What's a spoiler version of a single?
Perhaps it's just a British phenomenon. If so, could you explain it for us Yanks. Are these remixes? Covers? Is this a new phenomenon, or simply new to me?
A rushed-out clone cover by an act trying to capitalise on the advance publicity before the song actually comes out. Something similar happened with "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry.
And news stories suggest that Kelly Rowland probably won't be number one for that much longer... Current chart rules mean we're very likely to get what is actually MJ's most popular song at #1.
Didn't Leona Lewis have spoiler versions?
With Michael Jackson, you've only got two days' sales, and you've got the likelihood that people will either buy the album, or buy a whole range of tracks. I'm not convinced any individual Michael Jackson song is necessarily going to make it to number 1. Might happen, but if it does, it's more likely to be next week.
When are the charts compiled? I mean, when do they get the data?
There was a lot going on last night, it's going to dominate the news cycle for a while, so there's at least Thursday late night until Saturday night of buying. If not number one, I'd be very surprised if there aren't a few of his songs in the top 20 or 10.
Cut-off point is the end of Saturday, I think. I'm sure some of his songs will chart, but for him to reach number 1, you'd need a surge of interest in one specific song, and with a back catalogue as vast as his, I'd be surprised if that happened. You're more likely to see his greatest hits album shoot up the album chart.
Also, Michael Jackson's reputation in the UK rests more on his major 80s albums than his singles. He's only actually had 7 number 1s, which really isn't that many. Westlife managed 14. Seven puts him on a par with Kylie Minogue, and behind Oasis and the Spice Girls. (He had 13 number 1s in America... but the American chart includes airplay, so I can't really bring myself to accept that it counts.)
The current iTunes chart suggests that Sunday's number 1 will be "Bulletproof" by LaRoux. As I suspected, a whole slew of Michael Jackson songs are picking up sales, which is splitting the vote.
However, "Man in the Mirror" seems to be breaking from the pack and is already hovering just outside the iTunes top 10, so you never know.
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