It's Dua Lipa vs Beyoncé for the UK's Number 1 single

Training season is OVER for the pop queens.

Dua Lipa and Beyoncé enter a battle for the UK’s Number 1 single, both in with a chance of de-throning Noah Kahan’s long-running chart-topper Stick Season.

Training Season so far leads the pack, and is in the running to become Dua’s fifth UK Number 1 single.

The second single to be taken from Dua's upcoming third album, Training Season (in which Dua implores the guy's she's been dating to, for want of a better word, step up to the plate) is the follow-up to Houdini, which peaked at Number 2.

Training Season was unveiled with a buzzy performance at this year's Grammy's and is produced by Tame Impala's Kevin Parker and Danny L Harle.

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM, however, is not far behind (2), with little over 3,000 chart units separating Beyoncé from the top spot. Last week, the country-inspired song debuted at Number 9 with only a few days tracking.

A surprise drop from Bey, TEXAS HOLD 'EM is part of a duo of tracks - along with aching ballad 16 Carriages - that acts as an introduction to RENAISSANCE act ii, which seems to be a full-blown country project.

Ella Henderson and Rudimental continue their upward trajectory with Alibi, expected to rise four midweek (11).

Kygo & Ava Max are also on the up, as Shakira-sampling Whatever is on track to crack the Top 20 for the first time (13).

Calvin Harris & Rag'n'Bone Man have teamed up again, and their new track Lovers in a Past Life is cruising for a Top 20 debut (17).

Related artists

It's Training Season for Dua Lipa

Beyoncé starts RENAISSANCE Act II with two brand-new songs

Related Singles and Albums

TRAINING SEASON
DUA LIPA

TEXAS HOLD 'EM
BEYONCE

Alfie

18th February 2024

-1

Sunday Sneak Peeks 18/02/24

Felt like reviving my Chart Updates on Sundays for once. The name at the top of my post is a working title. Hopefully it sticks.

20. Noah Kahan & Sam Fender - Homesick (down 9)

Sheesh, flop much?

19. Billy Gillies ft. Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You) (up 3)

Not gonna lie I forgot this was still terrorising the upper legions of the music army.

18. The Weeknd/Madonna/Playboi Carti - Popular (down 2)

I wish it wasn't. (ba-dum-tish)

17. Calvin Harris & Rag'n'Bone Man - Lovers In a Past Life (NEW)

And in other news, Calvin continues on his quest to collaborate with everybody twice. 2019's Giant wasn't really much cop, and sadly this new one is also not worth the wait. Nothing against the Rag, but this track is just so... MEH.

16. Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (down 2)

Wasn't the film this was in a flop?

15. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor (down 13 due to ACR)

Well thanks for ruining my weekend, ACR.

14. Kanye West/Ty Dolla $ign - CARNIVAL (down 2)

So this one's still here. I can't whether or not that's a good thing.

13. Kygo & Ava Max - Whatever (up 11)

NO. NO MORE OF THIS GARBAGE.

12. Dua Lipa - Houdini (up 1)

I get the weird feeling that nobody is gonna remember this song by April. Do you?

11. Ella Henderson ft. Rudimental - Alibi (up 4)

As much as I hate this song, I should be glad there's more loathsome efforts in the Top 20.

10. Tate McRae - greedy (down 2)

OH MY DAYS JUST GO ALREADY!!!

9. cassö/RAYE/D-Block Europe - Prada (down 3)

(see No. 10 for more info)

8. Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer (down 1)

(see No. 9 and 10 for mo-)

7. YG Marley - Praise Jah In The Moonlight (down 2)

Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.

6. Noah Kahan - Stick Season (down 5 due to ACR)

YES. YES. ABOUT BLEEDIN' TIME. Now I can complain about a new No. 1.

5. Ariana Grande - yes, and? (up 5)

And thanks to Ariana taking the Big Energy guide to collaborations (thx Mariah), the most publicised flop of 2024 suddenly became a little less floppy.

4. Teddy Swims - Lose Control (non-mover)

As long as he's not any higher, the better.

3. Benson Boone - Beautiful Things (non-mover)

Same for this guy, but a little less because he's at least trying something different. And I guess that's all that counts? 🫤

2. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM (up 7)

I would show you the utter sadness on my face at this news, but sadly the OCC won't allow pictures on the comments section. Still though, it's been 16 years since her last No.1. She's just cursed at this point, isn't she.

1. Dua Lipa - Training Session (NEW)

Well this isn't as predictable as it should be. Blame the DREADED PHYSICAL RELEASES for this, obviously, given her lack of Spotify support, but for now though, Dua Lipa's headed for five No.1's and there is nothing we can do about it. Just a shame that the song in question is mid.

And that's all for now. More tomorrow.

(P.S. I should be happy that we're finally seeing some WACKY CHART ACTION this week, yet I also don't. 'Cause for every Beyoncé or Ariana Grande there's a Kygo or cassö waiting to ruin my ambitions. Just let me have fun for once, music industry.)