It’s not the first time Sheeran has knocked one of his own tracks from the summit. The first time he did it was in January 2018, when Eminem’s “River,” on which he featured, replaced his solo release “Perfect.”
Elsewhere on the chart, Elton John and Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart” (Pnau Remix) (via EMI) vaults 11-4, for Lipa’s eighth Top 5 single, and Elton John’s 21st.
Meanwhile, Central Cee completes the Top 5 with “Obsessed With You” (Central Cee), new at No. 5. The track samples Pinkpantheress’ “Just For Me” (Parlophone), currently No. 43 on the chart, and becomes the West London rapper highest-charting single.
Over on the albums chart race, Manic Street Preachers hold on for a second No. 1 with The Ultra Vivid Lament (Universal), their 14th studio album.
The Welsh rockers’ latest LP captures 27,000 chart sales, 91% of which were physical, including 6,300 copies on vinyl. That effort was enough to hold off Steps, whose What The Future Holds Pt 2 (BMG) starts at No. 2.
Punk-era outfit The Stranglers’ score their first Top 10 since 1990 with Dark Matters (Coursegood), new at No. 4, while The Vaccines bag a fifth straight Top 5 with Back In Love City (Super Easy), new at No. 5.
Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album (also known as The Black Album, via Vertigo) enters the weekly chart at No. 8, following a 30th anniversary reissue; U.S. country star Kacey Musgraves claims her second U.K. Top 10 album with Star-Crossed (Interscope), entering at No. 10; and veteran British indie act Saint Etienne start at No. 14 with I’ve Been Trying To Tell You (Heavenly), for their highest-charting album in 27 years.
Finally, Melbourne, Australia punk rock outfit Amyl And the Sniffers snag a career high with their sophomore album, Comfort To Me (Rough Trade). It’s new at No. 21.
