Chart Watch: Taio Cruz Gives America Its First 99 Cent No. 1

     I didn't see this coming.  I don't think anyone did.  British singer Taio Cruz goes No. 1 with his debut single in the U.S. as "Break Your Heart" feat. Ludacris leaps 53-1.  That move gives Cruz the record for biggest jump to No. 1 for a debut single, beating out Kelly Clarkson's 52-1 leap for "A Moment Like This" in 2002.

     "Break Your Heart" was released in the U.K. September 2009 where it topped the charts for three weeks.  As an avid British music fan, I took a liking to this disposable pop tune, but was disappointed (as I usually am) when I couldn't legally download it from iTunes.  Despite the success of artists like Coldplay and Leona Lewis, British acts usually have a hard time breaking into the American market and fail (Robbie Willaims) and some, despite being some of the most amazing music makers on the planet, never even try (Girls Aloud).  I assumed "Break Your Heart" would never make any impact on our shores.

     What a surprise it was to see "Break Your Heart" available on iTunes last week.  Naturally, they had to slap on a rapper to appease America, but this British smash hit was now available to purchase legally, and it was only 99 cents.

Chart Watch: America In An "Empire State of Mind"

Jay-Z earns his fourth chart topping single today as "Empire State of Mind" featuring Alicia Keys moves 2-1 to become the No. 1 song in America.

This feat comes as a surprise for a number of reasons. How exactly did a song about New York win over the hearts of Americans everywhere? It seems like a song about the Big Apple wouldn't get a lot of spins from radio stations in Los Angeles or Boston, or say bitter Philadelphia. In light of the damn Yankees winning another World Series, it seems like many radio programmers would be hesitant to play a track that was sung before game 2 of the series in NYC. Surely the single's ascent to the penthouse is a result of digital downloads.

Shockingly, "Empire State of Mind" only ranks No. 4 in the digital downloads tally. On the airplay chart, it sits at No. 1.

Also surprising is how "Empire", the third single to be released from Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, outperformed its predecessor "Run This Town". "Run" sounded like the cousin to one of last year's No. 1 singles, "Live Your Life" by T.I. featuring Rihanna. Not only did Rihanna provide the chorus to Hova's song, but "Run" outdid "Live" by also including Kayne West. The star studded single hit No. 1 in the UK, but only managed a No. 2 placing in America. "Run This Town" had the unfortunate timing of peaking while the unstoppable Black Eyed Peas were ruling the charts with "I've Gotta Feelin'".

What is no surprise is that Jay-Z got to the top of the chart with the help of a female vocalist. His three previous No. 1s all followed that trend. There was "Heartbreaker" with Mariah Carey in 1999, "Crazy In Love" with Beyonce in 2003, and "Umbrella" with Rihanna in 2007. "Empire State of Mind" marks the first time that Jay-Z has had the lead credit in the song. This is his song, not someone else's that he tacked a rap onto and rode to No. 1.

"Empire State of Mind" is Alicia Key's fourth No. 1 single as well. Her previous chart toppers were "Fallin'" in 2001, "My Boo" with Usher in 2004, and "No One" in 2007.

The top ten welcomes two new songs this week. "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum is this week's digital gainer, landing at No. 5. It becomes the year's highest charting country song that's not by Taylor Swift. "Tik Tok", the stupidest, yet somehow extremely catchy debut by Ke$ha enters at No. 10.

1. "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys (1st week at No. 1)
2. "Fireflies" - Owl City
3. "Whatcha Say" - Jason DeRulo
4. "Replay" - Iyaz
5. "Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
6. "3" - Britney Spears
7. "Down" - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne
8. "Party In The U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus
9. "Paparazzi" - Lady Gaga
10. "Tik Tok" - Ke$ha