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Songs that charted higher in Ireland than in the UK

  • 16-07-2024 10:50PM
    #1
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭


    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


«13456

Comments

  • #2
    Infoanon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,005 ✭✭✭Infoanon


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



  • #3
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭its_steve116


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

    Wow, not even a top 40 in the UK!



  • #4
    gabria
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 151 ✭✭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



  • #5
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    Post edited by Declan A Walsh on
    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #6
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭its_steve116


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

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


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  • #7
    rpirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 376 ✭✭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


  • #8
    rpirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 376 ✭✭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


  • #9
    nice bit of green
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 354 ✭✭nice bit of green


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

    all bangers.

    Yacht rock is a great term.



  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    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.



  • #11
    ohnonotgmail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,050 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


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



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  • #12
    rpirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 376 ✭✭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



  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    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.



  • #14
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭its_steve116


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

    He's only had four UK top 10 hits.



  • #15
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #16
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



  • #17
    Infoanon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,005 ✭✭✭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



  • #18
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



  • #19
    Hesh's Umpire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 732 ✭✭✭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..



  • #20
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #21
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



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  • #22
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



  • #23
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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


  • #24
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #25
    Infoanon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,005 ✭✭✭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



  • #26
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #27
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


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



  • #28
    Declan A Walsh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭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

    https://forumofgames.com/




  • #29
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭its_steve116


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

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



  • #30
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



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  • #31
    its_steve116
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭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.



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