforgettable Fire: 6 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

With or Without You: 4 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for: 6 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Where the Streets Have No Name: 4 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

When Love Comes to Town (with B. B. King): 6 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

All I Want is You: 4 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Mysterious Ways: 13 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

One: 7 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Even Better than the Real Thing: 12 in the UK, 3 in Ireland

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses: 14 in the UK, 4 in Ireland

Stay (Faraway So Close): 4 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Sweetest Thing: 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Elevation: 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

The Saints Are Coming (with Green Day): 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Get On Your Boots: 12 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Magnificent: 42 in the UK, 5 in Ireland

I'll Go Crazy (If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight): 32 in the UK, 7 in Ireland

Ordinary Love: 82 in the UK, 13 in Ireland

its_steve116

This was #4 in Ireland. Del Amitri have never had a UK top 10 hit.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TxbIU0X-lCI

rpirl

A lot of the 'Yacht Rock' / soft rock songs that were big in the US in the early '80s, the UK had no real interest in them but for some reason we were a lot more receptive 👀

Bertie Higgins, 'Key Largo'

US #8

UK #60

Ireland #6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru2tsT32pHA

rpirl

A few '90s dance instrumentals

Atlantic Ocean – 'Waterfall'

UK # 22, Ireland # 9

Da Hool - 'Meet Her At The Love Parade'

UK #15, Ireland #7

Energy 52 – 'Cafe Del Mar'

UK #12, Ireland #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyvp_nCM15Q

nice bit of green

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122392705#Comment_122392705

all bangers.

Yacht rock is a great term.

mehico

Probably some of Garth Brooks songs charted higher in Ireland in the 90s, not sure if he made much of an dent into the UK market at the time.

ohnonotgmail

Vienna by Ultravox. No 1 in ireland. Only reached No 2 in the UK thanks to Joe Dolce with Shaddup Ya Face

rpirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122392735#Comment_122392735

Yeah I remember all three of them but maybe didn't realise how good they were till later years

mehico

Bruce Springsteen's Glory Days #3 in Ireland, #17 in UK in 1985 and Brilliant Disguise #2 in Ireland, #20 in UK in 1987.

Quite a few of Springsteen's songs seem to have charted higher in Ireland than UK.

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122392841#Comment_122392841

He's only had four UK top 10 hits.

Declan A Walsh

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty McColl: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Only the Moment by Marc Almond: 45 in the UK, 26 in Ireland

Love Shack by The B-52s: 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Rock 'n' Roll Suicide by David Bowie: 22 in the UK, 12 in Ireland

Heroes by David Bowie: 24 in the UK, 8 in Ireland

Tonight by David Bowie: 53 in the UK, 24 in Ireland

This is Not America by David Bowie and the Pat Methany Band: 14 in the UK, 9 in Ireland

Loving the Alien by David Bowie: 19 in the UK, 5 in Ireland

Absolute Beginners by David Bowie: 2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

Underground by David Bowie: 21 in the UK, 6 in Ireland

When the Wind Blows by David Bowie: 44 in the UK, 19 in Ireland

Time will Crawl by David Bowie: 33 in the UK, 18 in Ireland

Never Let Me Down by David Bowie: 34 in the UK, 26 in Ireland

Fame "90" by David Bowie: 28 in the UK, 11 in Ireland

Blue Monday by New Order: 9 in the UK, 4 in Ireland

Confusion by New Order: 12 in the UK, 7 in Ireland

Thieves Like Us by New Order: 18 in the UK, 5 in Ireland

The Perfect Kiss by New Order: 46 in the UK, 15 in Ireland

Shellshock by New Order: 28 in the UK, 18 in Ireland

Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order: 56 in the UK, 25 in Ireland

Touched by the Hand of God by New Order: 20 in the UK, 10 in Ireland

Round & Round by New Order: 21 in the UK, 10 in Ireland

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122394087#Comment_122394087

It came as a bit of a surprise to me that "Bizarre Love Triangle" didn't make the UK top 40, I would have assumed otherwise.

Infoanon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122389816#Comment_122389816

Chris Reas success in Ireland with" I can hear your heartbeat" was due to the song getting a LOT of airplay on Irish radio.

The story was Jason Maine came across the album in Belfast , suggested the track to the music controller at Nova and the track was added to the playlist. The original version ,not the remastered version aired on radio today , has a great guitar intro that suited FM radio .

The 'Yacht Rock ' music featured a lot on Nova ,acts incl Quarterflash were on high rotation, in stark contrast to the UK where Steve Wright was the only DJ playing and promoting eg Quarterflash

its_steve116

Quite a few Depeche Mode ones.

*"People Are People" #2 IE, #4 UK (they've never had a UK top 3)

*"Personal Jesus": #7 IE, #13 UK

*"Enjoy the Silence": #3 IE, #8 UK

*"Master and Servant": #6 IE, #9 UK

*"I Feel You": #6 IE, #8 UK

ETS was the only Violator single to reach the UK top 10. In Ireland they all charted higher.

