Barbie takes over charts with record-breaking soundtrack

The soundtrack for the Barbie movie has taken over the UK singles charts by breaking previous records, the Official Charts Company has said.

Barbie: The Album, which accompanies the Greta Gerwig-directed comedy about the Mattel doll of the same name, has become the first film soundtrack to land three top five songs at the same time.

American singer Billie Eilish’s contemplative What Was I Made For? has reached number three this week.

Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night is now at number four and in fifth position is the reworking of Aqua’s Barbie World by rappers Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice.

Last year, Disney’s magical Colombian comedy Encanto became the first animated film soundtrack to claim three simultaneous top 10s with We Don’t Talk About Bruno, Surface Pressure and The Family Madrigal.

The Barbie album, which features a star-studded line-up, also has Charli XCX’s energetic Speed Drive, Ryan Gosling’s dramatic ballad I’m Just Ken and Lizzo’s bouncy bop Pink feature in the top 40.

The movie starring Margot Robbie and Gosling hit UK cinemas last week.

Rappers Dave and Central Cee’s Sprinter continues to go strong with an eighth week at number one, as does Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire, which continues at number two in the charts.

Blur has had their seventh UK number one album with The Ballad Of Darren following their Wembley stadium performances this month.

The Britpop group also topped the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and their record is the most purchased album in the UK’s independent record shops this week.

Their previous records including 1994’s Parklife, 1995’s The Great Escape, 1997’s Blur, 1999’s 13, 2003’s Think Tank and 2015’s The Magic Whip have topped the charts.

Blur, which includes Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, also equal the amount of chart-topping albums held by Sir Elton John, George Michael, Sir Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand.

The Beatles are the act with the most number one albums at 15 chart-topping records.

Previously released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) from American superstar Taylor Swift, Canadian singer Weeknd’s The Highlights, Beautiful And Brutal Yard from rapper J Hus and Sir Elton’s Diamonds also made the list of top five records this week.

Malakai Bayoh, a teenage singer who this year became a Britain’s Got Talent finalist, saw debut record Golden hit the top of the Official Classical Artist Albums Chart.

He said: “I can’t believe I’ve got a number one album. It was so much fun to make as well.

“Thank you everyone for buying it and now it’s the school holidays too.”

Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn was crowned winner of the talent competition in 2023.