Madonna breaks records in Switzerland

And there it happened! For a second time within a month the best-selling single in Switzerland rewrites the chart history.

Since 1980 ABBA were the act with the most #1 hits. With their seventh charttopper they overtook the Beatles, who managed to score ‘only’ six as Swiss sales charts only started in 1968 – with a few more years the group from Liverpool certainly would have amassed more.

Two years ago Madonna tied the four Swedes and this week, with her third personal #1 entry and the 20th in the Media Control era, she collects her eighth top hit in the country.

[14] “La isla bonita” (1987, 1 week)
[18] “Like A Prayer” (1989, 4 weeks)
[19] “Express Yourself” (1989, 1 week)
[33] “Secret” (1994, 1 week)
[45] “American Pie” (2000, 3 weeks)
[46] “Music” (2000, 5 weeks)
[51] “American Life” (2003, 1 week)
[56] “Hung Up” (2005)

In a very strange coincidence this record-breaking song samples a tune by just that act, that is dethroned. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” was one of the seven ABBA top hits (1979/1980: D 3.5, ‘CH 1.1’, A 2).

Based around this melody is Madonna’s “Hung Up” (Air 2-2, D 1 Top, A 1 Top, NL 1 Top, Fl 8 Top, Wal 4 Top, F 67-1, UK 1 Top, USA 27-14) – and you better believe that this is a very popular melody this decade/century! At the start of 2000 the A*Teens from Sweden with their remake scored an international chart hit: D 33, CH 51. Then followed the Star Academy, who took the song to the top of the French charts (2002). Just a year ago Shana Vanguarde brought her techno remake into the charts: D 63, CH 90, F 31. And now the Queen Of Pop samples it.

From Swisscharts.com. Thanks to Peter M.