Hesh's Umpire

When I saw this thread I instantly thought "David Gray".

All of his biggest hits went higher in the UK than Ireland which really surprised me! I thought he made his name here more than in his native country..

Declan A Walsh

Going for The One by Yes: #24 in the UK, #16 in Ireland

Illegal Alien by Genesis: #46 in the UK, #21 in Ireland

Invisible Touch by Genesis: #15 in the UK, #7 in Ireland

Land of Confusion by Genesis: #14 in the UK, #9 in Ireland

Tonight Tonight Tonight by Genesis: #18 in the UK, #9 in Ireland

Friend or Foe by Adam Ant: #9 in the UK, #3 in Ireland

Desperate but Not Serious by Adam Ant: #33 in the UK, #18 in Ireland

If you Love Somebody Set them Free by Sting: #26 in the UK, #15 in Ireland

Love is the Seventh Wave by Sting: #41 in the UK, #25 in Ireland

We'll Be Together by Sting: #41 in the UK, #14 in Ireland

Englishman in New York (original version) by Sting: #51 in the UK, #12 in Ireland

All this Time by Sting: #22 in the UK, #13 in Ireland

It's Probably Me by Sting (with Eric Clapton): #30 in the UK, #17 in Ireland

All for Love by Sting (with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart): #2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122400430#Comment_122400430

Fun fact: Sting's only non-collaborative top 10 single in the UK as a solo artist was "When We Dance" in 1994.

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122397201#Comment_122397201

"Harden My Heart" didn't reach either the UK or Irish top 40, peaking at #49 in the former country.

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122392705#Comment_122392705

This was #2 here, one mere position higher than in the UK…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lpkLcfbOra4

Declan A Walsh

Speaking of "Yacht Rock" (as some people were!)…

Toto:

Africa - #3 in the U.K., #2 in Ireland

I Won't Hold You Back - #37 in the U.K., #11 in Ireland

Infoanon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122402367#Comment_122402367

Last track on the B-Side of the Album iirc ,

Yacht Rock : Michael Mc Donald what a fool believes was #28 in Ireland ,#31 in the UK.

Yacht Rock / West Coast AOR was on high rotation in the Dublin radio market so it's not a big surprise to see higher chart positions compared to the UK

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122404236#Comment_122404236

What A Fool Believes was actually performed by The Doobie Brothers with lead vocals by Michael McDonald.

Camouflage by Stan Ridgway - #4 in the UK, #2 in Ireland.

Eurthymics had a number of them:

Love is a Stranger (re-issue) - #6 in the UK, #4 in Ireland

Julia - #44 in the UK, #17 in Ireland

Would I Lie to You - #17 in the UK, #10 in Ireland

Sisters are Doin' For Themselves (with Aretha Franklin) - #9 in the UK, #5 in Ireland

It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) - #12 in the UK, #8 in Ireland

When Tomorrow Comes - #30 in the UK, #13 in Ireland

Thorn in My Side - #5 in the UK, #2 in Ireland

The Miracle of Love - #23 in the UK, #10 in Ireland

Missionary Man - #31 in the UK, #13 in Ireland

Beethoven (I Love to Listen to) - #25 in the UK, #11 in Ireland

Revival - #26 in the UK, #14 in Ireland

Don't Ask Me Why - #25 in the UK, #16 in Ireland

The King and Queen of America - #29 in the UK, #23 in Ireland

mehico

Smokie - Living next door to Alice, top spot in Ireland! #5 in the UK

Declan A Walsh

The Human League:

Mirror Man - #2 in the UK, Number 1 in Ireland

The Lebanon - #11 in the UK, #4 in Ireland

Louise - #13 in the UK, #7 in Ireland

Human - #8 in the UK, #5 in Ireland

Love is All that Matters - #41 in the UK, #27 in Ireland

Heaven 17 (which included two founder members of The Human League!):

Let Me Go - #41 in the UK, #26 in Ireland

Crushed by the Wheels of Industry - #17 in the UK, #10 in Ireland

Sunset Now - #24 in the UK, #18 in Ireland

…(And that's No Lie) - #52 in the UK, #22 in Ireland

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122405525#Comment_122405525

"Mirror Man" a #1 - I never would have guessed.

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122401003#Comment_122401003

And this topped the Irish chart... one of FIVE #2 hits in the UK.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qz2bOXLEvuE

Conversely, the other four charted lower in Ireland.

its_steve116

Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation album. UK single chart peaks:

*"I Miss You Much": #22

*"Rhythm Nation": #23

*"Escapade": #17

*"Alright": #20

*"Come Back to Me": #20

*"Black Cat": #15

*"Love Will Never Do": #34

*"State of the World": didn't chart

And in Ireland:

*"I Miss You Much": same!

"Rhythm Nation": #19

*"Escapade": #13

*"Alright": #14

*"Come Back to Me": #21

*"Black Cat": #11

*"Love Will Never Do": #22

*"State of the World": didn't chart

So all but two charted higher here.